There we'll crane our necks beside Europe's largest, most ornate parliament building to learn how Hungarians coped with half a century of fascist and communist tyranny. The itinerary was a good balance, "The two female opera singers were outstanding". The reality of their experiences struck an emotional chord in me that I had not expected. Glad to say I was really happy to see it is now a a vibrant and beautiful place. As a solo traveler, it was nice to fit in with a group of like minded people. Excellent location in the secure Embassy district and easy walking or transport access, welcoming and friendly staff, very nice breakfast. There were lots of stories that began with "my Grannie always..."", "The live opera performance only for our tour group at the Budapest Opera House was my favorite "wow" moment. From national story to national cuisine, our next stop introduces us to traditional Hungarian dishes with a cooking class and lunch. Prague was an exceptional experience. Have open jaw ticket: fly to Prague and back from Budapest or vice versa whatever has better and cheaper connections. George was the perfect guide for this tour. Buy your tickets online in advance. You can't put a price tag on this kind of experience. And everyone was nice, but no special friendships. I had high expectations, but you exceeded them in every way. The interior is painted in shapes and colors so out of the ordinary for a gothic church. Overall the Tour was super; loved the Old World flavor of the 2 primary cities & the quaintness of the countryside. Overall it was fabulous!1 The culture and history of these countries is amazing. Prague: The whole city is beautiful. This was my first Rick Steves tour. Thanks again to all that have replied to my questions. Hello! I loved it. There was an opera singer, trumpet player, and pipe organ. I learned so much, every day, about the history of both cities, that I previously knew very little about. I was never much of a beer drinker....until I went to Prague. I was wonderstruck that day. Very enjoyable and informative tour. I absolutely loved it.". "The cooking class in Budapest was so fun and the cookbook to take home was a nice touch.". great tour guides, "I'm in construction - so the architecture of was magnificent". "Basically every thing we saw on our actual tours. "Can't just pick one: Our hotels were well-located and lovely. http://www.livingprague.com/ It looked like a fairy tale and " wow" was literally all could say sometimes.". This was one of the best Rick Steves' tours I have been part of. The pace and flexibility were ideal. The Danube boat tour at night provided an overall wow experience.". Too bad it was so hot. This was my first Rick Steves tour and was happy with the decision. Choose any of these or all.". Are 4 days per city enough to see the major places of interest in each city? The "wow" moments were listening to them tell of life under Communism and how they and their families felt about it. It was a great time with great beer. "Among many was the initial walk across Charles Bridge in Prague. Thanks for joining us. Having grown up in the fifties, I remembered all all the bad news coming out of Eastern Europe so I thought of it as rather dismal. Jump to bottom. That view never got old and it was only 5 minutes away from our hotel. Learning of the recent (to us) history of the communist control and the uprising in 1989 that finally let to their freedom was a highlight to me. Our cooking class in Budapest, touring the Municipal House and other Art Nouveau beauties in Prague, a coffee break at Lobkowicz Palace. Really enjoyed the beautiful buildings and rich history. The tour group really got along well together and it seemed as though you were travelling with old friends. Rick Steves has spent 100 days every year since 1973 exploring Europe. In touring the many sights and learning a little about the history of both Prague and Budapest, the differences in culture and "feel" of each city was very interesting to me. Used public transport infrequently enough, would have been fine to have a few 30 or 90 minute passes. Mucha's stain glass window in the cathedral was a big wow.". Wow, wonderful. Our guides Katka and Jana were very friendly and knowledgeable. Sleep in Budapest. "A GREAT experience overall, so don't really have a "wow" moment. I agree with Ilja & James on saying overnight and spend some walking the town without the crowds. It was a wonderful way to get to know more of our tour members(working w/o spouse/significant other!).". Strenuous walking: 2–8 miles throughout the day with lots of hills, stairs, and uneven terrain. It was a great tour and our guides were fantastic! The local guides were also excellent. "The evening cruise on the Danube was spectacular. The hotels were gorgeous and well appointed, the restaurant choices were top notch and the guides were knowledgeable, fun, kind, and