Day 1: Welcome!
06:00 Arrive in Vienna airport and private transfer to your Hotel.
Overnight at Hotel Strudlhof****
Day 2: Vienna half day city tour including Schönbrunn Palace (incl. Hotel pick up at 09:00)
Enjoy a city tour along the famous Ringstrasse and see the most important tourist attractions Vienna has to offer. Afterwards follow the footsteps of Empress Sissi and Emperor Franz Josef at Schönbrunn Palace.
Things to see in Vienna / Ringstrasse
Our sightseeing tour starts at the Südtiroler Platz and takes you to the Ringstrasse boulevard, where you pass many popular tourist attractions. By the way, Vienna is celebrating the 150th birthday of the most beautiful boulevard in the world in 2015.
First take a look at the impressive Vienna State Opera. It is home of the famous "Opera Ball" which takes place every year. Not far from the Opera, the grand Hofburg Palace is located, the former winter residence of the imperial family.
Next you will see the monumental buildings of the Museum of Art History and the Museum of Natural History. Further sights on our tour are the neoclassical Parliament, the acclaimed Burgtheater and the striking City Hall, where the legendary Life Ball takes place.
Guided tour of Schloss Schönbrunn
On arrival at Schönbrunn Palace our guided tour starts at once, no need to wait for Austria’s most popular tourist attraction! The former imperial summer residence is a listed World Heritage Site and attracts millions of people from all over the world every year.
We visit the historic state-rooms and see how the imperial family once lived. Afterwards you have time to take a stroll through the palace gardens or enjoy a cup of original Viennese coffee and a piece of delicious apple strudel.
The rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight at Hotel Strudlhof****
Day 3: Full day Wachau Valley (incl. Hotel pick up at 09:00)
This day trip takes you from Vienna to the Wachau, a picturesque valley along the Danube, known for its excellent wine. The area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site where you see many medieval castles, impressive monasteries and a breathtaking landscape.
Bus tour Vienna - Danube Valley
On our comfortable bus, you travel from Vienna to Krems, a pretty town on the banks of the Danube river. In the winter months, we have a short break in Krems, in the summertime we drive through the historical city centre. We continue on our tour and pass Dürnstein. Here you can see the ruins of Dürnstein castle on a nearby hill. This is where the English King Richard the Lionheart was held captive.
Danube boat trip & Melk Abbey
At the small village of Spitz, we board the boat and sail downstream to Melk. If you would like you can enjoy lunch on board or eat later at the restaurant at Melk Abbey. Lush vineyards shape the landscape of the Danube Valley and reach right down to the banks of the blue Danube river. Gentle hills and green woods take turns in letting small hidden villages come into view.
After the boat trip, you arrive at Melk where the bus awaits you and takes you to the nearby Benedictine Abbey. This impressive baroque building was awarded the prize "Best Historic Destination of the World" together with the Wachau in 2008. On a guided tour you will see the magnificent marble hall, the precious abbey library and the church with its unique frescoes.
After this enjoyable day trip, we take you back from the Danube Valley to the Vienna State Opera.
Overnight at Hotel Strudlhof****
Day 4:
Day at leisure.
Overnight at Hotel Strudlhof****
Day 5:
08:00 Transfer to Wien Hauptbahnhof and take 09:07 train to Prague.
13:18 Arrive in Prague Hl.n. station and transfer to your Hotel.
Overnight at Hotel Panorama**** www.panoramahotelprague.com
Day 6: Grand City tour (incl. Hotel pick up)
Driver will pick you up at 09:10 at hotel reception.
During our sightseeing tour we will introduce you Prague (UNESCO), the historical and architectural jewel of Central Europe. Our guide, available the whole time, will acquaint you with the history of Prague and of its quarters (Old Town, New Town, Lesser Town and the Castle Town) in the comfort of our air-conditioned bus. Then you will continue by visiting the Prague Castle and the Prague’s most dominant feature – Saint Vitus’ Cathedral. After a 75-minute walk (approx.) with our guide, we drive you to the pier on the Vltava River. You board a tour boat and will have the chance to relax or to buy refreshments while admiring the beauty and panorama of Prague from a different perspective. From the upper deck you will also see the world renowned old Charles Bridge. Relaxed, you will continue taking a short walk through the Jewish Quarter to the Old Town Square (Astronomical Clock, Týn Church), where this tour will be finished.
