Imperial Cities

Set out on a grand cultural adventure through the Imperial Cities of Central Europe – Prague, Vienna and Budapest. Along the way, enjoy traditional entertainment, local cuisine, and a glimpse into this region’s eminent history.
Hotel Name: Grandior Hotel

Arrive in Prague, the "City of 100 Spires." Behold ancient landmarks and medieval architecture. This evening, join your fellow travelers for a welcome dinner at a local restaurant.
Dinner Included

Visit Area: Prague
Prague is the capital of the Czech Republic and of the state of Bohemia, with a population of about 2 million in the metro area. Because it received very little damage in WWII, it is has many beautifully preserved sights from several eras and its historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It was capital of the Holy Roman Empire and a center of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and it was the site of the Velvet Revolution in 1989 when citizens peacefully took Czechoslovakia back from the Communists. It is known for music (composers Dvorak, Smetana and Mozart lived here), literature (Franz Kafka) and for having almost as many kinds of Pilsner beer as it has bars and restaurants.

Feel the magic and wonder of Prague. Your first chapter in this fairy-tale city begins with exploring the best of the Prague Old Town and its’ iconic landmarks. Marvel at the iconic, statue-lined Charles Bridge – a picturesque structure stretching over the Vltava River. After, enjoy some time at leisure for lunch on your own and spend the rest of the afternoon and evening with free time to discover the city how you like. Perhaps you’ll join an optional excursion to Prague’s Old Jewish Quarter to see its historic Jewish Museum and Europe’s oldest Jewish cemetery, founded in 1478.

Breakfast Included

Admittance: Prague Castle
Prague Castle is a complex of intrigue based in 9th century stone – an ancient symbol of the Czech State and one of the world’s most significant cultural landmarks. The largest castle complex in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the castle serves as the official home of the President of the Czech Republic, and the residence of princes and kings since the 10th century. This age-old, ageless landmark hides a different kind of stone, or stones – Prague Castle is home to the Bohemian Crown Jewels. The crown, the scepter, and the coronation cloak of St. Wenceslas is protected behind a chamber door, an iron safe, and seven locks – the keys to which only seven people possess.

Start your morning with a panoramic tour and continue on to explore the “Castle District”, the gothic St. Vitus Cathedral, the majestic Prague Castle, and the Golden Lane. The afternoon is yours to spend at leisure. You may consider shopping for Bohemian crystal or visiting the city’s museums, such as the Lapidarium. Tonight, savor dinner and traditional folklore dances at a famous Prague restaurant where the menu is created based on original recipes from Czech grandmothers.

Breakfast Included
Dinner Included
Hotel Name: InterContinental Hotel

Visit Area: Cesky Krumlov
This is a small city on the Vltava River south of Prague and a UNESCO World Heritage site. It was once an important trade route through Bohemia, and is home to the Cesky Krumlov Castle, the second-largest in Czech Republic. The town was founded in the 13th century, and most of the old city buildings date from the 14th century. Cesky Krumlov is home to several important arts festivals every year, including candlelight operas in the 16th-century theater in the castle.

Travel through the scenic countryside on your way to Vienna. En route, make a stop in the medieval town of Cesky Krumlov. Lined with towering Baroque architecture, explore the quaint preserved streets before continuing on to the grand city of Vienna.

Breakfast Included

Visit Area: Vienna
This is the capital city of Austria, located on the Danube, with a population of over 2 million in the metro area. It is known as the “City of Music” because of the numerous famous composers who have lived and worked here, such as Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven and Brahms, and also as the “City of Dreams” as it was home to Sigmund Freud. Some of its primary sights are Schonbrunn Palace, Hofburg Palace, Opera House, Belvedere and St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Vienna is also known for its coffee houses and restaurants.

Join a local guide at the magnificent Schönbrunn Palace, the summer retreat of the Habsburg dynasty for more than 200 years. Continue on to Vienna’s city center and behold the beautiful architecture, scenic parks, and gothic spires that fill the city. Enjoy an afternoon at leisure where perhaps you’ll partake in the city’s famous café culture as you walk the streets, watching locals take a moment out of their day for a hot coffee and bite of cake. Tonight, hear Vienna’s past come alive and experience a classical performance featuring the works of Mozart and Strauss.

