About the Journey 

Discover three of Central Europe’s great capitals on this Princeton-exclusive adventure to Budapest, Hungary; Bratislava, Slovakia; and Prague, Czech Republic. 

The journey begins with an in-depth look at Budapest with four nights at the iconic Corinthia Hotel, a landmark property that has hosted legends such as Bela Bartok and Josephine Baker. Explore Budapest’s atmospheric Hapsburg architecture, tour the lavish neo-Renaissance Opera House, and walk Castle Hill, taking in breathtaking city views.

Uncover layers of the city’s millennia of history, including moving stories of the Holocaust at the Dohany Street Synagogue and the Shoes on the Danube Bank Monument, where a local Jewish youth joins the group. The monumental parliament building defines Budapest’s skyline; see this grand structure by both day and night, cruising past its dramatically lit façade from the Danube River during a private dinner cruise.

Travel next to Bratislava, Slovakia’s riverside capital, for an overnight with panoramic views of the castle and Old Town. Take a guided tour of the medieval streets, historic sites, and quirky street art of this compact city, a hidden gem among Europe’s capitals. Stop in UNESCO-designated Kutna Hora, one of medieval Bohemia’s wealthiest towns, and visit the Gothic Cathedral of St. Barbara.

Conclude the adventure with the Gothic spires, baroque squares, and beautifully-preserved churches and palaces of Prague. Tour Prague Castle, the largest ancient castle in the world; see St. Vitus Cathedral, a masterpiece of Gothic architecture; tour the Jewish Quarter; and discover the treasures of the Strahov Monastery, including an organ played by Mozart.

As you journey through these beautiful, fairytale-esque cities, enjoy musical performances, hands-on activities, a variety of local flavors, and the great company of fellow Princetonians. 

Accommodation 

Corinthia Grand Hotel Royal Budapest, Hungary 
Originally opened in 1896 as the Grand Hotel Royal, the Corinthia Budapest has been a landmark of the Hungarian capital for more than a century. Built during the golden age of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the hotel carries the grandeur of Europe’s great hotels, and its archives were consulted by Wes Andrerson’s team while developing the 2014 film The Grand Budapest Hotel. The distinguished interior features a six-story sunlit atrium and lavish Art Deco-era Royal Spa. Several restaurants offer refined international and Hungarian cuisine, while sophisticated bars, live evening music, and 24-hour room service complete the experience.

Grand Hotel River Park Bratislava, Slovakia 
Located on the banks of the Danube River, the centrally located Grand Hotel River Park offers panoramic views of Bratislava Castle and the Old Town. The hotel features a wine and cocktail bar, a luxurious spa and fitness center with an indoor pool, and a riverside restaurant offering outdoor seating with a river promenade view. A rooftop heliport and a private river pier and terrace round out the hotel’s unique amenities.

W Prague Prague, Czech Republic
W Prague is housed in the former Grand Hotel Europa, an Art Nouveau building on Wenceslas Square dating to 1872 and rebuilt in its current form in 1905. After closing in 2013, the building reopened in October 2024 as the first W Hotels property in the Czech Republic. The 161 rooms and suites are split between the restored heritage building and a new nine-story wing added during renovation, with original stucco details, mosaic floors, and ironwork balconies preserved throughout. The hotel has several restaurants, a rooftop bar, an indoor pool, and a spa.

Itinerary

B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner 

Friday, October 22-Saturday, October 23 | Depart Home / Arrive Budapest, Hungary 
Depart the U.S. on flights to Budapest, Hungary, arriving on October 23. Transfer to the iconic Corinthia Budapest, a historic property built during the golden age of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and your home for the next four nights. This evening, gather for a welcome dinner with your fellow travelers. 
Corinthia Budapest (D) 

Sunday, October 24 | Budapest 
Enjoy a morning lecture from your study leader, then set out to explore UNESCO-listed Budapest. Walk along cosmopolitan Andrassy Avenue, flanked by eclectic neo-Renaissance palaces. Continue to Heroes‘ Square and the prominent Millennium Memorial, completed in 1900 and commemorating the thousandth anniversary of the Hungarian conquest of the Carpathian Basin. Conclude today’s exploration with a tour of the architecturally distinctive House of Music, a newer attraction showcasing Hungary’s contributions to the universal language of music. 
Corinthia Budapest (B, L) 

Monday, October 25 | Budapest 
Start the day with a walking tour of Castle Hill, enjoying breathtaking views from its neo-Gothic Fisherman’s Bastion. Then step inside the stunning Matthias Church, where King Matthias Corvinus held both of his royal weddings in the 15th century. For an authentic lunch, indulge in a strudel-making demonstration and tasting at a local strudel house. Afterwards, a local Jewish youth will meet group at the Shoes on the Danube Bank Monument, a haunting tribute to the Jews who were executed there during the Holocaust. End the day with a tour of the iconic Parliament Building, whose façade dominates the Budapest skyline. 
Corinthia Budapest (B, L) 

Tuesday, October 26 | Budapest 
Begin the day with a visit to the magnificent Opera House. Next, explore the Franz Liszt Memorial Museum housed inside the Old Academy of Music, where the great composer lived and taught during his final years. Step inside Dohany Street Synagogue, the largest synagogue in Europe, and savor the flavors of Hungary at the bustling Great Market Hall. After lunch and time at leisure, gather for a magical evening dinner cruise along the Danube, with nighttime views of the Parliament Building and the castle district glowing on the hill above Buda. 
Corinthia Budapest (B, D) 

