Budapest, the pearl of the Danube

Board the MS Victor Hugo from 6:00 p.m. in Budapest. Settle in your cabin and attend to the crew introduction over a welcome cocktail. Enjoy a delightful dinner on board followed by a guided tour of Budapest by night.

In the morning, enjoy a sightseeing tour of Budapest. The town is cut into two parts by the Danube: Buda with its rolling hills and valleys, and Pest with its flatter landscape that offers a panoramic view over the banks of the Danube. The city was awarded world heritage status by UNESCO. In the afternoon, join a guided visit of the Royal Palace of Gödöllö. This marvelous castle, built by Count Antal Grassalkovich, was the favorite summer residence of the Austrian Empress Sissi. Get back on the ship and start cruising toward Mohács, the southernmost town on the Danube.

This morning departure by coach from Mohács for a visit of Pécs, the regional center of southern Hungary, and also the birthplace of the famous painter Victor Vasarely. Discover the main square and cathedral. The town is 2,000 years old, located at the foot of the Mecsek Hills, and it enjoys a typically Mediterranean climate. It has been an episcopal see since 1009. Cruise toward Bezdan, the Serbian customs post on the border with Hungary. Continue cruising to Novi Sad (Serbia).

Today get off the ship for a coach excursion of Novi Sad, set in the southern part of the Great Plain, in the region of Baga, on the left bank of the Danube. Get back on the ship and start cruising on the Tisza, the largest river in Hungary, passing through an unforgettable countryside. Tonight enjoy an evening of entertainment on board. Then sail toward Kanjiza. 

Cross the customs post at the border in Kanjiza. Arrive in the morning on Szeged, the "sunny city", it is the biggest in the Great Plain, and lies at the confluence of the Tisza and the Maros rivers. Set off on a guided tour of the city, especially its cathedral and its park in the main square. Walk along the banks of the Tisza and through the pedestrian streets of the city. Enjoy some free time and visit the famous Pick Salami and Szeged Paprika Museum (not-included) which has been producing these traditional products since 1869. Then, take advantage of the night as you explore the city on your own. 

Departure early in the morning toward Csongrad. Get off the ship for an excursion to Opusztaszer natural history memorial park. Visit the paprika farm, a typical school from the farm region, a blacksmith's forge, a cart maker’s workshop with a cart demonstration, and visit a fisherman's cottage. All of these sites give a realistic idea of what life was like on the Alföld Plain in the 19th century. You won't want to miss the famous “panoramic painting” of the Magyar conquest of the Carpathians, which was painted especially for the Hungarian millennium exhibition in 1896 by Arpad Feszty. Spend the afternoon sailing through the Great Plain of Southern Hungary, "is as flat as the sea". The river brings this sandy landscape to life and provides fish for the local specialty, fish soup. This particular region of Hungary enjoys the most hours of sunshine in the year. Continue cruising toward Szolnok, in the northern portion of the Great Plain, arriving in the evening.

Start cruising early in the morning between lakes and rivers, enchanted by the beauty of this unspoiled countryside, a true paradise in the middle of the Alföld Plain and the second largest body of water in the country. In the afternoon, arrive in Tiszafüred, a yachting port surrounded by lovely countryside and is highly appreciated for its peaceful atmosphere. Choose to join an optional excursion to Hortobágy, one of the largest stretches of meadow land in Europe (over 540 square miles) called “puszta”. Then visit the Hortobágy National Park, over some 202,626 acres and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1999. Set in the heart of Europe, this region is full of treasures to discover. Get back on the ship for an evening of entertainment. 

This morning cruise toward Tokaj, arriving in the afternoon. Tokaj is set high on a loess hillock which leads into the Great Plain. The wine-growing region of Tokaj-Hegyalja is the birthplace of the 450-year-old Tokaj Aszú, a world famous sweet dessert wine. Discover this charming town, with its old houses, thick stone walls and baroque buildings. Then join a guided visit of the Rákóczi wine cellar, a natural cave in which the Tokaj wines mellow and mature, before you get to taste some of these delicious vintages. Tonight enjoy your gala dinner and dancing evening on board. 

Enjoy one last buffet breakfast on board before you disembark and transfer by coach toward Budapest.