Compare Warsaw, Budapest, Vienna & Prague 2022 by Tauck vs Highlights of Eastern Europe - End Budapest, Small Group End Budapest Small Group by Insight Vacations

Day 1 Arrive Warsaw

Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Hotel Bristol, Warsaw. A transfer is included from Warsaw Frederic Chopin Airport to your historic hotel on Warsaw's fashionable "Royal Route." Meet your travel companions and your Tauck Director at tonight's welcome reception and dinner in the hotel, a Warsaw landmark for over a century.

MEALS : D

LODGING : Hotel Bristol, Warsaw

PORTOFCALL : Warsaw, Poland

Day 2 Explore Warsaw & enjoy the music of Chopin

Although more than 85% of Warsaw was destroyed or damaged in World War II, the city has been rebuilt into one of Europe's most vibrant capitals, using pre-war paintings and sketches to painstakingly reconstruct many historic buildings, restoring them to their former glory. See the results for yourself on a guided sightseeing tour including the Palace of Culture; Radziwill Palace, where the beloved composer Frederic Chopin gave his first concert; the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier; the Grand Theatre; and Constitution Square. Continue with a walking tour through 13th- and 14th-century Old Town (Stare Miasto), and a visit to the Jewish Ghetto Memorial honoring the victims of the Warsaw Ghetto and the heroes of the 1943 uprising. Chopin's music comes to life at a private piano recital in the early evening, followed by a dinner featuring typical Polish cuisine and authentic local entertainment at a local restaurant.

MEALS : B, D

LODGING : Hotel Bristol, Warsaw

PORTOFCALL : Warsaw, Poland

Day 3 To Kraków & its Old Town

Start the day with a journey from Warsaw across the Polish countryside to ancient Kraków, the country's medieval capital and considered one of the finest medieval cities in Europe, for a two-night stay. Upon arrival, take a walking tour of the city's Old Town, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, including the Jagiellonian University, the Franciscan Church and the Archbishop's Palace, where Karol Wojtyla lived for two decades before becoming Pope John Paul II. After your tour, check into your Kraków hotel; enjoy dinner at your hotel at leisure tonight.

MEALS : B, D

LODGING : Sheraton Grand Krakow

PORTOFCALL : Kraków, Poland

Day 4 Kazimierz or Wawel & Kraków or Auschwitz

You'll have a choice of sightseeing this morning, choosing to explore Kraków's former Jewish Quarter, known as Kazimierz (holidays permitting) – nearly destroyed in World War II but now restored and enjoying a Renaissance – or journeying to Wawel Hill on the banks of the Vistula to see Wawel Castle, the seat of Polish kings from the 11th to 17th centuries, and visit inside iconic Wawel Cathedral, Poland's national sanctuary and historic royal coronation site. In the afternoon, you're free to explore Kraków on your own or join an excursion to the poignant memorial and museum at Auschwitz, 40 miles from the city.

MEALS : B, D

LODGING : Sheraton Grand Krakow

PORTOFCALL : Kraków, Poland

Day 5 Through the Tatra Mountains to Budapest

Travel from Poland through the scenic Tatra Mountains, stopping for lunch in Slovakia en route to Hungary. Arrive in Budapest, where you'll have dinner tonight – with wine included – aboard Tauck's private dinner cruise on the Danube River for a unique view of the Hungarian capital's amazing architecture, illuminated at night. Spend the next three nights in the heart of this historic city.

MEALS : B, L, D

LODGING : Kempinski Hotel Corvinus Budapest

PORTOFCALL : Budapest, Hungary

Day 6 Stunning architecture and more in Pest

Today, take a close-up look at fascinating Budapest as your Eastern Europe and Poland tour reveals landmarks in the city's Pest section, on the eastern side of the Danube. See the embassy district, City Park, Andrassy Avenue and Heroes' Square; visit the opulent State Opera House, St. Stephen's Basilica and Dohány Synagogue (holidays permitting). This evening, cross the Danube to the Buda side of the city for a lecture and tasting of Goulash. Enjoy dinner at leisure at your hotel this evening.

