• Prague
  • Charles Bridge, Prague, Czech Republic
    Prague's Charles Bridge
  • Kraków
  • St. Mary's Church, Kraków, Poland
    St. Mary's Church in Kraków
  • Hungarian School Visit
  • Hungarian Parliament in Budapest
  • Fishermen's Bastion, Budapest, Hungary
    Budapest's Castle Hill
  • Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia
    Croatia's Plitvice Lakes
  • Rovinj
    Rovinj, Croatia
  • Pletna boat, Lake Bled, Slovenia
    Slovenia's Lake Bled

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Best of Central Europe: Prague to Slovenia in 15 Days Tour

from $4,295 per person + air

Single Supplement $825

See Dates & Prices

Starting in beautifully preserved Prague, for 15 days you'll experience the rich diversity of Central Europe, from the energetic cities of Kraków and Budapest to tradition-rich "back door" towns and villages across the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Croatia, and Slovenia — including the waterfall wonderland of Plitvice and the picture-perfect alpine beauty of Lake Bled. Join us for the Best of Central Europe: Prague to Slovenia in 15 Days tour!

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Dates & Prices

2024

What's Included

You'll get at least 19 group sightseeing events — at no extra cost!

Here's what you'll see and do on our Central Europe tour:

  • Historic Prague walking tour
  • Prague Castle
  • St. Vitus Cathedral
  • St. George's Basilica (when available)
  • Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp (when available)
  • Kraków walking tour
  • Kraków's Wawel Cathedral
  • Kraków's St. Mary's Church
  • Eger orientation walk
  • Local school visit
  • Hungarian wine tasting
  • Pest walking tour
  • Walking tour of Buda's Castle Hill
  • Matthias Church
  • Danube River cruise
  • Plitvice Lakes National Park
  • Adriatic happy hour
  • Ljubljana walking tour
  • Lake Bled boat cruise (weather permitting)

Plus you'll get all this, too.

  • A small, friendly group of 24–28 people — half the size of most tour groups
  • Full-time services of a professional Rick Steves guide and local experts who will make the fascinating history, art, and culture of Eastern come alive for you
  • All group transportation from Prague to Lake Bled, Slovenia
  • 14 nights' accommodations (4- and 3-night stays) in memorable, centrally located hotels
  • All breakfasts and 7 other meals
  • All tips for guides and driver
  • A tour kit including a guidebook (when available) and a moneybelt
  • Guaranteed tour price, locked in the moment you make your deposit
  • Tour alum discount of $50 for each tour you've taken with us
  • Flexibility should you need to transfer or cancel your tour

Fine print: You are responsible for the cost of your drinks and free-time sightseeing. See our Tour Conditions for important details regarding everything listed above.

Group sightseeing events subject to change.

Itinerary

Day 1: Welcome to Prague

We'll meet at our hotel at 3 p.m. to get acquainted and preview the adventures ahead. This afternoon we'll jump right in and enjoy a meandering walking tour from our neighborhood to Prague's colorful and historic Old Town Square. We'll end our evening over a hearty dinner together.

Moderate walking: 2–6 miles throughout the day with some hills and stairs. No bus. Sleep in Prague.

Day 2: Royal, Prestigious Prague

This morning we'll hop aboard a local tram to take us across the Vltava River and up the hill to the most massive castle complex in continental Europe: Prague Castle. We'll tour the impressive St. Vitus Cathedral, Old Royal Palace, St. George's Basilica (when available), and the Golden Lane. You'll then have free time for lunch and more sightseeing on your own. This evening is a great time to catch a classical concert or experience the quirky and uniquely Czech Black Light Theater.

Strenuous walking: 2-8 miles throughout the day with lots of hills, stairs, and uneven terrain. No bus. Sleep in Prague.

Day 3: Moravian Countryside and Kraków

Today we'll leave the city and drive east into mountainous Moravia, stopping along the way to enjoy some free time for lunch and exploration. Then we'll cross into Poland on our way to tonight's destination: the surprising city of Kraków, Poland's cultural crossroads and melting pot. We'll take an orientation walk to the lively, historic market square and enjoy a traditional Polish dinner together.

Light walking: 2–4 miles throughout the day on mostly level terrain. Bus: 7 hours. Sleep in Kraków.

Day 4: Historic Kraków

This morning we'll meet a local guide and wind our way through the story of Kraków. We'll marvel at Wawel Castle, the spiritual home of the Polish nation, and Wawel Cathedral, the resting place of Polish royalty and saints. We'll visit historic St. Mary's Church — the only tower in the world where a bugler has played every hour for the past 600 years (and boy is he tired). We'll also learn about the life and impact of local legend Pope John Paul II as we trace his footsteps on our walking tour through the heart of Kraków. Your afternoon is free to discover more of this pleasant city on your own. Visit a museum or two, or go rent a bike!

Moderate walking: 2–6 miles throughout the day with some hills and stairs. No bus. Sleep in Kraków.

Day 5: Lessons of the Past

This day takes on a very different tone, as we visit the concentration camp site of Auschwitz-Birkenau (when available), where at least 1.1 million innocent people were systematically murdered during World War II. Today, this is a powerful place for learning, reflection, and remembrance. After we return to Kraków, your evening is free.

Moderate walking: 2–6 miles throughout the day with some hills and stairs. Bus: 3 hours. Sleep in Kraków.

Day 6: Drive to Eger

We'll begin our morning with a drive through the scenic Tatras Mountains and the rolling hills of Hungary's famous "Bull's Blood" wine-growing region. Our destination is the town of Eger, where the townspeople (with some help) turned back an Ottoman invasion of central Europe in 1552. Our day will end with a Hungarian dinner near the town of Eger.

Moderate walking: 2–6 miles throughout the day with some hills and stairs. Bus: 8 hours. Sleep in Eger.

Day 7: Hungary, Great and Small

This morning, you'll have time to soak in Eger's Baroque beauty. Later we'll visit a local school, where we'll sit down and chat with a teacher and enjoy lunch together in the cafeteria. Then we'll learn about the region's deservedly famous wines with a tour and tasting at a local winery. Our destination this evening is Budapest, the mighty Magyar capital on the Danube, where after an orientation walk, we'll enjoy dinner together.

Light walking: 2–4 miles throughout the day on mostly level terrain. Bus: 4 hours. Sleep in Budapest.

Day 8: Bustling Budapest

The rich history of Pest has created a city that's a puzzle of neo-Baroque, neo-classical, and modern architecture. On our walking tour this morning, we'll crane our necks at Europe's largest parliament building and learn how Hungarians coped with half a century of fascist and communist tyranny. We'll break for lunch, giving you free time to wander through the Great Market Hall — an architectural gem and the city's largest indoor market — and treat your senses to a few paprika-infused delicacies. Later this evening, we'll end our day together with a relaxing cruise on the Danube.

Strenuous walking: 2–8 miles throughout the day with lots of hills, stairs, and uneven terrain. Boat: 1 hour. No bus. Sleep in Budapest.

Day 9: Old Budapest

Today we'll focus on the Buda side of the Danube, starting up on Castle Hill for a bird's-eye view of sprawling Pest, followed by a walking tour that takes us past the imposing Royal Palace and into Budapest's greatest church, the sumptuously gilded Matthias Church. When we've finished here, your guide will be happy to orient those interested to the ornate and traditional public thermal baths.

Moderate walking: 2–6 miles throughout the day with some hills and stairs. No bus. Sleep in Budapest.

Day 10: Natural Wonders of Croatia

After breakfast we'll drive out of Hungary and into Croatia. Our destination for today is the deep greens and blues of Croatia's water wonderland and one of Europe's premier nature preserves: Plitvice Lakes National Park. After dinner together, you'll sleep soundly, surrounded by the quiet of nature.

Light walking: 2–4 miles throughout the day on mostly level terrain. Bus: 7 hours. Sleep in or near the national park.

Day 11: From the Forests to the Sea

This morning we'll hike along rustic boardwalk trails connecting the idyllic forests, travertine stone cliffs, clear blue lakes, and gushing waterfalls of Plitvice Lakes National Park. We'll learn how the park is creatively protecting its delicate environment, including the use of electric trams and boats. We'll take a lunch break to replenish ourselves, then give our legs a rest as we drive to the Istrian peninsula on the Adriatic Sea. Our destination is the enchanting seaside town of Rovinj, where we'll enjoy a sunset dinner.

Strenuous walking: 2–8 miles throughout the day with lots of hills, stairs, and uneven terrain. Bus: 4 hours. Sleep in Rovinj.

Day 12: Free Day in Rovinj

Take a "vacation from your vacation." The entire day is yours to enjoy the sun, gelato, seafood, and lazy ambience of Rovinj. Wander through the narrow streets, watch local fishermen bring in the day's catch, or head to the beach for sun and a swim. We'll compare notes at an informal happy hour early this evening.

