Drink in the delights of Europe’s heartland
FAIRYTALE castles, folk tales and astronomical clocks that have kept time for almost six centuries – a European journey that turns east unveils a tapestry of myth, legend and time-honoured tradition. Cities such as Prague, Vienna and Budapest are effortlessly elegant, housing remarkable art collections in palatial surroundings, where history lives and breathes.
And in this Eastern and Central European assortment of culture, intriguing new experiences await at every turn.
Where else can you bathe in a grand Art Nouveau spa, eat chocolate Sachertorte in a turn-of-the-century coffee house, or waltz through the gilded private rooms of a Habsburg emperor? It’s old Europe at its grandest. So if you are among the growing numbers now looking away from Western Europe for inspiration – dreaming perhaps of washing down roast pork and dumplings with Pilsner in Prague, or hatching holiday plans around the Glühwein-fuelled Christmas markets of Germany – where should you start? A tour shoehorns the most wonders into precious weeks away, exploring the big sights and special places off the beaten track.
Cosmos, the UK’s leading escorted touring operator, offers a range of expertly curated guided tours, each under the wing of an experienced tour director assisted by knowledgeable local guides.
And new from Cosmos’s sister brand are the Escapes by Globus tours. These travel out of season, but still include stays in highly rated, centrally located hotels, with VIP access to must-see sights.
UNCOVER SIX COUNTRIES
TAKE in the length and breadth of continental Europe’s beating heart on a 15-day Cities Of Eastern Europe classic escorted tour – sweeping through six incredible countries. View Berlin’s contemporary allure from both east and west, drink in Hungary’s grandiose history, and explore Prague’s architectural wonders and the imperial traditions of Vienna.
This voyage of discovery includes a visit to the AuschwitzBirkenau Memorial and Museum. Then it calls at beautiful Krakow, Poland’s cultural capital, and Warsaw, magnificently reconstructed after the war.
Budapest is home to one of the world’s most beautiful parliament buildings, among other splendours. And in Vienna’s Schönbrunn Palace you can see the private apartments of Emperor Franz Joseph and his wife, Sisi. A guided tour of Prague reveals such landmarks as the Jewish Quarter, Charles Bridge and Old Town Square, with its famous astronomical clock.
Visits to monasteries and folklore dinners are dotted into the itinerary. And there are special departures to coincide with Oktoberfest, Christmas markets and New Year in Berlin. From £1,514pp, departing in August and December 2018.
EUROPE’S JEWEL CITIES
PRAGUE, Vienna and Budapest are on a nine-day classic escorted tour that skirts the Danube as it unveils the three jewels in the crown of Central Europe. Mustsees in ancient Budapest include Fisherman’s Bastion, which offers panoramic views across the city. And in the heart of elegant Vienna, don’t miss the Hofburg, the former main imperial palace.
Time on your own lets you enjoy a scrumptious apfelstrudel (a Viennese speciality) in a cafe while listening to a legendary waltz. Or explore the inside of St Stephen’s Cathedral. Also included in the itinerary is Nuremberg, where the pedestrianised old town is home to Gothic churches and medieval ramparts. In lovely Salzburg, the setting for The Sound Of Music, the tour leads culture-vultures through quaint streets in the town centre to Mozart’s house. And in Munich, get ready for plenty of oompahs and steins of beer at a traditional Bavarian dinner. From £1,057pp, departing from August 2018 through to December 2019.
OFF-PEAK GERMANY
GERMAN Escape, from Cosmos’s sister brand Globus, takes advantage of off-peak deals to reveal the best of Germany, without the crowds. Explore Berlin, taking in the Reichstag, Brandenburg Gate and Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church.
Walk through exquisitely restored Dresden to the Zwinger Palace courtyard and Semper Opera. And Munich, Germany’s unofficial capital, is home to the Bavarian Arch of Triumph, the Gothic Frauenkirche and the 1972 Olympic Stadium.
You’ll love this sparkling winter tour, full of old-world charm. From £880pp, departing from November 2018 to March 2019.
All tours include flights from London or regional UK airports, private home pick-up service (within 50 miles of departure airport), accommodation, transfers, the services of a tour director, selected meals and all airport taxes. For more information, visit cosmos.co.uk/ tours or call 0330 058 8273.