Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Prague
Your flight arrives at Václav Havel Prague International Airport by 3:00 p.m., where your Trip Leader meets you. A private shuttle takes you to your boutique hotel in central Prague. After settling in, you'll meet with the group as your Trip Leader explains what's ahead during the week. That evening, head out to a local restaurant with fellow travelers for your opening dinner.
- Start point
- Prague, Czech Republic (Please be ready to begin your trip at Václav Havel Prague International Airport (PRG) -- Prague, Czech Republic at 3:00 p.m., 15:00)
- Meals
- Dinner (Opening dinner at a local restaurant with your group)
- Day 2
Prague
After breakfast at your hotel, walk through Prague Castle and St. Vitus Cathedral, then check out the colorful Golden Lane. The funicular ride takes you up to Petrin Hill where you'll see Petrin Tower, built in 1891. If you're up for it, climb the 299 steps to the top for views across the city (admission's included). Later in the day, you have free time to wander Mala Strana, visit John Lennon's Wall, or see the Dancing House. Your Trip Leader can point you toward good lunch and dinner spots.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Prague Castle with group
- Explore St. Vitus Cathedral neighborhood
- Explore Golden Lane
- Funicular ride up Petrin Hill
- View Petrin Tower
- Admission to Petrin Tower (climb optional, included)
Optional Activities
- Climb 299 steps to top of Petrin Tower
- Explore Mala Strana neighborhood
- Visit John Lennon's Wall
- Visit Dancing House on the river bank
- Dinner at recommended local restaurants
- Explore Prague nightlife and hidden bars
Landmarks Prague Castle St. Vitus Cathedral Golden Lane Petrin Tower Petrin Hill Mala Strana John Lennon's Wall Dancing House 
- Day 3
Prague
Start with breakfast at your hotel and then the day is yours. Your Trip Leader will suggest places like the Jewish Quarter, Town Hall Clock Tower, Museum of Communism, or Kafka Museum, or they can show you local favorites if you prefer. Come evening, join a beer-tasting tour at two local Czech brewpubs where you'll learn about beer history and brewing techniques. Dinner follows with Czech cuisine and traditional bar snacks included.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Dinner at the brewpubs with your group featuring Czech cuisine and traditional bar snacks)
Included Activities
- Beer-tasting tour at two local Czech brewpubs
- Dinner at brewpubs with group
Optional Activities
- Explore Jewish Quarter
- Visit Town Hall Clock Tower
- Visit Museum of Communism
- Visit Kafka Museum
- Discover other Prague attractions with Trip Leader recommendations
Landmarks Jewish Quarter Town Hall Clock Tower Museum of Communism Kafka Museum - Day 4
Prague to Vienna
After breakfast, head to the train station and take a public train to Vienna, Austria (roughly 4.5 hours). A snack cart operates on-board, but grabbing snacks beforehand is a good idea. Once you arrive and check into your boutique hotel downtown, join your Trip Leader for a walk around the city to get oriented. Depending on timing, explore the Christmas markets if visiting November or December, or head to Naschmarkt for a snack and look around. Stop by a local coffee shop for Viennese coffee and Sachertorte.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- City walk with Trip Leader to familiarize with Vienna
Optional Activities
- Visit Christmas markets (if visiting November-December)
- Visit Naschmarkt for snack and market tour (if not during Christmas markets)
- Taste coffee and Sachertorte in local coffee shops
- Visit opera house for performance (tickets must be purchased beforehand)
- Explore the city under the lights
Landmarks Naschmarkt 
- Day 5
Vienna
Breakfast comes first at your hotel, then you'll join a walking tour with a local guide covering St. Stephens Cathedral, Graben city square, Hofburg Palace (the Habsburg emperors' winter home), and finishing at the State Opera House. Note that entrance fees to these sites are optional. The afternoon is free for you to explore Vienna on your own. Consider visiting the Sissi Museum, Hofburg Palace, Schoenbrunn Palace, St. Stephen's Cathedral, or Belvedere Gallery. Try the famous Sachertorte or Apfelstrudel while you're out. Back in the evening, join your group for dinner at a local restaurant.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Dinner with your group at a local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Walking tour with local guide to St. Stephens Cathedral
- Walking tour to Graben city square
- Walking tour to Hofburg Palace
- Walking tour ending at State Opera House
- Dinner with group at local restaurant
Optional Activities
- Enter St. Stephens Cathedral (entrance fee not included)
- Enter Hofburg Palace (entrance fee not included)
- Enter Schoenbrunn Palace (entrance fee not included)
- Visit Sissi Museum (entrance fee not included)
- Visit Belvedere Gallery (entrance fee not included)
- Try Sachertorte or Apfelstrudel at local venues
Landmarks St. Stephens Cathedral Graben Hofburg Palace State Opera House Sissi Museum Schoenbrunn Palace Belvedere Gallery - Day 6
Vienna to Budapest
Take a train to Budapest, Hungary (about 3 hours). After checking into your accommodation, your Trip Leader leads a city orientation walk. Budapest splits across the Danube River with Buda on the west bank and Pest on the east. Spend the afternoon exploring the city's architecture, or if you prefer to relax, check out one of the thermal baths. Try local foods like langos (Hungarian street food) or kolbász (paprika-spiced traditional sausage). The evening is open for you to explore, with an optional river cruise available if you want to see the city lights.
Included Activities
- City orientation walk with Trip Leader
Optional Activities
- Explore Heroes' Square
- Explore Margaret Island
- Visit House of Terror
- Explore Andrassy Street
- Relax at Gellert Baths
- Relax at Széchenyi Baths
- Try langos (Hungarian street food)
- Try kolbász (traditional Hungarian sausage)
- River cruise viewing city lights at night
- Try Goulash Soup
- Try Paprikash
Landmarks Heroes' Square Margaret Island House of Terror Andrassy Street Gellert Baths Széchenyi Baths Danube River - Day 7
Budapest and Szentendre
After breakfast, take a half-day trip to Szentendre, a Danube River village with baroque buildings, colorful houses, churches, and narrow cobbled streets (about 40 minutes each way, with roughly 2 hours in the village). You'll return to Budapest in the afternoon with free time to explore or relax at the thermal baths. That evening, your group gathers for a final farewell dinner to look back on the week traveling through Central Europe.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Final farewell dinner with your group)
Included Activities
- Orientation walk through Szentendre with Trip Leader
- Final farewell dinner with group
Optional Activities
- Explore Szentendre baroque architecture
- Explore Szentendre colorful houses and churches
- Explore Szentendre narrow cobbled streets
- Explore Heroes' Square
- Explore Margaret Island
- Visit House of Terror
- Explore Andrassy Street
- Relax at Gellert Baths
- Relax at Széchenyi Baths
Landmarks Szentendre Heroes' Square Margaret Island House of Terror Andrassy Street Gellert Baths Széchenyi Baths - Day 8
Departure from Budapest
Say goodbye to your new friends and leave Budapest whenever works for you during the day. Your Trip Leader will explain how to use taxis, buses, or local transportation to reach the airport. If you'd like to stay longer in Budapest, ask your Trip Leader for suggestions on what to do with extra time.
- End point
- Budapest, Hungary (The trip ends in Budapest, Hungary. Plan to depart at any time. Hotel check out time is at 11:00 a.m. Travelers are responsible for their own transportation to the airport.)
Optional Activities
- Additional exploration of Budapest if time permits
