Discover Central Europe
The typical image of central Europe -- concrete communist high rises, somber people in brown coats and meals centered around gray mystery meat -- is as hard to find today as the Berlin Wall. In its place you'll find colorful villages, a vibrant restaurant scene and people who are proud of their rich culture and history.
This tour covers a lot of ground while maintaining a relaxed pace. We'll include the highlights of the capitals in Prague, Vienna, Budapest and Warsaw, while also taking time to slow down and explore some of the smaller villages of each region.
This tour covers a lot of ground while maintaining a relaxed pace. We'll include the highlights of the capitals in Prague, Vienna, Budapest and Warsaw, while also taking time to slow down and explore some of the smaller villages of each region.
Not currently scheduled. As shown, this tour is for 15 nights, 16 days. Rates priced from $3000 per person, based on eight people sharing four double rooms.
To schedule a tour like this for your own private group, or to find out about future tours like this, please contact us.
To schedule a tour like this for your own private group, or to find out about future tours like this, please contact us.
Day 1: Arrival in Prague. Most flights to Prague arrive in the afternoon. Once everybody is here and settled into the hotel, we’ll take a walk through Old Town and have dinner.
Day 2: Prague. Today we’ll tour the magnificent Castle Hill, St. Vitus cathedral, the Golden Lane, Charles Bridge and Lesser Town. Afternoon free for your own exploration and shopping.
Day 3: Prague. In the morning we’ll tour the Josefov district, the best preserved Jewish quarter in Eastern Europe. Afternoon free for your own exploration and shopping.
Day 4: Bohemia. From Prague we head south to Austria, passing through the region of southern Bohemia. We’ll stop in the Renaissance town of Cesky Krumlov for a lunch break and some time to wander the cobblestone streets, then cross the border into Austria on our way to Weissenkirchen. This little village is in the Wachau, the best wine region in Austria, located on the banks of the Danube River.
Day 5: Wachau Valley. In the morning we’ll take a boat ride on the Danube River, tour the beautiful Baroque abbey at Melk, then return to Weissenkirchen. Afternoon free to sample at the many wineries, hike in the vineyards, rent a bike and cycle along the Danube path, or just relax and enjoy the small town charm of Weissenkirchen.
Day 6: Vienna. It’s less than two hours from Weissenkirchen to Vienna, the capital of a once mighty Empire. Here we’ll take an orientation walk of the always charming old town, including a visit St Stephan’s cathedral. The late afternoon is free to explore or shop on your own.
Day 7: Vienna. In the morning we’ll tour the Art History Museum, one of Europe’s greatest collections. Afterwards we’ll pop over to the Nibble Market, an exotic riot of sights, sounds, smells and tastes. Afternoon free to explore more of old town, visit any of the dozens of museums, or just enjoy the cafés and sounds of the city of music.
Day 8: Budapest. It’s less than three hours from Vienna, across the border to Hungary and into Budapest. After our arrival we’ll visit the House of Terror, a museum in a building that served as a political prison for the Nazis and later for the Communist regime. Afterwards we’ll walk across the Chain Bridge, then ride the funicular up to Castle Hill for grand views of the city and dinner.
Day 9: Budapest. In the morning we’ll tour Hungary’s grand neo-Gothic Parliament building and see some of the oldest crown jewels in Europe. Afternoon free to explore on your own.
Day 10: Zakopane. From Hungary we head north, through the rugged mountains and forests of Slovakia en route to Zakopane, Poland. This delightful mountain village is a popular ski resort in the winter, and a haven for hikers and nature lovers in the summer.
Day 11: Zakopane. Today we’ll take a drive through one of the most beautiful parts of Poland, where it’s not unusual to see horse-drawn plows, and farmers harvesting potatoes by hand. In the Pieninski National Park we’ll ride traditional wooden barges, hand poled by Polish boatmen, through one of the most beautiful river gorges in Europe. Afternoon free back in Zakopane.
Day 12: Krakow. It’s a short ride north from Zakopane to Krakow, the historic capital, heart and soul of Poland. Here we’ll take an orientation walk of the old town, visit Poland’s oldest university, see one of the grandest carved altar pieces in Europe and hear the warning call of a trumpeter cut short by a Tartar arrow.
Day 13: Krakow. Today we’ll visit the factory made famous by Oskar Schindler, still standing just outside the Krakow city center. Afterwards we’ll drive to Auschwitz, site of one of the worst atrocities of the Nazi regime, before returning to Krakow for the evening.
Day 14: Krakow. In the morning we’ll tour Wawel castle, the historic home of Polish kings, and visit Krakow cathedral, where most of them are buried. Afternoon and evening free.
