Highlights of Eastern Europe - End Vienna, Small Group

Highlights of Eastern Europe - End Vienna, Small Group

51 Views
14 Days From

$6125

$6105

Highlights of Eastern Europe - End Vienna, Small Group

14 Days Starting in Budapest and ending in Vienna

Visiting: Budapest, Kraków, Oravsky Podzamok, Warsaw, Berlin, Dresden, Prague, Cesky Krumlov, Ceske Budejovice, Vienna

Tour operator:

Insight Vacations

Specialist Group:

Family/Kids

Guide Type:

Fully Guided

Group size:

12 - 24

Physical rating:

Low

Age range:

5-99

Special diets catered:

Vegetarians

Tour operated in:

English

Interests:

History, Music

Activities:

Beer Tasting, Sightseeing

From: $6125 $6105 Operator discount: -$20

NB: Prices correct on 31-Oct-2024 but subject to change.

This tour is no longer available, please see similar tours below or send an enquiry

Tour Overview

Delight your senses on the Highlights of Eastern Europe tour as you travel through Budapest, Warsaw and Vienna alongside Local Experts. In the German capital, a robust Berlin sightseeing itinerary meanders through the leafy Tiergarten of the Reichstag building, to the Brandenburg Gate and along the Unter den Linden to the State Opera House, and Museum Island. In Vienna, see, hear and taste the city from a local perspective at the Mozart & Strauss Concert dinner—with a menu composed of traditional Austrian delicacies and classical music masterpieces. Across the border in the Polish Capital, enjoy the Warsaw Cooking of an expert chef with a demonstration of traditional dumpling making techniques.

Highlights

  • Prague: Stroll through the Jewish Quarter with your Local Expert to hear how the Jewish community has shaped the history of Prague.

  • Prague: Visit the imposing St. Vitus Cathedral and explore the atmospheric courtyards of the historic Prague Castle with your Local Expert.

  • 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.

  • Budapest: Enjoy a tour of the Liszt Music Academy with a student, followed by an enchanting recital.

  • Kraków: Visit the cathedral atop Wawel Hill, see the castle and look for the iconic dragon, accompanied by your Local Expert.

  • Vienna: A private, guided exploration of Schonbrunn Palace will have all your senses tingling.

Itinerary

Expand All

Day 1: Welcome To Budapest

Location: Budapest

Accommodation: Kempinski Hotel Corvinus Budapest

Accommodation Name: Kempinski Hotel Corvinus Budapest

Meals Included: Dinner with Wine

Budapest sets the scene for a memorable journey around Eastern Europe. Join your Travel Director and fellow travelers at a local restaurant. Your Welcome Dinner is a treat of mouthwatering Hungarian specialties, accompanied by specially selected wine.

Day 2: Delve Into Budapest Relaxed Start

Location: Budapest

Accommodation: Kempinski Hotel Corvinus Budapest

Accommodation Name: Kempinski Hotel Corvinus Budapest

Meals Included: Breakfast

Visit the *Liszt Academy of Music for a guided tour followed by an enchanting recital. Stroll through the alleys of the Old Town of Buda with a local expert to admire the façade of Matthias Church and take in the views from the Fisherman's Bastion. In the evening, perhaps choose an optional experience to see this fairy-tale city as you cruise along the Danube and enjoy a meal of Hungarian specialties? (*on occasions the Liszt Academy will be replaced by an organ recital at the Matthias Church).

Day 3: The Mountains To Kraków

Location: Kraków, Budapest, Oravsky Podzamok

Accommodation: Mercure Kraków Stare Miasto.

Accommodation Name: Mercure Kraków Stare Miasto

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner with Wine

Take a gentle drive into Slovakia and through the breathtaking Low Tatra Mountains, where villagers still live in traditional wooden houses. Stop at scenic Donovaly. Continue north to see the picturesque Oravský Hrad Castle before crossing into Poland and continuing to historic Kraków.

Day 4: The Damsels And Dragons Of Kraków Relaxed Start

Location: Kraków

Accommodation: Mercure Kraków Stare Miasto.

