Highlights of Eastern Europe 2013

Day 1 - Depart USA
Board your overnight flight (not included).

Day 2 to Day 3 - Budapest the Queen of the Danube
Welcome to Hungary, unique in Europe for its language and culture! Transfers to your hotel depart from Budapest Ferihegy International Airport at 10:00, 13:00, 15:30. For those arriving into Vienna Airport, your transfer departs at 13.00 to go to the hotel in Budapest. Later, join your Tour Director for a Welcome reception, drinks and a light meal. After a restful night’s sleep, join a local expert for a drive up to Gellert Hill. Gaze out over the Danube dividing Buda from Pest - the two sides linked by the Chain and Elizabeth Bridges. Then ascend Buda’s Castle District to visit Matthias Church. Admire the immense facades of the Parliament building from the Fisherman’s Bastion. Over in Pest, drive down Andrassy Boulevard and visit Heroes’ Square. The afternoon is yours to relax or hit the shops of bustling Váci utca. (Welcome Reception / Buffet Breakfast)

Day 4 to Day 5 - The Damsels and Dragons of Krakow
Enjoy a gentle drive into Slovakia and through the breathtaking Tatra Mountains, where peasants still live in traditional wooden houses. See the picturesque Oravsky Hrad Castle before crossing into Poland and continuing to historic Krakow. In the morning, join a local expert to tour Krakow – for centuries the seat of Poland’s kings. Ascend Wawel Hill to visit the cathedral and meet the ‘Wawel Dragon’. Walk through the Old Town, past the courtyard of Jagiellonian University and medieval Cloth Hall, to visit the 14C St Mary’s Church . Then you are at leisure. (Buffet Breakfast / Dinner / Buffet Breakfast)

Day 6 to Day 7 - Saints War and Warsaw
First stop today is to the city of Oswiecim, better known throughout the world by its German name, Auschwitz, the most infamous site of the Holocaust. Spend some reflective moments amid the remains of the concentration camp and the memorials to those who died. Travel north to Czestochowa to visit the 14th century Monastery of Jasna Gora, famous for the Black Madonna, said to have been painted by St Luke. Continue across the Polish Plains to the country’s capital, Warsaw for the night. On a morning guided tour, see the ‘wedding cake’ Palace of Culture and the Chopin Memorial in the Lazienki Park. Pay your respects at the Monument of the Ghetto Heroes and, finally, see the reconstructed Old Town, including the Royal Palace. (Buffet Breakfast / Dinner / Buffet Breakfast)

Day 8 to Day 9 - The Spirit of Berlin
Your route now leads towards the west, across rolling farmlands and past Poznan, often called the ‘cradle of the Polish State’. Cross the Oder river to enter Germany and continue to its vibrant capital, Berlin. Wake up ready to embrace the rejuvenated spirit of Berlin. Join a local expert for a drive through the Tiergarten to the refurbished Reichstag building and see the Brandenburg Gate. On the eastern side, take the Unter den Linden past the State Opera House to the Alexanderplatz. Spend the afternoon at leisure in this once divided city, shopping along the Kurfürstendamm or exploring the new vibrant Potsdamer Platz. (Buffet Breakfast / Buffet Breakfast)

Day 10 to Day 11 - Baroque Dresden on the Elbe and Golden Prague
Drive south to Dresden where a walking tour introduces you to the Frauenkirche, risen once again from wartime destruction. See the Castle of the Electors of Saxony, including the unique Saxon Wall overlaid with Meissen tiles, the courtyards of the Zwinger Palace and the Opera House. After some free time, head for the Czech border high in the Ore Mountains and continue to the capital City of Prague. Prague has blossomed since the ‘Velvet Revolution’, but its unique character remains unchanged. On the following morning a guided tour, shows you the amazing St Vitus’ Cathedral, which is set inside the 1,000-year-old Prague Castle. Later, cross the river to explore the vast cobblestoned expanse of the Old Town Square and see its famous Astronomical Clock. As night falls, why not enjoy Prague’s exciting night life? (Buffet Breakfast / Dinner / Buffet Breakfast)