Light to strenuous walking (your choice). No bus. Sleep in Rovinj.

Day 13: Slovenian Countryside and Ljubljana

Today we'll head to the azure jewel of Lake Bled, at the foot of Slovenia's Julian Alps. Along the way, we'll stop in Ljubljana for a tour highlighting some of the city's famous landmarks and free time to make your own discoveries. After exploring the capital, we'll continue through the verdant Slovenian countryside on our way to our final destination: a pristine lake ringed by forests and hiking paths.

Light to strenuous walking (guide's choice). Bus: 5 hours. Sleep in Bled.

Day 14: Delightful Lake Bled

Today we'll take a traditional pletna boat ride together to Lake Bled's chapel-topped island, where local tradition requires each would-be husband to carry his bride up the 99 steps from the boat dock to the church at the top (four in five are successful). Your afternoon is free to hike to the castle and its panoramic viewpoint, take a scenic walk around the lake (stopping for a kremšnita cream cake), or rent a bike to explore even more. Tonight we'll rendezvous for a special dinner together, sharing travel memories and toasting new friends. Na zdravje!

Moderate walking: 2–6 miles throughout the day with some hills and stairs. Boat: 1 hour. No bus. Sleep in Bled.

Day 15: Tour Over After Breakfast

Breakfast is provided, but there are no group activities today. Ljubljana's airport is just 30 minutes away, and there are nearby train connections to Munich, Vienna, and other European cities. Whatever your plans, your guide will help you get on the right track. Na svidenje!

Itinerary specifics subject to change.

Physical Demands

Our tours are physically active! It's an essential part of the Rick Steves tour experience. On our Central Europe: Prague to Slovenia in 15 Days tour — among other things — you'll need to happily…

  1. Carry/roll your luggage over uneven pavement (possibly several blocks) and up stairways to reach your hotel, then up several flights of stairs to reach your room.
  2. Be on your feet, walking and standing, for up to four hours, indoors and outdoors, in all weather conditions.
  3. Sleep with street noise and no (or weak) air conditioning.
  4. After orientation and transportation lessons, be able to navigate towns and cities on your own.

Reviews

Maureen

Tour: 10/01/23

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."

Drew

Tour: 10/01/23

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."

Michael

Tour: 10/01/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

outstanding because of the guide.

Stephanie

Tour: 10/01/23

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"

Chantal

Tour: 10/01/23

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. "

Christopher

Tour: 10/01/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Christopher

Tour: 09/29/23

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."

Raymond

Tour: 09/29/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Better than expected

Favorite "WOW" moment

"National park in Croatia"

Mary

Tour: 09/29/23

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. "

Judy

Tour: 09/29/23

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!"

Paula

Tour: 09/29/23

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."

James

Tour: 09/29/23

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."

Holly

Tour: 09/29/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Solveig

Tour: 09/29/23

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."

Margaret

Tour: 09/29/23

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."

Daniel

Tour: 09/24/23

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."

Sharon

Tour: 09/24/23

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!"

Gary

Tour: 09/24/23

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. "

Robert

Tour: 09/24/23

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."

Belinda

Tour: 09/24/23

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."

Sylvia

Tour: 09/24/23

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."

Brian

Tour: 09/24/23

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. "

Gary

Tour: 09/22/23

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."

Terri Pauline

Tour: 09/22/23

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."

Thomas

Tour: 09/22/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Steven

Tour: 09/22/23

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. "

Geoff

Tour: 09/22/23

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"

Richard

Tour: 09/17/23

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."

Laura

Tour: 09/17/23

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"

Jill

Tour: 09/17/23

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."

Sue

Tour: 09/17/23

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"

Casandra

Tour: 09/10/23

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."

Joseph

Tour: 09/10/23

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."

Chris

Tour: 09/10/23

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."

Bambi

Tour: 09/10/23

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!"

Chris

Tour: 09/08/23

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."

Patricia

Tour: 09/08/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a great guide And fantastic weather

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Lake Plitvice"

Corinne

Tour: 09/08/23

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". "

Denise

Tour: 09/08/23

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). "

Kathryn

Tour: 09/03/23

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!"

Howard

Tour: 09/03/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Ryan

Tour: 09/03/23

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! "

Phillip

Tour: 08/27/23

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."

Dennis

Tour: 08/27/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Old town krakow. "

Richard

Tour: 08/20/23

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."

Carol

Tour: 08/20/23

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. "

Fred

Tour: 08/20/23

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."

Wesley

Tour: 08/20/23

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. "

Ron

Tour: 08/20/23

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."

Sharon

Tour: 08/20/23

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)."

Steve

Tour: 08/20/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Profound experience of visiting Auschwitz"

Karen

Tour: 08/20/23

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."

Elizabeth

Tour: 07/07/23

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."

Rebecca

Tour: 07/07/23

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. "

David

Tour: 07/07/23

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"

Fang

Tour: 06/25/23

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. "

John

Tour: 06/25/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Lake Bled"

Patricia

Tour: 06/25/23

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."

Anabel

Tour: 06/18/23

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. "

Brad

Tour: 06/18/23

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."

Laurel

Tour: 06/04/23

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."

Margaret

Tour: 06/04/23

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."

Karen

Tour: 06/04/23

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."

Michael

Tour: 06/04/23

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"

Patricia Teresa

Tour: 06/04/23

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. "

Katy

Tour: 06/04/23

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"

David

Tour: 06/04/23

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"

Nancy

Tour: 06/04/23

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 "

Bob

Tour: 06/04/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Rovinj "

Surjit

Tour: 05/28/23

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."

Sheila

Tour: 05/28/23

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. "

Jeff

Tour: 05/28/23

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."

Renee

Tour: 05/28/23

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"

Diane

Tour: 05/28/23

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."

Paula

Tour: 05/28/23

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."

John

Tour: 05/21/23

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 "

Wesley

Tour: 05/21/23

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.."

Deborah

Tour: 05/21/23

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."

Gregory

Tour: 05/21/23

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."

James

Tour: 05/21/23

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."

Robert

Tour: 05/21/23

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."

Matt

Tour: 05/14/23

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."

Michael

Tour: 05/14/23

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."

Linda

Tour: 05/14/23

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!"

Charles

Tour: 05/14/23

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."

Carrie

Tour: 05/14/23

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."

William

Tour: 05/14/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Castle in Bled."

Jody

Tour: 05/14/23

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."

Margaret

Tour: 05/14/23

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.

Susan

Tour: 05/14/23

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. "

Doug

Tour: 05/14/23

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."

Timothy

Tour: 05/14/23

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."

Jerome

Tour: 05/14/23

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."

Audrey

Tour: 05/07/23

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."

Becky

Tour: 05/07/23

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."

Margaret

Tour: 05/07/23

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."

Harold

Tour: 05/07/23

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."

Brian

Tour: 05/07/23

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."

Daniel

Tour: 05/07/23

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."

Gina

Tour: 05/07/23

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. "

Karen

Tour: 05/07/23

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. "

Ann

Tour: 05/07/23

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."

Roger

Tour: 05/07/23

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! "

Jerrold

Tour: 04/30/23

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!"

Richard

Tour: 04/30/23

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. "

Meliss

Tour: 04/30/23

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. "

Roxane

Tour: 04/30/23

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!"

Michael

Tour: 04/30/23

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!"

Beth

Tour: 04/30/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour guide was informative

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Croatia’s National Park and Lake Bled"

Jim

Tour: 04/30/23

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."

Peggy

Tour: 04/30/23

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."

Brenda

Tour: 04/30/23

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."

Brenda

Tour: 04/30/23

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. "

Jeffrey

Tour: 10/02/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Exceptional your management and fabulous sites. Amazing value and delightful tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Every stop had a WOW!!! The tour has amazing sites and yet time to see things on your own!! Well planned and executed every single day! "

William

Tour: 10/02/22

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Overall it was a great experience. Food choices during group meals could have gad more variety. Allot of late meals, early morning tours.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Turning the corner and seeing Rovinj."

Richard

Tour: 10/02/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Another great Rick Steves travel experience. Our third trip and all equally enjoyable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Experiencing countries that had been under communist control until 1989, and now are thriving - at least in the cities we visited."

Robert

Tour: 10/02/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

George, our tour guide, was EXCELLENT! In addition, our hotels and local guides were amazing as well. I couldn't have asked for a better exprience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Rovinj and Lake Bled were two amazing "wow" moments. In addition, one cannot and should not miss Auschwitz/Birkenau. The history, understanding of what suffering when on at these sites, and the thought that we must prevent something like this from happening again is essential for every human being."

