Prague, Vienna & Budapest with Poland

Passengers who purchase flights will depart 1 day before the tour starts and return on the same day as the tour ends.

For flight details, see Before You Depart.

Welcome to Prague, the "City of a Hundred Spires," and the capital of the Czech Republic. Travelers who purchased our air-inclusive program will be met and transferred to our centrally located hotel. This evening our tour director hosts an orientation followed by a welcome dinner.

Today we'll explore beautiful Prague, which once served as the capital of the Holy Roman Empire. After breakfast, we'll cross the Vltava River to see the Royal Castle of Hradčany, the largest ancient castle complex in the world. Here, we'll visit the Cathedral of St. Vitus, the Old Royal Palace, St. George's Basilica, and the Golden Lane with the Daliborka Tower. Later, in Prague's old town, we'll view the Old Town Square, the famous Astronomical Clock, St. Nicholas Church, the Charles Bridge, and more. The rest of our day is at leisure to explore Prague independently.

Our sightseeing continues this morning in the Jewish Quarter of Prague, a former Jewish ghetto dating back to the 13th century. Here, we'll visit the Jewish Museum. Originally established in 1906, this is one of the oldest Jewish museums in Europe. During our visit, we'll learn more The balance of the day is at leisure with time to unwind at an outdoor cafe, shop in the bustling markets, or delve into more of Prague’s intriguing sights.

Today we'll depart Prague for Vienna, "the City of Waltz." Our drive takes us through rich farmlands to the rolling hills of Moravia (the Easternmost province of the Czech Republic). We'll see the charming buildings and beautiful surroundings of Telč, before we continue across the Austrian border to the quaint town of Dürnstein. Later in the day, we’ll reach Vienna, one of Europe’s most elegant and grand cities. We'll have a short orientation tour of the city by bus with our tour director before arriving at our hotel for check-in.

Our day starts with a visit to St. Stephen's Cathedral, located at the heart of the city. One of Austria's most beloved landmarks, this limestone cathedral features colorful roof tiles that form the Royal and Imperial double-headed eagle and the coat of arms of the city of Vienna. Just a short walk away is the Hofburg Palace, a 13th century palace that characterizes the opulence of the Habsburg dynasty. Next, we'll view the baroque Belvedere Palace, Prater Amusement Park, and the UN Buildings. The rest of the day is at leisure. We can explore Vienna independently, or consider an optional excursion to the Vienna Woods (Wienerwald).

Today brings us to the Imperial Palace of Schönbrunn—with its 18th-century architecture, interiors, and vast gardens; it’s among the most impressive baroque structures in Europe. After the visit to the Palace, we'll continue to the nearby Café Residenz where you will experience a strudel-making demonstration and tasting. After we've enjoyed our delicious strudel, we'll have more free time to explore Vienna. We'll punctuate the day with dinner together in the Grinzing suburb, in one of the typical Viennese wine taverns called the “Heuriger”.

Today, we say goodbye to Vienna and depart to Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia. For centuries, this city has been famous for its charm and beauty. The beautifully restored old town with its winding lanes and medieval courtyards is nestled between the steep Castle Hill and the Danube River. On a guided walking tour explore historic, lively pedestrian streets of this charming city where local street vendors offer regional gifts. Later, we'll continue on to Budapest where we'll begin our visit with a short orientation tour by bus. After check in, the evening is free for us to enjoy dinner on our own.

This morning, our local guide will introduce us to Budapest’s fascinating history and sights. Enjoy a breathtaking, panoramic view from the lookout terraces of the Fisherman’s Bastion, located on Castle Hill. We’ll also see the Citadel on Gellért Hill and Matthias Church, which was used for centuries for the coronations of Hungarian kings. This afternoon, we'll set sail on a leisurely one-hour cruise on the romantic Danube River to take in city views from the water. Afterward, we'll visit the famous Szechenyi Thermal Spa, one of the biggest natural hot spring spa baths in Europe. Here, we'll enjoy a relaxing medicinal soak in a historical setting.

Today we'll embark on a morning excursion to the scenic Hungarian countryside. We’ll journey to the artist’s town of Szentendre, a gem at the gateway to the picturesque Danube Bend River region where we'll have free time to explore its cobblestoned streets and Baroque charms. Then, we'll return to Budapest, where we can revel in its fine arts and architecture at our own pace. Tonight, we'll celebrate our great trip together at a festive dinner at a typical “Csarda” restaurant, including dinner, a glass of wine, and entertainment.

After breakfast, we'll depart Hungary and travel to Poland (approximate 6 hour drive, not including comfort stops and a lunch break). We'll arrive in Krakow in the late afternoon and begin our visit with a brief orienation tour of the city before we check in to the hotel. This evening, we'll enjoy dinner together at our hotel.

After breakfast we'll start our sightseeing tour with a visit to Wawel Hill, where we can enjoy a view of the Royal Castle and a visit to the Royal Cathedral. Next, we'll enjoy a walking tour of the Old Town including the Main Market Square, Renaissance Cloth Hall, and St. Mary's Church. Finally, we'll explore the Jewish quarter of the city. The remainder of the day is free to rest and relax or explore Krakow independently. We can choose to go for a stroll, browse through the shops, sample some “sernik” or “szarlotka”, or simply relax.

This morning we'll depart for Warsaw. En route we'll visit Auschwitz-Birkenau, the notorious concentration camp from World War II and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Later, we'll journey to Czestochowa to visit the Yasna Gora Monastery, known for the blackened picture of the Virgin Mary, popularly called the "Black Madonna." Late his afternoon, we'll arrive in Poland's capital city, Warsaw. We'll have a brief orientation tour by bus with our Tour Director before we check into our hotel.

This 700-year-old capital is a symbol of Polish nationhood and the will to survive against great odds. Our sightseeing tour includes a drive along the famous Royal Route from magnificent Castle Square to Lazienki Park and Palace, the summer residence of the last king of Poland. Pass by the Palace of Science and Culture (known as the “wedding cake”), the Saxon Gardens, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Monument to the Heroes of the Warsaw Ghetto, and Barbican. We'll continue with a walking tour of the Old Town, Old Market Square and St. John’s Cathedral. The rest of the day is free for shopping, a stroll through the city, relaxing in one of the many parks or gardens, or consider an optional late afternoon Chopin concert.

Our tour comes to an end today after breakfast. Travelers who purchased the air-inclusive package will transfer to the airport for our flight back to the U.S.