• Berlin
  • Brandenburg Gate in Berlin
  • Berlin Wall, Germany
    Berlin Wall
  • Dresden
  • Old Town Square and Týn Church, Prague, Czech Republic
    Prague's Old Town Square
  • Charles Bridge and Little Quarter, Prague, Czech Republic
    Charles Bridge in Prague
  • Czech Beer Tasting
  • Český Krumlov, Czech Republic
    Český Krumlov, Czech Republic
  • Melk Abbey in Austria
  • Belvedere Palace in Vienna
  • State Opera House, Vienna, Austria
    Vienna's Opera House
  • Hofburg Palace in Vienna

Tour Questions? See our FAQ | Email [email protected]

Best of Berlin, Prague & Vienna in 12 Days Tour

from $3,395 per person + air

Single Supplement $825

See Dates & Prices

Any listing of Europe's great cities must include these three, where a banquet of travel thrills awaits you. Beginning in Berlin and ending in Vienna — with Prague, Dresden, and the Danube in between — our dozen-day tour explores the very heart of Europe. From the music of Strauss to the dynasty of the Habsburgs and the idealism of the Velvet Revolution, these remarkable cities have sparked the dangers, hopes, and beauty of Europe — yesterday and today. Join us for the Best of Berlin, Prague & Vienna in 12 Days!

Sign up for Tour News to be notified about 2025 dates or check back in April!

Dates & Prices

2024

What's Included

You'll get at least 23 group sightseeing events — at no extra cost!

Here's what you'll see and do on our Berlin, Prague & Vienna tour:

  • Historic Berlin walking tour
  • East Berlin walking tour
  • National Memorial to the Berlin Wall
  • Berlin's Kreuzberg neighborhood
  • Berlin cultural Q&A
  • Dresden walking tour
  • Frauenkirche (when available)
  • Nelahozeves Castle
  • Terezín Memorial
  • Historic Prague walking tour
  • Czech beer tasting
  • Prague Castle
  • St. Vitus Cathedral
  • St. George's Basilica (when available)
  • Jewish Museum in Prague pass
  • Český Krumlov Castle and Baroque Theater
  • Melk Abbey
  • Danube River cruise
  • Historic Vienna walking tour
  • Belvedere Palace
  • Habsburg Vienna walking tour
  • Vienna Opera House (when available)
  • Hofburg Imperial Apartments

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 Berlin, Prague, and Vienna come alive for you
  • All group transportation from Berlin to Vienna
  • 11 nights' accommodations (all but two are three-night stays) in memorable, centrally located hotels
  • All breakfasts and 6 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 Berlin

We'll have a "Welcome to Berlin" meeting at 5 p.m. at our hotel. On our way to dinner together, we'll get oriented to our neighborhood and marvel at the modernity of 21st-century Berlin.

Light walking: 2–4 miles throughout the day on mostly level terrain. No bus. Sleep in Berlin.

Day 2: Berlin's Historic Heart

We'll begin our day with a walking tour through the historic heart of Berlin. At the Brandenburg Gate, we'll hear how locals felt on the day in 1989 when the Berlin Wall suddenly became irrelevant. We'll continue our walk past thought-provoking memorials tracing this city's most tumultuous century, from World War I to today. After a full day of sightseeing, you'll be set free to take in Berlin's vibrant culinary scene or simply relax at a neighborhood beer garden.

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

Day 3: Berlin's Wall and Kreuzberg Neighborhood

This morning we'll visit the poignant Berlin Wall Memorial and take a walk along an intact stretch of the original wall preserved to memorialize the victims of the Cold War. Then, we'll journey to Berlin's vibrant, multicultural district of Kreuzberg, traditionally home to many Turkish immigrants, where we'll be introduced to the neighborhood and some tasty Turkish specialties. The rest of the day is free for you to explore more of Berlin's leafy boulevards, grand buildings, and world-class museums.

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

Day 4: Resurrected Dresden

Today we'll board our bus and head south to delightfully Baroque Dresden. We'll start our visit with a walking tour of the reborn-from-the-ashes city, including the city's greatest symbol of pride: the inspiring Frauenkirche, destroyed during World War II and rebuilt in the 1990s with donations from around the world. From there you'll be free to contemplate the priceless pieces in the Zwinger Museums' Old Masters Gallery, Royal Palace, or Green Vault.

Light walking: 2–4 miles throughout the day on mostly level terrain. Bus: 3 hours. Sleep in Dresden.

Day 5: Terezín and Prague

We'll continue south to the Czech Republic today, stopping in the fortified town of Terezín, which was converted into a concentration camp in 1941. Today it's the Terezín Memorial, and we'll go inside to learn its story. Just down the road, we'll find a completely contrasting experience in Nelahozeves, birthplace of Czech composer Antonín Dvořák, where we'll stop for lunch and a tour of the Renaissance castle perched high above the Vltava River. Later this afternoon we'll arrive at our hotel in Prague's Baroque Old Town. After settling in, we'll take an orientation walk through the Old Town and end our day with dinner together.

Moderate walking: 2–6 miles throughout the day with some hills and stairs. Bus: 5 hours. Sleep in Prague.

Day 6: The People's Prague

We'll enjoy a full morning of sightseeing with our local guide, beginning with a walking tour of the Old Town Square. After learning about the Velvet Revolution — the people's march that toppled the Communist regime in 1989 — our morning will end in the proudly preserved Josefov neighborhood, with its Old Jewish Cemetery and historic synagogues. Is Prague really home to the best beers in Europe? We'll find out by sampling one together at a local brewery. Afterwards, you'll have time to explore more of the Josefov neighborhood (with your Jewish Museum in Prague pass) on your own.

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

Day 7: Royal Prague

This morning we'll hop on 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. The rest of the day is yours to see more of Prague. Tonight is a great time to catch a classical concert in one of Prague's many venues.

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

Day 8: Delightful Český Krumlov

Today we'll hop on our bus and head for the centuries-old town of Český Krumlov. Our first stop is the castle fortress and one of Europe's best-preserved and still-functioning 18th-century Baroque theaters. Later this afternoon you'll have time to explore this photogenic old town of quaint shops and cobbled lanes — maybe even join your guide and fellow tour members on an afternoon rafting expedition before dinner together.

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

Day 9: Melk and Vienna

After an early morning drive to the Danube Valley, we'll tour the artistic treasures and Baroque wonders of Melk Abbey and cruise Austria's prettiest stretch of the Danube: the Wachau Valley. Then we'll set course for the one-time capital of a powerful empire — and our tour's grand finale — Vienna. Tonight, we'll enjoy an orientation walk, then set you free for dinner on your own.

Moderate walking: 2–6 miles throughout the day with some hills and stairs. Boat: 2 hours. Bus: 5 hours. Sleep in Vienna.

Day 10: Habsburg Vienna

This morning we'll stroll through Vienna's most sophisticated sight: the royal Hofburg Imperial Apartments. Afterwards, we'll explore more of opulent Habsburg Vienna on a walking tour through town. Your afternoon is free to explore a world-class museum or two, or to slow down and enjoy sipping a coffee in the city where Europe's café scene was born.

