Euroventure
Iron Curtain: 1 Week
8 daysfrom $660
Great Rail Journeys · Escorted tour
Imperial Cities: Prague, Vienna & Budapest
Delve into the imperial past and modern energy of four of Europe's finest capitals in one fantastic fly-rail tour.
Day by day
- Day 1overnight: Prague
Fly to Prague
Meet the Tour Manager at London Heathrow and fly to Prague. On arrival, check in to a four-star hotel in the 'diplomatic district' near Prague Castle. The hotel has three restaurants, a café, a flower shop and a wellness centre. Option to purchase a Prague Visitor Pass for unlimited public transport and entry to most attractions. This evening, gather at the hotel for the first dinner together.
Meals: Dinner
- Day 2overnight: Prague
Discovering the 'City of a Hundred Spires'
Guided tour of Prague's cultural and architectural highlights. Visit Prague Castle, the largest medieval complex in Europe, St Vitus Cathedral, St George's Basilica, the quaint Golden Lane, the iconic Charles Bridge and Old Town Square with its renowned astronomical clock (installed 1410). Afternoon at leisure; options include the Czech Beer Museum, Museum of Fantastic Illusions or Speculum Alchemiae. Dine independently this evening.
Meals: Breakfast
- Day 3overnight: Prague
Free day to explore Prague
Full day at leisure in Prague. Options include a gentle cruise on the Vltava, exploring Josefov (the Jewish Quarter) with the Old New Synagogue (oldest active synagogue in Europe), the Spanish Synagogue, and various Franz Kafka statues including the rotating kinetic head sculpture. Relax at gourmet restaurants, cocktail bars or cafés.
Meals: Breakfast
- Day 4railovernight: Vienna
Vienna Calling
Leave Prague by train after breakfast, travelling through sweeping fields, sleepy towns and verdant forests to arrive in Vienna in the early afternoon. Guided tour of Vienna including the famous Ringstrasse boulevard, the Vienna State Opera, the Austrian Parliament, and the Hofburg Palace, seat of the Habsburg dynasty from 1273 to 1918. Stroll through the cobbled streets of Vienna's historic centre (UNESCO World Heritage site). Check in to hotel, then dinner at a traditional Austrian restaurant.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
- Day 5overnight: Vienna
At leisure in imperial Vienna
Full free day to explore Vienna at your own pace. Options include Schönbrunn Palace and its decorative gardens, the world's oldest zoo (founded 1752), the Spanish Riding School with Lipizzan dancing horses (pre-booking required), St Stephen's Cathedral in Stephansplatz, and the Prater gardens with its famous funfair and iconic Ferris wheel. Enjoy a traditional Viennese coffeehouse experience with Sachertorte. Dine independently this evening.
Meals: Breakfast
- Day 6railovernight: Budapest
An evening Danube cruise in Budapest
Free morning in Vienna, option to visit Belvedere (two Baroque palaces and an art gallery containing Gustav Klimt's The Kiss). In the early afternoon, travel by train from Austria to Hungary. Arrive in Budapest in the early evening and check in to the Buda hotel. Free time to relax, then transfer to Óbuda for dinner in a traditional restaurant. After dinner, embark on an evening Danube cruise, viewing the illuminated Parliament building, Buda Castle and the Chain Bridge.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
- Day 7overnight: Budapest
Uncovering the 'Pearl of the Danube'
Guided tour of Budapest after breakfast, viewing the iconic Parliament building, Castle Hill, the Baroque castle, Gothic Matthias Church and Fisherman's Bastion. Free for the rest of the day, options include the Széchenyi Baths (largest medicinal bath in Europe), the Art Deco Gellért Baths, or Café New York. Dine independently this evening, sampling goulash or paprika chicken.
Meals: Breakfast
- Day 8
Homeward bound
Make your way to Budapest airport for flights home. Land back in the UK later today, concluding the imperial adventure.
Meals: Breakfast
Included
- Expertise of a UK Tour Manager from start to finish
- 7 nights' 3 or 4-star hotel accommodation
- Standard Class rail travel
- All rail, cruise and coach travel throughout the tour
- Flights from London Heathrow to Prague and Budapest to London Heathrow
- Regional flights available
- Breakfast each day
- 3 dinners
- All guided tours and excursions
Not included
- Cancellation & Travel Insurance
