Czech Republic/Hungary
Budapest and Prague: Capital Cities and Jewels of Central Europe
Program No. 21707RJ
Treat your senses to an enchanting blend of learning, adventure and fun as you take expert-led walks and dine on traditional foods in two Old World cities that are Europe at its finest.
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12 days
11 nights
21 meals
10B 6L 5D
1
In Transit to Program
In Flight
5
Ócsa, Pest City Park Area
Budapest
7
Transfer to Prague
Prague
9
Prague Castle
Prague
At a Glance
Hundreds of Gothic rooftop spires give the Prague skyline a fairy-tale character. In Budapest, locals’ warm smiles and the legendary Danube River pulse at the city’s heart. In one 12-day adventure, explore the history, art and culture of the Czech and Hungarian capital cities. Start each morning with our experts and later set out on your own. In Prague, discover where Mozart played a 1787 solo piano piece, then independently walk the stunning Charles Bridge. In Budapest, learn about the Communist period in Hungary during a visit to the Retro Museum, and venture to the town of Ócsa, a wonderful reflection of traditional rural life. One adventure, two cities — capture the breadth of these Central European jewels.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Keep the Pace: Participants must be able to handle their own luggage, climb stairs, walk up to 3 miles or up to 3 hours per day with periods of standing, including cobblestone streets, and partly hilly, uneven and rough terrain. Participants should expect to use public transportation.
Small Group
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.
Best of all, you’ll…
- Enjoy a dinnertime boat excursion on the Danube River through Budapest, drifting past the illuminated city center and under its famous series of bridges.
- Learn about Prague’s Old Town Square on an expert-led walking exploration, contrasting its 1,000-year-old history and architecture with today’s cast of musicians, dance troupes and cafes.
- Experience mighty Prague Castle’s churches, gardens, alleyways and residences. The world’s largest ancient castle is roughly the size of seven football fields.
General Notes
Program includes independent time to explore the city and several meals on your own. Group Leaders will provide directions for self-directed excursions. Suggestions for free-time activities provided in preparatory materials.
Featured Expert
All trip experts
Zoltán Pogátsa
Dr. Zoltán Pogátsa works as an international political economist, focusing on issues relating to Central Europe and the Balkans. He has an MBA and MA in political science and international relations, Southeastern European studies, and sociology. He earned his PhD in 2004 in contemporary European integration from the University of Sussex. He has lectured at various universities in Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Austria, Germany, France, the UK, Italy and Ireland. Dr. Pogátsa has been lecturing for Road Scholar groups for more than 30 years.
Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.
Zoltán Pogátsa
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Dr. Zoltán Pogátsa works as an international political economist, focusing on issues relating to Central Europe and the Balkans. He has an MBA and MA in political science and international relations, Southeastern European studies, and sociology. He earned his PhD in 2004 in contemporary European integration from the University of Sussex. He has lectured at various universities in Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Austria, Germany, France, the UK, Italy and Ireland. Dr. Pogátsa has been lecturing for Road Scholar groups for more than 30 years.
Jitka Sosova
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Jitka Sosova holds degrees from Charles University and the Academy of Art, Architecture and Design in Prague. Jitka has worked for the National Gallery in Prague, as well as numerous other art institutions, including the Museum of Applied Arts and the Kampa Museum, and specializes in the field of Modern and Contemporary Art.
Petra Bidlasová
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Since 1997, Petra Bidlasová has been sharing her knowledge of Prague with lifelong learners from around the world. With an education in art history, she is currently working on her thesis on contemporary African art and post-colonial theory. For more than 10 years, she has been a lecturer of the Department of Modern and Contemporary Art at the National Gallery in Prague. In 2013, she became a professor of Modern Czech Art at CIEE Study Center for American students.
Markéta Hegarová
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After graduating from high school, Marketa worked for a British travel agency, specializing in guest relations, transport and group travel. Following that, she worked for the American company Thermo King in Prague and also began working as a group leader herself. She has passed exams in the special areas of architecture, art and the history of the Czech Republic. When not leading travelers around her home country, Marketa enjoys reading, traveling and listening to music.
