Best of Central Europe
Best of Central Europe
Best of Central Europe
15 Days Starting in Vienna and ending in Budapest
Visiting: Vienna, Cesky Krumlov, Prague, Wroclaw, Krakow, Tatra Mountains, Budapest
Tour operator:
Tour code:
AMSB
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
1 - 15
Age range:
15-99 years
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Experience the charm, sophistication and elegant feel of Central Europe on this 15-day classical and steady-paced exploration from Vienna to Budapest. Bask in the tradition of vivacious Vienna, discover the hidden fairy tale gem of Cesky Krumlov. Czech Prague off your list and be one with nature in Slovakia’s Tatra Mountains. Marvel at the classic Polish cities of Wroclaw and Krakow, reflect during a sobering visit to Auschwitz and round off your journey with time spent braving Budapest.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Vienna
Location: Vienna
Accommodation: Hotel
Guten Tag! Welcome to Vienna, Austria. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm. If you arrive early, why not walk around to get your bearings or, better yet, take a spin on the famous Prater Ferris Wheel nearby for a bird’s eye view. Your base for the next couple of nights is Magdas Hotel – a social enterprise dedicated to supporting refugees in a united and compassionate workplace in Vienna. Magdas employs staff from across the world, so expect to hear many accents from a range of backgrounds. The hotel itself is an eclectic mix of styles, décor and furniture, and used to house a homeless shelter before being renovated for its current purpose. Be sure to check out your surroundings and have a chat to some of the staff! After your important meeting, why not use tonight to get you know your travel pals over some dinner.
Day 2: Vienna
Location: Vienna
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
Join your leader for a walk through the city's compact centre this morning. Stop at the gothic St Stephen’s Cathedral, wander past the neo-classical Graben and have a look at the Hofburg Palace. Continue along the Ringstrasse and then finish your orientation walk of the city at the State Opera House – one of the world's most important opera houses and the heart of classical Viennese culture. Then you’re in for a real treat! Stop for kaffe and kuchen (coffee and cake) at Vollpension, a local cafe which empowers older members of the community by providing them with employment and purpose, while bridging the gap between the staff and the younger patrons who visit the cafe. Have a chat with the friendly staff while enjoying your sweet treat in this warm and welcoming environment. This afternoon is then free for you to keep on checking out the sights of the city. Art lovers have a so much choice when it comes to museums, such as the Albertina, located in the Museum Quarter. Otherwise, you might like to head out to Schoenbrunn for a guided audio tour of the grand summer palace, designed by Empress Maria Theresa.
Included Activities:
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Optional Activities:
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Day 3: Cesky Krumlov
Location: Cesky Krumlov
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
Depart Vienna by minivan this morning and cross the border into the Czech Republic. Your next stop is the southern Bohemian town of Cesky Krumlov. This picturesque medieval town dates back to the 13th century and looks like it’s straight out of a fairy tale. Cesky Krumlov means 'crooked meadow', because it sits on a tight bend of the Vltava River. When you arrive, take a guided tour of the town with a local guide, starting in the main square. Wander through Old Town, see the city's oldest pharmacy then arrive at the Cesky Krumlov Castle. See the royal gardens from above and enjoy the panoramic views of the town below.
Included Activities:
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Day 4: Cesky Krumlov
Location: Cesky Krumlov
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
Today is a free for you to enjoy as you please. Perhaps take an optional guided castle tour, which lets you in on the mysteries that lie behind every corner of this stronghold dating back to 1253. For those who want a bit more culture, you could visit the Egon Schiele Art Centrum and browse the gallery that's dedicated to the Austrian painter. If you’re after something more active, jump into a canoe and check out the town from a different perspective – on the Vltava River.
Optional Activities:
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Day 5: Prague
Location: Prague
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
Leave Cesky Krumlov in your dust and travel by bus to Prague. When you arrive, head out on an orientation walk with your leader so you can get your bearings of the local neighbourhood. For your free afternoon and evening, why not discover another great side of Prague – its music! The city has one of the longest-standing and respected jazz scenes in Europe, with jazz clubs playing into the early hours of the morning. Otherwise, have a wander along Charles Bridge or Old Town Square for some magical photo opportunities.
