Highlights of Central Europe: Berlin, Dresden, Prague, Brno, Vienna, Bratislava & Budapest - 10 Days

Highlights

• Imagine Berlin during the Cold War during a guided tour
• Learn more about Czech wine in vineyards near Prague
• Enjoy a concert performed by the Vienna Mozart Orchestra
• Delve into Budapest's food scene during a cooking class

Brief Itinerary

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Berlin (Germany), Secret Beer Tour With a Private Guide

Welcome to Berlin, the capital of Germany! After you've checked into your hotel and freshened up, kick off your trip in style on a secret beer tour of the city with a private guide. You'll begin in one of Berlin's coolest neighborhoods, Friedrichshain, tasting two full-sized traditional German beers. Your expert guide will then take you to some of the best beer venues in the city, including a nano brewery, teaching you about beer culture and history as you sip. 

You'll try eight beers over the entire tour, accompanied by snacks, enjoying a variety of flavors and styles. You'll also meet the people who make them and will have the opportunity to ask them questions. After the tour, return to your hotel to relax or explore more of the city, trying out Berlin's wide range of places to eat, drink, and party.

Day 2: Experience East Berlin: City of Shadows Tour

Today, you'll step back in time to Berlin during the Cold War on a City of Shadows tour. Starting at Brandenburg Gate, you'll be guided around the city, stopping at monuments from when the city was divided by the Berlin Wall. Your guide will tell you about the growing discontent in East Germany at this time, the totalitarian rule, and the divisions that still exist between the east and west sides of the city. On the tour, you'll visit the former Soviet Embassy and can imagine the emotional goodbyes at a key crossing point at the Friedrichstrasse train station, known as The Palace of Tears.

You'll also walk along the housing development known as Karl Marx Allee, see the Berlin Wall Memorial, and hear tales of how East Germany's secret police recruited and organized a network of civilian spies at the former Stasi Headquarters. A highlight will be looking around Berlin's largest square, Alexanderplatz, where there are communist-era hotels, department stores, and offices, plus Berlin's iconic TV Tower. Alexanderplatz was also where peaceful demonstrations that brought the Communist regime to an end were held.

Day 3: Drive to Dresden, Cruise on the Elbe River

Pick up your rental car first thing today and drive south to Dresden, the capital city of the German state of Saxony. The journey should take around 2.5 hours. Once you've checked into your hotel, head to the Elbe River to board a riverboat and get to know the city from the water. Admire the city's skyline as you sail, looking out for landmarks such as the Dresden Opera House, the Royal Palace, Zwinger Palace, Dresden Cathedral, and the Church of Our Lady. Your knowledgeable guide will entertain you with stories and historical anecdotes as you pass buildings and landmarks.

Your boat will pass under Dresden's most famous bridge, the Blue Wonder Bridge, which symbolizes the city's engineering prowess. Have your camera ready as you glide past the grand Albrechtsberg Castle on a hill overlooking the Elbe. As well as learning about the city's architecture, your guide will talk about the wildlife and nature in the region. After your cruise, treat yourself to a hearty German meal in one of Dresden's restaurants, which range from elegant fine dining to fun taverns.

Day 4: Drive to Prague (Czech Republic) via Bastei Bridge & Saxon National Park

It's time to leave Germany today to drive south to Prague in the Czech Republic. Plan your route to travel via Rathen at the entrance to Saxon Switzerland National Park, which is around an hour's drive away. Stop in the national park for a couple of hours to explore its lush forests and take pictures of its spectacular rock formations. You'll be able to plan a hike on one of the park's trails after popping into the visitor center.

Make sure you visit the famous Bastei Bridge, which is a sandstone structure spanning the Elbe River. There are short hiking routes around here, and the view from the bridge over the river and mountains is fantastic. Enjoy a picnic in the national park before driving south to Prague. The journey should take around two hours. Check into your hotel on arrival and wander around the picturesque city before treating yourself to dinner and a world-famous Czech beer.

Day 5: Wine Tasting & Culinary Tour at Bohemian Vineyards

Wake up early to travel outside of Prague to the surrounding Czech countryside and explore its Bohemian vineyards. On your full-day tour, you'll discover the volcanic landscape, which gives the local wine its distinctive flavor, and you'll learn more about wine traditions and local culture in the Czech Republic. At a local winery, you'll be taught about the life and work of growers and the process of making wine.

A highlight will be your wine tasting, which will be accompanied by local food. You'll also discover and hear the story of a Jewish cemetery hidden in the middle of a vineyard. After your tour, return to Prague for a relaxing evening.

