Czech Republic/Poland/Hungary/Austria
The Best of Central Europe: Krakow, Budapest, Vienna, Prague
Program No. 12259RJ
Immerse yourself in the exquisite artistry of four of Europe’s great cities, gaining a comprehensive understanding of historical monuments, cultural treasures and world-class art.
Program
At a Glance
Duration
18 days
Program Begins
Krakow
Program Concludes
Prague
Group Type
Small Group
Meals
36 (
16B, 9L, 11D
)
Activity Level
From the elegance of a Chopin polonaise in Krakow to the grandeur of the Habsburg’s summer palace in Vienna, embark on an exquisite journey to learn about Central Europe’s most artistically rich cities and the great thinkers and creative geniuses who called them home. Private concerts, viewings of world-class art collections and in-depth discussion of some of Europe’s leading intellectuals create a detailed portrait of these royal capital cities.
Best of all, you'll...
- Enjoy a private concert at the Strahov Monastery and explore the library.
- Admire the illuminated city of Budapest on an evening river voyage along the Danube River, passing such important sights as parliament, Chain Bridge and Castle Hill.
- Explore Schönbrunn Palace, the former imperial summer residence and one of the most important cultural monuments in Austria.
General Notes
Those interested in a program intended exclusively for solo travelers may enjoy "Go Solo: The Best of Central Europe: Krakow, Budapest, Vienna, Prague" (#25123)
Featured Expert
All Experts
Jana Pivonkova
Jana Pivonkova is a professional, licensed excursion leader who studied at the Hotel School in Prague. She specialized in arranging thematic excursions for foreign groups in the former Czechoslovakia. She has visited the U.S. twice and enjoys sharing her love of Prague and the Czech Republic with English- and German-speaking visitors. Jana is married with two daughters.
Please Note:
This expert may not be available for every date of the program
Please Note:
These experts may not be available for every date of the program
Jana Pivonkova
Jana Pivonkova is a professional, licensed excursion leader who studied at the Hotel School in Prague. She specialized in arranging thematic excursions for foreign groups in the former Czechoslovakia. She has visited the U.S. twice and enjoys sharing her love of Prague and the Czech Republic with English- and German-speaking visitors. Jana is married with two daughters.
Hana Kundratova
Hana Kundratova was born in Ostrava, Czech Republic. She graduated with a degree in education from Charles University and then moved permanently to Prague. Having formerly worked as a teacher, Hana has been an educational group leader and program coordinator throughout the Czech Republic and its neighboring countries since 1992.
Petra Bidlasová
Petra Bidlasová has been sharing her knowledge of Prague with lifelong learners from around the world since 1997. With an education in art history, she is currently working on her thesis on contemporary African art and post-colonial theory. For more than 10 years, she has been a lecturer in the Department of Modern and Contemporary Art at the National Gallery in Prague. In 2013, she became a professor of modern Czech art at CIEE Study Center for American students.
Anna Karteczka-Kusiak
Anna has spent time living around the world to hone her language skills. After graduating with a degree in Customer Service, Anna embarked on a career as a traveling educator that took her to a wide variety of countries including Great Britain, Belgium, Italy, France, Ukraine and Baltic and Balkan countries. She is an instructor in Krakow and greater Europe, leading groups in English, French and Polish. “I’m extremely glad to link my work with my personal interests: history, travelling, culture and meeting new people.”
Monika Murzyn-Kupisz (Krakow)
Monika Murzyn-Kupisz holds a doctorate in economic sciences and a master’s in European leisure studies. She is assistant professor at the Krakow University of Economics, and a member of the International Council on Monuments and Sites, Polish National Committee. Monika’s research interests include contemporary attitudes, cultural policy and management of historic cities.
Ourania Menelaou (Prague Music)
Pianist and musicologist Ourania Menelaou was born in Nicosia, Cyprus. She graduated from the Prague Conservatory in 1996, and continued her studies at the Charles University of Prague, receiving her master’s degree in musicology. Menelaou has been invited to participate in music festivals in the United States and performed in recitals around the world. As a musicologist, Ourania has been researching and studying piano music of the 19th and 20th centuries. Currently, she is working in a research program on solo piano music.
Vladan Zmijanovic
Vladan was born in Belgrade, Serbia. During the wars of the 1990s in Yugoslavia, he immigrated to the Czech Republic — now splitting his time between Belgrade and Prague. He has been working as a group leader for almost 30 years and is fluent in Serbian, Czech and English. Recently, Vladan has been leading travelers off the beaten paths through countries of Central and Eastern Europe. In his free time, Vladan is interested in art, food, reading and history.
Lukas Husa
Dr. Lukas Husa was born and raised in Vienna, Austria, where he still lives. He studied history with a specialization in economic and social history at the University of Vienna, completing his master’s degree in 2014. He studied at both the University of Vienna and Chiang Mai University in Thailand for his PhD. While pursuing his academic studies, he also studied to be a travel leader in Vienna and Austria. Dr. Husa has greatly enjoyed showing people from all over the world his beautiful home.
