Highlights of Eastern Europe (Small Groups, End Vienna, 14 Days)
Description
Summary
Description
Embark on a captivating 14-day journey through the heart of Eastern Europe, where history, culture, and natural beauty intertwine. From the vibrant cityscape of Budapest to the regal charm of Vienna, this multi-day tour offers an immersive experience into the region's rich heritage. Explore iconic landmarks, savor local delicacies, and engage with the local culture in a series of meticulously planned activities. This tour is designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of Eastern Europe's diverse landscapes, from the breathtaking Low Tatra Mountains to the picturesque Oravský Hrad Castle. Whether you're a history enthusiast, a food lover, or a nature admirer, this tour promises a memorable adventure that caters to all interests.
Included
13 nights in twin-share rooms at hand-picked hotels
6 Dinner with Wine (DW)
13 Breakfast (B)
Budapest: Dine in elegance and savour Hungarian delicacies accompanied with specially selected Hungarian wine during your dinner at Gundel.
Warsaw: Enjoy a demonstration of the traditional techniques of dumpling-making with an expert chef. Then enjoy a hearty Polish Highlight Dinner with a variety of local delicacies and drinks.
Ceske Budejovice: Tour a local brewery to discover the secrets of how the golden vintage of beer is made, followed by a sampling.
Cesky Krumlov: For your Dine-Around evening, choose your own style of ambience and cuisine from a fine selection of restaurants in the atmospheric centre.
Vienna: Your Imperial Viennese dinner is regal splendour on a plate. Enjoy a delicious traditional meal with drinks at a local restaurant, before a concert of classical music that pays homage to the genius of Strauss and Mozart.
Choose between two carefully selected activities
Prague: Stroll through the Jewish Quarter with your Local Expert to hear how the Jewish community has shaped the history of Prague. Taste Trdelnik, a traditional Czech pastry.
Prague: Explore Prague with your local expert, walk the courtyards of the Castle and visit the imposing St. Vitus Cathedral. The city is then yours to explore. Maybe take a river cruise through the heart of the city or walk in the footsteps of kings along the Royal Route? Czechs are passionate about their beer, so be sure to try the local pilsners together with hearty Czech cuisine
Vienna: Visit a traditional coffeehouse to enjoy Viennese specialities of coffee and Sachertorte.
Vienna: Listen to the musical masterpiece of Mozart and learn the Viennese Waltz, in an inclusive workshop designed to support the visually impaired community. Unique to Insight Guests, ‘Dancing without Barriers’ takes place in the dark, in a specially designed sensory studio, and will be a unique experience for all your senses. This specifically designed workshop focuses on inclusion and education around the topic of visual impairment. Through their foundation the organisation supports children from disadvantaged family and children with a visual impairment. This experience advances UN Sustainable Development Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities.
Personal radio headsets give you the freedom to wander during visits to famous highlights, without missing any of your Local Expert's fascinating commentary.
Hotel and restaurant tips are included - you'll never have to worry about how much to give, nor search for foreign currency. We also include all taxes and porterage charges at hotels.
We carry your bags for you and promptly deliver them to your hotel door.
Budapest: Enjoy a tour of the Liszt Music Academy with a student, followed by an enchanting recital. Producing incredible musical talent, the university was founded by piano virtuoso and composer Franz Liszt in 1875.
Budapest: Stroll through the alleys of the Old Town of Buda with a Local Expert.
Kraków: The medieval heart of Krakow is rich in legend, a kind of Polish Camelot. Join your Local Expert for an in-depth exploration of this historic Holy Grail. Cross the former Jewish Quarter of Kazimierz to Podgórze and see the Ghetto Square.
Kraków: Visit the cathedral atop Wawel Hill, see the castle and look for the iconic dragon, accompanied by your Local Expert.
Kraków: Visit the 14th-century St. Mary's Basilica, the most important church in the city.
Auschwitz: Experience a powerful and moving visit with a Local Expert. See the Auschwitz memorial and museum, which bears witness to the atrocities of the Holocaust.
Warsaw: Your Local Expert will show you the city's highlights. See the Old Town, Palace of Culture and visit the Chopin Memorial in the Lazienki Park before paying your respects at the Ghetto Heroes Memorial.
