Highlights of Bohemia

Leave the German Capital this morning travelling eastwards through the region of Greater Poland. Arrive in the Capital, Warsaw this evening for included dinner.

Accommodation: Ibis Hotel Warsaw Centrum

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

WARSAW SIGHTSEEING AND FREE TIME

This morning, perhaps enjoy an optional visit to the 17th-century Baroque Wilanów Palace, once the summer home of King Jan Sobieski III. Then, dive into Warsaw’s turbulent past with a Local Specialist. Your sightseeing tour across this historic capital will reveal how the resilient Poles rebuilt their city after the destruction of World War II. You’ll see St. John’s Cathedral and the Royal Palace in the Old Town, then visit the site of the Warsaw Ghetto which confined over 400,000 near-starving Jews during World War II. With the rest of the afternoon free to explore your way, why not embark on an exploration of the Praga-Północ district, one of Europe’s coolest neighbourhoods, including a visit to Poland’s first vodka museum.

Accommodation: Ibis Hotel Warsaw Centrum

Included Meals: Breakfast

Today we travel south towards the former Royal Capital of Krakow. We pay our respects to the survivors and victims of the Holocaust by visiting the memorial site of the former concentration camp at Auschwitz.

Accommodation: Ibis Krakow Stare Miasto

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

KRAKÓW SIGHTSEEING AND FREE TIME

Today is all about uncovering the legendary history of this beautiful city. Be sure to keep a keen eye out for the thirsty dragon whose legendary demise, thanks to the clever thinking of a humble shoemaker, led to the birth of Kraków. You’ll kick things off with a sightseeing tour with your Local Specialist who will share the thrilling tale of the city’s origins as you trace its medieval walls and see Wawel Castle where the dragon once roamed in its dungeons. You’ll have the rest of the day to yourself and perhaps you’d like to spend the afternoon wandering the UNESCO-listed Old Town, or choose an optional experience that would see you exploring the UNESCO-listed Wieliczka Salt Mines, often referred to as the Underground Salt Cathedral of Poland. This evening, why not enjoy a night out with an optional farmhouse dinner and Polka party where you’ll swing around the dance floor after a meal of Polish specialties.

Accommodation: Ibis Krakow Stare Miasto

Included Meals: Breakfast

Head south through Poland, then travel through the pastoral heart of Slovakia bound for Hungary. Your final destination is Budapest, which sits straddled on either side of the beautiful Danube – two halves shaped by a captivating mix of Magyar, German, Slav, Jewish, Roma and Turkish settlers that have made Budapest into the cultural capital it is today. Begin your exploration of this ‘Pearl of the Danube’ on the water with an optional scenic cruise on a private boat along the Danube. Against an enchanting illuminated backdrop, you’ll enjoy a dinner of Hungarian specialties while you sail underneath the famous Chain Bridge and past Budapest’s majestic Parliament buildings.

Accommodation: Ibis Styles Budapest City

Included Meals: Breakfast

BUDAPEST SIGHTSEEING AND FREE TIME

Like all great capitals, Budapest’s story begins with a legend, and your Local Specialist will share all the exciting tales during your sightseeing. Then there’s time to explore the 1000-year history of Budapest on your own or perhaps join an Optional Experience, including a goulash cooking demonstration, to the medieval town of Szentendre, set on the banks of the Danube.

Accommodation: Ibis Styles Budapest City

Included Meals: Breakfast

All that glitters certainly is gold in Budapest. You’ll see this first-hand during an optional visit to the Hungarian Parliament. The highlights of Bohemia just keep on coming as we continue our trip across the hilly landscapes of Transdanubia to Győr, a charming city which sits at the crossroads of Central Europe, midway between Budapest and Vienna. Wander the historic streets then continue across the Austrian border arriving in Vienna later today, a city where music literally surrounds you.

Accommodation: Ibis Wien Mariahilf

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

VIENNA SIGHTSEEING AND FREE TIME

Meet your Local Specialist, who will reveal the secrets and stories of this imperial city. See the Parliament, the Vienna Opera House, the Hofburg and the City Hall, before heading out on your own. It’s entirely up to you how to explore this musical capital of the world. You could spend hours wandering the streets when you visit Vienna, or perhaps take a guided trip to Schönbrunn Palace, the former summer residence of the Habsburgs, one of the most influential royal families of Europe. You’ll need no excuse to embrace the locals’ love of the good life as you indulge in the city’s coffee house culture with a heavenly slice of Sachertorte to tame your chocoholic tendencies. This evening, the melodies of a musical Vienna are the order of the day if you join an optional dinner followed by a concert of Strauss and Mozart masterpieces.

Accommodation: Ibis Wien Mariahilf

Included Meals: Breakfast

Today we’ll say goodbye to Vienna’s enchanting symphony and travel north to the Czech Republic on your Bohemia value tour. First stop is the medieval town of Brno and we’ll pass through gorgeous green and gold landscapes, before arriving in Prague later today. The City of a Hundred Spires shines even brighter at night, so it’s only fitting to join an evening introduction to this fairy-tale city. Hit the town and try a local brew to quench your thirst, discovering the dry-hopped goodness for which Prague is renowned.

Accommodation: Ibis Praha Mala Strana Prague

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

PRAGUE SIGHTSEEING AND FREE TIME

While the rest of Europe’s capitals smouldered, the enduring beauty of Prague saved it from a similar fate during World War II. You’ll see why when you head out on a sightseeing tour with your Local Specialist, with stops to see highlights including Prague Castle, the Cathedral of St. Vitus and the Old Town Square. With the rest of the afternoon free to explore Prague your way, why not head back to the Old Town Square to watch the Astronomical Clock’s magical hourly Walk of the Apostles perhaps with a toasty trdelník in hand? Or see another beautiful side of the city from the water, with an optional lunch cruise along the Vltava that will reveal the legends, myths and hidden secrets of this enchanting city.

Accommodation: Ibis Praha Mala Strana Prague

Included Meals: Breakfast

Take a step back in time during your stop in Rothenburg ob der Tauber along Bavaria’s Romantic Road this morning. Your orientation tour will reveal an exquisite medieval centre encircled by a fortified town wall that was built in the 13th century. Continue to Frankfurt, where we will enjoy a final toast and a farewell dinner to reminisce over an epic journey across the Bohemian countryside and capital cities.

Accommodation: Leonardo Hotel Frankfurt City South or Leonardo Hotel Offenbach Frankfurt

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Great empires created the enchanting land which you’ve explored over the past 15 days. You’ve encountered legends, tales of bravery and unforgettable masterpieces that span the centuries. All that’s left is to bid your new friends a fond farewell as you prepare to close the curtain on an exhilarating encounter with Central Europe.

Included Meals: Breakfast