Imperial Capitals – Prague, Vienna & Budapest

Local departure by coach or Door-to-Door service, then to Belgium for an overnight stay.

To Prague for a three-night stay.

Today we travel into the centre of Prague where we have an included morning walking tour to introduce you to this beautiful capital, affectionately known as the ‘Golden Town’. The many historic buildings, grand squares and elegant landmarks such as Wenceslas Square, the famous astronomical clock and Charles Bridge make it a lovely place to explore on foot, and our local guides informative commentary will reveal many of the stories behind the buildings and personalities which have shaped the history of this magnificent city. Following the tour, you have the chance to take in a different view of Prague by enjoying an optional cruise on the Vltava River, with lunch included. Lasting for approximately two hours, the cruise will take you along the majestic Vltava River past spectacular views of the famous sights of the city. Lunch will be served on board with a selection of warm and cold Czech specialities for you to enjoy. So, sit back on the sundeck and admire the outstanding views of the city of a hundred spires. The remainder of the afternoon is at leisure for you to explore at your own pace.

Enhance you Czech adventure with an unforgettable optional excursion discovering the secrets of this intriguing city. Accompanied by our local guide, we travel by coach to Prague Castle, the largest medieval castle in Europe. We take a stroll through the courtyards viewing the exterior of the imposing St. Vitus Cathedral and walk to the main parade entrance where the soldiers stand guard and take in the lovely views of the city. We then continue by coach to the Strahov Monastery for the best views of the Old Town and also to sample a glass of special beer from the monks' own brewery.

We leave Prague after breakfast this morning and travel south past the Czech Republic’s second largest city of Brno, before crossing the border into Slovakia. We continue to the city of Bratislava, where we pause to admire the beautiful Habsburg Baroque architecture and the lively cosmopolitan atmosphere. We continue south, and skirting Austria, we cross the border into Hungary. We reach Budapest this evening where we will stay for three nights. This evening we introduce you to the sights and lights of the city with our optional Budapest by night excursion. In the company of our guide we take a tour of Budapest for a chance to see the famous sights of the city by night. We start with a walk through the park to the castle where we enjoy a short Organ Concert and a glass of champagne in the chapel. From here we continue to Heroes Square for a photo stop and then see the medieval castle wall before joining the coach for an illumination drive on the Pest side of the city.

Today you will have the full day to discover the Hungarian capital of Budapest. To make the most of your visit why not join our optional guided sightseeing tour? Budapest is composed of two historically independent communities, Buda and Pest, separated by the majestic River Danube. This afternoon why not take to the water for an optional Danube lunch cruise? The Danube is the second longest river in Europe after the Volga, which flows through central Russia. Classified as an international waterway, the Danube originates in the town of Donaueschingen in the Black Forest of Germany. It then flows southeast for almost 3,000 km passing through four Central European capitals before emptying into the Black Sea. Our cruise, during which a commentary will be provided, will take you along the majestic Danube River allowing you to take in the spectacular views of Budapest. A sumptuous lunch of traditional Hungarian dishes is provided, alongside a complimentary drink from the bar. The rest of the day is at leisure for you to explore the city on your own, maybe take a stroll by the river or visit the tempting stores of the Vaci Utca street, ensuring that your time in this wonderful city is certainly something to remember.

Why not join our optional excursion to the ‘Danube Bend’ exploring old Hungary. We start with a visit to the former capital of Esztergom, where we include a visit to the magnificent Basilica, the largest church in Hungary. We continue to the small sleepy town of Visegrad for some interesting sightseeing of the old fortifications. The ruins date back to the 13th century and comprise of a spectacular mountain top Citadel, largely reconstructed Royal Palace, Water bastion and Salamon Tower. We end the day in the charming town of Szentendre where there will be a small amount of free time for you to explore at leisure. Perhaps pick up a bargain in one of the countless shops.

We leave Budapest today and head towards Austria, calling at the beautiful town of Gyor. Arrabon, as the Romans called it or the “town of rivers”, is famous for its schools and industry. There will be time at leisure for you to explore one of the best-preserved examples of Hungarian Renaissance and Baroque architecture. We continue our journey into Austria and to the wonderful Schonbrunn Palace Gardens for an included excursion (entrance to the Palace is at own cost). Schonbrunn is a UNESCO world Heritage site and its gardens will take you into a magnificent world of Baroque culture. After a relaxing stroll around the gardens we continue to our hotel in the Vienna Woods/Stockerau area where we will stay for two nights. This evening an optional Vienna Supreme Concert will be available. The Vienna Supreme Orchestra and its soloists will offer you a truly magical evening where you can experience the happiness, optimism and flair of this wonderful city. Immerse yourself in the delightful Viennese music, be enchanted by its elegant waltzes, refreshing folk polkas and its many romantic arias and duets. Experience works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Franz Schubert and, of course, the Strauss Dynasty, the masters of operetta all within a wonderful, intimate venue. A complementary CD will be yours to take home as a souvenir of this delightful evening.

Spend a full day in the Imperial City of Vienna, which is without question, one of Europe’s great cities. As the home of the former Habsburg monarchy and the present day capital of Austria it has much to charm the visitor. There is a lot of walking involved to see all the sights, so why not let us introduce you to Vienna on our optional guided sightseeing tour. Our guided tour will begin by coach, where we will be taken along the Imperial Boulevard known as the Ringstrasse. Here you will see the Hofburg Palace, the Parliament building, the Opera House, National Theatre and City Hall. During our tour we will also see the majestic Danube River, and later as we pass by the Prater amusement park a chance to view the famous “Giant Wheel” built over 100 years ago, and today one of the most well-known landmarks of the city. There will be frequent stops during the drive, where you will have photo opportunities and the chance to admire Vienna at its very best. Our guide will provide commentary throughout, revealing the history; culture and stories of without question one of Europe’s most fascinating cities. Following the tour you will have time at leisure to visit many of the city’s famous landmarks, or you may decide to sit back and relax with a traditional Viennese coffee and a slice of the local “Sachertorte” chocolate cake in one of the cities tempting street cafes – the choice is yours!

This morning we leave the Vienna Woods/Stockerau area and make our way to Salzburg, one of the most beautiful cities in Austria. Why not join our optional guided walking tour to discover the wonderful sights. The walking tour lasts approximately 90 minutes and takes in the many sights and attractions of this famous alpine city. Admire the baroque splendour of the churches and cathedral, the might of the Hohensalzburg fortress and also the quaint Getriedegasse, which with its wrought iron signs that overhang the doors, is one of the most beautiful shopping streets of Austria. Salzburg is also known as the ‘Sound of Music’ city and during our tour you will see many sights featured in the film. A visit to Salzburg would not be complete without a mention of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and before the tour is over we see his former birthhouse and also the square that is named after and dedicated to the famous composer. We continue our journey to Bavaria for an overnight stay.

To Belgium for an overnight stay.

Return home.