Highlights of Eastern Europe 14 Day tour from $2348

an Insight Vacations luxury tour

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Tour Highlights

Hotels

The hotels on this tour are all of modern design offering all usual comforts.  For example, the fully refurbished Vienna Hilton and the Sheraton in Krakow, with its spectacular glass roofed atrium lobby.

Fellow Passengers

This comprehensive tour attracts the seasoned traveller who wishes to explore  the former Eastern bloc region in detail and the first time traveller who is keen to trace their family ancestry in this region.

 Highlights

Views over the Danube in Budapest and the visit to Szentendre, the emotive recollections of World War II in Warsaw & Berlin, plus the beauty & musical connections  of Prague and the grandeur of Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna.

Excursions & Sights

• Views of Budapest from Gellert Hill & visit Matthias Church
• See Roman Aquincum
• See Budapest's Parliament from the Fisherman's bastion & visit Heroes' Square
• See Slovakia's traditional wooden houses & picturesque  Oravsky Hrad Castle
• Visit Krakow's Cloth Hall in the town square & the courtyard  of Jagiellonian University
• See the trumpeter in the tower of St Mary's Church & visit  Wawel Cathedral in Krakow
• Guided tour of Auschwitz concentration camp & views of Birkenau
• See the Black Madonna in the Jasna Gora Monastery
• Visit Poznan's  Old Town Square
• Visit the Chopin Memorial, Ghetto memorial and reconstructed Old Town in Warsaw
• See Berlin's Reichstag, Brandenburg Gate, Opera House & remnants  of the Berlin Wall
• See Dresden's reconstructed Frauenkirche, Cathedral, Zwinger Palace & Opera House
• Admire the 'Procession of Dukes' mosaic on the Saxon wall of the  castle in Dresden
• Visit St Vitus' Cathedral in Prague Castle & the Astronomical Clock in the Town Square
• Visit to medieval Cesky Krumlov Old Town and views  of the castle
• See the Hofburg, Parliament, Opera House & St Charles' Church in Vienna

Scenic Drives - Tatra Mountains, Erzgebirge Mountains

Guided City Tours

In depth sightseeing tours with local guides in Budapest,  Krakow, Warsaw,Berlin, Prague & Vienna.

Orientation tours in Poznan, Dresden & Cesky Krumlov

Insight's First Class Services

• Escorted by a professional Tour Director
• Luxury air-conditioned coach with onboard toilet
• First Class hotels with all service charges, taxes and porterage
• Complimentary arrival transfer on Day 1 and departure transfer on Day 14

Quality Dining

Highlight Dinner with gypsy music in Budapest

13 buffet breakfasts and 7 three course table d'hote dinners, or buffets, plus tea or coffee.

Tour Itinerary

Tour Pace

This tour is perfectly paced with two night stays in each of the six cities visited, allowing ample time for sightseeing & leisure. All the driving days are of a  reasonable length with frequent stops.

DAY 1 VIENNA AT  LEISURE

Complimentary transfers depart from Vienna Airport to the tour hotel. Relax or explore this afternoon. Why not take a stroll through the leafy Stadtpark to see the gilded statue of Strauss? Tonight, join your fellow travellers for a Welcome Drink. Hotel: Vienna Hilton/Sofitel Vienna.

DAY 2 VIENNA - BUDAPEST

Today we follow the Danube Valley to vibrant Budapest. On arrival, we view the spectacular bridges across the Danube from Gellert Hill. Later, we visit Matthias Church and admire the views of the ornate Parliament from the Fisherman's Bastion. Then we visit Heroes' Square in Pest. Tonight, we enjoy a special highlight evening of Hungarian music and dinner. Hotel: Sofitel. (BB,HD)

DAY 3 SZENTENDRE EXCURSION

We enjoy some time at leisure this morning before driving past the remains of  the Roman settlement of Aquincum to the picturesque riverside village of Szentendre, with its brightly coloured houses and quaint churches. There's time to browse the  shops and cobbled streets before we return to Budapest. (BB,D)