Day 12 - Cesky Krumlov and the Bohemian Nobles
Enjoy a delightful drive through the green Bohemian countryside to Cesky Krumlov, a picturesque medieval town nestled on the banks of the Vltava. Walk through the narrow cobbled streets and arch covered footpaths, past colourful townhouses and centuries old inns, cafes and shops. Enjoy a guided visit to the fairy-tale red roofed castle, considered by many to be the finest in the land. Your hotel is located right on the main town square so this evening, when all the day trippers have gone home, you can soak up the unique atmosphere of this UNESCO listed site over dinner at a number of selected restaurants. (Buffet Breakfast / Dine Around)

Day 13 to Day 14 - Charming Cesky Krumlov Stately Vienna and the Habsburgs
Cross the border into Austria and enjoy a delightful drive along the Danube through the Wachau Valley. Vineyards cover hillsides overlooked by ruined castles like Dürnstein, where Richard the Lionheart was imprisoned. Now on to Austria’s great Imperial capital, Vienna. The next day join your local expert for a private tour of Maria Theresa’s Schönbrunn Palace and formal gardens. Then get your cameras ready for a drive around the famous ring road. This grand boulevard, built along the lines of the old city walls, show-cases many of the capital’s architectural masterpieces, including the Opera House, magnificent Hofburg Imperial Residence and Parliament building. After time back at the hotel to change Join us this evening for a wonderful concert of Viennese Classical music. Your gala end-of-tour Celebration Dinner with wine features some of Austria’s most highly acclaimed soloists performing famous works by Strauss and Mozart. (Buffet Breakfast / Buffet Breakfast / Celebration Dinner)

Day 15 - Vienna or Budapest Airport
Your departure transfer arrives at Vienna Airport at 08:00 and continues back to Budapest Airport arriving at 12.00 noon. (Buffet Breakfast)

• Budapest: Enjoy skyline views from Gellert Hill. Walk through the cobbled streets of the medieval Castle Hill district. See the Parliament and visit Heroes’ Square in Pest.
• Slovakia: See Oravsky Hrad Castle and some of Slovakia’s traditional wooden houses.
• Krakow: See the trumpeter in the tower of St Mary’s Church. View Cloth Hall in the town square and the courtyard of Jagiellonian University.
• Czestochowa: See the Black Madonna in the monastery.
• Warsaw: Visit the Old Town and Chopin & Ghetto memorials.
• Berlin: See Tiergarten, Reichstag and Brandenburg Gate.
• Dresden: Admire the mosaic on the Saxon wall of the castle.See Frauenkirche, Cathedral, Zwinger Palace and Opera House.
• Prague: Visit the Old Town Square and Astronomical Clock
• Vienna: See the Hofburg, Opera House, Parliament building and St Charles’ Church..
• Scenic Drives: Wachau Valley, Erzgebirge and Tatra Mountains.

Delve behind the former 'Iron Curtain' to find medieval charm, a rich culture infused with religious devotion and some confronting reminders of WWII.

• A Welcome Reception with light informal meal (WR)
• 13 Buffet Breakfasts (BB), 1 Dine-Around (DA), 1 Celebration Dinner (CD) and 3 three-course table d’hôte Dinners, or Buffets, plus tea or coffee (D)
• Escorted by a professional Tour Director
• Headsets for all guided visits and walking tours
• Enjoy the unique comfort of Insight’s luxury air-conditioned 40 seat coach with extended leg room and on-board restroom
• Insight Hotels include all service charges, taxes and porterage
• Airport transfers at scheduled times on Day 2 and Day 15 (Should your flights not coincide with these transfers, please make your own way to/from the airport)

Budapest: Corinthia Grand Royal
Krakow: Sheraton
Warsaw: Sheraton
Berlin: Marriott
Prague: Palace
Cesky Krumlov: The Old Inn
Vienna: Hilton am Stadtpark/Hilton Plaza

• Check visa requirements for this tour.
• October 6 departure will stay at the Hotel Ruze in Cesky Krumlov instead of the Old Inn.
• Please ask your Vacations To Go travel counselor for more information.

* The prices shown are U.S. dollars per person, based on double occupancy, and subject to availability. Prices quoted for land/cruise arrangements are subject to increase without notice. Once we have received your deposit, land/cruise prices are guaranteed. Air prices quoted via phone or email are subject to increase and are guaranteed only from the time that full payment is received. Also, air prices or air promotions mentioned on this site or on the phone do not include baggage fees imposed by airlines. Sorry, we are unable to offer air from countries other than the U.S. However, for those international customers who are able to arrange their own transportation to the trip origination city, we are able to offer the land/cruise portion of the package, at the price quoted.