Pack five cities into just two weeks – a must-do trip for the budget conscious traveller. Visit the fascinating cities of Budapest, Bratislava, Vienna, Prague and Krakow. After a short orientation of each city you will be free to choose between exploring by yourself and joining optional excursions which take you beyond the tourist trails. After 14 jammed packed days, you’ll be ready for a rest!
Itinerary
[+] Detailed Itinerary
Day 1:
Join tour in Krakow
Join the tour today in Krakow with an included dinner on the first evening giving the opportunity for everyone to get to know each other.
Included meals: Dinner
Day 2:
Orientation walk of the city
Your tour leader will lead a orientation around the city's Old Quarter in the morning with free time in the afternoon to explore yourself. The Jewish Kazimierz district, the setting for the film ‘Schindler’s List’, has many points of interest including the Old Synagogue and the Museum of Jewish life. You may like to make an excursion by train to Oswiecim, the site of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp, a haunting reminder of the terrible atrocities which took place there during World War II. It is also possible to visit the Royal Castle, perched high on Wawel Hill, which overlooks both the Old Town and the Vistula River. Constructed in Renaissance style, the castle houses exquisite treasures collected through the ages by Polish monarchs. Next to the castle is Wawel Cathedral, the final resting place of Polish Kings. Another option is to visit the salt mines of Wieliczka. Among its most important architectural treasures are St Mary's Church, which contains the world-famous altarpiece carved by Veit Stoss, the medieval buildings of the Jagiellonian University, and Wawel Castle with the Cathedral.
Included meals: Breakfast
Included meals: Breakfast
Day 3:
Banska Bystrica
The morning we drive from Krakow through Tatra Mountains to Poprad, where we catch the train onto Banska Bystrica. On arrival your tour leader will take an orientation walk of the town. Banska Bystrica square is the liveliest part of this historical town, especially in the summer, when the outdoor cafes’ and restaurants are busy with the town’s university students and tourists giving the square the atmosphere of a sea side town.
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 4:
Banska Bystrica
Today we are free to explore the area by ourselves, alternatively you can take an optional full day sightseeing tour by bus with the aim of exploring some of the more off-the-beaten-track attractions of this part of rural Slovakia. The optional tour will include a visit to Hronsek Wooden church and Banska Stiavnica – a preserved medieval town that is a UNESCO world heritage site. The open air mining museum here dates back to the 17th century and offers a two kilometers long underground excursion! Other places that can be visited according to the weather and interests of the group include Skelne Teplice thermal spa, Kremnica Mint and Spania Dolina village (a traditional village with a mining history).
Included meals: Breakfast
Included meals: Breakfast
Day 5:
Budapest
This morning we drive to Budapest via Hronsek wooden church and Sebechleby village where we can stop for optional wine tasting and lunch. Budapest is situated on a beautiful stretch of the Danube, Hungary’s capital consists of two parts: Buda and Pest. Buda seems today the older, more graceful part, with cobbled streets and medieval buildings, whilst the latter is the business centre. Utilising local transport, the afternoon's guided walking tour takes in the major sites of this impressive city. We discover the Basilica of St. Stephen and Parliament buildings before crossing Chain Bridge to the Castle District and Watertown. Here lie Buda’s most ancient gems – Castle Hill with the Old Town, Fisherman’s Bastion, and the Royal Palace. Entrance fees are not included on this tour and can be paid locally.
Included meals: Breakfast and dinner
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 6:
Budapest
Today in Budapest is left free for you to further explore its many attractions. You may want to visit one of the city’s famous thermal baths, or take a boat cruise on the Danube. Another recommended attractions is Szentendre, an artist’s town with a Serb minority located on the bank of the Danube with can be visited by train or bus.
Included meals: Breakfast
Included meals: Breakfast
Day 7:
Bratislava
Today we make our way to Bratislava, the largest and the capital city of Slovakia with stops en route at one of the most notable landmark in Pannonhalma and one of the oldest historical monuments in Hungary. Alternatively we can make a stop at Gyor town which was supposed to have been established in 5th Century BC and has a huge collection of historical buildings and sites. In the evening we will have a short orientation tour of Bratislava.
Included meals: Breakfast and dinner
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 8:
Bratislava
This morning we take a short train ride to Austria's capital, Vienna where we enjoy a walking tour of the old city with the Tour Leader which should offer a good initial overview of the history and the structure of the city. Sights during the walk will include the museum quarter, Heroes square, Hofburg (imperial palace complex), Imperial treasury, National Library, Spanish Riding school Jewish quarter, Vienna ancient housing estates, St.Stephens church and the Opera. We won't have the time to enter any of these places on our tour but afterwards you will be free to return to visit any that you wish. You can return to Bratislava by train at your leisure (we will provide a return ticket) or you may wish to take a boat along the Danube (optional).
Included meals: Breakfast
Included meals: Breakfast
Day 9:
Prague
A train journey takes us to our final destination of Prague, capital of the Czech Republic. Twelve centuries have adorned it with a labyrinth of old streets and wonderful palaces and bridges. We enjoy a walk round the city with our Tour leader which will take in some of the main highlights including the Old Town Square and City Hall, set amid antique houses and arcades, the Astronomical Clock, Powder Tower and Prague Ghetto, which includes the Jewish Cemetery and Synagogues. We also see the Charles Bridge, the oldest and most handsome bridge over the Vltava river and the area of Hradcany with the castle of the Bohemian Kings. On our second day in Prague you are free to continue enjoying the city at your leisure. You may wish to head to the gothic Konopiste Castle, built in 1300, by local train. The castle was once owned by Archduke Ferdinand whose assassination in Sarajevo triggered the start of World War One. A boat trip on the Vltava river is another possibility. There are also many classical music concerts to be found, if the timing is right, you may be lucky to see a performance in one of the old atmospheric churches(optional).
Included meals: Breakfast and dinner
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 10:
In Prague
Today is left free for you to continue with your exploration of this exciting city.
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 11:
Prague
Your tour ends today in Prague
Included meals: Breakfast
