Highlights of Eastern Europe - End Budapest, Small Group
Highlights of Eastern Europe - End Budapest, Small Group
$5875
Highlights of Eastern Europe - End Budapest, Small Group
14 Days Starting and ending in Budapest, Hungary
Visiting: Budapest, Kraków, Warsaw, Berlin, Prague, Český Krumlov, Vienna
Tour operator:
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Embark on an unforgettable journey through the heart of Eastern Europe with the "Highlights of Eastern Europe - End Budapest, Small Group" tour. This immersive experience takes you through six captivating countries: Hungary, Slovakia, Poland, Germany, Czech Republic, and Austria. Discover the rich history and culture of each destination with guided tours of iconic sites such as Budapest's Old Town, Kraków's Wawel Hill, and Berlin's Brandenburg Gate. Enjoy authentic dining experiences, including a regal Viennese dinner and a brewery tour in Ceský Krumlov. Travel in comfort aboard a luxurious coach, staying in premium accommodations throughout. With unique activities like a Viennese Waltz workshop and a visit to the Auschwitz memorial, this tour offers a profound exploration of Eastern Europe's past and present. Whether you're savoring Sachertorte in Vienna or exploring Prague's medieval streets, this journey promises a blend of history, culture, and unforgettable memories.
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.
Top Rated Highlights
- Budapest: Stroll through the alleys of 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. Cross the former Jewish Quarter of Kazimierz to Podgórze and see the Ghetto Square.
- Kraków: Visit the cathedral atop Wawel Hill, see the castle and look for the iconic dragon, 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 private, guided exploration of Schonbrunn 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.
Authentic Dining
Budapest: Dine in elegance and savor Hungarian delicacies accompanied with specially selected Hungarian wine during your dinner.
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.
Itinerary
Day 1: Welcome To Budapest
Location: Budapest
Accommodation: Kempinski Hotel Corvinus Budapest
Accommodation Name: Kempinski Corvinus Budapest
Meals Included: Dinner
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.
Day 2: Delve Into Budapest Relaxed Start
Location: Budapest
Accommodation: Kempinski Hotel Corvinus Budapest
Accommodation Name: Kempinski Corvinus Budapest
Meals Included: Breakfast
Visit the *Liszt Academy of Music for a guided tour, followed by an enchanting recital. Stroll through the alleys of 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.)
Day 3: The Mountains To Kraków
Location: Kraków
Accommodation: Mercure Kraków Stare Miasto.
Accommodation Name: Mercure Kraków Stare Miasto
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
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.
Day 4: The Damsels And Dragons Of Kraków Relaxed Start
Location: Kraków
Accommodation: Mercure Kraków Stare Miasto.
Accommodation Name: Mercure Kraków Stare Miasto
Meals Included: Breakfast
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.
Day 5: Auschwitz And On To Warsaw
Location: Warsaw
Accommodation: The Westin Warsaw.
Accommodation Name: The Westin Warsaw
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
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.
Day 6: The Polish Capital Of Warsaw Relaxed Start
Location: Warsaw
Accommodation: The Westin Warsaw.
Accommodation Name: The Westin Warsaw
Meals Included: Breakfast
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?
Day 7: Wielkopolska To Berlin
Location: Berlin
Accommodation: Hotel NH Collection Berlin Mitte am Checkpoint Charlie, Berlin.
Accommodation Name: DoubleTree by Hilton Berlin Ku'damm
Meals Included: 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.
Day 8: The Spirit Of Berlin Relaxed Start
Location: Berlin
Accommodation: Hotel NH Collection Berlin Mitte am Checkpoint Charlie, Berlin.
Accommodation Name: DoubleTree by Hilton Berlin Ku'damm
Meals Included: 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.
Day 9: Dresden And Golden Prague
Location: Prague
Accommodation: Hermitage Hotel Prague
Accommodation Name: Hermitage Hotel Prague
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
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.
Day 10: Prague, City Of A Hundred Spires
Location: Prague
Accommodation: Hermitage Hotel Prague
Accommodation Name: Hermitage Hotel Prague
Meals Included: Breakfast
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.
Day 11: Bohemian Český Krumlov Relaxed Start
Location: Český Krumlov
Accommodation: Hotel Old Inn, Ceský Krumlov.
Accommodation Name: Hotel Old Inn, Český Krumlov.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
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.
Day 12: Stately Vienna Relaxed Start
Location: Vienna
Accommodation: Hilton Vienna Park.
Accommodation Name: Hilton Vienna Park, Hilton Vienna Plaza, Vienna
Meals Included: Breakfast
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?
Day 13: The Habsburgs Of Vienna
Location: Vienna
Accommodation: Hilton Vienna Park.
