Czech Republic

New Year's Eve in Prague

Program No. 19240RJ
Celebrate New Year’s in one of the world’s most treasured cities, discovering rich cultural history, magnificent art and traditional Czech food both with the experts and on your own.

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At a Glance

Ring in the New Year in Bohemian style and explore the amazing city of Prague from every angle. Discover Old Town, the former Jewish Ghetto, and the lively Christmas Markets where the smell and taste of traditional Czech delicacies awaits. Learn about the beautiful buildings of this city known for its breathtakingly diverse architecture and step inside 9th-century Prague Castle and 14th-century Karlstejn Castle. Toast the dawning of 2023 during a celebration at an authentic Prague restaurant.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Periods of standing, walking mostly on city streets with some cobblestones and uneven terrain.
Small Group
Small Group
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.

What You'll Learn

  • Enjoy the Christmas markets in the Old Town and Wenceslas Squares, where musicians perform and mulled wine, chestnuts, potato pancakes and sausages are among the delicacies you’ll find.
  • Marvel at Prague’s historic sites on expert-led walks that bring you over the Charles Bridge, into picturesque Lesser Town and through the Jewish quarter.
  • Greet the New Year in a traditional Bohemian restaurant with Czech folklore, food, music and dancing.

General Notes

Program includes independent time to explore the city and several meals on your own. Group Leaders will provide directions for self-directed excursions. Suggestions for free-time activities provided in preparatory materials.
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Year
2024
  • 2024
Date
Dec 27 - Jan 04
  • Dec 26 - Jan 03
  • Dec 27 - Jan 04
Please Note: The program differs on certain dates.
Dec 27 - Jan 4, 2025 Itinerary Differences: This departure stays at Hotel Petr, a family run hotel that is located in a residential neighborhood in the Mala Strana.
Please Note: The program differs on certain dates.
Select trip year and date
2024
  • 2024
Dec 27 - Jan 04
  • Dec 26 - Jan 03
  • Dec 27 - Jan 04
Dec 27 - Jan 4, 2025 Itinerary Differences: This departure stays at Hotel Petr, a family run hotel that is located in a residential neighborhood in the Mala Strana.
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
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9 days
8 nights
14 meals
7 B 3 L 4 D
DAY
1
In Transit to Program
In Flight
DAY
2
Arrive Prague, Check-in, Orientation, Welcome Dinner
Prague
D
Hotel Petr

Activity note: Hotel check-in from 2:00 p.m. Remember to bring your nametag (sent previously).

Afternoon: Orientation: 5:00 p.m. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. We will review COVID-19 protocols and will adhere to local COVID-19 guidelines and requirements throughout the program. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.

Dinner: At a local restaurant.

Evening: At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.

DAY
3
Prague Castle, Free Time
Prague
B
Hotel Petr

Activity note: Getting on/off a private bus. Extent and duration of walking and other activities during free time according to personal choice.

Breakfast: In the hotel dining room.

Morning: We'll board a private bus and head on an expert-led drive around the city. We'll stop at Prague Castle, the largest resident complex in the Czech Republic and – according to Guinness World Records – the largest ancient castle in the world. This palace has been a home and a working space for Czech kings, Holy Roman Emperors, and Czech presidents since the 9th century. The Old Royal Palace and the Cathedral of St. Vitus are breathtaking architectural treasures.

Lunch: This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

Afternoon: Free time. This period of time has been set aside for your personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Please note that the period scheduled for free time is subject to change depending on local circumstances and opportunities for independent exploration.

Dinner: On your own to explore local fare.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY
4
Old Town, Jewish Ghetto, Free Time
Prague
B
Hotel Petr

Activity note: Getting on/off a private bus; driving about 9 miles, approximately 40 minutes driving time. Walking about 2 miles, approximately 3.5 hours. Extent and duration of free time activities according to personal choice.

Breakfast: In the hotel dining room.

Morning: Our field trip will start in the Old Town, a unique area of Prague with the impressive Old Town Square, the center of all events since the Middle Ages. The stone houses, churches, palaces, and monasteries in combination with twisty narrow streets and alleys create a very special atmosphere. We will also explore the Jewish Town. The former Jewish Ghetto is a noteworthy quarter of Prague that boasts worldwide significance. Extensive historical records trace the existence of Prague's Jewish community back to the 11th century. The Old Jewish Cemetery is Europe’s oldest and best-preserved Jewish burial ground, its history dating back to the 15th century. The graves form a chronicle in stone of the history of the Prague ghetto. Next, we will enjoy Christmas markets at the Old Town and Wenceslas Squares. Other than traditional Christmas and New Year's handcrafts, we will also find various Czech delicacies here, including sausages, potato pancakes, fresh sweet pie, Trdelnik, roasted chestnuts, gingerbread, hot punch, and mulled wine. These, along with performances by musicians on market stages, help to make our visit unforgettable.