Craig

Tour: 10/02/22

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour was excellent. I learned great history and was introduced to superb culture. Our guide answered our questions and shared a lot. The hotels were comfortable while having personality. This was a return visit, as on my own I had been to two of the six countries the tour went to, yet it all felt new to me. I felt the true freedom of great travel.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I have to go with two. The first was the Baroque Library in Eger. The story behind the library, its curated exhibit and its setting in the beautiful town of Eger made the visit a highlight. I love libraries so I am glad this was mentioned. Rick Steves should add more literary sites to its guidebooks and tours. The second is the entire city of Prague. Though I had been to Eastern Europe before, I have never visited the Czech capital. "

Mary

Tour: 10/02/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wow! Once again, we were thrilled to be a part of a Rick Steves's tour. The professionalism, joy and adventure are exemplified with each experience making for an amazing travel experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many to pick just one!"

Constance

Tour: 10/02/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall, I would give the tour a B+/ A- rating. I would give George Farkas our tour guide an A+. I would give Roc- our bus driver an A+.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were several moments that stick out in my mind. I value moments- not just for the beauty but for the intellectual awareness they bring. The musical pair at the Czech dinner, Czech Jewish Cemetery, Golden Lane, waving to the trumpet player at St. Mary, Krakow salt mines, the steep Budapest underground, taking the elevator down in the House of Terror, the park hotel we Lodged in Croatia, Crema Cake, Lake Bled, the printing press at Lake Bled Castle."

Mary Susan

Tour: 10/02/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The Eastern European Tour was wonderful from the standpoint of beautiful place and the history of the countries. It was like seeing two different worlds, from the metro areas and beautiful buildings in Prague, Krakow, and Budapest to the more rural countries of Croatia and Slovania, with lovely countrysides and pastoral towns. This trip was organized very well with a historical perspective from centuries ago and the years after the war. .

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It seems like everywhere we went there were "wow" moments. Each day offered beautiful and spectacular sites, experiences and food, Visiting Auschwitz-Birkenan, while not a "wow" as we think of it, It was a pensive and heartbreaking "wow" moment wondering how this could have happened. "

Carole

Tour: 10/02/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was well coordinated and we saw many highlights in the various countries visited. Along with seeing sites we learned a lot of the history from our tour director, George, and the other local guides that shared their information with us.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Overall “wow” was the fact this trip to a number of countries/cities in a part of the world I had never traveled was so well introduced, shown and experienced by all 27 of us on this tour. We truly experienced the sites, sounds, flavors and history of these places."

Yuzhong

Tour: 09/30/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Well organized, nicely paced, and attention to details. Fun, interesting and educational. Adequate accommodations. Exceptional tour guides.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The trip to Rovinj and stay on the island hotel. "

Allie

Tour: 09/30/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My 5th tour with Rick Steves and Peter was the best tour guide yet! He had everything planned out, gave history of the countries as we travelled and explained the current conditions in each. Also explained the culture and the people. Very personable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too hard to choose one as everything we saw and everywhere we went was fantastic and each country was beautiful. "

Yuan

Tour: 09/30/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was excelent and carefully selected the route and cities. We saw the most we'd like to see.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Budapest was the city out of my expectation."

Becky

Tour: 09/30/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The hotels and group meals were excellent! The tour guides were informative and yet not overwhelming with information. The group was inclusive and helped to be supportive to each other by the guides. The sites visited built upon each other, culminating to a great ending.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Plitvice National Forest. "

Karla

Tour: 09/30/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour was beyond our expectations. Great in every way.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Lake Bled's beauty was unexpected."

Sharon

Tour: 09/25/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Well-organized, intriguing sites, excellent local guides, visits to local sites - school, wine tasting, Excellent tour guide - Sasho, pleasant group.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The combination of ancient, historical cities and their intriguing and challenging histories (Prague, Krakow, Budapest), horrors of Auschwitz, and natural sites - National Park Pilvice in Croatia and Bled in Slovenia. "

Allen

Tour: 09/25/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I appreciated the rich exposure to the history of Eastern Europe as well as its culture and countryside beauty.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Lake Bled and the islands of Plitvice Lakes National Park."

Maureen

Tour: 09/25/22

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

It was an excellent tour-- the cloud of covid weighed on my tour experience the entire time. A couple of people had to leave our tour due to positive test, so it was traveling with "what if fear" I chose to distance myself from other tour members, left meals as soon as I could, and that was a bummer. I didn't want to be considered unsocial. We had a small group of 15 so everyone got to know each other which helped mitigate my social distancing. Outside activities were less stressful.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We enjoyed Eger and the many wine bars that were buzzing with activity due to it being Friday night. The market in Ljubljana. What an amazing gathering place. Seeing Budapest at night from the Danube River Cruise. Having the first part of Plitvicka Jezera park to ourselves to enjoy its beauty and waterfalls. Of course the power and emotion of seeing, and being, at Auschwitz. "

Robert

Tour: 09/25/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My third tour with RS and I have to say you guys have found the correct recipe! The Best of Eastern Europe was the perfect mix of education, cultural immersion, and fun. I really enjoyed the dinners and wine tasting where we got a taste of folk music and dancing. We visited a school in Hungary…seemed strange at first, but it got us grounded with real people off the tourist stream! As usual our local guides were the best, and Sasho, our tour leader was personable, upbeat, competent, and kind.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Best was the wine tasting, The young students who were studying folk dancing came with us. They were a true relief from the tourist world, and very funny to talk to. Then we were serenaded by a Roma violist who played a mix of Hungarian folk music, American jazz, etc. All this while we sampled excellent wines, and ended-up folk dancing as a group. The “worst” of course ( but equally wow) was Auschwitz. Words are not sufficient for this, except to say we had another superb local guide. "

Leslie

Tour: 09/23/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was wonderful. The guides were informative, entertaining and personable. The tour was a good mix of history, culture, nature, and free time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It is difficult to pick one “wow” moment. Prague was beautiful. The night cruise in Budapest was awesome. The winery was fun. The musical entertainment both at dinner and the winery was great. The visit to Auschwitz was both very depressing and incredibly meaningful. But the biggest “wow” was our fabulous guides, Katka and Levi. They added so much to the whole experience."

Albert

Tour: 09/23/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Katka and Levi did an excellent job of organizing the tour, shepherding the participants, and interpreting the sights and the cultures of the countries we visited. Their local knowledge helped us to see and appreciate more than if we were on our own even with Rick Steves' excellent book.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I have a hard time picking a favorite among the Danube cruise at night in Budapest, the walk through the Plitvice Lakes National Park, or the plenta ride to Bled Island. These three were, for me, the most photogenic. "

Danilo

Tour: 09/23/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The trip was wonderful. Our tour guides (Katka and Leve) were very knowledgeable and fun to be with throughout the tour. I enjoyed listening to them telling us which country makes the best goulash and strudels dishes. Also, the tour group was small which was easier to move around sightseeing the cities.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"1. When we arrived to Rovinj, Crotia and ride a boat to Katarina Island Hotel. It was a sight that we were staying there. 2. Night cruise on the Danube River at Budapest. 3. Seeing the waterfalls at Plitvice Lakes."

Martin

Tour: 09/23/22

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Had a really good trip, saw the sites with an excellent history lesson from the guides about the significance of what we were seeing.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Wow for me was strolling around Lake Bled on a beautiful evening and seeing all the lights reflecting off the calm waters."

Julia

Tour: 09/23/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall is the tour guide, Katerina. She is very kind, patience, smart, knows about everything. History of all the historical sites we’ve been. I would love to have her again on my next tour. She did a really good job.

Elizabeth

Tour: 09/23/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour exceeded my expectations! The city tours and sights were very informative.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Danube cruise in Budapest was beautiful. It would have been nice if it was narrated since during the city walk I was totally captured by the wow moment."

Lorenza

Tour: 09/23/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was all great experience

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I love the Plitvice National parks in Croatia "

Trissa

Tour: 09/23/22

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

My overall experience for the tour was very good, everything promised was delivered. Katarina and Levy were very knowledgeable, organized and joy to be with.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My wow moment was walking the Lake Bled lighted trail after dark in the midst of the lit Bled castle and island. It was magical and romantic, a nice way to end the tour!"

Leslie

Tour: 09/23/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my first time to Eastern Europe. Just the right balance of scheduled activities and free time to explore on my own. I tested positive for Covid on day 9-Our guide Katka was very helpful in making arrangements with our hotel in Budapest for me to extend my stay. She also kept in contact with me to make sure I was ok after the group moved on and provided me with a local contact in case I needed assistance.