László Gombos
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László was born in Szombathely, Hungary. He studied piano, organ and music theory there and received his PhD in musicology from the Liszt Academy of Music. Since 1990 he has taught music history at the University of Debrecen and the Béla Bartók Conservatory in Budapest. He also researches 19th and 20th century Hungarian music at the Institute for Musicology in Budapest. He has organized over 30 musical exhibitions from Budapest to Geneva, Rome and beyond. He has been lecturing for Road Scholar groups since 2015.
Mária Ágnes Iván
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Mária Iván's love for travel began when she was a child traveling around the world with the Hungarian Radio Children’s Choir. She began working in hotels as a housekeeper, rising to higher positions in the hotel industry. She soon got the impulse to become a professional group leader, giving her the opportunity to entertain people and explore her beloved hometown of Budapest together. She has been a part of Road Scholar for over 10 years. Mária's pastimes include cooking, gardening, cycling, reading, and collecting soundtracks.
Ágnes Ördög
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Ágnes Ördög was born and raised in Hungary. She speaks English, German, Spanish, and of course, Hungarian. Ági holds a degree in tourism and hotel management, and began her career working with the Hungarian National Tourist Offices as its press officer and public relations manager, transitioning to freelance work in 2011. Also, Ági is a professor of tourism economics and marketing at the Budapest campus of the University of ESSCA. She continues to make her home in Budapest with her husband and their two children.
Suggested Reading List
(15 books)
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
Budapest and Prague: Capital Cities and Jewels of Central Europe
Program Number: 21707
Danubia, A Personal History of Habsburg Europe
Winder, author of Germania (GER270), considers the legacy of the Habsburg Europe in this charmingly digressive history and travelogue.
Bury Me Standing
This marvelous portrait of the Roma, also known as the Gypsies, offers insight into their music, foods, religions and folk traditions and also examines their influential but complex relationship with Eastern Europe.
Prague in Black and Gold, Scenes from Life in a European City
Both a history and an accessible guide to the neighborhoods and architecture of the city.
The Good Soldier Svejk and His Fortunes in the World War
The deeply funny story of a hapless Czech soldier in the Austro-Hungarian army, dismissed for incompetence only to be pressed into service by the Russians in World War I, then captured by his own troops.
Eyewitness Guide Prague
This superb guide features color photography, dozens of excellent maps and a district-by-district synopsis of the celebrated city's attractions. Handsome, convenient and up-to-date, this is the guide to carry.
Prague, A Traveler's Literary Companion
This anthology of 24 vivid stories by Czech writers, both contemporary and well-known, brings the city, history, spirit and people to life.
The Hungarians, A Thousand Years of Victory in Defeat
A journalist who fled Hungary in 1957, Lendvai combines history, scholarship and anecdote in this uncommonly engaging account. With verve and authority, he covers the struggle of the Magyars' against the Tartars, Turks and Russians over the past millennium.
Prague Map
A laminated, detailed map of the center of Prague at a scale of 1:10,000.
Budapest Map
A convenient map of the city center at a scale of 1:11,000.
Budapest, A Cultural History
This brilliant guide introduces the history and traditions of this Central European cultural capital, with emphasis on its most important artists and architects.
Prague
Don't be fooled by the title -- this engaging novel is set in Budapest. Five young American expats have settled themselves in what they consider the "second-best" eastern European city, where chance encounters and interactions determine how their lives will -- or won't -- be changed.
The Romani Gypsies
Matras delves into the history of the Romani, an ancient and misunderstood European culture that has survived through modern times.
Eyewitness Guide Budapest
Featuring handy maps and solid information on culture and history in addition to a detailed overview of attractions. With hundreds of photographs.
Budapest 1900
Written by a distinguished historian and native son, this richly detailed portrait of the city at its zenith includes hundreds of illustrations.
Danube
Mixing history, personalities and literature, Magris traces the course of the Danube from its source in the heart of the Austro-Hungarian Empire through the Balkans to the Black Sea in this anything but conventional travelogue, first published in 1986.