Highlights of Eastern Europe
Experience Overview
Delight your senses on the Highlights of Eastern Europe tour as you travel through Budapest, Warsaw and Vienna alongside Local Experts. In the German capital, a robust Berlin sightseeing itinerary meanders through the leafy Tiergarten of the Reichstag building, to the Brandenburg Gate and along the Unter den Linden to the State Opera House, and Museum Island. In Vienna, see, hear and taste the city from a local perspective at the Mozart & Strauss Concert dinner—with a menu composed of traditional Austrian delicacies and classical music masterpieces.
Highlights
Dining Summary
- 6 Dinner (D)
- 13 Breakfast (B)
Choice Highlights
- Choose between two carefully selected activities
- Vienna: Visit a traditional coffeehouse to enjoy Viennese specialties of coffee and Sachertorte.
- Vienna: Learn the Viennese Waltz in an inclusive workshop designed to support the visually impaired community. Unique to Insight Vacations guests, ‘Dancing without Barriers’ takes place in a specially designed sensory studio, promising a unique experience for all your senses. This workshop focuses on inclusion and education around the topic of visual impairment. Through their foundation, the organization supports children from disadvantaged families and children with a visual impairment. This experience advances United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities.
Additional Included Highlights
- Personal radio headsets give you the freedom to wander during visits to famous highlights, without missing any of your Local Expert's fascinating commentary.
- Hotel and restaurant tips are included - you'll never have to worry about how much to give, nor search for foreign currency. We also include all taxes and porterage charges at hotels.
- We carry your bags for you and promptly deliver them to your hotel door.
- From time to time, your Travel Director will delight you with an Insight Flourish, which is a local specialty representing the destination.
- Stay connected with friends and family with our complimentary coach and hotel Wi-Fi (where available).
- If your arrival and/or departure flights are as per the itinerary start and end dates, then transfers are available at scheduled times. If your flights are outside these times, or you have booked additional nights accommodation with Insight Vacations, you may purchase transfers or make your own way from/to the airport.
Authentic Dining
- Budapest: Dine in elegance and savor Hungarian delicacies accompanied with specially selected Hungarian wine during your dinner.
- Prague: Upon arrival to ''The Golden City'', you are invited to a Dine-Around progressive dinner experience in a number of exciting venues in the heart of Prague's Mala Strana district, topped off with a visit to the famous Charles bridge!
- Cesky Krumlov: Tour a local brewery to discover the secrets of how the golden vintage of beer is made, followed by a sampling.
- Cesky Krumlov: Experience South Bohemian flavors and hospitality when you choose from a selection of regional specialties in a local restaurant in the town center.
- Vienna: Your Imperial Viennese dinner is regal splendor on a plate. Enjoy a delicious traditional meal with drinks at a local restaurant, before a concert of classical music that pays homage to the genius of Strauss and Mozart.
Insight Choice
- Vienna: Visit a traditional coffeehouse to enjoy Viennese specialties of coffee and Sachertorte.
- Vienna: Learn the Viennese Waltz in an inclusive workshop designed to support the visually impaired community. Unique to Insight Vacations guests, ‘Dancing without Barriers’ takes place in a specially designed sensory studio, promising a unique experience for all your senses. This workshop focuses on inclusion and education around the topic of visual impairment. Through their foundation, the organization supports children from disadvantaged families and children with a visual impairment. This experience advances United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities.
Insight Experiences
- Budapest: Enjoy a tour of the Liszt Music Academy with a student, followed by an enchanting recital. Producing incredible musical talent, the university was founded by piano virtuoso and composer Franz Liszt in 1875.
Top Rated Highlights
- Budapest: Explore the Old Town of Buda with a Local Expert.
- Kraków: The medieval heart of Krakow is rich in legend, a kind of Polish Camelot. Join your Local Expert for an in-depth exploration of this historic holy grail.
- Kraków: Visit the cathedral atop Wawel Hill accompanied by your Local Expert.