Day 6: E-Bike Tour of Prague, Drive to Brno

See Prague from a different perspective this morning on an e-bike tour of the city. You'll avoid the busier tourist hotspots and, instead, will visit places with standout views of Prague's historic center. You'll also visit some important monuments in Prague as you pedal down the banks of the Vltava River. While you ride, your knowledgeable guide will show you secret spots and tell you about Prague's history. You'll stop for refreshments during the tour, which will include local beer and snacks—so decide on the afternoon's designated driver before indulging.

After you've returned your bike, it's time to drive to the Czech city of Brno. The city is southeast of Prague, and the journey should take around two hours. Once you arrive, check in to your hotel to relax for the evening. If you have the energy, head out to try a local beer in a microbrewery or eat a hearty meal sampling traditional dishes such as dumplings and goulash. 

Day 7: Brno Private Walking Tour, Drive to Vienna (Austria), Mozart Concert

Get to know Brno this morning on a walking tour. The city is known for its architecture, and you'll be taken to must-see sites, including the 12th-century St Peter and Paul Cathedral, its old town, and the Baroque Parnas Fountain, where you can make a wish. It's also a city with an excellent range of green spaces, and you'll stroll through its parks and discover the pockets of nature around the city. After your tour, head to Austria's capital, Vienna. The drive is around 85 miles (140 km) south and should take roughly two hours, depending on traffic.

You're in for a treat this evening in Vienna as you'll enjoy a three-course gourmet meal at the Restaurant Bristol, followed by a concert at the world-renowned Musikverein. Restaurant Bristol is inside the Art Deco Hotel Bristol, where both President Theodore Roosevelt and Wallis Simpson have stayed. After you've savored Austrian specialties here, walk to the Musikverein to listen to symphonies and operas from Mozart performed by the Vienna Mozart Orchestra. An added bonus: The musicians will be dressed in 17th and 18th-century period costumes.

Day 8: Vienna Museums, Drive to Bratislava (Slovakia), Food & Beer Tour

Vienna has an excellent selection of museums and art galleries offering diverse exhibitions, so head out this morning to explore them. The Albertina Museum is one of the city's standout art galleries as it's home to the world's largest collection of graphical art and features works from big names, including Cézanne, Klimt, and Picasso. The Kunsthistorisches Museum, meanwhile, was built by Emperor Franz Joseph to house his family's impressive collections of art, with headline attractions such as Raphael's "Madonna in the Meadow" and works by Rembrandt and Vermeer.

Another good spot is the Freud Museum, which was the former home and office of Sigmund Freud. Here, you can learn all about the life of the founder of psychoanalysis. If you're a fan of architecture, head to the Baroque Belvedere Palaces, which are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The summer residence of Prince Eugene of Savoy from 1663 until 1736 has extensive gardens to explore, too. A must-see while in Vienna is the Imperial Palace, Hofburg, the former palace of the Habsburg dynasty rulers. It has been the official residence of the Austrian Federal President since 1946.

Day 9: Drive to Budapest (Hungary), Market Hall Tour & Cooking Class, Dinner Cruise

Set off early today and travel to Budapest, the capital of Hungary. The drive northeast should take around two hours. Once you've arrived and checked into your hotel, dive straight into city life on a Budapest market tour followed by a cooking class. You'll explore the Central Market Hall with a guide. Central Market Hall is also known as the Great Market Hall, and it's the largest and oldest indoor market hall in Budapest. You'll then be taken to a kitchen to meet your cooking instructor, who will teach you how to prepare a three-course Hungarian meal.

It's the last evening of your tour, and you're in for a treat on a three-hour dinner cruise. As you glide down the river Danube, you'll enjoy a four-course dinner while you watch a Hungarian folk show and take in the scenery.

Day 10: Private Walking Tour, Depart Budapest

Make the most of your last morning in Central Europe on a private walking tour around Budapest. With a knowledgeable guide, you'll visit some of the city's most beautiful spots as well as some lesser-known attractions away from the tourist crowds. Highlights will include admiring the architecture of Budapest's largest church, St Stephen's Basilica, the Neo-Baroque Szechenyi Baths, and Vajdahunyad Castle in City Park. Take plenty of pictures as you look down over Pest and the river from Castle Hill, where you'll visit Matthias Church and Fisherman's Bastion with its seven towers.

As you wander, your guide will teach you about the turbulent history of Hungary's capital through stories and anecdotes. After your tour, a driver will pick you up and drive you to Budapest Airport to catch a flight to your onward destination. Safe travels!

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