Compare New Year's Eve in Prague by Road Scholar vs Christmas Markets of Poland, Prague & Germany - Classic Group, Winter 2023 2024 by Insight Vacations

Day 1
In Transit to Program
In Flight

Day 2
Welcome to Prague
Prague D Hotel Petr
Activity note: Check-in available from 2:00 p.m.

Dinner: Welcome dinner in the hotel dining room. Please note that water is included in the program cost at all meals.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 3
Prague Castle
Prague B Hotel Petr
Activity note: New safety rules and regulations for entry into Prague Castle require that we show a copy of your passport before entering. Please bring a copy of your passport with you on your program.

Breakfast: Buffet in the hotel dining room. On this program, breakfasts will offer a typical European style breakfast buffet with breads, cheeses, cold-cuts, yogurt, fruit, cereals, juice, milk, coffee, tea and water.

Morning: This morning our city excursion takes us sightseeing by bus with an orientation, and then to Prague Castle, the largest residential complex in the Czech Republic (according to the Guinness Book of World Records it is the largest ancient castle in the world). The palace has served as home and office for Czech kings, Holy Roman Emperors and presidents of the Czech Republic (and Czechoslovakia) since the 9th century. The Old Royal Palace and the Cathedral of St. Vitus are breathtaking architectural treasures.

Lunch: Explore local fare on your own.

Afternoon: Enjoy a free afternoon. Take this opportunity for personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities, which can be found in the first Information Packet. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions and give directions.

Dinner: Explore local fare on your own.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 4
New Year's Eve At A Traditional Bohemian Restaurant
Prague B,D Hotel Petr
Breakfast: Buffet in the hotel dining room.

Morning: Our city excursion will start in the Old Town, a unique area of Prague with the impressive Old Town Square, the center of all events since the Middle Ages. The stone houses, churches, palaces and monasteries in combination with twisty narrow streets and alleys create a very special atmosphere. We will also explore the Jewish Town. The former Jewish Ghetto is a noteworthy quarter of Prague that boasts worldwide significance. Extensive historical records trace the existence of the Prague Jewish community back to the 11th century. The Old Jewish Cemetery is Europe’s oldest and best-preserved Jewish burial ground, its history dating back to the 15th century. The graves form a chronicle in stone of the history of the Prague ghetto. Next, we will enjoy Christmas markets at the Old Town and Wenceslas Squares. Other than traditional Christmas and New Year's handcrafts, we will also find various Czech delicacies here, including sausages, potato pancakes, fresh sweet pie Trdelnik, roasted chestnuts, gingerbread, hot punch and mulled wine. These, along with performances by musicians on market stages, help to make our visit unforgettable.

Lunch: Explore local fare on your own.

Afternoon: Free afternoon to explore the city on your own.

Dinner: Greet the New Year in a traditional Bohemian restaurant with a folklore program, music, smile and dance.

Evening: Celebrate New Year's Eve Bohemian style!

Day 5
New Year's Walk, Charles Bridge, Lesser Town, Concert
Prague B,L,D Hotel Petr
Breakfast: Buffet in the hotel dining room.

Morning: Free time to relax or enjoy some fresh air in the nearby gardens.

Lunch: Celebrate New Year's with a festive gourmet lunch in the Three Centuries Restaurant.

Afternoon: A traditional New Year's walk of Prague sites leads us to the Charles Bridge, one of the oldest extant stone bridges in Europe, adorned on both sides with a total of thirty Baroque statues. Our excursion continues in the Lesser Town, a picturesque quarter with monumental noble churches and palaces.

Dinner: Snack in the cellar pub of the Municipal House, decorated by Art Nouveau tiles. Enjoy the pre-war Czechoslovakia atmosphere.

Evening: Happy New Year! Together, we will enjoy a New Year's concert at the Municipal House, the pearl of Art Nouveau style.

Day 6
Karlstejn Castle
Prague B,L Hotel Petr
Activity note: Walking uphill for 30 minutes, and approx. 130 steps, during visit to Karlstejn Castle.

Breakfast: Buffet in the hotel dining room.

Morning: We depart for an excursion to Karlstejn Castle. The Gothic castle, founded in 1348 and completed in 1365, was built by the Czech King and Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV as a place to store royal treasures, especially collections of holy relics and crown jewels. We will explore not only the castle but also the village of Karlstejn and the Museum of Nativity Scenes, highlighting the famous Karlstejn Royal Nativity.

Lunch: Lunch at a local scenic restaurant.

Afternoon: Free time to relax and explore on your own.

Dinner: Explore local fare on your own.

Day 7
Convent of St. Agnes of Bohemia
Prague B,L Hotel Petr
Breakfast: Buffet in the hotel dining room.

Morning: Enjoy an expert-led excursion at the Convent of St. Agnes of Bohemia, one of the oldest Gothic buildings in Prague and named after its founder Agnes of Bohemia. See medieval art from Bohemia and Central Europe, in its gallery.

Lunch: Light lunch at the Grand Café Orient on the first floor of the House at the Black Madonna. This building symbolizes the unique Czech contribution to the cubist movement.

Afternoon: After lunch, you have a free afternoon. You may wish to visit the newly-opened permanent exhibition of the Museum of Czech Cubism in the House at the Black Madonna.

