Imperial Capitals - Prague, Vienna & Budapest

Discover the elegance and imposing grace of the imperial cities of Central and Eastern Europe. This impressive holiday will allow you to experience the wonders of Prague, Vienna, Budapest and Bratislava. Travel into Prague and join the crowds in front of the Czech capital’s Old Town Hall to watch the Astronomical Clock, walk the romantic streets of Bratislava with its Baroque palaces and fountains, enjoy Budapest's stunning Chain Bridge, reaching over the Danube and head into Austria, enjoying a trip to Vienna where you can explore the beautiful gardens at the Schönbrunn Palace.

What's Included:

• 8 nights hotel with continental breakfast
• 6 evening meals
• Convenient local joining points
• Travel by executive coach or upgrade to Silver Service or Luxuria

Day 1 - Home to Belgium

Local departure by coach or Door-to-Door service, then to Belgium for an overnight stay.

Day 2 - Continue to Prague for a two-night stay.

Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 3 - Prague

Today we travel into the centre of Prague, where we have an optional morning walking tour (included on Silver Service & Luxuria) to introduce you to this beautiful capital, affectionately known as the ‘Golden Town’. The many historic buildings, grand squares and elegant landmarks such as Wenceslas Square, the famous Astronomical Clock and Charles Bridge make it a lovely place to explore on foot. Our local guide's informative commentary will reveal many of the stories behind the buildings and personalities which have shaped the history of this magnificent city. Following the tour, you have the chance to take in a different view of Prague by enjoying an optional cruise on the Vltava River. Lasting for approximately two hours, the cruise – during which a commentary will be provided – will take you along the majestic Vltava River past spectacular views of the famous sights of the city. Lunch will be served on board with a selection of warm and cold Czech specialities for you to enjoy, so sit back on the sundeck and admire the outstanding views of the 'city of a hundred spires'. The remainder of the afternoon is at leisure for you to explore on your own. Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 4 - Bratislava

We leave Prague after breakfast and travel south past the Czech Republic’s second largest city of Brno, before crossing the border into Slovakia. We continue to the capital city of Bratislava, where we pause to admire the beautiful Habsburg Baroque architecture and the lively cosmopolitan atmosphere. We continue south, and skirting Austria, we cross the border into Hungary. We reach Budapest this evening where we will stay for two nights. This evening, we introduce you to the sights and lights of the city with our optional Budapest by Night excursion. We start with a walk through the park to the castle where we enjoy a short Organ Concert and a glass of champagne in the chapel. From here, we continue to Heroes Square for a photo stop and then see the medieval castle wall before joining the coach for an illumination drive on the Pest side of the city. Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 5 - Budapest

Today, you will have the full day to discover the Hungarian capital of Budapest. The city is composed of two historically independent communities, Buda and Pest, separated by the majestic River Danube. Our optional guided sightseeing tour will introduce you to the city’s array of spectacular sights. We start with a panoramic view of the city from the top of the Gellert Hill and then continue by foot to the Liberty Statue, built in remembrance of the Soviet liberation of Hungary from Nazi forces during World War 2. We rejoin our coach and travel to the Pest side of the city to see the City Park and Heroes Square. We drive down Andrassy Avenue where we see the grand State Opera House and the beautiful St. Stephen's Basilica. Our next stop is Castle Hill on the Buda side of the city, where we leave our coach and visit the old medieval city. Afterwards, why not join our optional Danube lunch cruise, giving you the chance to take to the water and cruise along the famous Danube River. The Danube is the second longest river in Europe after the Volga, which flows through central Russia. Classified as an international waterway, the Danube originates in the town of Donaueschingen in the Black Forest of Germany. It then flows south-east for almost 3,000 km passing through four Central European capitals before emptying into the Black Sea. Our cruise, during which a commentary will be provided, will take you along the majestic Danube River allowing you to take in the spectacular views of Budapest. A sumptuous lunch of traditional Hungarian dishes is provided, alongside a complimentary drink from the bar. The rest of the day is at leisure for you to explore the city on your own, maybe take a stroll by the river or visit the tempting stores of the Vaci Utca street, ensuring that your time in this wonderful city is certainly something to remember. Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 6 - Györ & Schönbrunn Palace Gardens

We leave Budapest today and travel towards Austria, calling at the beautiful town of Gyor. Arrabon, as the Romans called it or the 'town of rivers', is famous for its schools and industry. There will be time at leisure for you to explore one of the best-preserved examples of Hungarian Renaissance and Baroque architecture. We continue our journey into Austria and onto Vienna, to the wonderful Schönbrunn Palace Gardens for an included excursion (entrance into the palace is at extra cost). Schönbrunn is a UNESCO world Heritage site and its gardens will take you into a magnificent world of Baroque culture. After a relaxing stroll around the gardens, we continue to our hotel in the Vienna Woods/Stockerau area, where we will stay for two nights. This evening, an optional Vienna Supreme Concert will be available. The Vienna Supreme Orchestra and its soloists will offer you a truly magical evening where you can experience the happiness, optimism and flair of this wonderful city. Immerse yourself in the delightful Viennese music, be enchanted by its elegant waltzes, refreshing folk polkas and its many romantic arias and duets. Experience works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Franz Schubert and, of course, the Strauss Dynasty, the masters of operetta all within a wonderful, intimate venue. A complimentary CD will be yours to take home as a souvenir of this delightful evening. Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 7 - Vienna

Spend a full day in the Imperial City of Vienna, which is, without question, one of Europe’s great cities. As the home of the former Habsburg monarchy and the present day capital of Austria, it has much to charm the visitor. There is a lot of walking involved to see all the sights, so why not let us introduce you to Vienna on our optional guided sightseeing tour. Our guided tour will begin by coach, where we will be taken along the Imperial Boulevard known as the Ringstrasse. Here you will see the Hofburg Palace, the Parliament building, the Opera House, National Theatre and City Hall. During our tour we will also see the majestic Danube River, and later, as we pass by the Prater amusement park, there will be a chance to view the famous Giant Wheel built over 100 years ago, and today one of the most well-known landmarks of the city. There will be frequent stops during the drive, where you will have photo opportunities and the chance to admire Vienna at its very best. Our guide will provide commentary throughout, revealing the history, culture and stories of one of Europe’s most fascinating cities. Following the tour you will have time at leisure to visit many of the city’s famous landmarks, or you may decide to sit back and relax with a traditional Viennese coffee and a slice of the local 'Sachertorte' chocolate cake in one of the city's tempting street cafés – the choice is yours! Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 8

To Belgium for an overnight stay. Included meals: Breakfast

Day 9

Return home. Included meals: Breakfast