Lunch: On your own.

Afternoon: Free time.

Dinner: On own.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY
5
Trade Fair Palace, Free Time, Bohemian New Year's Eve
Prague
B,L,D
Hotel Petr

Activity note: Getting on/off a private bus. Walking and standing for approximately 2.5 hours at the museum. Extent and duration of free time activities according to personal choice.

Breakfast: In the hotel dining room.

Morning: We'll head out by bus on an expert-led trip to the Trade Fair Palace, the largest gallery space in Prague with the city’s finest collection of paintings, objects of art, statues, and other exhibits of the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries. Here, we will view many works by French artists such as Delacroix, Courbet, Sisley, Pissarro, Monet, Seurat, Renoir, Toulouse-Lautrec, Gauguin, Cezanne, Matisse, Chagall, Rousseau, Picasso, and Rodin. We will also become familiar with Czech Fine Art featuring works by Kuaka, Drtikol, Filla, Zrzavy, Spala, Lada, Trnka, Sudek, Knizak – present director of the gallery, Pistek – bearer of the Oscar for the costumes of the movie Amadeus, and many others.

Lunch: We'll have a light lunch at the Grand Café Orient on the first floor of the House of the Black Madonna. Completed in 1912, this building symbolizes the unique Czech contribution to the cubist movement. Once serving as a department store and office space, it now houses a museum dedicated to cubism.

Afternoon: Free time. You may wish to visit the Museum of Czech Cubism in the House of the Black Madonna.

Dinner: We'll head via private bus to a traditional Bohemian restaurant. There, we'll celebrate the end of the year with a folklore program, music, and dance.

Evening: We'll remain at the restaurant to celebrate New Year's Eve, Bohemian style!

DAY
6
New Year's Walk, Charles Bridge, Lesser Town, Concert
Prague
B,L,D
Hotel Petr

Activity note: Extent and duration of walking and other activities during free time according to personal choice. Walking about 1 mile, approximately 1 hour in the afternoon. Getting on/off a private bus for dinner and concert.

Breakfast: In the hotel dining room.

Morning: Free time. Relax or enjoy some fresh air in the nearby gardens.

Lunch: At the Three Centuries Restaurant.

Afternoon: A traditional New Year's walk of Prague sites will lead us to the Charles Bridge, one of the oldest extant stone bridges in Europe, adorned on both sides with a total of thirty Baroque statues. Our field trip continues in the Lesser Town, a picturesque quarter with monumental noble churches and palaces.

Dinner: In the restaurant of the Municipal House, decorated by Art Nouveau tiles. Enjoy the pre-war Czechoslovakian atmosphere.

Evening: Happy New Year! Together, we will enjoy a New Year's concert at the Municipal House, the pearl of Art Nouveau style.

DAY
7
Karlstejn Castle
Prague
B,L
Hotel Petr

Activity note: Getting on/off a private bus; driving about 40 miles, approximately 1.5 hours riding time. Walking uphill for 30 minutes, approximately 130 steps during visit to Karlstejn Castle. Walking and standing for approximately 3 hours total at the castle.

Breakfast: In the hotel dining room.

Morning: We will depart on a field trip to Karlstejn Castle. The Gothic castle, founded in 1348 and completed in 1365, was built by the Czech King and Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV as a place to store royal treasures, especially collections of holy relics and crown jewels. We will explore not only the castle but also the village of Karlstejn and the Museum of Nativity Scenes, highlighting the famous Karlstejn Royal Nativity.

Lunch: At a restaurant near the castle.

Afternoon: We'll have some time after lunch to relax and explore Karlstejn independently before reboarding the bus and returning to Prague.

Dinner: On your own.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY
8
Contemporary Life in the Czech Republic, Free Time
Prague
B,D
Hotel Petr

Activity note: Getting on/off a boat; riding approximately 2 hours. Extent and duration of walking and other activities during free time according to personal choice. Getting on/off a private bus for dinner.

Breakfast: In the hotel dining room.

Morning: At the hotel, our Group Leader will cover contemporary life in the Czech Republic. We will discuss the political and economic changes after 1989, the new global role of the Czech Republic, and the everyday life of ordinary Czechs.

Lunch: On your own.

Afternoon: Free time.

Dinner: Aboard a Vltava riverboat. Share favorite experiences and enjoy camaraderie with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.

Evening: At leisure. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.

DAY
9
Program Concludes, In Transit From Program
Prague
B

Activity note: Hotel check-out by 11:00 a.m. See your program’s “Transportation Information” regarding transfers.

Breakfast: In the hotel dining room. This concludes our program.

Morning: If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!






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