Imperial Cities featuring Prague, Vienna & Budapest

What's Included

• Tour of Prague Castle

  Tour the majestic Prague Castle.

• Exclusive Talk in Hungary

  Get a glimpse into Hungary’s communist past during an exclusive talk with a local.

• Bratislava Tour

  Get to know Bratislava's 4,000-year-old history on a tour with a local expert.

• Traditional Czech Dinner

  Enjoy traditional Czech cuisine and folklore performance during dinner.

• Community-Hosted Lunch

  Join local residents for a community-hosted lunch in Dunaalmás.

• Renaissance-Style Dinner

  Savor a Renaissance-style dinner at a medieval castle restaurant near Budapest.

• Visit to Schönbrunn Palace

  Visit the magnificent Schonbrunn Palace, a summer retreat of the Habsburg dynasty.

• Budapest Sightseeing

  Discover Budapest’s iconic sights through the eyes of an expert.

• Stop in Cesky Krumlov

  Enjoy a stop in the fairy-tale town of Cesky Krumlov.

• Transport

  Travel through the scenic countryside with stops in Cesky Krumlov and Bratislava, and enjoy a panoramic tour of Budapest.

What's Not Included

• Meals on Your Own

  Some meals, such as dinner on your own in Vienna, are not included.

• Optional Excursions

  Optional excursions, such as the tour of Prague's Old Jewish Quarter and Budapest by Night, are not included.

• Leisure Time Activities

  Activities during leisure time, such as shopping or visiting museums, are not included.

Experiences

• Tour the majestic Prague Castle.
• Get a glimpse into Hungary’s communist past during an exclusive talk with a local.
• Get to know Bratislava's 4,000-year-old history on a tour with a local expert.

Options

Prague: Prague's Old Jewish Quarter Prague’s Jewish Quarter, the historic Josefov, tells the moving and powerful stories of a community with roots in Prague dating back to the 10th century. This history comes alive on a guided tour of the neighborhood where Jewish residency was confined by law in the 13th century. Hear stories of success, heartbreak, perseverance, and persecution. Learn about the golom, the automaton of ancient Jewish legends which protected 16th-century Jews. Visit the Old Jewish Cemetery, where more than 12,000 graves are carefully fit into a tiny space, the oldest dating back to 1439. Explore the Jewish Museum and its synagogues and learn of their significance. Duration approximately 3.5 hour(s). Transportation is included. A minimum of 15 passenger(s) is required to operate this option.




Budapest: Budapest by Night Local culinary specialties await as you start a fantastic evening out in Budapest at one of the most popular local restaurants. Sit down to a dinner of creative Hungarian cuisine in a traditional Hungarian setting. After dinner, embark on a romantic evening cruise on the Danube. Discover the beauty of Budapest’s beautiful landmarks illuminated by the evening sky, sipping on a glass of wine as you glide down the river's beautiful waters. A selection of beverages is included on board. Duration approximately 3.5 hour(s). Transportation is included. A minimum of 6 passenger(s) is required to operate this option.




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Culinaries

• Enjoy traditional Czeck cuisine and folklore performance during dinner.
• Savor a Renaissance-style dinner at a medieval castle restaurant near Budapest.

Must See

• Visit the magnificent Schonbrunn Palace, a summer retreat of the Habsburg dynasty.
• Discover Budapest’s iconic sights through the eyes of an expert.
• Enjoy a stop in the fairy-tale town of Cesky Krumlov.

Choice Highlights

Prague Prague is the capital of the Czech Republic and of the state of Bohemia, with a population of about 2 million in the metro area. Because it received very little damage in WWII, it is has many beautifully preserved sights from several eras and its historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It was capital of the Holy Roman Empire and a center of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and it was the site of the Velvet Revolution in 1989 when citizens peacefully took Czechoslovakia back from the Communists. It is known for music (composers Dvorak, Smetana and Mozart lived here), literature (Franz Kafka) and for having almost as many kinds of Pilsner beer as it has bars and restaurants.

Prague Castle Prague Castle is a complex of intrigue based in 9th century stone – an ancient symbol of the Czech State and one of the world’s most significant cultural landmarks. The largest castle complex in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the castle serves as the official home of the President of the Czech Republic, and the residence of princes and kings since the 10th century. This age-old, ageless landmark hides a different kind of stone, or stones – Prague Castle is home to the Bohemian Crown Jewels. The crown, the scepter, and the coronation cloak of St. Wenceslas is protected behind a chamber door, an iron safe, and seven locks – the keys to which only seven people possess.

Cesky Krumlov This is a small city on the Vltava River south of Prague and a UNESCO World Heritage site. It was once an important trade route through Bohemia, and is home to the Cesky Krumlov Castle, the second-largest in Czech Republic. The town was founded in the 13th century, and most of the old city buildings date from the 14th century. Cesky Krumlov is home to several important arts festivals every year, including candlelight operas in the 16th-century theater in the castle.

