Our Agents

Booval

07 3202 3355

Capalaba

07 3245 4377

Carindale

07 3369 5899

Mt Ommaney

07 3558 1556

Our Agents

Booval

07 3202 3355

Capalaba

07 3245 4377

Carindale

07 3369 5899

Mt Ommaney

07 3558 1556

Best of the Balkans

15-Day Europe River Cruise

  • Travelmarvel Tours & Cruises

From: $9,695

Save $0 – Twin Share (Per Person)

  • Trip Length: 15 Days
  • Trip Starts: Budapest
  • Trip Finishes: Budapest

All prices displayed on this website are subject to availability and may change without notice due to supplier price changes, taxes, fees, or currency fluctuations. Prices are indicative only and are not guaranteed until the booking is confirmed and full payment has been received. While we make reasonable efforts to ensure accuracy, errors may occur and will be corrected when identified. Nothing in these terms limits or excludes your rights under the Australian Consumer Law.

Overview

Discover the beauty of the Balkans on this immersive 14-night cruise. From exciting cities like Belgrade and Bucharest, to small towns in Hungary and Bulgaria, enjoy the best the region has to offer.

Itinerary

Welcome to Budapest, Hungary’s capital. Arrive at the airport and be transferred to your river ship, docked on the Danube River.

Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: 14 Nights, aboard your Travelmarvel river ship

After breakfast, join a local guide to explore the city. Admire Budapest’s grand landmarks and architectural highlights as you discover the city’s rich history.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

From the quiet port town of Mohács, history enthusiasts may wish to travel to the ancient city of Pécs. Hungary’s fifth-largest city and a UNESCO World Heritage-listed site, it offers a wealth of historic sights, including the copper-domed Downtown Candlemas Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the 11th-century Pécs Cathedral. This afternoon is at leisure, or you may choose to join an optional excursion to Hungary’s renowned Villány wine region for a tasting.

Enhance Your Journey – Villány Wine Tasting

Travel to Hungary’s celebrated Villány wine region, known for its red and rosé varieties. Visit a local winery for a guided tour and tasting.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Begin a captivating exploration of Osijek, a vibrant city rich in history. Wander its cobblestone streets, where well-preserved 18th-century architecture reveals glimpses of the past, and visit landmarks such as Holy Trinity Square and the Church of Saint Michael. Later, continue to Vukovar for a tasting of regional delicacies before rejoining your ship for a leisurely afternoon cruise towards Serbia.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

In Serbia’s capital, embark on a guided tour of Belgrade. Visit the historic Belgrade Fortress, offering sweeping views over the confluence of the Danube and Sava rivers, and the Church of Saint Sava, one of the largest Orthodox churches in the world. Later, gain insight into local life and traditions during a special Insider Experience.

Insider Experience – Village Farm and Slivovitz Tour

Visit a local family’s village home, touring the house and barn to meet the resident farm animals. Stroll through the orchards to learn about the distillation of slivovitz — Serbia’s traditional plum brandy — and its place in everyday culture.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today, witness nature at its finest as your ship cruises through the Iron Gates, a dramatic landscape of lush forests, towering cliffs and rugged gorges. Forming part of the border between Serbia and Romania, this remarkable stretch of the Danube offers one of the river’s most spectacular cruising experiences.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Go ashore in Ruse, one of Bulgaria’s most elegant cities. Join a walking tour to admire its Belle Époque architecture and manicured garden squares, often compared to the charm of Vienna. Along the way, pass the Monument of Liberty, the courthouse, and Battenberg Square. The afternoon is yours to explore at leisure — perhaps visit the Rousse Regional Historical Museum the National Transport Museum or the ancient ruins of the Sexaginta Prista fortress.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Spend the entire day in Bucharest, Romania’s vibrant capital. Begin with a guided tour through the city’s broad, tree-lined boulevards and grand Belle Époque buildings, which lend the city its unique charm. Continue with a stroll through the Old Town, where you’ll visit the historic Royal Court, the exquisite Stavropoleos Church, and the lively Lipscani district. The afternoon is yours to enjoy at leisure, or perhaps you’d like to explore the open-air Village Museum, where you can immerse yourself in traditional Romanian life and discover the country’s rich cultural heritage.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Today, discover the fortified walls and cobblestone lanes of Veliko Târnovo, once the capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire and a city steeped in medieval history. Join a local guide for a tour of its historic centre, including the restored Tsarevets fortress, the former citadel of the empire. Afterwards, continue to the hilltop village of Arbanasi, renowned for its heritage and well-preserved architecture, where you’ll enjoy a traditional lunch before returning to your ship.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Explore Baba Vida, a medieval stronghold dating back to the 10th century, and admire its imposing walls and towers while learning about its storied past. Continue to Belogradchik to visit the ancient Belogradchik Fortress, dramatically set on the northern slopes of the Balkan Mountains. While here, take time to admire the town’s remarkable rock formations, which give Belogradchik its distinctive and striking landscape.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

