Journey into the heart of Eastern Europe and delve deep into the history, rich culture, music, art and daily lives of your Jewish ancestors—and the Jewish people—on this comprehensive 15-day tour of Budapest, Vienna, Prague, Kraków and Warsaw. 

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 - Budapest

Fly through the night to Hungary.

Day 2 - Budapest

Land at Budapest’s airport and meet your Go Ahead representative. After hotel check-in, meet your fellow travelers at tonight’s included dinner. (B in flight, D)

Day 3 - Budapest

This morning's guided tour highlights the major landmarks of both Buda and Pest. Begin by tracing the stormy history of this fiercely independent nation on your stop at Heroes Square. Then tour the lavishly decorated interior of the Parliament building, modeled after London’s Palace of Westminster. Next, cross the Danube and arrive in Buda, where you'll ascend imposing Castle Hill to see the Royal Palace. This castle has witnessed several invasions, the most recent having occurred during World War II. Finally, pass by the Great Synagogue on your way to the Shoes Monument at the Holocaust Memorial, where you can bear witness to the lives lost under the Nazi regime. (B)

Day 4 - Budapest

During your free day in Budapest, continue your personal exploration of the city. You might choose to browse through the shops on Budapest’s sophisticated pedestrian shopping streets, take a short journey outside of the city to the Vadaskert (Game Park) or tour the Jewish Museum. You may also opt for an excursion to the Jewish Ghetto, including stops at the Dohany Street—or Great—Synagogue. Lunch is included on this excursion. (B)

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Jewish Ghetto of Budapest Visit the Jewish ghetto the Nazis established around the Great Synagogue in 1944, where 200,000 Jews were forced to live in an area measuring a few square blocks. You'll also visit the area's main synagogues.

Day 5 - Vienna

Travel west across the Danube basin to Vienna, capital of Austria and home to chocolates and cafés, parks and pastries. Your tour director will introduce you to the city, stopping at the Holocaust Memorial and visiting Vienna’s Jewish Museum. (B, D)

Day 6 - Vienna

Included this morning is a comprehensive tour of Vienna, led by a professional local guide. Highlights include the Opera House, the majestic monuments of the Ringstrasse, and the Hofburg, once the hub of Imperial power. Inside the regal Schönbrunn Palace, where Marie-Antoinette spent her childhood, view the private chambers of the Empress Maria Theresa and the lavishly decorated public rooms. Your afternoon is free for a stroll through the Stadtpark or a horse-drawn carriage ride to St. Stephan’s Cathedral. This evening, opt to attend our traditional “Heurigen” dinner.   (B)

$89 USD

Heurigen Evening Drive down Vienna's "Ring," an area of wide boulevards, then continue to the scenic village of Grinzing for a traditional Austrian dinner.

Day 7 - Vienna

Spend the day at your leisure in Vienna; consider a visit to the Sacher Hotel for a taste of Sachertorte, the decadent dessert invented in the hotel kitchen. Or join an optional full-day walking tour of Bratislava, the Slovakian capital including the Jewish cemetery. (B)

$109 USD

Bratislava Take a guided tour of Slovakia's capital where you'll visit the famous Hall of Mirrors and the Old Town.

Day 8 - Prague

Depart Vienna and enjoy a relaxing drive through the pastoral landscapes of Bohemia en route to Prague, one of Europe’s most beautiful cities. (B, D)

Day 9 - Prague

Visit Hradcany Castle and St. Vitus Cathedral on a guided tour of Prague. Continue along the Coronation Route and down the Golden Lane. This afternoon, join an optional excursion through Prague’s Jewish Quarter followed by an included lunch. (B)

$59 USD

Walking tour of Prague's Jewish Quarter Follow a local expert guide through the streets of Josefov, Prague’s Jewish Quarter, nestled between the Vltava River’s right bank and the Old Town Square.

Day 10 - Prague

With a free day in Prague, you might choose to relax at a welcoming sidewalk café or take a walk along the riverbanks. Alternatively, choose to journey into the countryside for an optional excursion to Therensienstadt, a historic fortress that served as a concentration camp during World War II. This evening, opt to join an excursion to a 17th-century villa for dinner and a classical music concert. (B)

$119 USD

Dinner at the Villa Visit one of the beautiful villas north of Prague. After your guided tour of the elegant halls and gardens, take in a live performance of classic music. Dinner is included following the concert.

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Therensienstadt On this full-day optional excursion, journey to Therensienstadt, a historic fortress that served as a concentration camp during World War II. Originally built as a fortress to keep the Prussians out of Bohemia, Therensienstadt eventually became one of Europe’s most devastating war camps.

Day 11 - Krakow

Depart from Prague and pass through the dramatic landscapes of Moravia before reaching Krakow. Enjoy an included dinner this evening. (B, D)

Day 12 - Krakow

Today's guided tour of Krakow introduces you to Wawel Hill, perched high above the Vistula River. Visit Wawel Cathedral, where Polish kings were crowned. Pope John Paul II once served as archbishop here. Stroll through Glowny Square, passing beautiful Sukiennice Cloth Hall and the Jagiellonian University on your way to the enamelware factory where Oskar Schindler was able to save over 1,000 Jews from transport to the Platzow Concentration Camp in Krakow. This afternoon, you can bear witness to life in the camps on an optional excursion to the former concentration camp of Auschwitz. (B)

$65 USD

Auschwitz *A Go Ahead Favorite excursion!* Pay your respects to the Jews who perished in the Nazi death camps on your visit to Auschwitz today, a somber place that reminds anyone who passes under the sign “Arbeit Macht Frei”, or “work makes (one) free,” never to forget the horrors of the Holocaust.