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

Day 11: Historic Vienna

This morning we'll make our way to Vienna's dazzling Opera House (when available) before continuing by tram to the elegant Belvedere Palace for a tour, including a roomful of Gustav Klimt's wildly gilded — he called them "erotic" — paintings. (Ponder The Kiss and decide for yourself.) The rest of your day is free to explore more of Vienna's highlights and maybe stop to savor every chocoholic's dream: Viennese Sacher torte. Tonight we'll meet for our last dinner together at a traditional Viennese restaurant, where we'll share travel memories and toast new friends. Prost!

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

Day 12: Tour Over After Breakfast

Breakfast is provided, but there are no group activities today. It's a breeze to reach Vienna's airport by train, bus, or taxi. You'll have easy connections to home, back to Prague, or on to Budapest and other points in Europe. Auf Wiedersehen!

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 Best of Berlin, Prague & Vienna in 12 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 three 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

James

Tour: 10/01/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Wonderful guides, so much valuable information, great cities.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the renovation of Dresden. Incredible history"

Kristie

Tour: 10/01/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This tour, our 5th with Rick Steves', had a good balance of group activities and free time. It was very educational and our group leader, Jana, was terrific. There were a couple of planned activities that did not work out but she came up with alternatives to fill in the gaps. The hotels were clean, nice, and in great locations for exploring.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My "wow" moment was in Berlin at Checkpoint Charlie then at the Berlin Wall Memorial as the local guide shared tales of everyday life in East Berlin, escape attempts, people on the wall of remembrance, etc. My dad was a military policeman at Checkpoint Charlie in the mid 1960s so seeing/hearing about those people/events was the primary reason for this trip. It was eye opening and I am glad I could come back home to share it with my dad."

Kevin

Tour: 10/01/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour was well-organized, with a good balance of group activities and time for personal pursuits. Jana did an exceptional job of leading the group! Her dedication, informative approach, and flexibility made for a memorable experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Topography of Terror Museum in Berlin; it answered my questions about how Nazism arose and was accepted (and willingly followed) by the majority of the German population. It's a lesson in the dangers posed by populist leaders who offer simple answers to complex questions, and appeal to humanity's worst instincts, while demanding obedience to the detriment of democratic norms and values. "

Ruth

Tour: 10/01/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was delightful. We experienced thought-provoking moments (Terezin and East Berlin), special events ( a jazz club), and the pleasure of our thoughtful and knowledgeable guide (Jana).

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Although they were not joyful moments, I found the exposure to parts of East Berlin, Dresden, Terezin and Prague to be extraordinarily moving. And well worth learning more about. The Third Man museum was an amazing collection of information I would not have encountered elsewhere. "

Susan

Tour: 10/01/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Visited three great cities in Central Europe, along with some amazing places in between. Lots of beautiful scenery, architecture, and delicious food, shared with a great group of travelers and a charming guide, Janna.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The amazing Baroque theatre at Chesky Krumlov was like walking into a dream! So beautiful and just astounding that it has survived!"

Herbert

Tour: 10/01/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

well organized, great city guides, just the right amount of “on you own time”.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"East Berlin history and the Third Man Museum in Vienna"

Todd

Tour: 10/01/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Information, logistics, locations, sites met and exceeded our expectations.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Historical context of all locations provided by tour guide Jana and local guides."

Barbara J.

Tour: 09/24/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall, the journey was enlightening and sobering especially in Germany. The history of the holocaust and the aftermath of Soviet rule truly sobering.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved the Belvedere Art Museum in Vienna. Our docent was especially knowledgeable and engaging."

James P

Tour: 09/24/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was a good 12 days. We learned a great deal of history and culture and saw some amazing sights. The group was compatible and everyone was pretty relaxed.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Of all things, when we got lost in Vienna, found where the U-bahn was supposed to be, but it was a construction site. I stopped a random well-dressed man and asked him if there was another way to the U-Bahn, and he said of course, cross the street and open the door and take the escalator. No sign for U-Bahn. We went down and found a huge supermarket where we finally found some Ricola miniatures to take home. Had to ask again for the U-Bahn. We were forced to get help from a local. It worked."

Christine

Tour: 09/24/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent tour guide (Barbara). Kept us all together and made the tour fun. Excellent local guides. Guides had living experiences of the areas we toured.They provided great insight into how living there really was.Restaurant and Hotel selections were very good.Great group of fellow travelers.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Berlin wall tour. The local guide (Tobi) was raised in East Berlin and reflected on how life was there. Very informative."

Cynthia

Tour: 09/17/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour activities were well-rounded, informative, and executed as smoothly as possible considering the size of these cities and their transportation systems.Our outstanding tour guide, Jana, and the local guides included befitting history and stories to humanize large sights and small. Almost magically, many sights not listed in the itinerary I sought to see during free-time were covered on the tour. Special touches such as music/oratories and local foods/beverages on the bus were so pleasing.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Favorite somber 'wows': Berlin Wall Memorial and Terezin former concentration camp. Favorite cultural/natural "wows": The Czech Republic in general. Prague history and art, and the lovely, natural Cesky Krumlov."

Marianne

Tour: 09/17/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great, well-balanced tour. Lots of fun

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The boat trip down the Danube. And Cesky Krumlov. And the Prague Castle (esp at night)"

Cynthia

Tour: 09/17/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was well planned and very informative. Our main guide, Jana Hronkova, was wonderful!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Prague Castle and lights at night, the Vienna Opera House, and many of the cathedrals."

Ed

Tour: 09/17/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I had an amazing time in Europe, our tour guide Jhana did a wonderful job, made things very personal and had a great attitude for our group. Great idea taking everyone out on the public transportation in Berlin to educate us.And enjoyed her personal side of their freedom in Prague,

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Don't now if I had a wow moment as I enjoyed everything, lunch at the castle, boat trip on the Danube,and the Third Man museum was very memorable"

Gary

Tour: 09/10/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour was outstanding. It all begins with a tour leader that keeps it light, informative, and heards his sheep to keep the tour on time and moving. Thomas was an outstanding leader and kept us informed and entertained the whole trip. From historic Berlin, to the breath taking Prague, and romantic Vienna, it had it all. It was great hearing Thomas's view growing up in Berlin during the communist times. Every stop on this tour was a hit and our tour group turned into one big group of friends.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Finally getting to visit Cesky Krumlov. Ever since seeing this little village on the Rick Steves episodes over ten years ago I have always wanted to visit. It did not disappoint. "

Amanda

Tour: 09/10/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This is my 3rd Rick Steves tour. It was excellent. Thomas was an outstanding tour director.

Susan

Tour: 09/10/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Stephanie

Tour: 09/10/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Everything on the trip went extremely well. The guides, places we visited and the people on the tour were fabulous

Favorite "WOW" moment

"the square and clock in Prague"

Terri Pauline

Tour: 09/10/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was a terrific tour. Our guide Thomas was fantastic! The local guides were great as they educated us about the history of Berlin & Terezin. Dresden was a surprise having expected a 'big city' & instead discovering a lovely & quaint old town core. Cesky Krumlov was adorable, Vienna was lovely, & Prague was awesome!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"While Cesky Krumlov was adorable & delightful to explore, I fell in love with Prague instantly. Prague has incredible buildings, history, food, drinks, bridges, corners to peak around &narrow streets to explore. It is very exciting while still maintaining a small town charm."

