Day 1 in Prague

Welcome to Prague! Upon arrival, you will go through customs and immigration. Should you opt to purchase a transfer to your hotel; a representative will be waiting for you as you exit immigration. Arrive at your hotel, check in and do not give in to jet lag! The city of a thousand spires awaits you!

Begin your visit in the Old Town (Staré Mesto). Old Town Square is the historical heart of Prague and it is here that you will find the Old Town Hall and its famous Astronomical Clock, dating from the 14th century. Be sure to see the hourly procession of the apostles on the clock and then climb (or take the elevator) to the top of the tower for panoramic views of the city, including the Gothic spires of the Tyn Church and Jan Hus monument. Then stop for lunch (and more amazing photos) at the rooftop restaurant of the U Prince restaurant on the square or try the traditional goulash and roast pork knee with cabbage and dumplings served at U Vejvodu, one of the original restaurants of the Pilsner brewery, located on Jilska street.

This afternoon, explore the Jewish Quarter (Josefov) including the Maisel Synagogue, the Pinkas Synagogue, the Spanish Synagogue, the Old Jewish Cemetery and the Jewish Museum. Afterwards, head to Powder Tower, one of the historical gates to Old Town, before continuing next door to admire the exquisite Art Nouveau interiors of Prague's Municipal House, home to Smetana Hall and the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra. This is a good place to stop for a cup of coffee or bite to eat in the ground floor restaurant. Or have dinner in the famous Sarah Bernhardt restaurant, located in Hotel Paris, opposite the Municipal House. Finish your evening with a romantic stroll across the Charles Bridge at night.

 

Day 2 in Prague

Wake up early today and head for Charles Bridge to gaze upon its many statues and touch the Cross of St. Jan of Nepomuk. (You can climb the towers at either end of the bridge for panoramic views of the city.) Across the Vltava River, in Lesser Town (Mala Strana), you will want to visit the baroque Church of St. Nicholas as well as the Church of Our Lady Victorious, home to the famous 'Infant Jesus of Prague'. Afterwards, explore the quaint streets of this area that were once home to diplomats and merchants and now house many foreign embassies.

From Mala Strana continue to the beautiful cloisters of Strahov Monastery, where you can stop for a refreshing beer and snack, before visiting the Prague Loreto, Castle Square and Prague Castle, which in not a single building, but rather a complex of buildings and churches. Your tour of Prague Castle, founded in the 9th century, should include visits to St. Vitus Cathedral, the Royal Palace, St. George's Basilica and Golden Lane.

After a busy day of sightseeing, board a relaxing dinner boat cruise along the Vlatava River and admire the sights of Prague by night. Or if you enjoy opera, you can catch a performance at the famous Estates' Theatre where Mozart's Don Giovanni was first staged in 1787.

 

Day 3 in Prague

Begin your day exploring Wenceslas Square, the busiest and liveliest part of the city. There are many choices for dining and shopping in this area, especially on Na Prikope Street. Here, you should visit the National Museum at the top of the Square, with its Hall of Fame devoted to famous Czech personalities, as well as the Alfons Mucha Museum on Panska Street, parallel to the square. This relaxing oasis showcases the Art Nouveau designs of the famous artist.

This afternoon, head into New Town (Nove Mesto), to see the New Town Hall and Charles Square before continuing towards the river to Dancing House and the Manes Exhibition Hall, dominated by a 15th century water tower and dedicated to all forms of visual arts. Its juxtaposition of old and new makes it one of the most photographed landmarks in Prague. Afterwards, follow the river up to the National Theatre then cross the Legion Bridge.

Time permitting, make your way to Ujezd tram stop and follow the signs for 'Lanove drahy' to ride the funicular up to the Petrin Tower (Little Eiffel Tower) for the most amazing views of the city! Finally, spend your last evening wandering around the quaint shops and restaurants of Kampa Park before making your way across the Charles Bridge one last time.

 

Additional Days in Prague

Should you be able to spend additional days in Prague then try a day trip outside of the city to experience even more of the rich history and culture of this beautiful country. We suggest our optional tour 'Karlstejn Castle Half-Day Trip from Prague'. By far the most popular destination in the Czech Republic after Prague, the medieval Karlstejn Castle was built by Charles IV to safeguard the crown jewels of the Holy Roman Empire.

Another popular tour is 'Kutna Hora Day Trip from Prague'. After Prague, this medieval town was the most important town in Bohemia due to its rich silver deposits. The historic center and Kutná Hora's main draw, St. Barbara's Cathedral, have been on the UNESCO list for more than 10 years. Cesky Krumlov, with the second largest castle complex in the country, the spa town of Karlovy Vary and the haunting Terezin Memorial are also great choices so be sure to check our optional sightseeing tours for availability and prices.