Nancy

Tour: 09/23/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a fantastic experience on this tour. Everything was planned out perfectly from the moment we began the tour. We traveled with Rick’s books for the last 30 years, but this was the first tour we have do. Katerina was so knowledgeable and informative. She made every day so interesting and fun, and always had some small surprise for us. She took such wonderful care of us. Levi shared so much of his life and experience of growing up In Hungary. Claudio did an excellent job driving the bus

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The entire tour was a Wow moment. Every day we saw such unbelievable sights in each city and country."

Nancy

Tour: 09/18/22

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour itinerary was well thought out and ensured we saw the highlights throughout the trip. We really appreciated having all the details arranged so we could just enjoy the experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our tour guides helped create a spirit of community within our traveling companions. We loved developing new friendships. The guides were well informed, enthusiastic and very willing to please. "

Scott

Tour: 09/18/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This is my (our) fourth tour and it was equally enjoyable as the prior three. This was the first time we've experienced significant rain, but it didn't put a damper on it for me. We have had such a hot summer at home, that I actually enjoyed the gray skies and the atmosphere it created. Particularly in Eastern Europe.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I can't honestly say I had a favorite moment. However, I did have a favorite experience with our local guide in Krakow. I believe her name was Teresa. She had a fantastic sense of humor (because it aligned with mine) and I really enjoyed her tour as a result. Some people may find her irreverent, but I thought she was hilarious."

David

Tour: 09/18/22

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Our first guide, Etelka, her enthusiasm was contagious. All of the local guides were excellent, and the Hungarian wine tasting Etelka organized in Eger was such fun!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It's difficult to name just one, so I will cite two moments. Croatia was very beautiful, and the hike through the Plitvice Lakes National Park wonderful. Second, Krakow, so far, remains my favorite city in Europe. I never tire of the rich history and young energy, and because I had visited so many times before on business, it was nice to meet up with a few friends during one of our down times."

Sadie

Tour: 09/16/22

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I had a great time on this tour. It was a good overview of “central Europe” and I now know a few places I’d like to go back to and further explore!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I had two “wow” moments. One was being able to interact with the school children. That was a good wow! The second, not so good wow, was Auschwitz. I’m glad I got to see it and the important reminder it serves."

Margaret

Tour: 09/16/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour exceeded my high expectations. It was well-organized, very interesting and filled with memorable moments.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were SO many WOW moments for me. One of my favorite memories is visiting an elementary school in Hungary. The eighth-graders spoke to our group in English, asked us questions and shared their goals with us. That said it is challenging to pick out one wow moment as there were so many!"

Donna

Tour: 09/16/22

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Overall a very good tour. We didn’t have good weather, it was colder and rainier than expected but that didn’t stop us from seeing everything. Our tour guide George was exceptional, he made everything more interesting and more fun.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"No one moment stands out but several were memorable - the parliament building in Budapest, the beautiful view of Rovijn from the ferry and the very picturesque Lake Bled."

Elizabeth

Tour: 09/11/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

wonderful. nice mix of experiences, tours, meals, accomodations

Favorite "WOW" moment

"swimming on Croatia coast"

Gene

Tour: 09/11/22

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

very informative and a unique look at an area that I hadn't had much knowledge of.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"how very friendly everyone was and how little the war has seemingly effected the region."

Judith

Tour: 09/11/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our terrific group leader helped to meld us into a terrific, fun group as we learned so much about the “heart of Europe” experience. We had a great mix of group and free time with lots of ideas for spending free time to explore.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Experiencing Prague as a vibrant and thriving city after last seeing it in 1972."

Monica

Tour: 09/11/22

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Peter was great, Oliver was great. Most of the local guides were great. Hotels were very good. Food was not as good as it had been on other tours.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Lots of enjoyable moments. The trip to Aushwitz/Birkenau was very eye-opening and moving but hesitate to call it a favorite "wow" moment."

Robert

Tour: 09/09/22

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Our tour was a whirlwind romance tour of central Europe. Each city and stops in between, opened our eyes, yet showed what we have in common. Enjoyed the food and sights!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"2 things, Natural sights: Plitvice Lakes National Park. Man made: the many amazing interiors of the cathedrals."

Perry

Tour: 09/09/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my wife and my first tour, and if your other tour guides are half as good as Eszter Bokros, we'll definitely will be back for others. Eszter was amazing! She was so knowledgeable about the history, politics, and people of each country that we visited. She facilitated our interaction with the other tour members, which we now consider new friends. She kept us moving, but was also considerate of each members needs. She was continually surprising us with not only unplanned events.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Everything was great. Some of my wife and my favorites were the surprise performance by the Prague Castle Players at our first dinner, who also sang Happy Birthday to our travelling friend on her birthday. The Plitvice Lakes National Park walk. Also the little things that Eszter did such as providing us with postcards from each place, and treats to eat on the bus. As mentioned above Eszter's insights of the history and politics was great, particularly when touring Budapest."

Carol

Tour: 09/09/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I always enjoy Rick Steve tours but this one is in the top 3 of the 6 or 7 I have done, due to the organization, the tour guide and the group. The balance between guided activities and free time gave us the perfect balance and the pacing was really great. The ability to go to cities and to more outdoor type activities was great

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Plitvice National Park was amazing and the way Eszter Bokros managed our visit added even more to this wow moment. This is really a tough one because the whole itinerary was a wow. "

Joe

Tour: 09/09/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was an excellent tour with a incredible variety throughout. Eszter our guide was outstanding. She was knowledgeable, enthusiastic and managed out tour with patience and good humor. Our group really seemed to meld well together which added to the enjoyment.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Beginning the day with a hike through Plitvice National Park then ending the day in the Adriatic costal town of Rovinj was totally charming."

Todd

Tour: 09/09/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

What a terrific trip! Ezster was an incredible guide and the itinerary was wonderful!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many things were wow, but Plitvice Park amd Lake Bled were incredible, especially after visiting the bigger cities. And the food!!"

Alison

Tour: 09/09/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was amazing and so much fun. Our guide was so knowledgeable about history and culture- and had “surprises” for us along the way. She was thoughtful and fun! Gave us many good suggestions on how to spend free time. I would love to do another trip with Ezster.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many, it’s hard to pick just one."

John

Tour: 09/09/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was a great experience; a good mix of cities smd sights.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Enjoying a beverage at Tito’s former villa on Lake Bled and the ballet at the Budapest opera house. (Tie)"

Judy

Tour: 09/09/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour had a range range of experiences including history, culture, religion and current challenges. Also cities, small towns, parks and the seaside!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Croatia - Plitvice National Park and Rovinj"

Cindy

Tour: 09/04/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Large cities with the contrast of Split, Rovinj and Plitvice National Park made for an exceptional itinerary. Katerina, our guide was tremendous as she shared her passion for her country and the other countries on the tour. Indeed a special tour!!!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Many wows: Katerina, the Danube at night on a river cruise, the "Spa" in Budapest, Rovinj, wine tasting at Kohari's, hike in Plitvice and sobering visit to Auschwitz."

Karen

Tour: 09/04/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was the perfect combination of big cities and smaller towns, time with guides and time to explore on our own. In much of my lifetime, these countries were off limits to visitors. It was a thrill to be able to learn about their histories and struggles for autonomy.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"While walking around Lake Bled, the sun came out after a rainy morning and showed us the snow capped Julian Alps. "

Craig

Tour: 09/02/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

From beginning to end, this tour of eastern Europe was superb. Our guide was exactly as he or she should be as far as staying on schedule, coordinating with local guides and local transportation, insuring that meals were timed to match any fluctuations in our schedule, handling any unexpected problems while being very cordial and never overbearing. Our guide was a big part of the overall success of our tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The hotel breakfasts were always a "wow" moment. Though I had experienced European breakfasts before, these breakfasts were more like feasts. What a way to start each day! But, the biggest "wow" moment for me were sights at Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia. I don't think I have ever seen such natural beauty as was on display there, endless waterfalls and lakes in this pristine forested wonderland with crystal clear water."

Barbara

Tour: 09/02/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My husband and I had a wonderful time!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We learned a lot about countries that had, at one time, been communist."

Eric

Tour: 09/02/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide Sanel did a great job making sure that our itinerary went as planned. He also did a great job making sure all tour members were safe and any necessary accommodations were provided.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I have two moments that come to mind. The evening cruise on the Danube in Budapest and the walk through Plitvice Lakes National Park."