Linda

Tour: 09/10/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour guide, Thomas, was perfect for this trip. He is thoughtful, kind, knowledgable and despite some serious content, comes across as a cheerful person.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I would not describe many of the experiences on this tour as "wow" moments due to the somber and serious history and past events involved. There were, however, many meaningful events. I can say that this trip provided information and left impressions that I will ponder for a long time. It was a very thought-provoking experience for me."

Sarah

Tour: 09/10/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a fabulous time on our first Rick Steve tour. Fun and interesting group of fellow travelers and our tour guide was amazing. Learned a great deal of history from our local tour guides in the cities we visited. We will definitely take another tour next year.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Several WOW moments but I think seeing remnants of the Berlin Wall for the first time and the emotions it raised was powerful."

Rena

Tour: 09/10/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour was well planned and well led by Thomas, our tour director. A thoroughly enjoyable time together! We especially appreciated the overall tour design of dividing most days into a morning devoted to an in-depth guided tour led by a very knowledgeable local guide and an afternoon and evening left free for personal exploration. The group dinners were also pleasant experiences, hosted in wonderful restaurants favored by the locals. Our Rick Steves' Tour delivered a fabulous experience!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We would have to list two "wow" moments, one on each end of the spectrum. On the relaxing end, our cruise on the Danube provided a relaxing afternoon to enjoy the beauty along the river. On the serious end, our guided tour of Terezin, the Nazi transfer camp where thousands of Jews were abused and murdered, was a sobering reminder of the evil done by the Nazi regime. Both "wow" moments were appreciated--and needed."

Bonnie

Tour: 09/03/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall the tour was excellent. We were happy with the choice of cities, the pacing, the tour guides and the sites we visited.We enjoyed the history of Central Europe and felt the tour offered a good education. We walked about 6.5 miles a day.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite moment was the tour of the State Jewish Museum in Prague looking at the exceptional artwork from the children of Terezin. It took my breath away. My husband was wowed by the performance at the Reduta Jazz club. Both entertaining and surprising to see a singer from Czech Republic performing songs by Frank Sinatra!"

Stephanie

Tour: 09/03/23

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

Excellent trip guide, mostly good local guides, too much mass transit used, inadequate single supplement hotel accommodations

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Loved Dresden and Prague"

Mary Lou

Tour: 09/03/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

As always my fellow tour members were cooperative, engaging, and collegial. Jana led us all on our journey graciously, sharing her personal family stories.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My wow was the Third Man Museum. I had never heard of the movie until a friend of mine shared his experience on his Berlin RS tour. Prompting me to watch the movie. Profound. "

Judy

Tour: 09/03/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Jana was a wonderful tour leader. She had fun stories and activities. The people we met were all friendly, enthusiastic, and very knowledgeable--I can't recall a single "dumb" question from any of them. We chose this tour because of the locations--places we were never able to visit when we lived in Germany in the 1980s. The history was amazing and we loved every minute.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We really enjoyed Berlin the best. The history was fascinating and it was so interesting to see how the E area had changed from what it had been under the Soviets. Matte the local tour guide was excellent--very knowledgeable and able to impart a sense of life under Soviet rule. "

Karen

Tour: 08/20/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

As usual your tour accommodations and tour guides were outstanding.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our wow moment was cruising on the Danube River viewing all the beautiful landscape and Castles. "

Nancy

Tour: 08/20/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour was so much more than I expected. My background knowledge of Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic was somewhat limited so I "ate up" every bit of information we learned from our main tour guides and the city guides and came back with new understandings of how - in particular - propaganda played in the history of those areas as well as how it continues to be used today - even here in the USA.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Better knowledge of circumstances in these areas which lead up to WWII, what happened during the war (to an extent) and what happened afterwards as well. I was a history major and love this learning opportunity from guides who could share first-hand or second-generation family experiences. And - I have another degree in Art so could appreciate that perspective as well! "

Lonney

Tour: 08/20/23

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

The tour experience for me was generally very good. I think I was one of the oldest if not the oldest member on the tour. The walking parts of the tour were at times tiring but manageable. My biggest problem was the amount of time spent standing at each site without opportunities to sit and rest briefly. The tour itself and the knowledge of all the guides was incredible. Unfortunately my life partner became ill with Covid in Prague and we had to leave the tour. Very stressful getting home.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Since the hotel in Berlin in which the tour group stayed was relatively close to the TV Tower, my life partner and I walked to it and went to the viewing area at the top. What an amazing view. We could see most of the places we would see close up later on the tour. I would add the small city of Dresden had a lot of beautiful architecture and great food but also on the other side of the river near our hotel was beautiful tree lined streets. We sat and ate ice cream. A place I could live in."

Jane

Tour: 08/20/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We had a good tour group with Jana as our excellent guide, assisted by apprentice guide, Barbara. We learned a lot of history and its impact on our present-day world, we enjoyed some excellent food, and made some new friends. Unfortunately COVID struck and we lost about half our group over several days. For those of us who survived, it was a good experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our group meal in Prague at Mincovna was outstanding, followed closely by our group meal in Berlin at the Turkish restaurant Hasir. The Prague Castle and Cesky Krumlov were also wonderful."

Gregory

Tour: 06/11/23

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

Excellent overview of impact of lst 30 years on those parts of Europe impacted by Nazi and Communist control

Favorite "WOW" moment

" those group activates that allowed group to share in local activities such as rafting, beer fest and portions of guided tours "

Paul

Tour: 06/04/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Downtown Dresden"

Sharon

Tour: 06/04/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was far beyond our expectations. Our tour guide, Jana, was spectacular, as were many of the local guides -- Sarka, Heidi, Gerhard. We have recommended the tour to everyone we have encountered and spoken about our vacation, since we returned -- including someone from Germany!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There are two "wow" moments. First, when we got to the site of the Berlin Wall and Heidi showed us pictures of those who escaped, and shared their stories (and her mother's story of escaping). Being in the presence of that oppressiveness was moving. Second, in Prague at the memorial to the student uprising -- when Jana and Sarka sang a song about the Velvet Revolution, and described so movingly how it unfolded. It was also incredibly moving."

Debby

Tour: 06/04/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Extraordinary trip-- superb guides; beautiful places; interesting and lovely tourmates

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Truly hard to identify just one-- perhaps the day in Prague, when Jana and Sarka laid a flower on the plaque honoring students of the Velvet Revolution"

Jeff

Tour: 06/04/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a fabulous tour experience. The itinerary was well planned, with small town visits alternating with big city experiences. The high quality of the overall guides and the local guides are a real strength of the Rick Steves tours. I liked the mix of group activities and free time to explore what interested my husband and me.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"This was an optional activity, but attending the opera in Vienna was a wow moment! "

Colleen

Tour: 06/04/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was well organized with great guides, comfortable hotels, and a friendly tour group that was interested in seeing everything. I appreciated having a mix of activities as well as time to do your own exploring in the afternoon and evenings. My only complaint was that some of the guides walked too fast, and I couldn't admire the sites along the way because I was running to keep up. Also, if the guide is going to make a long speech, it would be nice to do that in a spot with benches!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Being in the historic Old Town of Prague was my favorite. While there, my husband and I used our free evening to hear Dvorak's New World Symphony in the beautiful Smetana Hall played by the Prague Symphony Orchestra. That was fantastic -- a Czech composer's music performed in a Czech Art Nouveau venue. "

James

Tour: 06/04/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall the tour was great. The hotels were very good and Jana and the local guides were all excellent.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The baroque theater in Cesky Krumlov and the river cruise on the Danube of the Wachau Valley were both amazing."

