Itinerary
- Day 1
Vienna
You'll arrive at Vienna airport where transfers run at 10:00, 13:00, and 15:30 to get you to your hotel. Later that evening at 17:30, you'll meet your Travel Director and other travelers for a welcome drink, then head to a local restaurant for dinner with wine.
- Meals
- Dinner (Welcome Dinner served with wine at a local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Welcome Dinner with wine at local restaurant
- Day 2
Vienna
A Local Expert guides you through Schönbrunn Palace and its formal gardens, where you'll see gilded Rococo frames, frescoed ceilings, and crystal chandeliers. From there, the group drives around the Ring Road to check out the Opera House, Hofburg Imperial Residence, Parliament Building, and Karlskirche.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Private guided tour of Schönbrunn Palace and formal gardens
- Drive around the Ring Road viewing Opera House, Hofburg Imperial Residence, Austrian Parliament Building, and Karlskirche
Landmarks Schönbrunn Palace Vienna State Opera House Hofburg Palace Austrian Parliament Building Karlskirche - Day 3
Prague
You'll cross into the Czech Republic to reach Český Krumlov for a brief orientation with your Travel Director around this medieval town. After that, free time lets you wander the traffic-free cobblestone streets past colorful houses and take in views of the Vltava River toward the castle. In the afternoon, you'll drive through green Bohemian countryside to arrive in Prague.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Orientation tour of Český Krumlov
Landmarks Český Krumlov Castle Vltava River 
- Day 4
Prague
Prague offers choices this morning. You can walk through Prague Castle's courtyards and visit St. Vitus Cathedral, or join a Local Expert for a walk through the Jewish Quarter to learn about the city's Jewish history. Either way, you'll head to Old Town Square to see the Astronomical Clock and watch its mechanical glockenspiel perform each hour.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Choice of Prague Castle courtyards and St. Vitus Cathedral visit, or Jewish Quarter walking tour with Local Expert
- Visit to Old Town Square and Astronomical Clock
Landmarks Prague Castle St. Vitus Cathedral Prague Jewish Quarter Old Town Square Prague Astronomical Clock - Day 5
Prague to Kraków
A gentle drive takes you through rolling Czech countryside before crossing into Poland to reach Oświęcim, known by its German name Auschwitz. You'll join a guided tour with a Local Expert at the memorial and museum, then visit Birkenau to learn about the Holocaust's terrible atrocities.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Auschwitz memorial and museum
- Visit to Birkenau
Landmarks Auschwitz Memorial and Museum Birkenau 
- Day 6
Kraków
This morning you can choose to explore the 600-year-old Wieliczka Salt Mines to see salt sculptures and a cathedral carved from rock salt, or have leisure time instead. In the afternoon, a Local Expert takes you through Wawel Hill and the cathedral, then walks you through the Old Town past Pope John Paul II's former residence to the large town square. You'll see the medieval Cloth Hall and St. Mary's Basilica with its famous tower trumpeter. By evening, you'll select from hand-picked local restaurants for your dine-around dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Dine-Around Evening - choice of hand-picked local restaurants, unique in Polish flavour)
Included Activities
- Guided exploration of Wawel Hill and cathedral with Local Expert
- Walk through the Old Town, medieval Cloth Hall, and visit St. Mary's Basilica
- Dine-Around Evening at hand-picked local restaurants
Optional Activities
- Journey to Wieliczka Salt Mines - 600-year-old subterranean world with salt sculptures, sunken lakes, and cathedral carved from rock salt
Landmarks Wieliczka Salt Mines Wawel Castle Wawel Cathedral Kraków Old Town Square Cloth Hall (Sukiennice) St. Mary's Basilica - Day 7
Kraków to Budapest
You'll travel into the Slovakian region of Orava to see Oravský Hrad castle, then continue through the Low Tatra Mountains before arriving in Budapest.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit to Oravský Hrad
Landmarks Oravský Hrad Low Tatra Mountains 
- Day 8
Budapest
A Local Expert takes you into Buda's medieval Castle District to visit Matthias Church and see views from Fisherman's Bastion. After crossing the Danube to Pest, you'll see Heroes' Square and drive down Andrássy Boulevard. The Central Market Hall is next, where three levels of food stalls offer salamis, paprika, Hungarian wines, and Pálinka brandy. The rest of the day is free to relax by the Danube or shop on Vaci Street. You'll finish with a Celebration Dinner of Hungarian specialties and selected wines at Gundel restaurant.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Celebration Dinner at Gundel restaurant - Hungarian specialities accompanied by specially selected Hungarian wines)
Included Activities
- Guided visit to Matthias Church with Local Expert
- Vista from Fisherman's Bastion
- Visit to Heroes' Square
- Drive along Andrássy Boulevard
- Time in the Central Market Hall exploring three levels of food stalls
- Celebration Dinner at Gundel restaurant with Hungarian specialities and selected wines
Landmarks Matthias Church Fisherman's Bastion Heroes' Square Andrássy Boulevard Central Market Hall Vaci Street Danube River - Day 9
Departure from Budapest
Your journey ends after breakfast. Scheduled transfers to Budapest airport leave at 07:00 and 11:00.
- Meals
- Breakfast
