A rich heritage with vibrant contemporary culture is found across Central Europe. Some stories are vivid and easily discovered as you explore cities and palaces from forgotten times. Others are hidden, but will be uncovered alongside your private guide and through immersive experiences. On this 10-day trip across Europe, you will find centuries of enthralling history as you explore three countries and five cities. Warsaw is wonderfully cultural, Krakow is pure charm, Prague brings artistic indulgence,...
Customizable Itinerary
Day 1
Warsaw – An Inspiring Introduction in a City of Old and New
The Polish capital is itself a celebration of resilience, reborn and redefined on many occasions through its long history. There is no dwelling on the past here, but instead delight in the contrasts that the different eras have created. Unlike most Central European cities, the focus is not on a main square. Instead, Warsaw is a jigsaw puzzle of architectural styles and neighborhoods. Gothic churches mingle with futuristic design as old royal palaces are entirely distinct from Stalin’s 1950s Palace of Culture and Science. There is energy to the streets, and on this first evening you can just take a stroll and appreciate how beautifully everything comes together. You will be staying in Srodmiescie, the most central inner city area that has been restored to reflect its early medieval style.
What's Included:
Day 2
Warsaw – From Royal Legacy to Communism and War History
Day 3
Krakow – Central Europe’s Most Beautiful Small City
Day 4
Krakow – Auschwitz, a Salt Mine, Then Wandering Cobbles and Colors
Day 5
Prague – Palaces and Wonders of the City on the Vltava
Day 6
Prague – Kutna Hora and a Rural Czech Experience
Day 7
Dresden – A City of Endless Highlights
Day 8
Berlin – Following the Line of the Great Wall, Stepping Between East and West
Day 9
Berlin – Customizable Highlights of Berlin Private Tour
Day 10
Berlin – Departure
Trip Highlights
- Wander along the line of the Great Wall to experience the contrasting highlights of Berlin
- Study the historical legacies left behind in Warsaw, from royal times to bombed-out Jewish ghettos
- Head into rural Czech to find a chapel made from bones
- Spend two days in Europe’s most sublime small cities, enjoying the colors and ambiance of Krakow, Poland
- Marvel at what remains of old Dresden, where ornate sculptures dominate ghoulish architecture
- Relax along the Vltava River while discovering the best of Prague
- Understand and experience some of Central Europe’s most important stories, such as the one at Auschwitz
- Travel mostly by train for a fast and convenient way to get around and see more of the three countries
Detailed Description
The history of Central Europe is complex and compelling as empires have come and gone and cities have risen, and then fallen to ashes. War has been near omnipresent, and art has always taken a central role, as contemporary design is used to revamp and reinvent cities after unsettled times. Innumerable legacies have been left behind, and that is what this 10-day Europe trip is all about. Some legacies will startle you with beauty as you take in phenomenal castles or palaces along a river. Other traditions and stories are all around you, especially as each hotel you will stay in will be within the old part of a city. Still more are hidden, and only discovered as you go exploring with your local guide.
Central Europe is home to many legendary old cities, and this handcrafted tour includes five. You will travel to three different countries, although 60 years ago the same route would have all been in just one country, and a few hundred years ago the borders were also different entirely. You will travel by train, most journeys less than two hours and a chance to admire rural landscapes. Hotels will be handpicked for their central location, so you will not need public transport to spend your evenings in fine city squares and interesting old neighborhoods. Almost all tours are private and a couple of day trips will add new flavor to the trip, notably a dazzling Polish salt mine and a chapel of bones in the Czech Republic.
Fly first to Warsaw, Poland’s enigmatic capital. Eras blur together here, with legacies to royal medieval times meeting Jewish ghettos and Soviet monoliths. Warsaw is a city on the rise, an up and coming highlight of European travel. Zoom to Krakow and spend two nights in Europe’s most enchanting small city, a mishmash of cobbled squares and highly colorful townhouses. This is Poland’s cultural hub, and your guide will help you understand a thousand years of history. The next day, you will visit two contrasting places: Auschwitz-Birkenau is harrowing but unmissable, while the Wieliczka Salt Mine is a stunning meeting of nature’s power with man’s ingenuity.
Continue to Prague, where the experience revolves around the Vltava River. Both the old and the new sections of town are historical and overflow with architectural glories and long-distant stories. Spend a day soaking up the city’s charm, and then head to Kutna Hora the next day to see the surreal Sedlec Ossuary, which is constructed almost entirely from human bones. Dresden is on the railway line to Berlin, so make a stop to see how a once glorious city is faring after near decimation during World War II, and then find the meeting place of east and west as two days in Berlin bring you iconic stories as well as underground movements and messages of rebellion. Consider learning more about our travelers’ favorite European travel experiences by reading their Europe travel reviews.
Starting Price
$4,200 per person (excluding international flights)
Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.
What's Included
- Accommodations
- In-country transportation
- Some or all activities and tours
- Expert trip planning
- 24x7 support during your trip
Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.
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