Olga

Tour: 06/04/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We enjoyed all of it: the places visited, the guide and fellow travelers.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Astronomical Clock in Prague. As someone posted on Youtube, 21 sec of awesome. It was so much fun watching the apostles appear in the windows, and to think it has been working since 1410."

Richard

Tour: 06/04/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Overall it was great fun. Most of the guides and hotels were good with a couple of exceptions.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Sitting in the Royal Box at the Vienna Opera House"

Katy

Tour: 06/04/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I was very pleased with this tour with my only reservation being the fairly large group of 25. It was my first Rick Steve’s tour and previous tours with other companies have been much smaller groups. That said, our leader managed the group beautifully and I found the other participants to be lovely people. I have some hearing problems and the combination of the headsets, noisy backgrounds and accents of some local guides made it hard for me to understand all of the information.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many but I would pick seeing the plaque in Prague about the Velvet Revolution. The personal stories of both our lead guide and the local guide really brought home what it was like under Communism and how lucky we Americans are to live under Democracy, even though our system is far from perfect. "

H

Tour: 05/21/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

It was much more pleasant experience because hotels were much better than my last trip from 2018 "Heart of Belgium & Holland".

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There wasn't one "wow" moment but lots of great moments. "

Trudith

Tour: 05/21/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Anna was a wonderful guide, caring, kind, considerate and very knowledgeable. Tobi, Sharka, and Gerhardt were very entertaining as well as informative. Anna along with Tobi provided excellent information on growing up behind the iron curtain. I liked the the three night stays with three interesting stops along the way.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Cesky Krumlov, cruise on the Danube and Prague with its beautiful squares and lighted towers. "

Charmaine

Tour: 05/21/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Beautiful cities, great group, good food, and fun times learning about historically significant landmarks.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our orientation walk when we arrived in Vienna. I had dreamed of going there for years and it did not disappoint."

Mary

Tour: 05/21/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This trip exceeded my expectations. We chose the tour based on the itinerary, but the selected hotels, arranged meals and varied guides really enhanced our cultural experience. Our main guide, Anna, was simply a delight everyday, and perhaps we were just lucky to end up with a quirky, interesting and kind group of fellow travelers.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I have to choose a "moment" at Prague Castle which lasted for hours, where I was overwhelmed by St Vitus cathedral, the Old Royal Palace jousting room with horse-accessible stairs, vistas of the city in all directions, and the bustling castle district with hidden byways full of history. Our guide Sarka was the best!"

Juli

Tour: 05/21/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Overall the tour was run very well. Compared to my other Rick Steve's tour, this one was slightly less satisfying.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Dresden was the city that surprised me. Seeing the preserved buildings was the "wow" for me on this tour."

Neil

Tour: 05/21/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Emily

Tour: 05/14/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

As has been typical of all our Rick Steves' experiences, the guides were special- knowledgeable, helpful, patient, resourceful and creative. The tour was well organized and the recommendations for "extracurricular" were very good.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My "wow" moment is actually several piled-on top of each other. Experiencing the many layers of Berlin was eye-opening, to say the least. To know that Berlin had been divided is one thing, but to connect the dots and understand the horrors of the Hitler era (beginning in 1933), WWII then the Cold War suppression and hardship is mind-blowing. That the people of Berlin could rebound so completely from those 50-plus years is astounding. Today, Berlin is alive and bubbling with joy and excitement."

Maurice

Tour: 05/14/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

All the little extras , the knowledge of yours guides

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Thicket for an evening Jazz in Prague Surprise "

Elizabeth

Tour: 05/14/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Welcoming tour guides, superb accommodations, great balance between tour time and free time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Jan Hus monument in Prague. I was good to hear the good news about christians fighting for what was right, and not always what was wrong with the faith."

Brian

Tour: 05/14/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Well planned tour. Excellent introduction to Berlin, Prague and Vienna. Our guide Jana and her assistant Levente were outstanding.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The history, museums and the feel of the cities of Berlin , Prague and Vienna were all Wow moments."

Lindsey

Tour: 05/14/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall, I had a great time on our tour. The guides were knowledgeable, helpful, and friendly, and the pacing of tour activities was good. The hotels were all in safe, accessible locations, close to public transportation so we could get around on our own. We had a good balance of tour time and free time. Our tour was extremely well organized and professionally run. There were a couple hiccups due to weather and unforeseeable events, but Jana handled them well and adjusted quickly.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"As a specific "wow", St. Vitus Cathedral was the most impressive piece of architecture I've ever seen. It really is a marvel to behold in person. As a general "wow", I was amazed at the amount of things we were able to stuff into our tour. I don't feel like I missed out on anything. "

Dalas

Tour: 05/14/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Walking and lots of it but we knew that going in.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"All of Vienna"

Stephen

Tour: 05/14/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first group tour and it was wonderful. Every part of the experience was memorable and well managed. We made new friends and we will plan to take additional Rick Steves tours in the future.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The camaraderie that developed so very rapidly was "WOW"."

James

Tour: 05/07/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Loved the trip, guides, and even out group.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Learning from people who had experienced it about life under Soviet control and the experience of the transition."

James

Tour: 05/07/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

(James & Michael) - The tour was as active as described and we liked that fast pace. Guide Thomas Kreiseler and assistant Anna provided fantastic leadership for the organized activities and consultation for our free time. The different viewpoints provided by our guide and by the local guides about life during the communist era were informative. Enough free time was available to visit the art museums not covered by the tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our "wow" tour moment was the Danube cruise through the beautiful Wachau Valley and our non-tour "wow" moment was the roomful of Breugel the Elder paintings at the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna. "

Leon

Tour: 05/07/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Thomas, our guide was fantastic. He was very knowledgeable about the areas we were traveling through. Guides in the various cities knew a lot about the history of Berlin, Dresden, Prague and Vienna. Informed us about things we would definitely no learned on our own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I don’t know that there was one thing that I could say was a wow moment "

Lisa

Tour: 05/07/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first Rick Steves tour and we couldn't be happier. The trip was well planned and our tour guides were outstanding in the time and attention they gave us.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Prague in general was our favorite city- from the Charles Bridge to the Jewish cemetary. It was so moving."

Mark S

Tour: 05/07/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour is a great exposure to the history of the area from the time of the renaissance to current time. The trip encompasses the many interesting historical sites. There is ample free time for exploring specific sights that interest the individual tour members.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The ease of using European public transportation to explore the major cities."

