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Central Europe: Castles, Culture & Capitals

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Fully Guided Adventure Small Group
Our Price From 3,817 Per Person
Exclusive Savings 78 Per Person
 Trip Length
8 Days
 Trip Starts
Prague
 Trip Finishes
Budapest
8 Day Central Europe: Castles, Culture & Capitals Itinerary (Exodus)
Countries Explored: Austria, Hungary, Slovakia
Trip Style
Culture
Departures
Budget
Affordable
Max. Group Size
16
Pace
Easy
Guide Level
Fully Guided
Trip Code
AVU

Overview

Book online and enjoy exclusive savings on Exodus 8 Day Central Europe: Castles, Culture & Capitals. A must for any inquisitive adventurer, Central Europe is a treasure chest of cultural wonders and architectural masterpieces. Join this immersive trip to uncover the highlights, including all four alluring capitals in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Austria. We also take in fairytale castles and history-soaked towns, making a special stop at the Unesco-listed Cesky Krumlov in the Czech Republic, often named among the prettiest towns in Europe. Private transport allows us to optimise our...read more time, while an expert leader and guided tours unlock the intriguing past and fascinating culture of this picturesque region.

Itinerary

The tour begins in Prague in the late afternoon. If you arrive early, the Czech capital is the perfect place to wander: cut through the alleys of the medieval Old Town, sample the much-lauded Czech beer or try the hearty local cuisine. If you're interested in visiting the top city attractions, such as Charles Bridge, Prague Castle or Wenceslas Square, your leader can point them out on the free maps available at the hotel. If you wish to explore this beautiful city in more detail, we recommend booking an extra night pre-tour. Stay: Hotel Lunik (or similar).

Spend a full day exploring the wealth of attractions Prague offers, with a guided sightseeing in the morning followed by free time. We explore the Old Town, including: the Old Town Square; Wenceslas Square, which houses the impressive Lucerna concert hall; the Jewish Quarter; and Prague Castle, the largest ancient castle in the world. Entrance fees are not included and payable locally. We then spend our second evening in the Czech capital. Stay: Hotel Lunik (or similar) (B).

We hop into our private minibus for a transfer (approximately two hours) to the historic town of Cesky Krumlov, home to petite squares, narrow cobbled streets, an open-air theatre with a revolving auditorium, and a magnificent castle. We enjoy a guided walk of the town in the early afternoon before free time. The early evening and morning are particularly good to see this enchanting town, when the light reflects off the red roofs and surrounding hills. Stay: Penzion Prelat (or similar) (B).

After breakfast, we travel (approximately two hours) to the Czech town of Telc; a great example of Renaissance architecture that has changed little over the past century. The Renaissance chateau here is a favourite with filmmakers – featuring in more than 50 movies – and the town square is flanked by traditional buildings, many of which display historic coats of arms that provide a glimpse into a bygone era.

The next stop is Lednice (approximately two hours) where we visit the Unesco-listed Lednice Chateau, a neo-gothic masterpiece wrapped by one of the largest parks in Europe. We enjoy a boat trip to the minaret before returning to the chateau, taking a walk through the manicured grounds. We end our day in the wine-growing town of Mikulov, enjoying a guided walk, where we can explore Znojmo Catacombs, a subterranean labyrinth built to defend the population against invaders. Stay: Hotel Galant (or similar) (B).

After breakfast, we cross the border into Slovakia and to the royal town of Skalica (approximately one hour), where we take a guided walk of the landmarks. Here we'll unravel the captivating history and cultural highlights nestled within the remnants of ancient city fortifications. We then have a short transfer to a vineyard, where we can have a picnic lunch after we sample local wines with an expert wine producer.

We will savour the unique flavours of locally produced wines, including the illustrious Skalický Rubín, also known as Skalica's Ruby. We then transfer (approximately 60-90 minutes) to Bratislava, the Slovakian capital, where we have a guided tour and explore famous street statues and eventually make our way to Bratislava Castle. Stay: Hotel Bluebell (or similar) (B/L).

This morning, we transfer to Vienna, Austria, for a day of sightseeing in this fabled capital city. We have a guided tour and then free time to visit impressive sites such as St Stephen's Cathedral, the majestic Schoenbrunn Palace (summer palace of the Hapsburgs), the popular Kunsthistorisches Museum and Hundertwasser Hause or a visit to the Mozart Museum (all entrances payable locally).

No visit to Vienna is complete without a café stop for coffee and a cake or you could watch the world go by in one of the many parks or beer gardens. You then have the option to take the bus back to Bratislava or cruise back on the Danube River. This optional boat trip is around €25. Stay: Hotel Bluebell (or similar) (B).

This morning, we transfer to the Hungarian capital of Budapest. The mighty Danube splits this great city into halves: Buda, dominated by the Castle Hill palace complex high above the river, and Pest, the bustling and more cosmopolitan centre of trade. We spend the morning visiting the Castle Hill area, perched above the Danube, and the inner-city area.

In the afternoon or evening, there is an optional boat cruise on the Danube, offering close-up views of the spectacular neo-gothic Parliament building on the waterfront. There also may be the chance to visit Budapest Great Market Hall. We finish the week with an evening cruise down the Danube before heading to our farewell dinner. Stay: Hotel Benczur or Hotel Verdi (or similar) (B).

The trip ends this morning after breakfast. If you wish to explore this fascinating city more, we recommend booking an extra night post-tour. Please ask your sales representative for more details (B).

Trip Inclusions

  • Take a guided tour of the beautiful Old Town in Prague
  • Explore the cobbled streets and quaint squares of Cesky Krumlov
  • Visit the magnificent Lednice Chateau estate, a Unesco-listed masterpiece
  • Sip local wines in a vineyard in Skalica
  • Soak up the majestic landmarks of Vienna on a guided tour
  • Cap the adventure with an evening cruise down the Danube

  • Seven nights in comfortable three- and four-star hotels
  • Travel by private minibus
  • All breakfasts included, one wine tasting & picnic lunch

  • Itinerary and inclusions are subject to change
  • Price is for land, cruise and internal flights as specified. Flights not specified are not included
About Exodus Travels
About Exodus Travels

From classic small group tours & family adventures, to walking holidays, cycling trips and self-guided tours. Read more

Exodus Trip Leaders
Exodus Trip Leaders

Exodus chooses their Leaders carefully. Professional, dedicated and are passionate about sharing their home countries. Read more

Accommodation with Personality
Accommodation with Personality

Wherever possible, Exodus chooses properties that are locally owned and that reflect the area you are visiting. Read more

Availability

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Saturday 08 Jun 2024
Saturday 15 Jun 2024
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Note
A definite departure means minimum numbers have been reached for this departure to operate. Your Global Journeys Travel Advisor will check the availability of your departure date when you enquire. Additional savings may apply. We guarantee the lowest price in Australia. T&C’s apply.
Note
Tour & cruises prices are per person. Prices shown have savings applied, are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Prices and trip information are correct at the time at this point in time, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking and are subject to change by Exodus. For cruise itineraries, cabin images are sourced from Exodus. These should be treated as indicative only. Cabin inclusions, upholsteries and room layout may differ to the image(s) shown depending on the ship selected and your sailing dates.

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