Accommodation Name: Mercure Kraków Stare Miasto

Meals Included: Breakfast

Join a Local Expert to ascend Wawel Hill and visit the cathedral. Walk past the former residence of Pope John Paul II through the Old Town, to Europe's largest and most beautiful town square. See the medieval Sukiennice Cloth Hall and visit the 14th-century St. Mary's Basilica, the most important church in the city. Keep your eyes and ears peeled for the trumpeter in the tower. Why not join an Optional Experience and journey into a glistening subterranean world at the 600-year-old Wieliczka Salt Mines? In a maze of tunnels deep below the surface, witness unique salt sculptures, sunken lakes and even a glorious cathedral carved entirely out of rock salt by the miners. Alternatively, enjoy time at leisure.

Day 5: Auschwitz And On To Warsaw

Location: Warsaw, Kraków

Accommodation: The Westin Warsaw.

Accommodation Name: The Westin Warsaw

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner with Wine

Join a Local Expert at Oświęcim, better known throughout the world by its German name, Auschwitz, infamous for its role during the Holocaust. Spend reflective moments amid the remains of the concentration camp and the memorials to those who died. Continue across the Polish plains to the country’s capital, Warsaw for the night. Dumplings are an Eastern European tradition, so in the evening enjoy a dumpling demonstration and delightful Highlight Dinner.

Day 6: The Polish Capital Of Warsaw Relaxed Start

Location: Warsaw

Accommodation: The Westin Warsaw.

Accommodation Name: The Westin Warsaw

Meals Included: Breakfast

Join a Local Expert in the morning to see the Old Town, Royal Castle and Palace of Culture. Visit the Chopin Memorial in the Łazienki Park. Pay your respects at the Monument to the Ghetto Heroes and then enjoy a free afternoon to explore at your own pace. Perhaps attend a Chopin recital or delve into Warsaw's inspirational past?

Day 7: Wielkopolska To Berlin

Location: Warsaw, Berlin

Accommodation: Hotel NH Collection Berlin Mitte am Checkpoint Charlie, Berlin.

Accommodation Name: Hotel NH Collection Berlin Mitte am Checkpoint Charlie

Meals Included: Breakfast

Your route leads westward, across the rolling farmlands of the central plains, over the Oder River to enter Germany. Your destination is the vibrant capital of Berlin where you can try traditional Berliner cuisine.

Day 8: The Spirit Of Berlin Relaxed Start

Location: Berlin

Accommodation: Hotel NH Collection Berlin Mitte am Checkpoint Charlie, Berlin.

Accommodation Name: Hotel NH Collection Berlin Mitte am Checkpoint Charlie

Meals Included: Breakfast

Prepare to embrace the rejuvenated spirit of Berlin. Join a Local Expert for a drive through the leafy 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 Museum Island.

Day 9: Dresden And Golden Prague

Location: Berlin, Dresden, Prague

Accommodation: Hermitage Hotel Prague

Accommodation Name: Hermitage Hotel Prague

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner with Wine

Journey south to Dresden. Almost totally destroyed by horrific air raids in 1945, Dresden has now risen again from the ashes in a blend of old and new. See the reconstructed Frauenkirche and walk past the colossal ‘Procession of the Princes' on the wall of the Royal Palace. Explore around the Catholic cathedral to view the tiered facades of the opera house and the Baroque Zwinger Palace. After free time for lunch, head for the Czech border, high in the Ore Mountains and continue to the capital city of Prague.

Day 10: Prague, City Of A Hundred Spires

Location: Prague

Accommodation: Hermitage Hotel Prague

Accommodation Name: Hermitage Hotel Prague

Meals Included: Breakfast

Explore Prague with Insight Choice. Choose to walk the courtyards of the Castle and visit the imposing St. Vitus Cathedral. Alternatively, join your Local Expert for a walk through the Jewish Quarter and learn about a different side of the history of Prague and taste Trdelník, a traditional Czech pastry. The city is then yours to explore. Perhaps walk in the footsteps of kings along the Royal Route? Czechs are passionate about their beer, so be sure to try the local pilsners, alongside the Czech cuisine.

Day 11: Bohemian Český Krumlov Relaxed Start

Location: Prague, Cesky Krumlov, Ceske Budejovice

Accommodation: Hotel Old Inn, Ceský Krumlov.

