This
relaxing look at historic cities gives you time to get an authentic inside view
of their culture and traditions – an alternative to more obvious European
capitals.
Duration: 15 days
Start/Finish City: Berlin to Berlin
Service Level: Premium
Physical Grading: 2
Travel Style: Comfort
Trip Type: Small Group
Itinerary
Fly to Berlin, Germany to begin your jaunt into Central
and Eastern European elegance.
Hotel info (1 nights)
Welcome to Berlin! At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and
traveling companions for a welcome Indian dinner.
Hotel info (1 nights)
Sightseeing with a local guide in the once-divided
metropolis includes the Ku’damm, the restored Reichstag, a picture stop at
monumental Brandenburg Gate and the Holocaust Memorial, Charlottenburg Palace,
and the 210-foot Victory Column in the vast Tiergarten Park. Visit the Kaiser
Wilhelm Memorial Church (on Sunday, inside guided visit is not possible), drive
along Unter den Linden Boulevard, and pass the German State Opera House and
Checkpoint Charlie. To enhance your stay, exciting optional excursions are
available to historic Potsdam, and to sample Berlin’s fine restaurants and
nightlife! Tonight enjoy a delicious Indian dinner. [B,]
Hotel info (1 nights)
Cross the Polish
border and enjoy vistas of rural life in the fertile central plains. Next stop
in Auschwitz to visit what is left of the Concentration Camp, a chilling
reminder of the Holocaust. In the evening, arrive in Krakow. [B,]
Hotel info (1 nights)
This morning depart
on a guided sightseeing tour of ancient Krakow.
Visit the Market Square, the 14th-century Jagiellonian University, and
St. Mary’s Church. Visit the impressive Wawel Royal Castle, then enjoy a
special visit to the Oskar Schindler Factory, made famous in Steven Speilberg’s
film, “Schindler’s List”. How about tonight’s optional Polish dinner and folklore
show? [B,]
Hotel info (1 nights)
A scenic drive
through the heart of mountainous and densely wooded Slovakia, where brown bears
still roam free, brings you to Banská Bystrica, a picturesque medieval town
with fortifications. Arrive in Budapest, where a private dinner cruise tonight
is the perfect introduction to this fascinating city. [B,]
Hotel info (1 nights)
Your local guide
takes you through Eastern Europe’s most cosmopolitan city. See elegant Andrassy
Avenue, the Thermal Baths, and the world’s second-largest Jewish synagogue.
From the lacy lookout towers of Fishermen’s Bastion, enjoy a panoramic view of
the sprawling city. Then, visit the 13th-century Matthias Coronation Church and
Heroes’ Square. Your afternoon is at leisure. Tonight, a delectable optional
Hungarian specialty dinner can be arranged. [B]
Hotel infoVisit Esztergom,
Visegrád and Szentendre, the 3 most beautiful cities in the Danube Bend. Enjoy
the picturesque viewpoints in all settlements and get acquainted with the
Hungarian history along the “Blue Danube”. This is an unforgettable tour along
the "Blue Danube" with stops in Visegrád, Esztergom and
Szentendre. [B]
Hotel infoDrive through the Hungarian plains to Vienna, once the
center of the mighty Habsburg Empire. Meet your local guide and start your
sightseeing with vistas of Prater Park with its giant ferris wheel, and a drive
along the elegant Ringstrasse. Pass the impressive State Opera House, the
Jewish quarter, and stop at the Hofburg Palace, winter residence of the
Austrian imperial family. Marvel at the impressive courtyards and famous
Heldenplatz, and visit the awesome St. Stephen’s Cathedral. [B,]
Hotel infoA whole day offers
you the opportunity to join exciting
excursions to the capital of Slovakia, Bratislava. Tour the
scenic capital of Slovakia, with a guided tour, shopping, and tours of numerous
cultural and historic sites. Continue on
to Vienna, Austria. [B]
Hotel info (1 nights)
In the morning, an optional excursion to historic
Schönbrunn Palace is available. In the afternoon, cross the Czech border and
enter Moravia. Stop in one of the most beautiful towns in the Czech Republic,
where a special lunch with local specialties awaits you. In the afternoon,
drive through the rich farmlands of Moravia and Bohemia to Prague. Tonight is
your chance to join an optional outing to explore Prague by night. [B,]
Hotel infoToday’s guided sightseeing includes a visit to Hradcany
Castle Grounds. Also see St. Vitus Cathedral, the Old Town, the Jewish ghetto,
and the Astronomical Clock, once the envy of all Europe. The afternoon at leisure. Tonight you can try
out traditional dishes at one of Prague’s fine restaurants. [B]
Hotel infoEnjoy a full day
sightseeing tour, departing in the early morning to Karlovy Vary, the foremost
spa town in the Czech Republic. Drive for about two hours to reach Karlovy
Vary, which is located near the German border. The spa town was built during
the Middle Ages after the discovery of hot mineral springs. It is an elegant
town with gracious colonnades and picturesque boulevards, surrounded by forest.
[B]
Hotel infoRe-enter Germany and stop in Dresden, the former capital
of Saxony. Badly damaged by Allied bombing in February 1945, the city has since
been restored to its baroque splendor. During your walking tour, admire the
architecture of the Zwinger Palace and Semper Opera. Afterwards, return to
Berlin, where a special farewell dinner with wine awaits you—the perfect way to
celebrate your vacation. [B,]
Hotel infoYour vacation ends this morning with breakfast. Spend some free time before your transfer to
the airport for your flight back home, with a heart full of memories. [B]