Highlights of Eastern Europe

Local departure by coach or Home Connect service, then to Belgium for an overnight stay.

Continue to Germany for two-night stay in Berlin.

This morning, we travel into the centre of Berlin on our included excursion. Having re-gained its pre-war status as the capital of Germany, Berlin now thrives on its exciting new architecture, youthful vibrancy and rich cultural diversity. The cosmopolitan buzz makes it one of Europe’s top city destinations, and there is something to suit everyone including fantastic gastronomic experiences, art, shopping, culture, history and much more. Why not take our optional sightseeing tour to introduce you to the city’s array of famous sights? During the ‘Cold War’ period, the city was divided between east and west but is once again the flourishing capital of the unified Germany.

Our guide will explain about the changes that have taken place since the unification of the city as well as pointing out and explaining the interesting stories behind many of the buildings. We see the sights of former West Berlin including the famous street of the Kurfurstendamm with its cafés, theatres, cinemas and art galleries, and the newly refurbished Reichstag building – the home of the German Parliament. We pass by the Brandenburg Gate and continue into former East Berlin where we see the famous Unter den Linden Street with the cathedral and Humboldt University. The remainder of the day is at leisure, and with such a chequered past there is plenty for you to see and explore.

The following day, we continue across the border into Poland, where we will stay in the city of Wrocław. The city’s uniqueness lies in its canals, local tributaries of the River Odra, and more than a hundred bridges, which have earned it the name ‘the Polish Venice’. Whilst here, visit Ostrów Tumski Island – the oldest part of Wrocław – or discover one of city’s distinctive gems, the Japanese Garden. A walk along its charming paths amidst a variety of plant life and delightful cascades offers an excellent opportunity to wind down before the next day.

Today, we drive south to the old Polish capital of Kraków. En route, we spend time at the Auschwitz-Birkenau Complex. A site of great importance to the Holocaust story, Auschwitz will forever be seen as the centre of a vast plan to exterminate a whole race of people. Rudolph Hess was given the assignment of expanding the camp to accommodate 30,000 prisoners. In this process, he built an annex that would hold 100,000 prisoners of war. As the prisoners arrived, approximately 25% were then and there determined to be ‘fit for work’ and allowed to live a bit longer. The great majority of Jews, however, who were deported to Auschwitz – men, women and children – were immediately sent to their deaths in the gas chambers of Auschwitz II-Birkenau. When the SS realized that the end of the war was near, they attempted to remove all evidence of the atrocities committed there. They dismantled the gas chambers, crematoriums and other buildings, burned documents, and evacuated all the prisoners who could walk to the interior of Germany. The number of victims was approximately one million; only 667 prisoners escaped, and 270 were recaptured and executed. Those who were not evacuated where liberated by the Red Army on 27th January 1945. Auschwitz is an emotive symbol of terror and genocide; we stop here to pay a Remembrance visit where so many needlessly lost their lives.

We arrive at our hotel in Kraków this evening for a two-night stay.

We start our day with an included guided sightseeing tour of Kraków. As the ancient capital of Poland, the city was the royal residence for centuries and the only major city in the country to escape major damage during World War 2. Its assembly of monuments are listed by UNESCO as one of the world's twelve most significant historic sites. During the tour, we will see the magnificent Wawel Castle, which is impressively situated on a hilltop overlooking the Vistula River.

The rest of the day can be spent exploring the city at your leisure.

This morning, why not join our optional excursion to the town of Wieliczka and the oldest salt mine in Europe? The mines are an impressive underground world of salt lakes and galleries extending to a depth of 327m, length of 300km, and width of 100km. They are a masterpiece of generations of miners who have created a subterraneous world of chambers and lakes, where galleries, halls, chapels, and numerous sculptures have been carved in the salt rock. The mine is beautifully maintained, and this is a visit not to be missed. The journey starts at the Danilowicz Shaft where we meet our guide and then descend via some 380 steps to 64 meters below ground. Our guide takes us on a fascinating tour through the magnificent chambers, revealing the history and secrets of the mine. At the end of our visit, we return to the surface by the miners’ lift.

This afternoon, we leave Poland and head south into Slovakia. Our scenic journey will take us through the Tatra Mountains – the most central, highest, and beautiful section of the Carpathian Mountains – to the city of Košice. Crowned the European Capital of Culture in 2013, Košice has since had a blossoming cultural scene. Here, enjoy the chance to unwind and visit some bars, take in the Soviet relics, or admire beautiful Gothic cathedral in the centre of the Old Town.

This morning, enjoy a bit of free time in Košice before we continue into Hungary and its capital, Budapest, arriving in the afternoon for a two-night stay. Budapest is one of Europe’s most delightful cities, and due to its scenic setting and stunning architecture it is nicknamed 'Paris of the East'.