Accommodation Name: Hotel Old Inn

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner with Wine

A journey through the green Bohemian countryside will bring you to České Budějovice. Enjoy a behind-the-scenes tour of a local brewery to sample the beer and discover the secrets of how this golden vintage is made. Continue on to Český Krumlov, a picturesque medieval town nestled on the banks of the Vltava. Walk the narrow cobbled streets and arch-covered footpaths, past colorful townhouses and centuries-old inns. With a Local Expert, visit the fairy-tale, red-roofed castle, considered by many to be the finest in the land. After the day trippers have left, soak up the unique atmosphere of this UNESCO World Heritage Site at a local restaurant. Enjoy a traditional Czech Highlight Dinner of local specialties.

Day 12: Stately Vienna Relaxed Start

Location: Cesky Krumlov, Vienna

Accommodation: Hilton Vienna Park.

Accommodation Name: Hilton Vienna Park

Meals Included: Breakfast

Cross the border into Austria and enjoy a delightful journey to Vienna. The afternoon is free for you to explore this stately capital and later why not enjoy a delightful Austrian meal with the option to dine at a country mansion?

Day 13: The Habsburgs Of Vienna

Location: Vienna

Accommodation: Hilton Vienna Park.

Accommodation Name: Hilton Vienna Park

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner with Wine

Vienna owes much of its present-day charm to the long reign of the Habsburgs. Join your Local Expert for a private visit of Maria Theresa’s Schönbrunn Palace and its formal gardens. Then, take some great photos on a circuit of the famous Ring Road. This grand boulevard, built along the lines of the old city walls, showcases many of the capital’s architectural masterpieces, including the Opera House, magnificent Hofburg Imperial Residence, Austrian Parliament Building and Karlskirche. Explore Vienna with Insight Choice. Choose between a visit to a traditional Viennese café to enjoy local specialties of coffee and Sachertorte or alternatively, join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience during an inclusive workshop and take to the floor in 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: Depart Vienna

Location: Vienna

Meals Included: Breakfast

Your journey comes to an end in Vienna this morning.

What's Included

  • Meals

    Includes 13 breakfasts and 11 dinners with wine, featuring local specialties.

  • Exclusive Experiences

    Enjoy unique experiences such as a visit to the Liszt Music Academy in Budapest, a dumpling-making demonstration in Warsaw, a brewery tour in Ceske Budejovice, and a private tour of Schonbrunn Palace in Vienna.

  • Local Experts

    Benefit from the knowledge of Local Experts in cities like Prague, Kraków, Budapest, and Vienna for in-depth exploration.

  • Luxury Transportation

    Travel in comfort with an air-conditioned, 40-seat coach with double the standard legroom, onboard washroom, and complimentary Wi-Fi in most destinations.

  • Handpicked Hotels

    Stay in carefully selected, high-quality hotels throughout your journey.

  • Insight Flourishes

    Experience local specialties representing the destination, courtesy of your Travel Director.

  • Wi-Fi Availability

    Stay connected with complimentary coach and hotel Wi-Fi (where available).

  • All-Inclusive Service

    Enjoy the ease of having all taxes, porterage charges, and gratuities included.

  • MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience

    Participate in an inclusive workshop designed to support the visually impaired community in Vienna.

What's Not Included

  • International Airfare

    Flights to and from the tour start and end points are not included.

  • Travel Insurance

    Travel insurance is not included and is recommended for all travelers.

  • Optional Activities

    Any optional experiences not included in the itinerary may incur an additional cost.

  • Personal Expenses

    Items of a personal nature, including souvenirs, laundry, and beverages, are not included.

  • Visa Fees

    Any required visas or entry fees for specific countries are not included.

Check out our Q&As

  • Is there a visit to a brewery included in the tour?

    Yes, the tour includes a visit to a local brewery in Ceske Budejovice to discover how beer is made, followed by a sampling.

  • What countries will the tour visit?

    The tour will visit Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, Poland, and Germany.

  • What are the accommodation details for the first night?

    The accommodation for the first night is at Kempinski Hotel Corvinus Budapest.

  • What historical sites will be visited in Kraków?

    In Kraków, the tour visits the cathedral atop Wawel Hill, the castle, St. Mary's Basilica, and the former Jewish Quarter of Kazimierz to Podgórze to see the Ghetto Square.

