Itinerary

Day 1: Depart U.S. for Warsaw, Poland

Day 2: Arrive Warsaw After arriving in the Polish capital late this morning, we have free time before we gather for tonight’s welcome dinner at our hotel. D

Day 3: Warsaw Virtually destroyed during World War II, Warsaw was rebuilt in the decades that followed. With the fall of Communism, the city has become more dynamic and progressive while retaining much of its distinct character. We tour this phoenix city today, visiting the faithfully rebuilt Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site; and the Royal Castle, whose origins date to the late 13th century. We also tour the area of the former Jewish Ghetto and the Jewish Cemetery. This afternoon is free for independent exploration; before dinner on our own tonight we enjoy a private classical piano recital. B

Day 4: Warsaw/Auschwitz/Krakow Today we journey south to the industrial city of Oswiecim – Auschwitz in German – and the concentration camp that is now a museum chronicling the horrors of the Nazis’ Final Solution. We tour Auschwitz and also visit the vast camp at Birkenau before traveling on to Krakow, arriving late this afternoon. B,L,D

Day 5: Krakow A major center of Polish culture and education, Krakow survived World War II intact, leaving it with more historic buildings and monu­ments than anywhere else in the country. Its authen­tic Old Town is a UNESCO cultural site, and the Main Market Square the largest medieval square in Europe. This morning’s tour includes the historic area; St. Mary’s Church; the Royal Chambers of Wawel Castle, seat of royalty for more than 500 years; and Wawel Cathedral, the national church. The remainder of the day is free to explore this charming city independently. B

Day 6: Krakow This morning we tour the Wieliczka Salt Mines, a UNESCO World Heritage site. This afternoon is at leisure. B

Day 7: Krakow/Slovakia/Budapest Heading south today we travel through the snow-capped Tatra Mountains into the country of Slovakia, where we stop for lunch. Continuing our journey, we reach our hotel in Buda’s elegant Castle District early this evening. B,L

Day 8: Budapest Today’s half-day tour of the Hungarian capital begins adjacent to our hotel with a visit to Matthias Church, the symbol of Buda’s Castle District, and a stroll around Fisher­man’s Bastion for outstanding views of the Pest side of the city across the river. Then we cross the Chain Bridge into Pest where we tour Dohany Synagogue, Europe’s largest. Following an afternoon at leisure, tonight we enjoy a typical Hungarian dinner at a local restaurant. B,D

Day 9: Budapest We’re free to discover the “Paris of the East” on our own today. B

Day 10: Budapest/Danube Bend/Vienna Today we pass through the countryside of Western Trans­danubia as we travel by coach to Vienna. En route we visit Szentendre, a small town packed with artisans’ shops and a museum showcasing the work of ac­claimed ceramicist Margit Kovacs. We continue on to the ­village of Neszmely where we stop for lunch; we reach the Austrian capital late this afternoon. B,L

Day 11: Vienna A half-day tour of this jewel of the Habsburg Empire includes a visit to the ornate Vienna Opera House, one of Europe’s grandest; and an inside visit to majestic Schönbrunn Palace. The afternoon is at leisure. Following dinner at a local restaurant we attend a concert of classical music in this most musical of all cities. B,D

Day 12: Vienna Woods This morning we en­joy a tour of the Vienna Woods, which gained ­renown during the heyday of the Austrian Empire. We visit the medieval abbey of Heiligenkreuz and the health spa town of Baden before returning to Vienna where the remainder of the day is free. B

Day 13: Vienna/Bratislava Mid-morning we depart for Bratislava, capital of the independent nation of Slovakia. Upon arrival we embark on a coach and walking tour of the historic Castle area, including a visit to the 18th-century classical-style Archbishops Palace. After checking in at our hotel, we have time to refresh before dinner tonight in the home and vineyard of ­a gracious local family. B,D

Day 14: Bratislava/Brno/Prague We leave this morning for Prague, proud capital of Czech Republic. Along the way we stop for lunch in Brno and a brief tour of the country’s second largest city. We reach Prague late afternoon and join our tour director for an informal walk through Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site. B,L

Day 15: Prague We spend the morning exploring the Hradcany (castle) district, home of the distinctive castle towering above the Vltava River. Dating to the 9th century, the castle today is the seat of the presi­dent of the Czech Republic. Among the highlights of our tour: a visit to Gothic St. Vitus’ Cathedral and a stroll along Golden Lane, with its picturesque artisans’ cottages. The remainder of the day is free to continue exploring this enchanting city as we wish. Restaurants abound for lunch and dinner on our own today. B

Day 16: Prague This morning’s visit to Josefov, Prague’s historic Jewish ghetto, includes the Old Jewish Cemetery with its centuries-old headstones and generations buried atop one another, as well as several of the once-thriving synagogues now part of the Jewish Museum of Prague. Then the remainder of the day is at leisure, perhaps to stroll through Old Town Square or visit Wenceslas Square, site of the demonstrations that led to the Velvet Revolution. Tonight we enjoy a farewell dinner in a palace in the Prague Castle complex. B,D

Day 17: Depart for U.S. We transfer to the airport early today for our connecting flights to the U.S. B

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