funny. "The lighted Parliament building seen from the Danube River cruise.". Very knowledgeable and yet personable, all at the same time. Accomplished! Hotel there not typical Rick charm, out dated, good location. ladies were fun for my wife. A small, friendly group of 24–28 people — half the size of most tour groups; Full-time services of a professional Rick Steves guide and local experts who will make the fascinating history, art, and culture of Berlin, Prague, and Vienna come alive for you This was my first Rick Steves tour, and it was awesome! Having watched and enjoyed Rick Steves' shows on PBS for over 20 years, I was concerned I might be disappointed with the actual experience. At the monuments, at the squares. It was everything I had hoped for and more - truly an awesome experience. If I had to give constructive criticism I would say that the hotel arrangements were kind of tough. We also had two great local guides - Andrea and George. In Prague, especially, the tour included all the most important sites and experiences one could hope to have in that beautiful city. You can also find a clip related to this story at Rick Steves Classroom Europe; just search for Budapest. Thanks a lot everyone. After free time for lunch, we'll take a tour of the classy concert halls and salons of the city's Municipal House (when available). "The Jewish Synagogue in Prague was the most impactful moment of the trip. Overall, the book was very informative, fun to read, and offered excellent recommendations. To commemorate the Smithsonian Presents Travels with Rick Steves magazine — now on sale online, and at newsstands nationwide — Rick is blogging about the 20 top destinations featured in that issue.One of those destinations is Prague, Czech Republic. Cooking class in Budapest. Amazing, knowledgeable guides, plenty of free time to explore on our own, and a great group of fellow travelers. In Budapest, the view of the city from the Liberty Statue.". In Rick Steves Budapest you'll find in-depth Rick-tested information on:. Thanks Opera concert in Prague outstanding, intimate Budapest was also great, but a different kind of experience. Join us for the Best of Prague & Budapest in 8 Days! My husband and I will be traveling to Prague on May 2, 2016. I would agree about having an overnight stay in Cesky Krumlov, it is a long day trip from Prague, so as you are going in that direction anyway use some of your travel time in a better way. This was a magnificent tour from beginning to end. Our fellow travelers were the best group yet. The performance by the opera singer during the tour of the opera house on Budapest was a wonderful surprise.". We had enough time on our own to also explore. Everything was to our liking; the guide, our fellow travelers, the hotels, the pace of the trip, everything. I haven't read through any of these replies. I'm planning to join another Rick Steves tour next year. For more information or to book our 9 Day Classic Central Europe vacation package, please visit:https://www.gate1travel.com/9-day-classic-central-europe The guides in both Prague and Budapest were absolutely fantastic. The House of Terror was grim but well worth doing. Absolutely loved this tour! The pace was great, liked having free time in afternoon. We returned for a drink in the American Bar and lunch in the French Restaurant. And all of the unexpected extra's Rick Steves threw into the tour were amazing (private opera performances, singers at dinner, cooking school, etc.) My trip made me want to learn more about theses countries - that's the sign of a great tour! She was very proud of and enthusiastic about her city as were the other guides in Prague and Budapest. Max our city guide in Prague really clicked with our group. And with so much to experience in each city, keeping all of those books up to date is no easy task. It was also incredible to see it from the boat while on the Danube river cruise. great tour guides. Posted on July 28, 2018 July 27, 2018. I wanted to expand my cultural and historical horizons. Great local knowledge in Prague and in Budapest with the history on how the cities evolved from WW2 thru the Communist period. "Chocolate crepes at Gundel in Budapest. They say you'll forget what people say and do but you'll always remember how they made you feel. So appreciated her personal passion and sharing her personal stories of her life in Communist Czech, the era of independence, and the last 30 years in Czech Republic. Also in Budapest, there is a museum called the House of Terror or something like that that is housed in the building where they used to jail people in the Cold War. We've brought together Eastern Europe's must-see cities — Prague and Budapest — for an eye-opening eight-day adventure. After the second day, I mentioned to one of our group members that I could go home that day and feel that I had already gotten my