54ab22053278e budapestandkrakow2015 1 5 by Go Real Europe

An Adventure in Europe Specially created for Jane Example and John Example Itinerary Preview Budapest and Krakow September 01 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; September 08, 2015

ITINERARY OVERVIEW Members of the Travel Group: Jane Example and John Example 1. This is only a summary of your trip! Full-length itineraries include destination information, travel directions, maps, pictures, tips, and other details. 2. Select “Hotels” on your client dashboard to see hotel pictures and descriptions.

Pre-Paid Tours and Activities: • Best of Budapest: Half-Day Walking Tour of Highlights & Hidden Finds

• Guided Excursion to the Auschwitz Concentration Camp

• Walking Tour of Krakow’s Historic Center

Pre-Paid Transportation: • Train Tickets from Budapest to Krakow

• Public Transport Tickets for Budapest

• Private Transfer from the Budapest Airport to your Hotel • Private Transfer from Krakow Rail Station to Your Hotel

Pre-Paid Hotels, including Daily Breakfast: • 3 nights in the (Hotel T.B.D.) in Budapest

• 3 nights in the (Hotel T.B.D.) in Krakow

Travel Information included in your itinerary: • City Maps of Budapest • Point to point travel directions

• Free Skype calling to landlines worldwide, and to mobile phones in the U.S. and Canada

• Destination information & travel advice

Total Trip Cost for All Travelers:

N/A e

Please see payment details and travel conditions here.

ITINERARY CONTENTS 1 September 01, 2015 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Arrival in Budapest and Transfer by Private Car to Hotel . Váci street and the Central Market (Vásárcsarnok) . . . . Self Guided Visit to Central Pest . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . .

2 September 02, 2015 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Best of Budapest: Half-Day Walking Tour of Highlights & Hidden Finds . Self Guided Tour of the Castle District . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Evening City-Lights River Cruise on the Danube . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . .

3 September 03, 2015 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tour of the Hungarian Parliament Building and its Surroundings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Self Guided Excursion to Szentendre (St. Andrew) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

4 4 4

6 6 7

8 8

4 September 04, 2015 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Visit to the Széchenyi Baths, Városliget Park, the Budapest Zoo, & Heroes’ Square . Self Guided Visit to the Jewish Quarter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Along Andrássy Avenue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Self-Arranged Taxi Transfer to the Rail Station . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Overnight Rail Journey to Krakow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . .

. 9 . 9 . 9 . 10 . 10 . 10

5 September 05, 2015 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Arrival at Krakow Glowny Train Station and transfer to Hotel . Guided Walking Tour of Historic Krakow . . . . . . . . . . . . . Visit to Wawel Castle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . .

11 11 11 11

6 September 06, 2015 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Self Guided Tour of Kazimierz - Krakow’s Jewish Quarter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Self Guided Tour of Krakow’s Old Town . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 7 September 07, 2015 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Guided Bus Excursion to the Auschwitz Concentration Camp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Visit to the Schindler’s Factory Museum and the Former Jewish Ghetto . . . . . . . . . . . 13 8 September 08, 2015 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Self-Arranged Drop off at Airport by Taxi, Depart Krakow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

DAY 1 Arrive Budapest

September 01, 2015 (Hotel T.B.D.)

Arrival in Budapest and Transfer by Private Car to Hotel To Be Determined We will schedule a pick up for your ﬂight’s arrival time. You will be met in the terminal by a driver holding a sign with your name on it. The ride is for your party only - you will not be sharing a vehicle. The cost of the ride is included in your package, and you will not have to pay the driver. Included: Private Transfer to your hotel. Information on passport control, customs, and other arrival info.

Váci street and the Central Market (Vásárcsarnok) Afternoon TOP SITES: CENTRAL MARKET HALL, VÁCI STREET The Vásárcsarnok Market, or Central Market Hall, is a mezzanine shopping arcade first opened in 1897. Today the Central Market teems with activity, as small shops and stands offer a remarkable assortment of goods, including fruits and vegetables, meats and cheeses, fish, flowers, and Hungarian specialties. There are also many (mostly kitschy) souvenirs available on the second floor of the market. The market is both a visitor attraction and a true city market, bringing a constant stream of locals to its shops as well as visitors. The Market stands at the southern end of Váci street, which is home to Budapest’s most expensive commercial real estate. You will find an assortment of big name brand stores and cute boutiques, as well as stores selling Hungarian crafts and artwork. The area surrounding Váci street contains many of Pest’s most interesting architectural monuments, as well as several historic churches. Included: Travel directions, tips, and information on the area, Map marked with attractions, restaurants, and other points of interest in the area.

