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Overview Itinerary Reviews Hotels, flights & FAQ

A Week in Eastern Europe: Prague, Kraków & Budapest

with Budapest extension

Duration: 9 or 11 days
Group size: 15-38

Spend a week tracing the shared history of four distinct nations.

Eastern Europe was at the center of many of the 20th century’s most significant political movements. Travel to Prague, Kraków, Budapest, the rural High Tatras mountains, and the Tokaj wine region to understand how the area’s complex past has shaped each destination’s culture. As you venture from city to countryside, learn about the local traditions from the resilient people who call this region home.

Your tour package includes

7 nights in handpicked hotels
7 breakfasts
1 lunch
3 dinners with beer or wine
1 wine tasting

Included highlights

Prague Castle
Wawel Cathedral
Slovakian cheesemaking demonstration
Kežmarok
Tokaj wine tasting

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Day-by-day itinerary

Overnight flight1 night

Day 1: Travel day

Board your overnight flight to Prague today.

Prague2 nights

Day 2: Arrival in Prague

Included meal: Dinner

Welcome to the Czech Republic! Meet your Tour Director and fellow travelers at tonight’s welcome dinner.

Day 3: Sightseeing tour of Prague

Included meal: Breakfast

Discover why Prague is known as the “City of One Hundred Spires” on a guided tour.

Visit Prague Castle, from which Charles IV governed the Holy Roman Empire
Admire the soaring Gothic vaults of St. Vitus Cathedral
Walk down to the Malá Strana district to sip a coffee at a local cafe
Cross the elegant Charles Bridge for breathtaking views of the city
Stroll through Old Town Square to view the 15th-century Astronomical Clock

Enjoy free time in Prague or add an excursion.

Evening in Prague: River Cruise & Dinner

Excursion (additional cost)

Kraków2 nights

Day 4: Transfer to Kraków

Included meal: Breakfast

Travel to Kraków, Poland and spend a free evening in the city or add an excursion.

Polish Cooking Class & Dinner

Excursion (additional cost)

Day 5: Sightseeing tour of Kraków

Included meal: Breakfast

Meet your local guide for a tour of Kraków, Poland’s former royal capital.

Pass Oskar Schindler’s Enamel Factory and visit the old Jewish ghetto
Discover Wawel Hill, perched high above the Vistula River
Visit Wawel Cathedral to see where Polish kings were crowned
Stroll past beautiful Sukiennice Cloth Hall and the Jagiellonian University, arriving in Glowny Square

Enjoy free time in Kraków or add an excursion.

Auschwitz

Excursion (additional cost)

High Tatras Region1 night

Day 6: High Tatras Region via Ždiar, cheesemaking demonstration & Kežmarok

Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Travel to the High Tatras region to soak in the mountain views and experience the culture of the Slovakian countryside.

Stop in the tiny village of Ždiar to view the painted wooden houses that the area is known for
Visit a Slovakian farm to meet a cheesemaker at their workshop and see how they make ornate egg-shaped cheese blocks
Visit Kežmarok and enter the town’s UNESCO-listed wooden articular church to learn about its fascinating history

Continue on to your hotel in the High Tatras region and sit down for an included dinner this evening.

Please note: The order of today’s activities is subject to change.

Budapest 2 nights

Day 7: Budapest via Tokaj wine region

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Wine tasting

Pass through the rolling hills of the Slovakian countryside and cross into Hungary to visit the Tokaj wine region.

Discover the history of Europe’s first appellation, or controlled wine region
Learn about the regulations winemakers must follow in order to create a true Tokaj wine and how these rules inspired the designation of other appellations including Champagne, Chianti, and Burgundy
Tour the vineyard and wine cellar to hear about the characteristics of the wine
Sample four types of Tokaj wine, including the famous sweet dessert varietal
Sit down to enjoy a lunch of Hungarian specialties at the winery

After, continue on to Budapest.

Day 8: Sightseeing tour of Budapest

Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Discover the landmarks of both Buda and Pest in the city that straddles east and west.

