You'll arrive in Budapest with the broad Danube flowing between the hills of Buda and the grand buildings of Pest, its bridges stretching from bank to bank. As you settle into the Hungarian capital, you might spot castle towers above the river or slip into a coffeehouse for a rich coffee and something sweet beneath gilded interiors. This evening, meet your Travel Director and travel companions over dinner, savoring hearty Hungarian dishes paired with specially selected wines.
At the Liszt Music Academy, you’ll walk through the Grand Hall among reddish-brown marble, black-and-gold panelling and gilded ornamentation in this Art Nouveau landmark founded by Franz Liszt in 1875. You’ll then settle in for a recital performed by one of the Academy’s students, listening as the music resonates through the concert hall. Budapest’s elegant boulevards lead you towards Heroes’ Square, with the grand architecture of Pest lining the way before you cross the Danube into Buda. With your Local Specialist, you’ll follow the medieval lanes of the Castle District between weathered stone, church spires and ornate rooftops.
Budapest is yours to experience at your own speed today. You might sink into the warm mineral water of a thermal bath, or wander along pedestrianized Váci Street, pausing between boutiques and cafes as the scent of coffee drifts from open doors. Perhaps find a sidewalk table and watch the city pass with a cool drink in hand. This evening, come together again over dinner at a local restaurant.
Leaving Budapest behind, you’ll arrive in Győr where the Danube, Rába and Rábca meet, then make your way through its compact Baroque center past façades painted in soft greens, pinks and ochres, sculpted stonework and church towers above the squares. Crossing into Austria, you’ll continue to Vienna, entering a city of pale stone, domes and ornate balconies. This evening, enjoy a dinner of Viennese cuisine, savoring its rich, traditional flavors.
With your Local Specialist, you’ll step inside Schönbrunn Palace for a private visit through rooms once used by Empress Maria Theresa, where polished white walls, gilded Rococo details and ceiling frescoes surround you. Outside, you can follow the formal avenues through symmetrical gardens, passing statues and fountains as water splashes into carved stone basins beneath the palace. Then Vienna opens out along the Ringstrasse, where you’ll pass the Opera House, Hofburg Imperial Residence, Austrian Parliament Building and Karlskirche along the boulevard built over the old city walls. For your choice experience, you might settle into a traditional Viennese cafe, pressing a fork through a slice of Sachertorte, or join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience in a specially designed sensory studio, learning the steps of a Viennese waltz in support of the visually impaired community. Your afternoon is at leisure.
Vienna is yours to explore today, perhaps beginning beneath the patterned tiled roof of St Stephen’s Cathedral, where you can look up into soaring Gothic arches beneath the cool hush of the vast interior. Along pedestrianized Kärntnerstrasse, you might browse elegant shop windows as church bells ring above the surrounding streets, or ask your Travel Director for a favorite restaurant or corner of Vienna to seek out. Another possibility takes you across the border into Slovakia and Bratislava, where you can follow narrow streets into intimate squares, with pastel townhouses and hidden courtyards tucked between them. However you spend the day, the choice is yours.
Crossing into Czechia, you’ll reach Český Krumlov, where the Vltava loops tightly around the old town beneath steep roofs and the castle high above the river. After a short orientation, you’ll have time to make the town your own, following traffic-free lanes between painted houses, slipping into small squares and catching the sound of water below as you move towards the castle. Then green Bohemian countryside carries you on to Prague. This evening, you’ll dine your way through Malá Strana with a progressive dinner served across several venues, moving from one course to the next through lamp-lit streets and intimate corners of the district. Along the way, you’ll cross Charles Bridge between rows of Baroque statues, with the dark ribbon of the Vltava below and Prague opening out on either bank.
With your Local Specialist, you’ll explore the courtyards of Prague Castle before entering St Vitus Cathedral, where stained glass throws jewel-like color across soaring pillars and intricate ribbed vaults sweep high overhead. Afterwards, Prague is yours to explore. You might see the city from the water on a river cruise or follow the Royal Route once taken by Czech rulers on their way to coronation at the cathedral, tracing its path through the historic center. Perhaps try a cool Czech pilsner, tasting its crisp bitterness alongside hearty local cuisine.
Prague is yours to enjoy at leisure today. You could climb through the gardens of Petřín Hill, passing fruit trees and rose beds before looking back across the city from above. Or perhaps cross into Germany for time in Dresden, where the great dome of the Frauenkirche anchors Neumarkt and Brühl’s Terrace stretches above the Elbe. Back in Prague, the day ends over dinner at a local restaurant, with traditional Czech flavors served in the heart of the city.
After breakfast, your journey through Hungary, Austria and the Czech Republic comes to an end.
