Imperial Cities

Set out on a grand cultural adventure through the Imperial Cities of Central Europe: Prague, Vienna, and Budapest. Along the way, soak up traditional entertainment, local cuisine, and a glimpse into this region’s eminent history.

Arrive in Prague, the "City of 100 Spires" to witness ancient landmarks and medieval architecture. This evening, join your fellow travelers for a welcome dinner at a local restaurant. Today dinner will be included.

Feel the magic and wonder of Prague. Your first chapter in this fairy-tale city begins with exploring the best of the Prague Old Town and its’ iconic landmarks. Marvel at the iconic, statue-lined Charles Bridge – a picturesque structure stretching over the Vltava River. After, enjoy some time at leisure for lunch on your own and spend the rest of the afternoon and evening with free time to discover the city how you like. Perhaps you’ll join an optional excursion to Prague’s Old Jewish Quarter to see its historic Jewish Museum and Europe’s oldest Jewish cemetery, founded in 1478. Today breakfast will be included.

Start your morning with a panoramic tour and continue on to explore the “Castle District”, the gothic St. Vitus Cathedral, the majestic Prague Castle, and the Golden Lane. The afternoon is yours to spend at leisure. You may consider shopping for Bohemian crystal or visiting the city’s museums, such as the Lapidarium. Tonight, savor dinner and traditional folklore dances at a famous Prague restaurant where the menu is created based on original recipes from Czech grandmothers. Today breakfast and dinner will be included.

Travel through the scenic countryside on your way to Vienna. En route, make a stop in the medieval town of Cesky Krumlov. Lined with towering Baroque architecture, explore the quaint preserved streets before continuing to the grand city of Vienna. This evening, join your Tour Manager for an evening stroll before having dinner on your own. Today breakfast will be included.

Join a local guide at the magnificent Schönbrunn Palace, the summer retreat of the Habsburg dynasty for more than 200 years. Continue on to Vienna’s city center and behold the beautiful architecture, scenic parks, and gothic spires that fill the city. Enjoy an afternoon at leisure where perhaps you’ll partake in the city’s famous café culture as you walk the streets, watching locals take a moment out of their day for a hot coffee and bite of cake. Tonight, hear Vienna’s past come alive and experience a classical performance featuring the works of Mozart and Strauss. Today breakfast and dinner will be included.

Choose how you spend your day because it’s your choice! Venture down the Danube* to the medieval town of Durnstein and cruise to the 11th-century Melk Abbey -OR- join a local guide in the Belvedere Museum, home to Gustav Klimt’s iconic painting The Kiss -OR- enjoy a leisurely morning before attending a Viennese Waltz lesson in the afternoon. The rest of the day is yours. Today breakfast will be included.

*The Danube River Cruise to Melk Abbey is available mid-April to mid-October. Outside these times, a cruise through Vienna will be substituted.

Say hello to Bratislava, the former Imperial capital of the Habsburg Empire. Get to know the city’s 4,000-year-old history on a tour with a local expert. Continue to Hungary to connect with the villagers of Dunaalmás during a community-hosted lunch, learning how to make traditional strudel. Arrive in Budapest, the "Queen of the Danube" and your home for the next 3 nights. Enjoy the evening on your own. Today breakfast and lunch will be included.

Join a local expert for a panoramic tour of the city. Discover the incredible Neo-Gothic marvel of Matthias Church atop Buda Castle Hill, the Fisherman’s Bastion, the historic Old Buda and Gellert Hill, and the Parliament House. This afternoon, enjoy some free time to explore Budapest on your own. Perhaps you’ll head to the city’s famous thermal pools for an afternoon of relaxation, or maybe you’ll join an optional excursion to discover Budapest by Night. Today breakfast will be included.

This morning, talk with a local and listen to stories about his life during the former communist era. Enjoy the rest of the morning at leisure. This afternoon, head out of the city to the former Renaissance capital of Visegrad for a magnificent view of the Danube Bend and the Borzsony Mountains. Embrace the lifestyle of the 14th-century castle, a former residence of Hungarian kings, and enjoy an exclusive Renaissance-style dinner in the castle. Today breakfast and dinner will be included.

Say goodbye to these regal cities as your tour comes to a close today. Today breakfast will be included.