Trace this nation’s stormy history at Heroes’ Square
Enter the lavishly decorated Hungarian Parliament building and take a guided tour
Cross the Danube to Buda and ascend Castle Hill
Take in the breathtaking views from Fisherman’s Bastion
Step inside the medieval Matthias Church, once the site of Hapsburg coronations

Celebrate your trip at a farewell dinner this evening.

Day 9: Departure

Included meal: Breakfast (excluding early morning departures)

Transfer to the airport for your flight home.

Extension to Budapest

Truly a tale of two cities, Budapest is a merger of Buda and Pest, two towns separated by the Danube River. Now known as "the Pearl of the Danube," Budapest is a peaceful yet progressive metropolis, offering plenty of shopping, as well as specialty Hungarian foods and wines.

Budapest2 nights

Day 9: Free day in Budapest

Included meal: Breakfast

Spend a free day in Budapest or add excursions.

Budapest: A Walk Behind the Iron Curtain

Excursion (additional cost)

Budapest Home-Hosted Dinner

Excursion (additional cost)

Day 10: Free day in Budapest

Included meal: Breakfast

Enjoy a free day in Budapest or add an excursion.

Raise a glass and toast to your trip with a farewell drink this evening.

Budapest Bath & Spa Visit

Excursion (additional cost)

Day 11: Departure

Included meal: Breakfast (excluding early morning departures)

Transfer to the airport for your flight home.

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Hotels, flights, & FAQ

Here's the nitty-gritty—where you’ll stay, how you’ll get there, and what to know about your destination before you go.

Hotels

We handpick every hotel to strike the balance of comfort, location, and local charm. Specific accommodations will vary based on your departure date, but these are frequently used hotels for this tour and we're confident you'll be satisfied.

Flights

Round-trip flights are one more thing we handle to make your journey as smooth as possible. Our team of travel experts will find the best flight itinerary for you at a competitive rate, thanks to our partnerships with top airlines.

Add our airfare package and you'll get:

Round-trip flight for your tour
Airport transfers at your destination
A great price locked in today
24/7 support from our dedicated service team
Options for arriving early, staying longer, or requesting an upgrade
Flexible rebooking options if your tour itinerary changes

Find out more about flights

FAQ

Passport & visa requirements

This tour visits the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, and Hungary. In order to enter these countries, U.S. and Canadian citizens need a valid passport with an expiration date extending at least six months beyond the date of reentry.
We recommend having at least one blank passport page for entry stamps.
There is no visa required for U.S. or Canadian citizens.
If you are not a U.S. or Canadian citizen, you must contact each country’s consulate for your specific entry requirements.

Tour pace

You will walk for at least 2.5 hours daily across mostly flat terrain with some cobblestone streets, hills, and stairs.
Travelers should be healthy enough to participate in all included walks without assistance. Adding optional excursions may increase the total amount of walking on your tour.
You should feel comfortable managing your own baggage at times.
Go Ahead Tours and the Tour Director who accompanies your group are unable to provide special, individual mobility assistance to travelers on tour. The responsibility of the Tour Director is to ensure the group as a whole enjoys a relaxing and informative journey, and he or she cannot be relied upon to provide ongoing, individualized assistance to any one traveler.
If you have any mobility concerns or physical restrictions, please contact our Customer Experience Team.

Transportation & arrival information

Round-trip flights booked through Go Ahead Tours arrive in Prague and depart from Budapest. A representative from Go Ahead Tours will meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel. Please remain in the arrival lounge, as the representative might be escorting one of your fellow travelers to the bus at the time of your arrival.
Transfers to and from the airport at your destination are included for travelers who have purchased their flights through Go Ahead Tours. Travelers who purchase their own flights may request airport transfers with Go Ahead Tours for an additional cost.
All other included transportation on this tour is by private motor coach.

Baggage allowance

Please note that our travelers are limited to one checked bag and one carry-on bag per person due to storage limitations on motor coaches and other transfers, which may include train connections or flights.
Contact your airline(s) for baggage size and weight restrictions for your flights, which may include on-tour flights in addition to your round-trip flights to and from tour. Please note that your included on-tour flights may have more restrictive baggage limits.
Some airlines may impose additional charges if you choose to check any baggage or exceed baggage size and weight restrictions. Be advised that you are responsible for any baggage fees incurred on all flights.
Make sure you label your baggage and keep valuables, medication, and documents in your carry-on bag.

