Journey through Central Europe

Your trip starts today with your arrival in Prague, capital of the Czech Republic and one of the most splendid historical cities in Europe. No activities are planned so you may arrive at any time. Please make your own way to our centrally-located joining hotel (details are in your travel documents). Whilst at your discretion, we recommend arriving/ departing by train where possible within Europe due to this method of transports minimal carbon emissions. In the evening we meet our tour leader and our fellow travelling companions at a Welcome Meeting (this is usually at 6pm, but you will be advised as to the exact time and place in a notice, located near the reception at our hotel), where our leader will give us a briefing on what lies ahead on our tour. This is followed by dinner in a local restaurant.

Of all the major European capitals, only Prague remained largely untouched by both World War I and World War II. As a result the city’s Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque buildings have remained incredibly intact and, with their graceful spires, spacious plazas, magnificent cathedrals and charming town houses, the city has taken on the appearance of a living architectural museum. Our walking tour this morning enables us to uncover some of this city’s charm. The heart of Prague is Old Town Square (Staromestské námestí), a dazzling space in the middle of the medieval quarter with a festive ambience. We stop at the old town hall for the hourly display of the apostles and skeleton bell ringer, before moving on to St Nicholas Church and the Jewish Quarter. We also cross the Charles Bridge, a medieval stone masterpiece that for centuries has been the main link between the two sides of the Vltava River. Our afternoon is free to discover the many other sights and museums in the city. There is much to see and you can also ask you tour leader for suggestions

Heading up to the Hradcany District we reach the city’s most spectacular landmark, Prague Castle - the largest medieval castle complex in Europe. Our visit includes the famous St Vitus Cathedral, the Basilica of St George, Vladislav Hall and the tiny Golden Lane, where the famous writer Franz Kafka used to live. The rest of the afternoon is free to explore this lovely city at your own leisure and perhaps enjoy the ambience of an open-air café and enjoy a locally brewed quenching ale - Bohemia after all is home to Pilsner beer. An interesting and unique cultural show that takes place in the heart of Prague is the black-light theatre at the Laterna Magika (Magic Lantern). This is likely to be different to anything you you've seen before, but very clever and entertaining. (Please note there are no performances on Sundays.)

The medieval town of Kutna Hora (Kuttenburg) is a short one-and-a-half hour drive from Prague. Formerly one of the most important towns of Bohemia, a stroll through the town’s medieval lanes and alleyways will reveal to us some of its former glories. We have time to explore in depth the Cathedral of St Barbara - one of the finest Gothic churches in Europe. We then visit the nearby Sedlec Ossuary, which is known as the 'Bone' Church. Full to overflowing with human bones and once the place where all Bohemian nobility wanted to be buried, it is undoubtedly a little macabre and if not to your taste you can simply enjoy the quiet scenic surrounds. After time to enjoy lunch in the old town before departing for a three-hour afternoon drive to the city of Cesky Krumlov. This small medieval town is one of the most stunning and perfectly restored in the entire region - a wonderful place to spend our next two nights.

Today we discover the beautiful fairytale town of Cesky Krumlov with a morning tour with our local guide. Embraced by a tight loop of the Vltava River (also known by its German name - Moldau), Cesky Krumlov’s medieval historic centre is an enchanting labyrinth of cobblestone streets, Baroque and Renaissance houses, vaulted passageways, shops, cafés and hidden squares, which we discover on our morning guided tour. This most pleasant town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with 82% of its buildings registered as cultural monuments. Dominating the town is Krumlov Chateau, the second largest castle in the Czech Republic, with its ornately painted Round Tower pointing skywards like a pastel-coloured rocket. There is also the option to visit the interesting Baroque theatre. After our tour, the rest of the day is free to explore on your own. Cycling enthusiasts can choose to ride in the surrounding countryside, whilst thirsty explorers can partake in a tour of the local Eggenberg Brewery! The latter will need to be booked in advance by your leader.

After breakfast, we drive to Melk where we can enjoy some time wandering around this small village, that is famous for its Benedictine Monastery built between 1702 and 1739. We then board a river boat for a cruise through the Wachau Valley, a very romantic part of the Danube valley. We cruise by beautiful scenery and local settlements, passing Schloss Schönbühel; a beautiful palace on a hillside, Ruine Aggstein, a former Kuenringer fort and the wine townships of Spitz and Weissenkirchen before arriving in the town of Krems, an 1000 year old town which is the gateway to the Wachau. From here we drive on to Austria's magnificent capital - Vienna, our base for the next two nights.

This morning we embark on a three-hour walking tour through the Vienna. We begin at the lively Stephensplatz, the pedestrian square that marks the centre of the city and is home to St Stephen's Cathedral - Austria's most eminent Gothic edifice and home to a wealth of treasures. From here we walk to the Hofburg or 'Imperial,' Palace, which was the winter palace of the Habsburgs and base for an empire that ruled for more than seven centuries and was once the most powerful in Europe. We finish our walk in Heroes' Square. The rest of the day is free to make your own discoveries in Vienna. Vienna is considered the world’s classical music capital and more famous and lauded composers have lived and worked here than in any other city on the globe. In Vienna music is literally 'in the air', especially the waltzes and operettas that have become synonymous with the city. If you wish to attend a cultural event, your leader can advise what performances are on and perhaps assist you with booking tickets. This afternoon you might like to choose to indulge in an age old Viennese tradition; an afternoon tea of Viennese coffee and cake at a traditional coffeehouse (cafe coupon provided). Melange (milky coffee) is the traditional coffee drunk by the Viennese but coffee is a serious business in this city so there are many varieties of the drink to choose from. It’s recommended that you also try the world famous 'Sachertorte' (rich chocolate cake). After this the remainder of the day is at leisure to further explore the sights and sounds of Vienna. One 'must-see' is the world famous Schönbrunn Palace, the old summer residence of the Habsburgs and, alongside Versailles in France, possibly the greatest royal complex in Europe. It is synonymous with names such as the Emperor Franz Joseph I and later the Empress Maria Theresia. If you wish to tour the palace itself, which includes the famous Great Gallery, you may need to make a reservation in advance, especially during peak season. The expansive gardens include many attractions including magnificent sculptures and the world's oldest existing zoo. The museum district also provides a myriad of choices and a great way to cap off the day is to spend the evening at the Prater amusement park where you can ride on the world's oldest ferris wheel, which offers for unrivalled panoramic views of the city. Your tour leader can help you organise your day and also your night out.