Day 6: Prague
Location: Prague
Accommodation: Hotel
Today is free to explore Prague. The city offers many possibilities, so perhaps take a walk around the Jewish Quarter and pay your respects at the Gothic-inspired Old Jewish Cemetery. This is Europe's oldest surviving Jewish cemetery, with 12,000 tombstones and 100,000 graves. There is also the Museum of Communism, which details the struggles of many European countries and their political rule in the 19th and 20th centuries. Tonight, be sure to check back in with your group and perhaps organise some dinner and drinks in one of the city’s renowned beer halls – it’s a perfect way to Czech off another day in Prague.
Optional Activities:
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Day 7: Wroclaw
Location: Wroclaw
Accommodation: Hotel
This morning, take local trains and private bus to cross the border into Poland and travel to Wroclaw. Wroclaw is the cultural centre of southwest Poland, sitting on the banks of River Oder for over 1000 years and shaped by influences of Czech, German and Polish rule. On the way, stop in Swidnica, a town known for its intriguing Lutheran Church of Peace. Arrive in Wroclaw in the early afternoon and settle into your hotel, then follow your leader on an orientation walk around this city that makes it feel as though you’ve stepped back in time. The rest of the time today and tomorrow is free for your own discoveries.
Included Activities:
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Day 8: Wroclaw
Location: Wroclaw
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
Spend another day exploring Wroclaw however you’d like! You may consider checking out Ostrów Tumski (Cathedral Island), the Old Town Square and the Four Denominations District, where the city’s incredible architecture and history is on full display. Don’t miss out on appreciating Wroclaw from River Oder or experiencing the vibrant cultural scene – your leader will be on hand to give recommendations on local hotspots.
Day 9: Krakow
Location: Krakow
Accommodation: Pension
Meals Included: breaksfast
Hop back on a local train to Krakow. Possibly the best known of all Poland's cities, Krakow was the residence of Polish kings from the 11th to the 17th centuries, and its Old Town is a World Heritage-listed site. Take part in a leader-led orientation walk with your group, and once you know your whereabouts, you could go and discover one of the biggest – and arguably most beautiful – medieval squares in Central Europe. Maybe discover Wawel Royal Castle, which sits atop a hill next to the Vistula River. Check out the 13th-century town square of Rynek Glowny and get a glimpse inside St Mary's Basilica which features an extraordinary wood-carved Gothic altarpiece. There's also the lovely neo-Gothic St Francis' Basilica, which has some of Poland's best Art Nouveau. In Krakow, you will also find the second oldest university in Central Europe. Jagiellonian University counts Copernicus and Pope John Paul II among its alumni. Tonight is again all yours to do as you please – a good idea is to make your way to the Jewish Quarter for its laidback vibes and good food.
Optional Activities:
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Day 10: Krakow
Location: Krakow
Accommodation: Pension
Meals Included: breaksfast
Today, take the shared transport to Oswiecim and embark on a sobering tour of Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum. Local guide will take you through the museum and its sites on included join-in tour. Back in Krakow in the afternoon, spend some more time exploring in your own time. Or, if you can tear yourself away from Krakow, head out to the Wieliczka Salt Mines – a network of tunnels and chambers some 135 metres below the ground. This is a salt mine that was in operation for over 700 years and is a World Heritage-listed site. At night, pull up a pew and indulge in a plate of pierogi and a few beers to say cheers to another day.
Included Activities:
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Day 11: Tatra Mountains
Location: Tatra Mountains
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
Say farewell to Krakow today and travel by local bus through southern Poland to Slovakia. The trip may be long and a little slow, but the scenery of rolling hills and tiny villages will keep your eyes occupied. Tatranska Lomnica is your destination in Slovakia. It's a small alpine resort at the base of the Vysoke Tatry (High Tatra) Mountains. The Tatras – the highest range of the Carpathians – stretch for about 60 kilometres across the Polish-Slovakian border and are a hiker’s dream. The evening is free for you to enjoy as you please, and perhaps the best way to do it is to sit back, relax and soak up the atmosphere of this beautiful mountainous region.
