Warsaw, Budapest, Vienna and Prague with Tauck Tours

WARSAW, BUDAPEST, VIENNA & PRAGUE ITINERARY:

1. Arrive Warsaw
Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Le Royal Meridien Bristol, Warsaw, Poland. Welcome to Warsaw! A transfer is included from Warsaw Frederic Chopin Airport to your first night's hotel, Le Royal Meridien Bristol. A world of historic discoveries awaits in Warsaw; join us this evening for a welcome reception and dinner. Meals D

2. Explore Warsaw
Following the end of World War II, over 85% of Warsaw was destroyed; city planners used pre-war paintings and sketches to rebuild it. A city sightseeing tour today includes the Palace of Culture; a walking tour through Old Town; and a visit to the Jewish Ghetto Memorial. Following a walking tour of the main square, your afternoon is at leisure. Attend a private piano recital of Chopin’s music in the early evening. Meals BD

3. Czestochowa / Cracow
View traditional villages and farms as you travel through Poland’s lovely countryside. Visit Czestochowa and the Baroque monastery of Jasna Gora; thousands of pilgrims come here annually to view the holy icon called the Black Madonna. Arrive in the city of Cracow, considered one of the finest medieval cities in Europe – its historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Meals BLD

4. Cracow / Auschwitz
Approximately 1,000 years ago, Cracow was the capital city of Poland. Visit Wawel Castle, once the residence of kings, and walk through the Old Town. The afternoon is your choice – spend it at leisure in Cracow, or journey to the poignant memorial and museum at Auschwitz, forty miles southwest of the city. Meals B

5. Explore Cracow and Wieliczka
The day begins with a journey to Wieliczka for a visit to a salt mine dating back to the Middle Ages, an amazing subterranean complex of ancient chambers and chapels, wooden mining engines and saline lakes. Legend has it that the salt mine, in operation for over 700 years, was part of a dowry belonging to a Hungarian princess. Throughout the centuries, miners have carved exquisite figures, altarpieces and chandeliers out of the salt walls, earning the mine designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Return to Cracow for a tour of the fascinating Kazimierz, the former Jewish Quarterl see the historic Remu Synagogue and museum (holidays permitting). The remainder of the day is at your leisure to explore as you please. Meals B

6. Tatra Mountains / Danube River Cruise
Travel through the scenic Tatra Mountains, located in both Slovakia and Poland, en route to Hungary. Have lunch in Slovakia, and continue through the picturesque landscapes as green hills and tranquil river valleys gradually give way to the sweeping plains of Hungary. Arrive in Budapest, Hungary’s cultural capital, often referred to as the Paris of the East. Your hotel is located along the magnificent Danube River promenade. Join us this evening for a dinner cruise on the Danube River, featuring views of the city’s grand architecture, especially beautiful when illuminated at night. Meals BLD

7. The Architecture of Pest
The Danube River divides Budapest into two distinct areas. Today’s sightseeing is through Pest, sprawling along the eastern banks of the Danube. View the city’s embassy district, the impressive State Opera House, City Park and Andrassy Avenue; see historic Heroes’ Square and the synagogue at Dohány (holidays permitting). Meals B

8. Sightsee Buda / Vienna
Visit the neo-Gothic Parliament building, an icon of the Budapest skyline. Buda’s Castle Hill, with quaint lanes and cobblestone streets, sits on a hilltop overlooking the Danube’s western bank. Visit Gothic Matthias Church, one of the city’s most notable sights, where the final two Hungarian kings were crowned, and Fishermen’s Bastion. Following lunch in Buda, journey to Austria and the majestic city of Vienna. Spend the next three nights at one of the most celebrated hotels in Europe, Hotel Bristol, located in the heart of the city. Meals BLD

9. Schönbrunn Palace
The Danube River, centuries' worth of magnificent building, and the expansive Karlsplatz are just the beginning of a day of sightseeing in extraordinary Vienna. A guided visit to the Kunsthistorisches (Museum of Fine Arts), where the Imperial Habsburg collections are displayed, is a true highlight. Schonbrunn Palace, which was the lavish summer residence of Austria's emperors, was first commissioned by the formidable Maria Theresa to rival Versailles. It became the symbol of Vienna's Habsburg Empire, as well as a testament to one of European history's great ironies - in that both the ill-fated French queen Marie Antoinette, who was born here, and Napoleon Bonaparte, who became France's emperor following the French Revolution, once resided here. Have lunch at the palace, where you'll view the art of making Vienna's delectable strudel. A guided tour visits the grand State Apartments and the Hall of Mirrors - where Mozart, at the age of six, gave a command performance; gaze upon the vast expanse of beautiful palace gardens. Meals BL

10. Vienna / Private Concert
Join us this morning for a walking tour of the city’s architectural highlights, including the Hofburg, the former Imperial Palace and Austria’s current presidential residence. The afternoon is at leisure to explore a wealth of attractions including some of Europe’s finest art museums. Dinner tonight is followed by a private concert by the Vienna Residence Orchestra at a historic palace, featuring the music of famous Austrian composers Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Johann Strauss. Meals BD

11. Vienna to Prague
A journey through the Czech Republic brings you to Prague. Take a walk through Old Town for a view of the famous astronomical clock, and stroll along Karlova Street to Charles Bridge, enjoying a great view of Prague Castle. Return to the hotel via Jan Palach Square and see Rudolfinum Philharmonic Hall. Meals BLD

12. Visit the Castle Quarter
Visit Strahov Monastery and walk through the Hradcany district and the castle quarter. Magnificent palaces, museums and monasteries surround 1,000 year-old Prague Castle – tour the historic halls and courtyards of this impressive complex. You will also visit the towering Cathedral of St. Vitus, the country’s largest cathedral. Remainder of the day is free to spend as you like. Meals B

13. Explore Prague
Continue your Prague sightseeing with a visit to the lovely Estates Theatre followed by a tour of the Josefov District, Prague’s Jewish Quarter. See the Jewish Cemetery, Old-New Synagogue, Pinkus Memorial, Klaus Synagogue and Maisel Synagogue (holidays permitting). The afternoon is spent as you please in Prague. Join us for a special evening at Nelahozeves Castle where you will meet a member of the former Czech nobility at a reception featuring wine from their vineyards; the evening comes to a close with a gala farewell dinner. Meals BD

14. Journey Home
Tour ends: Prague, Czech Republic. A transfer is included from InterContinental Praha to Prague’s Ruzyne Airport. Allow a minimum of 2 1/2 hours for flight check-in. Meals B

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