Berlin: You Local Expert provides a tour of this vibrant city. Drive along the Ku'Damm, passing the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church and through Tiergarten to the Reichstag building. See the Brandenburg Gate, State Opera House and visit Alexanderplatz.
Cesky Krumlov: Visit the fairytale castle considered to be the finest in the land. Let a Local Expert lead you through a medieval labyrinth of private chambers, courtyards, kitchens and dungeons of the castle, so rich in history.
Vienna: A private, guided exploration of Schönbrunn Palace will have all your senses tingling. Stand beneath frescoed ceilings, crystal chandeliers and gilded Rococo frames where Mozart performed as a child prodigy.
Vienna: Walk through the first district, Inner Stadt, as your Local Expert reveals why this is the historic core of the city. You will also tour the Ring Road to see the Hofburg Imperial Residence, Opera House, Parliament Building and Karlskirche.
Hand sanitizer is freely available on board for you to use throughout the day.
From time to time, your Travel Director will delight you with an Insight Flourish, which is a local specialty representing the destination.
Dresden: During your orientation with your Travel Director, take a moment to admire the 'Procession of the Princes' mosaic on the Saxon wall of the castle. You'll also see Frauenkirche, Zwinger Palace and the opera house, Semperoper.
Cesky Krumlov: Your Travel Director will lead you on an orientation of the city as you explore the medieval streets of this fairy-tale town.
Stay connected with friends and family with our complimentary coach and hotel Wi-Fi (where available).
If your arrival and/or departure flights are as per the itinerary start and end dates, then transfers are available at scheduled times. If your flights are outside these times, or you have booked additional nights accommodation with Insight Vacations, you may purchase transfers or make your own way from/to the airport.
Enjoy the comfort of Insight's luxurious, air-conditioned, 40-seat coach with double the standard legroom and onboard washroom. Our customized luxury coaches are sanitized before the start of your tour and are maintained to very high standards. Physical distancing measures have been implemented on our customized luxury coaches.
Destinations
Map
Attractions
Daily Itinerary
Day 1 – Day 1: Welcome to Budapest
- Budapest - Arrival day
- More
Begin your journey in the enchanting city of Budapest. Meet your travel director and fellow travelers for a welcome dinner at a local restaurant, where you'll indulge in mouthwatering Hungarian specialties paired with carefully selected wines.
Day 2 – Day 2: Exploring Budapest
- Budapest
- More
- Matthias Church
- Fisherman's Bastion
- Kovács Margit Ceramic Museum
- More
Embark on a guided tour of the Liszt Academy of Music, followed by a mesmerizing recital. Wander through the alleys of Buda's Old Town with a local expert, marvel at the facade of Matthias Church, and soak in the views from the Fisherman's Bastion. In the evening, you may opt for a fairy-tale cruise along the Danube, complete with a meal of Hungarian specialties.
Day 3 – Day 3: Journey to Kraków
- Donovaly
- Budapest
- Krakow
- More
- Orava Castle
- Low Tatras National Park
- More
Enjoy a scenic drive into Slovakia, through the breathtaking Low Tatra Mountains, and make a stop at the picturesque village of Donovaly. Continue north to the charming Oravský Hrad Castle, where traditional wooden houses still stand. Cross into Poland and arrive in the historic city of Kraków.
Day 4 – Day 4: Discovering Kraków
- Krakow
- More
- St. Mary's Basilica
- Wieliczka Salt Mine
- Wawel Cathedral
- More
Join a local expert to ascend Wawel Hill and visit the cathedral. Stroll through the Old Town to Europe's largest town square, admire the medieval Sukiennice Cloth Hall, and visit St. Mary's Basilica. You may opt for an optional experience to explore the 600-year-old Wieliczka Salt Mines, a subterranean world of unique salt sculptures and sunken lakes.
Day 5 – Day 5: From Kraków to Warsaw
- Częstochowa
- Krakow
- Oświęcim
- Warsaw
- More
- Memorial and Museum Auschwitz I
- More
Visit Oświęcim, better known by its German name, Auschwitz, a poignant reminder of the Holocaust. Spend reflective moments amid the remains of the concentration camp and the memorials to those who died. Continue to Poland's capital, Warsaw, for the night. In the evening, enjoy a dumpling demonstration and a delightful dinner of local specialties.