Day 12: Tatra Mountains
Location: Tatra Mountains
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
This morning, head out on an included hike in the High Tatra Mountains. The most known route is about 6 km in length and it is normally completed in 3 hours, including stops on the way. The route includes gradual hill ascents and descents and walking on gravel and uneven rocky surfaces with some slippery sections. The pace and distance will be decided on the day, depending on weather and group abilities – parts of it will involve travelling by funicular, gondola and electric train. During the walk, you may notice that some parts of the forest have been destroyed. This was the result of a tornado-like storm in 2004 that decimated approximately 10,000 hectares of timberland. In the afternoon, head back to the accommodation and enjoy the remainder of the day in this beautiful location.
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Day 13: Budapest
Location: Budapest
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
You have an early start today for the long journey to Budapest. As there won't be too much free time to explore on arrival, perhaps check in to the accommodation and then go for a brief walk around the neighbourhood to get your bearings. The grand architecture and boulevards, café culture and interesting laneways make this one of the truly great cities of Europe. Take the evening as an opportunity to relax after a long day of travelling. Visiting one of Budapest's many restaurants or eclectic ‘ruin’ bars in the Jewish Quarter is a sure-fire way to have a good night out with your crew.
Day 14: Budapest
Location: Budapest
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
Today you have a full free day to explore Budapest. Known as 'The Pearl of the Danube', Budapest is a great city to enjoy from the water. Perhaps take a boat trip along the river or catch a funicular up to Buda Castle for spectacular views of the Parliament Building and the Pest side of the city. You could head to Statue Park to see the communist monuments that were removed from the city after the fall of the Iron Curtain. One unmissable activity is to soak in Budapest's hot thermal baths. The pools vary in temperature, and some even feature whirlpools or seats where you can enjoy a game of chess. You might like to take part in one of our Urban Adventure day tours. See urbanadventures.com for more information.
Optional Activities:
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Day 15: Budapest
Location: Budapest
Meals Included: breaksfast
Your adventure ends after breakfast today. There are no activities planned and you're free to depart the accommodation at any time, provided you comply with the hotel's check-out time.
What's Included
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Accommodation
Hotel (12 nights), Pension (2 nights) -
Accomodation
Hotel (12 nights), Pension (2 nights)
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Meals
11 breakfasts
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Transport
Train, Public bus, Private vehicle, Bicycle, Metro, Taxi
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Cesky Krumlov - Cycling Trip (weather and season permitting)
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Osowka - Underground City Visit and Guided Tour
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Tatranska Lomnica - Tatra Mountains Hike (not between Nov and Mar)
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Tatra Mountains - Hrebienok Funicular
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Tatra Mountains - Tatranska Lomnica Gondola
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Vienna - Kaffee und Kuchen Experience
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Wroclaw - Orientation walk
What's Not Included
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Tipping and Gratuities
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International Travel
Included Activities
Cecky Krumlov Cycling trip (weather and season permitting)Underground City of Osowka visitGuided visit to State Museum Auschwitz-BirkenauHiking in the Vysoke Tatry mountains (not between Nov and Mar)StareSmoke Electric trainSmokovec FunicularGondola, Tatranska Lomnica
Transport
TRANSPORT IN EUROPEHalf the fun of travel is the travelling itself, that's why we like to travel the local way – whether that means mingling with commuters on a local train, watching the scenery roll by from the window of a long distance bus, arriving on a high speed train in the city centre of your next destination, or navigating each city's public transport system. In Europe, you are guaranteed to travel by genuine local public transport wherever possible, which puts you right in the centre of the action.PUBLIC BUSESThis trip covers some distances by public buses. Buses in Central Europe can range from high standard coaches with reclining seats and air-conditioning to Soviet era vehicles for shorter distances.TRAINSEuropean trains are comfortable and often decked out with air-conditioning. Toilets are always available. Some of the trains have snack bars (or vending machines) and power points next to the seats but that cannot be guaranteed on every journey. Train travel is a fast way to traverse long distances, allowing you to avoid traffic jams and arrive right into the city centre.LONG TRAVEL DAYSAs we cover lots of ground on this trip, expect some long travel days on local trains and buses. This is an opportunity to mix with the locals and enjoy the scenery out the window. Travel schedules are known to change with little notice. Not all transport may have air conditioning.
