Travel to Central Europe

HUNGARY AND HER NEIGHBORS - Old World charm and hospitality in a lesser visited part of Europe

Forming a bridge between Central and Eastern Europe, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia and the Czech Republic carry with them incongruent images - the courtly voluptuousness of the Austro-Hungarian Empire personified by its sensuous – gorgeous! – Baroque and Art Nouveau buildings versus the gray years of Soviet subjugation with its oppressive authoritarian architecture. When the Eastern Bloc finally crumbled, these countries faced a sizable developmental gap to catch up with the progressive West. They’ve made progress, some more than others, but still have ways to go.

Touring this part of the world is not like touring Western Europe. Our in-depth itineraries take that difference into account, enabling an intimate exploration of these once-closed countries where generations of citizens lost the habits of freedom and self-determination. Instead of a simple 2-3 city-hopping tour, we take you beyond and behind, showing you the centuries of triumph and the decades of hardship, a complete picture. You don’t have to be an expat Eastern European to reconnect with the past here, finding beauty and caution in the storied mountains and valleys, cities and hamlets of the region.

Design Destinations offers your group an insider view that combines deep knowledge of the countries with our intuitive understanding of them. This insight is a very precious commodity in tourism. You’ll discover fascinating cities, the sumptuous, rich feel of Old World sophistication, the wholehearted embrace of music, art, glorious cuisine and coffeehouse culture. You’ll visit medieval towns and villages, Baroque and Renaissance palaces, fortresses perched on rocky crags, romantic castle ruins, healing spas, stunning places of worship, and protected natural landscapes of forests, lakes and wetlands. You’ll also see scars, some of them self-afflicted, of two World Wars, and the broodingly stark reminders of a Soviet past. You’ll be stirred, certainly, and come to understand this part of the world as never before.

Design Destinations can custom design your itinerary. Below are some suggestions to start your plans, but we can do almost anything. Contact us!

Budapest, the “Queen of the Danube”

Budapest offers the seasoned traveler a distinctive European culture with a dash of paprika – that is, with its own inimitable Hungarian flavor. When you see the domed baths, originally built by the Ottoman Turks during their 150 years of occupation, and the eclectic style of turn-of-the-century architecture throughout the city, you’ll know you could be nowhere else but Budapest. You’ll taste this distinctiveness in the savory cuisine that hearkens back to the Magyars, Turks, Serbs, Austrians and French.

Despite modernization and development, Budapest has preserved its aura of charm. It is a city with a flair for contrast, where baroque meets art nouveau meets modern. Here different architectural styles create harmony rather than dissonance. Superb structures, cafés, and thermal baths combine with food, culture and warm hospitality to create an unforgettable experience for visitors.

For the energetic, Budapest presents the dilemma of over-choice: 237 monuments, 223 museums and galleries, 35 theatres, 90 cinemas, 2 opera houses, 12 concert halls and nearly 200 places of amusement. Either you must add days to your trip or solemnly promise yourself a return visit.

Bratislava, one of Europe’s smallest capital cities

Founded in the 10th century, Bratislava straddles the Danube and the left bank of the Morava River. The only European capital to border two countries (Hungary and Austria), it is Slovakia’s largest city and a former (for almost 250 years) capital of Hungary. Its picture postcard palace, one of two, sits on a bluff above the Danube, completing a charming vista of red and orange tile roofs over a city full of Baroque architecture. Explore the walkable old quarter, Staré Město, with its cobbled streets, museums and small boutiques. This quintessential Central European city boasts an 11th century Gothic cathedral, the requisite old Town Hall, theaters and concert halls. With the vine-covered low Carpathian Mountains as a backdrop and the small villages and ski venues of the High Tatras not far away, Bratislava is a good base for outdoor recreation and cultural pursuits.

Prague, Europe's fourth most visited city after London, Paris and Rome

Bohemian Prague, the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic, has a history intertwined with the Hapsburgs and the Austro-Hungarian Empire. In 1968 it was the site of ‘Prague Spring’, an unsuccessful foreshadowing of the fall of the Iron Curtain. Located on hills overlooking the Vltava River, it is scenically beautiful, a photographer’s dream. There is much to attract: the Old Town Square with its delightful mechanical clock, the 14th century Charles Bridge, Prague Castle, Charles University (the oldest university in Central Europe), the old Jewish quarter with its medieval Old-New Synagogue, and the trendy areas of Staré Město and Malá Strana, full of outdoor sculpture, boutiques, restaurants, concert halls, clubs and galleries. Old Prague is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city exudes a wry sense of humor, so raise a toast to it, with lots of choices: Czechs drink more beer per capita than any other nationality.

