Ottoman Empire

The itinerary is the starting point to your tour, but it’s not set in stone. Your group leader may make changes leading up to departure.

Day 1, Monday July 17: Vienna

Willkommen in Wien, the imperial capital of the Habsburgs! Vienna is home to grand museums, magnificent palaces, and a bustling cafe scene. Depending on your arrival time, the morning and afternoon are yours to explore this charming city. You could enjoy a walk around Stephansplatz and admire the cathedrals, statues, and bustling streets. If you want to immerse yourself right into Viennese cafe culture, head to one of the many coffee shops and try the celebrated Sachertorte or a tiny Mozartkugel. This evening, we will take a trip up to Kahlenberg mountain - where the Holy Roman Empire famously defeated the Ottoman Turks in 1683 - to enjoy wine and a reception dinner at a traditional Austrian Heuriger. (D) *Please note, as individuals arrive throughout the day, transfers from the airport to your hotel are not provided. Plan to arrive at the hotel by 3 pm. (D)

Day 2, Tuesday July 18: Vienna

Fueled up on a delicitous breakfast of Viennese breads and pastries, we’ll start the day with a walking tour of the historic downtown district, where an expert local guide shows you the glory of the former Imperial capital including the Ringstrasse, Hofburg Palace complex, Opera House and St. Stephen’s Cathedral. After free time for grabbing lunch, we will head to Belvedere Palace, a beautiful baroque building that is now one of the world’s foremost art museums. An art historian will guide us through the museum and show us the masterpieces of Gustav Klimt, Egon Schiele, and Caspar David Friedrich. After exploring the gardens, we will head back to the central district. (B,D)

Day 3, Wednesday July 19: Vienna

This morning, we will venture out to the first cafe in Vienna, and learn the legend of its fabled grand opening. While many equate England and France as the start to the Enlightenment, Vienna itself hosted an array of academies and salons, thanks to its coffeehouse culture. Enjoy a pleasant morning soaking in the romance and history of Vienna at your leisure. We will eat lunch at the Naschmarkt - the largest open-air market in Austria - where will also grab treats for our picnic dinner. After lunch, Schönbrunn Palace awaits. This massive Habsburg summer retreat is home to an incredible zoo, Roman ruins, a greenhouse, and immaculate gardens. Tonight, we will enjoy our picnic dinner on the hill outside of  Schönbrunn and feast as we watch the sunset from one of the highest points in the city. (B)

Day 4, Thursday July 20: Budapest

Say auf wiedersehen to Austria and follow the Danube River east to Slovakia. Stopping in the capital city Bratislava, we will take a guided historical tour through its medieval old town. After some time for exploration and lunch, we will continue our tour of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire and drive to Budapest. After dropping our bags at our hotel, we will head to the Danube for a dinner cruise, where we will enjoy delicious food and marvel at the beauty of Budapest, affectionately known as the Paris of the East. (B,D)

Day 5, Friday July 21: Budapest

This morning, we will meet our local Hungarian guide for a sightseeing tour, where we will dive into the thousand-year history of Budapest. The city itself 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!). We will see Heroes' Square, St. Stephen's Basilica, the spectacular Hungarian Parliament building, and 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. Once we’ve been acquainted with the city, the afternoon is yours to explore. You can sit at a cafe on the Danube, venture to one of its many bazaars and market halls, or visit one of its many museums. Be sure to check out some of the local cuisine - try some goulash or stuffed cabbage leaves! - before we take an evening trip to Rudas thermal bath, a Turkish bath built during the 16th century. (B)

Day 6, Saturday July 22: Istanbul

This morning, we will head to the airport to catch a flight to Istanbul, the former capital of the Byzantine Empire and the Ottoman Empire. Straddling Europe and Asia and sitting on the Bosphorus Strait, Istanbul has been an essential and instrumental city for millenia. We will begin our time in this cosmopolitan city, we will start to learn about Islamic beliefs, practices, and art by visiting the Rustem Pasha mosque. Then we’ll continue to Istanbul’s famous Grand Bazaar - an open air market that has served the city for centuries. You will have plenty of time to wander along its corridors and marvel at the food, scarves, lamps, tiles, art, and jewelry. Our welcome dinner tonight will be a feast of Turkish foods at the famous restaurant Develi. (B,D)

Day 7, Sunday July 23: Istanbul

Today will start with a walking sightseeing tour of the old city. From Byzantium to Constantinople to Istanbul, this imperial capital has been the cradle of civilization and religion for centuries. We will walk to the Topkapi Palace, the 15th-century palace of the Ottomans. On our guided tour of the palace, we will walk the footsteps of Suleiman the Magnificent as we learn about the rich history of the Ottomans, who ruled from 1453-1923. From here we will proceed to an Islamic madrasa that now functions as an active art studio. Our master artist will teach us the ways of marbling, and we will all be able to create our own floral masterpiece. After enjoying Turkish köfte for lunch, we will walk to the Cistern of Theodosius, a massive underground cistern built 1600 years ago. Continue to the seafront where we will embark on a cruise on the Bosphorus, where we will have drinks and snacks as we marvel at Istanbul from the water.Tonight is at your leisure to enjoy some of the fine dining options in Istanbul. Perhaps stop by the famed Orient Express hotel for a aperitif. (B)

Day 8, Monday July 24: Istanbul

Our last full day in the city will start at the inimitable Hagia Sophia, which was originally a church, then a mosque, then a museum, and is now a practicing mosque again. Then we will walk along the former Hippodrome, marvel at the Blue Mosque with its precious Iznik/Nicea tiles from early 17th century. Another highlight of today is the food tasting tour in the Spice Bazaar. After getting our fill of Turkish cheeses, meats, teas, and Turkish delights, drive to our hotel to freshening up. We will depart for the newly revitalized Galataport, and head to a delicious farewell dinner. (B,D)

Day 9, Tuesday July 25: Departure

Transfer on your own to the airport for return flight to the United States.