MEALS : B, D

LODGING : Kempinski Hotel Corvinus Budapest

PORTOFCALL : Budapest, Hungary

Day 7 Parliament, beautiful Buda and Castle Hill

Start today's Budapest sightseeing with a morning visit to Hungary's Parliament building in Pest, a neo-Gothic masterpiece. Then head over to Buda to admire the frescoes and stained glass windows inside the Gothic Matthias Church, where the final two Hungarian kings were crowned; see Fisherman's Bastion overlooking the Danube, with its neo-Romanesque design; and explore the cobblestone streets of Castle Hill, offering more splendid views of the city. After lunch at a local restaurant in Buda, enjoy a Tauck Exclusive: a private after-hours visit with a lecture and reception at the Imre Nagy Memorial House in Budapest, a museum in the restored home of Hungarian Prime Minister Imre Nagy, who was secretly tried and executed in 1958, after the Soviets put down the 1956 Hungarian Revolution.

MEALS : B, L

LODGING : Kempinski Hotel Corvinus Budapest

PORTOFCALL : Budapest, Hungary

Day 8 Spend the afternoon in Bratislava en route to Vienna

Today, wind your way from Budapest and Hungary through Slovakia en route to Austria. After lunch, stop in Slovakia's capital city of Bratislava this afternoon to explore some 17 centuries worth of history on a walking tour with a local guide, visiting the Old Town Hall and St. Martin's Cathedral, followed by some time on your own. Then continue on to glorious Vienna, the Austrian capital and former center of the Habsburg empire, for a three-night stay the Hotel Bristol, Vienna – one of Europe's most celebrated hotels. Upon arrival, join us for a guided walking tour of the historic Vienna area around your hotel before enjoying dinner at your leisure tonight.

MEALS : B, L, D

LODGING : Hotel Bristol, Vienna

PORTOFCALL : Bratislava, Slovakia

Day 9 Imperial Reception, Schönbrunn after-hours & more

Enjoy a morning at leisure in Vienna, then join us for a drive along Vienna's famous Ringstrasse and the Danube River. View the vast Habsburg art collections on a guided visit to the Museum of Fine Arts (Kunsthistorisches), then head to Schönbrunn Palace for a guided tour; built by Empress Maria Theresa to rival Versailles, boasting 1,400 rooms, including a Hall of Mirrors, it served as the summer residence for Austria's Habsburg emperors. The remainder of the day is free.

MEALS : B, D

LODGING : Hotel Bristol, Vienna

PORTOFCALL : Vienna, Austria

Day 10 A day of treasures & a music-filled night in Vienna

Take a walking tour through medieval Vienna and its historic Jewish Quarter; return to your landmark hotel and spend the afternoon exploring more of Vienna as you please. This evening, enjoy dinner at the renowned Café Landtmann – the quintessential Viennese coffee house since 1873 – then attend a private concert featuring the music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Johann Strauss, held in a historic Viennese palace.

MEALS : B, D

LODGING : Hotel Bristol, Vienna

PORTOFCALL : Vienna, Austria

Day 11 Goodbye, Vienna and on to Prague for an afternoon tour

Bid remarkable Vienna goodbye this morning and travel to Prague, the ancient capital of today's Czech Republic, where you'll spend the next three luxurious nights in the heart of the city at Four Seasons Hotel Prague, overlooking the Vltava River, Prague Castle and Charles Bridge. After lunch, discover this beautiful city's roots on a walking tour of Old Town, linked to the castle district by the ornate Charles Bridge – lined with statues from centuries past, and alive with street musicians, artists, craftspersons and people out for a stroll. Take in the Powder Tower, the Astronomical Clock, Jan Palach Square, the Municipal House and other landmarks of this, one of Europe's best-preserved historic cities.

