Central Europe: Prague to Slovenia in 15 Days Tour

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent Tour! Peter went above and beyond all expectations and made the tour and all our connections and visits go smoothly and seamlessly. A wealth of information and a kind-hearted and genuine guide! I never anticipated visiting central Europe until other friends visited these amazing places. So glad we chose this trip and learned so much about life behind the former Iron Curtain.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Loved all the cities we visited but Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia was astounding!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Hotels great! Peter our guide was fantastic! He was patient accommodating, always smiling, and shared amazing knowledge.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Auschwitz/Berkinau, the guide , Nathalie was outstanding. It was an amazing experience to see what I have read so much about. I was honored to be there to pray for lost souls."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a beautiful time. Fabulous guides, interesting sites and the right amount of free time to venture out on our own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Three sites really hit that wow factor for us. The night Danube River cruise in Budapest, Plitvice National Park and Lake Bled."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The places we saw and the history provided by our amazing guide made the tour! I have a deeper understanding of that area of the world now and a great appreciation for its land and people!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Each place was a wow!! Lake Bled and Rovinj were awe inspiring. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first Rick Steves tour and my husband and I were very impressed by the professional way everything was handled, from the tour director to the hotel arrangements to the knowledge of all the guides, outstanding.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The natural beauty of Lake Plitvice, other worldly."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We experienced a good variety of cities, small villages, countryside views on our travels along with visits to beautiful churches and grand architecture of castles, parliament buildings, bridges, and more.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"One(there were many) of my "wow" moments was visiting St Vitus Cathedral in Prague with our local tour guide. As the Czech national church it has served as the place for coronations of kings, burial of royalty and where the relics of saints are venerated. The stained glass windows, statues made of silver and the Gothic architecture is magnificent and a joy to experience. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Almost everything was perfect throughout the trip. Enough time in each major city and the relaxation period of moving to the countryside came at just the right time. Our tour guide was fantastic and was able to provide a lot of first-hand information about life growing up in those areas.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The boat tour in Hungary was enlightening. Getting to see all the amazing buildings and sights that Budapest has to offer."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The Central Europe tour is packed with the perfect mix of churches, museums, history, art, music, and nature. Spending time in these five countries was a wonderful experience. We had no idea how much beauty there is in this part of the world. Now that we've spent time here, we would go back in a heartbeat.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Part of the tour was an evening cruise on the Danube river in Budapest. It was a "wow" moment when the impressive parliament building came into view in all its' lit up glory. Absolutely beautiful!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was fantastic! It was a great itinerary that was well paced. I loved the mixture of big city bustle and chill time at the beach and the mountains!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I would have to say Rovinj, Croatia was my "wow" moment. It is such a charming, picturesque town. Staying on Katarina Island with a view of Rovinj really made the trip for me!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour was a delight. Getting to experience the wonders of Central Europe through the Rick Steves' company lived up to the high bar of quality we have already come to associate with Rick Steves' tours. Our guide, Sanel, was witty and generous. He communicated clearly with all group members and had a sixth sense when it came to looking out for each one of us. His expert knowledge of the region and the personal life experiences that he shared, added to the richness of our experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Rather than a wow moment, because there were so many spectacular sights and experiences, I would like to highlight a wow mantra. When describing the peoples, cultures, and governments of the countries and places we visited, our guide said on more than one occasion, "You have to remember the people are not their governments." These are too often conflated. This mantra enabled me to open my heart and mind just a little bit wider and to better see the magic of these people and places."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I did not know what to expect from this tour, but it was outstanding.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many. For example, Central Europe's beauty was amazing, the food was outstanding, and the people were friendly."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Educational, enriching, fantastic guides, clearly carefully planned, super driver, ample free time, very pleasant hotels

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Croatian town of Rovinj and the island hotel, Plitvice Lakes and of course Lake Bled!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

There were highlights on every stop and along the way. A perfect mix of group activities, lots of time to explore on my own. Even the bus trips were made interesting and with Sanel as our ambassador, he made every day a delight.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Probably our stop at Plitvice National Park. This is a spot I never would have found or selected if I was travelling on my own. I'll never forget the beauty and serenity - and I'm sure that my group would agree. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This trip far exceeded my expectations in many ways. It was well planned. That plan was executed masterfully. Even with such a plan in place, there can be opportunities and challenges that cause deviations. In every instance, these deviations were dealt with in ways that took advantage of the unexpected and enriched our experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"For me, it was early on in the trip…. The moment I realized the group of strangers from the first day had grown to care about each other. It made everything we did that much better."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We really enjoyed the combination of having a tour but then all the free time to visit what was important to us. The other members of our tour group were very like minded and we all got along so well.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our highlights were Prague, Krakow and the waterfalls at the national park. Amazing."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent tour

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Lake Bled was such an idyllic setting and relatively quiet community. We just kept taking more and more pictures! Auschwitz was also very profound, walking the same path as Jewish prisoners. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This is a less visited part of Europe or less well known We chose this to see the cities we have always heard about and to see those waterfalls in Croatia

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Starting with the Czech Republic and all the history and learning in Prague"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our group size was 27. With the size of the bus and the individual tours this was a good number to have. George our tour guide did an outstanding job and would highly recommend him or join another tour of his.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I wouldn't say there was just one wow moment. I had never been to any of the countries we visited so they were all wow moments "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Signed up for the Central Europe Tour with high expectations and the tour overwhelmingly exceeded those expectations. Stopping at the small towns along the way was icing on the cake with the experience to getting to know the towns. Our lead tour operator, George, kept us informed with excitement and entertaining. Showing his passion for his expertise in his field. Not only will I recommend the tour, but also, I wouldn’t mind taking the tour again. I just can’t say enough about the tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"This is such a tough question because the tour as a whole was a ‘’wow’ moment. Although, I would have to choose Prague because despite how many videos and photos I saw of the gorgeous city, the city as a whole is truly even more spectacular and stunning with the ‘wow’ factor. The city is clean with historic structures all around and the different colors of structures adds stunning character to every corner you turn. Did I mention the amazing Charles Bridge or the Gothic church or palace or powde"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was outstanding. It exceeded our expectation.

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was amazing! Our guide, George, was the perfect person to take us through the area by not only teaching us about the culture but also bringing the history to life for us. Our group, as always, became a family by the time the tour was over.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The river cruise on the Danube and seeing Budapest at night from that perspective!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great mix of large cities and smaller tourist sites.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour highlights some of the most beautiful old cities in Central Europe, including Prague, Budapest, Krakow, Rovinj, and Lake Bled. Additional excursions into wild and scenery areas of the mountains and scenic lakes were very fun and special. Our tour guide, Peter Polczman, was incredible- outgoing, interesting, dynamic, knowledgeable, organized, and kind to everyone. The group dynamics were superb also. We all got up know each other and made new friendships.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Walking into the center square of old Krakow, Poland was one moment where I felt in awe of the architecture and sheer beauty of an old European city. There were many wow moments on this trip! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fantastic tour all around. Great destinations and experiences in every country. Excellent balance of historical urban stops, smaller towns, and nature. Peter is a superb and incomparable guide. Hotel in Lake Bled could have used air conditioning. Great views of the lake, but that also means the sun pounds on the rooms all day.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Stepping off the bus in Rovinj and seeing the beautiful town on the Adriatic. It was a wonderful moment for the entire group."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great itinerary, accommodations, food, and most importantly, guides and driver. We were very fortunate to accompany good people and fantastic weather. The high activity level on this trip fit our interests as we enjoyed both scheduled events and our own trip adventures.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many from passing by the countryside, mountains and the Adriatic Sea, to the architecture of the castles and churches, and the Wieliczka salt mines. Auschwitz was sobering and so much more impactful being there. Croatia and Slovenia were exceptionally especially to close out our trip."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Over all the tour was a great mix of citys, natural parks, and relaxation opportunities

