12 DAYS – BEST OF EASTERN EUROPE

Begin you’re ‘Eastern European Wonders’ Tour Welcome to Berlin – capital of Germany. On arrival check into your hotel on your own any time after 15:00 hrs. Overnight at the hotel in Berlin.
(Meals: D)

Leave for a guided panoramic city tour of Berlin. See the Berlin Wall, the Brandenburg Gate-located in no-man’s land between East and West Germany, the Restored Reichstag – the German Parliament Building. Visit Check- Point Charlie – the former border crossing point between East and West Berlin where Soviet and American tanks stood face to face, after the construction of the wall in 1961. We also drive along the UnterDen Linden Boulevard – Berlin’s most beautiful avenue and pass the State Opera House. Next, we visit the Alxender Platz, wherein stands the World Time Clock and the Fountain of Friendship. Later we visit postdam. Later, we travel southwest to Dresden, the old capital of Saxony, upon arrival, on your guided walking city tour, see the Semper Opera House – the only theater in Germany that bears the name of its architect, which was completely destroyed in 1945 and reopened in 1985 after extensive reconstruction. We also see the Frauenkirche, erected between 1726 and 1743, following the designs of George Bähr. Its characteristic dome, called the “stone bell” owing to its shape, collapsed on February 15th, 1945 under the rain of bombs. Overnight at the hotel in Dresden. (Meals: B, L, D)

Today, drive to Prague. On arrival we proceed on a guided walking city tour of Prague. We start our tour from the 1000-year-old Hradcany Castle, the former residence of the Bohemian kings and St. Visit Cathedral. Walk down from the Palace to Charles Bridge, founded in 1357 by Charles IV. We, also visit the Old Town Square with its Town Hall and Astronomical Clock, one of the outstanding sights of Prague. The dial is poised with three main components: the astronomical dial that displays various astronomical details as well as representing the position of the Sun and Moon in the sky. “The Walk of the Apostles”, showcases the movement of the figures of Twelve Apostles passing along the two windows in every hour of daylight; and a calendar dial that rotates and gives the description of each and every day of the year with an indication of the current date at the top, the medallions with zodiac signs describing every month. Overnight at the hotel in Prague. (Meals: B, L, D)

Today, and drive to Salzburg, the fourth-largest city in Austria. En-route, we visit a Salt mine, where you will get to know about mining history and techniques – after all salt is an indispensable part of our lives. Before entering the mine, you will dress like a miner (protective clothing provided) and then travel by miner’s train into the heart of the mountain. Once inside this remarkable underground world the knowledgeable local miner/guide will amaze you with tales of the history of the salt, how it was mined, transported and used. Next, we drive to Salzburg and take you on a guided walking tour of this elegant baroque city. Salzburg, full of green hills, romantic gardens and breathtaking valleys, is a picturesque city with small alleys and quaint colorful town homes. See the birthplace of the legendary Mozart, the Mirabell Palace with its landscaped gardens and the Cathedral in the old town. Stroll along the Aldstadt, which was recently granted World Heritage Status by UNESCO. Overnight at the hotel in Salzburg.(Meals: B, L, D)

Drive to Lake Bled, a lake in the Julian Alps of the Upper Carniolan region of northwestern Slovenia, where it adjoins the town of Bled. On arrival, proceed on a guided tour of Lake Bled with a boat ride on the typical “pletna” boat. Visit the lone Island in the midst of the Lake Bled where the St. Mary’s Church beckons visitors with its bell. Overnight at the hotel in Bled. (Meals: B, L, D)

After a continental breakfast, we check-out and drive to Vienna – capital of Austria. Upon arrival, proceed on a guided panoramic city tour of Vienna. We drive on the Ring Boulevard and see the State Opera House, the Parliament, the City Hall and the Burgtheater, Schonbrunn Palace. We, also make a photo stop at the Hofburg- former winter residence of the Habsburg family and the Belvedere Palace- former summer residence of Prince Eugene. Overnight at the hotel in Vienna. (Meals: B, L, D)

Proceed to Bratislava – the capital of Slovakia. On arrival, we proceed on a guided city tour of Bratislava, where we visit the Old Town, with its Oland Fountain in the square. You have some free time to soak in the atmosphere of this medieval city, with its side-walk cafes. Later, we drive to Budapest – capital of Hungary. Overnight at the hotel in Budapest. (Meals: B, L, D)