- Kraków: Visit the 14th-century St. Mary's Basilica, the most important church in the city.
- Auschwitz: Experience a powerful and moving visit with a Local Expert. See the Auschwitz memorial and museum, which bears witness to the atrocities of the Holocaust.
- Warsaw: Your Local Expert will show you the city's highlights. See the Old Town, Palace of Culture and visit the Chopin Memorial in the Lazienki Park before paying your respects at the Ghetto Heroes Memorial.
- Berlin: You Local Expert provides a tour of this vibrant city. Drive along the Ku'Damm, passing the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church and through Tiergarten to the Reichstag building. See the Brandenburg Gate, State Opera House and visit Alexanderplatz.
- Dresden: During your orientation with your Travel Director, take a moment to admire the 'Procession of the Princes' mosaic on the Saxon wall of the castle. You'll also see Frauenkirche, Zwinger Palace and the opera house, Semperoper.
- Prague: Explore Prague with your local expert, walk the courtyards of the Castle and visit the imposing St. Vitus Cathedral. The city is then yours to explore. Maybe take a river cruise through the heart of the city or walk in the footsteps of kings along the Royal Route? Czechs are passionate about their beer, so be sure to try the local pilsners together with hearty Czech cuisine
- Cesky Krumlov: Your Travel Director will lead you on an orientation of the city as you explore the medieval streets of this fairy-tale town.
- Cesky Krumlov: Visit the fairytale castle considered to be the finest in the land. Let a Local Expert lead you through a medieval labyrinth of private chambers, courtyards, kitchens and dungeons of the castle, so rich in history.
- Vienna: A guided exploration of Schönbrunn Palace will have all your senses tingling. Stand beneath frescoed ceilings, crystal chandeliers and gilded Rococo frames where Mozart performed as a child prodigy.
- Vienna: Join your Local Expert for a city tour that reveals both the renowned sights and hidden gems of Vienna's historic core. Travel along the Ring Road to see the Hofburg Imperial Residence, Opera House, Parliament Building and Karlskirche.
Well-being
- Enjoy the comfort of Insight's luxurious, air-conditioned, 40-seat coach with double the standard legroom and onboard washroom. Our customized luxury coaches are sanitized before the start of your tour and are maintained to very high standards. Physical distancing measures have been implemented on our customized luxury coaches.
- Hand sanitizer is freely available on board for you to use throughout the day.
Trip Details
Product Code: 34307
Tour Type: Group Tour
Accommodation: Deluxe
Transport: Private
Guide Language: English
Travel Styles:
Family, 55+, Luxury
Tour Operator:
Insight Vacations (CA)
Supplier Code: 95.313A
Starts: Budapest, Hungary
Finishes: Vienna, Austria
Duration: 14 days
Departures: Guaranteed
Physical Rating:
Easy
Includes
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $5,648 ($403 /day)
Itinerary
Budapest sets the scene for a memorable journey around Eastern Europe. Join your Travel Director and fellow travelers at a local restaurant for dinner, a treat of mouth-watering Hungarian specialties.
Accommodation: Kempinski Corvinus Budapest
Meals: Dinner
Visit the *Liszt Academy of Music for a guided tour, followed by an enchanting recital. Explore the Old Town of Buda with a Local Expert to admire the façade of Matthias Church and take in the views from the Fisherman's Bastion. In the evening, perhaps choose an Optional Experience to see this fairy-tale city as you cruise along the Danube and enjoy a meal of Hungarian specialties. *On some occasions, the Liszt Academy will be replaced by an organ recital at the Matthias Church.
Accommodation: Kempinski Corvinus Budapest
Meals: Breakfast
Take a gentle drive into Slovakia and through the breathtaking Low Tatra Mountains. Stop at scenic Donovaly. Continue north to see the picturesque Oravský Hrad Castle, where villagers still live in traditional wooden houses, before crossing into Poland and continuing to historic Kraków.
