Compare Budapest, Vienna and Prague by SmarTours vs Budapest to Prague Adventure by Explore!

Day 1: Depart from the U.S.

Your fascinating journey to Eastern Europe begins this evening with an overnight flight to Budapest, Hungary. Your tour includes round-trip airfare from the U.S.

*Passengers who did not purchase flights will join the tour in Budapest on Day 2.

Day 2: Arrive In Budapest, Hungary

Meals: Dinner

Landing late morning in this delightful Hungarian capital, we’ll be met and escorted to our centrally located, upscale hotel. This evening, our Tour Director hosts a welcome dinner and briefing.

Up Hotel Budapest or similar

Day 3: Budapest City Tour and Budapest at Leisure

Meals: Breakfast

This morning, your guide will introduce you to Budapest’s fascinating history and sights. Enjoy a breathtaking, panoramic view from the lookout terraces of the Fisherman’s Bastion, located on Castle Hill. We’ll also see the Citadel on Gellért Hill and Matthias Church, which was used for centuries for the coronations of Hungarian kings. In the afternoon, set sail with a leisurely 1-hour cruise on the romantic Danube River to take in city views from the water. Two drinks per person included.

Day 4: Danube Bend Excursion and Budapest at Leisure

Meals: Breakfast

Embark on a morning excursion to the scenic Hungarian countryside. We’ll journey to the artist’s town of Szentendre, a gem at the gateway to the picturesque Danube Bend river region. You’ll have free time to explore its cobblestoned streets and Baroque charms. Then, return to Budapest, where you can revel in its fine arts and architecture at your own pace.

Day 5: Budapest/Vienna, Austria

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Next, we bring you across the border into Austria and drive to Vienna for sightseeing in the heart of the Habsburg Empire. Tour along the Ring Boulevard, encircling the city center, past the Hofburg (official residence of the President of Austria), Vienna State Opera, and Saint Stephen’s Cathedral, a masterpiece of Gothic architecture. Finish your day with dinner at the hotel.

Parkhotel Schönbrunn or similar

Day 6: Vienna

Meals: Breakfast

Today brings us to the Imperial Palace of Schönbrunn—with its 18th-century architecture, interiors, and vast gardens, it’s among the most impressive baroque structures in Europe. In the afternoon, Vienna is yours to explore with some free time.

Day 7: Vienna

Meals: Breakfast

Embrace all the Vienna has to offer with a full day of independent exploration—you can discover more popular attractions and even take in some of the culture with stops at cafes and shops along the way.

Day 8: Vienna/Prague, Czech Republic

Meals: Breakfast

Today, take a leisurely scenic drive through rich farmlands to the rolling hills of Moravia. You’ll first visit the quaint town of Dürnstein before continuing over the Czech Republic border, stopping to see the charming buildings and beautiful surroundings of Telč along the way. Later in the day, we’ll reach Prague, one of Europe’s most vibrant and colorful cities.

Vienna House Diplomat or similar

Day 9: Prague

Meals: Breakfast

Beautiful Prague, the “City of a Hundred Spires,” once served as the capital of the Holy Roman Empire and is now the Czech Republic capital. This morning, tour the impressive Hradčany castle and the Old Royal Palace, one of the oldest parts of Prague Castle, dating from 1135. You’ll also see the 14th-century Charles Bridge, Old Town, and more. The afternoon is at leisure to explore more.

Day 10: Prague

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Enjoy a day of free time to unwind at an outdoor cafe, shop the bustling markets, or delve into more of Prague’s intriguing sights. You might also opt to book a tour of the fascinating Jewish Quarter. See Optional Tours for details. Tonight, celebrate this great trip with your fellow travelers at a festive farewell dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 11: Depart Prague/Arrive in the U.S.

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast, end this captivating European adventure with a transfer to the airport for your non-stop flight back to the U.S.

*The tour will end for passengers who did not purchase flights today in Prague.

Day 1 Join trip in Budapest, Hungary; orientation walk of the city

Our adventure begins in the Hungary's capital city, Budapest, where we spend the night. Situated on a beautiful stretch of the Danube River, the city consists of two parts: Buda and Pest. Buda is the older, more graceful part, with cobbled streets and medieval buildings, whilst the latter is the modern business centre. For those arriving on time our Leader plans to meet you in the hotel reception at 4:30pm for the welcome meeting and, utilising local transport, they will to take us on an orientation walking tour of the main sights of this impressive city. We'll see the Basilica of Saint Stephen and the Parliament buildings before crossing the Chain Bridge to the Castle District and Watertown. Here lie Buda's most ancient gems - Castle Hill with the Old Town, Fisherman's Bastion and the Royal Palace. After the tour for those that wish there will be the chance to go for dinner. If you would like an airport transfer today, you'll need to arrive into Budapest Airport (BUD). There is a lot to see and do in Budapest; if you can spare the time, we suggest arriving a day early to make the most of this fascinating city. Alternatively, you could consider combining this holiday with the Krakow to Budapest Adventure to make a two-week holiday. Please note that if you wish to join the orientation tour today, you must arrive at the hotel by 4.30pm. If you are booking your own flights, we recommend giving yourself at least one hour to clear the airport. It's around 45 minutes' drive from the airport to the hotel, so therefore the latest your flight can arrive is 2.30pm. Should you miss the meeting, your Leader will leave you information giving the meeting time for the next day in the hotel reception and will inform you of any essential information as soon as you catch up.