Susan

Tour: 09/02/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first experience with a tour, and it could not have gone better. Everything was well planned and executed to make sure that we had the best trip possible. We quickly came to realize the advantages of having an experienced tour guide, but also found that we had plenty of flexibility and time on our own. We were able to see everything on our must see list, and were introduced to many sites and experiences that we would not have had traveling independently.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We visited many stunning sites, but the biggest "wow" moments came from experiences. So much fun at a wine tasting at a Hungarian winery, and learning how the winery was recovered and restored after communism is an experience that we will cherish. We finished this trip with a better appreciation for Eastern Europe and its history and people. "

Wendy

Tour: 09/02/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I thoroughly enjoyed learning about the history of the region, tasting the authentic dishes of each country, driving through the countryside and getting to know the other members on the trip. It was at different times fascinating, fun, relaxing, sobering and special. The tour offered a nice mix of city exploring, nature walks, interesting tours and guides, never experienced before activities and tasty food. Our guide was just right for this tour. He was fun, informational and good at herding.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I really loved the walk through Plitvice Lakes National Park and the drive through the mountains to our destination on a private island hotel on the Adriatic in Rovinj. What a day! It felt very special."

Robin

Tour: 09/02/22

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Plitvice National Park "

Marvin

Tour: 09/02/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Kathy

Tour: 09/02/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour was so informative and so well done! Countries behind the Iron Curtain were a big mystery to us in school which was part of the reason I wanted to go on this trip. I learned so much and had a wonderful time doing so.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were several. Evening Danube cruise, my hotel room in Prague. The hotel on the island off Rovinj-but the favorite? The view of Lake Bled from the castle in Bled. Rain/fog was coming in and perfectly framed the little church on the island."

Renard

Tour: 08/28/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was a group of only 16 people plus our guide (6 of which were my family). Our guide George was the best we've ever had on a group trip. The trip was planned extremely well with many extra personal touches by our guide.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Celebrating our anniversary, George and our tour group surprised us with a party, cake, etc. It was very thoughtful. Also, Krakow was amazing - far beyond our expectations."

Shauna

Tour: 08/28/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first Rick Steves tour and it did not disappoint. We have used the RS books for 20 years but never taken a tour. It was excellent in every way. I had gone into the trip with moderate expectations, and my expectations were all exceeded.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"This was a trip of wow moments! We had been to Prague before so were less wowed by that city, but it is an amazing city. Krakow was probably our favorite city and Auschwitz was a wow in a terrible way. So much suffering. Budapest was a beautiful surprise with massive buildings and an amazing nighttime Danube cruise. More wows included the seaside Rovinj and the peaceful Lake Bled. Just so many amazing things to see in one trip."

Kurt

Tour: 08/28/22

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

George Farkas was the best guide of any tour from any tour company I have participated in. He was always congenial, accommodating to requests, knowledgeable about local recommendations, and fun to be around. Most activities were well worth the time and very enjoyable. Most accommodations were satisfactory.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Krakow was the surprise stop of the tour. Poland and the city of Krakow were far more interesting than I anticipated."

Marianne

Tour: 08/28/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

From start to finish, the tour exceeded all my expectations.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Walking into the hotel room of an old monastery in Prague with chandeliers, original paintings on the wall and beautiful windows overlooking ancient streets made my heart sing. The slanted steps to the second floor took me back to another time...and that was just the start!"

Sam

Tour: 08/28/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We thoroughly enjoyed our trip, our guide and our fellow travelers. Our guide George Farkas was outstanding, and the local guides were very good.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Perhaps seeing the sun set over the Adriatic from our hotel Katarina island, with Rovinj in the background!"

Cheryl

Tour: 08/28/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was a wonderful tour! I was not very familiar with this part of the world, but thanks to our guide George, I learned so much about the history, politics, culture and people of the countries we visited. Hotels were in great locations and it was fun trying the different local foods. Lots of nice added touches along the way—the Strudel House in Budapest, the liquor toasts in each country, the happy hour in Rovinj—really added to the experience. I would definitely recommend this tour!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many but what stands out was the river cruise in Budapest, the visit to Auschwitz (very moving but somber), staying on the island at Rovinj, and Lake Bled. Also, learning about the people of the countries we visited and better understanding the hardships and challenges they’ve faced in their histories—living under communism, for example."

Brenda

Tour: 08/28/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The trip was great and our tour leader, George, was outstanding.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Honestly, there was a wow moment everyday, but the Danube night cruise in Budapest was fantastic."

Lynne

Tour: 08/21/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour exceeded my expectations . Our Hungarian born guide Eszter was outstanding and truly passionate about making sure that everyone in our group had the best experience we could get from each country we visited. It was quite the history lesson from one beautiful country to the next. The cultural experiences such as the school visit and wine tasting were a lot of fun, and there were always plenty of free time suggestions that truly enhanced our tour experience in each country.

Favorite "WOW" moment

" Ziplining in Slovenia on our last day of the tour was a breathtaking " wow" moment for me. "

Anuradha

Tour: 08/21/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great visit

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visit to Budapest"

Terri

Tour: 08/21/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide was great. It was a part of Europe that I had never visited and it was very educational. Like our initial Rick Steves tour 11 years ago, the group was diverse and interesting and it was enjoyable to make new friends

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Amazed at the diversity of culture across "Eastern European" countries ... in Krakow, a city of 850,000 people, they opened up the doors to their homes to welcome 600,000 UKrainian refugees ... without government funding, government organization, etc. They just opened their hearts to help a neighbor in need. On the other hand, in Hungary, you can't find a Ukraine flag flying anywhere ... Krakow people are great."

Phillip

Tour: 08/21/22

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Excellent tour. Guide very hospitable and firm regarding being timely. Great knowlegde about historical events.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Lake Bled hike!"

Iva

Tour: 08/21/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great guide. Good mixture of free and scheduled time. Great food experiences

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Lake Bled"

Jerry

Tour: 08/19/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Where to begin? Wow, the tour locations, the group we were with, the outstanding tour guide Katka, just so many plus things that made it the best Rick Steves tour we've ever taken.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many it would be hard to choose. And Katka was always adding extra touches that made even the bus rides fun."

David

Tour: 08/19/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My wife and I had planned this trip for 2020 and were thankful that Covid restrictions were lifted enough for us to enjoy this trip this year. This is our fifth Rick Steves tour and probably not our last as we enjoy the way his tours are organized and run. Katerina our main tour guide was probably the best guide we have ever had. The other tour members were friendly and fun to be with. Great learning experience as well as relaxing time away from the daily grind of life.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The main reason for me to go on this tour was to visit Auschwitz/Birkenau as I am the proud son of a WWII POW. I mostly kept to myself during the time in these camps and pondered so many things. I cannot explain all the emotions I felt, but was thankful to stand on the grounds of historical tragedy. Plitvice Lake was a nice change of pace from the big cities and allowed me to be refreshed and relax in the natural beauty. RS does a great job going from city noise to more rural calming places"

Julie

Tour: 08/19/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I have always wanted to explore this part of Europe, especially Prague and Croatia. We were supposed to go two years ago as my "retirement trip" but CoVid interrupted our plans. Our overall tour experience was outstanding. We felt very safe, not only just being out in crowds, but also safe in terms of CoVid exposure. Everyone was compliant in wearing masks, and thankfully no one became ill during our trip. In terms of what we saw and experienced, it was truly outstanding: I'm truly grateful!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Croatia and Lake Bled were stunningly beautiful, but I have to say the biggest "wow" was our guide Katarina. She went above and beyond her job: making everyone comfortable, arranging for dietary restrictions, assisting in tickets and travel plans at the end, but most of all, Katarina shared her love of her country, and her experiences growing up under communism. This helped me understand and respect the people inhabiting these beautiful lands and their cultural identity. Katarina shared herself!"

Sheri

Tour: 08/19/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I loved the Eastern Europe (really Central Europe) tour. I thought it was a nice balance of group time and individual time, city and nature. I enjoyed the guided talks, the cultural and historical education, getting to try local foods, wine tasting, local honey tasting (to me better than the wine). It was great getting to know the guide Katarina and the other tour members as well as a few locals. I would recommend this tour to others who want to explore this area of Europe.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"This may not be a "wow" moment but more of an Impactful one. For me, the main reasons for choosing this tour was because my FIL had been a POW during WW II having been captured in Europe and I wanted to see the Auschwitz/Birkenau camp in person having heard so many stories of WW II. What surprised me was the sheer immensity of Birkenau, we only walked the width of it but the visual reminder will not be forgotten. The huge pile of shoes seen helped me focus on the individual cost. Sobering ."

Holly Walter

Tour: 08/19/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was a wonderful tour that got better and better as time passed. It was obvious that knowledgable people took a great deal of care designing every bit of the experience. Other tour members were kind, gracious and inclusive, local guides were great, and our main guide was absolutely fabulous.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Rovinj, Croatia. We stayed on a tiny island and took a boat (5 min ride) to the town. That night we had a "happy hour" on a boat in the Adriatic sea and saw dolphins! Incredible. "

Terri

Tour: 08/19/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was magical. And our guide was the best guide I ever had on a trip. She was phenomenal. Katerina went above and beyond to make this experience the best.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Lake Bled. It was magical."