Accommodation: Mercure Kraków Stare Miasto
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Join a Local Expert to ascend Wawel Hill and visit the cathedral. Walk past the former residence of Pope John Paul II through the Old Town, to Europe's largest and most beautiful town square. See the medieval Sukiennice Cloth Hall and visit the 14th-century St. Mary's Basilica, the most important church in the city. Keep your eyes and ears peeled for the trumpeter in the tower. Why not join an optional experience and journey into a glistening subterranean world at the 600-year-old Wieliczka Salt Mines? In a maze of tunnels deep below the surface, witness unique salt sculptures, sunken lakes and even a glorious cathedral carved entirely out of rock salt by the miners. Alternatively, enjoy time at leisure.
Accommodation: Mercure Kraków Stare Miasto
Meals: Breakfast
Join a Local Expert at Oświęcim, better known throughout the world by its German name, Auschwitz, infamous for its role during the Holocaust. Spend reflective moments amid the remains of the concentration camp and the memorials to those who died. Continue across the Polish plains to the country’s capital, Warsaw, for the night.
Accommodation: The Westin Warsaw
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Join a Local Expert in the morning to see the Old Town, Royal Castle and Palace of Culture. Visit the Chopin Memorial in the Łazienki Park. Pay your respects at the Monument to the Ghetto Heroes and then enjoy a free afternoon to explore at your own pace. Perhaps attend a Chopin recital or delve into Warsaw's inspirational past?
Accommodation: The Westin Warsaw
Meals: Breakfast
Your route leads westward, across the rolling farmlands of the central plains, over the Oder River to enter Germany. Your destination is the vibrant capital of Berlin where you can try traditional Berliner cuisine.
Accommodation: DoubleTree by Hilton Berlin Ku'damm
Meals: Breakfast
Prepare to embrace the rejuvenated spirit of Berlin. Join a Local Expert for a drive through the leafy Tiergarten to the refurbished Reichstag building and see the Brandenburg Gate. On the eastern side, take the Unter den Linden past the State Opera House to Museum Island.
Accommodation: DoubleTree by Hilton Berlin Ku'damm
Meals: Breakfast
Journey south to Dresden. Almost totally destroyed by horrific air raids in 1945, Dresden has now risen again from the ashes in a blend of old and new. See the reconstructed Frauenkirche and walk past the colossal ‘Procession of the Princes' on the wall of the Royal Palace. Explore around the Catholic cathedral to view the tiered facades of the opera house and the Baroque Zwinger Palace. After free time for lunch, head for the Czech border, high in the Ore Mountains and continue to the capital city of Prague. Upon arrival to ''The Golden City'', you are invited to a 'Dine-Around' progressive dinner experience in a number of exciting venues in the heart of Prague's Mala Strana district, topped off with a visit to the famous Charles bridge!
Accommodation: Hermitage Hotel Prague
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Explore Prague with your Local Expert. Walk the courtyards of the castle and visit the imposing St. Vitus Cathedral. The city is then yours to explore. Perhaps walk in the footsteps of kings along the Royal Route? Czechs are passionate about their beer, so be sure to try the local pilsners, paired with hearty Czech cuisine.
Accommodation: Hermitage Hotel Prague
Meals: Breakfast
Travel to the medieval town of Český Krumlov to walk the narrow cobbled streets and visit the centuries old castle. Visit a historic brewery to sample the beer and discover the secrets of this golden vintage. After the day trippers have left, soak up the unique atmosphere of this UNESCO World Heritage Site at a local restaurant. Enjoy a traditional Czech dinner of local specialties.
Accommodation: Hotel Old Inn, Český Krumlov.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Cross the border into Austria and enjoy a delightful journey to Vienna. The afternoon is free for you to explore this stately capital and later why not enjoy a delightful Austrian meal with the option to dine at a country mansion?
