Grand Imperial Cities

From London St Pancras, we take the Eurostar to Brussels, continuing to Frankfurt for the night.

• Dinner
• Eurostar Meal (First Class only)

We board a train for the journey south through Germany, crossing the Austrian border on our way to Vienna. We spend the next three nights in the Austrian capital.

• Breakfast, Dinner

A guided tour showcases the Imperial architecture of the Ringstrasse - a wide avenue that encircles the Old City - as well as the impressive Hofburg Palace, built by the indomitable Hapsburgs. We also see the impressive Opera House and Vienna's grand Parliament building. Afterwards, we make our way to Vienna's famous Schönbrunn Palace, the summer residence of the Imperial family, and have a guided tour of this impressive building and its immaculate state rooms. Our tour ends with an Appelstrudel show at the Café Residenz, followed by a hot drink and strudel. We then have some free time to stroll through Schönbrunn's elaborate gardens.

• Breakfast

You're free to continue sightseeing at your own pace today. Vienna's glorious St Stephen's cathedral, known as the 'Stephansdom', is located at the very centre of the city. This Gothic masterpiece is famed for its stunning tiled roof, patterned with brightly coloured chevrons and Viennese eagles, and by climbing to the top, you'll be rewarded with one of the best views of the city. Alternatively, a ride on the giant Ferris wheel in the Prater Gardens offers a more laid-back way to enjoy Vienna's skyline. Between sightseeing there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy a typical Viennese coffeehouse experience and a slice of delicious Austrian Sachertorte.

• Breakfast

We travel to Budapest, experiencing this city of two halves from a unique perspective this evening. The flatter, lively region of Pest looks across the water to its older, historical neighbour, the hilly Buda, which rises up away from the banks of the river. The city was once the joint capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and tonight, after dinner at a traditional restaurant, we embark on an illuminated night-time tour by coach. Tracing the Danube south, our evening is filled with stunning views of the city after dark, including the famous Széchenyi Chain Bridge and spectacular Gellert Hill.

• Breakfast, Dinner

A guided coach tour introduces us to Budapest's other main sights by day. We pass impressive buildings and monuments on both sides of the Danube, including the Neo-Gothic Parliament building, designed to look like the Palace of Westminster, Budapest Castle, Matthias Church and the more modern Fishermen's Bastion. Later, we enjoy a ride on the Children's Railway, a service operated by Hungarian schoolchildren that runs through the woods of the hills above Buda, with magnificent views of the greenery surrounding the city.

• Breakfast

With a free day, you might like to unwind with a visit to one of the public yet ornate bath houses dotted around the city, such as the Art Deco Gellért thermal baths. For something slightly different, you could visit Statue Park, known locally as Szoborpark and located in a quiet suburb of Buda. Described as a 'Communist theme park', it contains a large statue of Lenin and Cubist statues of Marx and Engels. This evening, you could take a stroll along the Danube and eat at one of the riverside restaurants, or stop to experience one of Budapest's popular 'Ruin Bars'.

• Breakfast

We depart Budapest by train, travelling through Slovakia to the Czech Republic and arriving in Prague for a three-night stay amid the copper-domed churches of 'The City of a Hundred Spires'.

• Breakfast, Dinner

A guided walking tour through the narrow streets of Prague's Old Town reveals some of the city's most famous sights. We begin at Hradcany Castle, the largest medieval complex in Europe, before strolling across the 14th-century Charles Bridge to admire the 75 statues built along its walls and the Gothic spires of St Vitus' Cathedral in the distance. We also stop to look at the city's renowned astronomical clock. Dating back to medieval times, it's one of the oldest working pieces of its time, showing the relative positions of the sun, moon, earth and zodiac constellations.

• Breakfast

Enjoy a free day getting to know Prague better. Gourmet restaurants, cocktail bars and trendy cafés are easy to find. If you're looking for something more authentic, you can feast on pork and dumplings washed down with beer in a traditional pub, or 'hospody', ahead of a leisurely amble along the Vltava River. Or you may prefer to take a gentle cruise through the city, a relaxing way to see the sights.

• Breakfast

Catching the train from Prague, we travel through the Bohemian countryside into Germany, following the route of the River Elbe to Berlin for two nights. On arrival, we set out on a guided walking tour of Germany's capital to uncover its fascinating history, contrasted with the city's vibrant present. We see the remains of the Berlin Wall - a poignant reminder of the city's turbulent past, now decorated with colourful street art - and the Brandenburg Gate. A spectacular 18th-century neoclassical monument, this is the city's oldest surviving gate and a symbol of unity in Germany.

Please note: For departures 13/04/2023, 08/06/2023, 26/06/2023 and 14/09/2023 you will stay at the Mercure MOA hotel in Berlin.

• Breakfast

Your day is free to continue sightseeing. You could visit the Reichstag and Checkpoint Charlie, which details the history of the Berlin Wall, or head to Potsdam, home to the Baroque flower gardens of Park Sanssouci. Alternatively, you may like to visit the imposing Opera House, home of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, or the Pergamon Museum, to see its wonderful exhibits, including life-size replicas of Ishtar Gate and the Altar of Zeus. You could take a stroll through Berlin's Old Quarter enroute to Charlottenburg Palace, the only remaining royal residence from the Hohenzollern dynasty. You might also find time to try a Bratwurst or pretzel for an authentic taste of German cuisine.

• Breakfast, Dinner

We travel by rail to Brussels after checking out of our hotel. Here, we join the Eurostar to London St Pancras.

• Breakfast
• Eurostar Meal (First Class only)