Day 6 – Day 6: Exploring Warsaw
- Warsaw
- More
- Chinese Garden
- Old Town Market Square
- Royal Route
- Palace of Culture and Science
- More
Join a local expert to explore the Old Town, Royal Castle, and Palace of Culture. Visit the Chopin Memorial in the Łazienki Park and pay your respects at the Monument to the Ghetto Heroes. Enjoy a free afternoon to explore at your own pace. You may choose to attend a Chopin recital or delve into Warsaw's inspirational past.
Day 7 – Day 7: Journey to Berlin
- Poznań
- Warsaw
- Berlin
- More
Travel westward across the central plains, over the Oder River, and into Germany. Arrive in the vibrant capital of Berlin, where you can sample traditional Berliner cuisine.
Day 8 – Day 8: Discovering Berlin
- Berlin
- More
- Reichstag
- Brandenburg Gate
- Museum Island
- More
Embrace the spirit of Berlin with a local expert. Drive through the leafy Tiergarten to the refurbished Reichstag building and see the iconic Brandenburg Gate. On the eastern side, take the Unter den Linden past the State Opera House to Museum Island.
Day 9 – Day 9: From Dresden to Prague
- Dresden
- Prague
- Berlin
- More
- Zwinger
- Frauenkirche, Dresden
- More
Travel south to Dresden, a city that has risen from the ashes of World War II. See the reconstructed Frauenkirche and walk past the colossal 'Procession of the Princes' on the wall of the Royal Palace. Explore the area around the Catholic cathedral to view the tiered facades of the opera house and the Baroque Zwinger Palace. After lunch, head for the Czech border and continue to the capital city of Prague.
Day 10 – Day 10: Exploring Prague
- Prague
- More
- Jerusalem Synagogue
- St. Vitus Cathedral
- Prague Castle
- More
Explore Prague with a choice of two Insight Choices. Opt to walk the courtyards of the Castle and visit the imposing St. Vitus Cathedral or join your Local Expert for a walk through the Jewish Quarter. Taste Trdelník, a traditional Czech pastry. The city is yours to explore in the afternoon. Try the local pilsners and Czech cuisine.
Day 11 – Day 11: Journey to Český Krumlov
- Prague
- České Budějovice
- Český Krumlov
- More
- Český Krumlov Castle Tower
- More
Travel through the green Bohemian countryside to České Budějovice. Enjoy a behind-the-scenes tour of a local brewery and sample the beer. Continue to Český Krumlov, a picturesque medieval town nestled on the banks of the Vltava. Walk the narrow cobbled streets and visit the fairy-tale, red-roofed castle. Enjoy a traditional Czech Highlight Dinner of local specialities at a local restaurant.
Day 12 – Day 12: Journey to Vienna
- Vienna
- Český Krumlov
- More
Cross the border into Austria and enjoy a delightful journey to Vienna. The afternoon is free for you to explore this stately capital. In the evening, you may opt for a delightful Austrian meal at a country mansion.
Day 13 – Day 13: Discovering Vienna
- Vienna
- More
- Burg Perchtoldsdorf
- Hundertwasserhaus
- Austrian Gallery Belvedere
- Schönbrunn Palace
- Bergkirche
- Burgruine Mödling
- More
Join your Local Expert for a private visit of Maria Theresa's Schönbrunn Palace and its formal gardens. Take some great photos on a circuit of the famous Ring Road, showcasing many of the capital's architectural masterpieces. Choose between a visit to a traditional Viennese café to enjoy local specialities of coffee and Sachertorte, or join a Viennese Waltz dance workshop designed to support the visually impaired community. Enjoy a delicious meal of traditional Austrian fare with drinks at a local restaurant, before sitting down to an extraordinary concert of Viennese classical music.
Day 14 – Day 14: Farewell Vienna
- Vienna - Departure day
- More
Your memorable journey through Eastern Europe comes to an end in Vienna. Depart with cherished memories and new friendships, knowing you've experienced the best that this vibrant region has to offer.
Verified reviews
Similar tours
Download Europe’s biggest travel marketplace to your phone to manage your entire trip in one place
Scan this QR code with your phone camera and press the link that appears to add Europe’s biggest travel marketplace into your pocket. Enter your phone number or email address to receive an SMS or email with the download link.