The day is yours to spend on board. Take it easy and relax, taking in postcard-perfect views from the Sun Deck.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Step ashore to explore Novi Sad, Serbia’s second-largest city and often regarded as its cultural capital. Join a guided tour through its charming streets and lively cultural precincts, followed by free time to relax and soak up the atmosphere. You may also wish to visit Petrovaradin Fortress, an imposing complex overlooking the Danube, where the intriguing catacombs reveal glimpses of the fortress’s storied past.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Dock in Kalocsa, a charming Hungarian town steeped in history on the banks of the Danube. From here, travel to the Puszta for your Insider Experience.

Insider Experience – Traditional Horse Show

In the Puszta, enjoy a traditional horse show showcasing the remarkable riding skills of the Hungarian cavalry. You may also choose to take an optional carriage ride, visit the stables and meet the riders.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Enjoy a day at leisure to explore Budapest. You may wish to join an optional tour to the city’s Great Market Hall, a must-visit housed in a beautiful 19th-century building and a paradise for food lovers and shoppers. Alternatively, visit the Hospital in the Rock Nuclear Bunker Museum, a wartime hospital built within the caverns beneath Buda Castle and later used as a nuclear bunker during the Cold War. This evening, enjoy a Captain’s Farewell Dinner.

Enhance Your Journey – Great Market Hall Tour

Join a culinary tour through the market, discovering a variety of Hungarian sausages, meats, cheeses, fruits and vegetables.

Enhance Your Journey – Hospital in the Rock Nuclear Bunker Museum

Explore the Hospital in the Rock Nuclear Bunker Museum, once a World War II hospital and later a Cold War bunker, located within the caves beneath Buda Castle.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Disembark your ship this morning and be transferred to the airport.

Meals: Breakfast

Trip Inclusions

Discover the traditional Serbian way of life with a local family in the village of Jarak. Tour their home and barn to meet the resident farm animals, then stroll through the orchards to learn about the distillation of slivovitz, Serbia’s traditional plum brandy.

In Puszta, enjoy a traditional horse show featuring Magyar cowboys and fine equestrian skills. 

Dates & Pricing

Trip Dates:

21 Apr 2026 02 Jun 2026 14 Jul 2026 11 Aug 2026 29 Mar 2027 08 Apr 2027 21 Jun 2027 19 Jul 2027 16 Aug 2027

Room Type:

Twin Share
Solo (Own Room)

  • Tuesday

    21 Apr 2026

    Budapest

    Tuesday

    05 May 2026

    Budapest

    Our Price

    AUD $9,495

    Twin Share (Per Person)

  • Tuesday

    02 Jun 2026

    Budapest

    Tuesday

    16 Jun 2026

    Budapest

    Our Price

    AUD $9,695

    Twin Share (Per Person)

  • Tuesday

    14 Jul 2026

    Budapest

    Tuesday

    28 Jul 2026

    Budapest

    Our Price

    AUD $13,290

    Twin Share (Per Person)

  • Tuesday

    11 Aug 2026

    Budapest

    Tuesday

    25 Aug 2026

    Budapest

    Our Price

    AUD $9,695

    Twin Share (Per Person)

  • Monday

    29 Mar 2027

    Budapest

    Monday

    12 Apr 2027

    Budapest

    Our Price

    AUD $9,895

    Twin Share (Per Person)

  • Thursday

    08 Apr 2027

    Budapest

    Thursday

    22 Apr 2027

    Budapest

    Our Price

    AUD $9,895

    Twin Share (Per Person)

  • Monday

    21 Jun 2027

    Budapest

    Monday

    05 Jul 2027

    Budapest

    Our Price

    AUD $10,095

    Twin Share (Per Person)

  • Monday

    19 Jul 2027

    Budapest

    Monday

    02 Aug 2027

    Budapest

    Our Price

    AUD $9,695

    Twin Share (Per Person)

  • Monday

    16 Aug 2027

    Budapest

    Monday

    30 Aug 2027

    Budapest

    Our Price

    AUD $10,095

    Twin Share (Per Person)

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