DAY 4 BUDAPEST - KRAKOW

A gentle drive today into Slovakia and through the breathtaking Tatra Mountains,  where peasants still live in traditional wooden houses. We see the picturesque Oravsky  Hrad Castle, then we cross into Poland and continue to historic Krakow. Hotel: Sheraton.  (BB,D)

DAY 5 - KRAKOW SIGHTSEEING

We tour historic Krakow with a local guide - for centuries the seat of Poland's  kings! We ascend Wawel Hill, with its castle and legendary dragon, to visit the cathedral. Then we walk through the Old Town, past the courtyard of Jagiellonian University and Cloth Hall to visit the 14th century St Mary's Church. Keep your eyes and ears peeled for the trumpeter in the tower! (BB)

DAY 6 KRAKOW - WARSAW

This morning we make a rather sombre visit with a local guide to the Auschwitz concentration camp and we see nearby Birkenau. Then north to Czestochowa to visit the 14th century Monastery of Jasna Gora, famous for the Black Madonna, said to  have been painted by St Luke. We continue across the Polish Plains to Poland's capital, Warsaw. Hotel: Sofitel. (BB,D)

DAY 7 WARSAW SIGHTSEEING

Warsaw was almost totally destroyed during WWII and it was only the detail in  Canaletto's paintings of the city that allowed the authentic reconstruction we see  today. On our guided tour, we see the 'wedding cake' Palace of Culture and the Chopin Memorial in the Lazienki Park. We also pay our respects at the emotive Monument of the Ghetto Heroes and finally, we see the reconstructed Old Town, including the  Royal Palace. This afternoon, why not enjoy a special Chopin concert? (BB,D)

DAY 8 WARSAW - BERLIN

We leave Warsaw this morning and head over the fertile plains to the historic  river port of Poznan. There's time for lunch in the charming Old Town Square before we cross the German frontier at the River Oder on our way to the capital, Berlin. Hotel: Radisson SAS Berlin. (BB)

DAY 9 BERLIN & POTSDAM SIGHTSEEING

Today a local expert, shows us the Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag; Germany's Parliament building. We drive along Unter den Linden, past the State Opera House and Alexanderplatz. This afternoon we enjoy a highlight excursion to historic Potsdam  to visit the Cecilienhof, where the 1945 Treaty was signed. We also visit the Gardens  of Frederick the Great's Sans Souci Palace. Tonight, why not enjoy an evening out  in a lively local restaurant? (BB)

DAY 10 BERLIN - PRAGUE

Today we drive south to Dresden. A walking tour here shows us the Frauenkirche,  now rising once again from wartime destruction. We also see the Castle of the Electors of Saxony, including the unique Saxon Wall overlaid with Meissen tiles and the courtyards  of the Zwinger Palace and the Opera House. After some free time, we continue over  the border to the Czech Republic, and to its capital, Prague. Hotel: Diplomat. (BB,D)

DAY 11 PRAGUE SIGHTSEEING

Prague has blossomed since the 'Velvet Revolution', but its unique character remains unchanged. On our guided tour today we visit the amazing St Vitus' Cathedral  set inside the 1,000 year old Prague Castle. We also walk to the spectacular Old  Town Square with its incredible Astronomical Clock. Tonight, why not enjoy some  of Prague's exciting night life? (BB,D)

DAY 12 PRAGUE - VIENNA

Leaving Prague, we enjoy a delightful drive through the green Bohemian countryside.  We stop in medieval Cesky Krumlov, with its ancient town and Renaissance castle  on either side of the River Vltava. After some free time we return to Vienna. Hotel:  Vienna Hilton. (BB)

DAY 13 VIENNA SIGHTSEEING

With our expert local guide we venture inside the glorious State Apartments of Schonbrunn Palace! Time also to admire the gardens and Gloriette, before we see the baroque St Charles' Church. We drive around the famous 'Ring' passing the  Opera House, the Hofburg Imperial Residence and Parliament. This afternoon is at  leisure. Tonight, why not enjoy a farewell dinner? (BB)

DAY 14 VIENNA

Our tour ends today with a complimentary transfer from your tour hotel to Vienna Airport. (BB)