Day 1

Welcome to Prague!

Morning/Afternoon

• Arrive at Václav Havel Prague International Airport by 3:00 p.m., where your Trip Leader will greet you.
• Take a private shuttle from the airport to your boutique hotel located in the heart of Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic.
• After settling into your hotel, meet with your group as your Trip Leader lays out the plan for an exciting week ahead.

Evening

• Have your opening dinner at the local restaurant with your group and get to know the other like-minded travelers on your trip.

Day 2

Morning

• Wake up in Prague and enjoy breakfast at your boutique hotel.
• Visit Prague Castle with your group and explore the neighborhood of St. Vitus Cathedral and the colorful Golden Lane.
• Take the funicular, incline railway up to Petrin Hill, where you will see the Petrin Tower, built in 1891 for the Jubilee Exhibition and known for being a mini version of the Eiffel Tower. 
• Opt to climb the 299 steps to the top of the Tower, where you will see the beautiful panorama of Prague (admission to the tower is included).
• After the morning tour, your Trip Leader will recommend a few places to eat lunch in the local neighborhood.  

Afternoon

• Enjoy some free time to explore Prague. Perhaps you’d like to discover the neighborhood of Mala Strana, which is home to Prague’s narrowest street.
• Other areas of interest include John Lennon’s wall and the Dancing House on the river bank.

Evening

• Dinner is not included tonight but your Trip Leader will provide a few recommendations for you to select from.
• Enjoy the nightlife of Prague and don’t forget to ask your Trip Leader where the hidden bars are.

Day 3

Morning/Afternoon

• Have breakfast at your boutique hotel.
• Today is a free day for you to explore Prague as you please. Your Trip Leader will provide recommendations and offer to show you local favorites, but you can choose to spend the day as you please.

Suggestions on places to visit: Jewish Quarter, Town Hall Clock Tower, Museum of Communism, Kafka Museum.

• Lunch is not included on this day but your Trip Leader will provide some recommendations on where to eat in the city.

Evening

• Join a beer-tasting tour with a visit to two local Czech brewpubs, where you’ll learn the history of a few select beers and the process of making it 
• Tonight’s included dinner is at the brewpubs with your group where you can combine tasty beers with delicious Czech cuisine and traditional bar snacks.

Day 4

Morning

• After breakfast, head to the train station and jump on a public train that will take you to the capital of Austria... Vienna! (~4.5 hours travel time)
• There is a snack cart on the train, however, we recommend purchasing snacks and beverages before the journey.
• Get settled in your boutique hotel in the city center. 

Afternoon

• Join your Trip Leader for a city walk to familiarize yourself with your new surroundings. 
• If you’re visiting Vienna during November and December, don’t miss out on the iconic Christmas markets! When the trip is not operating during the Christmas markets, your group will visit Naschmarkt for a snack and tour.
• After you visit the markets, we suggest you take to the streets to taste some coffee, Sacacher torte, and Viennese chocolate cake.

Evening

• Tonight’s dinner is not included, but your Trip Leader will provide a few local recommendations and where you can find some of the famous Viennese schnitzel.
• This evening, you have more free time! It is a great night to watch a performance at a local opera house. Tickets must be purchased beforehand.
• Explore the city under the lights after enjoying your first dinner in Austria.

Day 5

Morning

• Wake up in Vienna and enjoy breakfast! Go on a walking tour with a local guide to learn about this beautiful city.
• This walking tour will take you to view St. Stephens Cathedral, the city square known as the Graben, and then to Hofburg Palace, where Habsburg emperors once resided in winter. The tour will end at the State Opera House. 

Important: No entrance fees are included in the tour to these sites. Entering these places is optional.

Afternoon

• Spend the afternoon exploring Vienna. There’s so much to do and see!

Suggestions: Sissi Museum, Hofburg Palace, Schoenbrunn Palace, St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Belvedere Gallery.

• Be sure to try the world-famous Sachertorte,a two-layer chocolate delight, with tart apricot jam between layers and a shiny coat of dark chocolate icing,  or treat yourself to Apfelstrudel.

Evening

• Enjoy an included dinner with your group in a local restaurant.

Day 6

Welcome to Budapest!‍

Morning

• This morning, you will travel by train (~3 hours) to your adventure's third and final destination in Central Europe: Budapest, Hungary!
• Fun Fact: Budapest is divided into two sides by the Danube River: Buda on the west river bank and Pest on the east.

Afternoon

• Arrive to Budapest and after checking into your accommodation, go on a city orientation walk with your Trip Leader.
• Later that afternoon, keep exploring the city and its architecture or relax at one of the thermal baths.

Suggestions: Heroes’ Square; Margaret Island; House of Terror; Andrassy Street; Gellert Baths, Széchenyi Baths...

• Be sure to try langos, the famous Hungarian street food, or the kolbász, a traditional Hungarian sausage spiced with paprika.

Evening

• Tonight’s dinner is not included so you will have free time to explore Budapest.
• Opt to join a river cruise and take in the sites lit up at night.
• Feeling adventurous? Why not try one of the local culinary specialties: Goulash Soup or Paprikash.

Day 7

Morning

• After breakfast at your hotel, head out to spend a half-day outside the city in the village of Szentendre, located on the Danube River. Join your Trip Leader for a walk through this village, known for its baroque architecture, churches, colorful houses, and narrow, cobbled streets.
• Travel time to Szentendre is ~40 minutes each way. Expect about 2 hours to explore the village and then return to Budapest.

Afternoon

• Return to Budapest and keep exploring the city and its architecture or relax at one of the thermal baths. 

Suggestions: Heroes’ Square; Margaret Island; House of Terror; Andrassy Street; Gellert Baths, Széchenyi Baths.

Evening

• Meet your group in the evening for your final farewell dinner and reminisce on the last week together!

Day 8

Morning

• Say goodbye to your new friends and depart at any time of the day. Your Trip Leader will give you instructions on how to take taxis, buses, or local transportation to the airport. 
• Be sure to ask your trip leader for suggestions on what to do if you choose to spend more time in Budapest.