Eastern Europe Through Closed Doors
Touring
Days 1 through 3: Budapest
Memories of the Hapsburg dynasty are everywhere in Budapest – the Royal Palace, Mathias Church, and the maze of cobbled streets around Castle Hill. One of the great highlights of Budapest is the extraordinary Parliament House, which now contains the Hungarian Crown Jewels. We will also take a VIP tour of the Museum of Fine Arts to experience its famed Spanish Masters Collection. Budapest boasts the largest synagogue in Europe and a rich Jewish heritage so we will take some time to focus on the Jewish history of Hungary while in here. We will also be treated to a performance (schedule permitting) at the renowned Budapest Opera House. No visit to Budapest would be complete without an enchanting dinner at its most famous restaurant: Gundel’s. Our tour of Budapest also takes us to the Danube River Bend, to see the medieval town of Szentendre and the village of Estergom.
Meals: Breakfast daily, 2 Lunches, 2 Dinners
Days 4 through 6: Prague
The captivating city of Prague is a walking city with its cobblestone streets, pedestrian-only areas and famous Charles Bridge. Highlights of our visit will include a VIP tour of the Strahov Monastery, a private backstage tour of the Estates Theater, the Astronomical Clock of Old Town Square and an afternoon focusing on the Jewish culture of the Prague ghetto and synagogues.
Meals: Breakfast daily, 2 Lunches, 2 Dinners
Days 7 and 8: The Bohemian Countryside and Cesky Krumlov
The bucolic bohemian countryside offers a chance to see the other side of the Czech Republic- a much less hurried and relaxed world of farming and majestic castles. We will visit both Cesky Krumlov, including its enchanting castle, and Ceske Budejovice before returning to Prague. Our hotel will be the charming Hotel Ruze in Cesky Krumlov, a former Dominican Monastery.
Meals: Breakfast daily, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Days 9 through 12: Vienna
The Hapsburg seat of power for centuries offers visitors a cultural treasure trove: the Schönbrunn and Hofburg Palaces, Spanish Riding School, and Imperial Treasury are among the many unforgettable sites we will visit. Seeing the soaring spires of St. Stephan’s Cathedral is not something visitors soon forget. We will have time to explore Vienna at leisure as well to see some of the numerous museums it offers just steps from our hotel, including the Kunsthistorisches Museum and its vast great masters collection.
Meals: Breakfast daily, No Lunches, 1 Dinner
Optional extensions to Salzburg and Bratislava.
Days 9 through 13: St. Petersburg
Commonly known as the Venice of the North, our trip to St. Petersburg will take us through a city of wealth, power, and intrigue. We will see the major sights of the city such as the Hermitage Museum, Peterhof Palace and its grand fountains, and the Amber Room of Catherine Palace. Our trip to Russia would not be complete without experiencing the famous Mariinsky (Kirov) Theater (schedule permitting) and the ballet when in season.
Meals: Breakfast daily, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner