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Highlights

A 10 day & 9 night break trip that takes you on a journey to central and eastern Europe’s most exciting & historic cities.

The trip begins in the imperial city of the former Austro-Hungarian empire, and current Hungarian capital ofl Budapest, then onto the Golden city and heart of Bohemia, the Czech capital, Prague, and ending in the former capital & royal city of Poland, amazing Krakow, with an included visit to the concentration camps of Auschwitz & Birkenau.  This trip to three different countries gives you the opportunity to experience uniquely different cultures, and all in some of the cheapest parts of Europe! 

Itinerary

Day 1 - Budapest Arrival on your own to Budapest and check in to accommodations in the heart of the historic city center (you will be sent exact instructions on how to arrive, check in, etc.).  On your first night you'll take a scenic 1 hour boat cruise along Budapest's historic Danube River to see the city’s most impressive architecture as the sun sets on this beautiful city (plan to be available by approx. 5:30pm-6pm/17:30-18:00 from April-September, and between 3:30pm-4:30pm/15:30-16:30 from October-March- if you arrive to Budapest later that night do let us know).   Free evening in Budapest

Evening options, and nightlife, in Budapest can include -  the city's very unique, and cheap, “Ruin” Bars in the heart of the historic district, an optional party boat cruise with 2 hours all you can drink and entrance to one of Budapest's top clubs, a pub crawl, live classical music concerts, etc. On weekend nights there is also the, only in Budapest, SPArty - literally a party in the thermal baths with DJ, bar, and music all night long)!  You will receive detailed evening options & recommendations (and any booking info for optional tours, excursions, concerts, pub crawls, events, etc.) by email with the day to day itinerary, & online e-guide you will be sent before the trip’s start.

Day 2 - Budapest Breakfast included. Following breakfast you’ll have a professionally guided walking tour of Budapest at 10am. Tour will include stops such as St. Stephen’s Basilica, Elisabeth Square, Archduke Joseph Square, the Chain Bridge & Danube Promenade, the Shoe Memorial and eventually to the seat of the Hungarian Parliament and the imposing parliament building (Europe’s 2nd largest!).  Following some free time for lunch you’ll meet the guide again for a journey across the Danube River to the Buda side of the city and Buda Hill.  Here you will learn the history, stories, and enjoy amazing views, at sights like Fisherman’s Bastion & Matthias Church eventually ending at the Royal Castle  & National Gallery.  Along this walk you’ll also see the oldest residential street of the town, the Jewish District of Buda with the oldest active synagogue of Hungary.  Free evening in Budapest.

Day 3 - Budapest Breakfast included. Free day and evening to do as you please.  A popular option on this free day is the famous Szechenyi or Gellert thermal baths for relaxation in the thermal pools & saunas, and even an optional “Beer Spa” or massages. Free evening in Budapest.

Day 4 - Budapest to Prague Breakfast included.  Morning departure for Prague, travelling from Hungary through the western corner of Slovakia (passing Bratislava along the way), and into the Czech Republic (Czechia) with an afternoon arrival to Prague (approx. travel time 7 hours).  After checking into city center accommodations, you’ll have a free late afternoon followed by an included 1 hour scenic boat cruise along Prague's Vltava River at approx. 6pm. Free evening.

Evening options, and nightlife in Prague, can include - anything from a relaxing night enjoying a live classical music concert to organised nightlife like the optional pub crawl (includes a power hour, stops at multiple bars and ending at a club - great way to meet other travellers), Prague is a city that is very alive at night.  And this city is known as the beer capital of the world so the pubs and taverns are countless in this town (along with great hearty Czech food)!  You will receive detailed evening options & recommendations (and any booking info for optional tours, excursions, concerts, pub crawls, events, etc.) by email with the day to day itinerary, & online e-guide you will be sent before the trip’s start.

