Cosmos
On this splendid Central Europe tour, you’ll discover parts of the former Habsburg Empire. Your adventure starts in Prague and ends in Budapest. You’ll overnight in some of Central Europe's most exciting cities: Prague, Vienna, and Budapest. Expert Local Guides share the history and secrets of each of these unique cities with included sightseeing tours. Among the sights you will see in Prague are Charles Bridge, dating to 1357 and one of the oldest stone bridges in Europe, and the Astronomical Clock. In Budapest, see the Parliament building, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and considered one of the world’s most beautiful parliament buildings, as well as Fishermen’s Bastion, which overlooks the city and the Danube. In Vienna, view the Hofburg, the palatial complex and the political focal point for the Hapsburgs. You’ll have time on your own in Vienna to sit in a café with a piece of scrumptious Sachertorte, or explore the inside of St. Stephen’s Cathedral with its Romanesque and gothic architecture. You’ll also stop in Bratislava, Slovakia’s capital city, to venture discovering its highlights, such as the castle, a dominant feature of the city for centuries. Vibrant cities and historic sights-along with some beautiful scenery of the Danube River-make this an exciting tour through Central Europe for value-minded travel lovers.
Featured Destinations
Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is dominated by imperial castles and places: Schonbrunn, the magnificent summer residence, the Imperial Coach Collection, the Palm House, the Butterfly House, Belvedere Palace, magnificent state rooms in Hofburg, and the imperial crown in the Treasury. Stop by Ringstraße - the showplace of the monarchy built where Emperor Franz Joseph ordered the demolition of city walls. Important buildings include the State Opera, the Museums of Fine Arts and Natural History, Parliament, City Hall and Vienna University. The world capital of music. A long line of great composers Johann Strauss, Haydn and Mozart, Beethoven and Schubert, Mahler and Schonberg all worked here. A city with splendid concert halls, such as the Golden Hall, from which the Philharmonic's New Year's Day concert is broadcast annually. International stars love to appear here in the State Opera, Volksoper, Konzerthaus, and at festivals like the Vienna Festival, the Klangbogen concerts during the Musical Summer, the Jazz Festval and the Haydn, Mozart and Schubert festivals.
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Destination Guide
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Prague
Prague
Amid Prague's cobblestone streets and gold-tip spires, galleries, cafes, and clubs teem with young Czechs and "expatriates." New shops and restaurants have opened, expanding the city's culinary reach beyond the traditional roast pork and dumplings. The arts and theater also thrive in Prague. Young playwrights regularly stage their works, weekly poetry readings are standing room only, and classical music maintains famous standards, while the clubs are jammed. The arts - nonverbal theater, "installation" art, world music - are as trendy in Prague as in any European capital but possess distinctive Czech flavor. All of this is set against a stunning backdrop of towering churches and centuries-old bridges and alleyways. Prague achieved much of its glory in the 14th century, during the long reign of Charles IV, king of Bohemia and Moravia and Holy Roman Emperor. Charles established a university in the city and laid out the New Town, charting Prague's growth. Prague Castle is the most popular sight and is the largest ancient castle in the world with three courtyards.
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Destination Guide
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Budapest
Budapest
Caught between eastern and western Europe, Budapest has a character uniquely its own. It's also the last cheap, civilised city in Europe. Budapest can seem like one big sight, with each phase in its history, from the Ottoman period until the Communist days and from renaissance to revolution, leaving its mark on the city. For the tourist, a trip to Hungary's capital is dominated by the majestic sights of Buda. In the summer, there are open-air festivals at Szeged, Diosgyor Castle in Miskolc, Gyor and Pecs. Visit the former Royal Palace complex, the Matyas templom and the Belvaros. Margaret Island is a giant recreational park and feels pleasantly separated from the city bustle. Hungarian National Gallery houses Hungarian art since the birth of the nation. Although Esztergom is Hungary's most sacred city, home of the Archbishop and the nation's biggest church, it has a real-life edge. The first-time visitor to Szeged is invariably struck by its space and grandeur. One's immediate impressions of Hungary's third largest provincial city are of greenery and plazas, of broad.
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Destination Guide
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Valid Date Ranges
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April 2025
04/25/2025 |
05/01/2025 |
$1,599 per person
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May 2025
05/23/2025 |
05/29/2025 |
$1,469 per person
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June 2025
06/06/2025 |
06/12/2025 |
$1,669 per person
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06/20/2025 |
06/26/2025 |
$1,469 per person
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July 2025
07/04/2025 |
07/10/2025 |
$1,599 per person
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07/18/2025 |
07/24/2025 |
$1,599 per person
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August 2025
08/01/2025 |
08/07/2025 |
$1,599 per person
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08/15/2025 |
08/21/2025 |
$1,669 per person
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08/29/2025 |
09/04/2025 |
$1,599 per person
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September 2025
09/12/2025 |
09/18/2025 |
$1,699 per person
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09/26/2025 |
10/02/2025 |
$1,669 per person
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October 2025
10/10/2025 |
10/16/2025 |
$1,669 per person
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10/24/2025 |
10/30/2025 |
$1,599 per person
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December 2025
12/05/2025 |
12/11/2025 |
$1,499 per person
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12/12/2025 |
12/18/2025 |
$1,499 per person
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12/26/2025 |
01/01/2026 |
$1,799 per person
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