Emilie

Tour: 05/07/23

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I learned many new facts about Eastern Europe and I loved having my previously held convictions changed! Guides were superb, fellow travelers friendly, and the itinerary was very well thought-out and executed. Hotels were excellent. Wonderful trip.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the Infant of Prague statue in St. Mary Victorious church in Prague. It was a huge icon in my childhood."

John

Tour: 05/07/23

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Such a nice variety of cities and countries jamb packed into 12 days. Awesome guides with great patience and cheerful attitudes who spontaneously added unplanned experiences to our tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Cesky Krumlov and the baroque theatre...so interesting to see how they did set changes and make sounds...an early "Foley Sound System" ...also loved the quaint fortress city and the prospect of rafting around it although the weather didn't permit. Another "wow" was the Ishtar Exhibit at the Pergamon Museum in Berlin. Felt so fortunate to see it especially since it will soon close for a 10 year renovation!"

Timothy

Tour: 09/25/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I love touring with Rick Steves because you get to know the places you visit. Instead of a generic hotel you stay in the heart of the city and get to know the local area. Our guide was very knowledgeable about the places we went and gave us great insights into the area.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"When we were doing the Berlin Wall walk, I was struck by just how damaging the division of the city was. Even over 30 years later you can still see the scar across the city. The appreciation for that history and the impact it still has is easy to gloss over."

Deborah

Tour: 09/25/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Well organized, extremely knowledgeable guides, exceptional lead guide, good accommodations, nice balance of historical and cultural perspectives….lots of walking.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Prague! Too many “wows” in Prague to call out a specific example. "

Cynthia

Tour: 09/25/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my first Rick Steves tour - and it was great! I enjoyed our guides so much.R

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I especially enjoyed the river boat ride on the Danube."

Deb

Tour: 09/25/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

How to fit that in 500 words?! It was great, Jana is awesome, the city guides were very good and knowledgeable. The people in my tour were very nice and I will be keeping in touch we a couple of them. The bus driver Peter was fun and had a great helpful attitude.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"All the history, realizing that our guides at their young ages lived through so much of the Hitler era. The other thing for me is the beauty in the buildings and the restoration continually done to retain that. "

John

Tour: 09/25/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our 4th Rick Steves tour. The tour was, as usual, well planned, organized and executed. We rave about these tours to all our friends. Berlin was very modern, but given the history of the city, that is understandable. Prague reflected its normal beauty and style. Vienna is a wonder. The Hapsburgs really had their act together as far as projecting power.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The thing that strikes me most is how 400 and 500 year old engineering technology could produce things like the Astronomic clock, the automatons of the Kunsthistorisches museum and the Baroque theater of Cesky Krumlov. The ability to calculate and time the gear ratios in pre-calculus days astounds me. "

Joann

Tour: 09/25/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Rick fulfills his aim for travel—education

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Nearly impossible to choose one, but Cesky Krumlov and Terezin were stand outs."

Mary

Tour: 09/25/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour guide Jana was excellent making sure we experienced all local customs and food.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Prague Castle complex was our favorite stop. "

Margaret

Tour: 09/25/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was very well organized and very informative. The location of our hotels was conducive to really seeing the historic areas and to getting around each city. Our tour guide, Jana Hronkova, was attentive to everyone's needs and displayed a wealth of knowledge. All the guides in each city were excellent and well informed. On a side note, the breakfasts in each hotel were excellent!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Although there were many special moments, a favorite "wow" moment was in Prague when Jana and Sharka, our local guide, put flowers on the memorial plaque commemorating the Velvet Revolution. We also had a group picture taken there."

Andrew

Tour: 09/25/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We’ll thought out and organized

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Enjoyed Prague the most "

Darunie

Tour: 09/25/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I had a great time! Jana is a fantastic lead guide along with the local guides. The members of the group are very friendly to each other. The hotels are super. The bus driver Peter is adorable! I just love him and his mushrooms! The trout dinner in that cute restaurant in Cesky Krumlov was wonderful. The walk back to our little hotel that night after the trout dinner was majestic. Thank you for taking me there.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I didn’t like Berlin that much because it’s so hectic to me but wow! Prague and Cesky Krumlov were my favorite. The town square in Praha is gorgeous, the castle up on the hill. The church in Cesky Krumlov is absolutely beautiful but we couldn’t take pictures! The whole town looks like a fairly tale. Love it!"

William

Tour: 09/25/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Jana Hronkova is a wonderful guide and person. She was a tremendous asset to the tour. She consistently went above and beyond.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Charles Bridge at night. The Berlin Wall museum complex. The plaque in Prague commemorating where the Velvet Revolution physically started. "

Thao

Tour: 09/25/22

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

I like the trip a lot! But, for me… I think I am more interested in the sign seeing, like the scenery, the architecture of the countries! I’m not in to the deep stories of the history and lengthy explanation…. Of the trip! There are much more about Berlin about the Wall! I know it’s a mark of the world history …. But, I certainly feel I’m not coming here just for that! Another thing… there are too much unstructured time to explore the country… Our tour guide Jana was wonderful !

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Amazing architecture building!"

Susan

Tour: 09/18/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Understanding thaat Germany has only existed as a unified country for 33 years.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The first sights around the ring of Prague."

Patricia

Tour: 09/18/22

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Wonderful, educational, energizing, thoughtful,

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Fifth Man tour"

Terri

Tour: 09/18/22

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Had a great experience. All the guides were very interesting and knowledgeable. There was a variety of experiences and free time to do your own thing.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I found the local guide tours in Berlin to be especially interesting because of the perspective on more recent history. I have to say that I really enjoyed the Danube cruise as it was a lovely day a just very relaxing."

Dennis

Tour: 09/18/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I had never been to any of the cities featured on this tour. All my expectations were exceeded - what an incredible experience this was!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I had heard a lot about Prague and in preparing for this tour with my reading, I felt this would be my favorite. All I can say is seeing the astronomical clock and the town square for the first time left me smiling, speechless and in awe. I LOVED EVERYTHING ABOUT PRAGUE."

George

Tour: 09/18/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Well guided

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Dresden"

Suzanne

Tour: 09/18/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first Rick Steves tour. It did not disappoint. It was everything we had hoped for and so much more!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It would have to be Vienna for me. We went to the Kunsthistorisches Museum, the art gallery, and I was amazed at the number of masterpieces housed here. We have been to many galleries in our travels, but this one topped them all."

Kimberly

Tour: 09/11/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very busy, informative and fun. Our guide Janna was outstanding

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Prague is wonderful"

Anthony

Tour: 09/11/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We both loved the tour. Our guide Jana was great. We liked how she would interject some of her personal and family experiences with the communism era and the falling of communism. One of us contracted Covid about 2/3rds of the way through out tour. Jana was very helpful in getting us set-up in the hotel and notifying the Rick Steves office. The RS office was also very helpful in making sure that we were OK and made it home safely.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"For me it was when "Pip" was our guide and we went to the Berlin wall park. Being able to actually see some of the wall still standing and the no-man's land, along with where some of the tunnels were dug. Terezin was also very interesting, with another great guide, was very interesting and educational. For my wife, it was seeing all of names of the victims of the holocaust on the walls of the old synagogue in Prague. "

Dee

Tour: 09/11/22

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Jana, our guide was wonderful. She set us all at ease at our first meeting and was fun and interesting throughout the trip. We visited Berlin, Dresden and Prague and due to Covid wasn’t able to go to Vienna. In Berlin, we had two additional tour guides, one in Terrezin and one in Prague. My overall take away was too much information, repeated often to the point of me tuning out. Perhaps more highlights, a few personal stories and less “chatter”.. Also, have a few mornings that start later.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The astronomical clock in Prague. It was amazing. Built in the 1400’s with amazing accuracy. "

Lois

Tour: 09/11/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was a very well run tour and our guide, Jana Kratka, was excellent and well-organized. Everything went off without a hitch.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Terezin Memorial. It was very emotional."

