Imperial Cities: Berlin, Prague & Vienna

Your central European holiday begins as you meet the Tour Manager at London Heathrow this morning, ready for a flight to Berlin.

Arriving in the German capital, we transfer to our hotel overlooking the River Spree. With a free afternoon, you might like to stroll along the river to Museum Island, home to five world-class art and history museums, or visit Tiergarten, a popular public space with tree-lined paths, lakes and gardens. Berlin's excellent public transport links makes it easy to get around this fascinating city.

To get a great overview of Berlin, you might like to ascend the 1,200-foot-tall TV tower, the Fernsehturm. One of the most recognisable symbols of the city, the tower is visible from many parts of Berlin. Booking is required but the views are incredible. This evening, we enjoy our first dinner together at our hotel.

• Dinner

Setting out on a sightseeing tour this morning, our expert guide helps us uncover the fascinating history of Berlin, contrasting it with the city's welcoming present.

There are reminders of the past scattered across Berlin, some more prominent than others. The route of the Berlin Wall is marked today by a double row of cobblestones laid into the streets. One of the longest-remaining sections has been covered in brightly coloured street art as part of the East Side Gallery. The tour concludes at the Brandenburg Gate - a spectacular 18th-century neoclassical monument that is the city's oldest surviving gate and now a symbol of unity.

For lunch, you might find time to try a bratwurst or pretzel for an authentic taste of German cuisine, or a currywurst - a favourite of Berliners. With free time in the afternoon, you might like to visit the Reichstag building. Entry is free, but you need to register in advance. You dine independently tonight, and the historic Nikolai Quarter and the arches between Hackescher Markt and Alexanderplatz abound with appealing restaurants.

• Breakfast

After breakfast in Berlin, we board a high-speed train to Prague. On the way, look out for sandstone cliffs blanketed by rich forests near the border. On the German side, this beautiful area is called Saxon Switzerland, while the Czechs refer to it as Bohemian Switzerland, due to the impressive landscape being perceived as similar to stunning Swiss scenery.

Arriving in the afternoon, we join a tour of the Jewish Quarter, which relays the long history of Jewish Prague. Known as Josefov, this ancient district dates from the 10th century and contains many storied synagogues, which we enter with our expert guide. Maisel Synagogue is named after its founder, Mordecai Maisel, who helped design the growing Jewish Quarter in the 16th century. Maisel's resting place is in the Old Jewish Cemetery, which we visit to uncover the lives of those buried there from 1439 to 1787, while we uncover a holocaust memorial in the Pinkas Synagogue. The Old New Synagogue is the oldest active synagogue in Europe, and the jaw-dropping beauty of the appropriately named Spanish Synagogue begins with its exterior evoking Andalucía's Alhambra before we uncover its Moorish-influenced interior.

Continuing to our four-star hotel, we check in ahead of dinner tonight.

• Breakfast, Dinner

A tour guide introduces us to the beautiful 'City of a Hundred Spires' after breakfast.

The most famous location in the 'Golden City' is Prague Castle. Dating from the 9th century, this is the largest medieval complex in Europe. The most eye-catching building is the huge Gothic St Vitus Cathedral, the south entrance of which is adorned with golden mosaics. We also see one of Prague's oldest buildings, St George's Basilica, reputedly dating from 920 AD, and the small, colourful houses of Golden Lane.

Our tour concludes with a walk down to Charles Bridge, where you can find the 75 decorative statues that populate its walls. The rest of the day is free, and you can visit Old Town Square, the focal point of Prague life since the 12th century. One of the most fascinating features of the square is the renowned astronomical clock. Installed in 1410, it's one of the oldest working pieces of its type. Dining independently tonight gives you the chance to sample hearty and delicious Czech food and a glass of frothy beer.

• Breakfast

Leaving Prague after breakfast by train, we head to neighbouring Austria. Passing sweeping fields, sleepy towns and verdant forests, we arrive in Vienna in the early afternoon.

There's time to explore at your leisure after checking in to our hotel. As the former capital of the Habsburg Empire, Vienna is a great city to wander round, with stately Baroque buildings appearing around almost every corner. Strolling northerly alongside the 14th-century Augustinian Church, you come to Josefsplatz. This opulent square was named in honour of Emperor Franz Josef II and is lined on three sides by elegant Baroque halls. Entry to the Augustinian Church is free and, despite its understated exterior, inside you can admire its grand altar. As the Habsburg's parish church, there are many connections to the imperial family, including a sculpted memorial to Archduchess Maria Christina.

Regrouping in the evening, we are transferred to an Austrian restaurant for dinner.

• Breakfast, Dinner

A guided tour after breakfast showcases Vienna's imperial architecture, including the Ringstrasse - an impressive boulevard encircling the Old City. Numerous grand buildings line the road, including the Vienna State Opera and the Austrian Parliament. The centrepiece is the Hofburg Palace, which symbolises the importance of the Habsburgs who ruled over most of east and central Europe from here between 1273 and 1918.

The rest of the day is spent at leisure, either using the knowledge acquired on the tour or relaxing in one of the city's sizeable green spaces. You may want to use the Hop On/Hop Off buses that cover the city's main sights as there is no need to pre-book. Between sightseeing, there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy a typical Viennese coffeehouse experience. These elegant cafés serve a range of coffees along with an enticing selection of pastries and cakes, including the famous Sachertorte.

This evening, you dine independently and may wish to sample local specialities such as a Wiener schnitzel with a beer or a glass of chilled Grüner Veltliner wine.

• Breakfast

A full day at leisure provides the chance to explore Vienna at your own pace - and there are many great sights to uncover.

The sprawling Schönbrunn Palace overlooks extensive decorative gardens, at the end of which is a 200ft hill topped with an 18th-century gloriette. You might like to pay to tour the palace and the grounds or even visit the world's oldest zoo which can also be found here. Under the grand entrance to the Hofburg, you will see the Spanish Riding School, home to the incredible Lipizzan dancing horses (pre-booking is required for performances). Vienna's Gothic masterpiece St Stephen's Cathedral is in Stephansplatz, the beating heart of the city, and boasts great views from the top. For a more laid-back way to enjoy Vienna's skyline, head to Prater gardens. Here, you can ride the Wiener Riesenrad - a giant Ferris wheel that, like many places in Vienna, featured prominently in the Orson Welles film The Third Man.

Tonight, you are free to dine at leisure in one of the city's many excellent restaurants.

• Breakfast

Three impressive capital cities, each different from the next, have showcased Europe's varied history spanning more than a thousand years. They also revealed their unique charms, whether it was rejuvenated Berlin, the medieval beauty of Prague or the classical grandeur of Vienna. Whether your interests lie in the cultural, historic, architectural or gastronomic, a blend of expertly guided sightseeing tours and free time to explore independently has provided opportunities to uncover these three beautiful cities your own way.

After breakfast, we make our way to Vienna airport for our flight back home. Landing at London Heathrow, your tour of three fantastic European capitals comes to an end, and you can make your way home.

• Breakfast