Meals Provided : None

Day 2 Drive to Bratislava, Slovakia with a walking tour on arrival

After the journey from Budapest we will spend a nice leisurely afternoon in historical Bratislava, the capital city of Slovakia. It used to be the capital of the former Hungarian Kingdom and was known as 'Pressburg' and went through tough times at war with the Ottoman Empire. We will walk through the Old Town's maze of pretty Medieval streets and squares surrounded by numerous cafes and trendy bistros. We pass by Michael's Gate which is the only remaining old entrance to the city, the pretty Main Square, Neoclassical Primate's Palace and Cathedral of Saint Martin. After the walk you can continue your discovery by visiting one of the oldest castles in Slovakia or by enjoying a birds eye view from city's most famous landmark, the so-called UFO bridge, which affords views over the 'panelaky' typical communist era blocks of flats and various other fairly radical urban projects.

Meals Provided : Breakfast

Day 3 Train to Vienna, Austria; chance to travel back by boat

This morning we take a short train ride (about 1 hour) to Austria's capital, Vienna, where we enjoy a walking tour of the Old City with a local guide. This should offer a good initial overview of the history and the structure of the city. Sights during the walk will include the Karlsplatz, Heroes Square, Hofburg (Imperial Palace Complex), Imperial Treasury, National Library, Spanish Riding School, Vienna's ancient housing estates, Saint Stephens Church and the Opera. We won't have time to enter any of these places on our tour but afterwards you will be free to return to visit any that you wish. You can choose to return to Bratislava by train at your leisure (we will provide a return ticket) or you may prefer to book a boat trip back along the Danube River (taking approximately 2 hours).

Meals Provided : Breakfast

Day 4 Visit to Lednice-Valtice and wine tasting in Mikulov, Czechia

We start our day with a train trip (taking around 1 hour), followed by a short bus journey to the beautiful town of Mikulov. Filled with history embodied in architectural monuments, this small town offers something for everyone. Situated in the very heart of the wine region, it has plenty of walking paths with local and family run wine cellars or wine tasting centres along the way. En route to Mikulov we stop at Lednice-Valtice Cultural Landscape, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It's one of the largest artificial landscapes in Europe and here we will take a walk around the castle park of Chateau Lednice. In the afternoon we visit the Jewish Cemetery in Mikulov with centuries old tombs and it is the final resting place of many prominent rabbis. Following our visit we'll enjoy a wine tasting of Mikulov's local produce.

Meals Provided : Breakfast

Day 5 Train to Prague and explore on foot

A train journey takes us to our final destination of Prague, the capital city of the Czechia. Our train travel today will involve a change of trains and take approximately 4.5 hours in total. Twelve centuries have adorned it with a labyrinth of old streets and wonderful palaces and bridges. We enjoy a guided city tour, which will take in some of the main highlights including the Old Town Square and City Hall, set amid antique houses and arcades. Other sites include the Astronomical Clock, Powder Tower and Prague Ghetto, which includes the Jewish Cemetery and Synagogues. We also see Charles Bridge, the most handsome bridge over the Vltava River and the area of Hradcany which contains the castle of the Bohemian Kings.

Meals Provided : Breakfast

Day 6 Free day in Prague with the option to visit Konopiste Castle

On our second day in Prague you are free to enjoy the city at your leisure. You may wish to head by local train to the 700 year old Konopiste Castle. The castle was once owned by Archduke Ferdinand, whose assassination in Sarajevo triggered the start of World War I. A boat trip on the Vltava River is another possibility. There are also many classical music concerts to be found. If the timing is right, you may be lucky to see a performance in one of the old atmospheric churches. There the option of visiting the Bunker Museum, where a range of Cold War relics are on display from an age when paranoia and spying was at an all-time high, which is housed in a former communist bunker underneath the city.

Meals Provided : Breakfast

Day 7 Trip ends in Prague

The trip ends after breakfast at our hotel in Prague. There are no activities planned today, so you are free to depart from Prague at any time. If your flight is departing later in the day, luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you would like an airport transfer today, you need to depart from Prague Airport (PRG).

Meals Provided : Breakfast