Grand Imperial Cities

Your central European vacation begins as you land in Vienna, the capital of Austria, and transfer independently to our hotel. After checking in to our hotel, there is time to explore or unwind.

As the former capital of the Habsburg Empire, Vienna is a great city to explore, with stately Baroque buildings appearing around almost every corner. Strolling northwards beside the 14th-century Augustinian Church, which contains a grand altar and Habsburg urns, you can find its understated entrance on Josefplatz. This opulent square was named in honor of Emperor Franz Josef II and is lined by grand buildings, including the Palais Pallavicini, one of many locations still recognizable from the classic film noir, The Third Man. Continuing onto Herrengasse, you encounter the palatial Renaissance and Baroque residences of noble families from the 17th and 18th centuries, including the stucco Palais Daun-Kinsky opposite the historic Schottenkirche, which has a remarkable interior.

We regroup this evening to enjoy dinner at an Austrian restaurant. Overnight Vienna.

• Dinner

A sightseeing tour after breakfast reveals Vienna's imperial architecture. The grand Ringstrasse boulevard encircles the Old City and our local guide show us the neo-Renaissance Vienna State Opera topped by bronze statues, and the sweeping entrance to the neoclassical Parliament.

The centerpiece of this influential boulevard is the Hofburg Palace, which symbolizes the dominance of the Habsburgs who ruled over large swaths of Europe from here between 1273 and 1918. Expanded over the centuries by various emperors, the Hofburg boasts preeminent examples of Gothic, Baroque and Renaissance architecture among its passageways and courtyards. Our next stop is the Habsburgs' summer residence, Schönbrunn Palace. We enjoy a guided tour of the palace's immaculate state rooms, concluding with an apple strudel show, a hot drink and strudel tasting. Afterwards, there is time to stroll Schönbrunn's manicured gardens.

The rest of the day is free to utilize your newly acquired knowledge or relax in an attractive park. This evening, you dine independently and could try local specialties such as a Wiener schnitzel or a glass of chilled Grüner Veltliner wine. Overnight Vienna.

• Breakfast

A free day provides ample opportunity to continue exploring Vienna at your own pace.

You could visit the Upper and Lower Belvedere Palaces close to our hotel or marvel at the incredible Lipizzan dancing horses at the Spanish Riding School near the Hofburg (pre-booking is required for performances). The beating heart of Vienna is its towering medieval cathedral, St Stephen's. At the top of this Gothic masterpiece, you'll be rewarded with one of the city's best views. For a more laid-back way to enjoy Vienna's skyline, head to the Prater Gardens to ride the Wiener Riesenrad - a giant Ferris wheel that was the world's tallest for much of the 20th century.

A visit to a Viennese coffeehouse is an ideal way to experience local life. Renowned for their 'gemütlichkeit' - warmth and friendliness - they serve a range of coffees from the mélange to the decadent, cream-topped einspänner, along with enticing cakes. The delicious Sachertorte was invented in Café Sacher, one of the city's most elegant and historic coffeehouses along with cafés Landtmann and Central. Overnight Vienna

• Breakfast

This morning, we bid farewell to Austria and continue our adventure by heading east into Hungary by train.

Arriving in Budapest in the early afternoon, we embark on a guided coach tour to view this fascinating city's impressive buildings and monuments. Enroute, we admire the piercing spires of the iconic neo-Gothic Parliament building, Buda's huge castle, the Gothic Matthias Church and the swirling towers of Fisherman's Bastion, which provide incredible views of the river and Pest. In the early evening, we travel to Óbuda for dinner in a traditional restaurant that, combined with its serene surroundings, gives the feeling of being in a pleasant Hungarian village.

After dinner, we enjoy a vacation highlight as we sail down the Danube on an evening cruise, before returning to our hotel on a quiet street on the Pest side. The cruise is one of the best ways to see this beautiful city as the sights we saw during the day - including the spectacular Parliament building - are now illuminated, casting a magical glow across the Danube. Overnight Budapest.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Traveling to Széchenyihegy in the Buda Hills after breakfast, we board the narrow-gauge Children's Railway for an utterly charming rail journey that winds through peaceful forests.

The intention of the seven-mile railway was to teach children additional skills, and it's a delightful way to spend 40 minutes. Perfectly turned out in immaculate uniforms, Hungarian schoolchildren carry out all the roles you would expect from railway staff, except for driving the trains. In open carriages, the children check tickets, salute departures and blow their whistles with vigor. At the end of the line in Hűvösvölgy, we return to our hotel and have the rest of the day at leisure.

You might like to unwind with a visit to one of the ornate spas dotted around the city, such as the Art Deco Gellért thermal baths or the neo-Baroque Széchenyi medicinal baths near Heroes Square. For something slightly different, you could visit Memento Park to view salvaged Communist statues that adorned the city's streets between 1949 and 1989. This evening, you are free to dine independently. Overnight Budapest.

• Breakfast

Leaving Budapest after breakfast, we board the train to Prague. Winding alongside the Danube, we soon enjoy great views of the Danube Bend and the hilltop Visegrád citadel before crossing the plains of southern Slovakia.

