Our journey to Central Europe will begin in Prague, the city of a thousand spires, with its rich collection of Gothic, Baroque, and Renaissance buildings that make it a dream destination. We will stroll through Old Town and across the Charles Bridge to visit Prague Castle. We will visit the Old Jewish Cemetery and Ceremonial Hall with pictures drawn by the children held by the Nazis at Terezin concentration camp. We will view the city from Vysehrad, the 1000 year old citadel south of the city and leave plenty of time to just wander around, visit the pubs, Old Town Square, and the cobblestone alleys on your own.

After three nights in Prague, we will follow the Vltava River southwest to Karlstejn Castle, completed in 1357 by Charles IV to safeguard the crown jewels of the Holy Roman Empire. After a walk up the hill to view the castle, we will continue along the Vltava River through the town of Ceske Budejovice, the hometown of the original Budweiser beer, to the jewel of Cesky Krumlov, one of Bohemia’s prettiest towns. This UNESCO World Heritage Site has medieval and Renaissance-era buildings, a castle that dates to 1302, and the city itself, which is built on the U-turn of the river. We will have two nights here to enjoy the town, the castle, and the many hikes in the area, or shopping and relaxing on a terrace overlooking the river.

We will leave early on day 7 to drive through the rolling Austrian countryside of the Danube Valley, enjoying lunch featuring local (yet world class) Austrian wines in Lake Neusiedl, a favorite Austrian getaway. After a walk around the village, we will continue to Budapest, one of the great cities of Central Europe, whose history includes the Romans, Huns, Mongols, and Turks (until 1686 when united Christian armies drove out the Turks and the Hapsburg rule commenced).

We will have three days in Budapest to explore the top attractions, including the Inner City and Central Pest, with Budapest’s stately Parliament Building, Chain Bridge, and the Gresham Palace. We will visit Castle Hill, another UNESCO World Heritage Site, which consists of the Royal Palace and the Castle District, a reconstructed medieval city. You will have free time to walk the cobblestone streets of the Castle District and explore places on your own. These might include the Hungarian National Museum, the Music History Museum, or the Zsigmond Kun Folk Art Museum. Visit Heroes’ Square, or Vorosmarty ter, the bustling shopping street.

We will leave the morning of day 10 for the airport and our connections back to the USA.