Diana

Tour: 07/08/22

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Overall tour experience was good. The first half of the tour felt at times like it was done at a frenetic pace, with boxes being checked. Done this, explained this, saw that.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Sunset in Rovinj, Croatia. "

Karyll

Tour: 07/08/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent tour guides and variety of experiences throughout

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many it's hard to choose, but the beauty of northern Croatia (Rovinj, Plitvice National Park) and Slovenia (Lake Bled) stand out as I knew nothing about these areas."

Dena

Tour: 07/08/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very organized from beginning to end. Lots of good information and education. Variety of new places to see from city to relaxing resort area

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The beautiful old buildings that are I. Europe. "

Bill

Tour: 07/08/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful experience

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Rovinj, Croatia. Adriatic is mesmerizing! And no crowds, tour boats - a gem!"

Terry

Tour: 07/08/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We enjoyed every aspect of our trip! The planning, choices of activities and hotels were great. And our guides, especially George, who led our group, were outstanding.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Best moments: Plitvice National Park, Rovinj and night cruise in Budapest."

Lisa

Tour: 07/08/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

George was an outstanding guide. I enjoyed the history and cultural info he provided. His personal stories brought the history and culture to life. The insight he provided helped ease the transition of language, culture and currency. As we approached border controls, he told us what to expect and what we should do. He also made sure my friend and I were always provided non-alcoholic alternatives. Tomas, our guide in Kraków did a wonderful job, as did our bus driver, Gasper.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many "wow" moments, but I literally said "Wow" as I entered Kraków's St. Mary's Church. Other wows include the Danube River night cruise, and the beauty of Plitvice Lakes National Park and Rovinj. The Auschwitz tour was somber and humbling. "

Paul

Tour: 07/08/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was really fantastic. George was a wonderful tour leader and helped us to understand the cultural aspects of each of our stops. The locations were great, things went smoothly.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many, but getting off the bus in Rovinj and soaking in the views of the old town and the water was my favorite wow moment. "

Donna

Tour: 07/08/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very well planned and well thought out.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many- but really enjoyed the boat ride down the Danube. "

Keith

Tour: 07/08/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Everything was beautiful and poignant. It was life changing to see the beauty, both natural and architectural, to hear the stories of the people, and to learn of the legacy of the Nazis and Stalinists.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It was not a happy experience, but I don't know that anything could be as powerful and important as visiting Auschwicz and Birkenau. "

Grace

Tour: 07/08/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

In one word: outstanding!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Actually, each day had wow moments! But one I especially remember was the wine tasting in Hungary."

Diane

Tour: 07/08/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my second tour and again it was a wonderful experience. Great variety of planned activities mixed with free time. You could take more down time if you needed it but I did not want to miss anything! Fellow travelers were terrific. George Farkas was a phenomenal guide - charming, funny, organized and engaging. The personal touch he added by sharing his life experiences in Hungary made it all the more interesting. Can't wait for the next tour!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many too pick from.....but it was impactful and moving to see Auschwitz-Birkenau. The architecture of the beautiful cities of Prague, Krakow, Budapest, Rovinj and Ljubljana was lovely, and the nature walk through Plitvice Lakes National Park was stunning. We enjoyed relaxing by the sea in Croatia and by the lake in Bled - the down time was a perfect complement to the scheduled sights. Lots of laughs with our tour mates!"

David

Tour: 07/01/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

A great tour begins with a great guide. Peter was outstanding. Having lived in Hungary while it was a still Soviet dominated state, he could provide unique personal insights.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Auschwitz. Although in someways I feel this belongs on a Germany tour and not the Best of Eastern Europe, it is not be forgotten-- I fear it already is. Irredentism, right-wing fascism, nationalism, revanchism, Making "X Country" Great Again, scapegoating minorities-- all of this can have tragic ends"

Douglas

Tour: 07/01/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent tour. Informative, exhausting, and entertaining.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Driving out of the mountains and seeing the Adriatic. That was very impressive."

Fran

Tour: 07/01/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour of Eastern Europe was an outstanding mix of interesting (and, at times, very difficult) history, stunning architectural variety and beautiful natural scenery. Peter was a terrific guide, providing great historical context for the six countries we visited and sharing his own personal experiences of living through the fall of Communism in Hungary and transition to EU openness. I learned so much and appreciate having gained new perspective.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many amazing and sobering moments. It's hard to pick just one. But if I interpret "wow" as something that is truly surprising, it would have to be the medieval beauty of Krakow's old town. I will long remember listening to the firefighter bugler perform his hourly duty from the tower on the square and thinking about the sacrifice that centuries-old tradition celebrates. That was truly something special!"

Mlissa

Tour: 07/01/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first RS’s tour. On day 2 or 3, we started talking about our next one! Overall, we had a phenomenal experience, from the sights, information, people we met, food/culture, etc. We learned so much about this part of Europe. Peter P., our tour guide, was great - a real pro who got us where we needed to be, answered questions, and exhibited so much hospitality. Again, we’ll “be back”. I highly recommend this tour, this tour group, even this time of year!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Walking into the old towns of Prague and Krakow is at the top. However, seeing the Adriatic for the first time through the hills from the bus and then walking around Rovinj was also wow."

France

Tour: 07/01/22

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Our guide Peter was excellent and very helpful. Local guides were good with the one in Krakow being our favorite. There was more "on your own time" than I expected. I liked that, but did not plan sufficiently in advance to know what I wanted to do. Driver friendly and helpful but internet overall dismal with one or two hotels also being lackluster.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Rovinj. That place was amazing and we loved the hotel on the island. We did not want to leave. We liked Krakow a lot and Lake Bled. "

Mae

Tour: 07/01/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Peter is an outstanding guide. I loved all the history and cultural info and language lessons in each place we visited. Also enjoyed hearing his personal experiences growing up in Hungary. I also really enjoyed Theresa in Prague, and Thomas in Krakow- both excellent guides! The tour was a great combination of educational experiences, scenic bus rides and boat rides, big city/smaller towns, good food, and very nice travelers!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Plitvice National Park in Croatia was beautiful and refreshing!"

Joyce

Tour: 06/26/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was well done from start to finish. All the guides were excellent, but our lead guide, Jana, was superb. She was knowledgeable, enthusiastic and handled our lively tour group with warmth and good humor.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It’s hard to settle on just one WOW moment as the tour was full of them, but standouts were the view of Prague from the castle, Plitvice Lakes National Park and Rovinj both in Croatia. The wine tasting enroute to Budapest was great fun, with dancing and lots of laughs. "

Olivia

Tour: 06/26/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My daughter and I had a fabulous time on the Eastern Europe tour. We learned so much and our tour leader Yana was amazing in every way. She was kind, informative and enthusiastic, we all had so many great conversations and we learned so much about the countries we visited both history and current day living, also our bus driver Slojon was the best, fabulous driver, the bus was alway immaculate.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many, we were surprised by Poland, we loved Krakow and the beautiful square and learning about living 4 hours from the Ukranian border. We also loved Rovinj, Croatia, so beautiful we wanted more time there on our vacation from our vacation. Yana made the long bus rides fun and interesting, she really brought the tour to life, we can't wait for our next Rick trip in 2023!"

Natalie

Tour: 06/26/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I had a wonderful time on the tour! Jana was really excellent, and I loved having a relatively small tour group (15), we all really got to know each other and had plenty of space on the bus.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved the Plitvice waterfall park! So beautiful and fun "

Paula

Tour: 06/26/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

What a gem of a tour guide you have in Jana Hronkova. While I cannot speak for the other 14 fellow travelers from my Eastern European tour, I believe they all also share similar sentiments regarding her tour guide skills and genuine warmth and care for the work she does in sharing this great part of Europe. She took a genuine interest in all of us, shared with us on a personal level so we could really get to know her. Along with an excellent tour bus driver, fellow travelers.......

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I did not have that one, WOW moment. All of my Eastern European trip was a WOW moment. This included just being in Prague, to touring Auschwitz-Birkenau, to swimming in the Adriatic Sea, to eating excellent cuisine, to visiting castles and museums and learning the history and culture. Also, the opportunity to meet people from each country and to hear from them about their country's history and how they feel about it has brought me great respect for these countries."

Wendy

Tour: 06/26/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fantastic! Jana, our guide, went the extra mile for our group! Our local guides were so helpful, knowledgeable and passionate about their cities and countries. This group of 15 was so cohesive! We all enjoyed each other and took care of each other!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite WOW moment was when the bus rolled in to Rovinj. It took my breath away! Our hotel room had a view of the city across the waterway. Beautiful and relaxing"

Bill

Tour: 06/26/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was great in its range of architectural and natural beauty and the relevance of Central European country histories today.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Arrival in Rovinj and ferry to Katarina Island."

