Premium Grand Central Europe Tour 2020

Day 1
WELCOME TO WARSAW – POLAND

We will meet you at the airport’s arrival hall, help you with your luggage, drive you
safely and comfortably to your hotel in Warsaw and help with the check in process.

Maximum comfort, mineral water on board and a pleasant drive. Welcome drink and
itinerary introduction. Your lovely holiday has just started. At leisure.

Overnight: Warsaw

Day 2
FULL DAY – WARSAW – QUALITY SIGHTSEEING TOUR

Morning

Start with the Quality Sightseeing walking tour with the visit of Park of Science and Culture, 1955, a gift of the Soviet people to the Poles, once a symbol of socialist power and pride, now, the place for theatres, cinema, museums and pubs.

Afterwards, continue on Krakowskie Przedmiescie – the best known and prestigious streets of Poland. It links the parts of the Royal route, Old town and Royal castle, castle square with the column of King Sigismund III Vasa who moved the capital from Krakow to Warsaw.  On our walking tour, we will pass Presidential palace, Warsaw university and the Polish Academy of Sciences.  See the highlights of Warsaw as well as WW2 devastation and rebuilt process. Our guide will get you a history overview of long and often complicated history of Poland, famous king Kazimierz the Great, partitions of Poland, WW2, communism and present-day life.

Afternoon
Tasty Polish cuisine, it is much more than Pierogy, but we know the places where to try to delicious one. After lunch, Lasienky park visit.

Optional (not included in the package)
Museum of Frederick Schopin – life and work of the famous Polish composer
Museum of King Jan III Sobieski – at the baroque Wilanow palace
Museum POLIN – 1000 years of history is told here in a symbolic place in the center of Warsaw

Overnight in Warsaw

DAY 3
KRAKOW & WALKING SIGHTSEEING TOUR

Morning
Comfortable drive to Krakow (3hrs45min).

Afternoon
Tasty lunch break and start with a Quality Sightseeing walking tour. Walk on the former Royal route where you can find the greatest treasures such as Florianska gate and street, the Main Square (Rynek Glowny) in the centre of Krakow’s Old Town district is Europe’s largest medieval square and has been the hub of the city since the 13th century.
It contains some of Krakow’s most famous sights, including the Cloth Hall, the Basilica of St Mary, the Town Hall Tower and the tiny 11th-century church of St Adalbert. Visit of the courtyard of the famous Jagiellonian university.

Evening – At your own

Overnight: Warsaw

Day 4
KRAKOW – THE MAGICAL CITY OF KRAKOW

Morning
Our discovery of Krakow we start with a walking tour to Wavel royal castle – situated in the centre of Krakow. Wawel Castle and its cathedral have experienced over 1000 years of both glorious and turbulent history. Together they now form one of the most popular tourist attractions in the region.

Afternoon
Kazimierz district visit – walking tour. In 1993 Steven Spielberg shot his film Schindler’s list largely in this area which draw international attention to this part of Krakow. Once a separate Jewish city, an autonomous enclave (14^th-19^thcentury). Our guide will get you a history overview with a focus on WW2. Visit the highlights such as Szeroka street with its three temples, the most valuable is the Old Synagogue – the oldest Jewish structure in Poland.
What is Kazimierz district today? Undoubtedly one of the best-known areas of Krakow, full of popular restaurants, café’s, cultural and artistic life. Feel the spirit of Krakow’s bohemians. What about coming for dinner in a great Jewish restaurant with live music? An evening concert is always a good idea.

Evening – At your own

Optional (not included in the package)
Half-day trip to concentration camp Auschwitz – memorial & museum of former Nazi concentration and extermination camp
Oscar Schindler’s factory – parts of Oskar Schindler’s war-time enamel factory converted into
Salt mine Wieliczka – discover the secrets of the underground world -UNESCO sight
John Paul II birth house and museum – the heart of the museum is the apartment where Karol Wojtyla was born and raised.

Overnight: Krakow

Day 5
SPECTACULAR HIGH TATRAS – THE HEART OF SLOVAKIA

Morning
Drive to High Tatras – Slovakia (2hrs45min). Start with a lunch break in a lovely little village – Zdiar. Slovak specialties. Bryndzove halusky or strapacky (potato dumplings with sheep cheese or cabbage)?
Enjoy the magical High Tatras from the top – take a cable car (tickets not included) to Skalnate pleso station to see the High Tatra mountains from above. We enjoy a little walk around Skalnate pleso, views of the Lomnicky peak and valley views. Our guide will give you an overview of High Tatra national park, its fauna and flora while you will enjoy the breathtaking views.

