Day 1 - Depart USA
Board your overnight flight to Eastern europe.
Day 2 - Vienna at Leisure
Welcome to Vienna! On arrival at Vienna Airport, your airport transfer leaves for the tour hotel at 09:00,11:00 13:00 & 15:00. Vienna is famous for its delicious coffees & pastries so, after checking in, why not stroll to a local café. Or take a walk through the Stadtpark to see the statue of Strauss. Later, meet your Tour Director for a Welcome Drink.
IN. Hotel: Hilton
Day 3 - Vienna Sightseeing
Join your local guide for a visit to the magnificent Schönbrunn Palace & gardens. See also St Charles' Church & the baroque architecture of the Opera House, the magnificent Hofburg Imperial Residence & Parliament building. Cafés are an institution in Vienna; your guide points out some of the most famous & explains the history & important role they play in local culture. The afternoon is at leisure. (BB)
Day 4 - Vienna - Cesky Krumlov - Prague
Journey north to Cesky Krumlov, a UNESCO World Heritage Site & one of the best preserved medieval towns in Europe. Time here to wander through the cobblestone, traffic free streets, past colourful houses that lead up to the finest castle in the land. Afterwards, enjoy a delightful drive through the Bohemian countryside to 'Golden' Prague - so called for its gleaming gilded spires. This evening, choose from a selection of mouth-watering menus on a special Dine-Around evening.
Hotel: Palace (BB,DA)
Day 5 - Prague sightseeing
Join your expert local guide for a sightseeing tour which begins with the 1,000-year-old Hradcany Castle & majestic St Vitus' Cathedral. Descend to the Old Town, where the tour concludes at the fascinating Astronomical Clock in the city square. Later, there is time to shop for fine Bohemian crystal, Carlsbad porcelain or superb costume jewelry; treasures for which the Czech Republic is world-famous. (BB)
Day 6 - Prague at Leisure
A full day at leisure to explore one of Europe's most enchanting cities. You may like to visit the Jewish quarter where the world's oldest synagogue still operates, or enjoy a pleasant walk across Charles Bridge to the cobbled streets of Mala Strana the "Lesser Town". Certainly take some time to admire the fairy tale architecture of this city that was once the medieval seat of the Holy Roman Empire. (BB)
Day 7 - Prague - Brno - Bratislava
Drive through the wine-producing area of South Moravia to Brno. During your orientation tour, see the baroque Cathedral of St Peter & St Paul as well as the grim Spilberk Fortress, used as a jail by the Nazis during WWII. After crossing the Slovakian border, drive to the capital of Bratislava. Upon arrival, view the presidential palace before taking a leisurely walk through the Old Town, stopping at the medieval Town Hall. Also ascend to the imposing 9C castle, perched high above the Danube, for panoramic views over three countries.
Hotel: Sheraton (BB,D)
Day 8 - Bratislava - Esztergom - Szentendre - Budapest
Skirt the foothills of the Little Carpathian Mountains before crossing the Danube at Komarom to enter Hungary. Stop a while in Esztergom, former capital of Hungary, for a visit to the splendid cathedral. Then continue to Visegrád, where the castle walls & Solomon's Tower are all that remain of the town's regal splendour. Walk up to the Citadel for breath-taking views across the Danube Bend. A fascinating drive along the Danube leads you to the picturesque riverside village of Szentendre. This community has long been the haunt of artists, enchanted by its brightly coloured houses & quaint churches. The remains of the Roman settlement of Aquincum, announce your arrival in Budapest.
Hotel: Corinthia Grand Royal (BB)
Day 9 - Budapest Sightseeing
Begin your included sightseeing tour with a view across the Danube from the lofty Citadel atop Gellert Hill. Then ascend to the heart of Buda's Castle District to visit Matthias Church and take in the vista of the immense Parliament building from the Fisherman's Bastion. Cross the Danube to the Pest district to visit Heroes' Square and Andrassy Boulevard. The afternoon is set aside for you to shop or explore at your own pace. As night falls, get together for a farewell Highlight Dinner with traditional Gypsy music. (BB, HD)
Day 10 - Return to USA
Your tour comes to an end after breakfast. Your scheduled transfer arrives at Budapest Airport at 08:00 then continues to Vienna airport arriving at 12:00. (BB)
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