Wednesday, October 27 | Bratislava, Slovakia 
Set out for Bratislava, Slovakia, arriving in time for lunch and a walking tour of the medieval streets, historic sites, and whimsical bronze statues of this capital city situated astride the Danube. Enjoy an afternoon lecture with dinner at leisure to explore this compact “hidden gem” of a city on your own. Overnight at the Grand Hotel River Park, located on the Danube waterfront with views of the Bratislava Castle and Old Town. 
Grand Hotel River Park (B, L) 

Thursday, October 28 | Prague, Czech Republic 
Continue your adventure today to Prague, Czech Republic, stopping in Kutna Hora for lunch and time to stretch your legs with a brief walking tour. Explore the Gothic Cathedral of St. Barbara with soaring vaults, medieval frescoes, and distinctive spires, and visit the “Bone Church,” where the remains of thousands of people from a medieval cemetery were later arranged into elaborate decorations. Arrive in Prague with time to rest and enjoy dinner at leisure. 
W Prague (B, L) 

Friday, October 29 | Prague 
Gather for a final lecture from your study leader before a morning exploration of Prague’s UNESCO-designated Old Town followed by a visit to the Jewish Quarter. In the Old Town, where the settlement of Prague first began, step into a medieval fairytale, wandering a maze of cobblestone streets and admiring its Town Hall and 15th-century astronomical clock. Visit the impressive Jewish Cemetery, with more than 12,000 tombstones packed densely together and stacked 12 layers deep in some places, and the “Old-New” Synagogue, the oldest working synagogue in Europe. In the afternoon, participate in a hands-on glassblowing workshop, a tradition dating back to the 13th century. The evening is at leisure to enjoy this great city at your own pace. 
W Prague (B, L) 

Saturday, October 30 | Prague 
Spend the morning discovering more of the “City of a Hundred Spires,” beginning with Prague Castle, the largest ancient castle in the world and symbol of Prague. The expansive complex includes St. Vitus Cathedral, a masterpiece of Gothic architecture; the baroque Matthias Gate; and the Renaissance Garden planted in the 16th century. Step inside Strahov Monastery, housing one of the oldest continuously working libraries in Europe, and walk along Golden Lane featuring a row of tiny 16th-century houses set against one of Prague Castle’s fortress walls. Enjoy lunch on your own and an afternoon at leisure before gathering for a festive farewell dinner to celebrate your journey through Central Europe’s great capitals. 
W Prague (B, D) 

Sunday, October 31 | Depart Prague 
After breakfast, depart for the airport for flights home. 
(B) 

Rates 

• $9,350 per person, sharing
• $10,945 per person, single occupancy
• A deposit of $1,000 per person is due upon registration. 

Program Rates Include 

All accommodation based on double occupancy per itinerary with local service charge and tax (standard hotel check-in/out times apply unless otherwise noted) • Group arrival and departure transfers on arrival/departure days • Transportation by private vehicle • All sightseeing and excursions including entrance fees • Local English-speaking guides • Special cultural features as stated in itinerary • Services of a Tour Manager, Staff Host, and Study Leader • Whisper headsets throughout the tour • Meals as listed in itinerary: breakfast daily, 5 lunches, and 3 dinners • Bottled/purified water, soft drinks, coffee or tea with group lunches, plus wine or beer with group dinners • Gratuities to tour manager, local guides, and drivers • Baggage handling at hotels • Comprehensive destination preparation information packet 

Program Rates Do Not Include 

International airfare to/from the start and ending cities • Air taxes or fuel surcharges • Increases in local taxes/VAT • Pre- or post-tour services • Visa or passport fees • Medical and trip cancellation/interruption insurance • food or beverages not included in group meals • Items of a personal nature, such as laundry, alcohol, telephone expense, excess baggage fees, photo/video expenses inside museums (where allowed) • Other items not expressly listed as included. 

Is This Journey Right for Me? 

• Walking: To participate safely in this tour, you should be able to comfortably walk four miles per day on uneven surfaces, including in historic city and town centers and historic sites with limited accessibility infrastructure. There is no strenuous hiking on this program.
• Transportation: This trip moves between three different hotels, with transport from one destination to the next via air-conditioned motorcoach. The longest drive is from Bratislava to Prague via Kutna Hora which totals 225 miles.
• Food: This immersive program offers many opportunities to try local cuisine. Throughout the tour, a variety of traditional and international meals will be offered, along with meals at leisure to explore the local dining scene.
• Accommodations: The hotels on this program are upscale, luxury properties well located for exploring each city.
• Group Size: This program is exclusive to Princeton Journeys and limited to 28 participants. Your study leaders, Kim Scheppele and Serguei Oushakine, will travel with you for the duration of the program and deliver lectures in a small-group setting.
• Holidays: October 23 is a national holiday in Hungary (1956 Revolution Day) and October 28 is Czech Independence Day. Holiday hours may apply at some sites and businesses on these dates.

Reservations 

Please view the trip terms and conditions, then register online or contact the Princeton Journeys team at journeys@princeton.edu / 609.258.8686 with questions.