Accommodation
OCCASIONAL ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATIONThe style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline. On rare occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our usual accommodation. A similar standard of accommodation will be used in these instances.TWIN SHARE BASISAccommodation on this trip is on a twin/multishare basis. We pair up solo travellers with another traveller of the same gender as per the gender marker on each of their passports. Please note there may be times where facilities will be shared rather than ensuite and rare occasions when you share a room with passengers travelling on different Intrepid trips than your own.CHECK-IN TIMEThroughout the trip we request that our hotels prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination.PRE/POST TRIP ACCOMMODATIONIf you've purchased pre-trip or post-trip accommodation (if available), you may be required to change rooms from your trip accommodation for these extra nights.FACILITIESYour accommodation may not always have private en suite facilities or air-conditioning. European hotels generally don't provide kettles or fridges.
Important Information
1. A Single Supplement is bookable on this trip, excluding Day 3&4, subject to availability at the time of booking. Please consult your agent for booking.
Check out our Q&As
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Are children permitted to take part in the tour?
Yes if aged 15+ and accompanied by an adult
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Are all entrance fees included in the price?
Yes
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Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
Yes
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Are airport transfers included in this tour?
No
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Is this trip right for you
Don’t let the heat keep you from exploring the world! Summer temperatures can be very high in many of the regions visited (over 40°C), which can make things uncomfortable. It’s important to use sun protection, wear layers to combat the heat, and drink plenty of water.
In some train stations and most of our accommodation there are no lifts or escalators. Please be aware that you will have to carry you own bags up and down stairs and on and off public transport. It is recommended you pack lightly. You can find some packing guidelines in the 'packing' section in the trip notes.
If you have more time to explore the region you may want to check out our trip ‘Journey through Central Europe & Romania’ (trip code AMSCC). This trip heads further east and explores Romania and Bulgaria. Or you may want to consider our trip 'Vienna to Dubrovnik' (trip code AMSNC), continuing down the Balkans peninsula through Belgrade, Sarajevo and ending in Dubrovnik on the Adriatic Coast. Most departure dates are designed to create these perfect combos.
On this trip you must pack as lightly as possible because you will be expected to carry your own bag and although you won't be required to walk long distances with your luggage (max 30 minutes), we strongly recommend keeping the weight under 15kg / 33lb. Most travellers carry their luggage in a backpack, although an overnight bag with a shoulder strap would suffice if you travel lightly.
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Are international flights included in this tour?
No
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Please contact us for latest COVID-19 policies
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Intrepid Travel has been taking travellers around the world for over 30 years
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Since 2002, The Intrepid Foundation has supported over 130 organisations across the world. We’re creating positive impact through the joy of travel, community and connection.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Over 50% of traveller travel solo with Intrepid. You can choose to share a room with another solo travelle of the same sex for no additional charge, or choose to pay a single supplement if you’d like your own room. Please request this when booking, and we will secure you a single supplement wherever possible. Please note, if you are booking a last-minute trip, it may be harder for us to secure a single room
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Free Date Changes
Intrepid Travel allows you to make 10 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 56 days before the start of the tour.
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Intrepid Travel allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform intrepid travel, 56 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Intrepid Travel requires a minimum deposit of 400 USD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 56 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of intrepid travel charges.
Up to 56 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 55 days before tour starts: Forfeit 30% of booking price.
At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 60% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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