To introduce you to this beautiful city, why not join our optional Budapest by Night excursion? In the company of our guide we take a tour of Budapest, for a chance to see the famous sights of the city by night. We start with a drive to the city's Art-Nouveau Concert Hall where we enjoy a short Organ Concert and a glass of sparkling wine. From here we continue to the city park to have a walk around the medieval Vajdahunyad Castle and Heroes’ square before joining the coach for an illumination drive on the Pest and Buda side with a stop for photo opportunity of the Parliament building all lit-up.

Today, you will have the full day to discover the Hungarian capital of Budapest. The city is composed of two historically independent communities, Buda and Pest, separated by the majestic River Danube. Our included guided sightseeing tour will introduce you to the city’s array of spectacular sights. We start with a panoramic view of the city from the top of the Gellert Hill and then continue by foot to the Liberty Statue, built in remembrance of the Soviet liberation of Hungary from Nazi forces during World War II. We rejoin our coach and travel to the Pest side of the city to see the City Park and Heroes Square. We drive down Andrassy Avenue, seeing the grand State Opera House and the beautiful St. Stephens Basilica. Our next stop is Castle Hill on the Buda side of the city, where we leave our coach and visit the old medieval city.

To further enhance your day, why not join the optional Danube Lunch Cruise this afternoon? The Danube is the second longest river in Europe after the Volga, which flows through central Russia. Classified as an international waterway, the Danube originates in the town of Donaueschingen in the Black Forest of Germany. It then flows southeast for almost 3,000 km passing through four central European capitals before emptying into the Black Sea. Our cruise boat has an airconditioned dining hall, with panoramic windows and will take you along the majestic Danube River allowing you to take in the spectacular views of Budapest, which can also be enjoyed from the sundeck with guided commentary on the second part of the cruise. A sumptuous buffet lunch of traditional Hungarian dishes is provided, alongside a complimentary welcome drink from the bar as well as half a bottle of white or red wine. The cruise lasts 1.5 hours and parking is located close by to the boat, so guests with walking difficulties can join.

Alternatively, spend the rest of the day at leisure exploring the city at your own pace. Why not take a stroll by the river or visit the tempting stores of the Vaci Utca Street?

We leave Budapest today and head over the border into Austria, reaching Vienna at approximately midday. Vienna is without question one of Europe’s great cities, and as the home of the former Habsburg monarchy and the present-day capital of Austria, it has much to charm the visitor.

There is a lot of walking involved to see all the sights, so why not let us introduce you to Vienna on our optional guided sightseeing tour? Our guided tour will begin by coach, where we will be taken along the Imperial Boulevard – known as the Ringstrasse. Here, you will see many iconic sights including the Hofburg Palace, Parliament building, Opera House, National Theatre and City Hall. During our tour, we will also see the majestic Danube River and later, as we pass by the Prater Amusement Park, view the famous Giant Wheel built over 100 years ago – one of the most well-known landmarks of the city. There will be frequent stops during the drive, where you will have photo opportunities and the chance to admire Vienna at its very best. Our guide will provide commentary throughout, revealing the history, culture and stories of Vienna. Following the tour, you will have time at leisure to explore independently before travelling to our overnight hotel.

This evening an optional Vienna Supreme Concert will be available. The Vienna Supreme Orchestra and its soloists will offer you a truly magical evening where you can experience the happiness, optimism and flair of this wonderful city. Immerse yourself in the delightful Viennese music, be enchanted by its elegant waltzes, refreshing folk polkas and its many romantic arias and duets. Experience works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Franz Schubert and, of course, the Strauss Dynasty, the masters of operetta, all within a wonderful, intimate venue. A complementary CD will be yours to take home as a souvenir of this delightful evening.

This morning, we begin our journey towards the Czech Republic, reaching Prague around lunchtime. There will be free time this afternoon for you to explore the centre before we continue to our hotel, where we will stay for the next two nights.

This evening, why not join our optional evening in Prague excursion? Accompanied by our local guide, we travel by coach to Prague Castle, the largest medieval castle in Europe. We take a stroll through the courtyards, viewing the exterior of the imposing St. Vitus Cathedral. We then walk to the main parade entrance where the soldiers stand guard and take in the lovely views of the city. Continuing by coach to the Strahov Monastery, enjoy the best views of the Old Town and sample a glass of special beer from the monk’s own brewery.

Today, we travel into the centre of Prague for an included morning walking tour, introducing you to this beautiful capital which is affectionately known as the ‘Golden Town’. The many historic buildings, grand squares and elegant landmarks such as Wenceslas Square, the famous astronomical clock and Charles Bridge make it a lovely place to explore on foot, and our local guide’s informative commentary will reveal many of the stories behind the buildings and personalities which have shaped the history of this magnificent city.

Afterwards, why not join an optional cruise on the Vltava River with lunch included? Lasting for approximately two hours, the cruise will take you along the majestic Vltava River, offering spectacular views of the famous sights of the city. Lunch will be served on board with a selection of warm and cold Czech specialities for you to enjoy. The remainder of the day is free for you to explore the sights further at your leisure.

To Belgium for an overnight stay.

Return home.