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Eastern Europe Escapade: 11 days Prague to Budapest

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Operated by Emerald Cruises
Tripcode: AU-a7d5a3bda9ed9b65c
Overview
Destination:
Czech Republic
Hungary
Duration:11 days
Travel Period
August 2026 - October 2027

Journey through the ages of Eastern Europe

History books, local traditions, and rich cultural heritage come vividly to life on this unforgettable journey through the heart of Eastern Europe and four enthralling nations – the Czech Republic, Germany, Poland and Hungary.
Your journey begins with a three-night stay in Prague, and time to explore the Czech capital’s storybook beauty and cobbled streets lined with Gothic masterpieces. Wander through the city’s centuries-old squares, marvel at Prague Castle’s imposing architecture, and cross the legendary Charles Bridge adorned with statues of saints. Discover the restored grandeur of Dresden, and its celebrated Baroque architecture and porcelain heritage. In Berlin, uncover layers of history from the Brandenburg Gate to Checkpoint Charlie, as you witness iconic landmarks that trace the German capital’s transformation from division to reunification and artistic creativity. Experience Warsaw’s remarkable energy as centuries of resilience unfold through its rebuilt Old Town and royal past. Travel onward to Kraków, Continue to Kraków, where timeless medieval alleys frame emotive landmarks, including the historic Wawel Castle and St. Mary’s Church. Your visit to Auschwitz offers a moving tribute to Europe’s past. Cross through the rugged Tatra Mountains into Budapest, Hungary’s spellbinding capital. With its millennia of history, World Heritage-listed quarter along the Danube and modern-day vibrancy, Budapest presents a grand finale to your magical journey through Eastern Europe.
Highlights:
Standard inclusions
  • 10 nights in centrally-located hotels
  • Guided tour of Prague
  • Dresden with New Green Vault Museum visit
  • Tour of Berlin
  • Guided walking tour of Warsaw + Royal Castle
  • Guided walking tour of Krakow
  • Highlight dinner in Prague
  • Highlight dinner with concert
  • Dinner with Hungarian folklore show
  • 16 delectable meals including 10 breakfasts (B), 3 lunches (L), 3 dinners (D)
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Itinerary
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Day 1 - Prague

Welcome to Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic. On arrival at the airport, you will be met and transferred to your centrally located hotel for a three-night stay. This evening, meet your Tour Director and fellow travellers for a welcome drink.

Day 2 - Prague

Prague is a storybook city of cobbled lanes, soaring spires and riverside charm. Its UNESCO-listed historic centre stretches from the iconic Charles Bridge up to hilltop Prague Castle, taking in Old Town Square and its famous Astronomical Clock. Cosy cafés, jazz bars and traditional beer halls are tucked into centuries-old streets and courtyards. Compact and walkable, Prague layers its rich architectural heritage with a lively contemporary food and arts scene, creating an atmosphere that feels at once romantic, vibrant and unmistakably authentic.

After this morning’s included excursion, explore more of this captivating Czech capital at your leisure. Your Tour Director will be more than happy to help you plan your day.

Included Excursion
Guided tour of Prague
Begin today’s walking tour at the World Heritage-listed Prague Castle complex. Built originally in the 9th century, Prague Castle has long served as the seat of power for kings of Bohemia, Holy Roman emperors, and presidents of Czechoslovakia. After passing through three castle courtyards, visit St. Vitus Cathedral, then continue down the Castle steps, admiring wonderful vistas across this stunning city. Cross the pedestrian Charles Bridge, built in the 15th century and lined with statues of Catholic saints, before reaching the Old Town of Prague. Your fascinating tour concludes in front of the famous medieval Astronomical Clock in the Old Town Square.

EmeraldPLUS
Highlight dinner in Prague
This evening, enjoy a highlight dinner and night with your fellow guests at a local restaurant in Prague.

Day 3 - Prague

Enjoy your final day in Prague, continuing to explore this beautiful city and taking in the well-preserved architecture at leisure or choose to join an optional Emerald DiscoverMORE excursion.

DiscoverMORE
Tastes of Czechia (extra expense)
During today’s guided tour, learn about the great variety of Czech wines. A short walk from your hotel will lead you through some of the city's most interesting hidden corners before arriving at a local restaurant. Meet your sommelier and enjoy a welcome drink of Czech sparkling wine, followed by a selection of red, white and Rosé wines, all accompanied by traditional charcuterie and cheeses carefully selected to complement each glass.
Duration; 2.5 hours, Activity level: Easy

Day 4 - Prague - Dresden - Berlin

Today, you’ll depart Prague and then drive along the Elbe Valley to Germany, stopping first at Dresden, known as Florence on the Elbe. Later, you’ll arrive in Berlin, the dynamic German capital, where you’ll enjoy a two-night stay in a centrally located hotel.