Self Guided Visit to Central Pest Late Afternoon TOP SITES: ST. STEPHEN’S BASILICA, GRESHAM PALACE, CHAIN BRIDGE In the year 1800, Pest was a sleepy little town of a few thousand people, still unconnected to the Buda side of the river by a permanent bridge. 100 years later, Buda and Pest had merged to become Budapest, and the majority of the city’s nearly one million residents 4

DAY 1 Arrive Budapest

September 01, 2015 (Hotel T.B.D.)

could be found in Pest. This period of rapid growth endowed Pest with a tremendous architectural legacy. Exploring central Pest today you will encounter grand apartment houses, Secession-style architectural gems, and imposing monumental buildings. Two of the focal points you will see are the neo-classical St. Stephen’s Basilica, which dramatically rises above the surrounding city, and the nearby Chain Bridge, which regally spans the Danube. You can also make a stop in the famous Café Gerbeaud, which may be the best spot in Budapest to relive the elegant café culture of the old days. Included: Travel directions, tips, and information on the area. Map marked with attractions, restaurants, and other points of interest in the area.

DAY 2 Budapest

September 02, 2015 (Hotel T.B.D.)

Best of Budapest: Half-Day Walking Tour of Highlights & Hidden Finds 9:30-1:00 PM Budapest is a city of nearly two million people, the capital of Hungary, a cultural and architectural Mecca, and the possessor of a long and storied history. Considering all this, it would be diﬃcult for even the most seasoned traveler to successfully discover all of Budapest’s top highlights without the help of a knowledgeable local. On this half-day guided walking tour the challenge is overcome, as your guide takes you to Budapest’s best destinations and provides the perfect introduction to the city. During your tour you will take in a gorgeous vista of the city from the Fisherman’s Bastion, explore the winding streets of the Castle District, gaze in awe at the striking interior of St. Stephen’s Basilica, travel along the city’s most elegant avenue with the help of Europe’s oldest subway, and more. Along the way you will experience the city as a local does, stopping to check out intimate courtyards, enjoying a pastry (or two), and soaking in the ambience of Budapest’s most elegant cafes. Included: Private Guided Walking Tour.

Self Guided Tour of the Castle District Afternoon TOP SITES: MATTHIAS CHURCH, FISHERMAN’S BASTION, ROYAL PALACE, NATIONAL GALLERY The historic Renaissance and Baroque architecture of Buda’s hilltop Castle District makes it feel like a quaint step back in time. Indeed, in the little squares and narrow lanes of the Castle District you will ﬁnd the heart of historic Hungary. Numerous points in the Castle District also provide breathtaking views over the Danube and the Pest side of the city. Especially breathtaking is the view from the neo-Gothic Fishermans’ Bastion. The historic Buda old town shares the hill with a castle which has been home to the Hungarian Royal Palace since the late Middle Ages. The most glorious period of the castle’s history was the reign of King Mátyás (1458-1490), who rebuilt the palace in the Renaissance style and made it a center of European learning and culture. A stroll through the castle reveals imposing courtyards and delightful statues and fountains. Also worthwhile is a visit to the superb Hungarian National Gallery. Included: Travel directions, tips, and information on the area. Map marked with attractions, restaurants, and other points of interest in the area.

DAY 2 Budapest

September 02, 2015 (Hotel T.B.D.)

Evening City-Lights River Cruise on the Danube Evening In many ways, the Danube River defines Budapest. It divides the metropolis into two distinct city environments - Buda and Pest. It is also spanned by a succession of beautiful bridges which are some of the city’s most well known landmarks. On the Pest side, a mix of 19th and 20th century buildings line the river bank, providing you with a sense of the vibrancy lying beyond. The river also offers a perfect view of the neo-Gothic Parliament Building’s massive dome and flamboyant spires and towers. On the Buda side, the dramatic Castle Hill looms above, creating the perfect romantic backdrop to the waters of the river. An evening river cruise is a relaxing way to take in these sights, as the brightly lit buildings cast their reflections on the water and stately bridges pass overhead. A simple walk along the river promenade where the cruises depart also provides beautiful views, and without the cost of a boat ticket. Included: Cruise schedules and information on purchasing tickets, Travel directions to the boat docks. Cruise tickets are not included tickets average about 10-20 EUR.