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Really enjoy the water falls and hike at Plitvice Lakes National Park and solitaire time at Auschwitz Poland"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide, Peter, was great. He made each day interesting and facilitated a smooth, well-planned experience. We look forward to future Rick Steves tours, as we know we will enjoy every one. There was a good mix of activities, plenty of opportunities to be active, and also good amount of free time with suggested activities to fill that time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"One of my wow moments was when we first saw the Adriatic Sea. Beautiful! We stopped for a couple hours on our way from Plitvice Lakes National park to the town of Rovinj. We wandered around the seaside town and had gelato and had a chance to put feet into the sea."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a fantastic tour. The combination of multiple countries, widely varying experiences (cathedrals to national parks) and the different cultures made for a very rich experience. Krakow was a surprise and a delight, but it was just one among many. Peter was our guide and was terrific. We've been on five Rick Steves tours now plus a few with other companies and Peter is in the A+ group at the top of our favorite guides list.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"If I have to pick just one, it has to be Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia. Just beautiful and wonder after wonder. Peter did a brilliant job of having us essentially go in the reverse direction of 2/3 of the people there. This did several things. First, it kept us away from the worst of the crowds. Second, it took us from the smaller water falls early in the walk to the largest water falls later in the walk. Lastly, we were walking downhill, rather than up. Brilliant."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our 5th RS Tour & definitely one of the top two (all have been great). This tour is a good balance of big cities, small towns, national park & coast. There is a lot of bus time, but it transverses 6 countries. Our tour guide, Peter, was phenomenal. He could not have been more knowledgeable and attentive. Learning more about the history of this area gave us a much better understanding of the horrible impacts of the Nazis and Communism in our world. Each country was beautiful & different.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Can't choose just one. Krakow, was astounding (we will definitely go back). It is a beautiful city with so much to see & such welcoming people. I could have spent an entire week in Prague. Plitvice Lakes National Park was just breathtaking. Rovinj was lovely. Touring the school in Eger & spending time with the teacher & students was surprising and very enjoyable. Lake Bled was very relaxing & we stayed an extra day to see the Vintgar Gorge; there is so much more nearby and in the Julian Alps."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was my first Rick Steve's tour! I live in the Seattle area, so of course had known about his tours for years, but had just never gone. A friend was going on the Central Europe tour and I asked if she wanted company! She said yes! So glad I did!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many "wow" moments, but touring Plitvitce park in Croatia brought the most "oohs and aahhs". Our tour guide Katya had us start where people usually finish and it was a good decision. We got to enjoy the first half of the park without the crowds of the last half. It is a gorgeous park and not to be missed!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Third RS tour. Met expectations.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Prague"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful Tour! Great guide - Katerina, great driver - Rok, great tour mates and overall excellent experience!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hard to pick just one! Parliament Building lit up on our evening boat cruise in Budapest, Katerina Island hotel and Rovinj, waterfalls in Plitvice, St Matthias Church in Budapest. So many…."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Similar to the other RS tours we’ve done, this was an action-packed tour. Our guide, Katka, was amazing in her breadth of knowledge and the ease with which she shepherded our group through each day’s activities. The comaraderie of our group was an additional bonus. Across the varied landscapes we traversed during this tour, the history lessons were eye-opening. The Museum of Communism and the Schindler Factory Museum were worthwhile excursions on your own time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It’s hard to pick just one so here are a few: Prague, Danube River cruise, Rovinj and Hotel Katerina."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The places we visited were awesome and the local guides were well informed.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Lake Bled"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

All tour guides were excellent and very knowledgeable. Bus driver was very personable. The tour director, Katriana, was the best. All hotels we stayed in were beautiful. Great choices for restaurants that we ate at.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Salt mines in Krakow and the Plitvice national forest. Auschwitz was also very moving to see."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our Central Europe Tour was quite a memorable experience from the onset. Beer and wine tastings... fantastic! Concerts and concert venues plentiful, the perfect settings to be fully inmersed in classical music.. at very, very affordable prices. Great hearty food, heavenly desserts and gelatto galore, enough to keep us on an attentive, exploring mood and absorb the beauty, grandeur and lessons in history that Central Europe has to offer.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The azureous pale green pristine waters at Plevitich Waterfall Park and quaint Revijn... heavenly! I cannot think of any part of the itinerary that did not surpass our expectations.. from the monumental architecture, art history, to the striking landscapes and very nice people we encountered. The Guides were very knowledgeable and organized, offered aditional information for us to explore on our own. Rock, the driver, was also very professional and good-natured.Our coordinating guide Katka, fab"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I met some wonderful people on this tour. Katka was an excellent tour guide. Our fellow travelers were fun and overall had a very cohesive group. The pacing was overall good. In Prague maybe a bit long on some history aspects the first day, but generally not an issue. Enjoyed the little surprises Katka had for us. Rock was an excellent driver, and I appreciated he joined a was part of the group on many dinners.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Plitvice National Park was a “wow” and part of why I choose this tour. I also enjoyed a community dance event in Budapest. I noticed it as I was having dinner prior to our evening boat excursion. I was really surprised to see that it was still going on when we returned! They have some wonderful dancers."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Loved guides, especially George; enjoyed other tour members; sites were amazing.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Adriatic coast"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

As a fellow traveler pointed out the tour could be compared to a three legged stool with the first leg being the destinations, the second leg our guide, and the third being the members of the group. Our "stool" could be displayed in an art museum!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Plitvice National Park"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The itinerary was great, I liked the variety of sizes of cities and terrains. Excellent guide and bus driver. Very good hotels with one of them being incredible.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The hotel on the island at Rovinj!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I was attracted to RSE because I knew that there was a stress on history/education and being active. It didn't disappoint: the tour guide George was fantastic: very knowledgeable, personable and went above and beyond to make it an exciting and educational. He coordinated the group expertly. I immediately wanted to sign up for another tour thanks to the RSE philosophy and of course George..!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"there were quite a few: I think At Vitus church in Prague but the architecture in general in Prague, some unforgettable views like in Rovinj, and the island Katerina where we stayed. Lake Bled ...all gorgeous"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my 7th Rick Steves Tour, and Central Europe did not disappoint. I fell in love with Prague again & was surprised to fall in love with Budapest. I know that I will make my way back to these cities again. In addition to experiencing these beautiful places, I must say, our guide, George, and our bus driver, Oliver, did an impeccable job teaching us about their homelands & they worked together wonderfully as a team.This was a fun, fast-paced tour that allowed for some down time at the end.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It’s hard to pick only one “wow” moment, so, I’ll pick 3. The first was spending some time relaxing in the Szechenyi Thermal Baths in Budapest. The buildings are beautiful, the waters are relaxing . . . a unique & fun experience. My second was the morning spent in Lake Plitvice National Park. It was beautifully choreographed so that it felt like we had the park to ourselves in the morning. The waterfalls & the color of the water was magnificent! Lastly, sipping champagne in the rocks in Rovinj."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my 6th Rick Steves tour and it was amazing. This tour is the perfect blend of city, country, mountains and sea-side villages. Our guide, George, did a truly exceptional job (as did the local guides). The hotels were great and the food was wonderful. George taught us history, culture, the love of Hungarian food, and wine (lots of wine). He prepared us extremely well for time on our own, and he also managed our schedule with touristy venues so for a time we had the place to ourselves.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"As always, "wow moments" were plentiful, but Plitvice Lakes National Park, Lake Bled, and Budapest (of course!) just blew me away. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour is a great introduction to Central Europe. I was please to see so many sites that I thought I'd only see on TV. The long bus days were a necessary evil, but the time went by quickly as our guide, George Farkas, taught us about his homeland and its neighbors. And he always had some local treats for us to snack on!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I think my top wow moment was seeing the Budapest Parliament building at night from a boat on the Danube river. It was pouring rain but I didn't care; it was magnificent! A close runner up was walking in the Plitvice Lakes National Park, made extra special because we got there early before the crowds."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was amazing, and it was wonderful learning about this part of Europe. Our guide,George was so passionate, knowledgeable, and fun, that even long hours on the bus went by quickly. The local guides were fabulous, and truly seem to enjoy sharing their corner of the world. Rick Steves travelers are always great company, and this tour was no exception.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Every thing was WOW on this trip, but for me the most surprising was Budapest, with its enormous, historical buildings and beautiful architecture. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This was a great tour. Our tour guide George made the long days on the bus pass by quickly with historic information, delectable snacks, music and singing. We got a good overview of each city with our tour guides. I liked being introduced to public transportation in each city so we explore on our own every afternoon. Meeting and interacting with the other tour participants added to the enjoyable experience. I liked the many extras George arranged for us, dinner in Kazimierz and happy hour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Enjoying Kraków’s Old Town with my daughter was a highlight for me. I had visited the cities on our tour previously but loved experiencing and exploring these countries with my daughter on this Rick Steves tour. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Peter, our guide was fantastic!! Every single one of our tour members got along, which does not always happen.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Going to Plitvice!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very fascinating to see and experience locations in these less-known and appreciated countries. We thought they would be less touristed, but they were busy with tourism, and one can readily see why.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"At Birkenau, I asked our local guide, Lucyna, what motivated her to give these tours repeatedly, as she had for more than a decade. She said her father had worked at the prison camps for 40 years. It was a tradition in her family to keep telling the story of the holocaust and its lessons. Her personal testimony to such a high cause will stay with me closely for a long time. Our group parted from her with a keen sense of gratitude. Her emotional dedication was my Wow moment."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour was good from beginning to end, as we expected. Peter was a great guide, the city guides were good, and we enjoyed our fellow travelers. We had not seen this part of Europe before and it was a wonderful introduction to the countries we visited.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Plitvice National Park."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Really interesting, full of beautiful places and great experiences. We thought Peter was great and we learned so much from him.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Probably the beauty of Lake Bled in a Plenta Boat on a beautiful crisp clear morning."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour was great. We were able to see and do many things that we had hoped to do on this trip, like visit famous landmarks, visit historical Jewish sites, and sample local quinine.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Plitvice Lakes National Historic Park - at least the first two thirds before we hit the crowds - was phenomenal. The waterfalls were breathtaking. Lake Bled was another ‘wow’ moment. The setting is gorgeous. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I cannot be more positive for my first Rick Steves' tour of Europe! I had a great time, met many nice fellow traveler's and can't wait to do another. Everything is organized with the scheduled highlights of each city along with free time for extra sightseeing on your own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Lake Bled."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Educational for sure