Accommodation: Hilton Vienna Park, Hilton Vienna Plaza, Vienna
Meals: Breakfast
Vienna owes much of its present-day charm to the long reign of the Habsburgs. Join your Local Expert for a visit of Maria Theresa’s Schönbrunn Palace and its formal gardens. Then, take some great photos on a circuit of the famous Ring Road. This grand boulevard, built along the lines of the old city walls, showcases many of the capital’s architectural masterpieces, including the Opera House, magnificent Hofburg Imperial Residence, Austrian Parliament Building and Karlskirche. Explore Vienna with Insight Choice. Choose between a visit to a traditional Viennese café to enjoy local specialties of coffee and Sachertorte or alternatively, join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience during an inclusive workshop and take to the floor in a Viennese Waltz dance workshop designed to support the visually impaired community. Enjoy a delicious meal of traditional Austrian fare with drinks at a local restaurant, before sitting down to an extraordinary concert of Viennese classical music.
Accommodation: Hilton Vienna Park, Hilton Vienna Plaza, Vienna
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Your journey comes to an end in Vienna this morning.
Meals: Breakfast
Similar Tours
Tour Operator
Insight Vacations (CA)
Part of The Travel Company (TTC) family of brands, Insight Vacations began operations in 1978 and is based in Cypress, CA. Journeys are featured to destinations, such as the U.S. and Canada, Europe, Latin America, North Africa, Asia, the UK and Ireland. The company offers are a variety of tours under the classifications of Regional Journeys, Country Roads, Discovery Journeys, Easy Pace trips, and Special Interest tours. Insight is the ideal name for the tour operator, as the journeys provided by Insight Vacations allow travelers to gain further insight into whatever destination they wish to explore. For example, Discovery Journeys are the ideal choice for first-time visitors to Europe. Itineraries include Dine-at-Home or Farm-to-Table experiences so travelers can learn more about how locals live and dine. Regional Journeys allow trip-goers to see a specific location in Europe that they have always wanted to see – Poland, Switzerland, Italy, etc. The carefully planned trips enable customers to immerse themselves in one specific region or country and to become acquainted with its culture, traditions, and people. For anyone seeking travel off the beaten track, Insight Vacations offers Country Roads – trips that lead travelers off the well-tread tourist trail to explore hidden gems where visitors can savor the local produce with Farm-to-Table dining. Some trips are offered under the Easy Pace travel style – the ideal trip choice for trip-goers who wish to slow their pace during their vacation. During these tours, vacationers stay at least 3 nights at each destination, giving them some additional time to explore a place and enjoy it. Regardless of the travel style, many of the vacations offered by Insight Vacations begin with Relaxed Starts – giving travelers time to sleep in a little, spend more time at breakfast, or explore an area on their own. The tour company prides itself on providing business class tours that features luxury coaches with 40 seats. While most coach touring operators provide vehicles with 53 seats, Insight Vacations has re-configured its motor coaches to hold up to 40 guests. This gives passengers extra leg room while traveling and offers them more space and privacy.
In Business Since 1978
Reviews
Anonymous - Traveled, April 2025
*Personal information removed by Feefo* is a very personable / knowledgeable Tour Director who met all my needs in a kind and friendly manner Really appreciated the combination of included and additional tour options. Perhaps fewer optional dinners.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/07/2025
Christine Purgacz - Traveled, April 2025
Our tour guide Alex was excellent. He was Knowledgeable, thorough, organised and really wanted everyone on the group to have the best experience for them. He made time to get know us and was caring and considerate of all our needs. The hotels chosen by insight were excellent, central, comfortable and great breakfasts to start the day. The guides were uniformly excellent wherever we went. I thought the itinerary was great. We were able to spend time seeing the important sites and also had a good amount of free time. The cities we visited were a good mix of old and new and gave us a very good snapshot of Eastern Europe past and present.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/08/2025
Anymous - Traveled, April 2025
Very knowledgeable Tour Director. He went above and beyond to make sure everyone was comfortable and had what they needed. He did a lot of behind the scenes things, like making sure everyone's luggage was always accounted for since we stayed in seven different hotels. If you are interested in the history of Eastern Europe, this is the trip for you. It was very informative and piqued my interest to look further into the history of thus area if the world. It was beautiful and fascinating. I highly recommend this tour.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/09/2025