Day 5 - Prague Breakfast included.  Following breakfast you’ll meet the guide for a walking tour of Prague’s incredible Old Town and Jewish Quarter.  Passing through Gothic and Art Nouveau architecture, you’ll see highlights such as the Old Town Square & Astronomical Clock, the Tyn Church, Cubist House of the Black Madonna, the Filharmonic, Rudolfinum, the Jewish Quarter & it’s Old-New Synagogue and more.  Following a short break for lunch you’ll meet the guide again to cross the Charles Bridge to the Mala Strana side of the city (the “lesser district”), to the John Lennon Wall, St. Nicholas Church and up to the largest castle complex in the world, the stunning (and massive) Prague Castle & St. Vitus Cathedral, ending with a stunning view point over the city.  Free evening in Prague.

Day 6 - Prague Breakfast included.  Included visit to the Pilsner Uquell Beer Experience to learn about this "liquid gold" known as the world's greatest pilsner, see how it's made and enjoy 3 perfectly poured Pilsner Urquel beer samples in the beer hall at the end of the tour! Free rest of day & evening in Prague.

Day 7 - Prague to Krakow Breakfast provided, check out and early morning departure to Krakow (travel time approx. 6.5 hours), crossing through the Czech Republic (Czechia) and into south western Poland (Malopolska) before reaching Krakow in the late afternoon.  Check in to accommodations in the city center with a free evening in Krakow.

Evening options, and nightlife in Krakow, can include - wandering the narrow old town or Jewish Quarter streets and exploring the countless number of pubs, bars and clubs (Krakow has one of the highest concentration of bars anywhere in the world), to exploring the Polish vodka scene and doing vodka tasting, joining the optional pub crawl for an organised night out (includes a power hour, stops at multiple bars and ending at a club - great way to meet other travellers)), or having a relaxing evening and taking in one of the many live classic music concerts offered in the city.  The options are countless in this city at night.  You will receive detailed evening options & recommendations (and any booking info for optional tours, excursions, concerts, pub crawls, events, etc.) by email with the day to day itinerary, & online e-guide you will be sent before the trip’s start.

Day 8 - Krakow & Auschwitz Breakfast provided, followed by an early morning. transfer to see the sobering Auschwitz-Berkinau concentration camps (film and guided tour included) - Auschwitz-Birkenau is the infamous Nazi concentration camp that became the world’s worst spot of genocide with the extermination of 1.5 million people: Jews, Poles, Gypsies, prisoners of war and many others were murdered in this camp. Late afternoon arrival back to Krakow and free evening.

Day 9 - Krakow Breakfast provided, followed by a walking tour of Krakow’s historic center including the Rynek Glowny main square market, St. Mary’s basilica & the story of the famous trumpeters who watch over the city, Jagiellonian University (where the astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus and the late Pope John Paul II used to study), and ending at the Poland’s most sacred spot, the Wawel Castle where all royalty are buried.  After a break for lunch you’ll meet the guide again for a tour of Krakow’s  Jewish Quarter, known as Kazimierz.  On this portion of the tour you’ll visit the Jewish Ghetto and where Steven Spielberg’s iconic film, Schindler’s List was filmed, you’ll see Poland’s oldest Synagogue, the Jewish Cemetery, the Holocaust Memorial and more.  Free evening in Krakow

Day 10 - Krakow Breakfast included.  Free day and departure on your own (if you have a later departure you can leave your bags with reception).

*Trip Style - This is an independent trip ideal for groups of friends, family, couples, or even for an independent-minded solo traveler. It is designed as a travel & destination package, not solely as a "group trip". You will be on group tours/activities with other travelers and in a room with other travelers if you book the "shared dorm hostel" package (if you book the "private" room package then you of course will be in your own private room). You will however, have independent time between the guided group tours/activities to explore on your own and do as you please, and will receive a detailed info packet by email with numerous recommendations for additional group activities or tours (beyond what is included), sights/museums and food/drink/nightlife info, etc. It's a great balance between guided & included tours/activities and free time so that you have plenty of time on your own to do what you want.