Day 1
Upon arrival in Munich, guests are transferred from the airport to the hotel. An introduction to the tour is given over a welcome drink, followed by dinner at the hotel.
Day 2
Visit to the castle of Nymphenburg, 17th Century summer residence of Bavarian rulers. To celebrate the birth of their son and heir, Elector Ferdinand Maria and his consort Henriette Adelaide of Savoy appointed architect Agostino Barelli to build them a summer residence west of Munich. The simple cube-shaped building, begun in 1664, was enlarged under Max Emanuel and Karl Albrecht from plans by Henrico Zuccalli and Joseph Effner. After returning to Munich, we explore the beautiful capital of Bavaria.
Day 3
After breakfast in Munich, the group departs for Salzburg, the city of Mozart. The magnificent Mirabell Gardens, the mighty Hohensalzburg Fortress and the picturesque spires dominating the city’s skyline provide a variety of long-lasting impressions. Hohensalzburg Fortress, with a length of 820 feet and a width of 492 feet, is one of the largest medieval castles in Europe. It offers spectacular views of the city and the surrounding Alps. After exploring this beautiful castle, the group visits Mozart’s birth house and other parts of the town that inspired the composer. Before dinner, there is also free time to explore the downtown area.
Day 4
Tour of the magnificent Neuschwanstein Castle. Seven weeks after the death of King Ludwig II in 1886, Neuschwanstein was opened to the public. The shy king had built the castle in order to withdraw from public life – now vast numbers of people come to view his private refuge. Neuschwanstein is one of the most popular of all the palaces and castles in Europe. Every year 1.3 million people visit the castle of the fairy-tale king. The afternoon will offer a chance for sightseeing and shopping in Munich.
Day 5
Travel to the historic city of Prague, one of the best-preserved European towns. We will explore Josefov, the Jewish quarter, through a guided walking tour in the afternoon. Jews are believed to have settled in Prague as early as the 10th Century. The first pogrom was in 1096, and eventually they were concentrated within a walled Ghetto. In 1389 one of the worst pogroms saw some 1,500 massacred on Easter Sunday. The ghetto was most prosperous towards the end of the 16th Century, when the Jewish mayor, Mordecai Maisel, became the Minister of Finance. He put a significant amount of his finances into developing the ghetto.
Day 6
The sixth day of the tour features a walking tour of Prague, exploring both the medieval and modern areas of the city. Prague represents a unique collection of historical monuments dominated by Prague Castle towering high above the city. It is a display of all artistic styles and movements. The historical core of the city is situated on both banks of the Vltava River and consists of six parts: Stare Mesto (Old Town), Josefov (the preserved part of the former Jewish Town - today a part of the Old Town), Nove Mesto (New Town), Mala Strana (Lesser Town), Hradcany and Vysehrad. These formerly independent urban units were unified in the 18th Century. Most of the historical monuments, museums and galleries are located in this historical core. The late afternoon is free for relaxing, more sightseeing, or shopping.
Day 7
Travel to the quaint city of Vienna. We enjoy dinner in the downtown of the Austrian capital.
Day 8
No visit to Vienna can be complete without walking in the footsteps of the Habsburgs. The splendid Baroque Schönbrunn and Belvedere Palaces and a stroll along the magnificent Ring Boulevard take us to the heart of the former vast Habsburg Empire, the Imperial Palace. You get a sense of the luster and glory of the old empire by visiting St. Stephen’s Cathedral, the Spanish Riding School, the giant Ferris wheel at the Prater, as well as the sarcophagi in the Imperial Vault.
Day 9
Travel to Budapest, the capital city of Hungary, which sits on the banks of the Danube. The formerly separate towns of Buda, Pest and Óbuda were united in 1873 and are connected by 8 bridges. The day is crowned by a visit to the impressive Neo-Gothic Parliament building, which sits on the Danube. The group will venture up Gellért Hill, where the city’s Citadel sprawls, offering amazing views of Budapest at night.
Day 10
The day starts at the Chain Bridge, the most famous of the capital’s bridges. We cross the Danube to go up to the Castle District, where the Palace of Buda, the Matthias Church and the Fishermen’s Bastion exemplify Budapest’s rich architectural style. After enjoying the beautiful panorama, the group crosses the Elisabeth Bridge, which takes us to Pest, its famous Central Market Hall and Dohány Synagogue the largest synagogue of Europe. The City Park holds Europe’s largest thermal spa, as well as the Budapest Zoo and the city’s Amusement Park. We stop at Heroes’ Square, which was erected to celebrate Hungary’s 1,000 years of existence in 1895. We then take Andrássy Avenue to downtown Pest. This tree-lined avenue flanked by mansions, which is part of the UNESCO World Heritage, takes us to the Opera House and St. Stephen’s Basilica. The evening features a farewell dinner in a “csárda,” a typical Hungarian restaurant.
Day 11
After saying goodbye, guests are transferred to Budapest’s Liszt Ferenc Airport or the International Airport of Vienna for their return flights.
