Country Roads of Central Europe

Your journey begins in Vienna, the capital of Austria. Spend your afternoon at leisure before meeting your Travel Director and fellow travellers for a pleasant dinner at a local restaurant.

Join a Local Specialist for a tour of Maria Theresa's magnificent Schönbrunn Palace and its formal gardens. Be transported to a time of opulence and extravagance, as you marvel at the intricacies of gilded Rococo frames, frescoed ceilings, and crystal chandeliers. Get your camera ready for a drive around the Ringstrasse, a grand boulevard built along the lines of the old city walls, showcasing many of the capital's architectural masterpieces, including the Opera House, the magnificent Hofburg Imperial Residence, the Austrian Parliament Building, and Karlskirche. Explore Vienna by joining a unique MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience, take to the floor in a Viennese Waltz dance workshop and support the visually impaired community. Dancing without barriers, in a specially designed sensory studio, will be a unique experience for all your senses.

Once over the Czech border, head for picturesque Český Krumlov, where you will begin with a brief orientation tour of this fairy-tale town, straight out of the Middle Ages. Enjoy some free time to explore and appreciate views of the Vltava River. Wander through the cobblestone, traffic-free streets, past colourful houses that lead up to the finest castle in the land. In the afternoon, continue through the green Bohemian countryside to Golden Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic.

It’s your choice how you want to explore Prague. A walk through the courtyards of the castle and visit the imposing St. Vitus Cathedral. Alternatively, join your Local Specialist for a walk through the Jewish Quarter and learn about a different side of the history of Prague. Continue to Old Town Square where the mechanical antics of the Astronomical Clock’s glockenspiel delight onlookers each hour. The afternoon is free for you to explore at your leisure.

Enjoy a drive through the rolling Czech countryside before crossing into Poland where you will stop at Oświęcim, better known by its German name of Auschwitz. Join a guided tour of the memorial and museum, which bore witness to the terrible atrocities of the Holocaust.

In the morning, why not join an Optional Experience and journey into a glistening subterranean world at the 600-year-old Wieliczka Salt Mine? 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 a morning at leisure before joining your fellow traveller to ascend Wawel Hill and visit the cathedral, with your Local Specialist. 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. In the evening, choose from a selection of hand-picked local restaurants on your Dine-Around evening.

Journey into the Slovakian region of Orava and see the picturesque Oravský Hrad Castle before continuing through the breathtaking Low Tatra Mountains to arrive in Budapest.

Enjoy a tour of the Liszt Music Academy, followed by an enchanting recital by one of the students. The university was founded by the piano virtuoso and composer Franz Liszt in 1875. Afterwards, explore Budapest with a Local Specialist. Visit Heroes’ Square and drive down elegant Andrássy Boulevard in Pest, and wander the medieval streets of Buda to enjoy views from the Fisherman's Bastion. The rest of the day is at your leisure to relax by the Danube or browse the boutiques of Vaci Street. For dinner, you are treated to mouth-watering Hungarian specialities, accompanied by specially selected wines.

Today, bid farewell to your new friends before you transfer to the airport.