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Austria/Hungary

Savoring Vienna & Budapest: Slow Discoveries along the Danube

Program No. 25676RJ
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Itinerary
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. Read More.
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.
Duration
12 days
11 nights
What's Included
24 meals ( 10B, 8L, 6D )
4 expert-led lectures
13 expert-led field trips
1 hands-on experience
An experienced Group Leader
10 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
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Activity Note
Hotel check-in from 4:00 p.m. Luggage may be stored at the hotel so you may explore the area while you wait for your room to be ready. Remember to bring your nametag. .
Afternoon:
After checking in to the hotel and getting your room, take some time to freshen up and relax before our Orientation session. 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 learn from the Group Leader and a series of local experts who will give lectures and lead field trips. Program-related travel and transfers will be via private motorcoach, tram, and other public transportation where noted. 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 the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 15 miles, approximately 1.5 hours riding time. Walking up to 2 hours, approximately 2 miles; terrain includes flat city surfaces, pavements, light cobblestones occasionally, Getting on/off trams. Unavoidable stairs, standing in the church.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will begin the morning traveling to a local school via tram where we will enjoy a tour and introduction to the Austrian educational system, gaining insight into daily student life and teaching practices from the staff of the school. Aboard a motorcoach we will start our expert-led field trip along Vienna’s Ringstrasse, the boulevard built where the medieval city walls once stood, surrounding the historic Inner Stadt. As we pass iconic landmarks like Vienna State Opera, Hofburg Palace, and the Parliament Building, we will hear about Emperor Franz Joseph’s decision to create the Ring Boulevard in 1857 which led to the building of these iconic landmarks.
Lunch:
At a local Viennese café.
Afternoon:
We will continue our field trip through the historic heart of Vienna, where winding cobblestone streets, elegant squares, and centuries-old architecture reveal the city’s timeless charm. Your expert local guide will lead you through Old Town to the awe-inspiring St. Stephen’s Cathedral and take in the Gothic architecture. There will be some time to rest or freshen up before dinner. You can stay in town or walk back to the hotel with the Group Leader.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a tram and other public transport. Walking about 3 miles, up to 1/2 hour of standing at a time, unavoidable stairs, sidewalks, and crowded areas; standing up to 2-3 hours over the day.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
At the hotel, we will hear a lecture by a local expert titled “Austria Today,” offering insight into the city’s vital role at the heart of Europe.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
After lunch, we will travel by public transport to the renowned Kunsthistorisches Museum where an expert docent will introduce us to the collection of Old Master paintings from the Renaissance and Baroque periods. After the visit, the day is yours to enjoy at your own pace or linger at the museum to explore its other treasures with your ticket. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities for other suggestions.
Dinner:
This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to have what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off public transportation. Walking about 2 miles with up to 1/2 hour of standing at a time; flat city surface, pavements, light cobble stones occasionally, getting up or off the bus and tram, walking a few flights of stairs during the day. Extent and duration of walking and other activities during free time according to personal choice.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
This morning, we will focus on the Jugendstil movement, the Germanic and Austrian version of the Art Nouveau trend, and how it impacted the artistic scene in Vienna. We will travel by tram or taxi to the elegant Upper Belvedere Palace for an expert-led visit of their collection featuring works from Gustav Klimt, Oskar Kokoschka, and Egon Schiele—a highlight of Vienna’s artistic legacy at the turn of the 19th century. After the visit, enjoy some time to further explore the palace with your ticket or relax in the beautifully manicured gardens. As a popular destination, early arrival is meant to help navigate potentially crowded areas. Later, with our local expert, we’ll travel via motorcoach to see how the Jugendstil style manifested in architecture, admiring the facades of landmarks such as the Vienna Secession Building and Otto Wagners’ Karlsplatz pavilions.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
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 you own.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Extent and duration of walking and other activities during free time according to personal choice. Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving 15 miles up to 1-2 hour riding time. Approximately 2 hours of standing and up to 1.5 miles of walking throughout the day.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
Free time. This time is available so that you can choose to attend the Vienna Boys Choir, see the Lippinzaner horses at the Spanish Riding School at Hofburg Palace, or enjoy any of the myriad opportunities in Vienna. Please note the Vienna Boys Choir and Spanish Riding School require tickets purchased in advance.
Lunch:
On your own.
Afternoon:
At the hotel, we'll enjoy a lecture with a local expert on “The Golden Age of Music: From Mozart to Strauss,” hearing why Vienna is celebrated as the world’s music capital. Arriving by motorcoach at the Third Man Museum, we’ll use the museum’s collection to discuss the city’s post-war era. The Third Man follows an American writer unraveling a mystery amid the city’s divided, shadowy streets, making Vienna itself a central character in the story and a powerful backdrop to its intrigue. We’ll re-board our motorcoach to trace some of the settings from the film. We encourage you to watch the film in advance.
Dinner:
Motorcoach transfer to a traditional restaurant for dinner.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer the next morning.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach, driving 175 miles, approximately 5 hours riding time. Walking about 1.5 miles, approximately 2 hours of standing and walking throughout the day; terrain will include slightly hilly city pavements, old cobble stones, getting on and off the bus, walking slightly uphill and downhill with a few flights of stairs during the day, standing in/at the attractions. Some extended time of sitting during transfer between the cities, comfort breaks every 1.5-2 hours en route.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
Checking out of the hotel, we will depart Vienna by motorcoach and journey through the picturesque landscapes of Central Europe toward Bratislava. The ride to Bratislava is roughly 50 miles and takes about 1.5 hours by motorcoach. Upon arrival, we’ll enjoy an expert-led tour through Bratislava, taking in highlights of the city.