Included Excursion
Dresden with New Green Vault Museum visit
On this morning’s included tour in Dresden, you’ll experience the Frauenkirche, the Castle of the Electors of Saxony and the New Green Vault, which houses an exquisite collection of iconic Meissen porcelain.

Day 5 - Berlin

Berlin, the capital of Germany, is an enticing blend of powerful history and bold creativity. Grand squares and stately Prussian landmarks give way to leafy parks, canal-side paths and neighbourhoods where repurposed factories hum with galleries, cafés and music venues. Layers of 20th-century history are never far from view, yet the city feels resolutely forward-looking, fuelled by art, ideas and an easygoing local lifestyle. It’s a destination of reflection and reinvention, where culture, creativity and everyday life come together in one compelling urban experience.

Included Excursion
Tour of Berlin
On this morning’s orientation tour of Berlin, you’ll get to know more about the capital of Germany and its storied history. Following the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, Berlin transformed into the impressive and exciting metropolis that it is today. See the new Reichstag, the Brandenburg Gate, the State Opera House, and Alexander Platz. Visit the former Checkpoint Charlie and explore other significant sites linked to the era of the Iron Curtain.

DiscoverMORE
Tastes of Berlin (extra expense)
Dive into Berlin’s bold flavours on a tasting tour that celebrates the city’s culinary icons. Indulge in the sweet delight of a Berliner Pfannkuchen, savour the spicy kick of currywurst paired with tangy sauerkraut that showcases true German comfort food. All this is perfectly complemented by a refreshing beer—an authentic taste of Berlin’s vibrant food culture.
Duration: 1.5 hours, Activity level: Easy

DiscoverMORE
Visit to Potsdam & Neues Palais (extra expense)
Take a short drive to Potsdam to admire the palace of Frederick the Great and visit the Cecilienhof Country House, where the famous Potsdam Treaty was signed in 1945.
Duration: 5 hours, Activity level: Easy

Day 6 - Berlin - Warsaw

This morning, you’ll depart Berlin and be transferred to the capital of Poland, Warsaw, enjoying a delicious lunch en-route. Bursting with culture, history and contemporary flair, Poland’s vibrant capital promises far more than meets the eye. Upon arrival in Warsaw, you’ll settle into your centrally-located hotel for your two-night stay.

Day 7 - Warsaw

Warsaw is a city that wears resilience as part of its skyline, where pastel townhouses and church towers rise from streets once reduced to rubble. In the Old Town, cafés spill onto cobbles beneath the Royal Castle, while the Royal Route leads past palaces and leafy gardens that feel almost stately in their calm. A few tram stops away, murals, modern museums and riverside hangouts bring a fresh, creative pulse to former industrial pockets. The result is a capital that feels reflective yet forward-looking, inviting you to experience both its quiet corners and its energetic, modern edge.

Today, soak up the sights of Warsaw on your included morning tour. Later, you may choose to join an optional Emerald DiscoverMORE excursion, or to continue exploring this fascinating East European city at leisure. Your tour director will be more than happy to help you plan your explorations in Warsaw.

Included Excursion
Guided walking tour of Warsaw & Royal Castle
Today’s guided sightseeing tour reveals the historic centre where much of the Old Town was rebuilt after the war. Memories of Polanski’s film ‘The Pianist’ come to mind as you visit the Jewish Ghetto with a local guide. Observe a monument to the Ghetto heroes, the Palace of Culture, and the Chopin Memorial. You’ll also pay a visit to the Royal Castle – nowadays, a state museum and national historical monument, which formerly served as the official royal residence of several Polish monarchs.

EmeraldPLUS
Highlight Dinner & Chopin Concert in Warsaw
This evening, enjoy an exclusive highlight dinner and private recital of Chopin's music, performed by a celebrated Polish pianist amid a private manor house – a unique cultural experience.

