Highlights of Central Europe

Overview

Itinerary at a Glance

• 1 Depart USA
• 2 Arrive Budapest, Hungary
• 3 Budapest
• 4 Budapest
• Optional Excursion: Private Budapest's Jewish Quarter Tour with Lunch, $160
• 5 Gyor, Bratislava & Vienna, Austria
• 6 Vienna
• Optional Excursion: Private Guided Tour of the Vienna Hofburg Museums, $135
• 7 Vienna
• Optional Excursion: Private Guided Tour of the Belvedere Palace Museums, $100
• Optional Excursion: Private Viennese Café Culture Tour, $100
• 8 Cesky Krumlov & Prague, Czech Republic
• 9 Prague
• 10 Prague
• 11 Depart Prague/Arrive USA

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 Depart USA

• Depart the United States on your overnight flight to Budapest, Hungary

Day 2 Arrive Budapest, Hungary

• Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel
• This evening, join your fellow travelers for a welcome dinner in a local restaurant

Hotel Nemzeti Budapest Dinner

Full Day Itinerary

Arrive at Budapest airport, where after completing immigration and customs formalities, you will meet our representative and transfer to your hotel for check-in. This evening join your fellow travelers for a welcome dinner, with drinks, at a local restaurant!

Day 3 Budapest

• Explore the Buda side of the city
• See Fisherman's Bastion & Matthias Church
• Enjoy a home hosted dinner

Hotel Nemzeti Budapest Breakfast & dinner

Full Day Itinerary

This morning, meet your guide to depart on a walking tour of the Buda side of the city. Visit the Fisherman's Bastion, one of the most well-known attractions in the city. From this vantage point, experience the most breathtaking view of the city and Danube river below. Be sure to snap a picture as this is one of Budapest's most photographed spots! Continue through the Buda Castle area to the beautiful, Neo-Gothic Matthias Church, in operation since 1015 and founded by the first Hungarian king. Bask in the breathtaking interior of the church, and learn about the rich history of one of Europe's most unique medieval churches.

Tonight, feast on Hungarian classics at a home-hosted dinner. This three- course meal will feature traditional soups, Paprikas, wine and Palinka.

Day 4 Budapest

• Walking tour of the Pest side of the city
• Afternoon & evening at leisure, or join an optional excursion

Hotel Nemzeti Budapest Breakfast

Full Day Itinerary

Your second day of exploration begins with a walking tour of the Pest side of the city. Stroll along the bank of the Danube River, which splits the hills of the Buda side from the flat Pest side. View St. Stephen's Basilica, named after the first king of Hungary and the Hungarian Parliament Building, a stunning Budapest landmark. Encounter other interesting sights along the way, such as the House of Hungarian Art Nouveau and Liberty Square. Enjoy the rest of your day at leisure.

Optional Excursion: Private Budapest's Jewish Quarter Tour with Lunch, $160

After enjoying lunch at a kosher restaurant, explore the vibrant Jewish Quarter of Budapest, where Jewish life has been revived after World War II.  Join a local guide for a walking tour of the Hungarian Jewish Museum, which houses a unique collection of sacred and everyday objects of the Jewish religion and communities.  Next, visit the Dohany Street Synagogue, also known as The Great Synagogue. It is the largest synagogue in Europe and second largest in the world. Pass the Martyrs' Cemetery, where thousands of people were laid to rest after WWII. See Raoul Wallenberg Park and the Tree of Life, which commemorates all the Hungarian Jews who lost their lives in WWII.  View the Heroes' Temple, now an integral part of the Dohany Street Synagogue, built in 1931 to commemorate the 10,000 Hungarian Jewish soldiers who lost their lives in WWI. 

Continue through the Jewish Quarter as you become acquainted with past and present locations. In the area of the former ghetto, see the Rumback Street Synagogue, Carl Lutz Memorial, and the famous Gozsdu courtyard. Finally, visit the center of the Orthodox Jewish community and view the Kazinczy Street Synagogue.

Note: This private tour requires a minimum of 4 passengers to operate.

Day 5 Gyor, Bratislava & Vienna, Austria

• Depart for Vienna, stopping en-route for free time in Gyor
• Discover Bratislava on a walking tour
• This evening, enjoy a Strauss and Mozart musical performance

Max Brown 7th District or similar Breakfast

Full Day Itinerary

Say goodbye to Budapest and begin your journey to Vienna! Stop halfway between both cities, in Gyor. Stretch your legs during a bit of free time to discover this charming Hungarian city. Later, enjoy a guided tour in Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia. Your day-long journey ends upon arrival in Vienna where you can check in to your hotel to relax and freshen up.

Tonight, attend a Strauss and Mozart concert in historic Kursalon Hall, built in the Italian Renaissance style and a must-do for anyone visiting this classical city.

Day 6 Vienna

• City tour of Vienna
• Guided visit of Schönbrunn Palace
• Viennese Strudel demonstration & tasting
• Traditional Tafelspitz dinner with drinks

Max Brown 7th District or similar Breakfast & dinner

Full Day Itinerary

After breakfast, begin your first full day in Vienna with a city tour, including the magnificent Schönbrunn Palace, the summer residence of the royal family, the Habsburgs. The palace has a total of 1,441 rooms and allows public visits to 45 of them. Later, learn the secret to making a classic Viennese apple strudel and sample the delicious pastry for yourself.

