The Best of Central Europe

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2025: Prague, Brno, Vienna, Bratislava, Lake Balaton & Budapest

Experience the perfect blend of historic and culture-rich cities like Prague, Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest; and picturesque countryside visits including Brno, and Lake Balaton, a lake so large it could be mistaken for the ocean. We’ll see stunning cathedrals, palaces, and basilicas, explore lively pedestrian streets and “old town” neighborhoods, enjoy quintessential experiences like seeing Prague’s famous Astronomical Clock and Charles Bridge, enjoying a panoramic drive to Vienna’s “Ring”, and taking in Budapest’s beautiful skyline during a one-hour cruise down the Danube River. Along the way we’ll enjoy hands-on experiences like strudel-making, a Heuriger (wine tavern) tasting, and a Hungarian “Csarda” dinner and show.

Extend Your Trip! Enjoy our Best of Central Europe with Poland tour visiting the same three classic cities plus Poland including Kraków, and Warsaw.

Itinerary at a Glance

2025 Tour Itinerary:

  • 2 nights in Prague
  • 1 night in Brno
  • 3 nights in Vienna
  • 1 night in Lake Balaton
  • 2 nights Budapest

Tour Highlights

  • Prague city tour – Hradčany castle, Old Royal Palace, Charles Bridge
  • Prague walking tour of Old Town & Jewish neighborhood
  • Brno Underground tour
  • Vienna city guided visits of Saint Stephen’s Cathedral, Hofburg Palace, and Schönbrunn Palace
  • Vienna strudel-making demonstration & tasting
  • Vienna Heuriger (wine tavern) tasting & dinner
  • Walking tour of Bratislava (Slovakia)
  • Lake Balaton
  • Wine tasting in Badacsony, Hungary wine region
  • Memento Park guided by a local who lived during Soviet Occupation
  • Budapest city tour – Fisherman’s Bastion, Castle Hill, Matthias Church
  • Budapest river cruise
  • Hungarian "Csarda" restaurant with wine and entertainment

Your Tour Includes

  • Intra-Europe ground transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle
  • Accommodations at first class hotels
  • 13 meals: 9 breakfasts, 4 dinners
  • Comprehensive sightseeing tours and entry fees as per itinerary
  • Experienced English-speaking Tour Director and local guides

Is this tour right for you? Find out What to Expect

2025 Tour Itinerary

Flights
Day 1: Arrive in Prague
Day 2: Prague
Aerial view of Old Town Square in Prague bustling with people. The square features the Gothic Church of Our Lady before Týn, historic buildings with vibrant red rooftops, and an equestrian statue. The impressive cityscape extends into the background beneath a clear blue sky—perfect for your Prague Vienna Budapest tour.

After breakfast today, we'll start exploring Prague, once the illustrious capital of the Holy Roman Empire. We'll cross the Vltava River to see the Royal Castle of Hradčany and visit the Cathedral of St. Vitus, the Old Royal Palace, St. George's Basilica, and the Golden Lane with the Daliborka Tower. Next, we'll explore the old part of the city to view the Old Town Square, the famous Astronomical Clock, St. Nicholas Church, the Charles Bridge, and more. The rest of the day is free to explore Prague independently.

Meals: Breakfast
Day 3: Prague – Brno
Day 4: Brno – Vienna
Day 5: Vienna
Day 6: Vienna
Day 7: Vienna – Bratislava – Lake Balaton
Day 8: Lake Balaton – Budapest
Day 9: Budapest
Day 10: Depart Budapest

Guided Tour Pricing

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2025 Tours
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Apr 4–13
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May 2–11
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Jun 6–15
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Jul 18–27
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Sep 5–14
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Sep 19–28
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Oct 17–26
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Rates are per person based on double occupancy.
Single supplement applies when not sharing a room. Select a date above to see the rates for that specific departure.

For more information on this tour, please contact us here or call us during business hours (Monday-Friday from 9:00 am - 5:30 pm Eastern) at 1.800.337.7773.

Reservations and Payments
Reservations can be made online or by phone (1.800.337.7773) and will be confirmed upon receipt of your non-refundable, non-transferable deposit, which must be received at the time of reservation. Deposits are $300 per person. Full payment is due 90 days prior to departure. Space and prices subject to availability. Please see the smarTours Terms and Conditions for complete booking information.

Pre- & Post- Night Stays

Slow the pace of your tour with a pre- and/or post-night stay so you can arrive refreshed, acclimate to the time zone if needed, and depart leisurely, ensuring a seamless transition into and out of your journey.

Pre-Night in Prague
Post-Night in Budapest

Optional Tours

Enhance your trip with these optional tours. Indicated optional tours are available to pre-book when you reserve your trip and can be added to your reservation up to final payment. This is the best option to guarantee your spot on your preferred optional tour! Optional tours require a minimum number of participants. Optional tours are non-refundable unless they do not operate.