Clothing & packing tips

We recommend packing lightweight, loose-fitting clothing that can be easily layered to accommodate varying temperatures, as well as a light jacket or rainwear.
A sturdy pair of walking shoes or sneakers is recommended for sightseeing.
You may want to pack dressier attire if you plan to visit a high-end restaurant or attend a special performance.
It is preferable not to visit churches or other religious sites with bare legs and shoulders (and entrance may be denied on this basis).

Health

There are no major health risks associated with traveling to any of the countries on this tour.
At least 60 days prior to departure, check with your doctor or healthcare provider for the latest updates and entry requirements, or visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention website at cdc.gov.
If you have medication that you take daily, be sure you have enough for each day of the tour as well as any possible delays encountered.
If you have dietary restrictions and/or food allergies please notify Go Ahead Tours at least 30 days prior to departure by logging in to your account and updating your traveler info. To update this information closer to your departure date, please call our Customer Experience Team.

Cuisine

Czech food is hearty, and you’ll find large portions of veal, beef, and potato dishes. Some of the world’s finest beers are produced here, including the original Budweiser and Pils.
When in Poland, fill up on favorites like kielbasa and pierogi. Don’t miss out on trying the bagels—they were born here.
Slovakian cuisine shares many characteristics with its neighbors. Dishes are rooted in a history where villages had to be self-sufficient, and easy-to-preserve staples like wheat, potatoes, pork, onions, and sauerkraut remain favorites.
Hungary claims goulash as its national dish, but also is known for excellent salamis, cheeses, nut-flavored pancakes, freshwater fish, and preserved fruits.

Electricity & air conditioning

All destinations visited on this tour operate on the European standard 220-240 volts and use Types C, E, or F plugs with two small, round pins.
We recommend packing a universal adapter, as well as a voltage converter if you plan on using your own hairdryer or other device without a built-in converter.
The strength of the air conditioning in European hotels is often not as strong or as cool as what you might be used to in the U.S. or Canada. When air conditioning is available, it is usually regulated seasonally and controlled centrally by the hotel.
Your hotels may provide hairdryers, irons, and other small appliances. However, these amenities cannot be guaranteed.

Connectivity

Wi-Fi is available in most hotels, though some charges may apply.
There is no Wi-Fi on any of the motor coaches.
Please contact your mobile service provider for information on roaming charges.

Time zones

All destinations visited on this tour are one hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and six hours ahead of Eastern Time (ET).
When it’s noon in New York, it’s 6pm on tour.

Currency

You will use the Czech koruna in the Czech Republic, the Polish złoty in Poland, the euro in Slovakia, and the Hungarian forint in Hungary.
Better rates of exchange are usually available overseas, although it’s worth ordering some currency from your local bank to use when you first arrive.
We strongly advise that you take debit/bank cards and credit cards, which can be used to withdraw cash at local banks as needed.
You can use most debit/credit cards at ATMs on the international networks Cirrus and Plus, but make sure to check with your home bank about withdrawal fees.
Inform your bank and credit card company of your travel plans so that they won’t confuse your international purchases for fraudulent charges.
International banks and businesses primarily accept debit and credit cards that work with the EMV chip system. If you do not already have at least one debit or credit card with a chip in it, we strongly recommend requesting one from your bank prior to your tour.

Tipping

At the conclusion of your tour, it’s customary to offer your Tour Director and driver a gratuity in local currency. Please keep current exchange rates in mind.
We recommend tipping the equivalent of $7USD to $10USD per person per day for your Tour Director and the equivalent of $3USD per person per day for your driver.
If applicable, we also recommend the equivalent of $2USD per local guide.
Tips can only be paid in cash.

Purchasing excursions on tour

Most optional excursions will be available for purchase while you are on tour.
Your Tour Director will only accept cash (in USD only), Visa, or MasterCard as payment for excursions.
Please be advised that if you pay for an excursion by credit card while on tour, it may take up to three months for your card to be charged.
some optional excursions may only be purchased in advance. See page four of your tour itinerary for more information.