DiscoverMORE
Tastes of Poland (extra expense)
Experience the flavours of Poland in a cozy Warsaw kitchen during a hands-on pierogi cooking class with a local chef. You will learn to prepare the dough, shape and fill traditional dumplings, and hear stories about Polish food culture and everyday life in the city. Then sit down together to enjoy your freshly made pierogi, served with classic local accompaniments in a warm, homely atmosphere.
Duration: 1.5 hours, Activity level: Easy

Day 8 - Warsaw– Kraków

This morning, you’ll depart from Warsaw and travel by First Class train to Kraków, a former Polish royal capital founded in the 7th century and renowned for its well-preserved Old Town. Here in Kraków, you’ll enjoy an included two-night stay in a centrally-located hotel.

Included Excursion
Guided walking tour of Kraków
This afternoon, discover this imposing medieval city on a guided walking tour, visiting the cathedral and castle on Wawel Hill before exploring the Old Town on foot, taking in sights such as St. Mary’s Church and the historic Cloth Hall.

Day 9 - Kraków - Auschwitz

After your included excursion, you’ll have the afternoon and evening at your leisure in Kraków. You may choose to join an optional Emerald DiscoverMORE excursion, explore more of the Old Town and perhaps later, or sample some traditional Polish cuisine in one of the many esplanades within Kraków – a beautiful city that truly comes to vibrant life in the evening.

Included Excursion
Guided tour of Auschwitz Concentration Camp & Birkenau
Visit the sombre Auschwitz Concentration Camp and Birkenau on an insightful guided tour, where you’ll see the preserved camp remains and memorials and gain a deeper understanding of the events that took place there. Walking through original barracks, guard towers, and memorial sites, your guide will share powerful stories that reveal the human experiences behind its history. A moving experience that is respectful and reflective.

DiscoverMORE
Secret tales of Kraków (extra expense)
Uncover the hidden stories and legends of Kraków on a unique night tour that takes you through the city’s most mysterious and historic sites. As the city lights twinkle, your guide will share fascinating tales of the past, from ghostly legends to the intriguing stories behind Krakow’s iconic landmarks. This enchanting evening adventure offers a different perspective on Kraków, perfect for those seeking to explore the city’s secrets after dark.
Duration: 1 hr 30 mins, Activity Level: Moderate

Day 10 - Day 10 Kraków - Budapest

Today, you’ll depart Kraków and journey to Budapest, the historic capital of Hungary, en route passing the Castle of Oravsky Hrad and travelling across the Tatra Mountains and Slovakia.

Set along the legendary Danube River, the delightful Hungarian capital, Budapest, seamlessly blends Eastern European heritage with vibrant modernity. Here, enjoy a one-night stay in a centrally-located hotel.

EmeraldPLUS
Dinner & Folklore Show in Budapest
This evening, you’re invited to an exclusive dinner and a traditional folklore show in Budapest, for a truly immersive local experience on your final night.

Day 11 - Budapest

This morning, after breakfast, it’s time to say goodbye to your fellow guests and depart your hotel in Budapest, leaving with cherished memories of this extraordinary journey through Eastern Europe.

Dates

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Travellers

Operator
Emerald Cruises

Discover the world with Emerald Cruises. Whether you’re travelling to unspoilt islands or bustling metropolises, our fleet of river-cruising Star-Ships and ocean-going luxury yachts guarantee an unparalleled voyage. Enjoy modern exploration, pairing authentic adventures with inimitable luxury. Founded in 2013, and first sailing as Emerald Waterways in 2014, Emerald Cruises is an award-winning travel operator specialising in deluxe river cruises and luxury yacht cruises. Just one year later, in 2014, the first Star-Ship, Emerald Sky, set sail. Our extensive fleet of Star-Ships are custom-built to sail Europe’s iconic Rhine, Main, Moselle, Danube, Rhȏne, Saône and Douro rivers, as well as the majestic Mekong River in Southeast Asia, with each ship featuring a range of stylish innovations. Whether you’re travelling by river or sea, your luxury vessel will dock in the heart of amazing destinations. In 2024, we celebrate 10 years of Emerald Cruises by introducing the next generation of superyachts: Emerald Kaia, launching in early 2026.

Important Information
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Please note: We are proud to be an independent agent to travel providers of hotels, flights and other related services. We are not a tour operator. Details and information on the offer are provided by 3rd party businesses and although we do our best to verify the information, we cannot guarantee its accuracy on all occasions. These offers are not available in conjunction with any other offer unless otherwise stated. Pricing and availability are subject to change without notice. For more information, please see Terms of Use
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$4,560*
per person twin share
10 nights
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