15D14N Central Europe (6070)

Check into your hotel. The rest of the day is free. Tonight, meet your Tour Director and travel companions.

Our first stop today is in Weimar, one-time intellectual heart of Germany and host to such luminaries as Luther, Cranach, Bach, Liszt, Schiller, and, of course, Goethe himself. It was at one time rightly known as the “Athens of Germany.” Continue through Thuringia and Saxony-Anhalt all the way to Germany’s capital city, Berlin.

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On this morning’s included guided tour, learn how the city is no longer divided but every bit as fascinating. Once the city of contrasts with its West and East side separated into two different worlds by a wall, Berlin has developed into a harmonious blend of old and new. It has preserved the old buildings, such as the State Opera House and Brandenburg Gate; its Neoclassic-style boulevards, such as the Kurfurstendamm and Unter den Linden. This is now complemented by brand new buildings in contemporary architectural styles. It is once again Germany’s capital and one of Europe’s most lively and interesting cities

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Drive east to Poznan, one of Poland’s oldest trading districts, and admire its Renaissance market square. Continue to Warsaw, capital of Poland.

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The included sightseeing tour is an excellent introduction to Warsaw, magnificently reconstructed after wartime destruction. Today, its wide avenues contrast strikingly with the narrow lanes of the old section.

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Two encounters with history on your southbound journey today. First, Jasna Gora in Czestochowa, the monastery that withstood the repeated onslaught of overwhelming Swedish forces during the religious wars of the 17th century. Since then, its Black Madonna has become the country’s national symbol. In the afternoon, visit what is left of the Auschwitz Concentration Camp, a chilling reminder of the Holocaust. Evening arrival in Krakow.

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This, they say, is Poland’s most beautiful city. For almost 500 years it was the country’s capital, and today, it is without a doubt its cultural capital. Join the included morning sightseeing in ancient Kraków, for centuries the residence of Polish kings. See the Market Square, the Jewish Quarter, St. Mary’s Church, and visit Wawel Cathedral. Enjoy free time later to explore this fascinating town on your own or go underground with an optional excursion to the Wieliczka salt mines. Descend to the first level of the mine for a sensory experience of beauty, color, and sound, and taste of salt on your lips.

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Travel through three countries today. First, south to the Tatra Mountains of Poland, then through scenic Slovakia, and finally into Hungary. Your destination is Budapest, the liveliest Eastern European capital.

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Budapest is a treasure trove of architectural wonders, from Gothic to Baroque; Neoclassical to Art Nouveau, but also full of history, a food capital, and surprisingly rich in thermal waters. Discover all of this and more during the included guided city tour. Or discover a new perspective on an optional cruise on the Danube River with a drink to toast the timeless views of the Parliament, Fishermen’s Bastion, and Castle Hill.

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Journey northwest and cross the border into nearby Slovakia. Stop in Bratislava, its intriguing capital on the banks of the Danube, to explore the medieval Old Town. Continue west and enter Austria, arriving in magical Vienna.

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Join the included city sightseeing tour for an introduction to the major sights: the State Opera, Parliament, the ornate Rathaus (Town Hall), and views of the Hofburg Imperial Palace from Heroes’ Square. You’ll have plenty of time to discover Vienna on your own.

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Morning at leisure. This afternoon, cross the Czech border into Moravia, then through the rich farmlands of Bohemia to Prague.

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This morning visit Nuremberg with its pretty market square and Our Lady’s Church before heading towards the Frankfurt Area.

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