Imperial tour: Budapest - Vienna - Prague
9−10 nights with arrival on Sunday in Budapest and departure from Prague on Tuesday/Wednesday
3 nights Budapest/3 nights Vienna/3−4 nights Prague
Discover the most beautiful capitals of Central Europe by visiting Budapest, Vienna, Prague.
We will also travel through the palaces and castles of Hungary, Austria, the Czech Republic, visiting the Danube River towns (Esztergom, Visegrad, Szentendre), the palaces and castles of Gödöllő, Fertőd, Salzburg, Mikulov, and at the end of the trip we will look at the German city of Dresden.
Day 1
- Arrival in Budapest at the first part of the day
- Meeting at the airport . 4 hours Budapest sightseeing (Bus and walking tour).
- Lunch at the Trofea Grill ( buffet lunch, drinks all inclusive for 2 hours. ( wines, beer, champagne, soft drinks, coffee, tea).
- At the end of the program transfer to the hotel in Budapest. Overnight in Budapest.
- Free time
Optional: Boat trip on the Danube in the evening. ( Danube Legend )
Budapest is the capital of Hungary, a city with an unrivaled combination of natural beauty, architectural and historical heritage, culture, gastronomy and spa.
Budapest is a true metropolis, offering tourists from all over the world countless opportunities for sightseeing. The Danube River, which crosses the historic center of the city, gives the ninth most populous city in the European Union its unique atmosphere.
Danube Legend
- 1 hour boat trip around the city, Guided tour movie in 30 languages
- 1 beverage of your choice — champagne, wine, beer, soft drinks, mineral water
- Wireless Internet
Day 2
- Breakfast at the hotel.
- Excursion to the Danube River with a visit to Esztergom, Visegrad, Szentendre. (8ч)
The prices of the following services are included in the program::
- entrance ticket to the Basilica in Esztergom and Visegrad Fortress,
- Lunch in the restaurant «Renaissance».
Overnight in Budapest
First we will visit the Basilica in Esztergom, then the Visegrad Citadel. After that we will have lunch at Renaissance Restaurant, where we will enjoy the famous menu of the restaurant.
Then we will continue to Szentendre, a charming town, which is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country, the closest to the capital.
Optional: wine tasting program at Szentendre Wine Museum.
Esztergom
Esztergom, the first capital of Hungary, the cradle of the Hungarian state and of the Hungarian church, is located at the western gates of the Danube bend, in the embrace of the Pilis and Visegrad hills. The main attractions of the city, founded in 973, are the 100 meter high main cathedral (Esztergom Basilica) and the royal castle on Castle Hill.
Visegrád is a popular destination for domestic and international tourism, located in one of the most visited resorts in the country, at the bend of the Danube. The Papal Nuncio called Visegrád (known since 1002) an «earthly paradise», admiring the beauty of the place and the splendor of the castle of King Matthias. Today the castle serves as a venue for jousting tournaments.
From the windows of the citadel there is a magnificent view. And in Solomon's Tower on the banks of the Danube from 1462 to 1474 was imprisoned the Wallachian leader Vlad Tepes, nicknamed Dracula.
Szentendre
At the end of the 17th century the Serbs who fled the Turkish invasion settled on the right bank of the Danube. They gradually built up the settlement in their own style, in a Mediterranean baroque style, and erected six orthodox churches, more than in the whole of Hungary.
In the 20s of the 20th century Szentendre was graced by artists and became the artistic capital of Hungary. Here, in numerous galleries and museums, you can see the works of former and current residents of the colony.
Day 3
- Breakfast at the hotel
- Excursion to Gödöllő, the palace of Empress Sissy (4 hours)
- Return to Budapest after the end of the program.
- Overnight stay in Budapest.
The prices of the following services are included in the program:
- entrance ticket to the palace
Gödöllő is located 30 km northeast of Budapest. The most notable landmark of the former royal resort is the baroque castle, known as Grassalkovich Castle after its builder. The Hungarian state bought it in 1867 and gave Franz Joseph I and Queen Elisabeth I the right to use the building and the park as a coronation gift. Gödöllö is still the center of the cult of Queen Elisabeth (Sisi) in Hungary.
Day 4
- breakfast at the hotel
Check-out from the hotel.- Departure towards the western border.
Excursion along the route
- Arrival in Vienna.
- Accommodation in the hotel in Vienna. Overnight in Vienna.
Program includes prices for the following services:
- Entrance ticket to Esterházy Castle/Eszteházy
- Wine tasting ( 8 types
and one-dish meal and strudel) in Sopron
The most famous attraction of Fertőd, the largest and most beautiful baroque castle in Hungary, is the Castle of the Princes of Esterházy. It is a grandiose Baroque complex with a beautiful park, rightfully listed as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site.
The magnificent «Hungarian Versailles» has hosted dazzling celebrations, great opera performances and concerts. Today, classical music concerts play an important role in the cultural program of Esterházy Palace.
Sopron is the closest to the Austrian border and one of the most romantic cities in the country, with its winding cobblestone streets, fabulous doorways and colorful houses, but it also has a thousand faces of culture! As you stroll through the cozy historic center, our guide will tell you why this city is called the «most faithful Hungarian city»!
