BOHEMIAN HERITAGE – 9 Days – Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic

Vienna – Budapest – Bratislava – Prague – Vienna

DAY 1 – ARRIVE VIENNA

Unwind at your centrally-located Vienna hotel, then dine on local specialties before attending a classical concert.

DAY 2 – VIENNA-BUDAPEST

Visit Schönbrunn Palace before it opens to the public with your private historian, then explore Vienna’s inner city. Learn about the origin of Viennese coffee houses, before departing for the Hungarian border and Budapest.

DAY 3 – BUDAPEST

Ascend Gellert Hill for magnificent views of Buda and Pest, then stroll through the Castle district with your private guide. Cross the Danube and admire the imperial splendor of Andrassy Boulevard, and Heroes’ Square. In the afternoon, why not visit a Thermal Bath, or tour a horse ranch in the Puszta plains just outside of Budapest?

DAY 4 – BUDAPEST-DANUBE BEND-BRATISLAVA

Drive to the artists’ village of Szentendre this morning, famous for its cobbled streets and craft stores. Then enjoy amazing views of the Danube valley from Visegrad citadel, before visiting Hungary’s religious capital Esztergom and its breathtaking cathedral. Arrive in Slovakia’s capital Bratislava in time for a short walk through the old town, and dinner.

DAY 5 – BRATISLAVA-PRAGUE

Your journey today takes you through the old Habsburg crownland of Moravia to the city of Brno. Stroll through its picturesque center and learn how the locals tricked Swedish invaders in 1645. In the afternoon continue to the Czech capital Prague, the “city of one-thousand spires”.

DAY 6 – PRAGUE

Make Strahov Monastery’s private-access-only library your first stop on your exclusive Prague tour this morning. Then see Prague Castle and St. Vitus Cathedral, before descending through the Mala Strana district towards the river Vltava. Cross world-famous Charles Bridge while your guide shares trivia on its construction date, and reach the city’s Old Town Square.

The afternoon is yours to explore the Art Nouveau side of Prague, or its magnificent Jewish heritage.

DAY 7 – PRAGUE-CESKY KRUMLOV-VIENNA

Motor past the rolling hills of Bohemia to Ceske Budejovice, home of the original Budweiser brewery. Then arrive in Cesky Krumlov, a UNESCO-recognized small town that incorporates all aspects Central Europe is famous for, including the Czech Republic’s second-largest castle.

Time is set aside to explore and have lunch, before you depart for the Austrian border. Cross lower Austria’s Waldviertel region, then reach the old imperial capital Vienna, starting point of your trip.

DAY 8 – VIENNA

All day is yours to enjoy the museums and coffee houses of Vienna; alternatively, you may want to take a day trip to the Vienna Woods, or the picture-perfect Wachau Valley wine region.

DAY 9 – DEPART VIENNA

Your private airport or station transfer collects you from your hotel after breakfast in time for your onward journey.