Lisa Zeiler (Habsburg)
Born in 1966 in Vienna, Lisa Zeiler studied English and Art History at the University of Vienna and the University of Toronto, Canada. Since 2001 she has worked as a qualified Group Leader in Vienna, specializing in art and museum visits. She also organizes and teaches in Austria's most extensive guide training course. In addition, she works part time for an institute of the Austrian Academy of Sciences. Lisa sees herself as an ambassador of Austrian culture, history and character.
Tímea Howard
Timea Howard was born in Budapest and has lived there for all her life. Timea pursued a degree in business management and worked in advertising for 20 successful years. Following a life-changing ski accident, she decided to pursue her love of Budapest, history and languages by becoming an official group leader. Since receiving her certification as a group leader in 2015 in English and Italian, Timea has shared her city with visitors from all over the world.
Tomasz Skrzypczak
Tomasz graduated from the University of Warsaw with a master's degree in English and a major in British cultural studies. In 2006, he became a licensed group leader. He has traveled extensively around Europe, dividing his time between leading groups around the UK, Central and Eastern Europe, the countries of the former Austrian-Hungarian Empire, Poland and the Baltics. In his own travels as well as with groups, his focus is on history and social and cultural issues of the past and present.
Evy Pranter
Evy Pranter grew up in Salzburg, the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. After finishing school, she settled in Vienna to study French and art history at Vienna University. She immediately fell in love with the city, with its rich heritage of history, arts, architecture, and music. After working in various tourism jobs and raising her children, Evy started her career as a local expert, which has continued for over two decades. Her specialty is the period around 1900 when the city exploded with new ideas in architecture, arts, medicine, music, and more.
Gergo Agoston
Gergo "Greg" Agoston, a native of Budapest, is an experienced travel leader and a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Manchester with a special focus on contemporary Hungarian politics and political history. He holds a B.A. in Chinese studies from ELTE University, and two M.A. degrees in politics and political economy from the University of Manchester. As an avid traveler, Greg lived in mainland China and the UK for over a decade, working in education and travel. After running his own company for several years, Greg decided to pursue his love of politics, culture, and history and started a Ph.D.
Matthias Hink (Vienna Music)
Matthias Hink studied music at university, and currently plays viola as a member of the State Opera Orchestra. He also plays often with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Vienna Symphony Orchestra.
Ernst Felberbauer (Austria)
Ernst Felberbauer is a Colonel in the Austrian Armed Forces. He teaches geopolitics at the Austrian National Defence Academy and the Theresian Military Academy. He has published widely on international security and crisis and conflict management with a special focus on South East Europe and the South Caucasus. Since 2018, he is a lecturer on political geography and conflicts in the wider European Region, ranging from the Arctic to Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and the Mediterranean for the Universities of Vienna, Innsbruck and Krems.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Please note that although the activity level of this program is Keep the Pace, it is a long program, traveling to four different countries over the span of 18 days. Walking up to 5 miles or up to 5 hours per day with periods of standing, often in crowded areas. Terrain includes cobblestones, city streets and uneven ground; short uphill walks; standing at museums; many unavoidable stairs; use of public transportation.
Small Group
(13 to 24)
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.
Suggested Books and Resources
View Full List
You can also find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
HAVE QUESTIONS?
Prefer to enroll or inquire by phone?
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Call
800-454-5768
Enroll with Confidence
Peace of Mind
We want your Road Scholar learning adventure to be something to look forward to—not worry about. That’s why we go to the ends of the earth to give you peace of mind, from the moment you enroll until the day you return home.
Assurance Plan
Road Scholar is committed to the well-being of every participant, whether on a program in the United States or abroad. That’s why all participants are covered under our Road Scholar Assurance Plan, which provides 24-hour assistance in the event of an emergency during your program, as well as insurance for emergency medical evacuation.
Want to Protect Your Investment?
Road Scholar is pleased to offer its Trip Protection Plan as a way to protect your program investment. You may purchase this optional trip protection plan when enrolling in your program.
Sustainable Travel
We offset a portion of the emissions created by your travel. Read about our commitment to a more sustainable planet.
- Peace of Mind
We want your Road Scholar learning adventure to be something to look forward to—not worry about. That’s why we go to the ends of the earth to give you peace of mind, from the moment you enroll until the day you return home.
- Assurance Plan
Road Scholar is committed to the well-being of every participant, whether on a program in the United States or abroad. That’s why all participants are covered under our Road Scholar Assurance Plan, which provides 24-hour assistance in the event of an emergency during your program, as well as insurance for emergency medical evacuation.
- Want to Protect Your Investment?
Road Scholar is pleased to offer its Trip Protection Plan as a way to protect your program investment. You may purchase this optional trip protection plan when enrolling in your program.
- Sustainable Travel
We offset a portion of the emissions created by your travel. Read about our commitment to a more sustainable planet.