Mitzie

Tour: 06/24/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was an exceptional tour lead by Eszter Bokros. This was our fourth Rick Steves tour and it did not disappoint. The countries/cities visited were interesting and our guide was the absolute best.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"As I’m sure everyone says, it is hard to pick just one moment; however, I really enjoyed the island hotel in Rovinj. The day spent there just relaxing was fabulous!"

Xiaoyi

Tour: 06/19/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The itinerary was great. I enjoyed each day and wished 15 days did not go by quickly. George is an experienced tour guide devoted to details; his wit made us laugh more.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many to name just one. I have a personal one. At the get-together on Day 12, it happened to be my daughter's birthday, George and the entire tour group presented her with a cake, a gift (token of Prague), and a card filled with well-wishes. The wow moment was when I saw my daughter smiling from ear to ear."

Cynthia

Tour: 06/19/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fantastic trip with a great tour group, an awesome guide, George Farkas, and an amazing driver, Rock. Great accommodations, wonderful food and plenty of time to discover some sights on our own. I would highly recommend this trip for anyone seriously interested in the history and sights of Central/Eastern Europe.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Many "Wow" moments and wonderful memories. It's hard to pick just one. Auschwitz was a sad, but "must see" part of the trip. Slovenia was a great surprise. Prague and Budapest were personal favorites. Truly beautiful cities!"

Maria

Tour: 06/19/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I couldn't believe how much we covered in 15 days. It really was a trip of a lifetime. The tour was so well organized, affordable, and very detail oriented. It has the perfect balance of scheduled and free time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Swimming in the Adriatic"

Arcelia

Tour: 06/19/22

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

My overall tour experience was good. I was able to see many beautiful parts of Europe.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Plitvice Lake National Park and its amazing waterfalls. "

Scott

Tour: 06/19/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

As with our first Rick Steves tour, the tour guide was highly qualified and professional, controlled the things that could be controlled and had reasonable responses to the things that were outside of anybody's control. Plus he was very entertaining on top of all that. Plus he managed to throw a birthday party for our daughter who was with us. I don't know where they find the energy to do everything, but we'll certainly book more tours in the future.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It wasn't the most pleasant experience, but the moment that moved me most was when the local tour guide showed us the train platform where the children arrived at Auschwitz. It will stick with me the rest of my life. On the more uplifting side, walking down the stairs over the rapids at Plitvice Lakes was very cool."

Steven

Tour: 06/19/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was a wonderful vacation filled with everything I hope and dreamed. I couldn't have been more pleased!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The trip was filled with many "wow" moments--Prague, Plitvice, Rovinj and Lake Bled."

Mark

Tour: 06/19/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Really loved the whole tour. The guide was excellent as was our driver. And our fellow tour members were really a nice group of people.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We had a group dinner with entertainment at "Klezmer Hois" in Krakow. I'm still humming the tunes."

Diane

Tour: 06/19/22

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

It was a wonderful tour, although there was a heat wave during our trip which made it challenging to spend a lot of time outdoors or in historic buildings with no AC.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Sites in Rovinj, including the hill town and the hotel complex."

Miriam

Tour: 06/19/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

George was wonderful!! He made the tour a trip of a lifetime.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the Adriatic in the distance after many wonderful days in amazing cities."

Patricia

Tour: 06/12/22

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Was an outstanding tour. Only complaint NO kleenex in some hotels. Peter was great.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"All the waterfalls in Plitvice . Hotel not good thou."

William

Tour: 06/12/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

All logistics were done extremely well done (venue access, hotels, transportation, meals etc.) This makes for a stress free experience. Peter was assume as our guide, on top of everything, great conversationalist, good sense of humor and very, very knowledgeable about history and context for things we say. .

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Plitvicka national park. Simply incredible. While not "wow" the tour of Auschwitz-Birkenau was very sobering and unforgettable. "

Patricia

Tour: 06/12/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my 2nd RS Tour and I was not disappointed at all! Every detail taken care of! Lots of fun

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Staying at a resort on a private island!"

Brett

Tour: 06/12/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We loved our tour and had a magnificent time! Our guide Peter was amazing and did such a great job orientating us, giving advice to those who asked for their free time, and suggesting eateries. Peter even walked us to our private driver meeting point from the castle in Krakow for our ride to the Salt Mine. We loved the big cities (Krakow and Prague were our favorites), but it was nice to have the smaller towns like Rovinj and Lake Bled after those large cities for a little more relaxation.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Listening to music as the sun went down on Charles Bridge in Prague, Krakow's main square at night, eating outside at a restaurant in Kazamierz listening to Klezmer music, and the tasting at the winery outside Eger with the violinist was so much fun! We loved Matthias Church in Budapest and the night Danube boat cruise was perfect especially with the fun surprise of fireworks! Plitvice was amazingly beautiful, words don't begin to describe it! Rovinj and Lake Bled were beautiful and relaxing. "

Stephen

Tour: 06/05/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall the tour was fantastic with wonderful destinations and hotels. Katka did such a fine job of leading the tour she really cared and that made this tour so memorable for me.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My wow experience was going to the Szechenyi Baths. This was for me an experience where I felt I became a temporary local engaging in a normal activity. "

Kristan

Tour: 06/05/22

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Exceptional guide. Friendly and good bus driver.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The special surprise musical concert we had in Prague. Such a complete joy!"

Tanya

Tour: 05/29/22

This was our second tour (we did the GAS tour first), and were excited to be starting in Prague as we LOVED it the last time we'd been there. We loved our smaller group (only 12). Our guide, Sanel did a great job of showing us Eastern Europe. Hotels (for the most part) were wonderful. Our itinerary was perfect - 6 countries, lots of currency changes, lots of new local foods to experience, and the places we went were AMAZING!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I love how we've learned to be like the locals when we travel. We took advantage of some of our free time, grabbed a subway train and headed out, popping up into places we wanted to explore. One square in Budapest was featuring a festival of dancers from all over the world sharing their dances, costumes, customs with us. There were other WOW moments, too - Auschwitz was powerful in a hard WOW way. A Ukranian family in Krakow's square touched us deeply, too. Lake Bled was wonderful!"

Richard

Tour: 05/29/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This is my ninth Rick Steves tour, but my first of Eastern Europe. It was a great experience to get to Poland, Hungary, Croatia, and Slovenia. We were able to learn a lot and understand the culture that exists from Russian roots. The small group size of 12 made it a better experience and we were all compatible with each other.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Auschwitz was powerful, but I think the time in Budapest was our favorite time. It is a beautiful city and we walked upon an international dance presentation and got to stand in the front row and see dancers from around Europe and India. The sunset boat ride and visiting the zoo were additional pluses. "

Kathleen

Tour: 05/29/22

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

Tour Guide senel and bus driver rok absolutely amazing. Adaptable to changing circumstances. Great sense of humor . Waaaaaay way much too much time in the bus - probably wont take another tour if it involves so much bus. P

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Night time prague - amazing. Lunch stop at winery and listening to fiddle and spontaneously dancing in the court yard. Other tour members "

Francea

Tour: 05/29/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The itinerary was excellent leaving the right amount of time for guided tours, joint exploration of areas and events as well as free time with great suggestions for how that time is spent. The orientation of each stop on the tour is so important for both guided and on your own time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many “wow” moments. Because of my heritage, going to a number of synagogues in Prague and Krakow as well as the Jewish/ Ghetto areas was very significant for me. Going to Auschwitz was very difficult, but so important and a difficult kind of .”wow” moment, because of its significance. Sadly an incredible synagogue in Budapest was closed for a Christian holiday. I understand it is also amazing. Another site not to be missed is Plitvice National Park in Croatia. "

Tim

Tour: 05/29/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Another great Rick Steves trip. Our guide, Sanel, was masterful.he was able to arrange things 'on the fly' top avoid crowds and weather. We avoided a couple of showery days and had much better experiences by his ability to switch things up to catch the sunshine. At first we wondered about a couple of early starts, but when we saw the crowds arriving as we were leaving we really appreciated his awesome skills.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many "wow" moments. In terms of beauty, the park at Plitvice was incredible. Because of Sanel's skills we had the park to ourselves. Visiting with a student in Eger was inspiring. We appreciated the hospitality of the teacher and students. The most fun, hands down, wasour visit to the winery. Toni Varadi, a lifetime violinist with a Hungarian Roma orchestra, exhibited such enthusiasm for his music that he literally had us dancing in the streets. Great fun!"