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Danube cruise"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

As always, my tour experience was all I expected. The tour was well organized and our guide was excellent. Transportation (though lengthy at times) was very convenient and efficient. The group tours and targeted guides were excellent and we all learned many new things concerning Central Europe. Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this tour and would recommend it to any other traveller.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Even though there were many the one I did not anticipate was the lovely coastal town of Rovinj. The weather was perfect, the island resort was unexpected elegance and at that time of the tour it was a welcome stop to rest and relax a bit. The added boat excursion just put this stop over the top. The Plitvice National Park was incomparable beauty and would be right up there with Rovinj"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We covered a lot of ground in 15 days. Our guide was absolutely fantastic. She went out of her way to make our experience the best it could possibly be. We LOVED her and our tour experience!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The evening cruise on the Danube. Just perfect!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my 5th Rick Steves tour, and I wanted a tour that would take me beyond the more familiar European destinations. I got just what I wanted and more. The tour proved physically rigorous, but the challenges were worth the historical and cultural insights I now have as a result. And the beauty, the sheer beauty of these countries was in itself one “wow” moment after another.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My sobering wow came as I walked out of Birkenau, following the train tracks of our shared history, thinking of those who could never walk out. I realized then, as I turned and took a photograph, that I became them, the vehicle of their enduring presence, the echo of their voices. My joyful “wow” moment came with quiet hum of our electric boat motor on Plitvices National Park in Croatia as we motored down from the Upper Lakes to the Lower Lakes. Green and blue became a language in itself."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

A phenomenal experience! This trip exceeded my expectations. It was well organized, provided meaningful and thoughtful tours and activities , had very knowledgeable local guides, and allowed just enough ‘on your own’ time. Our guide, George Farkas, was fantastic! Besides being incredibly knowledgeable, he was personable and seemed to love his role as our leader. There was never a dull moment when George was sharing a story or telling us about places we were going visit.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There wasn’t just one. Every time I’d think it couldn’t get any better, I was proven wrong. Each city had a ‘wow’ moment. Each experience had a ‘wow’ moment. From the cities of Prague, Krakow,and Budapest to the serenity of Lake Bled, everyone was a ‘WOW’ moment for me! "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Great introduction to Central Europe. Most of the other travelers were quite engaging and sharing experiences with them was one of the highlights. The tour guide, George, was terrific as well. The main negative for me was the pace of the tour. I would have rather had a bit more time to linger at some sights even if it meant seeing less. Also, the pace of walking was very fast. It would have been nice to have a few more free mornings in order to experience some night life.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The trip to the winery outside of Eger. All of the fellow travelers let loose and we enjoyed the wine as well as singing and dancing. The wines were good but the atmosphere was outstanding."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was meaningful to visit formerly Eastern Bloc countries, which in my lifetime would have been closed to us. This added layers of complexity and interest to the trip. The locals we encountered seemed eager to share their stories about how their lives have changed in the 20th-21st centuries. We had a good travel group (complaining and challenges kept to the bare minimum) and enjoyed our travel partners. George Farkas was -- by a mile -- one of the top tour guides we've had on our six RS tours.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were several "wow" moments, but my favorite was seeing the physical beauty of Slovenia at Lake Bled. What an idyllic location! The boat ride to the island was interesting and we enjoyed our walk around Lake Bled afterward."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent itinerary and very excellent guide.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Not part of the tour, but we attended unforgettable classical concerts in historical venues in Prague and Budapest and we saw the Da Vinci " Lady and the Ermine " in Krakow right next to our hotel. Our hotels were perfectly located. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My overall tour experience was excellent. The itinerary was well conceived and structured, and our guide, George, outstanding!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Two (emotionally) contrasting tour moments have remained with me. The emotionally high "wow" moment of seeing Kraków's Rynek Główny (Central Square) for the first time; and the emotionally shattering "wow" moment of seeing the piled up shoes and hair locks of victims on display at Auschwitz."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide, George, was absolutely excellent! He provided a full itinerary at our orientation meeting on Day 1, which included not only what we were doing, but also what we needed for the day. He had various handouts that he airdropped to us to make sure that we had maps and language translations for the various countries that we visited. He always prepped us for the day well and gave us a sense of history, culture, and his personal perspectives. Last morning, he said goodby in person at 6AM

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It's all about meals and wine tasting and music and students. The musical entertainment that gave us a taste of the country at one group dinner and the wine tasting. And having lunch at the school and hearing from the students talk about life from their perspective was very, very special."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

George our tour guide was excellent and very organized and informative You can sit back and enjoy.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Lots to choose from…the beautiful city themselves, hiking trails, night river cruise in Budapest, beautiful hotel on and island, gondola ride to a castle. Great hotel locations in the heart of the cities. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a great group of people on our tour. Our guide George was outstanding and we went so many beautiful places! Can you get any better than that?

