Most people are blown away when they see Prague for the first time - we sure were! It's an unforgettable experience and an unforgettable city. Gothic spires and incredible Renaissance, baroque, neoclassical, Art Nouveau, and (Prague's own) cubist architecture await you at every turn. Get your walking shoes ready because this city will make you want to get out and explore every inch of it!

Just wandering through Prague's maze of streets and admiring the architecture is enough to make a visit to Maticka Praha (Little Mother Prague) worthwhile. But we can't just leave it at that…

We'll start our day by crossing the Charles Bridge over the Vltava River from Stare Mesto (Old Town) to Mala Strana (Little Quarter) to see the spectacular baroque church of St. Nicholas which houses the largest ceiling fresco in Europe!

Next we're on to Prague's star attraction, Prazsky hrad, or Prague Castle. Prague Castle is in the Guinness World Records as the largest ancient castle in the world and covers an area larger than seven football fields!

After a hearty Czech lunch, why not make our way up Petrin hill for some outstanding views of the city on the funicular railway. Or maybe a museum would be more your style. How about the Prague city museum or the museum of communism? As night comes the city takes on a different character. Opportunities abound for strolling around and imbibing the atmosphere!

Our second day will be spent in the narrow bustling streets of the Old Town and will begin with a tour of the Municipal House. After that we're on to the Old Town Square, one of the largest in Europe and home to the fascinating Astronomical clock, Tyn church, Old Town Hall, and several towers that provide wonderful views of the surrounding spider web of streets!

Another hearty Czech lunch will be necessary for the energy we'll need to visit Wenceslas Square and Nove Mesto (New Town) - which was only new way back in 1348 when it was founded - and Josefov, Prague's former Jewish ghetto. Josefov, with its synagogues, Jewish museum, and Jewish cemetery, was left intact by the Nazis who intended to use it as a “museum of an extinct race.” Fortunately, things didn't work out the way they planned and they inadvertently left it for us! In the evening why not take in a bit of classical music to top off your visit to the “Queen of Music?”

Prague's fascinating astronomical clock!

As with Vienna, there is so much to see and do in Prague that we offer the option of extending this tour to three days instead of only two for those who wish to visit the “City of a Thousand Spires” more thoroughly.

Budapest, Hungary; Bratislava, Slovakia; Vienna, Austria; what connects these three cities? You guessed it: the mighty, blue Danube! Our Six-Day European Capitols Tour will have you ooing and awing at every turn as you explore these three cities!

The parliament building on the banks of the Danube River in Budapest, Hungary!

Your trip will start in Budapest, the capital of Hungary. Many westerners are unaware of what a spectacular city Budapest is but the secret is out in Europe and Budapest has become a hot destination! You will soon see why as you view the city and the awe-inspiring Parliament building from Castle Hill on the Buda side of the Danube on day one. The views from the castle heights and Gellert Hill are breathtaking!

Today we will visit all the sites in Buda: the Citadella, Cave Chapel, the funicular railway, Mathias Church, the Fishermen's Bastion and the Royal Palace before crossing the mighty Danube on the Lanchid or Chain Bridge! Sound like a full day? It is! After day one you will be thinking, "what more could there be to see in Budapest?"

Day two will clarify any questions you may have as we take a fascinating tour of the striking Parliament building, visit Szent Istvan Bazilika (St. Stephen's Basilica) including a climb to the top for wonderful views of the city (again!), stroll the promenade and do some shopping on Vaci Utca all the while passing through several beautiful squares including Heroes' Square!

But the attractions in Budapest don't stop there! Budapest is also home to many fine museums which can be visited...if you still have the energy! In the evening why not take in an opera or soak away your aches and pains in one of Budapest's famous thermal water baths, a true Budapest experience!

Hungarian cuisine is unique and varied. Breads and soups abound, as does the paprika, and yes, we will try some true Hungarian goulash! Hungary also produces some very good internationally acknowledged wines including wines from the Tokaj region and the Egri Bikaver or Eger Bull's Blood wine!  

After two days in Budapest we're on to surprising Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia! But on the way why not check out some of the sights? North of Budapest lies an area known as the Danube Bend, one of the prettiest stretches of the Danube River. Beautiful vistas and three medieval towns, Szentendre with its many church spires, Visegrad and its medieval hilltop citadel, and Esztergom and its huge basilica (the largest in Hungary) await you as we make our way to Bratislava in Slovakia, Hungary's neighbor to the north.

It's “no cars allowed” in Bratislava's central area, making this a pedestrian paradise, especially when you factor in the wonderful 18th century architecture awaiting you at every turn and the plethora of European cafes! As if this wasn't enough, Bratislava castle looms over the city and a walk around its ramparts is a must.

For over a thousand years Slovakia was almost completely swallowed up by the Austro-Hungarian empire. After this the Slovaks formed part of Czechoslovakia along with what is now the Czech Republic. Independent since 1993 and a member of the European Union since 2004, Slovakia is on its way up and its capital, Bratislava is a fascinating place to visit!

On our fourth day we take a day-trip by boat on the mighty Danube to see ruins of Devin castle, partially destroyed by Napoleon in 1809, a short distance from Bratislava. In the evening you may take in a museum, do some shopping, revisit the architecturally rich center, take in a panorama of Bratislava in the UFO on the Novy Most (New Bridge), or maybe go to the opera!

On day five all roads lead to Vienna, Austria as we visit this grand city. Vienna is a varied city with many different activities. Your itinerary will depend on your tastes and preferences. Museums abound and Vienna's center is more like an outdoor museum than a city!

Although your itinerary will depend on you, a trip to Vienna wouldn't be complete without the following: sipping coffee at a real Viennese Kaffeehaus (café), visiting the gothic Stephansdom, viewing the architectural wonders on the Ringstrasse, the Hofburg Imperial Palace, the Kunsthistorisches Museum (Museum of Fine Arts), one of the most impressive museums in the world, the opulent interior of the Schloss Schonbrunn, the Schloss Belvedere, one of the finest baroque palaces in the world, and the nearby Botanical Gardens.

Other options include the Riesenrad (Ferris wheel), Tiergarten, the world's oldest zoo, the Vienna Boy's Choir, and the famous Spanish Lipizzaner horses. Vienna is a classical music mecca so why not enjoy an opera at the Staatsoper, one of the top opera houses in the world, or an evening of classical music? You may also visit some of Beethoven's or Mozart's old haunts. (Note: Ticket requests for the Spanish Lipizzaner horses, Vienna Boy's Choir, the opera, or any classical music venue requires a minimum of three months advanced notice.)

As you can see, there are plenty of things to do in Vienna. It's no surprise that some of our guests wish to stay longer in Vienna, and so we offer an optional third day to further soak in this famous world city!

However, your trip doesn't have to end here! Please see some of our options for extending your stay with us and visiting even more spectacular sights in this amazing area of Europe by clicking here!