Eastern Europe Escapade: 11 days Prague to Budapest

Welcome to Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic. On arrival at the airport, you will be met and transferred to your centrally located hotel for a three-night stay. This evening, meet your Tour Director and fellow travellers for a welcome drink.

Prague is a storybook city of cobbled lanes, soaring spires and riverside charm. Its UNESCO-listed historic centre stretches from the iconic Charles Bridge up to hilltop Prague Castle, taking in Old Town Square and its famous Astronomical Clock. Cosy cafés, jazz bars and traditional beer halls are tucked into centuries-old streets and courtyards. Compact and walkable, Prague layers its rich architectural heritage with a lively contemporary food and arts scene, creating an atmosphere that feels at once romantic, vibrant and unmistakably authentic.

After this morning’s included excursion, explore more of this captivating Czech capital at your leisure. Your Tour Director will be more than happy to help you plan your day.

Included Excursion
Guided tour of Prague
Begin today’s walking tour at the World Heritage-listed Prague Castle complex. Built originally in the 9th century, Prague Castle has long served as the seat of power for kings of Bohemia, Holy Roman emperors, and presidents of Czechoslovakia. After passing through three castle courtyards, visit St. Vitus Cathedral, then continue down the Castle steps, admiring wonderful vistas across this stunning city. Cross the pedestrian Charles Bridge, built in the 15th century and lined with statues of Catholic saints, before reaching the Old Town of Prague. Your fascinating tour concludes in front of the famous medieval Astronomical Clock in the Old Town Square.

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Highlight dinner in Prague
This evening, enjoy a highlight dinner and night with your fellow guests at a local restaurant in Prague.

Enjoy your final day in Prague, continuing to explore this beautiful city and taking in the well-preserved architecture at leisure or choose to join an optional Emerald DiscoverMORE excursion.

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Tastes of Czechia (extra expense)
During today’s guided tour, learn about the great variety of Czech wines. A short walk from your hotel will lead you through some of the city's most interesting hidden corners before arriving at a local restaurant. Meet your sommelier and enjoy a welcome drink of Czech sparkling wine, followed by a selection of red, white and Rosé wines, all accompanied by traditional charcuterie and cheeses carefully selected to complement each glass.
Duration; 2.5 hours, Activity level: Easy

Today, you’ll depart Prague and then drive along the Elbe Valley to Germany, stopping first at Dresden, known as Florence on the Elbe. Later, you’ll arrive in Berlin, the dynamic German capital, where you’ll enjoy a two-night stay in a centrally located hotel.

Included Excursion
Dresden with New Green Vault Museum visit
On this morning’s included tour in Dresden, you’ll experience the Frauenkirche, the Castle of the Electors of Saxony and the New Green Vault, which houses an exquisite collection of iconic Meissen porcelain.

Berlin, the capital of Germany, is an enticing blend of powerful history and bold creativity. Grand squares and stately Prussian landmarks give way to leafy parks, canal-side paths and neighbourhoods where repurposed factories hum with galleries, cafés and music venues. Layers of 20th-century history are never far from view, yet the city feels resolutely forward-looking, fuelled by art, ideas and an easygoing local lifestyle. It’s a destination of reflection and reinvention, where culture, creativity and everyday life come together in one compelling urban experience.

Included Excursion
Tour of Berlin
On this morning’s orientation tour of Berlin, you’ll get to know more about the capital of Germany and its storied history. Following the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, Berlin transformed into the impressive and exciting metropolis that it is today. See the new Reichstag, the Brandenburg Gate, the State Opera House, and Alexander Platz. Visit the former Checkpoint Charlie and explore other significant sites linked to the era of the Iron Curtain.

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Tastes of Berlin (extra expense)
Dive into Berlin’s bold flavours on a tasting tour that celebrates the city’s culinary icons. Indulge in the sweet delight of a Berliner Pfannkuchen, savour the spicy kick of currywurst paired with tangy sauerkraut that showcases true German comfort food. All this is perfectly complemented by a refreshing beer—an authentic taste of Berlin’s vibrant food culture.
Duration: 1.5 hours, Activity level: Easy

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Visit to Potsdam & Neues Palais (extra expense)
Take a short drive to Potsdam to admire the palace of Frederick the Great and visit the Cecilienhof Country House, where the famous Potsdam Treaty was signed in 1945.
Duration: 5 hours, Activity level: Easy

This morning, you’ll depart Berlin and be transferred to the capital of Poland, Warsaw, enjoying a delicious lunch en-route. Bursting with culture, history and contemporary flair, Poland’s vibrant capital promises far more than meets the eye. Upon arrival in Warsaw, you’ll settle into your centrally-located hotel for your two-night stay.