Evening – Koliba restaurant for more traditional Slovak specialties, such as soups (garlic, cabbage or mushroom), trout from local rivers and many more.

Overnight: Krakow

Day 6
BANSKA STIAVNICA – BUDAPEST – THE QUEEN OF THE DANUBE RIVER

Morning
Our first stop is an exceptional mountain village Vlkolinec (UNESCO sight since 1993), hidden in hills of National Park Velka Fatra. Enjoy breathtaking panorama views and colorful 45 wooden log houses. It is the best-preserved oasis of folk architecture.

Afterwards, continue to one of the most beautiful, most romantic and most special town – a picturesque Banska Stiavnica. It is like to step in the past centuries. Get an overview of the rich history of this town connected with the mining of silver, copper and gold. Visit of the Old castle – a majestic fortress, 16^th century New castle, the heart of the Old town – the Holy Trinity square with beautiful sights such as the gothic 15^th century St. Catherine church, admire Renaissance buildings and the baroque Holy Trinity column.

Afternoon
Lunch break at restaurant Monarchia is about home-made specialties and great atmosphere. Do you like beer? ERB restaurant will satisfy you with its high-quality microbrewery and a delicious cuisine. Which of these special beers from Slovak ingredients will be your favorite? Will it be Erb Pale lager 10 or 12, Erb Weizen 12, Erb Dark special 13 with balanced bitter and sweet tastes?
Drive to Budapest (2hrs15min), firstly we drive to the Gellert view point to see the lovely panorama of Buda and Pest, Danube river and the famous bridges. The views are breathtaking, time for pictures. Arrival to hotel and at leisure.

Evening – At your own

Overnight: Budapest

Day 7
WELCOME TO CZECH REPUBLIC – PRAGUE

Morning

Visit of impressive Buda castle Hill – UNESCO World Heritage – during the 15th century, under the rule of King Matthias, Buda became one of Europe’s most influential cities. Visit of Matthias church – the scene of a big coronation ceremony when emperor Franz Joseph and his wife Elizabeth (Sisi) were crowned, and thus the Austro-Hungarian Empire was established.

Fishermen’s bastion – only 100 years old – a favorite lookout. In medieval times, the fish market was nearby and the bastion was built to commemorate the fishermen who protected this part of the city. Enjoy the stunning views on European 3rd largest Parliament. It’s time to cross the Chain Bridge, at the time of its construction, the Chain Bridge was the suspension bridge with the second-largest span in the world.

Afternoon
Continue to see the Andrassy boulevard, Parliament, Liberty square. The Heroes’ square – largest & most impressive – with its millennial monument was built in 1896 to commemorate the 1000th anniversary of the arrival of Hungarians in the Carpathian Basin.

Evening – At your own
Optional activities displayed below are not included in the package. We can arrange the tour, book & buy the tickets nd get you there, please let us know which would be interested for you.
Boat ride on the Danube – spectacular boat trip, duration 1hr 15min)
Guided tour through Hungarian parliament – tour takes 45min
Jewish Quarter with synagogues and cemetery – with history overview and details
Hungarian Folk Dance performance
House of Terror – museum dedicated to commemorate the victims of communism

Overnight: Budapest

Day 8
BRATISLAVA – THE BEAUTY OF THE DANUBE

Morning
Drive to Bratislava (2hr 15 drive) and start with the tour of Devin castle – situated at the confluence of the Danube & Morava rivers. Its owners could control the important trade route along the Danube as well as one branch of the Amber Road. After admiring the beautiful castle ruin and enjoying views on Austria, we show you where once the “Iron curtain” – the former border between the West and the East used to stand. An overview of the communist history (1948-1989). Devin area is also famous for its current wine. Have you ever tried current wine? Try now, It’s a regional specialty. Drive back and visit Bratislava castle – to enjoy stunning views of the Danube river and know more about its rich history and not to forget a visit of the Blue church.

Afternoon
After lunch break in the Old town (we will recommend you a great restaurant), continue with the quality sightseeing tour to show you the highlights of the Old town. Walking through the main square (admire a beautiful former town hall), the Primate Palace (outside) – the largest in Bratislava where the Treaty of Pressburg was signed in the Hall of Mirrors. Take pictures of some of our funny statues such as Cumil – the worker. Visit of the St. Martin’s Cathedral – the coronation place of 18 rulers including Austria-Hungarian empress Maria Theresa, walking through the only preserved entrance – Michaels gate.