DAY 3 Budapest

September 03, 2015 (Hotel T.B.D.)

Tour of the Hungarian Parliament Building and its Surroundings 10:00 AM TOP SITES: HUNGARIAN PARLIAMENT, ETHNOGRAPHICAL MUSEUM The Hungarian Parliament building is a magniďŹ cent sight as it rises above the waters of the Danube, and the interior is also quite jawdropping. As a visitor you may even feel a bit overwhelmed by the sumptuous dĂŠcor and attention-to-detail. You could be forgiven for expecting a queen to arrive or an aristocratic ball to break out at any moment. Visits to the interior can be made on a guided tour, where you will see a spectacular grand staircase, the historic Holy Crown of Hungary, an imposing debating chamber, and much more. Included: Background information on the Parliament and tips on purchasing tickets, a map of the area. Map marked with attractions, restaurants, and other points of interest in the area. Not Included: Entry into the Parliament - tours cost 4,000 Hungarian Forints (about $20 USD).

Self Guided Excursion to Szentendre (St. Andrew) Afternoon On this self-guided excursion you will travel by train to the little, cobblestoned town of Szentendre, charmingly nestled alongside the Danube River. Szentendre means St. Andrew in English, and the town is located only about ten miles north of Budapest, but with its idyllic village atmosphere it could not be more different. Nearly every building in the town dates back to the period of Baroque architecture, including churches, burgher townhouses, and pleasant courtyard homes typical of the Hungarian countryside. The twisting lanes and riverbank promenade make Szentendre a perfectly pleasant locale to wander and soak in the ambiance. If you have the time, you can also visit a fascinating open air museum where you will see re-created traditional peasant villages, providing an authentic opportunity to see and experience how the Hungarian people once lived in the countryside. Included: Detailed travel directions and background information for a stress-free independent excursion to Szentendre. Not Included: Transportation (only about 5 EUR a person roundtrip by train), Optional Entry into Sights

DAY 4

September 04, 2015

Budapest

Visit to the Széchenyi Baths, Városliget Park, the Budapest Zoo, & Heroes’ Square Morning TOP SITES: SZÉCHENYI BATHS, FINE ARTS MUSEUM, HEROES’ SQUARE, ZOO, VA JDAHUNYAD CASTLE Budapest is famous for its thermal baths fed by the city’s abundant supply of thermal springs and underground water. The Széchenyi Baths are the largest and the most popular of all the city’s baths. With eighteen indoor and outdoor pools and impressive neo-Baroque architecture, the baths make for an unforgettable visit. You can even get a massage. The baths are located within the pleasant Városliget Park, which makes a wonderful location for a stroll after your bath. Within the park you will ﬁnd the fascinating Vajdahunyad Castle, a complex of buildings created to represent Hungary’s historic architectural styles. Also within the park is Budapest’s delightful city zoo. Where the park meets Andrássy Avenue, you will discover Heroes’ Square, where a dramatic group of monuments tells a 1,000-year tale of Hungarian history in the form of towering statues of national heroes. Included: Detailed step-by-step instructions for visiting the baths. Travel directions, tips, and information on the area. Map marked with attractions, restaurants, and other points of interest in the area. Not Included: Cost of entry into the baths (about $20 a person).

Self Guided Visit to the Jewish Quarter Mid-Day TOP SITES: GREAT SYNAGOGUE & HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL Budapest was once the site of one of Europe’s largest and most vibrant Jewish communities and contains the world’s second largest synagogue – the Dohány Street Synagogue (also known as the Grand or Great Synagogue). In the late 19th century the city became known for its relative tolerance, and as the result Budapest’s Jews become highly assimilated into the city’s population, making tremendous contributions in literature, science, and other fields. Tragically, in the unsettled times of the 20th century conflict and prejudice reemerged in horrible fashion. In the Jewish Quarter, you can explore the contrasting legacies of Jewish achievement and tragedy in Budapest. A visit to the Grand Synagogue is an impressive reminder of the wealth and influence the Jewish community in Hungary once possessed. Although many Jews emigrated after World War II, a small but vibrant Jewish population still inhabits the Jewish Quarter today.