 

Day 1 in Vienna

Arrive at the train station in Vienna and proceed to your hotel. After check-in, enjoy lunch or savor the true flavor of Vienna in the chandelier-lit splendor of a nearby kaffeehaus. Every afternoon around 3pm the coffee and pastry ritual of 'Kaffeejause' takes place across the city.

Afterwards, we recommend that you get acquainted with the city by choosing an optional tour such as 'Vienna City Hop on Hop Off Tour, ' showcasing the main sights of the Austrian capital or 'Vienna Sightseeing Tour with Danube Boat Ride'.

As night falls, take a horse-drawn Fiaker carriage from Stephansplatz to clip-clop through the stately Innerestadt; then dine on classics like wiener schnitzel or Tafelspitz (boiled beef with horseradish) at Sacher Hotel Restaurant. For dessert, do not miss the legendary Sachertorte, a rich chocolate cake with a layer of apricot jam.

 

Day 2 in Vienna

Wake up early today and head for St. Stephan's Cathedral, Vienna's 12th century Gothic basilica, crowned by a 450 foot steeple. Climb the spiral steps of the South Tower for an amazing panoramic view of the city. Following your tour of the cathedral, stroll up the pedestrian only Kärntnerstrasse, the main shopping street, towards Staatsoper. This elegant and imposing building is Austria's leading opera house and presents some of the world's greatest music (often from famous Austrian composers).

This afternoon you may want to visit the Hofburg Palace, the winter palace of the Habsburgs. The complex is so vast that you are not likely to see it all in one day so try to visit the main attractions, including the Albertina, Augustinerkirche, Kaiserappartments (Imperial Apartments) and the magnificent Schatzkammer (Imperial Treasury), home of the Habsburg jewels, including the crowns of the Holy Roman and Austrian empires as well as the greatest treasure, the Imperial Crown, dating from 962.

Now is a good time to stop for coffee and a snack before visiting the Spanische Reitschule, the Spanish Riding school, where the famed Lipizzaner stallions have been performing for four centuries, and the Burgkapelle, home of the Vienna Boys' Choir. (With careful planning you may be able to see a performance). Following a busy day of sightseeing, hop a streetcar for a ride around the entire Ringstrasse, the circle of tree lined boulevards that enclose the old city of Vienna and whose monumental buildings reflect the imperial splendor of days gone by.

 

Day 3 in Vienna

Begin your day at the Schönbrunn Palace, the stunning summer palace of the Habsburgs where you will want to see the State Apartments, followed by the Gloriette, the marble summerhouse and the palace's Imperial Gardens. Afterwards, take a break at Tiroler House (west of Gloriette). This was the favorite retreat of the Empress Elilsabeth, but is nowadays a small restaurant and café.

After lunch, plan to spend the afternoon at Kumsthistorisches Museum, housing the world's largest collection of Bruegels, along with the works of old masters such as Dürer, Rubens, and Rembrandt. Alternatively, explore the many attractions on display within the MuseumsQuartier Complex, notably the Kunsthalle Wien, the Leopold Museum, featuring the largest collection of works by Egon Schiele and MUMOK.

On your final night in Vienna, dress up and head to the Staatsoper to enjoy the sound of music (perhaps Mozart or Strauss) and to see the world's most renowned opera stars perform, accompanied by the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. Or make your way to the Prater where you can enjoy an exceptional panorama over the city at night from the top of the iconic Riesenrad ferris wheel. Dine at one of the many open air cafes that line the park then leisurely stroll along the abundant tree lined paths before saying 'Auf Wiedersehen' to Vienna.

 

Additional Days in Vienna

Should you be able to spend additional days in Vienna then a visit to the Belvedere Palace, southeast of Karlsplatz, is a must. Sitting on the slope of a hill with panoramic views of Vienna, this baroque palace features beautifully landscaped gardens and priceless art, including Gustav Klimt's shimmering masterpiece, 'The Kiss'.

Afterwards, we suggest you head to Naschmarkt in the 6th district where you can have a bite to eat and explore the famous open-air market where Viennese merchants have operated since the Middle Ages. Nearby, visit the Secession Building, the shrine of the Jugendstil (art nouveau) movement as well as the dazzling edifice of Otto Wagner's majolica-adorned mansion.

For evening entertainment there is nothing more Viennese than Heurigen Hopping in the Vienna Woods. Heurigen are rustic wine taverns that celebrate the arrival of each year's new wine (heurig) by placing a pine branch over the door. The Viennese rush to the taverns to drink the new local wines, feast on country buffets and enjoy live folk music. Grinzing is the most visited town for those wanting to spend a night at a heurigen.