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many! Loved the bathes in Budapest, came upon Hungarians at a street dance while walking back to our hotel, which was so much fun. Lake Bled views were amazing. (And Rovinj) "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We visited amazing places. Was not crazy about guided tours as you had no time to linger. Too fast paced for me.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Lake Bled, Slovenia"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fantastic adventure! Our guide, George, was knowledgeable and always ready to answer our endless questions. I feel like we had a personalized experience that gave us a feel for the history and culture of this wonderful part of Central Europe.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Rovinj Croatia! Just wow! Our accommodations were A#1. I know that I will return to this jewel on the Adriatic."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the Parliament Building in Budapest at night from our river cruise."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide was great, as was our driver. The places we visited were over the top! And our fellow travelers were a Hoot!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Budapest on the Danube River at night. Rovinj. Bled."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

First and foremost, George, our guide was amazing!! Witty, personable, knowledgeable, and super friendly only begin to describe him. The itinerary was wonderful; the cities we visited were beautiful, charming and historic. Best of all, we had a wonderful group of traveling companions. Everyone got along well. We laughed, danced, sang, and really hit it off.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Being shaken awake in Plitvice National Park by a magnitude 4.7 earthquake around 5:30 am. Besides that, the night river cruise on the Danube was spectacular, as was the view of Lake Bled from the top of the Luge run."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Enjoyed the destinations, experiences, wonderful tour members (no "grumpy" people) and especially our outstanding guide, George Farkas.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Waking up in Plitvice to an earthquake! Many "wow" moments from the beautiful cities, friendly people and our fun-filled afternoon tasting wine, singing and dancing at the winery stop. My personal wow - riding the luge down the mountain in Bled!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Each of my tours with RS have been incredible. This was my 10th (repeat of my first) as my now husband really wanted to visit the sites.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There are many "wow" sites for me but what I treasure most is the excitement of the guides to share their respective homelands. One cannot put a price tag on that love of homeland."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Learned much. Guides Eszter and Andrea were so knowledgeable — loved the anecdotes of real events & the stories of their real lives lived in the area. Eastern Europeans take ownership of & are honest about the bad things in their history. I respect that so much. We learned about the good & bad under communist rule & the changeover from that. Loved the primary school visit in Eger — so interesting Will see the new Museum of Ethnography when I go back. Plitvice National Park wa

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Wows, many, will mention 2: First was the 3rd floor Vladislav Hall in Prague Castle. So much took place there — right up to the present. There was indoor jousting with armored & mounted knights pounding across the dirt-covered floor in medieval times, international markets and numerous State occasions up to present day inauguration of the Czech Republic president. Second is the 15th century clock in Prague’s town square with it’s carefully kept ancient functions, each carefully described to us. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guides Eszter and Andrea were outstanding. Always helpful and ready for any situation. Even during our "alone" time, if we ran into them, they would stop us and ask if everything was alright. The tour locations all had something special about them. I never would've thought I'd be visiting this part of Europe. We booked this tour because all other ones that we were interested in were booked. So happy that we did it. Central Europe is a gorgeous part of the world.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There was a wow moment in every city we went to but the 2 that will stay with me forever are the philharmonic symphony we saw at a church in Prague and going to Auchowitz. 2 very different, but 2 unforgettable experiences. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

outstanding because of the guide.

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I learned a lot about the history of the counties we visited and about the trials and tribulations the people suffered through over the years.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Lake Bled was stunning."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a wonderful experience. It was the right balance of food, culture, history, sightseeing, and rest. Our guide was especially accommodating and we give her 5 stars for going above and beyond.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the lit-up architecture on the Danube River and the Plitvice National Park"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent, the people, our guide, the towns and experiences, it was an amazing time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Everything was great, It would be hard to say what was most important but I would have to say our guide, Levente. He kept everything going with our trips, accounts of the places we would visit, food, hotels and just his caricature kept all of us enjoying this amazing trip."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Well organized and informative. Great balance of group touring time and independent time. We had a valuable mixture of the “must see” historical sites and cultural activities such as visiting a school and wine tasting. Levente and Ellen our leaders were organized, fun, interesting and also gave us valuable local perspectives. The local guides helped make the historical sights come alive. The accommodations were very comfortable and had great breakfasts.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So difficult to narrow it down. Visiting Auschwitz and Birkenau, so very moving to be there and pay our respects. Walking to dinner in Krakow at dusk and seeing the beautiful old town square lit up, hearing music emanating from cafes and seeing the beautiful horses and carriages clip-clopping on the cobblestones. Visiting a local school in Eger, watching and listening to children learning English who had great courage to get up and speak to a group of visiting Americans. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

It was a wonderful tour. My first time to that part of the world. I learned so much, and so enjoyed the new cultures, interesting cities and beautiful sights

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Viewing a panoramic view of Budapest from an overlook high above. Seeing the Danube down the middle between Pest and Buddha and seeing the distinct differences in the sides. Especially moving after learning of the city’s history."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour was everything we hoped it would be. The tour leader and support person were excellent and provided invaluable cultural input to help us learn about and appreciate each country that we traveled through.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Not so much of a moment but rather the opportunity to learn about and discuss how communism affected each of the countries we traveled through. Visiting Prague’s Museum of Communism and The House of Terror museum in Budapest really provided a great opportunity for learning."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We have traveled to Europe several times and this trip by far was the best. Our hotels and meals were all so well thought out as far as their locations and convenience to our daily activities. We never had one bad experience with anything.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Everything actually! Every country we visited had its own “wow” moment. I guess my favorite though was the National Park in Croatia that had a walking path that we saw beautiful lakes and waterfalls. Also Lake Bled."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Better than expected

Favorite "WOW" moment

"National park in Croatia"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour leader was outstanding. If the scale was 1 to 10 he would receive an11. The hotels were better than expected as well as the food. This was an awesome experience. We loved the venues and local guides. We learned so much, that we are now reviewing our notes.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many but the hike through the the national park with the waterfalls and lakes was an incredible experience."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first group tour. For years, we have been traveling independently using Rick Steves books. As we’ve gotten older, we wanted to past the Transportation responsibility to someone else. I would have a difficult time finding any complaint with this tour. From our wonderful tour guides, Elevante and Ellen to our extraordinarily gifted bus driver Gosbar (forgive misspellings). Each city tour guide was able to provide local information as well as their countries context in history.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I’m not sure I can pick just one wow moment! It may have been Plitvice national park. It truly was extraordinarily beautiful!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my first experience with an organized tour, and what a delight experience it was!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were too many "wow" moments to pick just one. The John Lennon wall in Prague? Or Prague Castle? Or Camera Obscura? Or wine tasting and dancing in the afternoon? Or the first sight if our lovely hotel in Rovinj? Or pulling the bell rope in the church on the island in Lake Bled? There was "wow" moment after "wow" moment!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very interesting itinerary and we had a great guide, George Farkas. The history of that area was fascinating and motivated me to order several books when I got home to learn more about it.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Walking into the Main Market Square in Krakow for the first time, which was after dark, so it was beautifully lit up. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I had a marvelous time! There were so many things that I just loved about the trip, including our guide who was so personable, charming and knowledgeable, the special touches like the entertainment at our group dinners, the amazing places we went to and learning about the culture and history of a part of world I was not very familiar with.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many it's hard to pick just one. I loved the views coming into Rovinj and Lake Bled. Also the view walking into the Old Town Square in Prague. Another was the wine tasting afternoon in Eger."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fast paced for about 4 hours each morning with guided tour portion. Spent the free time going to spots were interested in. Great way to see major cities and get bearings. Then spend afternoon free time going down side streets to see and meet people. Found some of the best restaurants and coffee shops in each area.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Prague and Budapest. I am amazed that each of the towns were able to survive WWII. I love architecture and the baroque styles were just fabulous. It was great to see old and new together a mesh of history. Gothic churches were the best. Found a good use for the selfie camera setting after getting a stiff neck gazing up at cellings."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent trip in all respects except for the small COVID epidemic which swept through the group.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"First view of Rovign, Croatia from across the harbor. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This trip exceeded my expectations. We have used Rick Steve's travel books for many years, but this was our first experience with a small group tour. Everything was perfectly planned and we loved our guide and fellow travelers.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Sipping cocktails literally "on the rocks" with friends in a tiny, beachside, Rick Steve's recommended bar in Rovinj, Croatia. A vacation from our vacation. Life does not get better than this."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Totally satisfied, logistics, agenda and quality of guides superb as expected.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Walking into the Market Square of Krakow, Poland at night."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Well guided by Katerina and Agnisia. Visited places you would not if on your own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing Rovinj from a boat travelling to our excellent hotel"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This is our 4th Rick Steves tour and our first through multiple countries. Katka, our guide was very knowledgeable about each of the countries and the local guides certainly filled in the necessary details to make this a very educational experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The views from the nighttime Danube River bridges cruise were spectacular. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour was very educational and entertaining. Every day was filled with adventure. Katka was an amazing leader and was a fountain of information that made every stop a richer experience. We saw so much in just two weeks that it was a whirlwind or sights, sounds, and tastes.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Having a day in Rovinj to wander and swim in the Adriatic and truly be on vacation from our vacation."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was a great tour with a rich mixture of history, educational experiences, incredible architecture and stunning beauty. The tour experiences were quite varied due to the number of countries visited with much distance between them. Katca was a phenomenal guide, and I admire her unwavering grace and composure under pressure. And the 'extras' included were fantastic, including the 'smallest orchestra' who played for us at our first dinner in Prague - loved it!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Having already been to Prague & loving it, I can't chaulk that up to being my 'wow' moment. Krakow was awesome, while to my surprise Budapest was more of a 'big city' to me than the romance I had expected; The wine tasting experience in Hungary was educational & super fun. Plitvice Park was stunningly beautiful & definitely a 'wow'. My absolute 'wow' moment for me though was arriving to Rovinj's island Hotel Katarina & enjoying the 'resort' hotel & swimming in the gorgeous Adriatic Sea."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We have followed Rick Steves books since we discovered Europe Through the Backdoor book in 1984. We recently took My Way Tours in Italy and Alps, but this was our first guided tour. It was a pleasant experience and allowed us more time to know the other participants. Our guide, Peter, was excellent and personalized the history of Eastern Europe with experience of the changes from communism to present. Ending in Croatia and Lake Bled was a great ending after the time in the major cities