Breakfast Included
Dinner Included

Admittance: Schönbrunn Palace
This Vienna palace was a summer residence of the Holy Roman Emperors beginning in the 17th century, and is the most-visited site in Austria. Emperor Maximillian II bought the property for a hunting preserve, and it was remodeled by Empress Maria Theresa in the mid 18th century. On the grounds are an orangerie, a palm house, a French garden designed by a student of the designer of the gardens at Versailles in France, an English garden and a large park. Concerts are often held here with music of Mozart and others.

Choose how you spend your day because it’s your choice! Venture down the Danube* to the medieval town of Durnstein and cruise to the 11th-century Melk Abbey -OR- join a local guide in the Belvedere Museum, home to Gustav Klimt’s iconic painting The Kiss -OR- enjoy a leisurely morning before attending a Viennese Waltz lesson in the afternoon. The rest of the day is yours.

Breakfast Included
Hotel Name: Up Hotel

Admittance: Classical Music Performance
At a classical music concert featuring masterpieces by Mozart and Strauss, enjoy the melodies in the regions where they were created. The delightful music is complimented by the elegant decor of the concert hall.

Say hello to Bratislava, the former Imperial capital of the Habsburg Empire. Get to know the city’s 4,000-year-old history on a tour with a local expert. Connect with the villagers of Dunaalmas during a community-hosted lunch, learning how to make traditional strudel. Arrive in Budapest, the "Queen of the Danube" and your home for the next 3 nights. Enjoy the evening on your own.

Breakfast Included
Lunch Included

Admittance: Danube Cruise and Melk Abbey or The Belvedere Museum or Learn the Viennese Waltz
Choose how to spend your day because, it's your choice! Venture down the Danube* to the medieval town of Durnstein and cruise to the 11th-century Melk Abbey -OR- join a local guide in the Belvedere Museum, home to Gustav Klimt's iconic painting The Kiss -OR- enjoy a leisurely morning before attending a Viennese Waltz lesson in the afternoon. The rest of the day is yours. Danube Cruise and Melk Abbey Activity Level 2: Travelers should be able to stand and walk for at least 45 minutes. *The Danube River Cruise to Melk Abbey is available mid-April to mid-October. Outside these times, a cruise through Vienna will be substitued. The Belvedere Museum Activity Level 3: Guests will be traveling to this option with a local guide by public transportation. They should be able to walk or stand for 60 minutes at a time. Learn the Viennese Waltz Activity Level 4: Must be active enough to participate in a 60 minute dance class. It will be a beginner class so accessible for all who can be on their feet for 60 minutes.

Join a local expert for a panoramic tour of the city, where you’ll discover the incredible Neo-Gothic marvel of Matthias Church atop Buda Castle Hill, the Fisherman’s Bastion, the historic Old Buda and Gellert Hill, and the Parliament House. This afternoon, enjoy some free time to explore Budapest on your own. Perhaps you’ll head to the city’s famous thermal pools for an afternoon of relaxation, or maybe you’ll join an optional excursion to discover Budapest by Night.

Breakfast Included

Visit Area: Bratislava
This is the capital of Slovakia, and it is located on the Danube, close to the Hungarian and Austrian borders. It was once the capital of the Kingdom of Hungary when that country was part of the Hapsburg Empire, and became Slovakia’s capital when that country split from Czechoslovakia in 1993. Its most important attractions are the 13th-century Bratislava Castle, the Old Town, Michael’s Gate and St. Martin’s Cathedral.

This morning, talk with a local and listen to stories about his life during the former communist era. Enjoy the rest of the morning at leisure. This afternoon, head out of the city to the former Renaissance capital of Visegrad for a magnificent view of the Danube Bend and the Borzsony Mountains. Embrace the lifestyle of the 14th-century castle, a former residence of Hungarian kings, and enjoy an exclusive Renaissance-style dinner in the castle.

Breakfast Included
Dinner Included

Admittance: Lunch with Locals
Join local residents for a community hosted lunch and connect with the villagers of Dunaalmas. Learn how to make a traditional strudel – a favorite in this region since the time of the Hapsburg Empire.

Say goodbye to these regal cities as your tour comes to a close today.

Breakfast Included

Visit Area: Budapest
This city on the Danube is actually two cities: Buda and Pest, divided by the river. In its history, it has been Celtic, Roman, invaded by Mongols and Turks, second capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and now the capital Hungary, with about 1.8 million people. Its varied architecture from so many cultures helped make Budapest a UNESCO World Heritage site, and it is known for its coffee houses, traditional Hungarian restaurants and working Turkish baths from the 16th century.