Budapest, Hungary; Bratislava, Slovakia; Vienna, Austria; what connects these three cities? You guessed it: the mighty, blue Danube! Our Six-Day European Capitols Tour will have you ooing and awing at every turn as you explore these three cities!

Your trip will start in Budapest, the capital of Hungary. Many westerners are unaware of what a spectacular city Budapest is but the secret is out in Europe and Budapest has become a hot destination! You will soon see why as you view the city and the awe-inspiring Parliament building from Castle Hill on the Buda side of the Danube on day one. The views from the castle heights and Gellert Hill are breathtaking!

Today we will visit all the sites in Buda: the Citadella, Cave Chapel, the funicular railway, Mathias Church, the Fishermen's Bastion and the Royal Palace before crossing the mighty Danube on the Lanchid or Chain Bridge! Sound like a full day? It is! After day one you will be thinking, "what more could there be to see in Budapest?"

Day two will clarify any questions you may have as we take a fascinating tour of the striking Parliament building, visit Szent Istvan Bazilika (St. Stephen's Basilica) including a climb to the top for wonderful views of the city (again!), stroll the promenade and do some shopping on Vaci Utca all the while passing through several beautiful squares including Heroes' Square!

But the attractions in Budapest don't stop there! Budapest is also home to many fine museums which can be visited...if you still have the energy! In the evening why not take in an opera or soak away your aches and pains in one of Budapest's famous thermal water baths, a true Budapest experience!

Hungarian cuisine is unique and varied. Breads and soups abound, as does the paprika, and yes, we will try some true Hungarian goulash! Hungary also produces some very good internationally acknowledged wines including wines from the Tokaj region and the Egri Bikaver or Eger Bull's Blood wine!  

After two days in Budapest we're on to surprising Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia! But on the way why not check out some of the sights? North of Budapest lies an area known as the Danube Bend, one of the prettiest stretches of the Danube River. Beautiful vistas and three medieval towns, Szentendre with its many church spires, Visegrad and its medieval hilltop citadel, and Esztergom and its huge basilica (the largest in Hungary) await you as we make our way to Bratislava in Slovakia, Hungary's neighbor to the north.

The mammoth Eztergom Basilica

Pedestrian friendly Bratislava, Slovakia

It's “no cars allowed” in Bratislava's central area, making this a pedestrian paradise, especially when you factor in the wonderful 18th century architecture awaiting you at every turn and the plethora of European cafes! As if this wasn't enough, Bratislava castle looms over the city and a walk around its ramparts is a must.

For over a thousand years Slovakia was almost completely swallowed up by the Austro-Hungarian empire. After this the Slovaks formed part of Czechoslovakia along with what is now the Czech Republic. Independent since 1993 and a member of the European Union since 2004, Slovakia is on its way up and its capital, Bratislava is a fascinating place to visit!

View from the Bratislava Castle Heights

See three countries from Devin castle on the Danube

On our fourth day we take a day-trip by boat on the mighty Danube to see ruins of Devin castle, partially destroyed by Napoleon in 1809, a short distance from Bratislava. In the evening you may take in a museum, do some shopping, revisit the architecturally rich center, take in a panorama of Bratislava in the UFO on the Novy Most (New Bridge), or maybe go to the opera!

On day five all roads lead to Vienna, Austria as we visit this grand city. Vienna is a varied city with many different activities. Your itinerary will depend on your tastes and preferences. Museums abound and Vienna's center is more like an outdoor museum than a city!

Although your itinerary will depend on you, a trip to Vienna wouldn't be complete without the following: sipping coffee at a real Viennese Kaffeehaus (café); visiting the gothic Stephansdom; viewing the architectural wonders on the Ringstrasse; the Hofburg Imperial Palace; the Kunsthistorisches Museum (Museum of Fine Arts), one of the most impressive museums in the world; the opulent interior of the Schloss Schonbrunn (Schonbrunn Palace); the Schloss Belvedere, one of the finest baroque palaces in the world, and the nearby Botanical Gardens!

Other options include the Riesenrad (Ferris wheel); Tiergarten, the world's oldest zoo; the Vienna Boy's Choir and the famous Spanish Lipizzaner horses. Vienna is a classical music mecca so why not enjoy an opera at the Staatsoper, one of the top opera houses in the world, or an evening of classical music? You may also visit some of Beethoven's or Mozart's old haunts. (Note: Ticket requests for the Spanish Lipizzaner horses, Vienna Boy's Choir, the opera, or any classical music venue requires a minimum of three months advanced notice.)

As you can see, there are plenty of things to do in Vienna. It's no surprise that some of our guests wish to stay longer in Vienna, and so we offer an optional third day to further soak in this famous world city!

However, your trip doesn't have to end here! Please see some of our options for extending your stay with us and visiting even more spectacular sights in this amazing area of Europe by clicking here!