Warsaw is a city that wears resilience as part of its skyline, where pastel townhouses and church towers rise from streets once reduced to rubble. In the Old Town, cafés spill onto cobbles beneath the Royal Castle, while the Royal Route leads past palaces and leafy gardens that feel almost stately in their calm. A few tram stops away, murals, modern museums and riverside hangouts bring a fresh, creative pulse to former industrial pockets. The result is a capital that feels reflective yet forward-looking, inviting you to experience both its quiet corners and its energetic, modern edge.

Today, soak up the sights of Warsaw on your included morning tour. Later, you may choose to join an optional Emerald DiscoverMORE excursion, or to continue exploring this fascinating East European city at leisure. Your tour director will be more than happy to help you plan your explorations in Warsaw.

Included Excursion
Guided walking tour of Warsaw & Royal Castle
Today’s guided sightseeing tour reveals the historic centre where much of the Old Town was rebuilt after the war. Memories of Polanski’s film ‘The Pianist’ come to mind as you visit the Jewish Ghetto with a local guide. Observe a monument to the Ghetto heroes, the Palace of Culture, and the Chopin Memorial. You’ll also pay a visit to the Royal Castle – nowadays, a state museum and national historical monument, which formerly served as the official royal residence of several Polish monarchs.

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Highlight Dinner & Chopin Concert in Warsaw
This evening, enjoy an exclusive highlight dinner and private recital of Chopin's music, performed by a celebrated Polish pianist amid a private manor house – a unique cultural experience.

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Tastes of Poland (extra expense)
Experience the flavours of Poland in a cozy Warsaw kitchen during a hands-on pierogi cooking class with a local chef. You will learn to prepare the dough, shape and fill traditional dumplings, and hear stories about Polish food culture and everyday life in the city. Then sit down together to enjoy your freshly made pierogi, served with classic local accompaniments in a warm, homely atmosphere.
Duration: 1.5 hours, Activity level: Easy

This morning, you’ll depart from Warsaw and travel by First Class train to Kraków, a former Polish royal capital founded in the 7th century and renowned for its well-preserved Old Town. Here in Kraków, you’ll enjoy an included two-night stay in a centrally-located hotel.

Included Excursion
Guided walking tour of Kraków
This afternoon, discover this imposing medieval city on a guided walking tour, visiting the cathedral and castle on Wawel Hill before exploring the Old Town on foot, taking in sights such as St. Mary’s Church and the historic Cloth Hall.

After your included excursion, you’ll have the afternoon and evening at your leisure in Kraków. You may choose to join an optional Emerald DiscoverMORE excursion, explore more of the Old Town and perhaps later, or sample some traditional Polish cuisine in one of the many esplanades within Kraków – a beautiful city that truly comes to vibrant life in the evening.

Included Excursion
Guided tour of Auschwitz Concentration Camp & Birkenau
Visit the sombre Auschwitz Concentration Camp and Birkenau on an insightful guided tour, where you’ll see the preserved camp remains and memorials and gain a deeper understanding of the events that took place there. Walking through original barracks, guard towers, and memorial sites, your guide will share powerful stories that reveal the human experiences behind its history. A moving experience that is respectful and reflective.

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Secret tales of Kraków (extra expense)
Uncover the hidden stories and legends of Kraków on a unique night tour that takes you through the city’s most mysterious and historic sites. As the city lights twinkle, your guide will share fascinating tales of the past, from ghostly legends to the intriguing stories behind Krakow’s iconic landmarks. This enchanting evening adventure offers a different perspective on Kraków, perfect for those seeking to explore the city’s secrets after dark.
Duration: 1 hr 30 mins, Activity Level: Moderate

Today, you’ll depart Kraków and journey to Budapest, the historic capital of Hungary, en route passing the Castle of Oravsky Hrad and travelling across the Tatra Mountains and Slovakia.

Set along the legendary Danube River, the delightful Hungarian capital, Budapest, seamlessly blends Eastern European heritage with vibrant modernity. Here, enjoy a one-night stay in a centrally-located hotel.

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Dinner & Folklore Show in Budapest
This evening, you’re invited to an exclusive dinner and a traditional folklore show in Budapest, for a truly immersive local experience on your final night.

This morning, after breakfast, it’s time to say goodbye to your fellow guests and depart your hotel in Budapest, leaving with cherished memories of this extraordinary journey through Eastern Europe.