MEALS : B, L, D

LODGING : Four Seasons Hotel Prague

PORTOFCALL : Prague, Czech Republic

Day 12 Prague's Castle District & a Tauck Exclusive

Explore Prague's Hradcany (Castle District) on a tour today, including remarkable Prague Castle; dating to the 9th century, it's not a single castle, but a complex of palaces, courtyards, museums, monasteries, and ceremonial halls that has served as the country's traditional seat of power for a thousand years. Visit the Cathedral of St. Vitus, the coronation site for Czech kings and queens, and enjoy an exclusive-to-Tauck, privately guided tour of the opulent Baroque libraries of Strahov Monastery before spending the afternoon and evening just as you please.

MEALS : B

LODGING : Four Seasons Hotel Prague

PORTOFCALL : Prague, Czech Republic

Day 13 A choice in Prague & a farewell evening

Continue your exploration of Prague – which seems to grow more beautiful each day – with a walking tour of Wenceslas Square and a visit to the historic Estates Theatre, followed by a choice – an architectural tour of Prague highlighting its grand blend of styles from the medieval Town Hall to the Art Nouveau Municipal House; or an exploration of the Jewish Quarter (Josefov), including the Old-New Synagogue, founded in the 13th century, and the Pinkus and Maisel synagogues (holidays permitting). This evening, join us for our Tauck Exclusive farewell reception and dinner at a local venue in Prague.

MEALS : B, D

LODGING : Four Seasons Hotel Prague

PORTOFCALL : Prague, Czech Republic

Day 14 Journey Home

Tour ends: Prague, Czech Republic. A transfer is included from Four Seasons Hotel Prague to Prague's Václav Havel International Airport. Please allow a minimum of 3 hours for flight check-in.

MEALS : B

PORTOFCALL : Prague, Czech Republic

Day 1: Welcome to Budapest

On arrival at Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport, there are complimentary transfers to your hotel at 10:00, 13:00 and 15:30. Join your Travel Director at 18:00 and travel to the famous and elegant Gundel Restaurant. Your Welcome Dinner is a treat of mouthwatering Hungarian specialities, accompanied by specially selected wine.

Day 2: Delve into Budapest Relaxed Start

Stroll through the alleys of the Old Town of Buda with a Local Expert. Admire the facade of Matthias Church and take in the view from the Fisherman’s Bastion. Enjoy a short drive following the Danube and arrive at Gellért Hill. From the top, appreciate astounding panoramic vistas presided over by the Liberty Statue.Enjoy a tour of the Liszt Music Academy with a student, followed by an enchanting recital. The university was founded by the piano virtuoso and composer Franz Liszt in 1875. In the evening, perhaps choose an Optional Experience to see this fairy-tale city as you cruise along the Danube and enjoy a meal of Hungarian specialties, served with drinks?

Day 3: The Mountains to Kraków

Take a gentle drive into Slovakia and through the breathtaking Low Tatra Mountains, where villagers still live in traditional wooden houses. Stop at scenic Donovaly. Continue north to see the picturesque Oravský Hrad Castle before crossing into Poland and continuing to historic Kraków.

Day 4: The Damsels and Dragons of Kraków Relaxed Start

Join a Local Expert to ascend Wawel Hill and visit the cathedral. Walk past the former residence of Pope John Paul II through the Old Town, to Europe's largest and most beautiful town square. See the medieval Sukiennice Cloth Hall and visit the 14th century St. Mary's Basilica, the most important church in the city. Keep your eyes and ears peeled for the trumpeter in the tower.This afternoon, why not join an Optional Experience and journey into a glistening subterranean world at the 600-year-old Wieliczka Salt Mines? In a maze of tunnels deep below the surface, witness unique salt sculptures, sunken lakes and even a glorious cathedral carved entirely out of rock salt by the miners. Alternatively, enjoy time at leisure.

Day 5: Auschwitz and Częstochowa

Join a Local Expert at Oświęcim, better known throughout the world by its German name, Auschwitz, infamous for its role during the Holocaust. Spend reflective moments amid the remains of the concentration camp and the memorials to those who died. Travel north to Częstochowa to visit the 14th century Monastery of Jasna Góra, famous for the Black Madonna, said to have been painted by St. Luke. Continue across the Polish plains to the country’s capital, Warsaw for the night. Dumplings are an Eastern European tradition, so in the evening enjoy a dumpling demonstration and delightful Highlight Dinner.