money's worth. So glad we did. A Rick Steves Tour never disappoints!! "Touring the Opera in Budepest was my wow moment. "Hungarian cooking class was a "wow" moment, if I have to pick one! We are sure we would not have seen half as much on our own. But for about the same price, we saw a ballet at the Budapest Opera House. Anna (our guide) was wonderful. It would have been nice to talk about current issues in both countries. I enjoyed all of the musical experiences;the musicians at our first dinner in Prague to our last in Budapest and the private concert at the Dvorak Museum. "Most of the RS tours we've been on have been heavy on art, less so on history. George, our guide, did a great job, as did Lenka, our local guide in Prague. It is the reason I sign up for your tours. One of the leading centers of Judaism for a thousand years, the neighborhood is studded with thought-provoking museums, fascinating synagogues, and a Kafkaesque, dream-like cemetery. This was our first tour experience. The group itself was wonderful, meeting many people we will correspond with. Though I've been to Prague independently with friends twice before, I learned and experienced so much more on this trip. Also, the night cruise along the Danube in Budapest - beautiful.". A little more information on the art of the city would be helpful with a summary of the museums quickly presented...overall a great use of time. All of the tour guides were exceptional, from their knowledge of history and lore to the details of place and time. Meals fun. Try Brooke was also very helpful and both seemed to work well together. My husband and I had a wonderful time. This was my first Rick Steves tour and I was amazed at how well organized and efficient it was! We saw so many beautiful places. I truly appreciated the history of these cities. The tour was everything I hope it would be. So beautiful. I just loved it and learned things that I could not get this information from other sources. Very organized and on top of all details. A smaller tour group, learning to navigate and experience a city as a local, extremely knowledgeable local tour guides and a well-planned itinerary combined to give a multi-faceted understanding of Prague and Budapest. Whether standing ground level, looking up, or looking down from an elevated tower or wall absolutely takes your breath away!". It's centrally located, close to a metro, the rooms are spacious by Europe standards, the staff was friendly & helpful and the breakfast buffet awesome. Each of our three guides shared family stories that brought history to life and made this trip very special. I’m wrapping up my time in Central Europe: Budapest, Bratislava, Vienna, Prague, and Berlin — a great itinerary. Now all the other foreign tourist, that another matter. We stayed at Pension Hotel Suzanne for 5 days within the Ringstrasse, from RS book, a few yards from the Opera House and it 5 to 10 minute to St. Stephens directly on Karntner Strasse. "My favorite "wow" moment was the concert that we went to at a beautiful church in Prague. Three minutes walking past Parliment? Great tour guide with excellent local guides during the entire tour. But didn't go other places that the tour was supposed to cover. There were people traveling with spouses, friends & alone. I have to say it was one of the best nights we had there. Katarina was a wonderful and knowledgeable guide. Supplement $625. Strenuous walking: 2–8 miles throughout the day with lots of hills, stairs, and uneven terrain. The tour is a nice balance between "guided immersion" & independent free time. Also a bonus was the local Guide for Prague and our guide was exceptional in his attention and knowledge. I think you have done a fantastic job of packaging a ton of activity into a small amount of time, while still giving us some downtime. Both had tremendous knowledge of each country's history. And the Kunthistorichies (probably spelled that wrong) Museum is a must. We want to visit Prague, Vienna and Budapest. Very much enjoyed Prague and Budapest. led by excellent guides. Eastern Europe posed new challenges for us: language and geography; we thought it best to be guided. Since getting older we thought we would try the Rick Steve's company and it did not disappoint. I also had another wow moment when we visited the castle complex and it was blanketed by thick fog. Everyone was well traveled and interested in exploring and learning everything there was to know. Seeing all those names listed on the walls brought home the impact of the Holocaust to a much greater degree than other holocaust exhibits I have seen.". It would also have been nice to meet more people from both countries as part of the tour. Hello, Sign in. Meals and organized site visits, concert were as all Rick trips we've taken, very efficient! The display of children's art was very moving as was the visit to the Jewish Cemetery. It