Dinner: Explore local fare on your own.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 8
Lecture: Contemporary Life in the Czech Republic
Prague B,D Hotel Petr
Breakfast: Buffet in the hotel dining room.

Morning: Our morning lecture will speak about contemporary life in the Czech Republic. We will discuss the political and economical changes after 1989, the new role of the Czech Republic in the “democratic world," and everyday life of ordinary Czechs.

Lunch: Explore local fare on your own.

Afternoon: Free time with multiple suggestions for a self-guided excursion.

Dinner: Farewell Dinner on a Vltava river boat.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 9
Departures
Prague B
Breakfast: Buffet in the hotel dining room.

Morning: Transfer to the Prague airport (PRG) for departures. This concludes our program. Please join our Facebook page and share photos of your program. Visit us at www.facebook.com/rsadventures.

Day 1: Welcome to Kraków

Transfers for your hotel depart Kraków airport at 12:30 and 15:00. Meet your Travel Director and fellow travellers at 17:00 for a Welcome Dinner with wine at a local restaurant. Afterwards, get your first taste of Polish old-world charm with a walk around the magnificent Cloth Hall in the Market Square. Wrapped in romantic gabled townhouses and Gothic spires, the festive Christmas Market stalls are a Disneyesque dream, offering all sorts of delicacies and delights - from Highland woollen slippers to amber jewellery from the Baltic. Maybe try the traditional oscypek cheese with cranberries, a delicacy from the Tatra mountains?

Vienna House Andel's Cracow, Kraków.

Dinner with Wine

Day 2: Kraków Relaxed Start

Ascend Wawel Hill with your Local Expert to see the Renaissance castle and visit the cathedral – the final resting place of the Kings of Poland. Then cross the former Jewish Quarter of Kazimierz to Old Podgórze, the Old Town, to see Ghetto Square and remains of the Ghetto Wall. The rest of the day is at leisure or perhaps choose to visit the Wieliczka Salt Mine? There is time to explore the traditional Christmas Market located in the Old Town's historic district. You'll find yourself immersed in festive spirit as you shop for authentic Christmas decorations, gifts, toys and tasty treats.

Vienna House Andel's Cracow, Kraków.

Breakfast

Day 3: Wrocław, the Venice of Poland

Perhaps spend some reflective moments and visit Auschwitz concentration camp? Later, continue to the city of Wrocław, known as the Venice of Poland, made up of five rivers, 12 islands and over 150 bridges. Try your hand at traditional Polish pierneki during a gingerbread workshop at a small family business, followed by a tasting. Rated as one of the finest in Europe, Wrocław’s Christmas Market offers a delightful, fairy-tale charm. Enjoy an orientation of the market, located in Rynek, the historic main square which is surrounded by Baroque splendour and adorned with thousands of twinkling lights. Spend time exploring the vast array of stalls bursting with local crafts and tasty treats.

Radisson Blu Hotel, Wroclaw.

Breakfast, Dinner with Wine

Day 4: Kutná Hora and Prague

Cross the Czech border and head for Kutná Hora, a town that flourished during the Middle Ages thanks to vast deposits of silver. Continue your travels to the Czech capital of Prague.

Hotel Royal Prague.

Breakfast, Dinner with Wine

Day 5: Prague, City of a Hundred Spires Relaxed Start

Explore Prague with Insight Choice. Choose to walk the courtyards of the Castle and visit the imposing St. Vitus Cathedral. Alternatively, join your Local Expert through the Jewish Quarter and hear about the history, traditions and legends of the Jewish people.  Then, down at the Old Town Square, Prague’s colourful Christmas Market contrasts with the Gothic skyline. Beneath a giant Christmas tree, draped in a blaze of lights, locals browse the decorative wooden stalls. Meet a local stallholder and savour a glass of Svařák, traditional mulled wine, along with the local Trdelník pastry.

Hotel Royal Prague.

Breakfast

Day 6: Dresden and Berlin Relaxed Start

Cross the German border to Dresden. Gaze up at the Frauenkirche, risen once again from wartime ashes. Your guided exploration with a Local Expert will continue past the colossal 'Procession of the Dukes' mosaic, the cathedral, Semper Opera House and Zwinger Palace. During your free time perhaps seek out the delicious Christstollen, a Christmas cake recipe dating back to medieval times, or shop for a traditional Christmas pyramid. Then journey on to Berlin.

Crowne Plaza Berlin City Centre.

Breakfast

Day 7: The Spirit of Berlin Relaxed Start

Join a Local Expert to see the Brandenburg Gate, State Opera House, remnants of the Berlin Wall, Unter den Linden, and the beautifully-restored Reichstag building. Feel free to soak up the Weihnachtszauber, or Christmas magic, at the Gendarmenmarkt, which is Berlin’s most magnificent square.  In the evening, join your friends for a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience during a festive Celebration Dinner with wine and good cheer at a local restaurant supporting refugees to integrate into German society.

Crowne Plaza Berlin City Centre.

Breakfast, Dinner with Wine

Day 8: Auf Wiedersehen Berlin

Your journey draws to a close after breakfast. Departure transfers arrive at Berlin airport at 07:00 and 10:00.

Breakfast