We depart Austria today and travel to Slovakia then continue by hydrofoil to the small capital of Bratislava, which like Vienna is also located on the Danube River. Upon arrival we take a short walk from the pier to our hotel. Less grandiose then its neighbouring capitals, Bratislava has a charm all of its own. We explore the old city centre with our guide, seeking out the treasures of this often-overlooked city. The city has been beautifully restored and the old town area is full of stunning Baroque palaces. Like many central European cites, the castle district retains a great deal of historical charm. We have some free time in the afternoon to explore.

We take a day trip out to the towns of kings and artists in the countryside near Budapest. Travelling through wonderful landscapes on the ridges of the Danube River, we come across a range of wonderful architecture in the cathedrals, castles and old towns. There are also opportunities to sample some local wine as well as shop for souvenirs and we'll also enjoy lunch at a restaurant on the Danube bend, one of the prettiest sections of the Danube. We visit three fascinating towns on our day trip. Esztergom is home to the biggest cathedral in Hungary and the archbishop of this town is also the most important cleric in the country. Visegrád Castle dates back to 1323 and dominates the bend on this section of the Danube River. Vibrant and colourful Szentendre is a quintessential medieval city that has retained much of its historic character, with cobblestone alleyways and towering church spires. After our full day of touring, we will travel on to Budapest, the grand capital of Hungary and our base for the next three nights.

This morning we embark on a tour of Budapest and see the city’s best highlights. We visit the Castle District on the Buda side including the fortress was built by the Habsburgs and is surrounded by shops and cafes, as well as some interesting museums. Other main features are the Royal Palace, Matthias Church, Fishermen's Bastion and Citadel, where we enjoy a magnificent view over the city from the lookout. In this area there are river views everywhere we look and also many sidewalk cafes to distract us. We then cross over the Szechenyi Chain Bridge to the other side of the city to explore the old town of Pest. Here we see the Parliament building (which looks remarkably like the one in London!), Museum of Ethnography, Heroes' Square, Museum of Fine Arts and Vajdahunyad Castle. The remainder of the day s at leisure and tonight we will come together for a group dinner.

Today is a free day in Budapest. You may wish to use visit one of Hungary’s famous and historical bathhouses, first built by the Turks around 1565 and now an icon of the city and a popular pastime for the locals who are big believers in the medicinal powers of thermal bathing. Your tour leader will be at hand to advise you of the best baths to visit.One of the most famous baths is the Szechenyi Baths & Spa in Budapest. The Szechenyi Baths were discovered by accident, when drilling for a water well. The original building was finished in 1913 in a neo baroque style and the bath is the largest of its type in Europe. The temperature of the baths range from 27ºC/80.6ºF to 34ºC/93ºF with the hottest temperatures reaching 38ºC/100.4ºF. In summer or winter, the popular game of chess is played in one of the pools. The baths are located behind the famous Hero’s Sqarre in the surrounds of the City Park. Budapest also a plethora of fine museums and galleries to visit including the Museum of Fine Arts, the Hungarian National Museum and the Ludwig Museum to name a few.

Covering a distance of around 400 kilometres, we have a long, but interesting travelling day. Our journey takes around six to seven hours and we pass through fascination regions rich in history, culture and tradition, from northern Hungary to Slovakia and finally into Poland. Our brief stop in Slovakia enables us to pick up some lunch (optional) in one of it's loveliest cities, Banska Byrstrica. Torn apart three times, squeezed between two worlds and long considered a gateway between east and west, Poland has been one of the success stories of the 'new' Europe. Our destination is the wonderful city of Krakow, a wonderful place to enjoy a traditional Polish evening meal together.

A three-hour walking tour with our leader is the best way to discover Krakow’s historical treasure trove. We begin in Rynek Glowny, the market square and in fact the largest medieval square in Europe. Krakow was once the capital of Poland and the only city whose architectural jewels survived World War II intact, as we soon appreciate during our walk through its streets. We visit the inspiring twin-towered St Mary’s Church – one of the finest Gothic structures in the country and the city’s symbol. Our walk ends at Wawel Hill, where the cathedral and Wawel Castle stand proud over the city. The afternoon is then free for further exploration of this most grandiose city. The energetic amongst us may consider a climb up the 70m high Town Hall Tower, which is topped by a Baroque spire. Those that make it up here are rewarded by some wonderful city views. Tonight is a free night and another opportunity to discover another local restaurant and try more Polish specialties. For those who may be interested there is an option of joining a guided tour of the Auschwitz 1 and Birkenau sites on the morning of Day 14. This tour lasts approximately 5 - 6 hours. Your tour leader can organise this excursion for you. Consult your tour leader for further details. We spend our last night in Krakow.

Our journey ends this morning after breakfast, in Krakow. If you wish to stay on in this lovely city, additional accommodation can be arranged and may be booked at the same time you book your tour. The Balice International airport is located just 12 km from the centre of Krakow with direct daily flights to Frankfurt, London, Rome, Paris and Vienna among others. Another option is to take the train to Warsaw (2 3/4 hours) from where there are even more international connections to North America and Asia.