Anonymous - Traveled, April 2025
This was booked through a travel agent so had no contact with customer service. Varied itinerary, spent time learning about the history and culture of the places we visited.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/09/2025
Madelene Lambkin - Traveled, April 2025
This trip was absolutely amazing! It has wonderful scenery and architecture. The history of these countries make you think about humanity and the resolve of people. The tour guide was very knowledgeable about the history and geography of the countries. The hotels were centrally located, clean and very comfortable. The extra excursions were fun! Best of all the people that were in our group were extremely friendly!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/09/2025
Anonymous - Traveled, April 2025
Our tour director was such a wealth of knowledge. He was so caring to everyone. I have travelled the world and have never had a tour director so great. Read less It was a wonderful overview of Hungary, Poland, Germany and Austria. So much to see and do everyday.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/09/2025
Thomas Loun - Traveled, January 2024
We felt the itinerary lived up to our expectations. As our first "bus" tour we weren't sure what to expect with moving around as much as we did. The bus driver, *Personal information removed by Feefo*, did a great job getting us from one location to the next with many tight streets!! We opted to take all of the optional tours which gave us a broader understanding of what the countries, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Germany and Austria went through in the 20th century. Our tour director, *Personal information removed by Feefo* was very knowledgeable as were the local guides.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 02/25/2024
Anonymous - Traveled, November 2004
From start to finish this was a well organised trip. *Personal information removed by Feefo* kept us informed re times and issued a daily bulletin with all the details we needed to know. Everything ran smoothly - from check in to check out, bag porterage, meals. Yes there were a few early starts and some long travel days but these were necessary to fit in all the experiences and countries we visited. Fabulous itinerary seeing many amazing places. Well-paced. Loved the 2 nights in every place except *Personal information removed by Feefo*, which was an unexpected treasure and doable in the time we had there. Optional experiences enhanced and enriched our journey through Eastern Europe. *Personal information removed by Feefo* is an exceptional TD. His knowledge of the history of each country we visited was mind-blowing. His organisation and attention to detail was excellent and his kindness to and care of each member of our group was top notch. *Personal information removed by Feefo* our driver was professional, thoughtful and courteous. His ability to negotiate tight parking spaces and narrow streets was brilliant. Hotels were great, most local experts were very knowledgeable. Special mention to *Personal information removed by Feefo* in Auschwitz and *Personal information removed by Feefo* in the Schonbrunn Palace. What a fabulous trip!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/16/2024
Ellen Dipinto - Traveled, May 2024
Our guide, *Personal information removed by Feefo*, was first rate...knowledgeable, informative, professional, compassionate...we really liked her...it was hard to say goodbye. *Personal information removed by Feefo*, our driver, was amazing, friendly and always ready to help. Five star all the way. This itinerary was jam packed with activity and history. Some days were heavy but informative. I would say one needs to be in pretty good shape without mobility issues. Lots of stairs and one day we walked 23K steps!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/02/2024
Susan and John Condi - Traveled, October 2024
Excellent itinerary Hotel accommodation mostly 4 star Coach bus exceptional Excellent tour guide with attention to details and special needs (dietary). This was a discovery tour. It is meant to be an introduction to Eastern Europe. The tour was ambitious, educational, provoking emotionally, cultural and yet a privilege. As an American, it was important to witness what these areas have been experiencing historically. It is hard to fathom how some cities were nearly leveled in WWII and yet are rebuilt. We toured Auschwitz and Berkenau. No words for the atrocities and evils perpetrated yet important to acknowledge and remember. Our tour guide, *Personal information removed by Feefo* was exceptional. She had command of knowledge, history and culture. She prepared the group for the tough stuff and relayed the importance of the resilience of the human spirit. The cities of Budapest, Prague and Vienna were beautiful. Wonderful that these were included in the tour to balance learning about some tough history. I would highly recommend this tour for those who are motivated to understand history, government and economy.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/15/2024
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