Lunch:
At a local Slovak restaurant.
Afternoon:
We will continue our journey by motorcoach to Budapest another 125 miles or 200 km over about 3 hours of driving. Upon arrival in Budapest, we will check in and settle in at our hotel. Before dinner, you may wish to join an elective orientation walk through the surrounding neighborhood, offering a first glimpse into the city’s lively atmosphere and architectural beauty.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
At your leisure.
Activity Note
Some hilly sections in the castle hill district, flat city surface, pavements, cobble stones occasionally. Getting on/off a bus, walking a few flights of stairs during the day, standing in the church, a few steeper steps of stairs may occur (2-3). Walking for 1.5 miles, up to 1/2 hour standing at a time.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
Using taxis and the castle district minibus, we’ll cross the Danube to the Buda side of the city heading up towards the top of the Buda Castle district, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Arriving at the top of Castle Hill, we’ll start our exploration with a visit to the House of Houdini for a glimpse into the life of the legendary illusionist with a touch of magic. With our local expert, we’ll walk around the Royal Castle area, passing landmarks such as the Hungarian Presidential Palace, the office of the Hungarian Prime Minister and the Buda Castle.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant in the Castle District.
Afternoon:
We will continue with our leisurely stroll around the Castle Hill area, admiring the stunning architecture of Matthias Church and enjoying the panoramic views from the Fisherman’s Bastion. Back at the hotel, the remainder of the afternoon is down time. As night falls, we’ll ride by motorcoach to the Danube River for a cruise with illuminated views of the city’s iconic skyline.
Dinner:
We'll enjoy dinner aboard a Danube River cruise, surrounded by the sparkling evening panorama of city lights along the Danube River.
Evening:
After dinner, we will return to the hotel by motorcoach. The rest of the evening is at leisure.
Activity Note
Bring a small bag to fit your swim attire. Getting on/off the metro and tram; flat city surface, unavoidable stairs, pavements, light cobble stones in the park. Walking about 1.5 miles, approximately 2 hours with standing throughout the day. Gentle swimming and soaking in thermal baths.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
At the hotel, we’ll attend a lecture by a local expert, “Understanding Hungary and Budapest: Buda and Pest 2 in 1.” We will learn about how Budapest used to be three separate cities and it’s rise and fall through the centuries. On an expert-led field trip by motorcoach and on foot, we will drive along the Grand Boulevard and elegant Andrássy Avenue as we make our way to Heroes’ Square. Here we will alight into the leafy expanse of City Park Budapest, to arrive at the House of Music Hungary where we will enjoy an expert-led visit.
Lunch:
Lunch at a local restaurant in City Park.
Afternoon:
After lunch, we’ll immerse ourselves in Budapest’s celebrated thermal bath culture with a visit to Széchenyi Thermal Bath, where we can relax in its grand Neo-Baroque surroundings while learning about its history and the bathing culture that began over 1,000 years ago. Be sure to bring a swimsuit, shower shoes, a swim cap, and a towel. You can rent the accessories for a fee from the spa directly. We will return to the hotel in the late afternoon, with the evening free to enjoy the city independently. Alternatively, you may choose to explore nearby attractions such as the Museum of Fine Arts Budapest, the Museum of Ethnography Budapest, or the Budapest Zoo and Botanical Garden at your own pace.
Dinner:
On your own.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a public bus. Walking/standing about 2 miles and standing/walking 20-40 minutes at time; terrain includes flat city surface, pavements, light cobble stones occasionally, a few flights of stairs during the day. Getting on/off a motorcoach.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
A few short stops on the public bus take us to the historic Jewish Quarter where we begin our exploration with an expert-led visit to the Dohány Street Synagogue, the largest synagogue in Europe. As we walk through the surrounding streets, our local expert will delve into the background of the neighborhood, Jewish heritage, and World War 2 history.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
We will set out by motorcoach to the Unicum Museum, where we will discover the fascinating story behind Hungary’s iconic herbal liqueur, Unicum. We’ll learn from a local museum expert about the Zwack family and their secret recipe that has endured through generations. Trace how Hungary’s changing political situation through World War II, communism, and today has effected the running of this company before tasting the fruits of their labor. We will then take the motorcoach back to the hotel.
Dinner:
On your own.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach and public transport. Walking about 1.5 miles throughout the day, approximately 2 hours with standing. Extent and duration of walking and other activities during free time according to personal choice.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
At the hotel, we will attend a thought-provoking lecture on Hungary’s communist past, often described as the “happiest barrack” within the Eastern Bloc. We’ll then travel by public transport to Kossuth Lajos Square for an expert-led field trip through the political heart of the city, exploring the surroundings of the Hungarian Parliament Building and Liberty Square Budapest, while learning about the events of the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 and their lasting impact on modern Hungary.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
Afternoon Free Time to explore Budapest at your own pace, with the option to visit the Parliament building independently if you have secured tickets in advance. Take this time to revisit favorite sites, discover hidden corners, or simply relax and enjoy the city’s atmosphere. We will gather in the hotel to board our motorcoach for dinner.
Dinner:
Share favorite experiences and enjoy camaraderie with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner at a local restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.
Activity Note
Hotel check-out by 12:00 Noon. See your program’s “Getting There” information regarding transfers.
Breakfast:
At the hotel. 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 another rewarding program in the future. Don’t forget to like our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!
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