Budapest – Vienna – Danube Valley Villages (from Thessaloniki)

After breakfast, we’ll visit the lush City Park, the largest and most famous park in Budapest. We’ll walk around the impressive Vajdahunyad Castle, which combines different architectural styles and truly looks like something out of a fairy tale. In the same area are the park’s lake, the Zoo, and the famous Széchenyi Thermal Baths. Those who wish can visit the Széchenyi Baths and enjoy the indoor and outdoor heated pools, saunas, and relaxation areas. The experience of an authentic Hungarian spa is an integral part of any visit to Budapest. Next, we’ll head to the Great Central Market Hall, one of the city’s most iconic buildings. Here we’ll find local products, Hungarian cured meats, paprika, wines, sweets, and souvenirs. We’ll continue with a stroll down Váci Street, Vörösmarty Square, and the riverside promenade in Pest. We’ll also see the moving “Shoes on the Danube” memorial, dedicated to the victims of World War II. Next, we’ll visit the bustling Jewish Quarter. We’ll see the exterior of the Great Synagogue on Dohány Street and walk through the Gozsdu district, with its indoor arcades, small shops, restaurants, and famous ruin bars. There will be free time for shopping, dining, or having coffee in the historic center. In the evening, you can optionally join a traditional Hungarian dinner featuring local flavors, goulash, wine, live music, and Budapest’s famous Gypsy fiddles.

After breakfast, we set out on one of Hungary’s most beautiful excursions, following the spectacular Danube Bend. Our first stop is the picturesque town of Szentendre, known in Greek as Agios Andreas. This small, artistic town is built on the banks of the Danube and is renowned for its cobblestone alleys, colorful houses, Baroque churches, art galleries, and small shops selling traditional products. We’ll stroll through the historic center, learn about the region’s unique connection to the Greek and Serbian communities, and have time for coffee or shopping in the beautiful pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods. We’ll continue on to Visegrád, the medieval castle town that towers over the Danube Bend. From the area’s panoramic vantage points, we’ll enjoy one of the most impressive views of the river and the lush green valley. Our next stop is Esztergom, the former capital of Hungary and an important religious center of the country. We’ll visit the area around the imposing Basilica, Hungary’s largest church, which is situated in a prime location overlooking the Danube and the border with Slovakia. After our tour is complete, we’ll head to Vienna, where we’ll take an initial panoramic tour of the historic center of the Austrian capital; among other sights, we’ll see City Hall Square, the historic Café Landtmann, Freyung Square, and the famous Palais Ferstel, home to Café Central. We will then be transferred to the hotel and check into our rooms.

After breakfast, we’ll begin our tour of Vienna. We’ll see the colorful and unique Hundertwasserhaus complex, followed by the Baroque Belvedere Palace complex, which is surrounded by stunning gardens and houses one of the most important collections of Austrian art. We’ll pass through Karlplatz, the imposing Karlskirche, and the Musikverein concert hall. Next, we’ll enter the famous Ringstrasse, the boulevard that encircles the city’s historic center. Along the way, we’ll see the State Opera House, the imperial Hofburg, Maria-Theresien-Platz, the twin museums of Art History and Natural History, the MuseumsQuartier, the Parliament, City Hall, the Burgtheater, the University, and the neo-Gothic Votivkirche. We’ll continue with a walking tour of the historic center. We’ll visit the Greek Quarter, see the Orthodox Church of the Holy Trinity, and walk to St. Stephen’s Cathedral, the Graben, and the Kohlmarkt. Next, we’ll visit the famous Schönbrunn Palace, where we’ll have the opportunity to tour the interior of the palace and stroll through its magnificent gardens, taking plenty of souvenir photos, Later, there will be free time in downtown Vienna for shopping on Kärntner Strasse and Mariahilfer Strasse, visiting a museum, or enjoying a coffee at one of the city’s famous historic pastry shops. In the evening, we recommend attending a Viennese concert featuring works by Mozart, Strauss, and other great composers. A unique experience that perfectly rounds out our exploration of the city of music.

After breakfast and check-out from the hotel, we set off for the famous Vienna Woods, a lush green area on the southwestern outskirts of Vienna that has served as a source of inspiration for great musicians and artists. Our first stop is the historic Heiligenkreuz Abbey, one of Austria’s most important monastic complexes, nestled within the lush landscape of the Vienna Woods. We continue on to Mayerling, known for the tragic story of the heir to the Austrian throne, Prince Rudolf, and Baroness Maria Vetsera. We’ll explore the area of the former imperial hunting lodge, which is linked to one of the greatest mysteries of the Habsburg dynasty. Our next stop is the elegant spa town of Baden. We’ll stroll through its historic center, see the famous casino, City Hall, Hauptplatz, the plague monument, and the house where Beethoven worked on his Ninth Symphony. Next, we’ll visit the well-known Parndorf Designer Outlet, where you’ll have free time to shop at stores featuring international designer brands. Later, we’ll head to the airport for our return flight, filled with beautiful memories and experiences from a comprehensive tour of three of Central Europe’s most beautiful capitals.

Notes: The order of the itinerary may vary depending on circumstances, without any omissions.