Grand Imperial Cities

Meeting the Tour Manager and travelling group this morning at London St Pancras, we board the Eurostar to Brussels. Travelling in Plus class, we enjoy a light meal at our seats as we journey through northern France and into Belgium. Our journey continues by First Class rail from Brussels to Frankfurt, arriving in the early evening.

Set beside the Main River, Frankfurt is one of Germany's most important cities. Despite its global reputation as a financial and business hub, the medieval Old Town retains a charming, almost storybook atmosphere. The centrepiece is the historic Römer, a triple-fronted building with distinctive crow-stepped gables that has acted as the city hall for more than 600 years. At the heart of the Old Town, Römerberg features a central fountain surrounded by a huddle of colourful half-timbered buildings and the small, medieval Old Nicholas Church.

After checking in to our hotel near the city's main shopping streets, we enjoy a three-course dinner this evening.

• Eurostar Light Meal
• Dinner

After breakfast, we travel by train across Bavaria, encountering the beautiful Danube for the first time at historic Regensburg. The river guides us towards Austria and its grand capital, Vienna. Arriving this afternoon, we have time to explore at leisure after checking in to our hotel.

As the former capital of the Habsburg Empire, Vienna is a great city to explore, with stately Baroque buildings appearing around almost every corner. Passing the 14th-century Augustinian Church, with its grand altar and Habsburg urns, you can find its understated entrance on Josefplatz. This elegant square, named in honour of Emporor Franz Josef II, is lined with grand buildings, including Palais Pallavicini. If you continue along Herrengasse, you encounter the palatial Renaissance and Baroque residences of noble families from the 17th and 18th centuries, including the stucco Palais Daun-Linksy opposite the historic Schottenkirche, famed for its remarkable interior.

This evening, we regroup to enjoy dinner at a local Austrian restaurant.

• Breakfast, Dinner

A sightseeing tour after breakfast reveals Vienna's imperial architecture. The grand Ringstrasse, a wide boulevard that encircles the Old City, showcases the city's finest buildings. Our local guide shows us the neo-Reinassance Vienna State Opera topped with bronze statues, and the sweeping entrance to the neoclassical Parliament.

The centrepiece of this influential boulevard is the Hofburg Palace, a symbol of the Habsburgs' dominance across Europe from 1273 to 1918. Expanded over the centuries by various Emperors, it features striking examples of Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque architecture throughout its courtyards and passageways. Our next stop is the Habsburgs' summer residence, Schönbrunn Palace. We enjoy a guided tour of the palace's immaculate state rooms before watching an apple strudel demonstration and sampling this iconic Viennese desert with a hot drink. Afterwards, there is time at leisure to explore Schönbrunn's beautifully manicured gardens.

The rest of the day is free to continue exploring Vienna at your own pace. Discover more of the city's charming streets or relax in one of the beautiful parks, such as Stadtpark or Buggarten. This evening, you dine independently and could sample local specialities such as a Weiner schnitzel or a glass of chilled Grüner Veltliner wine.

• Breakfast

Today is yours to continue exploring Vienna's sights at your own pace, perhaps revisiting favourite landmarks or uncovering hidden corners of the city.

You might choose to visit the Upper and Lower Belvedere Palaces, located close to our hotel, or marvel at the famous Lipizzan dancing horses at the Spanish Riding School near the Hofburg (pre-booking is required for performances). At the heart of Vienna stands the towering St Stephen's Cathedral, a Gothic masterpiece that rewards visitors with one of the city's best views. For a more laid-back way to enjoy Vienna's skyline, head to Prater Gardens to ride the Wiener Riesenrad - a giant Ferris wheel that was the world's tallest for much of the 20th century.

A visit to a Viennese coffeehouse is an ideal way to experience local life. Renowned for their 'gemütlichkeit' - warmth and friendliness - they serve a range of coffees from the melange to the decadent, cream-topped einspänner, along with enticing cakes. The delicious Sachertorte was invented in Café Sacher, one of the city's most elegant and historic coffeehouses along with cafés Landtmann and Central.

• Breakfast

This morning after breakfast, we bid farewell to Austria and journey east into Hungary.

Arriving in Budapest in the early afternoon, we embark on a guided coach tour to view this fascinating city's impressive buildings and monuments. Enroute, we admire the piercing spires of the iconic neo-Gothic Parliament building, Buda's towering castle, the Gothic Matthias Church and the swirling towers of Fisherman's Bastion, which provides incredible views of the river and Pest. In the early evening, we travel to Óbuda for dinner in a traditional restaurant that, combined with its serene surroundings, gives the feeling of being in a pleasant Hungarian village.

After dinner, we enjoy a holiday highlight as we sail down the Danube on an evening cruise, before returning to our hotel on a quiet street on the Pest side. The cruise is one of the best ways to see this beautiful city as the sights we saw during the day - including the spectacular Parliament building - are now illuminated, casting a magical glow across the Danube.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Travelling to Széchenyihegy in the Buda Hills after breakfast, we board the narrow-gauge Children's Railway for an utterly charming rail journey that winds through peaceful forests.

The intention of the seven-mile railway was to teach children additional skills, and it's a delightful way to spend 40 minutes. Perfectly turned out in immaculate uniforms, Hungarian schoolchildren carry out all the roles you would expect from railway staff, except for driving the trains. In open carriages, the children check tickets, salute departures and blow their whistles with vigour. At the end of the line in Hűvösvölgy, we return to our hotel and have the rest of the day at leisure.