Day 13 - Warsaw

Spend the morning exploring the Jewish Quarter of Krakow on a walking tour, including a stop at the Remuh Synagogue, an elegant 16th-century synagogue that is the only one in the city still in active use. Later, arrive in the capital city of Warsaw. Your tour director will assist with hotel check-in, after which dinner is included. (B, D)

Day 14 - Warsaw

Today’s guided tour of Warsaw takes you to Lazienki Park and through the Old Town to Starego Miasta Square, lined with Renaissance façades and baroque townhouses. At the Warsaw Historical Museum, see exhibits reflecting Poland’s perseverance in overcoming the effects of two World Wars and the Nazi occupation. This evening, opt for a traditional Polish dinner and Chopin recital. (B)

$99 USD

Chopin Recital & Dinner Enjoy a delightful recital of some of Chopin’s best loved music in an authentic age-old Polish castle and a dinner of local specialties at one of Warsaw’s fine restaurants.

Day 15 - Warsaw

Transfer to the airport for departure or continue to Berlin on our tour extension. (B)

Protect your investment with affordable travel protection

Basic Trip Cancellation/Interruption Coverage
Protect yourself in the event you need to cancel your trip or leave your tour unexpectedly due to an emergency. Or choose one of the comprehensive packages below, and receive a discounted rate!

TravelSafe Plus — For one low price, you’ll receive:

• Trip cancellation & interruption protection
• Medical & accident protection
• Baggage & property protection

TravelSafe Gold with Flight Cancellation Protection
Take advantage of the best possible deal for your investment dollar. For $60 USD more, you’ll get all of the above plus additional coverage (up to $1,000 USD) if the flight to your tour is cancelled due to reasons beyond your control.

Purchase your travel protection package early and receive an added benefit!
Purchase one of the above TravelSafe packages within 14 days of reserving your tour, and you’ll automatically receive AnyTime Travel Protection at no additional charge. This means you can cancel for any reason up to 72 hours prior to the departure of your initial flight and still protect your investment. You will be provided with a credit voucher towards your next Go Ahead tour.

What’s unique about these protection plans?

• Most primary travel protection companies don’t cover international travel.
• Under the AnyTime Travel Protection Plan, you can cancel for any reason and your investment is protected in the form of a credit voucher.
• Efekta travel protection covers lost or stolen cash while on tour.
• Efekta travel protection covers the cost towards replacement of valuable documents—such as passports, airline tickets and visas while on tour.
• In the event that your roommate cancels for a reason covered under the policy, you will be reimbursed for the single supplement fee, should you still choose to travel.
• The following policies are also available to be purchased separately:
  • Medical & Accident: $70 USD
  • Baggage & Property: $60 USD

Extended Protection Plan
The Extended Protection Plan allows you to purchase extended coverage for any travel you do before or after meeting up with your Go Ahead Tours tour group (with flights arranged by Go Ahead Tours).

For more detailed descriptions of the benefits available under Efekta Insurance International LTD's Travel Protection Plans please call 1-800-597-0350 or download a PDF copy of the Efekta Travel Protection booklet here.

Passport & Visa

This tour includes the following coutries: Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary and Germany (on extension). In order to enter these countries, U.S. citizens need a valid passport. The expiration date must extend at least six months beyond the date of your return to the United States. No visa is required for U.S. citizens. If you are not a U.S. citizen, you must contact each country’s consulate for your specific entry requirements.

Health

There are no major health risks when traveling to Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary or Germany. However, it is always advisable to check with your doctor or health-care provider for the latest updates and overseas travel requirements.

Transportation / Walking on tour

Round-trip flights arrive in Budapest and depart from Warsaw. Included transportation on “Eastern European Treasures” is by private motorcoach (and by train on extension to Berlin). In your free time, you may wish to
explore the cities by public transportation.

Budapest also has an all-inclusive transportation system, with links between the metro, “green trains,” yellow trams and red trolley buses. Purchase tickets from newspaper stands, vending machines or metro entrances.

Vienna has a similar system and is even more efficient. You can purchase tickets in singles or in bulk for S-bahn (above ground), U-bahn(underground), tram and bus lines. The waiting time for trains and subways is usually no more than five to 10 minutes. Prague, Warsaw and Krakow are all wellserved by trams, local buses and taxis, if you need to explore beyond the main attractions. Otherwise, they are best accessed on foot.

In Berlin, an extensive system of S-bahn, U-bahn, tram, train and bus lines serve every corner of the city. One ticket covers all types of transportation.

Clothing & Packing Tips

Light, loose-fitting clothing that provides comfort when exploring the sights is essential for your tour. A sun hat, sunglasses and a sturdy pair of walking shoes or sneakers are recommended for sightseeing. It’s always a good idea to be prepared for any eventuality—a lightweight sports jacket and emergency rainwear are advised. If you plan to visit an especially elegant restaurant or attend the opera or theater, you will probably feel more comfortable with something more formal to wear. Also, remember that it is preferable not to visit churches or other religious sites with bare legs and shoulders (and entrance may be denied on this basis).

Be sure to visit www.travelsmith.com, official outfitter for Go Ahead Tours. Please enter JY9220 in the field for Catalog Key Code when creating your account!

Currency

The currencies that you’ll use on your tour are the euro in Budapest and Vienna and the Czech koruna in Prague. ATMs are easily accessible throughout Budapest, Vienna and Prague. Major American credit cards are accepted in all three cities. We suggest that you inform your bank and credit card company of your travel plans so that they won’t confuse your international travel purchases for fraudulent charges.

Tipping

At the conclusion of your tour it is customary to offer your Go Ahead Tour Director and driver a gratuity.

We recommend €2 per person per day for your driver and €4 to €6 per person for your tour director. If applicable, we also recommend €1 per local guide.

Tips may only be paid in cash.