Highlights of Eastern Europe

Tune into the enchanting musical heritage of Vienna, your launch pad to a grand adventure through the highlights of Eastern Europe. This afternoon, a Local Specialist will guide you through Old Town Vienna on foot. You'll get a chance to admire the Hofburg Palace, Imperial Boulevards and the beloved St. Stephen's Cathedral, with its colourful tiled roof. This evening, join your Travel Director and fellow travellers for a welcome meeting and light dinner to kick off your holiday.

We cross the border to Slovenia. Join a Local Specialist for a sightseeing tour to see Ljubljana's Opera House, Cathedral, Three Bridges Square and Castle. This evening, we dine at our hotel.

Arrive at Lake Bled, an exquisite natural retreat set against the backdrop of forests and mountains. During your free time, you could consider taking a boat trip on its crystal clear waters to admire the castle, which clings dramatically to a cliff rising up from the lake's edge.

We cross into Croatia and travel to its capital, Zagreb - our home for the next two nights. Join a Local Specialist who will share the landmarks of the city's Lower and Upper Town, including the Gothic Cathedral, the Archbishop's Palace, the Opera House and St. Mark's Church, with its exquisitely coloured roof. You'll have a free evening to spend as you wish. Consider heading to Tkal?i?eva Street to enjoy the lively evening atmosphere.

Take time to explore a tale of two hilltop settlements and Zagreb's scenic cityscape, to this day lit by gas lamps in the Upper Town. Spend the day on your own, paying homage to the patron saint of Zagreb at its Stone Gate, or enjoying the city views from Strossmartre.

Crossing the border into Hungary, we enjoy a photo stop on the shores of Lake Balaton, the largest lake in Central Europe and affectionately known by locals as the 'Hungarian Sea'. We continue to the romantic capital of Budapest - our home for the next two nights. Perhaps, sail along the Danube on a scenic river cruise, enjoy a dinner of traditional Hungarian dishes and breath-taking views, or relax in the healing waters of the Szecheyni Spa Bath as the sun sets.

Today, we join a Local Specialist for a walking tour of the Castle district to admire picture-perfect views of the Danube and Fisherman's Bastion. Cross the Danube to continue your sightseeing in Pest, seeing the imposing Parliament and the Great Synagogue, the largest in Europe. This evening we meet a local family of winemakers, who pride themselves on their organic production. Enjoy their home smoked Mangalica ham and hear their unique family story at our BMG Experience.

The exquisite natural landscape of Slovakia provides a scenic backdrop for our journey to Poland, past the foothills of the Tatra Mountains. We arrive in the enchanting city of Kraków. Consider an evening of lively Polish entertainment with dinner, or perhaps visit a traditional Polish Wódka Bar.

Enjoy a leisurely walk through the beautiful streets of Kraków today with your Local Specialist, taking in highlights such as the Royal Castle and Cathedral on Wawel Hill, recognised as one of Poland’s most historically and culturally significant sites. Continue through the Old Town to hear the bugle call from St. Mary's Church and take in views of the Cloth Hall. Later, travel to the former concentration camp at Auschwitz—a poignant and powerful reminder of the horrors of the Holocaust. This evening, dine at your hotel.

Before departing Kraków this morning, consider joining an Optional Experience to the Wieliczka Salt Mine, where vast underground chambers have been carved from solid rock salt. Later today, arrive in the elegant Polish capital, Warsaw, and enjoy dinner at your hotel.

Connect with the youthful energy of Warsaw, a city that has triumphed over the tragedy of war and the shackles of communism. This morning, we join a Local Specialist visiting the Old Town, which the Nazis destroyed to retaliate against the Warsaw Uprising. You'll also see the site of the Warsaw Ghetto, immortalised in the Roman Polanski film - 'The Pianist'. Spend the rest of the day exploring the sights on your own, or celebrate the talents of Chopin during a private recital of Chopin's works.

Journey across Poland's patchwork countryside along the Autostrada Wolno?ci (Motorway of Freedom) which was first initiated by Nazi Germany to connect Berlin with Poland and left unfinished for decades after World War II. Continue west into Germany and arrive in Berlin, a capital city with an enviable youthful verve and charisma. Here you’ll enjoy an evening at leisure to explore the city your way, or join us for a truly memorable optional evening in former West Berlin.

This morning, witness spectacular panoramic views of the city from the Berlin TV Tower. Then join a Local Specialist for a sightseeing tour through the city's great landmarks, including the Neoclassical Brandenburg Gate, Unter den Linden Boulevard and the Reichstag Building, lovingly restored after it fell into disuse after World War II. Spend the afternoon people-watching on Friedrichstrasse with an Fassbrause or join an Optional Experience to discover Berlin’s turbulent past.

Travel through the Spreewald Forest to Dresden - its iconic domes and spires almost entirely rebuilt after the Allied Forces left their deep scars on the city during World War II. Hear about its restoration during your orientation tour as you stroll through its streets to see the Semper Opera, Zwinger Palace and fully reconstructed Frauenkirche. We leave Germany behind and travel to the Czech Republic, arriving later in glorious Prague, straddling the mighty Vltava. Spend your evening savouring hearty Czech flavours during a Regional Dinner at a local restaurant.