Imperial Budapest, Aristocratic Vienna – 5 days (Christmas, New Year's & Epiphany)

Gathering at the airport and flight to the capital of Slovakia, Bratislava. Departure for imperial Budapest. Upon arrival, the city guided tour begins. Beautiful, hospitable and "snuggled" on the banks of the Danube, to the right Buda is built on low hills and to the left Pest is spread out in a plain. Eight magnificent bridges connect these two parts, which have been united into one city for about 100 years. We will see the impressive Parliament building, Heroes' Square, the Chain Bridge, the superb Church of St. Matthew, the Fisherman's Bastion which is the symbol of the city and Gellert Hill. Transfer and check-in at our hotel. Free afternoon to spend as you wish. You can take a stroll down Vaci Utca with its nice shops and the modern Martonelli square or Varosmarti square with the famous Gerbeaud cafe. Overnight stay.

Breakfast at the hotel. Free day in the Paris of Eastern Europe, the charming Budapest. In the heart of the city, at the end of Vácsi Útca avenue, lies the Vörösmarty square where a Christmas market is set up every year. You can try some of the delicious white wines, taste Hungarian pork, traditional cake with sugar coating, with walnuts or coconut and chocolate. At the end of Andrássy avenue, you will meet the Heroes' square, one of the monuments of Hungary's world cultural heritage. There is one of the most beautiful European parks, with a wonderful lake that when frozen turns into an ice rink and it is actually the largest outdoor ice rink for skating in Central Europe. For the evening, we suggest you have fun at a local tavern with gypsy violins. Overnight stay.

Breakfast at the hotel. Departure for a trip to the first capital of Hungary, Esztergom, where we will visit the city's metropolitan cathedral, which was one of the largest in Europe until 1976. In traditional Szentendre, we will visit the Museum of the sculptor Margit Kovács and the small Orthodox church of 1752, built by the architect Mayer-Hófer. Then we will wander around the village of Artists and Fine Arts, as Saint Andrew is characteristically called, where the church of Saint Stephen dominates with the royal tombs. Departure for the capital of Austria, Vienna. Transfer to the hotel and rest of the day free to walk on the Kärntnerstrasse, and enjoy a Viennese coffee or a hot chocolate at one of the many old and famous cafes of the city like Central Cafe or Latman Café, to search for historical memories of Greek interest in the old taverns of Fleischmarkt or to visit the Treasury of the Hofburg, the Museum of Fine Arts to admire the invaluable collections of the Habsburgs. Overnight stay.

Breakfast at the hotel and immediately after, the panoramic sightseeing tour of the historic center of decorated Vienna begins, we will see the Belvedere Palace and cross the famous Ring Boulevard, to see the most important sights of Vienna, such as the City Park, the Opera, the Museum Square, the Francis Joseph Gate, the Parliament, the City Hall, the old Imperial Theater, the University and the Tandler Church, and the Votive Church. Then we will end up at the Cathedral of Saint Stephen and walk in the historic neighborhood of the Greek community. Free time. Overnight stay.

Breakfast at the hotel. Free time until the time we depart for Bratislava where the sightseeing tour of the old town of Stare Mesto will begin, which takes visitors a few centuries back in time, as they walk on the cobblestone streets, admire the baroque architecture and relax in cafes and restaurants. A short distance from the old town, we will also see other important sights, such as the 15th-century Hrad Castle which hosts the History and Music Museums, the National Theater and the Philharmonic Orchestra of Slovakia as well as the National Gallery housed in an 18th-century palace. Transfer to the airport for our return flight to Athens.