Grand Danube (Smithsonian Journeys) (Vilshofen to Giurgiu)

Vilshofen, Germany. Arrive in Vilshofen, set at the confluence of the Danube and the Vils Rivers in the heart of Bavaria. After boarding the ship, gather for an exclusive Oktoberfest celebration featuring traditional beer and Bavarian folk music and dancing. (Meals: D)

Passau. A morning cruise brings you to Passau, poised where the Danube meets the Inn and Ilz. Take a walking tour of the Old Town and visit a bakery to sample pretzels and chocolate, or hike into the hills above town for a visit to the Veste Oberhaus, a massive 13th-century fortress. Alternatively, go on a bike ride along the River Inn. (Meals: B,L,D)

Linz, Austria. Dock in Linz and set out on your choice of excursion: Take a day trip to Salzburg, birthplace of Mozart and the setting of The Sound of Music, where you may join a walking tour of its UNESCO-designated Old Town. Or head to the Czech mountain town of Český Krumlov to discover its stunning architecture and the storybook Krumlov Castle. Alternatively, explore Linz on a guided walk or bike ride. (Meals: B,L,D)

Wachau Valley and Durnstein. Sail through the beautiful Wachau Valley, a World Heritage site known for its wines. From Durnstein, choose a guided walk through the town followed by tour of nearby Melk Abbey, where you’ll meet a librarian to view meticulously restored medieval books. Instead, hike to Durnstein fortress, or ride a bike through the vineyards along the Danube. Later, gather for a tasting of local wines. (Meals: B,L,D)

Vienna. Glide into Austria’s capital and see its imperial treasures, from the majestic Opera House to the grand City Hall. Combine your city tour with a guided visit to one of Vienna’s renowned art museums: opt for Kunsthistoriches Museum Wien, where one of the world’s largest fine art collections is housed within a grand neoclassical building, or venture to the baroque Belvedere Palace, built as the summer residence for Prince Eugene of Savoy in 1723, and admire its extensive art collection, which includes Gustav Klimt’s The Kiss. Alternatively, explore the city on a guided bike ride. Enjoy free time in Vienna this afternoon. Those that wish may attend an optional concert this evening in one of Vienna’s iconic music venues (additional cost). (Meals: B,L,D)

Bratislava, Slovakia. Take a walking tour through the charming Old Town of Bratislava, once the capital of the Habsburg Empire, and attend a folklore performance with a string quartet at Primate’s Palace. Alternatively, sample local specialties on a “Tastes of Slovakia” tour or climb up to Bratislava Castle for panoramic views. (Meals: B,L,D)

Budapest, Hungary. On a morning tour of Buda’s Castle District, take in views from the fairytale turrets of Fisherman’s Bastion and admire the striking architecture of Matthias Church. In the afternoon, explore the magnificent monuments of Pest or visit the largest synagogue in Europe and see the poignant Shoes on the Danube memorial on a Jewish history tour. (Meals: B,L,D)

Budapest, Hungary. Visit the 19th-century Gödöllő Palace with its royal stables and Baroque theater, followed by lunch at Gödöllő Restaurant. Afterward, head for Puszta, the vast flat Great Hungarian Plain where you will tour a genuine Hungarian csárda (farm) run by the carriage-drive world champion brothers Lazar. Following the tour, witness a unique, unforgettable performance of Hungarian horsemanship, a tradition that goes back to the hordes of Magyar tribes conquering Hungary in the 9th century.

Mohács. Enjoy a scenic morning cruise to Mohács and continue to historic Pécs. Venture underground to its fourth-century necropolis, a World Heritage site, and admire the exquisite interior of St. Peter’s Basilica. Visit a porcelain factory in the Zsolnay Cultural Quarter, then stroll to the mosque on the main square. Alternatively, head to the 2,000-year-old Szekszárd wine region to sample its renowned reds or explore Mohács on a guided bike tour. (Meals: B,L,D)

Vukovar or Osijek, Croatia. Arrive in Croatia and visit Vukovar on a city tour or a bike ride, discovering its baroque center that still bears scars from the war for independence in the 1990s. Cap off your tour with a private concert performed by local musicians at the Eltz Manor House. Alternatively explore Tvrda Fortress and the ethnographic museum in nearby Osijek. This afternoon, taste Croatian wines at Vukovar’s Old Cellars, or delve into the region’s human history at the Vucedol Museum. (Meals: B,L,D)

Belgrade, Serbia. Immerse yourself in vibrant Belgrade during a visit to the Nikola Tesla Museum, Kalemegdan Fortress, and the sparkling Church of Saint Sava. Alternatively, go for a bike ride or hike to the fortress. Tour the National Museum of Serbia and enjoy a tasting of traditional plum brandy, or slivovitz, and local appetizers. Or journey to Novi Sad for a walking tour of its picturesque Old Town. (Meals: B,L,D)

Iron Gates. Follow the Danube as it winds into the mountains, forming a natural border between Serbia and Romania. Stop to visit Serbia’s Golubac Fortress, and sail through magnificent gorges known as the Iron Gates. Keep an eye out for the face of King Decebalus, carved into the mountains on the Romanian side. (Meals: B,L,D)

Vidin, Bulgaria. In Vidin, a town with Celtic roots, explore the medieval Baba Vida Fortress on a guided tour or go for a bike ride to the castle. Alternatively, visit a local home for lesson in making traditional Bulgarian yogurt and a popular pastry called banitsa. (Meals: B,L,D)

Veliko Tarnovo or Rousse/Bucharest, Romania. Discover Bulgaria’s ancient capital, Veliko Tarnovo, and enjoy a Bulgarian wine tasting. Or explore the architecture of Rousse before visiting the Rousse Art Gallery and the rock-hewn Churches of Ivanovo, 14th-century churches carved into the cliffs and adorned with colorful frescoes. Alternatively, journey through the Romanian countryside to the capital of Bucharest for a tour of the elegant historic center. (Meals: B,L,D)

Giurgiu, Romania. Disembark in Giurgiu and transfer to the airport for your flight home. (Meals: B)