Vienna This is the capital city of Austria, located on the Danube, with a population of over 2 million in the metro area. It is known as the “City of Music” because of the numerous famous composers who have lived and worked here, such as Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven and Brahms, and also as the “City of Dreams” as it was home to Sigmund Freud. Some of its primary sights are Schonbrunn Palace, Hofburg Palace, Opera House, Belvedere and St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Vienna is also known for its coffee houses and restaurants.

Schonbrunn Palace This Vienna palace was a summer residence of the Holy Roman Emperors beginning in the 17th century, and is the most-visited site in Austria. Emperor Maximillian II bought the property for a hunting preserve, and it was remodeled by Empress Maria Theresa in the mid 18th century. On the grounds are an orangerie, a palm house, a French garden designed by a student of the designer of the gardens at Versailles in France, an English garden and a large park. Concerts are often held here with music of Mozart and others.

Classical Music Performance At a classical music concert featuring masterpieces by Mozart and Strauss, enjoy the melodies in the regions where they were created. The delightful music is complimented by the elegant decor of the concert hall.

Danube Cruise and Melk Abbey or The Belvedere Museum or Learn the Viennese Waltz Choose how to spend your day because, it's your choice! Venture down the Danube* to the medieval town of Durnstein and cruise to the 11th-century Melk Abbey -OR- join a local guide in the Belvedere Museum, home to Gustav Klimt's iconic painting The Kiss -OR- enjoy a leisurely morning before attending a Viennese Waltz lesson in the afternoon. The rest of the day is yours.



Danube Cruise and Melk Abbey

Activity Level 2: Travelers should be able to stand and walk for at least 45 minutes.

*The Danube River Cruise to Melk Abbey is available mid-April to mid-October. Outside these times, a cruise through Vienna will be substitued.



The Belvedere Museum

Activity Level 3: Guests will be traveling to this option with a local guide by public transportation. They should be able to walk or stand for 60 minutes at a time.



Learn the Viennese Waltz

Activity Level 4: Must be active enough to participate in a 60 minute dance class. It will be a beginner class so accessible for all who can be on their feet for 60 minutes.

Bratislava This is the capital of Slovakia, and it is located on the Danube, close to the Hungarian and Austrian borders. It was once the capital of the Kingdom of Hungary when that country was part of the Hapsburg Empire, and became Slovakia’s capital when that country split from Czechoslovakia in 1993. Its most important attractions are the 13th-century Bratislava Castle, the Old Town, Michael’s Gate and St. Martin’s Cathedral.

Budapest This city on the Danube is actually two cities: Buda and Pest, divided by the river. In its history, it has been Celtic, Roman, invaded by Mongols and Turks, second capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and now the capital Hungary, with about 1.8 million people. Its varied architecture from so many cultures helped make Budapest a UNESCO World Heritage site, and it is known for its coffee houses, traditional Hungarian restaurants and working Turkish baths from the 16th century.

Matthias Church The original church was built in the early 11th century in the Buda section of Budapest near the Buda Castle. It was reconstructed in the 14th century in Gothic style and was named for King Matthias of Hungary. When the Ottoman Turks occupied Buda in the 16th century it became the main mosque of the city, and at that time many of the frescos inside were destroyed. Most were restored in the 19th century. It was used as a camp by Soviet and German soldiers during the Soviet occupation of Budapest in late WWII.

Fisherman's Bastion This is a terrace overlooking the Danube on the Buda side of the river near the Buda Castle and Matthias Church. It was built in the early 20th century and honors the fisherman’s guild which defended the city walls in this part of Buda. The towers represent the 7 Magyar (Hungarian) tribes who settled here and there is a statue of King Stephen I of Hungary between the Bastion and Matthias Church.

Visegrad

Renaissance Dinner Board the coach for a trip outside Budapest to the Danube Bend town of Visegrad. Here you will experience life in medieval times while enjoying a traditional Hungarian country-style (medieval-themed) dinner of hearty delights. Next, stroll up a few stone steps to the well-preserved castle and ramparts of this ancient structure overlooking the mighty Danube. Watch ringside while knights perform archery, mace fighting, and axe throwing.

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Mode of Transport

Travel through the scenic countryside with stops in Cesky Krumlov and Bratislava, and enjoy a panoramic tour of Budapest, ensuring a seamless and picturesque journey between the imperial cities.

Accommodation

Stay in comfort at the Grandior Hotel in Prague, the InterContinental Hotel, and the Up Hotel in Vienna, offering a blend of modern amenities and classic charm to enhance your travel experience.