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The night boat ride on the Danube river was beautiful and a great ending to our time in Budapest! Other wow moments were the stay and hike in Plitvice National Park in Croatia and our free day staying in the hotel on the island at Rovinj"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Aside from what I saw on the website, including videos, I wasn't sure what to expect. Over the years, I've heard mixed commentary about the countries we visited. However I was very pleasantly surprised at the beauty, the people, the history, and of course the food. It was an amazing tour that I will never forget!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"On a positive note, of course it was the beauty of Lake Plitvices. On a somber note, it was the piles of prisoner belongings at Auschwitz."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fantastic selection of hotels, sites to tour, restaurants and guides

Favorite "WOW" moment

"knowledge of history by our guide Peter"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I'm a first time Rick Steves traveler. My husband and I loved the camerarderie of the group experience, the SUPERB guide (Peter) and all the life changing experiences. It was a wonderful mix of history, food, culture, politics,and people.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Absolutely loved Slovenia and Lake Bled. It was beautiful, peaceful, and a great way to end the tour."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

What's not to like about this tour? It gave me an introduction to each country and it was full of history that has led to present day. Eszter was phenomenal as a guide and introduced us to things outside the norm. The tour had a healthy mix of structured time and free time. Eszter also provided us with a list of things to do and see during our free time. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone who wanted a good introduction to Eastern/Central Europe.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I can't say I had a favorite "wow" moment; however, I did find myself loving my time in Croatia and Slovenia. I loved the relaxed feeling these countries provided away from the large cities and crowds of people."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

History, places and surprises were outstanding like all Rick's tours. Pace was just slightly brisk for anyone over 50.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Krakow Poland Salt Mine-do not miss it."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Beautiful and painful sites in countries that have been in the crossroads of war for hundreds of years.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"No single WOW moment. Plitvice was just beautiful beyond words, Auschwitz was heart breaking. Prague and Budapest were amazing. Szechenyi Thermal baths were so much fun!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This tour (Central Europe) was on par with the other Rick Steve's tours we have taken (now 5). Although we lost a few members due to positive Covid testing, the remaining aspects of the tour went quite smoothly. Eszter provided a warm and informational adventure for the group and the local guides were well versed. Lots of walking and many sights were seen. Especially enjoyed hanging out in all of the public squares along the way.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I especially enjoyed the hike at Plitvices Lakes National Park with all of the waterfalls."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had the most professional, knowledgeable, and personable guide imaginable. We went to the most important and some of the most unique and beautiful places in all of Eastern Europe. We traveled with fellow travelers who were educated, curious, knowledgeable, open to history and culture and able to handle a physically active tour. We couldn't have imagined a better small group tour experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Sorry, I can't pick one! There was the lunch and class visit with 6th graders in Hungary participating with them in song and language. There was the Vineyard visit where we learned Hungarian song, dance, personal stories and about wine. There was the Polish guide describing the day of terror when Russia invaded Ukraine and feeling they would be next, and there was Lake Bled, SLO - with its incredible beauty of island cathedral and mountain castle - every day a new scene in sun or clouds. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful tour. . . much learned about the complicated history of these 6 Eastern European countries and about how the people experienced world wars (and more recent wars in the former Yugoslavia), the Nazi occupation and the Communist era.. . . balanced with the cultures and foods of this part of the world. Amazing architectural sites and beautiful countryside. As with my other RS tours, the fellow travellers we meet and the excellent guides add so much to the whole tour experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Very hard to narrow this down but Plitvice National Park was spectacular and as with everything on our tour, the organization by our guide George and lovely driver Oliver contributed to our enjoyment of the experience considering there were crowds of people to contend with. Well hard to describe as a "wow", the Auschwitiz-Berkinau tour was very sobering. It was a long, hot afternoon but not to be missed. The visit to the school in Eger was delightful as was the wine tasting "party". "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a great guide And fantastic weather

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Lake Plitvice"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a great experience on this tour with the places we visited, the people in our group, and our excellent guides. The food, hotels and other people involved in our experience were also terrific.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"That's like asking us to pick a favorite child. Pretty much impossible, but one of the things that really stood out to us was how much had changed (and how many more people are visiting from all over the world) in the places we last visited in 1989 (two weeks before the reunification ceremonies) and 1991(Budapest). "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My wife and I had an amazing experience on this tour. We learned so much about each of the countries, and particularly appreciated hearing the experiences of these nations under Communism. Our overall guide, George was excellent. He dealt with the Covid-related health challenges that came up on our tour in a clear and helpful manner, and he did an outstanding job of "mingling" and connecting with each tour participant, making all feel included but without a sense of cliques, etc.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Being in the Old Town squares of both Prague and Krakow was delightful, both during the day and at night. And the visit to Auschwitz felt like an important pilgrimage to make in order to honor the millions of lives lost and to re-commit to working against groups supporting white nationalists ideologies in our own times."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Katka was amazing - so knowledgeable, very skilled with building group cohesion, listening and interpersonal skills! She brought the group together quickly and kept building rapport within our group. Her candor, knowledge and method of sharing key information about our sights and destinations was very impressive. Some days were long, but fine for us, learned much about E. Europe and enjoyed group dinners; slept very well the hotels on our itinerary. Enjoyed the countryside the mo