Tour duration approximately 3,5 hours.
Overnight at Hotel Panorama****
Day 7: At leisure
Spend the day at leisure.
18:00 meeting at parking lot Na Příkopě 23, Praha 1 for Czech dinner tour
Prague is not only a historical magic city, but also a city of pubs and beer halls. Would you like to get to know Prague nightlife a bit better? Where the locals go to have a beer and what they talk about? Then do not hesitate and join us to visit some of Prague's beer halls and pubs. While enjoying your beer, you can discuss with our guide not only the history, but also how the regular Czechs live. And of course: good drink should come with good food, so you will get to enjoy a typical Czech dinner, too!
Tour duration approximately 3 hours.
Overnight at Hotel Panorama****
Day 8: Karlovy Vary excursion (incl lunch and Hotel pick up)
Driver will pick you up at 07:50 at hotel reception.
Karlovy Vary is probably the best known spa town in the Czech Republic. Its history begins in the 14th century, at the time of the reign of Charles IV. The healing powers of the local springs have been tested by such greats as by the Russian Tsar Peter the Great and German poet Goethe. Karlovy Vary also became famous thanks to the local manufacturing of world renowned Moser crystal, Carlsbad porcelain or the herb liqueur Becherovka. After arriving to Karlovy Vary your group will visit the Moser factory and then be taken on a tour of the town centre by our guide to see the most famous geyser Vřídlo (Sprudel) – gushing its mineral water to a height of almost 12 metres. After lunch you will be free to explore the town on your own.
Tour duration approximately 9,5 hours.
Overnight at Hotel Panorama****
Day 9:
Transfer to Hlavni Nadrazi station at 08:30 and take the Eurocity at 09:42 to Budapest (16:35). Transfer to your Hotel.
Overnigh at Hotel Belvedere**** www.belvederehotels.hu
Day 10: Sisi Palace & Horse Show (incl. Hotel pick up)
Visit to the largest baroque palace of Hungary in Gödöllő! After a half an hour drive from Budapest we arrive to the former summer residence of Queen Elisabeth (Sisi) and Franz Joseph (Habsburg Emperor & Hungarian king 1867-1916). This interior visit and the tour through the gardens of the Chateau, gives you a glimpse of times under the Austro-Hungarian Empire. With the help of our guide you will become acquainted with the secrets of the private life, the hidden doors, bedrooms and lovers of the royal couple. Near Gödöllő we drive to a traditional farm where you will be welcomed with a Hungarian “pogácsa” and with the national welcome drink, pálinka. Horsemen will take us for a Carriage Ride through the area and will invite you to a traditional horse show.
The tour ends in the city centre.
Overnigh at Hotel Belvedere****
Day 11: Budapest City tour (incl. Hotel pick up)
This is the most personal, informative and enjoyable group tour of Budapest. Join the city tour guided exclusively in English to avoid the inconvenience of multilingual tours and enjoy the comfort of our small friendly groups. The tour is designed with an extended duration of 4 hours to include pleasant walks in between bus rides and to cover the sights which are not included in the usual 2-3 hour tours. Two fix departures daily. Free pick up from the hotel.
The route of the sightseeing tour:
City park (walk): Heroes' square, Vajdahunyad castle, Széchenyi Spa - Andrássy avenue - Opera – Synagogue of Dohány Street – St. Stephen’s Basilica - Parliament - Castle district (walk): Matthias church, Fisherman’s bastion - Gellért hill (walk), Citadel - Tour ends in the city centre
Overnigh at Hotel Belvedere****
Day 12: Farewell-dinner (incl. Hotel pick up)
Day at leisure.
Farewell dinner:
Spend a pleasant evening in a traditional restaurant and enjoy a typical dinner with a folklore show. In the rustic restaurant after the welcome drink you will be served a 3-course menu with wine. During the dinner you can enjoy a folklore show accompanied by a gypsy band. After dinner we will drive up to the Citadel to admire the breathtaking view of the illuminated Budapest. Tour ends at your Hotel.
Overnight at Hotel Belvedere****
Day 13:
Transfer to BUD airport for your flight home.
***Good Bye!***
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