Hungary: Budapest | Croatia: Vukovar | Serbia: Novi Sad, Belgrade | Bulgaria: Vidin, Ruse | Romania: Constanta, Bucharest
Ship
Privately Owned, 162-passenger Ship
Includes airfare
During your trip, you will have the opportunity to join optional tours to further your discoveries—all of which are noted below. Most of these tours can only be reserved onsite with your Program Director, however due to limited space and other special requirements, some optional tours must be reserved before your departure from the U.S. If this trip has optional tours that need to be purchased in advance, they will be noted with a disclaimer below.
Day 13 | $130 per person
Day 13 | $130 per person
Discover the Palace of the Parliament, the seat of Romania’s national government. You’ll start by walking to Revolution Square, where you’ll meet your motorcoach driver for a taste of traditional Romanian chocolate, and a brief discussion about the history of this imposing building.
The Palace of the Parliament is the second largest administrative building in the world—and at a weight of around nine billion pounds, the world’s heaviest building. Dive into the controversial history of how the massive palace came to be under the Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceausescu. After an earthquake devastated the city in 1977, Ceausescu took advantage of the land and recruited 700 architects and around 1.5 million factory workers to complete the project.
Ceausescu passed away before the massive undertaking was finally finished in 1994, but you’ll have the opportunity to see the completed building when you drive to the palace for a guided tour of its storied halls. You’ll stroll past lavishly decorated hallways, offices, galleries, and conference rooms—originally meant for Communist Party officials, now used by the elected government—and get a sweeping view of Bucharest’s main square from the grand balcony. You’ll drive back to the hotel after your tour.
Please note: Today's tour includes climbing around 150 steps. If the Palace of Parliament is not available today, you may instead join an optional tour to the Spring Palace, the eccentrically-decorated home of the former dictator Nicolae Ceausescu.
Day 4 | $95 per person
Day 4 | $95 per person
Join us for an optional tour exploring Hungarian Jewish Heritage. The journey begins at the Great Synagogue, the largest in Europe, with its Moorish design further enhanced by Byzantine, Romantic, and Gothic elements. You'll also visit the Rumbach Synagogue, and the Emanuel Memorial Tree.
Day 10 | $130 per person
Day 10 | $130 per person
Today, you'll travel by motorcoach to Veliko Tarnovo, the capital of Bulgaria from 1186 until 1394. This cultural center rewards visitors with views of the fortification wall atop Zarevez Hill, the cobblestoned old city, ancient ruins, and a steep ravine plunging down from two towering promontories. Continue on to Arbanassi, a historical village of Bulgarian heritage. Its 80 houses, five churches, and two monasteries reflect a unique, fortress-like architectural style of the 17th and 18th centuries, when the village flourished. Enjoy free time to make your own discoveries, and savor typical Bulgarian fare at a local restaurant.
Please note: Today's optional tour will include cobblestones, uneven surfaces, and stairs with no handrails.