Czech Republic/Hungary
Budapest and Prague: Capital Cities and Jewels of Central Europe
Program No. 21707RJ
Treat your senses to an enchanting blend of learning, adventure and fun as you take expert-led walks and dine on traditional foods in two Old World cities that are Europe at its finest.
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Prices displayed below are based on per person,doubleoccupancy.
DATES
& starting prices
PRICES
DATES
& starting prices
PRICES
Aug 25 - Sep 5, 2024
Starting at
4,369Sep 8 - Sep 19, 2024
Starting at
4,369Sep 22 - Oct 3, 2024
Starting at
4,369Oct 6 - Oct 17, 2024
Starting at
4,369Oct 20 - Oct 31, 2024
Starting at
4,369Nov 3 - Nov 14, 2024
Starting at
4,109May 4 - May 15, 2025
Starting at
4,789Jun 1 - Jun 12, 2025
Starting at
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12 days
11 nights
21 meals
10B 6L 5D
1
In Transit to Program
In Flight
5
Ócsa, Pest City Park Area
Budapest
7
Transfer to Prague
Prague
8
Architecture of Prague
Prague
9
Explore Prague
Prague
12
Program Concludes
In Flight
At a Glance
Hundreds 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.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
On Your Feet: Participants must be able to handle their own luggage, climb a few stairs, stand for longer periods of time and walk up to an hour on cobblestones and uneven terrain.
Keep the Pace: Participants must be able to handle their own luggage, climb stairs, walk up to 3 miles or up to 3 hours per day with periods of standing, including cobblestone streets, and partly hilly, uneven and rough terrain. Participants should expect to use public transportation.
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 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.
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 trip experts
Ági Iván
Ági's love for travel began when she was a child traveling around the world with the Hungarian Radio Children’s Choir. She began working in hotels as a professional housekeeper, rising to higher positions in the hotel industry. She soon got the impulse to become a professional group leader, giving her the opportunity to entertain people and explore her beloved hometown of Budapest together. She has been a part of Road Scholar for over 10 years. Ági's pastimes include cooking, gardening, cycling, reading and collecting soundtracks.
Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.
Ági Iván
View biography
Ági's love for travel began when she was a child traveling around the world with the Hungarian Radio Children’s Choir. She began working in hotels as a professional housekeeper, rising to higher positions in the hotel industry. She soon got the impulse to become a professional group leader, giving her the opportunity to entertain people and explore her beloved hometown of Budapest together. She has been a part of Road Scholar for over 10 years. Ági's pastimes include cooking, gardening, cycling, reading and collecting soundtracks.
Ágnes Ördög
View biography
Ágnes Ördög was born and raised in Hungary. She speaks English, German, Spanish, and of course, Hungarian. Ági holds a degree in tourism and hotel management, and began her career working with the Hungarian National Tourist Offices as its press officer and public relations manager, transitioning to freelance work in 2011. Also, Ági is a professor of tourism economics and marketing at the Budapest campus of the University of ESSCA. She continues to make her home in Budapest with her husband and their two children.
Sonia Prochazkova
View biography
Sonia Prochazkova has been working as a licensed leader in the Czech Republic since 1992. She has specialized in sharing her hometown of Prague, leading visitors interested in music and Jewish history in the city. She is fluent in English, German, and Slovak. When not welcoming visitors to Prague, Sonia enjoys learning about history, traveling, and hiking
Suggested Reading List
(15 books)
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
Budapest and Prague: Capital Cities and Jewels of Central Europe
Program Number: 21707
Budapest 1900
Written by a distinguished historian and native son, this richly detailed portrait of the city at its zenith includes hundreds of illustrations.
Budapest Map
A convenient map of the city center at a scale of 1:11,000.
Danube
Mixing history, personalities and literature, Magris traces the course of the Danube from its source in the heart of the Austro-Hungarian Empire through the Balkans to the Black Sea in this anything but conventional travelogue, first published in 1986.
Danubia, A Personal History of Habsburg Europe
Winder, author of Germania (GER270), considers the legacy of the Habsburg Europe in this charmingly digressive history and travelogue.
Eyewitness Guide Budapest
Featuring handy maps and solid information on culture and history in addition to a detailed overview of attractions. With hundreds of photographs.
Prague
Don't be fooled by the title -- this engaging novel is set in Budapest. Five young American expats have settled themselves in what they consider the "second-best" eastern European city, where chance encounters and interactions determine how their lives will -- or won't -- be changed.
Budapest, A Cultural History
This brilliant guide introduces the history and traditions of this Central European cultural capital, with emphasis on its most important artists and architects.
The Hungarians, A Thousand Years of Victory in Defeat
A journalist who fled Hungary in 1957, Lendvai combines history, scholarship and anecdote in this uncommonly engaging account. With verve and authority, he covers the struggle of the Magyars' against the Tartars, Turks and Russians over the past millennium.
Prague Map
A laminated, detailed map of the center of Prague at a scale of 1:10,000.
Prague, A Traveler's Literary Companion
This anthology of 24 vivid stories by Czech writers, both contemporary and well-known, brings the city, history, spirit and people to life.
Prague in Black and Gold, Scenes from Life in a European City
Both a history and an accessible guide to the neighborhoods and architecture of the city.
Eyewitness Guide Prague
This superb guide features color photography, dozens of excellent maps and a district-by-district synopsis of the celebrated city's attractions. Handsome, convenient and up-to-date, this is the guide to carry.
The Good Soldier Svejk and His Fortunes in the World War
The deeply funny story of a hapless Czech soldier in the Austro-Hungarian army, dismissed for incompetence only to be pressed into service by the Russians in World War I, then captured by his own troops.
The Romani Gypsies
Matras delves into the history of the Romani, an ancient and misunderstood European culture that has survived through modern times.
Bury Me Standing
This marvelous portrait of the Roma, also known as the Gypsies, offers insight into their music, foods, religions and folk traditions and also examines their influential but complex relationship with Eastern Europe.
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