will be good to give the essential info first and then add on more. Katerina is knowledgeable but scattered when she shares info. "Night walk in to Old town Square Prague was amazing If, however, you're spending four days or more in Prague, or at least a week in the Czech Republic as a whole, the extra information in Rick Steves Prague can be worthwhile. Energetic, smart and genuinely adorable. "Hard to pick just one from a tour filled with WOW moments, but the "wowest" moment for me was the tour of the Jewish quarter in Prague, especially our visit to the old Jewish cemetery.". Our city guides, Jana #2 and Monica, were both fantastic and interpersonal - they shared the history of these cities with us, their experiences growing up, and helped us to understand the current issues of these countries. One of my top 2 cathedrals in Europe.". We got chocolate everytime we changed cities! Learned a lot and had great time! Our group jelled together extremely well. Enjoyed our fellow travelers too - a nicely rounded & experienced group. Loved it. We didn't make any fast friends on the tour, everyone got along just fine, I think we were all within 15 years of age. What an unexpected surprise! Absolutely YES!! Since 1973, Rick Steves has spent about four months a year exploring Europe. !She was very encouraging and helpful in allowing us to travel about on our own after the arranged tours for the day ended. Sleep in Budapest. Personable, charming, descriptive, thoughtful and kind, yet able to be firm enough to keep us all in line. The evening Danube River Cruise was spectacular! This one however seemed to be especially gratifying. Does anyone recommend a hotel in Vienna Center close to St. Stephen's Cathedral? "Standing at the window in Prague Castle where the famous "defenesration" launched the 30 years war. The group solidified quickly and all the tour members were enjoyable companions - and our guide, Monika, was amazing! I know it is helpful to give careful criticism, but honestly it was a professional, well-planned and balanced tour. Since 1973, Rick Steves has spent about four months a year exploring Europe. "The feeling I was left with. The group size, guides, sites/sights included, hotel locations, bus, meals, etc. Also, be aware that many of the cheap seats in the upper areas have obstructed views. And for good reason: Prague — the only Central European capital to escape the large-scale bombing of the last century's wars — is one of Europe's best-preserved cities. Hello, Sign in. ", "My favorite wow moment was walking into the St Vitus Cathedral.". Made it very easy to travel and focus on the experience. In case you wish to book pre- or post-tour hotel accommodations, the contact information for the tour's first and last hotels is included in your tour confirmation email, as well as in the Itinerary section of your tour account. Concerts in special venues.". On this tour, you'll explore Prague's mighty castle, swirling Baroque churches, fascinating Jewish Quarter, and sample what may be Europe's most refreshing beers. I thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience! We have individual guidebooks for each of these cities (except Bratislava, which is included in both our Vienna and Budapest books). 1 more day would have been perfect. Our 5th Rick Steves tour and as usual it was wonderful. We're in Prague — in the Czech Republic. the guides were so knowledgeable and had some first-hand experience to share. The outside noise (prague) was loud and went on until at least 5 am. were particularly illuminating. We already booked our 15th RS tour because he provides great guides, both tour and local and the people we meet are a fun bunch of like minded people who love to learn and travel. So much suffering in the 20th century. Hungarian Parliament Vast riverside government center with remarkable interior. Boat trip on Danube". "Hard question to answer, as how to you compare the beauty of the Prague Castle, with the poignancy of the Jewish/Josefov district museum and cemetery, to an unforgettable Danube River cruise seeing the striking night time beauty of Budapest. Hi, I'm Rick Steves, back with more of the best of Europe. Anya introduced us to the term defenestration as it seems many folks were thrown out of castle windows in Prague. Location of hotels /quality fine. This was our first Rick Steves tour and I think it was a great fit for us. Because of this heritage, Budapest feels more grandiose than you'd expect for the capital of a relatively small country. Anna was very personable and knowledgeable and obviously enjoys what she's doing. "Hearing about living under communist rule and participating in the Velvet Revolution from Martin and Elantra Fantastic! This forum is AWESOME! These cities are fascinating and were brought to life by our local guides Jana #2 & Monica. 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