Itinerary
- Day 1
Budapest
You'll arrive at Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport with complimentary transfers available at 10:00, 13:00, or 15:30 to take you to your hotel. After you settle in, there's a 18:00 meet-up with your Travel Director and the rest of the group. The evening leads to your Welcome Dinner at Gundel restaurant, where you'll have Hungarian cuisine and wine in an elegant setting.
- Meals
- Dinner (Welcome Dinner at Gundel - mouthwatering Hungarian specialties with specially selected Hungarian wine)
Included Activities
- Welcome Dinner at Gundel restaurant with Hungarian specialties and wine pairing
Landmarks/POIs Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport - Day 2
Budapest
Start the morning with a scenic drive along Budapest's grand boulevards heading to Heroes' Square, then cross the Danube into Buda's Castle district. You'll walk through medieval cobblestone streets with a Local Expert, visiting Matthias Church and stopping at Fisherman's Bastion for views overlooking Parliament. Later, head to a traditional strudel house to watch how pastry chefs prepare this delicacy, then taste it with coffee. The rest of the afternoon and evening is open for your own exploring, whether that's trying Hungarian Pálinka or booking a dinner cruise on the Danube.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Drive along elegant boulevards to Heroes' Square
- Guided walk through Castle district with Local Expert
- Visit Matthias Church
- Views from Fisherman's Bastion over Parliament building
- Visit traditional strudel house with pastry preparation demonstration and tasting
Optional Activities
- Hungarian Pálinka aperitif in an elegant café
- Dinner cruise along the Danube
Landmarks/POIs Heroes' Square Matthias Church Fisherman's Bastion Parliament Building - Day 3
Budapest
This day is entirely open for you to move at your own pace. Budapest's thermal baths are worth a visit, or you could browse Vaci Street's boutiques, sit at a sidewalk café, or just wander around checking out whatever catches your attention. By evening, you'll join a Dine-Around experience where you pick from a curated selection of restaurants the tour has handpicked for you.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Dine-Around experience at choice of specially selected restaurants with wine)
Included Activities
- Dine-Around experience - choose from handpicked selection of restaurants
Optional Activities
- Visit thermal bath
- Browse boutiques on Vaci Street
- Relax in a sidewalk café
Landmarks/POIs Vaci Street - Day 4
Budapest to Vienna
You'll travel along the Danube to Esztergom, where Hungary's largest Catholic church sits. From there, head westward to Győr at the confluence of three rivers, then cross into Austria toward Vienna. The journey itself is part of the experience as you see the landscape change. Later this evening, you'll have a Dine-at-Home experience, sharing a meal with a local family who'll give you insight into what life is actually like in Vienna.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Dine-at-Home experience with local family - hearty meal typical of the region with wine)
Included Activities
- Visit Esztergom - largest Catholic church in Hungary
- Stop in Győr
- Dine-at-Home experience with local family in Vienna
Landmarks/POIs Esztergom Győr - Day 5
Vienna
Your morning includes a private, guided visit to Schönbrunn Palace with its formal gardens, walking through rooms with frescoed ceilings and crystal chandeliers where Mozart once performed. After that, you'll drive around the famous Ring Road seeing the Opera House, Hofburg Imperial Residence, Austrian Parliament Building, and Karlskirche. By afternoon, you have free time to go back to any spots that interested you or find something new.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Private guided visit to Schönbrunn Palace with formal gardens exploration
- Scenic drive around Ring Road viewing Opera House, Hofburg Imperial Residence, Austrian Parliament Building, and Karlskirche
Landmarks/POIs Schönbrunn Palace Ring Road Vienna State Opera House Hofburg Imperial Residence Austrian Parliament Building Karlskirche - Day 6
Vienna
Vienna is yours to explore at your own pace. You could start at St. Stephen's Cathedral, one of Europe's great Gothic structures, or walk Kärntnerstrasse with its busy shops. If you're looking for something different, your Travel Director can help you arrange a border crossing into Slovakia for a Bratislava visit. With long summer evenings, there's plenty of daylight to see what appeals to you most.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Visit St. Stephen's Cathedral
- Browse shops on Kärntnerstrasse
- Day trip to Bratislava, Slovakia across the border
Landmarks/POIs St. Stephen's Cathedral Kärntnerstrasse - Day 7
Vienna to Prague
After crossing into the Czech Republic, you'll head to Český Krumlov, a medieval town that feels like stepping back in time. Your Travel Director leads a short orientation walk through traffic-free cobblestone streets lined with colorful houses up to the castle, where you get sweeping views of the Vltava River. You'll have free time to explore on your own. Later, you'll drive through green Bohemian countryside heading to Prague, with dinner at a local restaurant once you arrive.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Traditional meal at local Prague restaurant with wine)
Included Activities
- Brief orientation tour of Český Krumlov with Travel Director
- Scenic drive through Bohemian countryside
- Traditional dinner at local Prague restaurant
Optional Activities
- Explore Český Krumlov Castle at leisure
Landmarks/POIs Český Krumlov Vltava River - Day 8
Prague
Prague offers you a choice with Insight Choice: walk through Prague Castle courtyards and visit the imposing St Vitus Cathedral with a Local Expert, or walk the Jewish Quarter instead to learn how the Jewish community shaped Prague's history. After that, the city is open for you to roam. Consider a river cruise through the city's heart, walking the Royal Route where kings once traveled, and definitely trying the local pilsner beers and Czech food.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Choice of two guided experiences with Local Expert: Prague Castle courtyards and St Vitus Cathedral OR Jewish Quarter walk
Optional Activities
- River cruise through Prague
- Walk the Royal Route
- Try local pilsner beers and Czech cuisine
Landmarks/POIs Prague Castle St Vitus Cathedral Jewish Quarter Strahov Monastery - Day 9
Prague
You have the full day to wander Prague's cobbled lanes and find hidden spots throughout the city. If you're interested in a border crossing, Germany and Dresden are within reach with some planning. This evening, you'll celebrate your whole journey with a Celebration Dinner of local specialties at a restaurant with magnificent views over Prague.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Celebration Dinner of local specialties at restaurant with magnificent views over Prague with wine)
Included Activities
- Celebration Dinner with local specialties and magnificent city views
Optional Activities
- Explore Prague at leisure
- Day trip to Dresden, Germany
- Day 10
Prague
Your trip ends after breakfast. Departure transfers to Prague airport run at 08:00 and 10:00, so pick whichever time works for your flight.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Landmarks/POIs Prague Václav Havel Airport
