Budapest – Vienna: Villages Along the Danube

We’ll enjoy a hearty breakfast at the hotel and set off for Budapest, the stunning capital of Hungary. On our first day in Budapest, we’ll visit Heroes’ Square with the Millennium Monument and admire Republic Avenue with its well-preserved buildings during a city tour. We’ll see Heroes’ Square, with the Millennium Monument, St. Stephen’s Cathedral, and admire Republic Avenue with its well-preserved buildings and the imposing Baroque-style Parliament Building. We’ll continue to another unique spot, the famous Budapest City Park (Városliget), a vast park near the city center. First, we’ll visit Vajdahunyad Castle, one of the 10 most impressive castles in Europe! Built in 1896, it showcases the country’s architectural evolution over the centuries. Then we’ll head to Buda and climb up to Buda Castle, the grand 17th-century palace built by Maria Theresa, walk through the flower-filled garden, and admire the panoramic view of Buda and Pest. Next, we’ll walk to Fishermen’s Hill, where we’ll see the castles and Matthias Church, where the coronations of the kings took place. Then we’ll cross over to Pest via the Lions’ Bridge. We’ll see St. Stephen’s Cathedral, admire the massive Baroque-style Parliament Building, and the “Shoes on the Danube Bank” memorial, a monument erected in 2005 in memory of the Jews, titled “Shoes on the Banks of the Danube,” commemorating the 3,500 people, 800 of whom were Jewish, who were shot into the Danube by Red Cross militiamen in 1944–45. For the evening, we recommend joining the “by night” tour we’re organizing to visit the most important landmarks, which are spectacularly illuminated. At the end, you’ll enjoy a cruise on the Danube to see the stunning architecture of Buda and Pest.

Breakfast and departure for an optional excursion to the city of Vienna. We’ll admire the Belvedere Palace, built by Eugene of Savoy, which today serves as an art gallery and the Museum of Modern Art. We’ll take a bus tour along the famous Ringstrasse (the ring road around the historic center), where we’ll see the Hofburg Palace, the twin museums of Art History and Natural History, the University, the Museum Quarter, the Parliament, City Hall, the old Imperial Theater, the Opera House, the Churches of St. Charles Borromeo and the Lichtkirche. Next, we’ll visit Schönbrunn Palace, the summer residence of Maria Theresa and the Habsburgs, with its magnificent gardens, and then we’ll walk through the Greek Quarter with the Greek Orthodox Church of the Holy Trinity and end up at St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Free time in this melodious city. Return to Budapest in the evening.

We’ll have a good breakfast and set off on a wonderful excursion to the Hungarian countryside. There are many beautiful places outside of Budapest as well. Today’s excursion to Hungary’s famous villages along the Danube is the most renowned of them all. On the beautiful route along the Danube, we’ll first stop at the picturesque village of St. Andrew, home to many famous artists. We’ll continue on to Visegrád, the birthplace of Charlemagne. Next is the first capital of the Hungarians, Esztergom, with its enormous cathedral, home to the Hungarian national shrine. At noon, we return to Budapest to have extra time to enjoy the city. In the evening, join us (optional) for one of the highlights of the trip: a unique dinner at a traditional Hungarian tavern, where spicy goulash and Gypsy fiddles will enchant you.