Duration: 15 Days
Learn about Central Europe’s rich history and see its historical sites as you travel through the heart of Germany, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Austria, and the Czech Republic. Starting from Germany, visit the eclectic capital Berlin and Weimar, where culture has been thriving through names like Goethe and Schiller, Bach and Liszt, Modernism and Bauhaus. In Poland, discover Jasna Góra Monastery in Czestochowa, an important pilgrimage spot. Visit Warsaw and Krakow, and stop in Auschwitz to see what is left of the concentration camp, a chilling reminder of the Holocaust. br/>
Explore the Imperial city of Vienna, Austria, the city of waltz, elegant cafés and the Hapsburg heritage. Get to know Budapest, Hungary, with its predominantly Art Nouveau city center and imposing Parliament building. Prague, in the Czech Republic, boasts Charles Bridge, one of Europe’s oldest stone bridges, and Bratislava, Slovakia, built on the bank of the Danube, features a castle and a charming old town. Before returning to your starting point in Germany, spend some time in Nuremberg, the Bavarian city that, in spite of its troubled past, is keeping the best traditions alive, such as brewing beer, grilling sausages and enjoying life. Sightseeing with a Local Guide—a local expert who knows the history, culture, and secrets of the city—is included in Berlin, Warsaw, Kraków, Budapest, Vienna, and Prague. This is a comprehensive Central Europe tour, ideal for smart travellers who want to turn their travel dreams into reality.
Traveller Notes
Adventure is knocking with everything you need for perfectly affordable touring. Cosmos includes hand-selected accommodations, guided sightseeing, and seamless transportation between destinations—with value-minded travel lovers in mind. Explore with expert Cosmos Tour Directors and Local Guides, complimentary headsets, and private, first-class, air-conditioned motorcoach with free Wi-Fi. Enhance your free time to explore like a local with your CosmosGO mobile app!
Special Departures
December 7 Departure - include visit to Berlin, Budapest, and Prague Christmas markets.
December 29 Departure - New Year’s Eve in Berlin including festive dinner.
Please note: Itinerary is based on 2024, and is subject to change. Full details will be confirmed in 2024.
Check into your hotel. The rest of the day is free. Tonight, meet your Tour Director and travel companions.
Our first stop today is in Weimar, one-time intellectual heart of Germany and host to such luminaries as Martin Luther, Cranach, Bach, Liszt, Schiller, and, of course, Goethe himself. It was at one time rightly known as the "Athens of Germany." Continue through Thuringia and Saxony-Anhalt all the way to Germany's capital city, Berlin. Today's Distance: 357 mi/ 575 km (B)
On this morning's included guided tour, learn how the city is no longer divided but every bit as fascinating. Once the city of contrasts with its West and East side separated into two different worlds by a wall, Berlin has developed into a harmonious blend of old and new. It has preserved the old buildings, such as the State Opera House and Brandenburg Gate; its Neoclassic-style boulevards, such as the Kurfurstendamm and Unter den Linden. This is now complemented by brand new buildings in contemporary architectural styles. It is once again Germany's capital and one of Europe's most lively and interesting cities. (B)
Drive east to Poznan, one of Poland's oldest trading districts, and admire its Renaissance market square. Continue to Warsaw, capital of Poland. Today's Distance: 367 mi/ 590 km (B)
The included sightseeing tour is an excellent introduction to Warsaw, magnificently reconstructed after wartime destruction. Today, its wide avenues contrast strikingly with the narrow lanes of the old section. (B,D)
Two encounters with history on your southbound journey today. First, Jasna Gora in Czestochowa, the monastery that withstood the repeated onslaught of overwhelming Swedish forces during the religious wars of the 17th century. Since then, its Black Madonna has become the country's national symbol. In the afternoon, visit what is left of the Auschwitz Concentration Camp, a chilling reminder of the Holocaust. Evening arrival in Krakow. Today's Distance: 289 mi/ 465 km (B,D)
This, they say, is Poland's most beautiful city. For almost 500 years it was the country's capital, and today, it is without a doubt its cultural capital. Join the included morning sightseeing in ancient Krakow, for centuries the residence of Polish kings. See the Market Square, the Jewish Quarter, St. Mary's Church, and visit Wawel Cathedral. Free time later to explore this interesting town at your own pace and mingle with the locals. (B)
Travel through three countries today. First, south to the Tatra Mountains of Poland, then through scenic Slovakia, and finally into Hungary. Your destination is Budapest, the liveliest Eastern European capital. Today's Distance: 245 mi/ 395 km (B,D)
Budapest is a treasure trove of architectural wonders, from Gothic to Baroque; Neoclassical to Art Nouveau, but also full of history, a food capital, and surprisingly rich in thermal waters. Discover all of this and more during the included guided city tour. (B)
Journey northwest and cross the border into nearby Slovakia. Stop in Bratislava, its intriguing capital on the banks of the Danube, to explore the medieval Old Town. Continue west and enter Austria, arriving in magical Vienna. Today's Distance: 174 mi/ 280 km (B)
Join the included city sightseeing tour for an introduction to the major sights: the State Opera, Parliament, the ornate Rathaus (Town Hall), and views of the Hofburg Imperial Palace from Heroes' Square. You'll have plenty of time to discover Vienna on your own. (B)
Morning at leisure or join an optional excursion. This afternoon, cross the Czech border into Moravia, then through the rich farmlands of Bohemia to Prague. Today's Distance: 208 mi/ 335 km (B,D)
The wealth of Gothic and Baroque architecture perhaps inspired Dvorak and Smetana, both Prague composers. The included guided sightseeing features landmarks such as the Jewish Quarter, Charles Bridge, and the Old Town Square with the astronomical clock. Your Tour Director may suggest an optional evening excursion with traditional Czech music and entertainment. (B)
This morning visit Nuremberg with its pretty market square and Our Lady's Church before heading towards the Frankfurt Area. Today's Distance: 323 mi/ 520 km (B,D)
Your holiday ends with breakfast this morning. (B)
