Central Europe Tour - Czech, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Poland, Prague, Vienna, Budapest, Krakow, Bratislava

Central Europe, sometimes referred to as Middle Europe, is a region of the European continent lying between the variously defined areas of Eastern and Western Europe.
Central Europe is formed by Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary and Slovakia. Central Europe in the strict and the wide sense. Many Central European countries were parts of the German and the Austro-Hungarian empires and thus they do not only have geographical, but strong historical and cultural connections.
We offer you an unique oportunity to explore Central Europe in one tour.
During your stay you will visit 4 capitals, each one has its own special atmosphere formed by history and the present. Prague also referred to as Mother of Cities, City of a Hundred Spires or Golden City; Vienna also known for its balls, world famous musicians and fairy-tale Schonbrunn castle; Bratislava the Capital of the Kingdom of Hungary, the seat of the Hungarian Diet, central administration and the coronation town of the Hungarian Kings and Queens; finally Budapest with a truly unique geographical locations includes the world's largest thermal water cave system,second largest synagogue, and third largest Parliament building in the world.
Except capitals, we can not miss another Royal town also known Paris of Central Europe-Krakow.
In 11 days you will use for tranport a car, a train and a hydrofoil boat on the river Danube where you enjoy natural beauties of the river Danube.

• Itinerary
• Dates & Prices & Booking
• Highlights
• Tour Map
• Photos

Itinerary

Day 1:

Flying into Prague airport Vaclav Havel where the airport taxi will wait for you to drive you directly to your hotel in Prague city centre.
Check-in in first class hotel , free time.

Night in Prague

Day 2:

- breakfast
- Grand city tour (bus+on foot) with a guide
- free time
- Night in Prague

During this 3,5 hours tour you are going to see all of the most interesting historical sights of Prague - the Municipal House, Wenceslas Square, the National Museum, Charles Square followed by a ride along the beautiful riverside, across the River Vltava to Prague Castle. After a short walk you will return to the city centre, to the Old Town Square. Here you can admire the Tyn Church, St. Nicholas Church and the Astronomical clock on the Old Town Hall where the tour terminates.

Day 3:

- breakfast
- car transfer to the Railway station in Prague
- departure for Bratislava by train
- arrival to Bratislava
- accommodation in first class hotel
- free time
- Night in Bratislava

The Capital of the Slovak Republic BRATISLAVA, also referred to as the Beauty on the Danube can not only boast interesting history but it also is the centre of the most dynamically developing region of central Europe at present.
This strategically important place has often played a big role in the history of central Europe. The date of December 2nd 1291 is not the date of birth of Pressburg. One should take it rather as the date of its school leaving certificate, which confirms the aptness of its inhabitants to become the free citizens of a royal borough. In the 14th and 15th centuries Bratislava lived the period of rapid development in trade. The opening of the Academia Istropolitana (1467) has strengthened importance of Bratislava as the cultural and educational centre of the then Kingdom of Hungary. After Turks penetrated deeper into the Kingdom, Bratislava was established the Capital of the Kingdom of Hungary, the seat of the Hungarian Diet, central administration and the coronation town of the Hungarian Kings and Queens. Eleven Kings and eight royal wives were crowned in Bratislava in the years between 1563 and 1830.

The counter-Turk wars and the Rebellions of Estates in the 16th and 17th centuries have interrupted the development of towns. In the 18th century and above all during the reign of Queen Maria Theresa the significance of Bratislava increased again. Great amount of wonderful palaces and buildings still survive from that period. The city became the centre of cultural in the 19th century and Bratislava was the cradle of the Slovak national emancipation. The revolutionary events, workers movement and the First World Ward have stigmatized Bratislava which, nevertheless, became the centre of the political, economic and cultural life of Slovaks after 1918. Bratislava now is the modern city and the seat of most important political, economic, social and scientific bodies and institutions.

Day 4:

- breakfast
- walking tour of Bratislava Old Town with a guide
- free time
- private car transport to Vienna centre in the evening hours
- arrival to Vienna
- accommodation in first class hotel
- night in Vienna

One of the city dominants which can be seen from far distance is The Castle of Bratislava. The most attractive part of Bratislava is the Old Town where the most historical sights as well as cultural institutions are concentrated. Its tiny lanes offer an ideal atmosphere for romantic walks to those who love to follow signs of history in the middle of modern world. The significant structures in the historic centre of the city are all parts of the Monument Town Reserve. The Old Town includes the historic centre and adjoining neighbourhoods that used to be the centre's immediate outskirts in the Middle Ages.