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Prague Jewish Ghetto - Children's Art Exhibit at the temple with all the names of families and individuals who died/disappeared during WWII. Tour of Schindler Factory in Krakow - (self guided). Learned much about Krakow and Poland's suffering from 1939 onward and especially the terror the Jews endured. Birds flying over the Parliment building in Budapest during the evening cruise - magical! Wine tasting outside Eger - so fun and interesting. Learned a lot! Rovinj sunset/happy hour boat cruise! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was a fabulous tour, conducted by an experienced and outstanding guide (Katerina Svobodova) who is genuinely enthusiastic about sharing her part of the world with tour participants.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The view of Rovinj from our hotel balcony on Katarina Island, plus the evening cruise on the Adriatic. Absolutely stunning!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Old town krakow. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was Best of Eastern Europe, to be renamed to Best of Central Europe in 2024. In a word, it was great. I saw so much, and learned so much. The tour blew all my preconceived notions of these countries to pieces. I was expecting a lot of communist-era remains, but no, these countries have completely turned the corner and moved on.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Oh, that's a hard call! I will say the moment they opened the recently restored altarpiece in St. Mary's Church in Kraków. Our guide, Tomasz, said it still put a lump in his throat. I can understand why."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our Uber driver in Prague could not find Hotel Metamorphis, which fronts onto an alley. I ran around looking for it while he waited. A related point is to strongly recommend all tour participants purchase a data plan, so their wives can not argue that one isn't needed. In-bus learning was via air drops, which we partially followed by using your physical guidebook. This our second RS tour and it was fantastic. I love alcohol, but there was so much that I felt non-drinkers got cheated a little.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"For me the wow moment of the tour was witnessing the finish of the World Championship Marathon in Budapest after it passed by our hotel, as our guide was doing his best to explain the history and significance of Hero's Square and Imre Nagy in one ear. Unexpected moments are often the very best travel experiences. I also have to mention local guide Teresa in Prague. She was funny and irreverent and was a delight to follow. George was excellent at his job, though a little elitist. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Loved the places we saw and the tour guides. The hotels varied in size and newness but were all clean, safe and located centrally to transportation.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The view as came down the hill into Roving(sp)."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Excellent overall experience, George, our group leader was fantastic.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Profound experience of visiting Auschwitz"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our first tour ever and it was wonderful. I felt like I learned so much more having the guides: our main guide as well as the local guides in each city. I was skeptical having to travel with a group but the size was manageable. We seemed to move about easily and I enjoyed getting to know all the people.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were several. The cathedrals, Lake Bled with the church on the island and the castle looming high overhead and the Budapest Parliament at night."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

As experienced with prior Rick Steve's tours, the tour guides were top notch. This tour had both historical significance as well as outdoor beauty.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Parliament Building in Budapest, lit at night as viewed from the river cruise, certainly rates as a wow. The square at Krakow. Plitvice. So many wow moments."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great group of like-minded people. George was a wonderful tour leader - informative and passionate about helping us to understand the people and the culture. One of our best tours yet with RS.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite WOW was Rovinj due to the gorgeous hotel on the island; my wife's favorite was Krakow - the whole experience of the central square including outdoor dining and seeing the Ukrainian refugees presentation. The most moving experience was visiting Auschwitz - I will never forget it."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

George was great! Top rate hotels and local guides. Prague, Krakow, and Budapest were all beautiful.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Learning of all the atrocities committed by the communists after World Warr II at the House of Terror in Budapest."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

From our initial group meeting through our last group supper together, we were very pleased with the quality, pace, meals and transportation. Our guide, George, was warm and welcoming and started the tour off on a very positive note. We enjoyed the group walks and local tour guides; they were very well versed on points of interest and shared the historical background of their country which helped us understand the mindset of the culture. Very professional and well organized tour overall.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I gasped when we walked into St. James Basilica in Prague. We were awestruck at the beauty of this church and the numerous churches we visited on the tour. The architecture, statues, artwork and history of the churches in each country was astonishing. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

First time for an organized tour, usually we do all our own planning, but this worked out very well and I did not have to drive.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Lake Bled"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This was our first organized tour ever. We were hesitant to try group travel as our trips had always been fast-paced and self-guided. Based on the guidebooks, we felt comfortable with Rick Steves' travel style, and were willing to slow down a bit. Well, the trip exceeded our expectations. We enjoyed the wonderful group of people. Guide Peter was stellar, fun, and made everything run smoothly. There was a good balance between planned and free time, and we experienced exciting new places & cuisine

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The natural beauty of Slovenia calls me back. I loved Lake Bled with its picturesque castle overlooking the lake, the church perched on the island, and the craggy tree-covered mountains all around. While a touristy area, unlike cities, it was not so crowded as to deter from the pleasure the scenery provided. I would enjoy exploring more of the mountainous territory, hiking among the trees, partaking of distant vistas from the mountain tops, and visiting other lakes in the region. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour started with a deep dive into history and ended with beautiful scenery and a more relaxed pace. All the local tour guides were fantastic and brought history and local knowledge to the sights. Peter, our guide, made sure we knew what we wanted to see and do in our free time, helping us build our dream tour experience. Our driver was fantastic and the bus much more comfortable than anticipated. Do not fear the long bus days-the tour includes interesting stops and good eats along the way.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My wow moments were Plitvice Lakes National Park, the sunset over Rovinj, rain clouds shrouding the castle and island on Lake Bled."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The itinerary is well structured. Our guide and driver are excellent.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite thing is hiking in Plitvice National Park. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Lake Bled"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The primary guides and local were outstanding. The one exception was Rok.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The waterfalls in Croatia."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide Peter was brilliant. Smart, kind, attentive, cheerful, patient. He is golden truly. This was my first tour in my life as I usually travel solo. But it was excellent. I learned a lot. Our bus/driver were first rate, the group was not too large and we bonded with each other and formed new friendships. The accommodations were good to adequate and there was always plenty of food and water. I plan to do more Rick Steves tours and wish to mention Jana the wonderful intern on the tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The overall attention to details. Driving through the countryside and listening to the excellent commentary of Peter of the history, culture and politics of the regions. It was like a university course yet totally engaging. The personal stories and experiences were truly valuable and offered many insights. Perhaps the wow was the staff. They made it possible with grace and dignity; they were available 24/7 and no detail too small. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This was a good introduction to Central Europe. We had hoped to avoid the busiest tourist areas and get a good first experience of the history and culture of these areas.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Night Cruise of Danube and the National Park in Croatia."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful experience. I learned so much from the trip. . The tour was very well organized and our days were a good mix of education and down time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many. The one that stands out for beauty was the trip and hike through the Plitvice National Park"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was magnificent. The places we visited were interesting as well as beautiful. Even though we travelled long distances having a bus for 50 people made it quite comfortable for the 26 of us. The bus was always immaculate and we had an excellent driver, Oliver. Having breaks every 2 hours of travelling was good. I was able to realize that every single detail was taken into consideration making the tour just awesome. George our tour guide was the best. Professional, thoughtful, and funny.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I cannot tell. For me every place we visited was a Wow moment. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was a wonderful journey to places I never dreamed I would be able to see. The scenery was fabulous; the food outstanding; the hotels charming.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Cruising down the Danube with city lights all around highlighting spectacular architecture took my breath away."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

George Farkas inspirational guide. Fellow travellers very friendly. Was a very interesting tour full of memorable moments so thank you!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Budapest Croatia. Hotel Catarina"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Every place on the tour was new to us. Interesting.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Rovinj "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was wonderful! George was so knowledgeable about each of the countries and cities and at times it was hard to absorb all of the information. He added small adventures like providing typical snacks from each country, suggesting dinner sites that were unique and wonderful and engaged everyone.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My wow moment was the natural beauty of Croatia and Slovenia along with the architectural beauty of Prague and Budapest."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Amazing trip, good combination of guide led touring and time for self directed activities. Fantastic tour guide.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing Rovinj for the first time."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We saw a great deal, and our guide, George Farkas, is the best guide ever.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Rovinj Croatia is beautiful, and our lovely hotel was on an island and we took a ferry to go to and fro "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

well organized and well thought out from one tour to the next

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Lake Bled awesome view of this beautiful lake.Truly a wow moment"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

