Cruise itinerary
16-Night Europe Cruise from Istanbul
16 nights · Europe · 11 ports of call
16-night Europe cruise aboard Scenic Opal, departing Istanbul and calling at Çanakkale, Bucharest, Giurgiu, Silistra, Ruse and At Sea and 4 more.
- Free advisor
- No booking fees
- 10,000+ sailings
At a glance
- Ship
- Scenic Opal
- Cruise line
- Scenic
- Duration
- 16 nights
- Region
- Europe · Western Europe · Danube · Main · Rhine
- Departs
- Istanbul
- Returns
- Budapest
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 Scenic Opal sailing, typically within 24 hours.
Where this voyage takes you
Day-by-day itinerary
- Day1
Istanbul
The city straddling Europe and Asia along the Bosphorus, once Byzantium and then Constantinople. Ships dock near the historic peninsula, within reach of the Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and the covered Grand Bazaar's labyrinth of stalls.
- Hagia Sophia
- Blue Mosque
- Grand Bazaar
- Day2
Istanbul
The city straddling Europe and Asia along the Bosphorus, once Byzantium and then Constantinople. Ships dock near the historic peninsula, within reach of the Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and the covered Grand Bazaar's labyrinth of stalls.
- Hagia Sophia
- Blue Mosque
- Grand Bazaar
- Day3
Istanbul
The city straddling Europe and Asia along the Bosphorus, once Byzantium and then Constantinople. Ships dock near the historic peninsula, within reach of the Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and the covered Grand Bazaar's labyrinth of stalls.
- Hagia Sophia
- Blue Mosque
- Grand Bazaar
Çanakkale
A Turkish port at the narrowest point of the Dardanelles strait, between the Aegean and the Sea of Marmara. It is the gateway to the ruins of ancient Troy and to the Gallipoli battlefields and war memorials across the water on the peninsula.
- Ancient Troy
- Gallipoli battlefields
- Dardanelles strait
- Day4
Çanakkale
A Turkish port at the narrowest point of the Dardanelles strait, between the Aegean and the Sea of Marmara. It is the gateway to the ruins of ancient Troy and to the Gallipoli battlefields and war memorials across the water on the peninsula.
- Ancient Troy
- Gallipoli battlefields
- Dardanelles strait
- Day5
Çanakkale
A Turkish port at the narrowest point of the Dardanelles strait, between the Aegean and the Sea of Marmara. It is the gateway to the ruins of ancient Troy and to the Gallipoli battlefields and war memorials across the water on the peninsula.
- Ancient Troy
- Gallipoli battlefields
- Dardanelles strait
Istanbul
The city straddling Europe and Asia along the Bosphorus, once Byzantium and then Constantinople. Ships dock near the historic peninsula, within reach of the Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and the covered Grand Bazaar's labyrinth of stalls.
- Hagia Sophia
- Blue Mosque
- Grand Bazaar
- Day6
Istanbul
The city straddling Europe and Asia along the Bosphorus, once Byzantium and then Constantinople. Ships dock near the historic peninsula, within reach of the Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and the covered Grand Bazaar's labyrinth of stalls.
- Hagia Sophia
- Blue Mosque
- Grand Bazaar
- Day7
Istanbul
The city straddling Europe and Asia along the Bosphorus, once Byzantium and then Constantinople. Ships dock near the historic peninsula, within reach of the Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and the covered Grand Bazaar's labyrinth of stalls.
- Hagia Sophia
- Blue Mosque
- Grand Bazaar
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
- Day8
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
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
- Day9
Silistra
- Day10
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
- Day11
At Sea
- Day12
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
- Day13
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
- Day14
Mohács
A town on the Danube in southern Hungary, near the Croatian and Serbian borders. It is remembered for the 1526 battle that shaped Hungarian history and for its Busójárás carnival, when masked figures parade to drive off winter.
- Busójárás carnival
- Danube riverfront
- Battle of Mohács
- Day15
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
- Day16
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
- Day17
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
Upcoming departures
- 13 Oct 2026
- 9 Apr 2027
- 7 Jun 2027
Upcoming sailings of this itinerary — a NestCruise advisor confirms current availability and your fare.
16-Night Europe Cruise from Istanbul FAQ
Which ports does this cruise visit?
This 16-night Europe cruise calls at Istanbul, Çanakkale, Bucharest, Giurgiu, Silistra, Ruse, At Sea, Belgrade, Vukovar, Mohács and Budapest.
How many days are spent at sea?
1 day is spent at sea; the rest are in port.
Where does this cruise depart from?
It departs from Istanbul and ends in Budapest.
How long is this cruise?
16 nights aboard Scenic Opal.
When does this itinerary sail?
Upcoming departures include 13 Oct 2026, 9 Apr 2027 and 7 Jun 2027. A NestCruise advisor can confirm current availability.