Castles and Mansions of Hungary and Transylvania

Incursions from the Ottoman Empire prior to the mid-18th century led to the destruction of most castles and manor houses in Hungary and Transylvania (now part of Romania but prior to 1919 part of Hungary). But take heart, castle-lovers! Noble families stepped up and rebuilt abundantly. Today the region has hundreds of castles and great houses, publicly and privately owned, on river banks and mountaintops, in cities, villages and open countryside. Some have handsome facades, round and square towers and park-like gardens, but some are surprisingly sedate – the castle next door! Some are romantic ruins with gaping wounds of conquest. Some have legends that will curl your hair. Engage your inner voyeur - visit some, stay in the others for a unique journey back in time. This is a wonderfully hands-on journey that will enhance your movie-going experiences ever after!

Faith-based Tours

For the last thousand years, the people of this region have confirmed their religious fervor in brick and mortar, marble and gilt. For the glory of god, and sometimes for the vanity of the powerful, they have erected houses of worship that range from magnificent Baroque cathedrals and towering basilicas to modest buildings barely distinguishable from the rest of the neighborhood. Some are famous places of pilgrimage because they were the site of miracles; some are miraculous simply by surviving until today. Catholics, Presbyterians, Lutherans, Serbian Orthodox and Jews left monuments that are filled with beautiful art, precious artefacts and human aspiration. Whether or not religion moves you, the art and history contained in these buildings are windows into this part of the world and well worth seeing. We can custom-tailor a faith-based itinerary that meets your specifications.

Fountains of Youth – indulging in thermal waters

For many people, the perfect vacation combines historic cities, castles and beautiful countryside with the absolute “me” moments of a resort spa. Since antiquity, royalty, the wealthy, the powerful and the sore of body have found delightful relief from much of what ails them in the mineralized waters of thermal springs. In spa cities and towns, you can put aside modern-day stress with a good soak and a complete menu of rejuvenating spa treatments. Thermal springs are geothermally heated, and spas feature both indoor and outdoor soaking pools. Imagine floating in very warm water, outdoors, even in winter, and feeling blissful relief from aching muscles and joints, arthritis and spine issues.

In contrast to the North American view of spa-soaking as an occasional indulgence and escape for wealthy individuals, the Hungarians look upon their affordable spas as a traditional social ritual, a place to meet and relax with friends and family on a regular basis. Where Americans might meet for a drink after work, Hungarians might meet for a soak before dinner. – and there is a lot of choice.

Sip and Taste Trail – a wine journey through Hungary

Hungary has been producing wines since… well, almost forever! Its climate and soils are ideal for viticulture and wine making. There is historical proof that the Celts were crushing grapes in the 3rd century (their 283 AD vintage was apparently extraordinary!) and it is rumored that Attila the Hun fortified himself for the conquest of Rome by detouring into Hungary for a short tipple. With few Hungarian wines available in the West other than Tokaj and Balaton, the Hungarian wine scene is ripe for exploration. The country has more than 20 wine regions with wine trails – you will enjoy many fascinating tastes, paired with savory local cuisine, and no doubt bring back some excellent vintages to impress your dinner guests.

Mother-Daughter bonding

You could bond at home for an hour or an afternoon until work, responsibilities and social media call you away. Or you could enjoy an off-the-beaten-track experience that involves novel destinations, gorgeous scenery, beautiful music, wonderful cuisine where you don’t set foot in the kitchen, shopping (still bargain prices!), relaxing together at a spa and encountering delights of all kinds that reach out to you across generational lines. These tours are unique, lovely and memory-making. Many involve young-at-heart grandmas and/or their daughters and/or young adult granddaughters. Aunts, cousins and BFFs are welcome too. Contact us to put together the perfect individualized itinerary for you and the girls.

Eco-Discovery tours and Bird-Watching tours

Hungary, Romania, Slovakia and the Czech Republic are full of national parks, forests, lakes and wetlands. The rolling plains and hills, wide rivers and cooling springs are natural habitats for diverse wildlife, plus the region is a flyway for multiple bird migrations. If you like to include hiking, walking and physical activity on your vacations, plus travel in the company of a guide who knows the flora and fauna of the area, we have the tour for you. Call us for more particulars.

Take to the Saddle – Horseback tours

Not for you if you once rode a pony at a birthday party. These small group tours are exclusively for experienced riders. The International Horseback Rally of 2000 was held in Northern Hungary at the home of the Lipizzaner herd. Now equestrian tours are well established here. The wooded hills and rolling valleys of Transdanubia are just right for horse and rider adventures of any length, or you can combine a horseback tour with other programs. Choose a classical tour which incorporates sightseeing and excellent cuisine with daily riding or pick an evening tour when, up in the saddle and out in the countryside, you’re that much closer to the stars.