Drive to Vienna (1hr)

Evening – At your own in the city of Music – Vienna

Overnight: Vienna

Day 9
FULL DAY – VIENNA QUALITY SIGHTSEEING TOUR & FREE TIME

Morning
Start a day with a drive on Ringstrasse, more than 5km long, world-famous and most beautiful boulevard in the world built under the reign of emperor Franz Joseph. Admire imperial palaces on the way, Vienna state opera, museums of fine arts and natural history, parliament building with a well-known statue of Pallas-Athene, city hall and other sights.
Afterwards, we continue with the Quality Sightseeing walking tour –  famous State’s opera, we enter into the gothic St. Stephan`s Cathedral – the symbol of Vienna. Which of the church towers hide the most famous bell Pummerin? We also enter into the magnificent baroque St. Peter’s church, café Demel, first café house in Vienna, walk through Hofburg palace complex – the winter residence of former Habsburg dynasty, Museum’s quarter, Rathaus and Parliament. Walk on famous shopping streets such as Kartnerstrasse, Am Graben and Kohlmarkt.

Get an overview of Austrian history in easy and understandable way. Glory of the days of Austro-Hungarian empire, Maria Theresa and famous rulers of the Habsburg dynasty, interesting facts, famous musicians, painters, Sigmund Freud and more.

Afternoon
Lunch break – in a traditional restaurant where you can try tasty Austrian delicacies. Will be the Wiener Schnitzel your most favorite?Vienna is sweet! The innumerable Viennese cafés are favorite spots for both local and international coffee lovers. Why not to take a rest while enjoying the famous Viennese coffee and famous Sacher cake?
Enjoy your free afternoon. Your private guide will give you good advice where to go, what to see. Maybe a concert in the evening? Your guide is your best concierge.

You would like to see more?
Please let us know what would be the most interesting for you from below suggestions?

Belvedere palace – especially if you like the baroque architecture, upper Belvedere palace, lower Belvedere, gardens as well as the palace’s world-famous largest collection of work of Gustav Klimt. Absolutely recommended for Baroque style admirers
Albertina museum – contains world-famous largest graphical collections in the world
Imperial apartments and Sisi museum – would you like to walk in Sisi’s footsteps? No other empress was more famous than Sisi – empress Elisabeth, wife of emperor Franz Joseph
Spanish Horse riding school – performance of the world-famous Lipizzaner horses trained in the Winter Riding School of the Imperial palace. Do you know the classical jumps such as Levade, Courbette and Capriole?
Prater – amusement park with the Giant Ferris Wheel, one of the most famous symbols of Vienna offering breathtaking views of Vienna
Hundertwasser House – one of Austria’s architectural highlights
Wine tasting in famous Heurigen – wine taverns, try a great selection of Gruener Veltliner, Riesling, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Noir.

What about an evening entertainment?

Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra -one of the world’s best one
Vienna State Opera – one of the leading Opera houses in the world
Vienna Boys Choir – one of the world’s most famous
Concert of Mozart, Strauss, Beethoven or Haydn? jewels and state documents for his whole empire.

Overnight: Prague

Day 10
WACHAU WINE REGION – ABBEY MELK – SALZBURG

Morning
Drive to Durnstein (Wachau valley), short walking tour and walking up to Durnstein castle ruin where famous king Richard the Lion Heart was imprisoned. Enjoy the breathtaking views.
Austria’s wines have earned a worldwide reputation for exceptional quality, while in Wachau valley, try the famous Gruener Veltliner and know more about the three varieties of grapes – Steinfeder, Federspiel and Smaragd.

Afternoon
Lunch break. Why not to try Wachau’s culinary specialty – Marillenknodeln / Apricot dumplings? Continue to Melk – a spiritual and cultural center of the country for more than 1000 years, first as a castle for the Babenbergs, then from 1089 as a Benedictine monastery, founded by Margrave Leopold II. Melk Abbey presents one of Austria’s highlights and as Europe’s great cultural ensemble.

Drive to Salzburg (2hrs) and At leisure.

Overnight: Bratislava

Day 11
FULL DAY IN SALZBURG – CITY OF MOZART

Morning –
On our quality walking tour we will immerse you in the city’s rich history. Start with the castle visit – Hohensalzburg fortress. Enjoy stunning views, get some history of the castle.

Afternoon
Lunch break – let’s try Salzburg’s specialties. Continue with the Old town walking tour through famous Getreidegasse – the bustling heart of Salzburg’s Old city with a stop where Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – one of the greatest classical composers was born and raised. Get more information about his life. Visit of the grand Cathedral square and the Salzburg cathedral. Alter Markt and more sights. At leisure

Evening – at your own. Would you like to have an upscale dinning? We give you the top choice and book the table for you.

You would like to see more?
Please let us know if you would like to add some more activities. Sound of Music tour must be booked in advance.