In Czechia, we travel through Brno before arriving in Prague in late afternoon. Dubbed 'The City of a Hundred Spires', the copper-domed churches of this majestic capital shimmer beside the winding Vltava River. On arrival, we check in to our modern hotel where there is time to relax. Our accommodation is in the cosmopolitan Smíchov area of Prague, on the western bank of the Vltava. The country is renowned for its brewing and this district is home to its second largest brewery, Staropramen.

This evening, we enjoy dinner in the hotel ready to head out on an exploration of Prague tomorrow. Overnight Prague.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Waking up in Prague, we embark on a guided walking tour after breakfast. Beginning at Prague Castle, we explore the largest medieval complex in Europe, dating from the 9th century. Bursting with history, the most eye-catching building is the huge Gothic St Vitus Cathedral, its south entrance adorned with golden mosaics. We also view the 10th-century St George's Basilica and the quaint Golden Lane, which used to house castle guards and goldsmiths.

Leaving the castle, we cross the famous 14th-century Charles Bridge, admiring the 75 statues built along its walls, then stroll along cobbled lanes to the grand Old Town Square. As the focal point of Prague life since the 12th century, one of the square's most fascinating features is the renowned astronomical clock, installed in 1410.

The rest of the afternoon is at leisure. Wandering along winding lanes, picturesque buildings greet you round corners, often containing interesting and curious museums. This evening, you might wish to stop at one of the city's many fine eateries for some hearty and delicious Czech food and a glass of frothy beer. Overnight Prague.

• Breakfast

Enjoy a day at leisure uncovering more wonders of Czechia's capital today. Prague's downtown offers a magnificent array of options, and you may wish to see the sights during a relaxing cruise on the Vltava.

Prague has long had a taste for the quirky and fantastical, reflected in the works of one of its favorite sons, writer Franz Kafka. There are many statues of Kafka to be discovered, including a rotating, kinetic representation of his head, and one inspired by his short story 'Description of a Struggle' near the Spanish Synagogue. With an exterior evoking Andalucía's Alhambra, the Spanish Synagogue is appropriately named, containing ornate decorations influenced by Moorish design. This is just one of the beautiful locations in Josefov, Prague's thought-provoking Jewish Quarter which relays the long history of Jewish Prague.

After sightseeing, gourmet restaurants, cocktail bars and trendy cafés are easy to find. If you're looking for something more authentic, you can enjoy pork with dumplings and beer in a traditional pub or 'hospody' down one of the Old Town's many charming lanes. Overnight Prague.

• Breakfast

Today, we leave Prague on a train bound for the German capital, passing the wonderful sandstone cliffs of Bohemian Switzerland enroute.

We arrive in Berlin in mid-afternoon and, after checking in to our hotel, we view the city's sights with a local guide. The tour uncovers Berlin's fascinating history, contrasting it with the city's vibrant present. Our first stops are near our hotel and signify how much this city has changed in the past few decades. In 1961, at the height of the Cold War, the Berlin Wall was constructed to stop East Germans fleeing to the west. After visiting the infamous Checkpoint Charlie, we get our first view of the Wall. Our thought-provoking tour concludes at the Brandenburg Gate - a spectacular 18th-century neoclassical monument that is now a symbol of unity.

You might find time to try a bratwurst or pretzel for an authentic taste of German cuisine, or a currywurst - a favorite of Berliners. You are also free to enjoy dinner independently tonight, and Berlin boasts an impressive range of restaurants catering for all tastes. Overnight Berlin.

• Breakfast

Your day is free to continue exploring at your own pace. Visiting the Norman Foster-designed glass dome and roof terrace of the Reichstag is possible with prior registration and offers spectacular city views.

In the old East Berlin, the East Side Gallery is a long stretch of the Wall beside the Spree River now decorated in colorful and often iconic street art. To the north of the city is Bernauer Strasse, along which the Berlin Wall used to run, and the Berlin Wall Memorial can be visited at the western end of the street. Viewing the Wall in this location brings home how loved ones and neighbors were separated for nearly 30 years.

Elsewhere, Museum Island comprises captivating galleries and museums, including the Pergamon Museum. Alternatively, you could wander through the extensive Tiergarten to Berlin Zoo or the Bauhaus Archive. Further out, Charlottenburg Palace is the only remaining royal residence from the Hohenzollern dynasty, while Potsdam is home to the Baroque flower gardens of Park Sanssouci.

This evening, we have our final group dinner together at a local restaurant. Overnight Berlin.

• Breakfast, Dinner

This amazing vacation has revealed the beauty and history of four of central Europe's most impressive capital cities. From Vienna's classical grandeur to Berlin's emotive landmarks, we have sampled strudel at the Habsburg's imperial summer retreat, basked in the glow of an illuminated Danube cruise in Budapest and explored the stunning sights of magical Prague.

Your vacation concludes after breakfast in our hotel this morning, and you can transfer independently to Berlin airport to begin your journey home.

• Breakfast