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Walking Key
Light = Two to four miles of mostly level walking.
Moderate = Four to six miles and/or up and down hills and/or some stairs.
Strenuous = Six to ten miles, lots of stairs, uneven terrain.
Best of Eastern Europe in 17 Days
$4,095 + air • 24-28 people • Begins in Prague and ends in Lake Bled
Are you ready to make some new discoveries? No other Rick Steves tour brings you such a wealth of cultural diversity, remember-all-your-life meals, and breathtaking modern history as Eastern Europe.
Your 17 days in the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia and Slovenia will be carefully balanced to introduce you to the great historic capitals, plus salt-of-the-earth villages and stunning natural beauties.
You'll enjoy a fascinating montage of home-grown guides who will connect you with weathered farmers, nostalgic communists and velvet revolutionaries. And, from borscht to baklava, you'll find the cuisine as fun and memorable as the people.
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Your day-by-day itinerary
Day 0: Depart USA
Remember, you'll arrive in Europe the day after you depart the USA.
Day 1: Arrive in Prague
We'll meet at our hotel at around 5 p.m. this afternoon for a neighborhood walk, followed by dinner together. Sleep in Prague (3 nights). No bus. Walking: moderate.
Days 2 & 3: Historic, Artistic Prague
Over the next two days we'll spend time visiting Prague's wonderfully preserved Old Town, enjoying Baroque and Art Nouveau architecture, and visiting the Jewish Quarter. We'll also tour the Prague Castle area and St. Vitus Cathedral. There'll be plenty of free time to wander and to sample Prague's evening treats: classical music, Black Light Theater, and Europe's best beer. No bus. Walking: strenuous.
Day 4: The Czech Countryside
We'll drive into Moravia (the eastern part of the country), explore a typical hill town, and set up in the village of Trojanovice under the Beskydy Mountains (1 night). Bus: 6 hrs. Walking: moderate.
Day 5: Lessons of the Past
We'll cross the border into Poland and spend much of the day at Auschwitz, Europe's most moving memorial to the Holocaust. Then it's on to Kraków, Poland's historic melting pot. Sleep in Kraków (3 nights). Bus: 4 hrs. Walking: moderate.
Day 6 & 7: Delightful, Surprising Kraków
Over the next two days we'll explore the city on a walking tour, visit the Jewish district and tour the Wieliczka Salt Mine. You'll have plenty of free time to enjoy the castle, the Czartoryski Museum, St. Mary's Church, and mix with the locals around one of Europe's most colorful market squares. No bus. Walking: strenuous.
Day 8: Scenic Drive into Hungary
A full day's drive takes us through Slovakia and the Tatra mountains and into Eger, home to Hungary's most beloved castle and set in the hills of the country's best-known wine-growing region. Sleep in Eger (1 night). Bus: 8 hrs. Walking: light.
Day 9: Villages to Capital
We'll have a free morning to soak-in Eger's Baroque beauty and bustling produce market. Then we'll spend some time exploring the surrounding countryside, before making our way to Budapest, the mighty Magyar capital. Sleep in Pest (3 nights). Bus: 4 hrs. Walking: light to moderate.
Days 10 & 11: Bustling Budapest
Over the next two days we'll explore Buda's Castle district, Pest's mazelike streets, and relax on the Danube with an evening cruise. Enjoy free afternoons lounging at the thermal baths, sampling local delicacies at the Great Market Hall or people-watching along the pedestrian boulevard Vaci utca. No Bus. Walking: strenuous.
Day 12: Natural Wonders of Croatia
Today we head south to Croatia and the unique wonders of Plitvice Lakes National Park, where a system of boardwalk trails lead to magical waterfalls. Sleep at Plitvice (1 night). Bus: 7 hrs. Walking: moderate.
Day 13: From the Forests to the Sea
After a morning hike through the park, we'll drive across the mountains to the Adriatic Sea. We'll board a ferry for our enchanting retreat on the island of Rab, where we'll sleep (2 nights). Bus: 3 hrs. Walking: moderate.
Day 14: Free day on the Island of Rab
Today is a "vacation from your vacation." The entire day is yours to enjoy the sun, beach, gelato and seafood. You can also wander among the red-tile roofs and Venetian bell towers of the salty port of Rab. No bus. Walking: light to strenuous (your choice).
Day 15 & 16: Slovenia's Julian Alps
Our destination is the azure jewel of Lake Bled, set in the midst of Slovenia's Julian Alps and ringed by fine hiking paths. We'll also have some time to explore Ljubljana, Slovenia's small and charming capital. Sleep in Bled (2 nights). Bus: 5 hrs. Walking: moderate.
Day 17: Tour over after breakfast
Slovenia's international airport is just 30 minutes away; or you can hop a nearby train to other European cities. Whatever your plans, your guide will help you get on the right track. Happy travels!
Itinerary specifics subject to change.
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Favorite tour memories from a recent alum:
"As usual with a Rick Steves' tour, there were too many great memories to narrow it down to one or two. However, the last day of the tour on Lake Bled, winding down from a long trip was very nice. After a cloudy start, the day turned sunny. The walk around the lake was calm and relaxing, ending it with a lakeside Cremeschnitt dessert. Then there was the serenity of sitting on a bench at the edge of the lake, chocolate ice cream cone in hand, feeling the warmth of the descending sun on my face while looking across the lake towards the castle and St. Martin's Church."
— Kirk in Wilkesboro, NC
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