Day 15: Warsaw. The last stretch of our route takes us from the historic capital to the modern capital of Poland. After our arrival we’ll tour Warsaw’s historic old town and have dinner with a view of the square.
Day 16: Tour over after breakfast. Transportation to the airport, or stay on your own for another day or two in Warsaw.
Day 2: Prague. Today we’ll tour the magnificent Castle Hill, St. Vitus cathedral, the Golden Lane, Charles Bridge and Lesser Town. Afternoon free for your own exploration and shopping.
Day 3: Prague. In the morning we’ll tour the Josefov district, the best preserved Jewish quarter in Eastern Europe. Afternoon free for your own exploration and shopping.
Day 4: Bohemia. From Prague we head south to Austria, passing through the region of southern Bohemia. We’ll stop in the Renaissance town of Cesky Krumlov for a lunch break and some time to wander the cobblestone streets, then cross the border into Austria on our way to Weissenkirchen. This little village is in the Wachau, the best wine region in Austria, located on the banks of the Danube River.
Day 5: Wachau Valley. In the morning we’ll take a boat ride on the Danube River, tour the beautiful Baroque abbey at Melk, then return to Weissenkirchen. Afternoon free to sample at the many wineries, hike in the vineyards, rent a bike and cycle along the Danube path, or just relax and enjoy the small town charm of Weissenkirchen.
Day 6: Vienna. It’s less than two hours from Weissenkirchen to Vienna, the capital of a once mighty Empire. Here we’ll take an orientation walk of the always charming old town, including a visit St Stephan’s cathedral. The late afternoon is free to explore or shop on your own.
Day 7: Vienna. In the morning we’ll tour the Art History Museum, one of Europe’s greatest collections. Afterwards we’ll pop over to the Nibble Market, an exotic riot of sights, sounds, smells and tastes. Afternoon free to explore more of old town, visit any of the dozens of museums, or just enjoy the cafés and sounds of the city of music.
Day 8: Budapest. It’s less than three hours from Vienna, across the border to Hungary and into Budapest. After our arrival we’ll visit the House of Terror, a museum in a building that served as a political prison for the Nazis and later for the Communist regime. Afterwards we’ll walk across the Chain Bridge, then ride the funicular up to Castle Hill for grand views of the city and dinner.
Day 9: Budapest. In the morning we’ll tour Hungary’s grand neo-Gothic Parliament building and see some of the oldest crown jewels in Europe. Afternoon free to explore on your own.
Day 10: Zakopane. From Hungary we head north, through the rugged mountains and forests of Slovakia en route to Zakopane, Poland. This delightful mountain village is a popular ski resort in the winter, and a haven for hikers and nature lovers in the summer.
Day 11: Zakopane. Today we’ll take a drive through one of the most beautiful parts of Poland, where it’s not unusual to see horse-drawn plows, and farmers harvesting potatoes by hand. In the Pieninski National Park we’ll ride traditional wooden barges, hand poled by Polish boatmen, through one of the most beautiful river gorges in Europe. Afternoon free back in Zakopane.
Day 12: Krakow. It’s a short ride north from Zakopane to Krakow, the historic capital, heart and soul of Poland. Here we’ll take an orientation walk of the old town, visit Poland’s oldest university, see one of the grandest carved altar pieces in Europe and hear the warning call of a trumpeter cut short by a Tartar arrow.
Day 13: Krakow. Today we’ll visit the factory made famous by Oskar Schindler, still standing just outside the Krakow city center. Afterwards we’ll drive to Auschwitz, site of one of the worst atrocities of the Nazi regime, before returning to Krakow for the evening.
Day 14: Krakow. In the morning we’ll tour Wawel castle, the historic home of Polish kings, and visit Krakow cathedral, where most of them are buried. Afternoon and evening free.
Day 15: Warsaw. The last stretch of our route takes us from the historic capital to the modern capital of Poland. After our arrival we’ll tour Warsaw’s historic old town and have dinner with a view of the square.
Day 16: Tour over after breakfast. Transportation to the airport, or stay on your own for another day or two in Warsaw.
Price includes: accommodations in comfortable, characteristic hotels, all in central locations; all ground transportation from arrival in Prague to departure from Warsaw; breakfast each morning; entry and tour of all sights mentioned in the itinerary; the services of your Hand Crafted guide, who also acts as driver, interpreter, and window on European culture and history.
Not included: airfare to and from Europe; meals other than breakfast; free time sightseeing admissions or transportation.
Not included: airfare to and from Europe; meals other than breakfast; free time sightseeing admissions or transportation.