You might choose to unwind in one of Budapest's ornate thermal spas, such as the Art Deco Gellért Baths or the neo-Baroque Széchenyi medicinal baths near Heroes' Square. For something slightly different, you could visit Memento Park, where monumental Communist statues from 1949 to 1989 are now displayed. This evening, you are free to dine independently.

• Breakfast

Leaving Budapest after breakfast, we board the train to Prague. Winding alongside the Danube, we enjoy great views of the Danube Bend and the hilltop Visegrád citadel, before crossing the plains of southern Slovakia.

In Czechia, we travel through Brno before arriving in Prague in late afternoon. Dubbed 'The City of a Hundred Spires', the copper-domed churches of this majestic capital shimmer beside the winding Vltava River. On arrival, we check in to our modern hotel, located in the cosmopolitan Smíchov area of Prague on the western bank of the Vltava, where there is time to relax. The country is renowned for its brewing and this district is home to its second largest brewery, Staropramen.

This evening, we enjoy dinner in the hotel ready to head out on an exploration of Prague tomorrow.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Waking up in Prague, we embark on a guided walking tour after breakfast. Our exploration begins at Prague Castle, the largest medieval castle complex in Europe, dating back to the 9th century. Rich in history, its most striking landmark is the Gothic St Vitus Cathedral, whose south entrance is adorned with golden mosaics. We also view the 10th-century St George's Basilica and the quaint Golden Lane, once home to castle guards and goldsmiths.

Leaving the castle, we cross the famous 14th-century Charles Bridge, admiring the 75 statues built along its walls, before strolling along cobbled lanes to the grand Old Town Square. As the focal point of Prague life since the 12th century, one of the square's most fascinating features is the renowned astronomical clock, installed in 1410.

The rest of the afternoon is at leisure. Wandering along winding lanes, picturesque buildings greet you round corners, often containing interesting and curious museums. This evening, you might wish to stop at one of the city's many fine eateries for some hearty and delicious Czech food and a glass of frothy beer.

• Breakfast

Enjoy a day at leisure uncovering more wonders of Czechia's capital today. Prague's centre offers a magnificent array of options, and you may wish to see the sights during a relaxing cruise on the Vltava.

Prague's unique character has inspired many artists, including its celebrated writer, Franz Kafka. Around the city, you'll find several statues dedicated to him, including a rotating, kinetic representation of his head and one inspired by his short story 'Description of a Struggle' near the Spanish Synagogue. With an exterior evoking Andalucía's Alhambra, the Spanish Synagogue is appropriately named, containing ornate decorations influenced by Moorish design. This is just one of the beautiful locations in Josefov, Prague's historic Jewish Quarter, which relays the long history of Jewish Prague.

After sightseeing, gourmet restaurants, cocktail bars and trendy cafés are easy to find. If you're looking for something more authentic, you can enjoy pork with dumplings and beer in a traditional pub or 'hospody' down one of the Old Town's many charming lanes.

• Breakfast

Today, we leave Prague on a train bound for the German capital, passing the wonderful sandstone cliffs of Bohemian Switzerland enroute.

We arrive in Berlin in the mid-afternoon and, after checking in to our hotel, we view the city's sights with a local guide. The tour uncovers Berlin's fascinating history, which offers quite a contrast to the city's bustling atmosphere today. Our first stops near our hotel, signify how much this city has changed in the past few decades. In 1961, at the height of the Cold War, the Berlin Wall was constructed to stop East Germans fleeing to the west. After visiting the infamous Checkpoint Charlie, we get our first view of the Wall. Our tour concludes at the Brandenburg Gate - a spectacular 18th-century neoclassical monument that is snow a symbol of unity.

The rest of the afternoon and evening is yours to enjoy independently. Berlin boasts an impressive range of restaurants catering to all tastes and you might choose to sample a bratwurst or pretzel for an authentic taste of German cuisine.

• Breakfast

You day is free to continue exploring Berlin's sights at your own pace. Visiting the Norman Foster-designed glass dome and roof terrace of the Reichstag is possible with prior registration and offers spectacular city views.

In former East Berlin, the East Side Gallery is a long stretch of the Wall beside the Spree River now decorated in colourful and often iconic street art. To the north of the city is Bernauer Strasse, along which the Berlin Wall used to run, and the Berlin Wall Memorial can be visited at the western end of the street. Viewing the Wall in this location brings home how loved ones and neighbours were separated for nearly 30 years.

Elsewhere, Museum Island comprises captivating galleries and museums, including the Pergamon Museum. Alternatively, you could wander through the extensive Tiergarten to Berlin Zoo or the Bauhaus Archive. Further out, Charlottenburg Palace is the only remaining royal residence from the Hohenzollern dynasty, while Potsdam is home to the Baroque flower gardens of Park Sanssouci. This evening, we have our final group dinner together at a local restaurant.

• Breakfast, Dinner

This amazing holiday has revealed the beauty and history of four of central Europe's most impressive capital cities. From Vienna's classical grandeur to Berlin's emotive landmarks, we have sampled strudel at the Habsburg's imperial summer retreat, basked in the glow of an illuminated Danube cruise in Budapest and explored the stunning sights of magical Prague.

After breakfast in our hotel this morning, we transfer to Berlin's main railway station to begin our journey home, travelling to Brussels via Cologne. Boarding the Eurostar in the Belgian capital, we arrive at London St Pancras International in the evening, where your tour comes to an end.

• Breakfast
• Eurostar Light Meal