Cruise itinerary
8-Night Europe Cruise from Budapest
8 nights · Europe · 10 ports of call
8-night Europe cruise aboard Emerald Star, departing Budapest and calling at Ordas, Vukovar, Belgrade, Golubac, Donji Milanovac and Vidin and 3 more.
- Free advisor
- No booking fees
- 10,000+ sailings
At a glance
- Ship
- Emerald Star
- Cruise line
- Emerald Cruises
- Duration
- 8 nights
- Region
- Europe · Western Europe · Danube
- Departs
- Budapest
- Returns
- Bucharest
How NestCruise works:we're advisor-led, not a booking engine. No fares are listed and there are no booking fees — tell an advisor your dates and party and they price your exact Emerald Star sailing, typically within 24 hours.
Where this voyage takes you
Day-by-day itinerary
- Day1
Budapest
Hungary's grand capital, split by the Danube into hilly Buda and flat Pest. River ships moor in the centre, within reach of the neo-Gothic Parliament, the thermal baths at Széchenyi and the panoramic ramparts of Fisherman's Bastion.
- Parliament Building
- Széchenyi Baths
- Fisherman's Bastion
- Day2
Ordas
- Day3
Vukovar
A town on the Danube in eastern Croatia, where the river forms the border with Serbia. Once heavily damaged in the 1990s war and since rebuilt, it sits in the flat, fertile Slavonia region known for its vineyards and baroque waterfront.
- Danube waterfront
- Slavonia wines
- Baroque architecture
- Day4
Belgrade
The capital of Serbia, set where the Sava River joins the Danube in the Balkans. The hilltop Kalemegdan fortress overlooks the meeting of the rivers, with the bohemian Skadarlija quarter and a lively riverside nightlife below.
- Kalemegdan Fortress
- Skadarlija quarter
- River confluence
- Day5
Golubac
A small town on the Danube in eastern Serbia, set where the river narrows toward the Iron Gates gorge. It is dominated by a large medieval riverside fortress, and lies at the edge of the Đerdap National Park along the Romanian border.
- Golubac Fortress
- Iron Gates gorge
- Đerdap park
Donji Milanovac
A small riverside town on the Serbian bank of the Danube, just upstream of the Iron Gates gorge. Set against forested hills at the edge of Đerdap National Park, it is a quiet stop near the prehistoric settlement of Lepenski Vir and the Roman remains of the frontier.
- Đerdap National Park
- Lepenski Vir
- Danube riverfront
- Day6
Vidin
A Danube river port in northwestern Bulgaria, opposite Romania across the water. Its medieval Baba Vida fortress stands on the riverbank, and the town serves as a gateway inland to the dramatic rock formations and monasteries of the Belogradchik region.
- Baba Vida fortress
- Danube riverfront
- Belogradchik rocks
- Day7
Ruse
A Bulgarian port on the Danube, facing Romania across the river in the country's northeast. Known for grand nineteenth-century architecture that earned it the name Little Vienna, it centres on a neo-baroque square and serves as a stop toward Bucharest.
- Freedom Square
- Neo-baroque architecture
- Danube riverfront
- Day8
Giurgiu
A Danube port in southern Romania, set opposite the Bulgarian city of Ruse. It is the river crossing nearest to Bucharest, with wetland lakes nearby and the capital's grand boulevards reachable on excursions inland.
- Bucharest gateway
- Danube crossing
- Friendship Bridge
Bucharest
Romania's capital, set on the plains of the lower Danube basin and reached by river from the nearby port towns. Grand boulevards and the colossal Palace of the Parliament reflect its 20th-century rebuilding, alongside surviving belle-époque streets once dubbed 'Little Paris'.
- Palace of the Parliament
- Old Town
- Herăstrău Park
- Day9
Bucharest
Romania's capital, set on the plains of the lower Danube basin and reached by river from the nearby port towns. Grand boulevards and the colossal Palace of the Parliament reflect its 20th-century rebuilding, alongside surviving belle-époque streets once dubbed 'Little Paris'.
- Palace of the Parliament
- Old Town
- Herăstrău Park
Upcoming departures
- 5 Sep 2026
- 11 Sep 2026
- 17 Apr 2027
- 23 Apr 2027
- 12 Jun 2027
- 18 Jun 2027
Upcoming sailings of this itinerary — a NestCruise advisor confirms current availability and your fare.
8-Night Europe Cruise from Budapest FAQ
Which ports does this cruise visit?
This 8-night Europe cruise calls at Budapest, Ordas, Vukovar, Belgrade, Golubac, Donji Milanovac, Vidin, Ruse, Giurgiu and Bucharest.
How many days are spent at sea?
This is a port-intensive itinerary with no full days at sea.
Where does this cruise depart from?
It departs from Budapest and ends in Bucharest.
How long is this cruise?
8 nights aboard Emerald Star.
When does this itinerary sail?
Upcoming departures include 5 Sep 2026, 11 Sep 2026, 17 Apr 2027 and 23 Apr 2027. A NestCruise advisor can confirm current availability.