Susan

Tour: 05/22/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first Rick Steves' tour, and we had a fabulous experience! Our tour guide Eszter was amazing! The hotels were lovely, the food was good, the destinations were interesting. Our bus driver was such a good driver. The people in our group all got along and were wonderful to meet. We would definitely sign up for another Rick Steves' tour!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting Auschwitz-Birkenau. Very powerful and emotional experience. I know the history and have read a lot about it, but was overcome to be standing where it all happened. The whole experience was well done, and our local guide was excellent....so respectful."

Mimi

Tour: 05/22/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent. Exceeded expectations.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many to pick just one. "

Kim

Tour: 05/22/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall, it was wonderful. I enjoyed learning about the various countries and regions I visited. I especially appreciated having a tour guide who was so passionate about her work. I also liked that each new place we visited we had a local guide, which gave us a unique insight to their city. The tour went by so fast, and was a great mix of group and individual time. Our guides always had great suggestions for our "free time."

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Boy, this is a hard question as having to pick just one is difficult. I absolutely adored Krakow, and was wowed at how colorful, vibrant and friendly the city is. I could have spent more time there, but alas had to move on to our next destination. I am already planning a trip to Poland in the next year or two. If I may, a second "wow" moment for me was the city of Rovinj, Croatia. I had no idea of how beautiful the Adriatic Sea coast is and would love to return to Croatia someday."

Tom

Tour: 05/22/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour definitely exceeded our expectations. Our initial concerns about travel to Eastern Europe were unfounded. Our guide, Eszter, was an outstanding tour leader. We saw an abundance of historical sights with a welcomed blend of natural beauty of mountains and sea. We also had the opportunity to engage with a number of people to gain their perspective of the continuing war in Ukraine. Our tour consisted of 11 people that were simply a joy to travel with!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My “wow” moment occurred on our first night of the tour. Eszter arranged for two accordion and flute musicians to serenade us during dinner. They were a blast and proved to be a great kickoff to our tour."

Diane

Tour: 05/20/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was an eye opening experience learning about Eastern Europe

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Krakow Polands beauty was unexpected. "

Julie

Tour: 05/20/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was well organized and executed!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Plitvice Lakes, Croatia. Ít was beautiful and it stopped raining just as we started hiking. Loved the fact that we went to the end of the trail and hiked toward the beginning. We had the trail to ourselves for the first half of the trail."

Anthony

Tour: 05/20/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

A Great guide in Katka. Very informative, very personal. It could not have been any better! And since we were the first 15 day tour since 2019 she did a marvelous job.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I was surprised at how beautiful Krakow was."

Amy

Tour: 05/15/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our small group of 11, amazing. Our tour guide, George, super. The destinations, thrilling. The hotels were better than advertised. We liked having free time to explore on our own with George's input and guidance.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We had an amazing seaside, sunset dinner in Rovinj, Croatia that was unforgettable."

Steven

Tour: 05/15/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fantastic! Excellent guide! Tremendous logistics! Fabulous sites!!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Each location had a new “WOW” experience- Prague (Charles Bridge at night), Krakow (old town square, Ukrainian Pierogies, sobering Auschwitz/Birkenau, Schindlers Museum), Eiger (Hot Springs!), Budapest (fabulous architecture) Piltivice (such exquisite natural beauty)!, Lake Bled (outstanding beauty - boat excursion to the church on the island, hike to the castle)"

Rebecca

Tour: 05/15/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We have been traveling with RS guidebooks for a long time. This was our first RS tour and first bus tour. We were not sure how we would feel being in a group. But everything about this tour met or exceeded our expectations. The guides, the experiences, our small group of fellow travelers, even the weather was fabulous! We learned so much more and had so many "extra" special moments that we never would have had on our own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our first night of the tour we did our orientation walk on the way to a wonderful, traditional dinner. We were surprised with a lovely musical performance at the restaurant. Afterward, we walked back over the Charles Bridge toward the hotel. It was a beautiful night with a full moon and there was a light festival going on. Music was playing from a platform on the water, as lighted boats circled, and fireworks went off. It was absolutely magical. "

Eric

Tour: 05/08/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great tour. Well thought out. Our guide Peter was outstanding.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Bled was beautiful."

Julia

Tour: 05/08/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had high expectations based on reviews, but it was better even than we hoped !

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The way our tour guide, Peter, handled random issues that came up! He made the tour fantastic "

Kathleen

Tour: 05/08/22

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

It was exciting to finally be on the road again! And, to be the first Rick Steve's tour to Eastern Europe in 3 years. The tour was made all the better by our fantastic and extremely kind guide, Peter. We had a very good group of travelers who meshed well, no grumps, no weirdos that I could see. But they say if you can't tell who it is it must be you. The hotels were very good and always interesting in some way. I'm looking at easier ways to get Covid tested before coming back to the US.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too hard to pick just one. Rovinj was so beautiful and restful. Having a free day there was perfect. We all would have enjoyed another day though. Plitvice Lakes was amazing too. Visiting Auschwitz -Birkenau was so moving. I was thankful there were fewer crowds than normal but we still were hustled through at a fairly quick pace. Not a lot of time for reflection until the end. "

Donald

Tour: 05/08/22

This was our first Rick Steves tour, and my wife and I were both very impressed. The history, tour coordination, support, were outstanding!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I enjoyed all of the trip. My favorite was Plitvice Lakes National Park , and all the wonderful friendly people. Picking a "wow" moment is hard when it was all so perfect."

John

Tour: 05/08/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Far exceeded my expectations. Have never done group travel before and was somewhat apprehensive. By the end of the trip found that sharing this beautiful experience with others was a true highlight of the trip.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many I can't just pick one. The friendless of the people, beautiful scenes, clean affordable cities and the history behind them were all "wow" moments."

Andrew

Tour: 05/08/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Another great Rick Steves tour! Amazing how much ground this tour covers, with so much history and beauty. Well organized and run, thanks to another fantastic Rick Steves guide (Peter) coupled with a fun group of fellow travelers. Tour COVID protocols made sense and did not take away from the experience. Current war in Ukraine had no impact on the tour, but the tour did give us a chance to see and hear first hand the solidarity of the people in the tour countries have for Ukraine.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too hard to pick one. Interior of Saint Nicholas church in the Lesser Town of Prague is a baroque "wow" moment. Krakow's central square was a favorite people watching place, but don't miss a walk around the Kazmierz area too. Budapest at night, all lit up, was dreamy. Even tour bus rest stops in Czech countryside and Slovakia mountains were lovely. Finally, tour end stops in Croatia and Slovenia brought both beauty and much needed relaxation."

Bonnie

Tour: 05/08/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fantastic guide, wonderful tour mates and good variety of cities, small towns, and forests/parks. Only complaint were some long days on the bus.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hiking in the morning through Lake Pilstice national forest and ending the day at the island resort in Rovinj. "

Dianne

Tour: 05/08/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Every bit of this tour was beyond my hopes and expectations. The hotels, the guides, the information, food and other travelers made this trip exceptional. Can't wait to plan our next RS tour!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many to count! Every city was my favorite, until we got to the next city and I was WOWED again! The Heart of Europe is my new favorite. Can't wait to return and see it all again. "

Glenn

Tour: 05/08/22

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Despite having a non-covid related health issue pop up, this tour was organized and executed incredibly well! Peter is top-notch tour guide with a big heart and a strong desire to educate and connect! Having big cities and small towns from cooler mountainous climate to the Adriatic/Mediterranean made this a comprehensive tour that felt like a delicious sampler plate!!!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Rovinj at a night was such a wonderful experience! Ljubljana was such a welcoming surprise as a very livable city with high standards! Also, the town square in Krakow at night was just a mesmerizing experience!"

When To Go & Weather

Any time between April and October is a good time to take a Best of Central Europe tour. However, the months of April, May, September, and October are best for combining the convenience of peak season with generally good weather and lighter crowds. Summer has its advantages, with the best weather and long days, but the biggest crowds, especially in larger cities.

Czech Republic / Prague


Poland / Kraków

Kraków Weather


Hungary / Budapest


Croatia / Split


Slovenia / Ljubljana

Hotels & Flights

Tour Hotels

In case you wish to book pre- or post-tour hotel accommodations, the contact information for the tour's first and last hotels is included in your tour confirmation email, as well as in the Itinerary section of your online customer account. One month prior to the tour departure, you'll find the directions to your first tour hotel and a complete list of hotels where we'll be staying in the Documents section of your customer account.

Flights

Our tours don't include airfare, so your flight arrangements are completely up to you.

Most tour members arrange to fly into Prague (PRJ) and out of Ljubljana (LJU) — choose "multicity" on flight-booking websites. Booking round-trip to one city will require a connecting flight, train trip, or additional overnight stay in Europe.

We suggest arriving a day or two before your tour begins to allow ample time to get over jet lag and be well-rested for the first few days of your tour. For more information about transportation options for getting to and from your tour, see your Rick Steves Eastern Europe guidebook.