Skip to Main Content
A panoramic view of Michaelsplatz in Vienna, Austria, featuring the Hofburg Palace and St. Michael's Church under a vibrant sunset sky in Central Europe.
Czech Republic/Poland/Hungary/Austria

Go Solo: The Best of Central Europe

Program No. 25123RJ
Start Enrolling
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
8,799
Going solo doesn’t mean going alone! On this learning adventure, experience an elegant concert of Chopin’s music in Krakow and the grandeur of the Habsburg’s summer palace in Vienna exclusively alongside fellow solo travelers. 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. Enjoy private concerts, viewings of world-class art collections and in-depth discussion of some of Europe’s leading intellectuals in the company of other Road Scholars who are also traveling independently.
Best of all, you'll...
  • Alongside other solo Road Scholars, 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
This is a Go Solo program, designed for participants traveling solo — without a friend, partner or family member. Everyone in the group is joining on their own, creating a welcoming environment, shared experience and easy camaraderie from the start. If you’re planning to travel with a companion, you may prefer a different program, such as "The Best of Central Europe: Krakow, Budapest, Vienna, Prague" (#12259).
All Experts
Please Note:
These experts may not be available for every date of the program
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.
Dagmar Balounova was born in 1959 in Bratislava, Slovakia. As a licensed educational excursion leader, she enjoys sharing her love for the region with lifelong learners from around the world. She often works for different government and privately run institutions and companies during visits of foreign delegations.
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.
Sona 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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Learn About Activity Levels
Walking up to 5 miles per day at a moderate pace of 2 mph over mixed terrain, including cobblestones, dirt paths, stairs, short uphill inclines, and uneven surfaces, often in crowded areas. Standing up to 5 hours per day. Program will require approximately 40 miles of walking over 17 days. Participants should be prepared to navigate uneven stairs with and without handrails and be comfortable getting on and off public transportation (tram, subway, motorcoach, taxi). Due to the pace of this program, 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
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.

An illustration of a hand using a pen to check off the final item on a clipboard checklist
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.

An illustration of an elderly man sitting at a computer with a pair of binoculars beside him
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.

An illustration of an elderly woman holding a piggy bank, with the Eiffel Tower in the background
Sustainable Travel

We offset a portion of the emissions created by your travel. Read about our commitment to a more sustainable planet.

An illustration of a hand holding a globe with a small bird flying around it