Itinerary
- Day 1
Budapest
You'll arrive in Budapest and have the afternoon to yourself before the welcome dinner at your hotel. There's plenty to do if you want to get out and explore - try one of the thermal baths if you're interested in relaxing, or take a Danube River cruise to see Parliament and Buda Castle from the water. If you're up for something more active, Gellért Hill offers a good hike with panoramic views across the city. The Jewish Quarter's ruin bars are worth checking out too if you want to get a feel for the local scene. Then meet everyone for dinner this evening.
- Meals
- Dinner (Welcome dinner at hotel)
Optional Activities
- Visit Gellért Bath with Art Nouveau architecture
- Visit Széchenyi Thermal Bath with yellow Neo-Baroque facade
- Danube River cruise to view Parliament Building, Buda Castle, and Széchenyi Chain Bridge
- Hike Gellért Hill for panoramic city views
- Explore Jewish Quarter and visit ruin bars with pálinka (fruit brandy)
Landmarks Parliament Building Buda Castle Széchenyi Chain Bridge Gellért Bath Széchenyi Thermal Bath Gellért Hill 
- Day 2
Budapest to Hollóko to Eger
Start your day heading to Hollóko, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where you'll see how traditional Hungarian rural life actually worked. There's a guided tour that covers folk costumes, blacksmithing demonstrations, and you'll even get a traditional dance lesson. Lunch is hearty and homemade, featuring Palóc soup and apple strudel. Later, the afternoon opens up in Eger where you can wander the cobblestone streets, check out cafes, visit the Minorite Church, or climb up to Eger Castle.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Traditional homemade lunch including Palóc soup (pork, vegetables and spices) and golden apple strudel)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Hollóko UNESCO World Heritage Site with folk performance
- Traditional homemade lunch in Hollóko including Palóc soup and apple strudel
Optional Activities
- Visit Minorite Church in Eger
- Explore Eger Castle
- Cafe visits and people-watching at Dobo Istvan Square
Landmarks Hollóko Minorite Church Eger Castle Dobo Istvan Square - Day 3
Eger to Tokaj to Kosice to High Tatras
Drive through Hungary's Tokaj wine region and stop at a family-run winery for a tasting session with five different white wines, including the well-known Tokaji Aszú dessert wine. After that, you'll cross into Slovakia, grab lunch, and get an orientation tour of Košice. From there, head toward the High Tatras mountains for the evening, and along the way you'll catch views of Spíš Castle ruins in the distance.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Wine tasting at family-run winery in Tokaj with vineyard and cellar visit, sampling five white wines including Tokaji Aszú
Optional Activities
- Purchase Tokaji wine to take home
- Orientation tour of Košice
- View Spiš Castle ruins
Landmarks Tokaj Spiš Castle High Tatras - Day 4
High Tatras
Take a cable car up to Lomnický Štít, the second highest peak in the High Tatras, where the panoramic views spread out in every direction. Once you come back down, travel to a local farm for cheese tasting and a light rustic lunch built around Oscypek cheese. If you're interested, there's an optional traditional dance opportunity in the afternoon before heading back to your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Light rustic lunch at local farm featuring Oscypek cheese infused with garlic, paprika and herbs)
Included Activities
- Cable car to Lomnický štít summit in the High Tatras
- Visit to local farm for Oscypek cheese tasting and rustic lunch
Optional Activities
- Traditional dance lesson
Landmarks Lomnický štít - Day 5
High Tatras to Wieliczka to Krakow
Descend 800 steps into Wieliczka Salt Mine, a 13th-century underground maze with chandelier-lit chambers, ornate chapels, and salt sculptures throughout. You'll have the afternoon free in Krakow, so head out to see Wawel Castle, explore the Jewish Quarter, or check out some cellar bars if that appeals to you. You're staying overnight in a characterful hotel right in the Old Town.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit to Wieliczka Salt Mine with local guide, including descent of approximately 135 metres
Optional Activities
- Explore Wawel Castle State Rooms
- Wander the Jewish Quarter
- Visit cellar bars for Polish vodka
Landmarks Wieliczka Salt Mine Wawel Castle Jewish Quarter of Krakow 
- Day 6
Krakow
Walk through Krakow's Old Town with a local guide who knows the area well, visiting the historic Cloth Hall and the gilded St Mary's Basilica. Afternoon is yours to grab lunch and explore on your own. In the evening, there's a hands-on pierogi-making class where you'll prepare and cook traditional Polish dumplings, then eat what you've made for dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Dinner featuring freshly prepared pierogi dumplings made during the hands-on cooking class)
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Krakow Old Town with local guide including Wawel Royal Castle
- Pierogi-making class in Krakow with dinner featuring freshly prepared dumplings
Optional Activities
- Try Placki ziemniaczane (Polish potato pancakes) for lunch
Landmarks Cloth Hall St Mary's Basilica Wawel Royal Castle 
- Day 7
Krakow to Auschwitz-Birkenau to Olomouc
A solemn guided tour of Auschwitz-Birkenau helps you understand its significance as the largest former Nazi concentration camp during World War II. After that, travel to Olomouc in the Czech Republic and walk through the Old Town with its baroque fountains, the astronomical clock on the Town Hall, and the neo-Gothic Saint Wenceslas Cathedral. The evening is free so you can find local dining spots on your own.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp
Optional Activities
- View Old Town baroque fountains in Olomouc
- See Town Hall's Astronomical Clock
- Visit Saint Wenceslas Cathedral
- Dinner at local restaurants
Landmarks Auschwitz-Birkenau Olomouc Old Town Town Hall's Astronomical Clock Saint Wenceslas Cathedral - Day 8
Olomouc to Brno to Trebon to Cesky Krumlov
Head to Brno, Czech Republic's second largest city, for a walking tour with your tour leader exploring market stalls and local culture. Then move on to the charming T³eboň with its pastel buildings, 17th-century château, medieval walls, and historic fishponds on a guided walk. By evening you'll arrive in the picturesque Český Krumlov where you have time to explore at your own pace.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Brno with Tour Leader
- Welcome walk of Třeboň with Tour Leader including château, medieval walls, and fishponds
Optional Activities
- Independent exploration of Český Krumlov streets and hotel relaxation
Landmarks Brno Třeboň Château Český Krumlov - Day 9
Cesky Krumlov
Walk through Český Krumlov's cobblestone streets with a local guide and visit the 13th-century castle with its mix of Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque architecture that overlooks the Old Town and Vltava River. The afternoon frees up for you to explore the castle gardens, sit by riverside cafes, or wander around independently. Later, there's a final dinner at a local restaurant to wrap up the tour.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Final dinner at a local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Český Krumlov with local guide including the castle
Optional Activities
- Explore castle gardens
- Relax at riverside cafes
- Independent wandering of Old Town
Landmarks Český Krumlov Castle Vltava River - Day 10
Cesky Krumlov to Obratan to Prague
For your final day, travel to Obratan to visit the UTOPIA Cellar where you'll learn about craft cider and vinegar production using 100% natural fresh ingredients and traditional fermenting processes, then sample their products. After that, head to Prague, the City of a Hundred Spires, where you'll explore its magical streets and walk across the iconic Charles Bridge before parting ways.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit to historic cider and vinegar cellar in Obratan with sampling of products
Optional Activities
- Purchase local ciders and vinegars
- Explore Prague's streets
- Visit Charles Bridge
Landmarks UTOPIA Cellar Charles Bridge Prague 
