18 Days Central European Heritage and Scenic Tour

About the destination: Prague is the capital city and largest city of the Czech Republic. It is located on the Vltava River in central bohemia. Prague is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. For those interested in art, history, classical music, and architecture, Prague is a must see. Beautiful buildings and architecture can be seen around every corner. The River Vltava runs through the middle of Prague. Many bridges span the river but it’s the Charles Bridge, which is pedestrianized that visitors are drawn to for its combination of Gothic construction and Baroque Statues. Here there are street vendors selling all sorts of things, and in the distance on the hill is the Castle, considered the historic nexus of the city. The Old Town Square is one of two main squares in Prague and where some of the main attractions of the city are located such as the Old Town Hall Tower, the Astronomical Clock, the Church of Our Lady before Tyn and St. Nicholas Church. Since 1992, the historic center of Prague has been included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites. Prague's city center is a museum of 900 years' of architecture, Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, 19th-century revivals of all of them, and Art Nouveau remain amazingly undisturbed by the 20th century. Prague is truly an architectural delight.

About the destination: Český Krumlov is a small city in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic where Český Krumlov Castle is located. Old Český Krumlov is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was given this status along with the historic Prague castle district. The city is named Český Krumlov ("Bohemian Crumlaw") to differentiate it from Moravský Krumlov in South Moravia.

About the destination: Vienna, the capital of Austria, is a city where imperial history and contemporary culture blend seamlessly. Grand boulevards, elegant palaces, and ornate coffeehouses create an atmosphere of old-world charm, while vibrant neighborhoods, modern museums, and a thriving creative scene keep the city firmly in the present. From the Ringstrasse lined with monumental buildings to cozy side streets filled with local shops and bakeries, Vienna invites you to explore at a leisurely pace. No visit is complete without discovering Vienna’s imperial heritage. Start at Schönbrunn Palace, the former summer residence of the Habsburgs, with its lavish interiors and expansive gardens. In the city center, the Hofburg complex houses the Imperial Apartments, the Sisi Museum, and the Spanish Riding School, where you can watch the famous Lipizzaner stallions. Nearby, St. Stephen’s Cathedral rises above the old town, offering panoramic views from its tower over the rooftops and the Danube. Vienna is equally renowned for its cultural life and music. The city was home to Mozart, Beethoven, and Strauss, and you can still feel that legacy in venues like the Vienna State Opera and the Musikverein, where classical concerts are held almost every night. Art lovers should head to the MuseumsQuartier to explore the Leopold Museum and the MUMOK, or visit the Kunsthistorisches Museum for one of Europe’s finest collections of Old Masters. In between sights, relax in a traditional coffeehouse, sipping a Melange and tasting a slice of Sachertorte. Beyond the monuments, Vienna is a city of green spaces and relaxed living. Walk or cycle along the Danube Canal, picnic in the Prater park beneath the iconic Giant Ferris Wheel, or take a short tram ride to the vineyards on the city’s outskirts for a glass of local wine at a Heuriger (wine tavern). Efficient public transport, safe streets, and a compact center make it easy to explore, whether you have a weekend or a week. Vienna’s mix of history, culture, and laid-back charm makes it a rewarding destination in any season.

About the destination: Salzburg, birthplace of Mozart, lies at the border of Austria and Germany. The Salzach River separated Salzburg’s old and new towns. The old town is impressive and concentrated. It centres around the broad Residenzplatz, and is largely a pedestrian zone. The relatively new town centres around Mirabellplatz and Markartplatz. Salzburg’s impressive hills rise straight out of the old town. The most conspicuous hilltop fortification is the Hohensalzburg, build over the centuries on an ancient Celtic and Roman site, and now the largest fully preserved medieval castle in Europe. For splendour of another sort visit the Schloss Mirabell and its Gardens, located right next to the Salzach River and the Mozarteum University of Music and Arts. The castle was built by an archbishop for his beloved courtesan. You can wander around extravagant rose and flower gardens and marvel at the stone dwarves in the Zwerglgarten. To learn about Mozart and his life, go to his Geburtshaus, Mozart's birth house. The street itself is worth a look, the guild signs and painted wall decorations are much as they were at the time Mozart’s birth. The house exhibits pictures, letters, and stage sets for the various operas Mozart wrote. Protected by forested mountains, Salzburg is a city of enchantment whose voice is expressed in some of the world’s most sublime music, composed by favourite son, Mozart. The age that produced the unrivalled musical genius of Mozart also built the beautiful castles and churches of Salzburg, and spawned a love of music that lives on today in Salzburg’s countless concert series and annual summer festival.

About the destination: Munich, located at the river Isar in the south of Bavaria, is famous for its Word-class museums, beautiful parks, the annual Oktoberfest beer celebration and architecture. The beautiful public buildings and monuments are testaments to the imperial aspirations of the Wittelsbach family, rulers of Bavaria from the 12th to the 20th century. Although it was heavily damaged by allied bombing during World War II, many of its historic buildings have been rebuilt and the city center appears mostly as it did in the late 1800s including its largest church, the Frauenkirche, and the famous city hall (Neues Rathaus). An odd mix of proud traditionalism and avant-garde culture will keep you interested and active and the town does stay up until all hours, with its many students and earthly Bavarian joie de vivre.

About the destination: Nuremberg is a city in the German state of Bavaria, in the administrative region of Middle Franconia; it is Bavaria's second largest city after Munich. It is situated on the Pegnitz River and the Main-Danube Canal. Gothic churches, splendid patricians' houses and romantic corners and spots. An atmosphere of lively co-existence between medieval and modern, between the past and the present, prevails in Nuremberg. The most important places to visit in Nuremberg are: • City walls and Kaiserburg Castle • Art Bunker • Old town and St. Lawrence and St. Sebald Church • Garden of the Hesperides • Toy Museum • Neunhof Manor • Medieval Dungeons • New Museum / State Museum of Arts and Design • DB -Museum Railway Museum