DAY 4

September 04, 2015

Budapest

Included:Travel directions, tips, and information on the area. Map marked with attractions, restaurants, and other points of interest in the area. Not Included: Entry into the Great Synagogue

Along Andrássy Avenue Late Afternoon TOP SITES: STATE OPERA HOUSE, TERROR HOUSE Andrássy Avenue is Budapest’s most prominent street and a World Heritage Site since 2002. In fact, the avenue was considered so refined and pleasant in the late 19th century that the city’s residents wouldn’t allow a streetcar line to be built on the avenue, even though it was desperately needed. To preserve the elegant atmosphere they instead built continental Europe’s first subway, which today provides an excellent means of exploring the avenue. The avenue is lined by imposing neo-Renaissance palaces and buildings, including several museums. This includes the superb House of Terror Museum, which focuses on the horrors inflicted by totalitarian regimes in the 20th century. Andrassy Avenue is also the musical heart of Hungary, as the breathtakingly beautiful State Opera House is located on the avenue. Included: Travel directions, tips, and information on the area. Map marked with attractions, restaurants, and other points of interest in the area.

Self-Arranged Taxi Transfer to the Rail Station 7:05 PM Your hotel will be happy to arrange a taxi pick up for you and can give you an estimate of the price so you can avoid overpaying. Your itinerary will provide more information on ordering a taxi, as well as detailed information on navigating the train station and ﬁnding your train, making the whole process simple and stress free. Included: Instructions on taking a taxi to the rail station, instructions for ﬁnding your train. Not included: Taxi fare.

Overnight Rail Journey to Krakow 20:05 – 06:56 by Rail Tickets and sleeper reservations will be included with the purchase of your itinerary for this overnight rail journey. Detailed directions and instructions that make the trip easy and stress free will also be provided in your full itinerary. Included: Tickets, Sleeping Car Reservations, Detailed Instructions. 10

DAY 5

September 05, 2015

Krakow

(Hotel T.B.D.)

Arrival at Krakow Glowny Train Station and transfer to Hotel 6:56 AM Upon your arrival in Krakow your driver will meet you on the platform. He will be carrying a sign with your name on it. The driver will drop you off at your hotel. This is a private transfer. The price of the pickup is already included in your itinerary cost so you will not have to pay the driver. Included: Cost of the private transfer to your hotel, Arrival information.

Guided Walking Tour of Historic Krakow 9:00-12:00 PM On this 3 hour guided walking tour, you will discover the history and legends of old Krakow and gain an excellent overview of the city. The many layers of the city will be revealed to you as your guide points out medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque architecture, and also shows you some of the city’s most well-known as well as most-overlooked churches and squares. You will learn about not only Krakow’s glory days many centuries past, but also about its more recent struggles during Nazism and Communism oppression, and how they left a mark on the city and its inhabitants. Included: Cost of the Private Guided Walking Tour.

Visit to Wawel Castle Afternoon Krakow’s dramatic castle is situated on top of Wawel Hill, a limestone hill rising above the Vistula River and the city. During the earliest days of Polish history a castle was built here and throughout the Medieval and Renaissance era it was an important residence of Poland’s rulers and a center of Christian inﬂuence. In addition to residing in the castle there, Polish kings were also coronated and then buried in the castle’s beautiful cathedral. Much of the carefully restored Royal palace is now open for tours, and you will also ﬁnd several important historical, archeological, and artistic collections within the castle. As the Medieval capital of Poland and the resting place of so many of its past rulers, Wawel Castle represents for many the very heart of the Polish nation. Krakow is not a “full service” Go Real Europe destination. Itineraries only provide a brief summary of attractions and very basic travel directions in Krakow. Entry costs into the interiors of sites is not included. 11

DAY 6

September 06, 2015

Krakow

(Hotel T.B.D.)

Self Guided Tour of Kazimierz - Krakow’s Jewish Quarter Morning Krakow was once home to one of Europe’s largest and most inﬂuential Jewish communities - numbering over 60,000 residents at its height. While most of its residents were tragically killed in the Holocaust, they left behind a rich historical legacy, including numerous beautiful synagogues now open for visitors. The greatest concentration of Jewish heritage in Krakow is in the district known as Kazimierz. Originally founded as a separate town from Krakow, Kazimierz grew to become Krakow’s Jewish Quarter, although Christians have also always lived there as well. While most residents today are no longer Jewish, the remaining structures left behind by the Jewish community still indelibly mark the district as Krakow’s Jewish Quarter. Today, the quaint architecture and narrow streets of the district make it a popular locale for social life, and it offers an abundance of cafes, restaurants, and shops. You can also visit the Galacia Jewish museum, which attempts to recreate the distinct Jewish culture that left such a deep mark on southern Poland. If your itinerary does not include it separately, you may also want to ﬁt in a visit to the outstanding Schindler Factory Museum across the river. Krakow is not a “full service” Go Real Europe destination. Itineraries only provide a brief summary of attractions and very basic travel directions in Krakow.

