HEART OF EUROPE

Departures

Budapest, Vienna, Salzburg, Oberammergau, Munich and Prague.

Itinerary

Day 1, Wednesday : DEPART CANADA
Tour members from across Canada gather for the overnight flights to Budapest, Hungary.

Day 2, Thursday : BUDAPEST
On arrival, we will be met by our tour director and enjoy a brief panoramic tour introducing us to this charming city, as we proceed to our hotel. With the balance of the afternoon at leisure, we can take some time to relax and refresh ourselves. This evening we will enjoy our welcome dinner with an opportunity to enjoy Hungarian cuisine. Hotel Radisson Beke (2 nights)
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Day 3, Friday : BUDAPEST
We start our exploration with a tour of the city, or should we say cities - Buda and Pest. This is a city that both crackles with energy and soothes with its loveliness, a city that clearly sparks a passion for music in its citizenry. Our local specialist leads us through Heroes Square, adorned with seven massive, powerful statues of Magyar chieftains, and to the parliament area. For a beautiful view over the city, we drive up to the Gellert Hill on the Buda site. Our second part of the city tour includes the St. Matthias Church and the Fisherman’s Bastion.
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Day 4, Saturday : DANUBE BEND / VIENNA
After a morning visit in Szentendre (a picturesque fishing village which is home to a harmonious mix of Hungarians, Croats and Serbs whose families were expelled from Serbia by the Turks in the 17th century), we continue along the Danube to the romantic Danube bend, one of the most interesting Hungarian stretches of the legendary river, where we explore the ruins of King Matthias's Renaissance Palace and Estergom with its impressive cathedral. This afternoon we continue into Vienna. Courtyard by Marriott Vienna Schoenbrunn (3 nights)
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Day 5, Sunday : VIENNA
Vienna’s Ringstrasse was the Habsburg state boulevard, created by Emperor Franz Joseph to showcase the wealth and importance of the Empire. Here we see Austria’s magnificent state buildings, including the historic parliament, city hall, the university plus the national theatre and museums. Our city exploration continues past the Imperial Palace, a stately structure that evolved over the centuries and is now home to Austria’s president. We also visit Schönbrunn Palace, summer home of the imperial family and a superb example of Austrian Baroque. In the evening, enjoy dinner and a concert in the Orangery of the Palace Schönbrunn.
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Day 6, Monday : VIENNA
Today we take a musical journey through the city of Beethoven, Schubert, Mozart, Haydn and Strauss. Discover why this city inspired such great compositions on a locally guided musical walk among the memorials to the great Viennese composers, followed by a tour of the State Opera (if available, depending on performance schedules) or a visit to the House of Music. The afternoon offers free time to explore Vienna further. Dinner is at the very traditional Viennese Restaurant Buergerhof.
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Day 7, Tuesday : VIENNA / MELK / SALZBURG
Our scenic journey to Salzburg takes us through the beautiful Wachau Valley. We then follow the Danube River Valley en route to the monastery of Melk which we will visit. Later we continue through the Lake District of the Salzkammergut, the former imperial summer residence and favourite hunting ground of the Habsburg rulers to Salzburg, the city of Mozart and the Sound of Music. Upon arrival in the afternoon, we will set off on our guided stroll through the city centre - a pedestrian zone, where many historic sites related to Mozart can be found. Salzburg which is also known as the “Rome of the North” has many magnificent monuments from both the Baroque and Renaissance periods. Designated as a World Cultural Heritage Site, Salzburg was ruled for centuries by Prince Archbishops. Highlights of our walk will include Mozart’s birthplace, St Peter’s Church and Salzburg Cathedral. Hotel Untersberg (1 night)
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Day 8, Wednesday : SALZBURG / OBERAMMERGAU
Our morning is at leisure to explore Salzburg on our own, or to take the cable car up to Fortress Hohensalzburg. After time for an early lunch, we travel to Oberammergau, enjoying wonderful scenery en route. Our next two nights will in the heart of this delightful alpine village with its wonderful wood carving. Hotel Alte Post (2 nights)
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Day 9, Thursday : PASSION PLAY
We will have the morning free, to enjoy the colourful paintings in the village and to do a little shopping. Following lunch, the highlight of the trip, the Passion Play in Oberammergau begins! The Play was instituted in fulfillment of a vow made in 1633, when the town was stricken by plague. It was performed for the first time in 1634 and since then has been played every ten years. It’s just a short walk from the hotel to the theatre, which was built in 1930 and has seating for 4,800 spectators. While the seats are covered, the stage is open to the elements, using the natural grandeur of the mountains as a back-drop.
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Day 10, Friday : MUNICH
This morning enjoy some final alpine vistas as we head into Munich where a local guide will introduce us to the sights of Bavaria's capital: the Nymphenburg Palace, Marienplatz, Frauenkirche and the Olympic Stadium. Park Inn Munich Ost (1 night)
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Day 11, Saturday : REGENSBURG/PRAGUE
Boarding our coach, we travel to Regensburg, a city with settlements dating back to the Stone Ages. Upon arrival, our tour director will take us on an orientation walk, followed by free time for lunch on our own. This afternoon we continue to Prague, often described as the most beautiful city in Europe. Prague Movenpick Hotel (2 nights)
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Day 12, Sunday : PRAGUE
This historic city of golden stone and architectural grace offers a mix of Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque and Rococo treasures. We explore the castle of Prague, which dates back to the 8th century, when Slavonic tribes built the first fortifications here. Then stroll through the Old Town to view its churches and palaces, many of them used today for cultural events, ministerial offices, embassies and art galleries. Narrow lanes and generous squares are characteristic of the Old Town, where we meander through Wenceslav Square and cross the Charles Bridge. We will enjoy our farewell this evening at the Stary Vrch restaurant in a near by suburb of Prague.
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Day 13, Monday : PRAGUE / CANADA
All too soon our journey comes to a close as we transfer to the airport for our return flights to our homes across Canada.
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Tour Costs (CDN$/person)

Prices from other cities on request - please call our office. Tour cost is per person based on sharing a twin bedded room. Single rooms are extremely limited.

Final payment is due 100 days prior to departure.

Inclusive Features

To enroll on this tour simply complete our online enrollment form or alternatively complete the enrollment form found at the back of our brochure and return it with your deposit of $1500 per person to Craig Travel's office.