Mary

Tour: 09/04/22

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We loved our tour and Lewis was great and fun to be around- can’t wait to return to more exploring in Europe. We had never been to the three countries we traveled to and it was very enlightening.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"1.Seeing the lovely countryside in Czechia, 2. Our guide,Vera telling us about losing the Russians she was guiding in Italy to defection. 3. Watching the opera ‘Carmen’ in Vienna."

David

Tour: 09/04/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Patrick

Tour: 09/04/22

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Good tour with a few odd moments ~ “30 minutes” Metro pass in Prague was strange-just get a day pass and turn us loose in the afternoon.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Berlin Wall tour with Matti. Very knowledgeable and helpful."

Jessica

Tour: 09/04/22

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This was my first RS Tour (but won’t be my last!) and I had a wonderful time and enjoyed all the locations we visited as well as the people on the tour. I did hear from RS veterans that this tour had far more free time than previous tours they had been on, and I too felt that we often “walked around” places without inside. For example, I would have loved to have a guided experience at one of Berlin’s top museums like the Pergamon. That’s the only reason I rated as “very good” vs. “Outstanding”.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The history: The tour was “A Tale of Two H’s”: The Habsburgs and the Holocaust. Reminders of these two periods in history permeated the landscape everywhere we visited. Sadly, due to family history I know all I need to know about the Holocaust. But this trip inspired me to refresh my memory on all the things I forgot from my high school and college classes in world history and Western Civ, which I loved. I’m going to look into “Great Courses” and other classes I can take on European history"

Marcela

Tour: 09/04/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very well organized and great choice of locations

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Danube tour "

Eric

Tour: 08/28/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour has a great balance between visiting beautiful places, history/political background and opportunities to interact with fellow travelers

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The visit to the remaining sites of the Berlin Wall was very powerful"

Patricia

Tour: 08/28/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was a well organized tour that combined historical places and beautiful sites. Our tour guides were very knowledgable and personable. The bus driver was great and it was nice to ride and look at the scenery in between cities. I really enjoyed all the places we visited and the accommodations were very nice and well located.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were a lot of wow moments but Česky Krumlov stands out to me. What a beautiful medieval town. Enjoyed a group dinner in a interesting rock dungeon."

Cari

Tour: 08/28/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

As a solo traveler, I felt very comfortable and welcome throughout the tour experience. The itinerary offered a nice balance between activity and personal time. Additionally, the vegetarian meals provided were far more delicious than I expected. I thoroughly enjoyed my first Rick Steve's vacation!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Personal highlights included wandering through the charming city of Český Krumlov and cruising through Austria's Wachau Valley along the Danube. "

Ruth

Tour: 08/28/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was well organized. We visited interesting places. The tour was a great mix of history and culture.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite “wow” moment was learning from all the guides what it was like to live under communist rule. "

Kevin

Tour: 08/28/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour began with the usual meeting, only this time we all showed the results of our recent Covid test to our guide Jana. Jana was a typical RS guide, very knowledgeable, always helpful when needed, and encouraged us to explore on our own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing where the Berlin Wall stood and existing parts of the wall. Also learning more about the wall and how it affected peoples lives."

Carole

Tour: 08/28/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I learned so much more than I had anticipated about the history and culture of the places we visited. I really enjoyed meeting the other travelers. The schedule pushed us to the limits of our energy, but not beyond, and offered plenty of "down" time to do as we were inclined.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Oddly, my favorite "wow" moments were in Prague, but not durin tour hours. There was a concert on a barge in the Vlatava river (I think in celebration of Prague holding the EU presidency,) and a 6K run through the city. The enthusiasm and pride of the people of Prague was exhilirating and contagious, of course being well-primed by the wonderful Jana Hronkova. That was my favorite."

Maxine

Tour: 08/21/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I loved the variety of experiences and locations in the tour. The group guide was great, the group was wonderful and the local guides very good. Overall, I am very satisfied with the tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite "wow" moment was seeing Cesky Krumlov in the Czech Republic (thanks, Rick for discovering this storybook town) and the Baroque Theater, one of only two of the best-preserved baroque theaters in the world. Going under the floorboards of the stage and seeing all the mechanics of how they manually moved the staging apparatus around, etc., was amazing. It really takes you back to the sixteenth century when they created it. Walking around this charming village was lovely!"

Karl

Tour: 08/21/22

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

As first timers it was a good introduction to organized touring. We learned a lot and the tour guides, RS and local guides were very organized and informative. The local flavor, food included, is very interesting to us when we travel and that was provided!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We loved seeing Prague's Old Town square lit up at night! And, wow, for a different reason was learning about the deceitful use of the Terezin Concentration Camp. "

Chris

Tour: 08/21/22

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Very fun, lots of exercise.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I really enjoyed seeing the WWII monuments on the Berlin side of the tour."

Andrew

Tour: 08/21/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Danube cruise, rafting in Czechy Krumlov and that city itself. "

Joann

Tour: 06/19/22

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Our tour was excellent. Everything was very well planned with a nice combination of group activities and free time

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The theater at Cesky Krumlov was amazing. Watching the way the stage was changed and sets moved with the technology of the day was spectacular. "

Margaret

Tour: 06/19/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

From the first hotel to the last, each stop was unique and well crafted for the adventure. The first hotel was a bit off the beaten path and we did spend a good deal of time navigating the streets, but the sites were worth it.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Reduta Jazz Club in Prague - as the event let out, a group of gentlemen who spend their time at the club above the Jazz Club and were quite "happy," blocked our exit. Yana, our tour guide, managed to navigate all of us out of the club and into the street ... where it was pouring down rain with thunder and lightning. As we made our way back, several of us stopped for a traditional Czech Trdelnik. Huddled under an umbrella, we thoroughly enjoyed this treat before slopping our way home."

Elizabeth

Tour: 06/19/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The Berlin, Prague, and Vienna tour was educational and thoroughly enjoyable. It provided a perfect balance of history, culture, and fun. Each of our city tour guides was extremely knowledgeable and engaging, and our main tour guide, Jana, was exceptional.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It’s difficult to choose just one, but the Turkish dinner in Berlin and the jazz concert in Prague were both among my top WOW moments!"

Jonathan

Tour: 06/19/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Tammy

Tour: 06/19/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our third Rick Steves' Europe tour and they're always tremendous. The group we traveled with was terrific, the guide, the bus driver. We could've used air conditioning in some of the one-night hotels, since the temperatures were 12-15 degrees warmer than average.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved the smaller cities that we stopped in. Discovering and roaming around Dresden and Český Krumlov were unforgettable experiences."