ROUTE: Primatial Square - Old Town Hall - Main Square - Franciscan's Square - White Street - Michal's Street - Venturska Street - Panska Street - St. Martin's Cathedral

Day 5:

- breakfast
- City tour & Schonbrunn
- afternoon free time
- night in Vienna

This tour will give you an overall impression of the most significant historical sights of Vienna. Along the Ringstrasse we show you numerous grand buildings, such as the MAK, the State Opera House, the magnificent Museum of Fine Arts with its world famous art treasures of the Habsburgs and the Natural History Museum, the cultural district the Museums Quartier, the Hofburg (the former Habsburg winter residence), the Parliament, the City Hall and the Burgtheater. We drive past the Belvedere Palace which houses the largest and most precious Gustav Klimt collection in the world.The highlight of this tour will be a visit of the showrooms of Schönbrunn Palace, once the summer residence of the Habsburg family and home of Maria Theresia.

Day 6:

- breakfast
- 6- hour transport from Vienna to Budapest on the river Danube by a hydrofoil boat
- arrival to Budapest
- car transfer to first class hotel
- accommodation
- free time
- night in Budapest

Straddling the romantic Danube River, with the Buda Hills to the west and the start of the Great Plain to the east, Budapest is the most beautiful city in central Europe. And the human legacy is just as remarkable as Mother Nature’s. Architecturally, Budapest is a gem, with enough baroque, neoclassical, Eclectic and art nouveau (or Secessionist) buildings to satisfy anyone’s appetite. With parks brimming with attractions, museums filled with treasures, pleasure boats sailing up and down the scenic Danube and Turkish-era thermal baths belching steam, the Hungarian capital is a delight both by day and by night. The food and wine are excellent, cheap and in abundance and the nightlife is hot. Indeed, in recent years, Budapest has taken on the role of the region’s party town, especially in the warmer months when outdoor entertainment areas called kertek (literally ‘gardens’) heave with party makers.

Day 7:

- breakfast
- sightseeing of Budapest
- free time for the rest of the afternoon
- night in Budapest

You are invited to discover Budapest with a private guide with a private car (9h-16h): Buda side in the Castle District with Matthias Church and Fishermen Bastion, up to Gellert Hill, where the lunch is served. Then on Pest side on the Heroes' Square with the Vajdahunyad Castle and its museums from the Millenium (1896), then in the pedestrian area, from the Central Market Hall, to the Gerbeaud confectionery, where you are offered a coffee and a gerbeaud cake.

Day 8:

- breakfast
- meeting with our English speaking tour guide in a hotel lobby
- car transfer to Kosice (second largest city of Slovakia)
- sightseeing of Kosice
- accommodation
- night in Kosice

Kosice became the metropolis of East Slovakia and the second largest city of Slovakia. Historical core of the town is the largest town monument reserve of Slovakia. The dominant of the town is the monumental Gothic Cathedral of St. Elisabeth, which is the biggest church of Slovakia and the easternmost situated Gothic cathedral of western type in Europe.

The city of Košice, as the first in Slovakia, was awarded the prestige title of European Capital of Culture with its Interface project. We support creativity – this is the main message of the project and the new vision for Kosice, a city which has always been known for its rich history and developed heavy industry. Thanks to the Interface project and the European Capital of Culture 2013 title, the city shall also become the centre of creativity and a new future for young, creative people who wish to live and work in our city, which is their home.

Day 9:

- car transfer to Krakow
- on the way stop in UNESCO Slovak town Bardejov
- sightseeing of Bradejov
- arrival to Krakow in the evening hours
- accommodation in first class hotel
- night in Krakow

The town of Bardejov in the Eastern part of Slovakia was rightly awarded the European award, gold medal of ICOMOS Foundation of UNESCO in 1986 and it was inscribed into the List of the World Cultural Heritage of the same organisation in 2000. Bardejov is spoken of as the “most Gothic town in Slovakia”. The principal area of its historical core is the rectangular Radnicne square skirted by rows of antique burgher houses with typical gable facades.

Day 10:

- sightseeing of Krakow
- night in Krakow

Krakow is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Krakow has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life and is one of Poland's most important economic hubs. Krakow's historic centre, which includes the Old Town, Kazimierz and the Wawel Castle, was included as the first of its kind on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1978. The Old Town is the most prominent example of an old town in the country. For many centuries Krakow was the royal capital of Poland. The whole district is bisected by the Royal Road, the coronation route traversed by the Kings of Poland.

Day 11:

- airport transfer
- farewell and departure