Day 6: The Polish Capital of Warsaw Relaxed Start

Join a Local Expert in the morning to see the Old Town, Royal Castle and Palace of Culture. Visit the Chopin Memorial in the Łazienki Park.Pay your respects at the Monument to the Ghetto Heroes and then enjoy a free afternoon to explore at your own pace. Perhaps attend a Chopin recital or delve into Warsaw's inspirational past?

Day 7: Wielkopolska to Berlin

Your route leads westward, across the rolling farmlands of the central plains, over the Oder River to enter Germany. Your destination is the vibrant capital of Berlin where you can try traditional Berliner cuisine.

Day 8: The Spirit of Berlin Relaxed Start

Prepare to embrace the rejuvenated spirit of Berlin. Join a Local Expert for a drive through the leafy Tiergarten to the refurbished Reichstag building and see the Brandenburg Gate. On the eastern side, take the Unter den Linden past the State Opera House to Museum Island.

Day 9: Dresden and Golden Prague

Journey south to Dresden. Almost totally destroyed by horrific air raids in 1945, Dresden has now risen again from the ashes in a blend of old and new. See the reconstructed Frauenkirche and walk past the colossal ‘Procession of the Princes' on the wall of the Royal Palace. Explore around the Catholic cathedral to view the tiered facades of the opera house and the Baroque Zwinger Palace. After free time for lunch, head for the Czech border, high in the Ore Mountains and continue to the capital city of Prague.

Day 10: Prague, City of a Hundred Spires

Explore Prague with Insight Choice. Choose to walk the courtyards of the Castle and visit the imposing St. Vitus Cathedral. Alternatively, join your Local Expert for a walk through the Jewish Quarter and learn about a different side of the history of Prague.The city is then yours to explore. Perhaps walk in the footsteps of kings along the Royal Route? Czechs are passionate about their beer, so be sure to try the local pilsners, alongside the Czech cuisine.

Day 11: Bohemian Český Krumlov Relaxed Start

A journey through the green Bohemian countryside will bring you to České Budějovice. Enjoy a behind-the-scenes tour of a local brewery to sample the beer and discover the secrets of how this golden vintage is made. Continue on to Český Krumlov, a picturesque medieval town nestled on the banks of the Vltava. Walk the narrow cobbled streets and arch-covered footpaths, past colourful townhouses and centuries-old inns. With a Local Expert, visit the fairy-tale, red-roofed castle, considered by many to be the finest in the land. When all the day trippers have left, soak up the unique atmosphere of this UNESCO World Heritage Site on your Dine-Around Evening. You will be offered a selection of restaurants, nestled amid the tangle of streets and old squares.

Day 12: Stately Vienna Relaxed Start

Cross the border into Austria and enjoy a delightful journey to Vienna. The afternoon is free for you to explore this stately capital and later why not enjoy a delightful Austrian meal with the option to dine at a country mansion?

Day 13: The Habsburgs of Vienna

Vienna owes much of its present-day charm to the long reign of the Habsburgs. Join your Local Expert for a private visit of Maria Theresa’s Schönbrunn Palace and its formal gardens. Then, take some great photos on a circuit of the famous Ring Road. This grand boulevard, built along the lines of the old city walls, showcases many of the capital’s architectural masterpieces, including the Opera House, magnificent Hofburg Imperial Residence, Austrian Parliament Building and Karlskirche. Explore Vienna with Insight Choice. Choose between a visit to a traditional Viennese café to enjoy local specialities of coffee and Sachertorte or alternatively, join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience during an inclusive workshop and take to the floor in a Viennese Waltz dance workshop designed to support the visually impaired community. As night falls, experience an extraordinary concert of Viennese classical music combined with a delicious meal of traditional Austrian fare, with drinks included.

Day 14: Depart Budapest

A transfer arrives at Budapest airport in the early afternoon. For those extending their stay, a stop is also made at the Corinthia Hotel Budapest.