Self Guided Tour of Krakow’s Old Town Afternoon Krakow’s Old Town is the part of the city once contained within the historic Medieval walls. While the walls are now mostly gone, you will still discover a rich heritage of Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque architecture. The Market Square is one of the largest and most breathtaking town squares in all of Europe, and is lined by colorful Gothic buildings with Baroque facades. The two most famous attractions on the Market Square are St. Mary’s Basilica and the Cloth Hall. The magniﬁcent 600 year old basilica was built from a combination of red brick and stone, creating a striking appearance both in its exterior and interior. The Cloth Hall sits in the very center of the square, and today merchants sell hand made goods and souvenirs there. Krakow is not a “full service” Go Real Europe destination. Itineraries only provide a brief summary of attractions and very basic travel directions in Krakow.

DAY 7

September 07, 2015

Krakow

(Hotel T.B.D.)

Guided Bus Excursion to the Auschwitz Concentration Camp Morning/Mid-Day There is no shortage of cruelty and evil to be found in human history, but the Holocaust stands out as perhaps the greatest of these evils, in both scale and conception. The Holocaust’s most signiﬁcant historical sites, the concentration camp of Auschwitz and its auxiliary camp of Birkenau, are located a little over an hour from Krakow. Auschwitz was designated by Heinrich Himmler as the place for the “ﬁnal solution to the Jewish question in Europe” and over 1 million Jews were murdered in Birkenau’s extermination factories. Many thousands of Poles, gypsies, and other groups persecuted by the Nazis were also murdered or worked to death in the camps. Your tour will take you beneath the wrought iron gates, with their ironic admonition that “Arbeit macht frei” (work makes you free), and into the vast guarded complexes where so much suffering occurred. It is a sobering and troubling visit, but at the same time it is a fascinating journey and a necessary reminder to all of us of the evil that mankind is still capable of exercising. THIS IS NOT A PRIVATE TOUR Included: Guided bus excursion, Standard visit to the Concentation Camps Auschwitz and Birkenau, Documentary movie about Auschwitz, Services of the Museum Guide, and Headphones.

Visit to the Schindler’s Factory Museum and the Former Jewish Ghetto Late Afternoon During World War II Oscar Schindler saved the lives of more than 1,100 Jews by employing them in his enamelware factory in Krakow. Until recently still used as a factory, the building now houses one of Europe’s most impressive new museums. It tells not only the story of Schindler and the Jews he protected, but of the wider experience of Krakow during World War II. You will experience the history from the perspective of the persecuted Jewish community in Krakow, as well as from the experience of other residents of Krakow, who also experienced terror and oppression during the war. You will even see some events from the perspective of the German occupiers. Using a combination of images, videos, music and street sounds, interviews, and artifacts, the experience of visiting the museum is both chilling and enlightening. It is a must for those interested in World War II history. Nearby, you can walk the streets of the former Jewish Ghetto, and also see how locals live today in the neighborhood of Podgórze. Just above the neighborhood, the pleasant forested park of Bednarskiego provides a respite from the city, and for those with extra energy, a walk up to the Krakus 13

DAY 7 Krakow

September 07, 2015 (Hotel T.B.D.)

Mound provides an excellent view of the city. Krakow is not a â&#x20AC;&#x153;full serviceâ&#x20AC;? Go Real Europe destination. Itineraries only provide a brief summary of attractions and very basic travel directions in Krakow. Entry to the museum is not included.

DAY 8

September 08, 2015

Depart Krakow

Self-Arranged Drop off at Airport by Taxi, Depart Krakow To Be Determined Your hotel will be happy to arrange a taxi pick up for you and can give you an estimate of the price. If you are picked up two hours and 45 minutes prior to departure, you should have plenty of time to catch your ďŹ&#x201A;ight. If you are leaving during rush hour, you may want to budget an extra ten to ďŹ fteen minutes. The Included: Recommended Taxi Company, Information on taking a taxi or train to the airport. Not Included: Cost of the taxi or train fare.