Elizabeth

Tour: 06/12/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was wonderful. My husband and I can't stop thinking about it and talking about it. We were constantly learning.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"For me it was seeing the Berlin Wall."

Linda

Tour: 06/12/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I felt that the first meeting and dinner went well. I received all the information that I needed and felt comfortable right away. I think our guide Ben was well-spoken and knowledgeable, but also approachable and had a sense of humor. The other guides along the way were also good. I think we saw some great sights and probably learned more than if we did this on our own. Some food experiences were better than others. The hotels were mostly good. Myer's was my favorite.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I would say my first walk through Prague and then again at night! It was like being in a different world! The architecture was awesome. The bridge and the river were beautiful! There were so many food choices and many places to sit outdoors and enjoy the scenery."

Robert

Tour: 06/12/22

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Very but some reservations. See below

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Danube River cruise"

Susan

Tour: 06/12/22

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We saw a lot and learned a lot. Our guide, Ben, was great. We were often exhausted.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The cruise on the Danube was amazingly beautiful!"

Susan

Tour: 06/12/22

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

I am a well-traveled (usually tours) person, and had taken a Rick Steves tour several years ago. I admit I do not read all details about a tour before taking it, but I was surprised when the daily itinerary normally ended at noon or 1pm. I expected to have an itinerary for most of the day, as I have with my another company I use, and as I remember on my RS tour in Spain. I obtained a phone plan so I could find my way through cities. I did like the “partial itineraries”, guide, hotels, cities

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Experiencing East Berlin, with its flourishing life! Also, the “Third Man Museum”."

Meeta

Tour: 06/12/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent content, tour guide and facilities. We enjoyed the tour immensely and will remember these experiences fondly.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Learning about the history in Berlin, I will never be able to unsee those details. "

Nancy

Tour: 05/29/22

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I loved all of the places we visited. I just felt the tour was paced way too fast. My brain just could not process the amount of infomation I was receiving. Upon my return, I could not desribe to anyone what I saw.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Terezin"

Dan

Tour: 05/29/22

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Well organized. Ben was a resourceful leader who facilitated a great tour. We enjoyed the sites, the cities, and the group.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Cesky Krumlof medieval city from the castle. Seeing Vienna for the first time on the bus riding around the ring. Prague central square. "

Karen

Tour: 05/29/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We have always wanted to travel to Europe, and finally got our chance…then Covid!!! Seemed like we’d never get there!! I am so glad we waited, though…our tour was better than I ever dreamed!!! Our group seemed genuinely concerned (Covid safety) and interested in each other, an immediate chemistry and ‘good vibe’ between us all. Our tour guide, Ben….beyond compare! He took time to talk and get to know each of us, his calm organization, knowledge of places, and just being a fun guy made it perfect

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I had a total left knee replaced in April 2021and my “inspiration” to work through it was a photo of St Vitus Cathedral as a screensaver on my iPad. Walking into that courtyard was incredible for me…instant happy tears!! "

Cindy

Tour: 05/29/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The pace of the tour was very brisk and we were given a lot of information, which at times was overwhelming. There is so much history in the areas we visited it was challenging to absorb it all, but overall the trip was fantastic!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Probably the visit to Terezin, which was not a "wow" in the typical sense, but a "wow" in learning about a place very few Americans visit or most likely have never heard of. Our guide there was excellent and she brought to life the sobering and tragic history of the place."

Gregory

Tour: 05/29/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Guide was great not only in knowledge and organization and helpfulness but also really knew how to bring a group of strangers together into a supportive travel group. We got a good feel for the three large cities, enjoyed the smaller cities, and were moved by the visit to Tetzin (?) and places in Berlin connected to history of Nazi and Communist regimes

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Touring the Schonburg palace in Vienna"

Kathy

Tour: 05/29/22

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Amazing experience exploring Central Europe--an area we didn't have interest in until we saw a RS show on it. Sobering in East Berlin and Terezin, but glad we did it. Ben, our travel guide, was fabulous! Our local guides were also great and added so much. As expected, we not only saw the "must see" sites, but learned about and experienced the local culture.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Loved Chesky Krumlov! What a great vibe! Great dinner that night as well as fun rafting trip. Perfect timing relaxing in a small village before we hit another big city."

Mark

Tour: 05/29/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Pleasantly surprised by the entire tour. It was physically demanding as announced, but we had a brilliant tour guide and a friendly interactive group that made each day worth celebrating. Each day was full of adventures and amazing sites, and if our afternoon or evening was blank on the itinerary, our guide gave us many suggestions of how we could fill out time based upon our personal desires.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite "wow" moment was the visit to Terezin that highlighted the suffering and dishonesty of the regime that ravaged Europe. Not a happy "wow', but a stunning overwhelming emotional visit."

Christine

Tour: 05/29/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my first Rick Steve’s tour. For me going on a Rick Steve’s Tour was a bucket list item and the Best of Berlin, Prague and Vienna Tour did not disappoint. While we had always used RS books in the past, it was so nice not having to deal with all of the logistics for a change. I appreciated the patience, humor and consideration given by our guide Ben Curtis. The local guides were very knowledgeable and friendly. The hotels were decent and in good locations.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Going down the Danube in a very nice river boat, enjoying the wonderful views and sharing food and wine with new tour friends on beautiful warm pleasant day."

Marisa

Tour: 05/29/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

A delightful surprise in the mixture of relevant history and contemporary art and music.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"On a free night, we booked Rick's recommended Vienna chamber music Mozarthaus concert. It can be tricky to side-step the 'tourist' concerts, but this was the real deal - we were feet from the musicians, in a setting in which Mozart lived and performed. Intimate music and an exquisite Viennese night. "

Louise

Tour: 05/29/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide, Ben Curtis, was friendly, knowledgeable and helpful. The sites and activities on this tour were interesting, inspiring and fun. We had a great group of people to travel with.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the remains of Duke Leopoldo’s castle at Durnstein as we cruised the Danube. Richard the Lionheart was imprisoned there in the 12th century."

Robert

Tour: 05/22/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We always used Rick Steves books to plan our trips and had great experiences. This trip was our first tour experience and we were so glad we did. Our tour guide, Jana, was exceptional! There were 16 of us on tour - a great group of traveling companions. The local tour guides in each city were great. We had the right balance of guided tour time with free time to explore on our own. The group meals were always in interesting places with great food. Planning our next Rick Steves tour!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There wasn’t any one wow moment - it was all great. One of our favorite parts of the trip was the tour guides sharing their personal experiences growing up under Communist rule and the changes after 1989 when the wall fell. While we all learned the history of WWII, one has to visit to fully understand the impact on the people and countries and appreciate the resiliency and rebuilding. "

Margaret

Tour: 05/22/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My husband and I have used Rick Steves travel books to plan multiple trips abroad over the years but this was our first Rick Steves tour. Overall we were thrilled with our experience from our main guide, Jana, to our local guides, and to the pace of the schedule. Everything was very organized and fun. The small group size allowed us to really make friends with each other. The bus was clean and comfortable and our driver was good humored and very helpful. The experience exceeded my expectations.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Probably that our guide Jana, plus two of our local guides - Toby in Berlin and Sharka in Prague - were so candid in sharing their own personal experiences growing up under communism and also what it was like as it changed. It made it so much more meaningful to talk with someone with a real connection to it."

