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ITINERARY
Day 1 – Vienna at Leisure
On arrival at Vienna Airport, you will be met and transferred to the Hotel Bellevue. The rest of the day is at leisure to explore the city. Later join your Tour Director for a Welcome Meeting.
Day 2 – Vienna – Budapest
Our guided tour this morning shows us the Imperial Winter Palace, the Parliament and the imposing baroque architecture of the Opera House. The choice is then yours for the remainder of your time here – perhaps visit the fabulous State Apartments of Schonbrunn Palace, although not into all of its 1400 rooms! Later we cross the Hungarian border and continue through farmland before passing the baroque town of Gyor, to arrive in Budapest. (B,D)
Day 3 – Budapest at Leisure
Sightseeing this morning takes us both sides of the River Danube. First we ascend to hilltop Buda to explore the cobbled streets of the old town, visit the Matthias church and admire the magnificent view down to the Danube. Now it's on into the commercial district of Pest to see the Parliament Building and Heroes' Square. Later we have free time to further explore, or why not take an excursion to discover the secret treasures of Budapest? Tonight, perhaps enjoy a Hungarian dinner with traditional gypsy entertainment? (B)
Day 4 – Budapest – Prague
We take a delightful scenic drive this morning, crossing the 'Blue Danube', before reaching the Slovakian border. We visit the capital city of Bratislava to see the dominating castle. Then we continue through the Czech countryside to the beautifully preserved 'golden' city of Prague. (B,D)
Day 5 – Prague Sightseeing
Sightseeing this morning shows us the highlights of the city, spreading either side of the Vltava River. From the heights of Prague Castle, a 'city within a city' dominated by the soaring spires of St. Vitus' Cathedral, we look down on the Old Town. Before descending there's time to stroll along cobbled streets, then we explore the ancient Jewish quarter and the Old Town Square - don't miss the Four Apostles appearing above the Astronomical Clock on the hour! Tonight why not try the Czech cuisine in an old town restaurant? (B)
Day 6 – Prague – Berlin
We leave Prague this morning and cross the border in to Germany. We continue to historic Dresden for a walking tour to see the courtyards of the glorious Zwinger Palace and the opulent Opera House. We also see the colossal Castle of the Electors of Saxony, including the unique Saxon Wall overlaid with Meissen tiles, and finally, the renovated Frauenkirche. Now, we drive to the German capital of Berlin. (B)
Day 7 – Berlin Sightseeing
Today a local expert takes us through this re-unified city, following the Unter den Linden past the Opera and Alexanderplatz. We continue to the Brandenburg Gate, triumphal arch and the symbol of Berlin. Then we see the Reichstag, a massive Neo-Renaissance style palace inaugurated in 1894, which has recently been crowned with a new dome. We also see the Victory Column in the Tiergarten Park. The rest of the day is at leisure to shop or perhaps take an optional excursion to Potsdam? (B)
Day 8 – Berlin – Nuremberg
Leaving Berlin, we head south to the musical city of Leipzig, where Mendelssohn and J.S. Bach lived and played. Wesee St. Nikolai Church where the 1989 Peace Prayers were said which led to the fall of the Berlin Wall. Then we continue to Nuremberg, once the medieval centre of culture and craftsmanship in Germany. Today it hosts the country's most famous Christmas Market. We see the Zeppelinwiese, used for Hitler's rallies and tour the old town to see Albrecht Durer's house, Beautiful Fountain, and the massive town ramparts! (B,D)
Day 9 – Nuremberg – Vienna
This morning our scenic drive takes us past Regensburgand on to the frontier town of Passau, set between Bavaria and Austria. Here we have time to stroll along the Danube and admire the Baroque churches and patrician houses of the old town, before crossing the Austrian border. Later we see the Benedictine Melk Abbey, situated at the very tip of a rocky bluff, overlooking the Danube, before returning to the Hotel Bellevue in Vienna. Maybe celebrate with a farewell dinner tonight? (B)
Day 10 – Vienna
Our tour ends this morning after breakfast with a transfer from our hotel to Vienna Airport. (B)
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