  • Are there any special activities included in Prague?

    Yes, in Prague, activities include a stroll through the Jewish Quarter with a Local Expert, a visit to St. Vitus Cathedral and Prague Castle, a choice between two selected activities, and an exploration of the Old Town with a Local Expert.

  • What is the unique experience offered in Vienna?

    In Vienna, a unique experience offered is the 'Dancing without Barriers' workshop in a specially designed sensory studio, which supports the visually impaired community. Alternatively, there's a visit to a traditional Viennese café to enjoy coffee and sachertorte.

  • Is there a visit to Auschwitz included?

    Yes, the tour includes a powerful and moving visit to Auschwitz with a Local Expert, including the Auschwitz memorial and museum and a stop at Birkenau.

  • How many breakfasts and dinners are included?

    The tour includes 13 breakfasts and 11 dinners with wine.

  • Are there any cultural experiences included in the tour?

    Yes, cultural experiences include a dumpling-making demonstration in Warsaw, a tour of the Liszt Music Academy in Budapest, and a traditional Viennese Waltz workshop in Vienna.

  • Can I join the tour once it has departed?

    We regret that no refunds can be made for absences from a tour, including experiences such as missed meals or sightseeing.

  • How long has the tour company been trading?

    Since 1978.

  • What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?

    Insight Vacations is a founding member of the TreadRight Foundation, a joint initiative created by the brands within The Travel Corporation (TTC) almost 15 years ago to ensure our impact through tourism is positive. Our ethos to #MakeTravelMatter guides our decision-making at every level of our business.

  • Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?

    Yes

  • Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?

    You have two options as a solo traveller. Either choose to be matched with a same sex partner for a room share - at no extra cost. Or choose a room of your own with a reduced or even free private room upgrade on select tours.

  • What policies are in place for Covid-19?

    Please contact us for latest COVID-19 policies

Reviews of this operator

Peggy Lindenborn  

Country Roads of Southern Italy and Sicily

02-Nov-2021

Country Roads of Southern Italy and Sicily is a delightful trip and our travel guides and driver, Enzo, Chris and Greg were amazing and made the trip very memorable. We saw so many places and had great experiences along the way! Thanks to them for such a wonderful vacation.!

Feefo Trusted Reviews
Trusted Customer  

Best of Spain & Portugal

11-Jan-2023

Great itinerary, good pace, tour director was friendly and very knowledgeable and organised. Bus was very spacious and driver was great. Yes would recommend insight to friends and families

Feefo Trusted Reviews
Jacqueline Thornberry  

Scenic Iceland and the Northern Lights

31-Oct-2021

The number is our group was small which meant we got to know each other. Our tour guide, Laura Spiers, was excellent as was our driver. The food was good, and of course everything we saw in Iceland was beautiful and educational.

Feefo Trusted Reviews
Kathryn Ronca  

Enchanting Canyonlands

08-Nov-2021

The trip was fantastic. Everything was well planned and exceeded my expectations. All insight personal were courteous helpful and professional Ann Manual and Kevin were a topnotch team There was attention to every detail and at all times felt safe and always a personal touch to the trip. The motor coach was clean and roomy and there was multiple wipe downs during the day All hotels were top notch and all staff at the hotels and restaurants were helpful and courteous I would recommend this trip as it gave you a fantastic view of the natural wonders of the the West.

Feefo Trusted Reviews
Patrick Ong  

Italian Intermezzo

12-Jan-2023

This trip is absolutely amazing! Worth every Penny! Our Tour guide did not Disappoint.

Feefo Trusted Reviews

1 Select your preferred date

Saturday - Friday

Jun 14, 2025 - Jun 27, 2025
$6125 $6105

Operator discount: -$20

Saturday - Friday

Jul 19, 2025 - Aug 01, 2025
$6195 $6175

Operator discount: -$20

Book with Confidence

  • Low Deposit

    Insight Vacations requires a minimum deposit of 350 USD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.

  • Cancellation Policy

    We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of insight vacations charges.

    Up to 91 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.

    At 90 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.

    At 29 days before tour starts: Forfeit 80% of booking price.

    At 1 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.