Day 5
- Breakfast at the hotel.
- Bus and walking sightseeing tour of Vienna. ( 4 h )
- No entrance tickets.
- Overnight n Vienna.
Optional: in the afternoon sightseeing in the Vienna Woods ( 3h).
Vienna is a megalopolis with a unique charm, energy and atmosphere, the historical center of which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here, among the vast imperial squares and magnificent palaces lurk amazing sights, architectural monuments and masterpieces of art. Vienna is considered the city of music and art. The great composers Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert and Strauss lived and worked here, as well as many famous artists, who turned the city into a treasure trove of Europe.
Day 6
- breakfast at the hotel
- Excursion to Salzburg (12 hours)
- Excursion without admission tickets and food
- Overnight stay in Vienna
Salzburg is a cozy beautiful town on the banks of the Salzach river, a cozy beautiful town in the baroque architectural style, the world capital of classical music, the birthplace of the great Mozart and Karajan. You will stroll through the Mirabel Garden and see the house where Mozart was born, the Salzburg Cathedral and one of the oldest monasteries in Europe — the active St. Peter's Monastery.
Day 7
- breakfast at the hotel
Check-out from the hotel.- Transfer to Prague, en route sightseeing of South Morava — Mikulov + wine cellars.
- The program includes: lunch with wine tasting.
- After the tour we continue to Prague.
Upon arrival hotel accommodation in Prague.
Mikulov is located in South Moravia, a few dozen kilometers from the city of Brno
During the tour we will see:
— The old Mikulov Castle ( from the outside );
— the historic center of Mikulov, the atmospheric Old Town, with its lovely medieval streets, the monumental Holy Trinity Column, the Dietrichstein Tomb, and the atmospheric house «At the Knight's»;
— The old Jewish cemetery
Day 8
- breakfast at the hotel
- Excursion to Dresden city (10 hours).
- The program includes a visit to the Dresden Gallery.
- Overnight in Prague
Excursion to the old Saxon capital Dresden, one of the pearls of Germany. The city, formerly known as «Florence on the Elbe», was known throughout Europe for its magnificent architecture and works of art. That all changed when Dresden was severely damaged during World War II, and it took a long time to restore it. Today Dresden, after the restoration work, is once again an attractive tourist destination and is known above all for its painting collections. Visitors can visit the Dresden Old Masters Gallery (Alte Meister), one of the main treasures of the city. At the Grünes Gewölbe Museum (German: Grünes Gewölbe — Green Vaults)
Day 9
- Breakfast at the hotel.
- Walking tour of Prague ( 4h).
- no admission fee.
- In the afternoon free time.
- Overnight in Prague
During our walking tour of Prague we will see four Prague towns — the Lesser Town, the Old Town, the Jewish Town and the New Royal Town.
The main attraction of the Lesser Town is Kampa Island, nicknamed the Venice of Prague. The island is washed by two rivers, Vltava and ýertovka. Today the island is a surprisingly pleasant green place for recreation.
Kampa Island and the second visited city, Stare Mesto, are connected by the Charles Bridge, supported by 16 massive arches and decorated with 13 sculptures. Charles Bridge is probably the most famous and most beautiful bridge in Europe.
Old Town is the historical and most beautiful quarter of Prague. There is the famous Old Town Square — the heart of the city. On the square rises the famous City Hall with its astronomical clock.
The Josefov quarter (Jewish Town) was named after Emperor Josef II, who contributed to the leveling of the rights of the Jews. In this quarter lived an enigmatic rabbi named Yehuda ben Bezalel who, according to legend, created a horrible golem. The Jewish City is home to the oldest functioning synagogue in the world.
The tour ends at New Place, Wenceslas Square, the commercial and business center of the Czech capital. Here St. Wenceslas sits on his horse, and behind him stands the enormous building of the National Museum.
day 10
- breakfast at the hotel
- Transfer to Prague airport
Or
Optional:
1 night extension in Prague + Excursion Kutna Hora + Český Štěrberk (8h)
Program includes the prices of the following services:
— entrance tickets to St. Barbara and Kostnica, and Sternbek Castle
The castle Český Šternberk was built in the 13th century on a romantic cliff on the bank of the Sázava River. It is still the private property of the noble family of the Sternberk princes and is one of the best preserved castles in Bohemia. The castle has a very interesting collection of engravings from the 17th century, as well as a large collection of weapons and a watch exhibition. Prince Kašpar Sternberk, a prominent figure of the Czech Renaissance, lived in the castle.
Kutna Hora — In the Middle Ages Kutna Hora was the seat of the Czech Kingdom. Due to the numerous silver ore deposits in the mountain, Kutná Hora became a prosperous and one of the richest cities in the kingdom. Masterpieces of Gothic architecture were under construction: the flaming Gothic St. Barbara's Cathedral, the Royal Mint, St. James' Archdeaconry and the unique ossuary chapel, the interior of which was entirely made of human bones and skulls. Kutná Hora is included in the list of cities under UNESCO protection.