Some optional tours can be purchased in-destination and may cost extra. The payment methods and currency information to purchase tours in-destination will be provided on final documentation.

Vienna Woods Excursion

Széchenyi Thermal Spa

What to Expect

Max Group Size: 30 travelers

Activity Level: Level 2

Expect most included touring to require walking and standing periods up to 4 hours at a time (up to 2 times per day). Included touring may feature light hiking, and/or stairs on some hilly and/or uneven terrain. Learn More

Pacing Level: Balanced

Expect either half-day or full-day tours most days with a free day or free half-day to explore independently in most cities. There may be a few early mornings or long travel days by bus (don’t worry—there are always comfort stops!), and you may expect to stay in most accommodations for 3+ nights. Learn More

New in 2025: ETIAS Visa Waiver Required for U.S. Passport Holders

A valid passport is required for international tours. Effective for travel in 2025, U.S. passport holders are required to apply for an ETIAS visa waiver. Please visit our Passports & Visas page to learn more about any required actions, next steps, and additional costs.

Some of the walking tours cover long distances and encounter uneven surfaces and stairs.

For more detailed information about this tour and destination, visit our Before You Depart section.

Reviews

Ellen S
1 month ago
I have the pleasure of sharing my thoughts on my recent experience with Smart Tours, on a journey that took us through the captivating cities of Budapest, Vienna, and Prague, starting September 19th, 2024.
With a background spanning 25 years in the travel sector, including significant tenure with a few of the industry's top tour companies, I consider myself quite discerning when it comes to selecting tours. My expectations are notably high, and I tend to scrutinize the services provided very carefully.
In this instance, I'm pleased to report that the tour was outstanding in every aspect. The accommodations were consistently impressive, each offering four-star luxury combined with exceptional locations that enhanced our overall experience.
A standout element of our trip was our guide, RENATA MIKULOWSKA. Her expertise and enthusiasm for the cities we visited were evident, and her personality added a delightful layer to our daily explorations. Renata's deep knowledge of the area greatly enriched our understanding and appreciation of each destination. Additionally, her recommendations for activities during our leisure time were invariably well-considered, ensuring we enjoyed quality experiences. Renata's attentive and personalized approach to guiding made our journey smooth and enjoyable. If I were to rate her performance, she would certainly deserve top marks for her contribution to our travel experience.
In summary, this tour with Smart Tours delivered a well-rounded and thoroughly enjoyable experience, highlighted by excellent accommodations and guided by an exceptionally knowledgeable and engaging tour leader. For those in search of a high-quality tour experience across these beautiful European cities, I can heartily recommend this particular journey as a superb choice.
Alisa P
4 months ago
Fast paced but balanced trip. Included lots of history, food, culture, some quaint small towns on the way between large cities. Hotels in Prague and Budapest were very centrally located. Breakfast buffet in Vienna was particularly sumptuous. Would have liked more free time but feel we saw the major sights in each city.
Maligaspe f
4 months ago
over all it was an great tour.
Yin W
1 year ago
Good arrangements and services.
Ilya Y
1 year ago
The trip to Budapest, Viene and Prague May 18 to May 27 was very nicely composed by SmarTours
Although, on some day tours the walking portion was a bit excessive, but overall spirit of the group
was remained very positive only!
It should be specifically highlighted the work of our Tour Director Renata Mikulowska, whose every day energy and very high professional knowledge made this trip even more enjoyable.
Renata Mikulowska were able to manage all timing issues, including transportation and overall schedule challenges.
Thanks to SmartTours with Very Good overall rating!

Louis R
2 years ago
The tour exceeded my expectations. Our tour director, Renata, was extremely personable & knowledgeable. The hotels in each of the locations were modern & for the most part located in convenient locations within the cities.

There was a good balance between guided touring and free time to explore on my own. I highly recommend SmarTours for an exceptional travel experience and would definitely book future trips with them.
Wallace H
2 years ago
Great trip. Great tour guide. Met some wonderful people on our tour
Karen G
Wonderful tour through Eastern Europe. Pavel was an excellent tour director/guide as were the individual guides we had in each city. We received comprehensive overview of each stop on our itinerary and had time to experience sites on our own. Highly recommend
karen g
Wonderful tour through Eastern Europe. Pavel was an excellent tour guide as were the individual guides from each city we visited.
Karen B
If you are lucky enough to have Pavel Cernos as your tour director and guide on this great tour, you will go deep into the history, life and people of the countries that you think you know. My sister chose this tour and I was not excited about it but I am so glad I went because I would have missed out on so much on many levels. This tour is walking history and for Americans who did not experience the War or Communism, it is eye opening in a moving way. All of the cities visited are beautiful, the people welcoming, the sites a feast for the eyes, the optional tours great value and fun. And I have to give a shout out to our fabulous bus driver Marion, who never missed a turn and always offered a hand.