As other trips, I enjoy learning and seeing the history together. The cities we saw are stunning and then proceeding on to calmer countryside and the coast was a perfect balance for me.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Each destination had wow moments. I really don’t have a favorite. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This was a very enjoyable tour. As with other Rick Steves tours, it is nice to not have to worry about much of the day-to-day details on where to stay and how to get there. The hotels on this tour were overall a step up from the other trips we have taken previously (Best of Europe, Turkey, and Ireland). That is appreciated. Sanel did a good job of managing this aspect of the tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Plitvice National Park was beautiful and and a very enjoyable hike. A nice contrast to all of the city walking, The Wieliczka Salt Mine near Krakow was also very interesting and unique."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Despite a somewhat larger group (26), the overall experience was very enjoyable. The selected itineraries were very interesting and transportation logistics were very well organized.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There was not a single "wow" moment. We enjoyed the whole trip. We were pleasantly surprised to se how informal the border crossings were."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The countries we visited were amazing and I learned a great deal about each one. Since the focus was Eastern Europe, I didn't have a lot of background knowledge of the places we visited, so it was like discovering a new world with every stop. The places we stayed in were very nice and the group meals were enjoyable. We had a guide and intern guide and they did a great job of organizing the tour and keeping us on track so that we could get the most out of our time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Plitvice National Park was spectacular, an amazing site around every bend in the trail! The hike was challenging in a good way, the sites were worth the work of getting there. Although it wasn't part of the formal itinerary, quite a few of the tour members went to the Salt Mines outside of Krakow, which we found amazing. Lake Bled was a "Wow" in that it was beautiful and brought relaxation toward the end of the tour when we needed it."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Listening to the local guide in Krakow discuss the impact of the Ukraine invasion on the Polish psyche. It felt so personal."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Absolutely Fabulous. Sanel, our tour guide was wonderful. He had a great combination of knowledge and a great sense of humor

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Plitvice Lakes National Park and wine tasting in Eger"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour guide was knowable, informative and easy to understand. The sites visited were interesting and the meals were delicious. I enjoyed the hotels chosen and their locations to walkable shopping and restaurants.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Having our guide tell us personal stories of living under communism."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my first guided tour. I thought it was terrific and look forward to my next. Details of the tour were well thought out. The places we visited were as I would have wanted and even included more fun places than I had expected. On of the best aspects of the tour was the total knowledge of our guide. Not only did she share current and past history of the places we visited, but she was able to share her experiences from her past and family life It made the experience even more personal.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many WOW moments on this trip. Krakow, Poland was more exciting than I had ever expected and the food and bread were terrific. Croatia and Slovenia were simply beautiful. I could live in the small Alpine village of Stramberk Czech Republic. The biggest surprise was all the fun friends I made...I didn't want it to end.."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Once again, our guide was over the top fantastic which is something that we have come to expect on RS tours. Our guide Katerina was so kind, caring, and patient. Great lectures. We learned so much more than any book or documentary could teach and lived it first hand from her. Great group of fellow travelers, wonderful vibes. The pace was busy but we still had a reasonable amount of free time. The hotel locations could not have been better. So much was included! Highly recommend this trip.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It is hard to say that something so tragic was my favorite "wow" moment but the visit to Auschwitz and Birkenau memorial sites was without a doubt an experience that I will never forget. It was "wow" in the sense of "how did this happen?", "why did anyone think this was ok?", "what kind of evil person could even conceive of this", and "wow, the tragedy of these places transcends the generations between then and now". The hair, the shoes, the baby clothes. I. Will. Never. Forget."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour left us in awe of Central Europe. Getting to see and walk in history was fantastic. Every event was well planned and executed.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our "wow" moment was Auschwitz, as we realized this terrible event took place when we were young children. What and eye-opening realization that took place in our so-called civilized world."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a wonderful introduction to many new places, people and histories. The careful planning made for a seamless journey where we could simply relax, learn and enjoy the experience. Our guide was outstanding and was sincere in delivering a meaningful travel experience for all of our travel companions.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Exploring the city of Prague, the restaurants, the shops and architecture, was a fantastic introduction to Central Europe."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Although we had been to Europe 16 times previously, we had not ventured east of Austria. Given our unfamiliarity with the region, the language and the culture we decided to take a comprehensive tour. The choice came down to a Danube cruise or a Rick Steeves tour. Since our primary goal was education, the choice became clear. The tour far exceeded our expectations. Katka, our guide was outstanding in every respect. Her knowledge of the region is encyclopedic as are her interpersonal skills.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Plitvice Lakes National Park and Rovinj "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Food, accommodations, our guide, bus rides and sites visited were all outstanding.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Castle in Bled."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Central Europe Tour was everything we expected and more. Packed a ton of touring sights into the 15 days with rich history lessons.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The stay in Rovinj was a tie with Lake Bled for favorite wow location and scenery."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Mt third Rick Steve's tour and it has always been all about the guides....George was the best one yet!!!!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Budapest was unexpectedly wonderful...Auschwitz was so moving! Ending with Lake Bled was perfect...it was fun that the European rowing Championships was going there as well."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my first Rick Steves tour, and the experience far surpassed my expectations. Our tour guide, George, set an incredibly high bar, always going above and beyond for the guests; his commitment to getting to know each of us and creating a memorable experience for every person was remarkable. The accommodations ranged from comfortable to impressive, and the culinary experiences were delicious. Even our bus driver, Rok, was outstanding. I really can't say enough - the tour was life changing.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many special moments in every city that we visited, but I think my two favorite "wow" moments were the evening river cruise in Budapest where we got to see the extraordinary architecture lit up, and seeing the view of Lake Bled from atop Bled Castle - both sights that I will never forget."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

What a fabulous time from the first moment to the last. What a perfect balance of tour, group and free time! Our tour leader was outstanding! Each city guides were knowledgeable as well as helpful.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Each part of the tour was a "wow" moment as every country had it's own culture and the days were planned perfectly from breakfast to bed!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was magical. Even with some of the changes that needed to be made, due to the weather, he only made the tour that much more exciting. George, our tour guide, is truly a an outstanding representation of Rick Steves tours. He is definitely an ambassador to your company. Teaming up with Roc, our bus driver, when could say it was like Batman and Robin.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Everywhere you turn was a “WOW” moment."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

From the moment we met the tour director and all of the participants, we enjoyed each other's company. I will never think of the trip without remembering the people who were there, too. For more concrete examples, I thought the scheduling was a great balance of getting oriented, walking with a local guide to learn more, and then being set free to explore further. Each local guide added something of themselves to the tour and they were all very open and willing to share.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I think the best "wow" was turning the corner in Croatia to see the water and old town Rovinj. The water was a stunning turquoise and the town was lit up by the later afternoon sun. It was perfectly charming."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was an amazing experience. I learned so much. I have always wanted to see this part of Europe. I traveled all over Europe for over a year in 1967 this part of the world was not available to Americans. George does such a great job explaining the history and cultures of all the countries we visited. Even though we had a fair amount of bus time he always made it extra fun with picnics, local “beverage” tastings, desserts and sharing his personal stories. All of these details added to the fun.

