AUSTRIA, CROATIA & HUNGARY
Day 1 - (Sat.) Board your overnight transatlantic flight. Day 2 - Arrival in Vienna, Austria. (Sun.) Time to rest or to explore the city, once the center of the mighty Habsburg Empire. At 6 p.m. meet your Tour Director and traveling companions for a welcome dinner at your hotel. (D) Day 3 - Vienna. (Mon.) Morning sightseeing with a Local Guide starts with vistas of Prater Park with its giant Ferris wheel and the United Nations City on the banks of the Danube River. Then drive along Ring Boulevard, pass the State Opera House and the Jewish quarter, and stop at the Hofburg Palace, winter residence of the Austrian Imperial family. Marvel at the impressive courtyards and famous Heldenplatz, and visit ST. STEPHEN'S CATHEDRAL. An optional excursion to Schönbrunn Palace and an evening out to one of Vienna's concert halls can be arranged. (BB) Day 4 - Vienna - Ljubljana, Slovenia - Lake Bled. (Tue.) Scenic Semmmering Pass, stately Styrian crossroads towns, and Carinthian lakes and resorts provide the ever-changing Alpine backdrop to today's journey through the loveliest parts of Austria to Slovenia and its elegant capital, Ljubljana. Sightseeing with a Local Guide features the medieval castle, the impressive City Hall, and a visit to magnificent ST. NICOLAS CATHEDRAL. Then continue to Lake Bled, where you will stay for the next two nights. (BB,D) Day 5 - At Leisure in Lake Bled. (Wed.) Enjoy a full day at leisure in this beautiful resort. There is plenty of time to explore on your own, to cruise on the lake, or to simply relax. Ask your Tour Director for suggestions. (BB,D) Day 6 - Lake Bled'Split, Croatia. (Thu.) A scenic day today: enter Croatia and enjoy the beautiful scenery on your way south towards the Dalmatian Coast and Split, the ancient Spalato. (BB,D) Day 7 - Split - Dubrovnik. (Fri.) Learn about the history of this captivating resort from your Local Guide and visit the labyrinth of 4th-century DIOCLETIAN'S PALACE, a well-preserved fortress and a living part of the Old Town. Time to explore the maze of shops and taverns. After lunch admire stunning seascapes as you drive along the Dalmatian Coast to Dubrovnik, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.(BB) Day 8 - Dubrovnik. (Sat.) Dubrovnik, beautifully situated on a promontory jutting into the Adriatic Sea, was once an independent maritime republic rivaling Venice. Your Local Guide takes you to the impressive ramparts, erected during the Crusades to protect the town against land attacks, and will show you the Francisan and Dominican monasteries. Then you will visit the 15th-century RECTOR'S PALACE. Afternoon and evening at leisure. (BB,D) Day 9 - At Leisure in Dubrovnik. (Sun.) A full day on your own to just relax. Ask your Tour Director for suggestions. (BB) Day 10 - Dubrovnik - Plitvice. (Mon.) Enjoy a pleasant drive north through the Croatian countryside to the Plitvice NATIONAL PARK, famous for its lakes, waterfalls, and forests. This is the perfect place to stay overnight and soak in the pure beauty of the area. (BB,D) Day 11 - Plitvice - Zagreb. (Tue.) A comfortable drive to Zagreb, capital of Croatia. Meet your Local Guide and start your afternoon sightseeing, which features all important landmarks of the Lower and medieval Upper Town, such as the Parliament, Stone Gate, the Archbishop's Palace, and more, plus a visit to the majestic CATHEDRAL. (BB,D) Day 12 - At Leisure in Zagreb. (Wed.) A whole day to explore the city on your own: wander through the main center and browse through the shops, or visit one of the excellent museums and art galleries. Your Tour Director has suggestions for exciting optional activities. Tonight is your chance to try out traditional dishes in one of Zagreb's excellent restaurants. (BB) Day 13 - Zagreb - Budapest, Hungary. (Thu.) Today leave Croatia and enter Hungary. Drive along Lake Balaton and stop to take pictures of the beautifully situated Abbey of Tihany before arriving in Budapest, Eastern Europe's most cosmopolitan city. Tonight, perhaps join an optional dinner outing. (BB) Day 14 - Budapest. (Fri.) Your Local Guide takes you through Eastern Europe's most cosmopolitan city. See elegant Andrassy Avenue, the Thermal Baths, and the world's second-largest Jewish Synagogue. From the lacy lookout towers of Fishermen's Bastion enjoy a panoramic view of the sprawling city. Then visit the 13th-century MATTHIAS CORONATION CHURCH and Heroes" Square. The afternoon is at leisure, and tonight a farewell dinner has been prepared at the hotel to celebrate the success of your Eastern European vacation. (BB,D) Day 15 - (Sat.) Your homebound flight arrives the same day. (BB) |
