Hungary, Slovenia and Italy

This itinerary is the starting point for your tour, but it’s not set in stone. If there are days you would like to change, or specific places you’d like to go, we can work with you to create a personalized program that fits the needs of you and your students.

Day 1: Overnight Flight

Depart from the USA.

Day 2: Budapest

Upon arriving in Budapest, the capital of Hungary, meet your ACIS Tour Manager and begin exploring the Pearl of the Danube. Perhaps snack on kifli, croissant-like pastries, while taking in views of the magnificent parliament building, which features an eclectic yet beautiful mix of neo-Gothic, neo-Romanesque, and neo-Baroque styles of architecture.

Day 3: Budapest

Meet your local guide for a sightseeing tour of Budapest, that teaches you about the amazing 1,000-year history of this city, which is split in half by the Danube River—the Buda district on one side and the Pest district on the other (hence the city's name!). See Heroes' Square, St. Stephen's Basilica, and the spectacular Hungarian Parliament building, then cross one of the city's beautiful bridges to take in wonderful views from the neo-Roman Fisherman's Bastion, and enjoy entrance to Matthias Church. The afternoon is free to perhaps visit the Great Market Hall or reflect on the atrocities of the fascist and communist regimes at the powerful House of Terror museum.

Day 4: Ljubljana

This morning you’ll take a drive to Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia and a multicultural city noted for its many fine museums and medieval architecture. In the evening, get orientated by taking a walking tour led by your ACIS Tour Manager.

Day 5: Venice

Kick off the morning with guided sightseeing of Ljubljana's most famous sights. Discover the Old Square before crossing the Dragon Bridge on the way to Market Square. See the town's most recognizable sights, the Triple Bridge, City Hall Square and the Bishop's Palace, before ending your tour with a stroll along the river. Then you’ll travel to the jaw-dropping Postojna Cave, for an informative, exploratory experience where a mini-train transports you through a complex system of passages and dramatically lit chambers, formed over the eons by the Pivka River. Continue to the medieval town of Trieste for dinner before arriving at your Venice Mestre hotel this evening.

Day 6: Venice

Consisting of an archipelago carved by nearly 150 canals into 118 different islands, the incomparable city of Venice contains a wealth of sights. Arrive in St. Mark's Square where you can see the famous Bridge of Sighs—which connected the old prisons of Venice to the interrogation rooms of the neighboring Doge's Palace—and enjoy a visit inside St. Mark's Basilica, including the Loggia dei Cavalli. Marvel at the Basilica's Byzantine architecture and incredible mosaics, and notice how the floor has been affected by Venice having been built over the water. The Loggia offers an elevated view of both the Basilica's interior and of the Square's highlights, along with the original sculpture of four bronze horses known as the Quadriga that was brought back from the Crusades (the horses that can been seen from outside are copies). Then learn more about one of Venice's most famous exports during an authentic glassblowing demonstration and stop for a photo at nearby Rialto Bridge before exploring more at your own pace. You'll feel like a local in no time.

Day 7: Milan

The morning begins with a drive to Verona, the setting for Shakespeare’s epic romance play, Romeo and Juliet. You’ll enjoy a sightseeing tour, including a stop at the city’s Roman Arena, built in the 1st century and now used for modern-day entertainment such as concerts and operas. Then it’s time to head for Milan, one of Europe’s cultural hubs and a global center for fashion and design.

Day 8: Milan

Start the day’s activities with a guided sightseeing tour that shows you the glass- and iron-roofed Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II and world-renowned La Scala Opera House. Entrance is included to Milan’s massive Duomo, including a visit to the cathedral’s roof from which you can see as far as the Alps among the forest of spires on a clear day. In the afternoon, you’re free to explore more of the city at your own pace. Perhaps enjoy a gelato as you stroll through vibrant neighborhoods like the bohemian-spirited Quartiere Brera, dotted with art galleries, boutiques, churches, and restaurants, or browse through the Poldi Pezzoli Museum, home to artworks created by Michelangelo, Botticelli, Perugino and Pinturicchio.

Day 9: Departure

Depart for the USA.



Optional Extensions and Extra Nights:

Enhance your European experience with a two-night extension from Milan to beautiful Nice, visiting two gems of the glamorous Côte d'Azur, Monaco and Eze, en route.