Czech Republic/Hungary
Budapest and Prague: Capital Cities and Jewels of Central Europe
Program No. 21707RJ
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Budapest and Prague: Capital Cities and Jewels of Central Europe
Budapest and Prague: Capital Cities and Jewels of Central Europe
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Program
At a Glance
Duration
12 days
Program Begins
Budapest
Program Concludes
Prague
Group Type
Small Group
Meals
22 (
10B, 7L, 5D
)
Activity Level
From
4,349Hundreds of Gothic rooftop spires give the Prague skyline a fairy-tale character. In Budapest, locals’ warm smiles and the legendary Danube River pulse at the city’s heart. In one 12-day adventure, explore the history, art and culture of the Czech and Hungarian capital cities. Start each morning with our experts and later set out on your own. In Prague, discover where Mozart played a 1787 solo piano piece, then independently walk the stunning Charles Bridge. In Budapest, learn about the Communist period in Hungary during a visit to the Retro Museum, and venture to the town of Ócsa, a wonderful reflection of traditional rural life. One adventure, two cities — capture the breadth of these Central European jewels.
Best of all, you'll...
- Enjoy a dinnertime boat excursion on the Danube River through Budapest, drifting past the illuminated city center and under its famous series of bridges.
- Learn about Prague’s Old Town Square on an expert-led walking exploration, contrasting its 1,000-year-old history and architecture with today’s cast of musicians, dance troupes and cafes.
- Experience mighty Prague Castle’s churches, gardens, alleyways and residences. The world’s largest ancient castle is roughly the size of seven football fields.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Keep the Pace: Walking up to 3 miles per day at a moderate pace of 2 mph over mixed urban terrain, including cobblestone streets, stairs, and partly hilly, uneven and rough surfaces. Standing up to 4 hours per day. Program will require approximately a minimum of 24.5 miles of walking over 11 days. The extent of additional walking during free time will vary based on personal choice. Participants should be prepared to navigate stairs with and without handrails and to use public transit, including subways and trams. Due to the extensive use of public transportation, and some sites only being accessible on terrain inconducive to mobility devices, wheelchairs, walkers, quad canes, and scooters cannot be accommodated on this program. Must be physically capable of participating in all planned program activities.
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.
Featured Expert
All Experts
Jitka Sosova (Art & Arch.- Prague)
Jitka Sosova holds degrees from Charles University and the Academy of Art, Architecture and Design in Prague. Jitka has worked for the National Gallery in Prague, as well as numerous other art institutions, including the Museum of Applied Arts and the Kampa Museum, and specializes in the field of Modern and Contemporary Art.
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
Jitka Sosova (Art & Arch.- Prague)
Jitka Sosova holds degrees from Charles University and the Academy of Art, Architecture and Design in Prague. Jitka has worked for the National Gallery in Prague, as well as numerous other art institutions, including the Museum of Applied Arts and the Kampa Museum, and specializes in the field of Modern and Contemporary Art.
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.
Sándor Striker (Budapest Life Today)
Dr. Sándor Striker is the president of The Foundation for Cultural Diversity, Budapest. He holds a PhD in literature and MAs in philosophy and community culture studies. As a former research fellow at the Institute of Philosophy of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Dr. Striker worked for the Hungarian Ministry of Culture and Education on democratic cultural legislation after the introduction of multi-party parliamentary system in Hungary in 1990. He has been lecturing for Road Scholar groups for over 30 years.
Ágnes Gordon
Ágnes Gordon has always had a passion for travel. She began leading educational travel groups in college and spent an internship in the Canary Islands. For more than 20 years she has been working with Hungarian groups of all ages, traveling throughout Europe and with American groups visiting Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Austria. She speaks fluent Hungarian, English and Spanish and basic Italian and German. In addition to being a travel lead, Ágnes also works in further education training guides, receptionists and housekeepers.
László Gombos (Budapest Music)
László was born in Szombathely, Hungary. He studied piano, organ and music theory there and received his PhD in musicology from the Liszt Academy of Music. Since 1990 he has taught music history at the University of Debrecen and the Béla Bartók Conservatory in Budapest. He also researches 19th and 20th century Hungarian music at the Institute for Musicology in Budapest. He has organized over 30 musical exhibitions from Budapest to Geneva, Rome and beyond. He has been lecturing for Road Scholar groups since 2015.
Peter Iván
Peter Iván is a Budapest native who holds a B.A. in cultural management, having participated a study abroad program at SUNY New Paltz in New York. He has over 25 years of professional experience in international cultural and business programs. For many years, he has been working as a group leader for Road Scholar programs in the Central European region, combining his passion for history, culture, and personal storytelling. Peter cherishes time with his wife—also a Road Scholar group leader—and their two grown sons.
Nina Jelinkova
Nina Jelinkova has been leading visitors through Prague and across Europe for over 30 years, with a focus on history and architecture, which she studied at university. Nina has worked as a tour manager, leading a variety of programs throughout Europe. She is passionate about helping travelers uncover the stories behind the places they visit and enjoy connecting local culture with historical context to create engaging experiences.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Keep the Pace: Walking up to 3 miles per day at a moderate pace of 2 mph over mixed urban terrain, including cobblestone streets, stairs, and partly hilly, uneven and rough surfaces. Standing up to 4 hours per day. Program will require approximately a minimum of 24.5 miles of walking over 11 days. The extent of additional walking during free time will vary based on personal choice. Participants should be prepared to navigate stairs with and without handrails and to use public transit, including subways and trams. Due to the extensive use of public transportation, and some sites only being accessible on terrain inconducive to mobility devices, wheelchairs, walkers, quad canes, and scooters cannot be accommodated on this program. Must be physically capable of participating in all planned program activities.
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?
We can help. Give us a call, and we can answer all of your questions!
Call
800-454-5768
Helpful Links
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.
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