Wonders of Budapest, Vienna and Prague

Arrive in Budapest, a city occupying both sides of the Danube River and founded in 1873, when right-bank Buda and Obuda joined left-bank Pest. Budapest’s broad avenues and turn-of-the-century architecture have earned it the name “the Paris of Eastern Europe.” Like Paris, it is a cultural touchstone for writers, artists and musicians. Once you settle in, join your fellow guests for a welcome dinner.

Journey overland to Bratislava, capital of Slovakia, for a guided walk through its old town, once a jewel of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. From its perch along the Danube River, Bratislava is an old-world city adorned with Baroque architecture and graced by welcoming locals and delicious food, including dumplings and blackcurrant wine, all its own. After partaking of its charms, embark by high-speed catamaran for a quick cruise, skimming along the lovely Danube to Vienna, Austria.

Get to know Vienna better, viewing the Prater and its Giant Ferris Wheel. See the Secession Building and the famous Hundertwasser House, and then visit the Belvedere Gallery, where you view many works by the brilliant and controversial symbolist artist Gustav Klimt, including The Kiss. Your afternoon is free to relax or explore on your own.

Begin your day with a private visit to the Baroque library halls of the Strahov Monastery to view its incredible stucco ceiling frescoes. Stroll in the peaceful quiet, looking up at the mural devoted to the intellectual progress of mankind, and let yourself contemplate a bygone era. Then admire the religious artifacts at the Loreto Chapel, a remarkable Baroque monument that remains a place of pilgrimage. Explore the city’s Castle District, starting with the towering Gothic St. Vitus Cathedral, which houses the tombs of Bohemian kings and Holy Roman Emperors, including that of Wenceslas I, Duke of Bohemia, legendary subject of the beloved Christmas carol “Good King Wenceslas.” Stroll the Golden Lane, the last surviving vestige of Prague Castle’s 16th-century architecture, where the castle’s original craftspeople lived and worked. Finish your firsthand appreciation of the city’s marvelous infrastructure by crossing the famous Charles Bridge, an iconic landmark of Prague completed in 1402. Your afternoon is free for exploring on your own.

Venture forth on a walking tour of Josefov, the city’s Jewish Quarter, which remained a walled ghetto until 1848. View the birthplace of Franz Kafka (part of the Jewish Museum complex), best known for his existentialist novel The Metamorphosis. Proceed to visit the Old Jewish Cemetery, site of 12,000 graves, and the Old-New Synagogue, Europe’s oldest active synagogue, completed in 1270. After free time in the afternoon, gather for a celebratory farewell dinner.

After breakfast, take your private transfer to the airport for your departing flight.