Highlights of Eastern Europe

This 14-night escorted tour by Explore Worldwide threads its way from Krakow's medieval Old Town to the banks of the Danube in Budapest, passing through the High Tatra Mountains and historic centres in Slovakia, Austria and the Czech Republic. Krakow’s intact medieval core and its Jewish quarter set the scene, with options to visit Auschwitz or the dramatic salt mines.

The tour includes an inflatable raft trip down the Dunajec River canyon and a day’s hiking in the Tatras. Slovak destinations such as Banska Bystrica and the UNESCO-listed village of Vlkolinec introduce folk architecture and mining history before reaching Budapest. There, Buda’s Castle Hill and Pest’s Parliament building mark two halves of the city forked by the Danube. Later, Bratislava and a day in Vienna offer a taste of urban heritage connected by train.

Final days wind through Mikulov’s vineyards and Prague’s stellar medieval streets, including the Astronomical Clock and Charles Bridge. The pace combines activity and free time, from thermal baths to wine tasting and thermal spas, underscoring the region’s varied heritage and landscapes.

New to Poland? Our Poland guide has the practical essentials: money, plugs, visas and when to go.

These are the places the trip visits, in order. Explore Worldwide publishes the day-by-day itinerary on its own site.