Eastern Europe Road Trip | End Warsaw | Summer | 2024

Here we are in the arms of Germany, the first of 6 incredible countries we're going to get very familiar with over the next 13 days. Settle in to your new digs before we head out to start the exploring. This city is one of the world's most historical spots, where history and modern Europe come together. And let us tell you, it is seriously cool. We'll down some traditional German food at a local restaurant to start the trip right. This is happening! We'll then see the longest remaining section of the Berlin Wall known as East Side Gallery and one of the city's symbols, covered in grafitti from head to toe.

We'll dive right in with an A to Z of the city. Then, opt onto a historical walking tour & see where many East Berliners tried to escape to the West at Checkpoint Charlie, the Berlin Wall, the Holocaust Memorial and Brandenburg Gate. Follow up by shopping boutiques and perusing the street art and pokey galleries symbolic of Berlin's creative scene, stopping to re-fuel on a beer or two.

This morning we head to the border and stop at a town called Dresden. Destroyed by World War II, the rebuilt town is now a symbol of resilience, soaked in the rebirthed beauty of an Opera house, the domed Frauenkirche, & the Royal Residence. By the afternoon we'll be Czech side, heading to the buzzing capital city of Prague. We'll waste no time getting acquainted with castles, bridges, gothic cathedrals & general prettiness galore on an included guided tour of the city on foot. You'll be feeling like a local in no time at all.

Prague is yours to uncover, one ovocné knedlíky traditional fruit dumpling at a time. Grab a push bike and follow yet another Local Guide around, your knowledged up guide who will reveal the secrets of another side of the city, from the John Lennon wall to the 'Dancing Houses'. Use your free time to shop for some famous Bohemian beads and amber jewellry or dive a little deeper into the lanes and courtyards of the Old Town, and sus out a roof bar for a cocktail overlooking the city.

Just remember, with every great city we leave behind we find another one, and today we have Vienna in our vision.
Out of Prague, our first stop is the World Heritage-listed Kutná Hora. Make the local Sedlec Ossuary chapel high priority, it's decked out and furnished in the bones of over 40,000 ... humans. And trust us it's a must see in this part of the world. 
Here in Vienna, we’ll be greeted by Baroque streetscapes and trendy coffee shops, it’ll be pretty hard not to fall in love instantly. With so much to do and see, we’ll take a city tour, seeing the grandeur of Hofburg Palace, the uber elegant State Opera House and the gothic masterpiece of St. Stephen’s Cathedral.

With so much to do and see, we’ll take a city tour, seeing the grandeur of Hofburg Palace, the uber elegant State Opera House and the gothic masterpiece of St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Afterwards, pop by the Vienna Museum of Art or roam the streets on architectural observation. Tonight you have the chance to visit Habibi & Hawara for a wholesome Make Travel Matter® dinner and then please your sense of sound with the classical music this city is famous for at a traditional concert in a real life PALACE. Mum would be so proud!

Vielen dank, Vienna! We are officially in love with everything you are. We'd stay for another strudel but we've heard about these famous Hungarian chimney cakes dusted in cinnamon and we're a little bit intrigued... 
There's nothing like stopping for lunch in an entirely new country before moving onto another, this is Europe after all. We'll stretch our legs in the Slovakian capital with a stroll in the Old Town and come across it's famous statues. They all have a story behind them, and you'll learn about them all. 
Fun fact #1: Buda and Pest are two different cities separated by a river, together they make Budapest. Fun fact #2: You're going to be head over heels with both of them by the time we scoot outta here. After a satisfying day of sightseeing of both sides of the city, and all the sights you've seen or read about, down goulash and cabbage rolls on tonight's Danube cruise; you'll be completely in the Hungarian spirit of things by the time we dock.

Those still keen to explore can jump on the Budapest Past and Present Tour and continue learning about this incredible city. The House of Terror, the Parliament Building, and some blissful buildings, this will take you on a journey of old and new.  After all the beauty and knowledge you soaked up yesterday at the church of St. Matthias, the Royal Palace and the Chain Bridge, you'll probably be feeling like a day soaking in the cities famous outdoor thermal pools set amongst Art Nouveau architecture while getting a bargain-priced massage - because why not.  Blissed out in Budapest - there's an Insta caption for you.

3 countries in one day - we can and we will! In no great hurry we will float out of Hungary with a sojourn through Slovakia (oh hello again) before we head into Poland for dinner. Ah, the life of a traveler. 
Pastel painted and manicured to perfection, Banska Bystrica is a lunch break that will charm you to no end. Make this a real box ticker by tucking into an item of Slovakia's traditional creamy, dumpling filled cuisine. 
Once the capital of Poland, Krakow is now known for its silver mining heritage and tales of mythical dragons. Tonight we take you to one of our favorite restaurants for a traditional feed, then you can rest up knowing we have all day tomorrow to get our Polish on.

A Jewish Quarter, a jaw-dropping castle & museums aplenty are just some of the relics found in the relatively untouched Krakow. The UNESCO World Heritage-listed center should occupy your time with an included sightseeing tour with our Local Guide. You'll even see a fire breathing dragon, very Game of Thrones might we add. Beautiful old town square will leave you charmed and packed full of knowledge once the tour wraps up. What else? We recommend you also conserve some energy for the option to get involved with a traditional Polish Pierogi (dumpling) evening, consisting of, well, dumplings. Collective YUM at these sweet and savory treats.

This morning we change our tune and take a moving stop at Auschwitz, the most infamous former Nazi concentration camp and a very sobering experience. 
We will change pace as we drop to an unfamiliar level by visiting the concentration camp memorials of Auschwitz & Birkenau. Learning and growing is what we travelers do.
Perogies Polish dumplings and a glass of compote somewhere within Warsaw's lively cafe scene should be your introduction to this emerging European capital. As we pull into the city, just ask your Trip Manager for the best local hangs. We have all day tomorrow to explore, so there's no need to start whipping through the to-do list just yet.

You didn't think we were winding down now, did you? Gosh no. Not when we have an old Jewish Ghetto to explore and an authentic Polish feast to devour, and both are included. Tragic bombings after the war have seen this city experience a re-birth, and it's packed with museums, a buzzing street art scene, and cool vibes dotted with a dose of random to keep us on our toes. Your Local guide will give you the insider track as we take it all in on foot. A renowned musical city, keep your ears open day long and see what sound pleasures you also stumble upon. We'll treat you to dinner tonight, as, wait for it, it's our last night on tour. And oh what a tour it has been. We've eaten, strolled and learnt more than we thought possible, and no doubt made some unbreakable bonds along the way. Over dinner we'll reminisce on the good times!

Whether you choose to hitch a free ride back to Berlin or you end your festivities here in Warsaw, the pain will be equally unbearable. We have just two words: Reunion Trip.