Mirabell gardens
Sound of music tour – the movie story of the Von Trapp family, the Sound of Music movie is recipient of five Oscars and is among the most successful productions in cinematic history.
Hangar 7 – from the very first idea, Hangar 7 was much more than just a modern aircraft hangar. Its developers saw it as a place where art, culinary art and aviation would come together.

Overnight: Budapest

Day 12
CESKY KRUMLOV – THE JEWEL AMONG UNESCO SIGHTS – PRAGUE

Morning
Drive to Cesky Krumlov (2hrs 30min). Start with the Quality sightseeing tour through narrow historical streets full of late gothic, renaissance and baroque well preserved houses. The town grew up within a meander of the Vltava river, which provides a natural setting of exceptional beauty. Have you ever heard about the stone you can’t find elsewhere in the world? Discover mystery and beauty of the jewels from space – the light green to olive brown stones called the Moldavites.

Afternoon
Lunch break and the opportunity to try delicious traditional Czech meals. Walk up to the symbol of this town – castle built on the rocky cliff, take a guided tour, later walk over the bridge, take pictures from the best view points. Continue to Prague (2hrs15min). At leisure.

Overnight: Prague

Day 13
FULL DAY – PRAGUE – THE GOLDEN CITY – QUALITY SIGHSEEING TOUR

Morning
Which of the nicknames of Prague do you like the most? Mother of cities, City of Hundred spires, Golden city or a City of Legends and Ghost stories? The attraction of this city is mystical.
A start with a Quality Sightseeing walking tour through the history of this fascinating city. You will get the history overview of this former imperial and royal city, nowadays, a modern and attractive capital city.

We explore the ancient streets lined with historic buildings, pass through magnificent squares such as Old town square and of coure, the Astronomical clock and cross old bridge – the famous Charles bridge, and we learn of the people and of the events that have shaped the city over the past one thousand years.

Afternoon – lunch break. Which of these two Czech traditional meals you like more?  Svíčková na smetaně – tenderloin in cream sauce with dumplings, whipped cream and cranberries or Vepřo, knedlo, zelo – roast pork, dumplings and sauerkraut? Continue with a sightseeing tour and free time.

Evening – At your own. Evening concerts? We are ready to help you and book the tickets

Overnight: Prague

Day 14
FULL DAY – PRAGUE CASTLE & FREE AFTERNOON

Morning
Stroll up to Prague castle through the former royal route through historical streets, cross the Charles Bridge, one of Europe’s oldest stone bridges and reach Lesser Town. Short stop to admire the most beautiful baroque church of Prague – St. Nicholas church, then, continue through the former Royal Route we come up to the Prague Castle complex to discover the major sights within.
Admire the architectural style from the medieval times up to 20^th century. Once a seat of the Bohemian kings, nowadays a seat of the Czech president. Your guide brings the magnificent castle buildings to life by explaining their oft turbulent history, and their royal and presidential connections. See the changing of the guards. We admire and enter the largest and most important church –  Saint Vitus Cathedral, it is the dominant of Prague castle complex, many Czech rulers and important saints have their resting place here.

The beautifully decorated interior created by medieval masters is lit to perfection by the rays of sunlight which stream through the beautiful stained-glass windows. Above all make sure to view the stained-glass windows by the Czech Art Nouveau artist Alfons Mucha. From outside, look at the imposing mosaic of the Last Judgement above the Golden Gate. We’ll tell you the story.

Our ticket will allow you to visit the ancient architecture of the Old Royal Palace and Romanesque basilica St. George and Golden lane – the tiny lane will amaze you. Legend has it that the colorful houses were inhabited by alchemists working for the emperor Rudolf II, who wanted to discover the legendary Elixir of Youth and the Philosopher’s Stone. True or not, it is a special street where also world-famous Prague writer Franz Kafka worked. After enjoying stunning views of Prague, we walk down to Lesser town, full of baroque style buildings, home to government offices, embassies and foreign diplomats.

Afternoon – lunch break. Another great opportunity to try delicious Czech meals. Have you seen the narrowest street with a traffic light? What about the controversial Czech artist David Cerny and his famous statues?  And of course, the John Lennon wall, the graffiti covered wall, with a special history representing global ideals such as love and peace.  Actually, the only place in the city where graffiti is legal.

Evening – At your own

Optional (not included in the package)
If you would prefer a complete visit of a Jewish Quarter (with an entrance to all synagogues and cemetery, an advanced booking is necessary)

Overnight: Prague

Day 15
FAREWELL and DEPARTURE

Your memorable holiday comes to an end today.
We are ready to arrange for you an airport transfer for discounted rates.