Tonight, enjoy a delicious meal of the Viennese favorite, Tafelspitz, with drinks, at a local restaurant.

Optional Excursion: Private Guided Tour of the Vienna Hofburg Museums, $135

Visit Hofburg, or the Imperial Palace, which was the royal seat of the Habsburg family. Today, Hofburg Palace is the official residence of the Austrian President. This complex is one of the largest in the world and houses the Imperial Apartments, the Sisi Museum, and Silver Collection.

Note: This private tour requires a minimum of 4 passengers to operate.

Day 7 Vienna

• Free day to explore on your own, or join one or two optional excursions!

Max Brown 7th District or similar Breakfast

Optional Excursion: Private Guided Tour of the Belvedere Palace Museums, $100

Visit Belvedere Palace, which is situated on a UNESCO World Heritage park and features two Baroque palaces that are only an eight-minute walk from one another. They house over 800 years of art, spanning from the Middle Ages to contemporary, modern day.

Note: This private tour requires a minimum of 4 passengers to operate.

Optional Excursion: Private Viennese Café Culture Tour, $100

A staple of Viennese culture is the coffee house. On this tour, taste a traditional Viennese cake, sip rich Viennese coffee, and learn about the "Café House" where famous Austrian writers and artists have gathered through the ages.

Note: This private tour requires a minimum of 4 passengers to operate.

Day 8 Cesky Krumlov & Prague, Czech Republic

• Depart for Prague with a stop en-route including a guided tour of Cesky Krumlov
• Arrive in Prague

Hotel Ambassador Zlatá Husa Breakfast

Full Day Itinerary

This morning, check-out of the hotel and depart for Prague. Along the way, stop for a guided tour in Český Krumlov, a town built along the banks of the Vlatva River. The historic center of the town is the Český Krumlov Castle which was built in the 13th century, offering a glimpse into the medieval heritage of Central Europe. Later in the afternoon, arrive in Prague and spend the evening at leisure. 

Day 9 Prague

• City tour of Prague including Prague Castle & St. Vitus Cathedral
• Learn about the art of glass blowing during a hands-on workshop

Hotel Ambassador Zlatá Husa Breakfast

Full Day Itinerary

After breakfast, depart for a city tour of Prague including the UNESCO World Heritage site, Prague Castle. It is the largest castle complex in the world and is among the most important historical and cultural sites in the Czech Republic. Within the castle complex, visit St. Vitus Cathedral, the largest in the Czech Republic, which took centuries to build to completion. Learn the vast history of Prague through these special monuments.

Later, attend a glass blowing workshop. Begin by observing unique pieces made by both Czech and foreign artists. Watch masters of glass craft demonstrate their art before taking a try at blowing your own piece of glass while learning glass making techniques! Reward yourself for your craftsmanship with a beer specifically made for glassworkers in original glasses.

Day 10 Prague

• Learn about the history of the Jews during a tour of Prague's Jewish Quarter and its cemeteries
• Visit the Jewish Museum and meet a local member of the community
• Farewell dinner and folklore show

Hotel Ambassador Zlatá Husa Breakfast & dinner

Full Day Itinerary

Today, discover Prague's Jewish Quarter. Admire the world's oldest synagogue, the Old New Synagogue, and learn about the mythical Golem, whose body is rumored to lie in the attic. Visit the Old Jewish Cemetery, where hundreds of thousands of Prague residents have been laid to rest. Meet a local from the community to learn about the history of Jews in Prague.

End your day experiencing the folk traditions of the Czech Republic. Enjoy a delicious dinner of traditional Czech dishes with beer or wine while basking in the atmosphere filled with Czech folk songs in a local restaurant.

Day 11 Depart Prague/Arrive USA

• Transfer to the airport for your return flight
• Arrive in the USA later today with memories that will last a lifetime

Breakfast

Hotels

In the unlikely event that a particular hotel is not available, a similar or better hotel may be substituted.

Reviews & Photos

Trip Details

• What should I know before I go? We've compiled a comprehensive checklist, including information on how to pay your balance due, flights & transfers, packing & luggage, and more.
• Do I need a visa or other documents? Are there any entry requirements? Please review the visa & entry requirements.
• Can I make changes to my trip? Want to upgrade your seats? Depart from another city? Stay a few extra days? Something else? Just ask!
• Can I bring my kids? Are there any age restrictions? To book this package, you must be 18 or older. Your traveling companions must be 8 or older at time of travel.
• Should I purchase travel insurance? Yes! We recommend you purchase travel insurance to help protect you and your travel investment against the unexpected. For your convenience, we offer a plan provided by Travelex Insurance Services.
• What's the fine print? Review the terms & conditions for this package.
• What should I know about Austria? Check out our guide for practical travel tips, the best time to go, videos, and more.
• What should I know about the Czech Republic? Check out our guide for practical travel tips, the best time to go, videos, and more.
• What should I know about Hungary? Check out our guide for practical travel tips, the best time to go, videos, and more.
• What should I know about Slovakia? Check out our guide for practical travel tips, the best time to go, videos, and more.

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