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour was amazing! Growing up, we really didn’t know what was going on behind the iron curtain. Our God, George, grew up in Hungary during the Cold War, and was very knowledgeable and willing to share his experiences. This is my seventh Rick Steves tour, and our group was Exceptionally cohesive and fun. I learned things about the countries in central Europe that I never knew before.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The visit to Auschwitz and Birkenau were amazing. I knew that these things happened, but visiting and going through the camps with a guide, made it so real. The most pleasant thing for me was renting a bike in Croatia and riding along the Adriatic Sea. The scenery was wonderful. On the way back there was a massage tent along the trail. I stopped in and was able to get a great massage. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour was extremely educational. Our guide, George, did a terrific job explaining how this part of the world has changed in the last 100 years, and how the history is pretty awful for central Europeans.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I very much enjoyed our visit to a school where we were able to ask questions of a few students in a small group setting."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We’ll organized, interesting, fun…wonderful back door experiences.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing Rovinj and lake bled for the first time."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was very well organized, very informative, and very fun. When one of our destinations was closed due to flooding the RS machine quickly and efficiently arranged an alternate destination for us. I was impressed with how well thought out the tour was and how organized our guides were. This was our first RS tour and within a few days we were already planning our second.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Turning the corner and seeing the harbor at Rovinj."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Each city was a tour in and of itself, yet the tour had the "best of" at each stop. I thoroughly enjoy the concept of our main guide giving us an orientation, followed by a local guide with the best of portion followed by time for ourselves. This was our third tour and each time we expect that another can't be better and yet you continue to prove us wrong. Having said that, the key to this tour was that our guide, Peter Polczman, was without equal!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our bus arrived at the Rovinj harbor as the sun was lighting up the church atop the old town. The lighting was stunning, the harbor was alive with locals, tourists, and boats....with the smell of fresh fish being grilled nearby. Simply heaven."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I can't say enough good things about this tour - from our guide's organization, knowledge, and personality, to in-depth history, to stunning major cities and coastal towns, to breathtaking natural environments, my husband and I were overwhelmed with this entire experience. This was our third Rick Steves tour, and we can't recommend this area and Peter Polczman highly enough. He lives and breathes "the heart of Central Europe," and it was a privilege to be in his company.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Pulling into the harbor at Rovinj, Croatia, just as the sun was setting, was absolutely stunning. The towering steeple of the beautiful hilltop church of St. Euphemia was dominating the skyline. Our ferry took us to our hotel on Katarina Island where the view of the Old Town and the Adriatic was absolutely magical."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Great guides, great experiences, great meals!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"An early morning pletna boat ride across Lake Bled stands out among many wonderful experiences. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"When our local guide in Krakow talked about how the locals felt when Russia invaded Ukraine. Didn’t realuze the impact on Poland. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour of "The Heart of Europe" was excellent from start to finish. The guide was smart, professional and incredibly well informed. His depth of history, language and culture was unmatched. The lodgings, food, and itinerary were wonderful.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Krakow was a surprise and delight. I had no idea that it was a home to so many universities. The people wee lovely and the city was immaculate."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I expected Prague to be a treasure but it seems we found treasure in every country, every city and every stop along the way. Our guide, Peter, didn't just take us in some of Rick Steve's back doors but a big wide amazing front doors as well. The depth of learning and understanding, the scenery, the experience; this tour will stay with me for a very long time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many unexpected and amazing moments to this experience. The beauty, the architecture, the depth of culture in all the cities indeed but rounding the corner to see the mountains of Slovakia, the amazing water and trails in Plitvice National Park, the sweetness the coastal town of Rovinj. AND the intimate knowledge that Peter brought us through his life experience and that of the other guides he shared with us was priceless."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I was very impressed by everywhere the tour took us. It was so interesting to see countries that had been behind the Iron Curtain.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The wine tasting in Hungary. The lady who did the presentation there was a master at getting everyone involved even the Mormon family that didn't consume alcohol."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour was fantastic. All the hotels exceeded expectations. 6 countries offered an amazing variety of sights, peoples and activities. The included meals were great. Our guide, Peter, was perfect, he became everybody's friend, he has the ideal demeanor to handle every contingency, from stormy weather to medical emergency. He made sure that the dinner options had variety that balanced all the meat we were eating. Breakfast in Poland, lunch in Slovakia and dinner in Hungary was pretty nifty!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"You can make a case for every location on this tour. I pick Eger! After our morning free time, we met an English teacher at her school. We went to her classroom, met four students who were learning English and exchanged information with them. We had lunch in the school cafeteria. After lunch one student, the teacher's son, did Hungarian folk dance for us. An hour later we were in a winery: grappa, wine, music. dancing, and bonding. We met the locals and loved it. What a day! Pure Joy! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

What can I say? It was a marvelous tour of parts of Europe I might not otherwise have seen. Our guide, Peter, was fantastic - very knowledgeable, unrelentingly optimistic and always professional. Great hotels, excellent local guides and good food.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It's hard to pick just one, but a favorite moment was the unexpected organ concert in Budapest's Matthias Cathedral. The thundering organ music in that sacred setting was transcendent."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The entire tour was enjoyable. Loved every stop and every hotel. Tour guide was the best. Tour group jelled very well. Really great memories and experiences.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite wow moment was staying at the Island Hotel Katarina in Rovinj, Croatia. A wonderful vacation from our vacation."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The star of the show was our tour guide Katka! She kept us completely informed and on time. I appreciated her patience and availability for assistance. Our hotels for the most part were above expectations! The bus was comfy and Rok, the driver, was a Rock Star!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There are too many to narrow down to one. We were blessed with a great group of people. The tour itself was incredible and we covered a lot of territory in 2 weeks. The whole trip was a WOW!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Can’t imagine a better tour! Our guide, Katka, was wonderful! The itinerary was as close to perfect as I could imagine - great pace, exceptional stops, including the breaks & lunch stops! Our group, while large at 27, was great! Everyone got along, not a grump in the group! I know we made many new friendships that will last. This part of the world is so misunderstood and under-appreciated in the US.I wish everyone had a chance to take it - it would change perceptions and minds

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many! But two that stick with me: walking into the market square in Krakow for the first time on a rainy evening.The beauty of the lights reflecting off of the wet pavement; fabulously outfitted horses and carriages, and the immensity of the square!!! But I can’t help but mention Eger! After our group dinner, stumbling upon a small wine cave with live music, and wonderful wine for less than $1.50 a glass!! Sitting with locals, enjoying great music, great wine, indescribable ambiance. Wow!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour exceeded my expectations. It was extremely well thought out with a great mix of historic cities, national parks, seaside and lakeside resorts. After lots of touring, and some heavy topics it was great to have more relaxing days at the end of the tour to process all we had seen and learned. A big part of what made this such a great tour was our guide Katerina. She is truly an expert on this part of the world.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Very hard to say as there were so many. Plitvice Lakes National Park certainly stands out. We were guided to the back of the trail first, and we got an early start which meant we avoided a lot of the crowds there. Shows the value of having a local expert along. It was a misty and rainy day, but walking through this beautiful landscape you can't help but feel any stress just melting away. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent. Katka was a fantastic guide. Well prepared, flexible and brought great treats on bus days to help pass the time. Bus driver roq was a greet part of the team and was willing to share his experience also. Grea

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Krakow Poland. We walked away with a much better perspective about Poland. A nice surprise Easy to get around, great sites and food. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour guide was informative

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Croatia’s National Park and Lake Bled"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very well organized Katarina did an amazing job. She is easy to get along with and presented the culture and history of Central Europe in easy to understand segments.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"All of it. Favorite places was Budapest, Ravinj and Prague. Krakow was emotionally challenging, but that is the nature of Aushwictz."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

A wonderful balance of cities and nature, history and fun, scheduled and free time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Better understanding the resiliency of the people in this part of Europe, who had been under the oppression of the Nazis, Soviets, Habsburg Empire, etc."

Very well organized. The tour delivered everything promised and then some. As I go through the many pictures from my trip, I find your guidebooks extremely helpful in triggering the events and places in the photographs. The tour description was honest by stating that a lot of walking was involved. The half days helped to recuperate and prepare for what was ahead.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Rovinj. It was a wonderful place to visit."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was fantastic. Went not knowing much of what to expect other than where we would visit. Surpassed my expectations. E EU is clean, friendly, BEAUTIFUL, easy to navigate, surprisingly fantastic wines, delicious food and they were very accommodating regarding food allergies in E EU. Katarina is a fantastic guide and person, one of the RS best! Great group of travelers. Rok our driver was amazing and we loved getting to know him.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Several. The wine tasting in Eger was super fun with our group. Kohari Pince did an outstanding job in making it a fun and memorable afternoon for everyone. In Croatia, the stay on Katerina Island was such a treat. I loved Rovinj and would go back there first. And finally, standing and walking across the top of the large waterfall at Plitvice was breathtaking, and then to round the corner and be at the bottom of the other one... wow. Great we walked it "backward" and got the wow at the end. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was EXACTLY what I was looking for. It was well balanced, educational, and validating. I served in the US Army in West Germany in the late 70s. Seeing the former Soviet satellite states flourish in democracy is wonderful! Katka was fantastic! Her ability to provide background stories from her Dad and Granddad were wonderful. The history and beauty (and food) of the area is incredible. The resiliency of the people is incredible.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There are so many to choose from. The wine tasting and winery tour was one for sure. If they had the ability to ship, I would have brought some of every wine we tasted!"