Victoria

Tour: 05/22/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Jana made our tour outstanding. She was an extremely knowledgeable guide and brought out the personal side of life in Germany and Czech Replublic prior to take down of the Berlin wall. Her stories bright to light what life was like during those years in contrast to what we see today. Throughout the tour she was organized, friendly, and helpful especially with free time activities

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Several highlights of the trip include the beautiful city of Prague, jazz concert, rafting in the rain on the Vltava River in Cesky Krumlov, and farewell dinner a traditional Viennese Heuriger"

Robert

Tour: 05/22/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a wonderful time on the tour. Enjoyed our travelling companions very much. Everyone was very positive, interesting and fun to be around. Our guide (Jana) was exceptional! Very organized, knowledgeable, consistently pleasant and always on the outlook for a special treat or snack for the group to enjoy. We especially enjoyed the Berliner doughnuts! We were especially impressed that Jana saw us off at 6:30 in the morning on our last day.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many to mention just one! Afternoon cruise on a sunny day on the Danube was amazing. Really enjoyed river rafting at Ceski Krumlov even though it was a cold, rainy day. And the jazz concert in Prague was memorable."

William

Tour: 05/22/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was a flawless trip. The tour guide, Jana, was fabulous and everything was well planned and above expectations.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The tour of the Berlin Wall was the high point for me."

Alan

Tour: 05/22/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I hadn't realized how much of the tour took place in former communist areas (Berlin hotel, Dresden, Czech Republic). Experiencing the areas was something I don't think I could get from books.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There wasn't a single moment, but seeing examples of how Germany/Austria fell into fascism so parallels the United States today."

Claudia

Tour: 05/15/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fabulous trip. This trip went beyond all my expectations.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many the most meaningful was our discussion with Tour Guide Yana and Local Prague Guide Katerina about their lives under the Communist. We were at the plague to honor the students of the Velvet Revolution. Yana and Katerina were about to place flowers when a young boy walked by us. He leaned in and said hello to Yana and kept walking. Yana turned to us (with tears in her eyes) and said that was a Ukranian refugee that the school she teaches in had taken as a student. We were all in tears."

Anne

Tour: 05/15/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was a small group which made it very easy to visit sites, enjoy meals and get to know each other. Jana H was an absolute delight to have as a tour guide. She brought love and joy to her country and shared the struggles her country has had during the past years. The entire trip was wonderful.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The wow moment was probably the impromptu coffee break where Katerina (local guide) shared her personal history in Prague as a student. The sharing of flowers in remembrance of their past between Jana and Katerina was so emotional. It was unfortunate that Katerina had a family emergency the second day, but Jana stepped in with all the knowledge and sharing of Prague. "

Sherry

Tour: 05/15/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a stress-free , organized, thoughtful, interesting, tour!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"A tie between The Golden Lane, St Nicholas church, Terezin. Boat trip on the Danube, the theater tour, Cesky Krumlov…"

Andy

Tour: 05/15/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Daniel

Tour: 05/15/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Jana, our guide, created a tour that delivered an outstanding experience. Her enthusiasm, knowledge, and personable demeanor made our travels special and memorable. The sites we visited with our local guides, tied together a narrative that gave me a deeper understanding of history with the rise of fascism, communism, and the emergence of democracy (that we can't take for granted).

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I particularly enjoyed the Danube River cruise and scenic Cesky Krumlov. The optional evening stroll along Prague's Vltava River was a unique experience. To our surprise, Jana lugged bottles of wine in her backpack, allowing our group to share a toast to Prague and our travels. What moved me the most was visiting the Velvet Revolution monument in Prague, and having Katarina (local guide) share her personal experience about living under the communist government as a student."

John

Tour: 05/15/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Jana lead an outstanding tour supported by city specialists who added to our experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Jana and city specialist Katerina sharing their story of the “Velvet Revolution “ and leaving flowers are the memorial."

Louann

Tour: 05/08/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our experience was amazing. Rick Steves tours provide the best of guided experiences and a free time. We saw things we would never have experienced on our own. We loved our group and guides. Great hotels, excellent food.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It’s so hard to choose just one! Prague was such a beautiful city, there was “wow” everywhere. The small village of Cesky Kromlov was totally unexpected. Charming with beautiful views. "

David

Tour: 05/08/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I love the itinerary for this tour. The tour met my expectations. Our tour guide Jana was outstanding, very knowledgeable and work well this the tour group.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Cesky Krumlov was just wonderful. The perfect example of the old Europe we were looking for."

Sara

Tour: 05/08/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I found the organization of the tour to be great. Jana, our wonderful guide, was super organized and very clear in her projections for each day's events. I loved the architecture in all the places we visited--it's what makes Europe so special to me. Still...it was the guides who brought the architecture to life by their history lessons shared along the way.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"SO many wow moments. Though we spent only one day/night in Dresden, witnessing the re-building being done in that beautiful town was probably my biggest wow moment. Not only did I appreciate the high level of craftsmanship, but I was amazed that people collectively have come together to make these structures available to all who visit--preserving/renovating the buildings and the history at the same time. It's a sense of pride in a community that is so often lacking in parts of the world. "

Jim

Tour: 05/08/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Jana was our tour guide(with Tomas as assistant/apprentice) who made sure we got in to see all the important sites in all the cities we were exploring. She was incredibly skillful at making sure we were ready and prepared for each day's activities, with surprises and treats thrown in to make our tour experience fulfilling. This was an incredibly educational and historical adventure and I feel like I need to follow up the tour with a refresher from the guidebooks and some independent study.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I think the presentation by Honza in Prague of the history on the Czech struggle for independence by someone who participated in actions in Wenceslas Square was very moving and impactful. He also made the history of the struggle in the Jewish Quarter come alive for us. While I can remember the 1968 protests and the downfall of the Eastern Bloc in 1989, it is much more alive when presented by somebody who was physically present for those historic events. "

Donna

Tour: 05/08/22

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I found the tour very well organized and well-paced. Jana, our tour guide, was very attentive to our needs, questions, etc. and made me feel very welcome. The hotels we stayed in were all clean, unique and had delicious breakfasts. We stayed in a good variety of big cities, smaller cities and a couple of small, charming towns.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many! Visiting the Charles Bridge at night--it was beautiful!"

Mikhail

Tour: 05/08/22

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall experience was absolutely wonderful

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The guides: Jana Kratka and Thomas Kreiseler. Especially Jana was so great, detailed and knowledgeable!"

When To Go & Weather

Any time between May and September is a good time to visit Berlin, Prague, and Vienna. However, the months of May, June, and September are best for combining the convenience of peak season with generally good weather and lighter crowds.

Germany / Berlin


Czech Republic / Prague


Austria / Vienna

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 the Itinerary section of your tour 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 while on tour in the Documents section of your tour account.

Flights

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

Most tour members arrange to fly into Berlin (BER) and out of Vienna (VIE) — 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 Berlin guidebook.