Accommodation Name: Hilton Vienna Park, Hilton Vienna Plaza, Vienna
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Vienna owes much of its present-day charm to the long reign of the Habsburgs. Join your Local Expert for a private 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.
Day 14: Depart Budapest
Location: Budapest
Meals Included: Breakfast
A transfer arrives at Budapest airport in the early afternoon. For those extending their stay, a stop is also made at the Kempinski Hotel Budapest.
What's Included
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Meals
6 dinners and 13 breakfasts are included.
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Activities
Choose between two carefully selected activities.
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Vienna Coffeehouse Visit
Visit a traditional coffeehouse to enjoy Viennese specialties of coffee and Sachertorte.
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Viennese Waltz Workshop
Learn the Viennese Waltz in an inclusive workshop designed to support the visually impaired community.
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Personal Radio Headsets
Personal radio headsets give you the freedom to wander during visits to famous highlights, without missing any of your Local Expert's fascinating commentary.
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Hotel and Restaurant Tips
Hotel and restaurant tips are included.
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Porterage
We carry your bags for you and promptly deliver them to your hotel door.
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Insight Flourish
From time to time, your Travel Director will delight you with an Insight Flourish, which is a local specialty representing the destination.
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Wi-Fi
Stay connected with friends and family with our complimentary coach and hotel Wi-Fi (where available).
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Transfers
Transfers are available at scheduled times if your arrival and/or departure flights are as per the itinerary start and end dates.
What's Not Included
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Optional Experiences
Optional experiences such as the Danube cruise in Budapest and the Wieliczka Salt Mines tour in Kraków are not included.
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Flights
Flights to and from the tour start and end locations are not included.
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Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is not included and is recommended to be purchased separately.
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Personal Expenses
Personal expenses such as souvenirs, additional meals, and drinks are not included.
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Additional Transfers
Transfers outside the scheduled times or for additional nights' accommodation are not included.
Dining Summary
- 6 Dinner (D)
- 13 Breakfast (B)
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.
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.
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.
Check out our Q&As
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What unique experience does the tour offer in Vienna related to the Viennese Waltz?
The tour offers an inclusive workshop called 'Dancing without Barriers' where guests can learn the Viennese Waltz in a specially designed sensory studio. This workshop is designed to support the visually impaired community and focuses on inclusion and education around the topic of visual impairment.
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What kind of dining experience can I expect in Budapest during the tour?
In Budapest, you will dine in elegance and savor Hungarian delicacies accompanied by specially selected Hungarian wine during your dinner.
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What is the significance of the visit to Auschwitz during the tour?
The visit to Auschwitz is a powerful and moving experience where you will see the Auschwitz memorial and museum, which bears witness to the atrocities of the Holocaust. It is a reflective moment amid the remains of the concentration camp and the memorials to those who died.
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What are some of the highlights of the tour in Kraków?
In Kraków, you will join a Local Expert to ascend Wawel Hill and visit the cathedral, walk through the Old Town to Europe's largest town square, see the medieval Sukiennice Cloth Hall, and visit the 14th-century St. Mary's Basilica. You will also have the opportunity to explore the former Jewish Quarter of Kazimierz and the Ghetto Square.
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What kind of accommodation can I expect during the tour?
You will stay in luxurious accommodations including the Kempinski Corvinus Budapest, Mercure Kraków Stare Miasto, The Westin Warsaw, DoubleTree by Hilton Berlin Ku'damm, Hermitage Hotel Prague, Hotel Old Inn in Český Krumlov, and Hilton Vienna Park.
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What is the transportation like during the tour?
You will travel in comfort aboard Insight's luxurious, air-conditioned, 40-seat coach with double the standard legroom and an onboard washroom. Complimentary coach and hotel Wi-Fi are available, and physical distancing measures are implemented.
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
We regret that no refunds can be made for absences from a tour, including experiences such as missed meals or sightseeing.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Since 1978.
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Insight Vacations is a founding member of the TreadRight Foundation, a joint initiative created by the brands within The Travel Corporation (TTC) almost 15 years ago to ensure our impact through tourism is positive. Our ethos to #MakeTravelMatter guides our decision-making at every level of our business.
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
You have two options as a solo traveller. Either choose to be matched with a same sex partner for a room share - at no extra cost. Or choose a room of your own with a reduced or even free private room upgrade on select tours.
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Please contact us for latest COVID-19 policies
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Book with Confidence
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Low Deposit
Barrhead Travel requires a minimum deposit of 200 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 98 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of barrhead travel charges.
Up to 98 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 97 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 74 days before tour starts: Forfeit 75% of booking price.
At 28 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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Terms and Conditions
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