For those looking to get out of the city, we recommend our optional day trip to Wachau in the magnificent Danube Valley (listed Unesco World Cultural Heritage). Tours include a visit of the impressive Melk Abbey as well as the medieval village of Durnstein. The beautiful 'Salzkammergut' lake district and Salzburg, birthplace of Mozart, are also great choices so be sure to check our optional sightseeing tours for availability and prices.

 

Day 1 in Budapest

Arrive at the train station in Budapest and proceed to your hotel. After check-in, enjoy a relaxing bite to eat at the famous Gerbeaud coffeehouse, opened in 1858.

This afternoon we recommend that you purchase one of our optional tours to acquaint yourself with the city. The 'Big Bus Budapest Hop On Hop Off Tour' stops at many different landmarks around the city, allowing you to explore Budapest at your leisure. Also popular is the 'Budapest Sightseeing Cruise' where you can relax and admire the panorama of the city, including the Chain Bridge and the imposing Parliament building (the second largest in Europe after Westminster), from the beautiful Blue Danube.

This evening, mingle with the locals. Enjoy a traditional meal of Hungarian goulash and chicken paprikash before heading out to a local bar or club. Budapest has many lively nightlife possibilities to suit every taste; just remember the bar and club scene starts late and lasts until morning. On the other hand, Budapest is a cosmopolitan city with a remarkable variety of cultural events. It is home to one of Europe's finest opera houses and you won't regret seeing its splendors up close whether it be an opera, ballet or theater performance. We also recommend the program of Hungarian dancing accompanied by a Gypsy orchestra at the Municipal Cultural House.

 

Day 2 in Budapest

This morning we recommend that you purchase our optional tour 'Budapest City Walking Tour'. The tour begins at the Opera House with a short ride by Millennium metro (the first underground metro line in continental Europe) to reach Heroes' Square and City Park. Afterwards there is a visit of the Vajdahynyad Castle complex followed by a stop at the Szechenyi bath house where the guide will explain about Hungarian bath culture. Continuing on, you will see the areas of Deak Square, Elizabeth Square and St Stephen's Basilica before taking a break in a cafe for a taste of Hungary's pastry called 'retes,' which is a strudel. Following a short stroll along the Vaci pedestrian street and Vorsomarthy Square, you will head down to Danube Promenade for spectacular views of Gellert hill and Citadel, Buda Hill and the Buda Castle district. After a brief stop at the former municipal hall you will cross the famous Chain Bridge. Then you will climb up the stairs into the Buda Castle district to see the Royal Palace, Matthias church and Fisherman's Bastion.

From Fisherman's Bastion, sip a glass of wine as you watch the sun set over Pest. Wander through the old cobbled stone streets while you wait for darkness to fall - the views of Parliament and the Chain Bridge illuminated at night are absolutely breathtaking!

 

Day 3 in Budapest

Budapest is home to many museums, including the Ethnographical Museum, the Museum of Fine Arts and the Hungarian National Gallery. An afternoon in the Jewish district (District VII) will not disappoint. The Dohány Street Synagogue is the largest in Europe and the more humble Rumbach Synagogue is right around the corner. A trip to the Central Market Hall is not only a good place to pick up souvenirs, but also a fun place for people watching. The balcony overlooking the whole market is an experience you should not miss.

These days most people have forgotten that the city was once filled with statues to Lenin, Marx and other representations of the Communist era. In the aftermath of 1989, a plan was conceived for an outdoor museum, Memento Park, for these unwelcome reminders of those difficult times. Besides the 42 statues, you will find a lot of symbolism and metaphors for the ugly realities of Communism.

This evening, we suggest a trip to the Szechenyi bath house (or Gellért Baths) for some well deserved rest and relaxation. What better way to end your stay than soaking in the history and culture of this amazing city?

 

Additional Days in Budapest

Should you be able to spend additional days in Budapest, then try a day trip outside of the city to experience even more of the rich history and culture of Hungary. We suggest our optional tour 'Szentendre Half Day Sightseeing Trip from Budapest', which will take you to the picturesque artists' village of Szentendre where you will visit the magnificent Caprice Hungarian Jewellery Center. The 'Danube Bend Day Trip from Budapest' is an excursion into Hungary's history. You will be taken to Visegrad, the former Royal Residence and to Esztergom, center of the Catholic Church.

 

Your Last Day in Budapest

Depart your hotel for the airport for your return home. We recommend that you purchase a private transfer, if so a representative will meet you at the hotel, in time to take you to the airport for your flight out.