Holy Names Academy - Hungary Music Festival

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, Friday June 19: Overnight Flight

Departure from the United States.

Day 2, Saturday June 20: Szeged

Üdvözöljük Magyarországon! (Welcome to Hungary!) Arrive at Budapest and meet your tour manager, before beginning the journey south to Szeged, Hungary's third city. Check into your hotel, and take a brief orientation tour with your tour manager, before dinner in a local restaurant (D)

Day 3, Sunday June 21: Szeged

This morning after a hearty buffet breakfast take a guided tour of the city. Your tour includes the Cathedral Square, which is the exact size of St Mark's Square in Venice and is lined with elegant, northern European-style buildings, the Synagogue, the Art-Nouveau Reök Palace (regional Art-Centre), Szechenyi Square, and Szeged’s main pedestrian street, the Karasz street, with many architectural sights. You'll also see the city from the picturesque Tisza river on a serene boat cruise. Tonight you'll perform your first concert of the tour in a local venue such as the Cathedral or Votive Church in Szeged, before dinner in a local restaurant (B,D)

Day 4, Monday June 22: Pecs

Check out of your hotel after breakfast and head across the south of the country. On your first stop today learn all about one of Hungary's most important products for over 200 years, paprika, and see it produced in a traditional mill and museum. After a brief independent lunch stop, you'll visit the Gemenc nature reserve and take a trip on the only lowland forest railway in Hungary. Your final stop today is Mohács, the southernmost town on the Danube in Hungary, and home to the buso carnivall; you'll visit the Buso-courtyard, which gives a taste of the atmosphere of this internationally famous folk tradition. Continue to the city of Pecs and check into your hotel before taking dinner together (B,D)

Day 5, Tuesday June 23: Pecs

After breakfast explore this European City of Culture (2010) and Sister City to Seattle with your tour guide, including the Bishop's Palace with the Cathedral, Cella Septichora visitor centre with early Christian tombs, monuments of the Turkish era, such as the mosque of Yakovali Hasan Pasha or the TV tower on top of Misina hill. Later visit the Zsolnay Cultural Quarter (built on an old factory site) which has become the jewel of Pécs, a new, unique cultural and artistic centre. The Quarter features unique exhibitions of the Zsolnay heritage, as well as cafés, restaurants, small shops, a theatre, and a concert hall. Tonight you'll perform your next concert, which could be in conjunction with friends from the sister city organisation. (B,D)

Day 6, Wednesday June 24: Budapest

After breakfast check out of your hotel and head towards the capital Budapest. En route you cross the Great Hungarian Plain, known locally as the 'puszta'. Here you'll stop off for the authentic puszta equestrian experience: your visit includes a traditional carriage ride, a thrilling display of expert horseriding, and a delicious traditional lunch. Later continue to the capital to check into your hotel, have dinner, and partipicate in the welcome ceremony of the Budapest International Choir and Orchestra Festival (B,L,D)

Day 7, Thursday June 25: Budapest

After breakast take a guided sightseeing tour of the city on the Danube, including the ornate St Michael Church and the famous Fisherman Bastion view point. This afternoon rehearse along side other choirs and then after an early dinner perform in the evening grand opening concert of the festival. (B,D)

Day 8, Friday June 26: Budapest

Today you'll experience some of the other performers taking part in the festival, before you come together with all the performing ensembles to rehearse under the festival conductor, before forming a massed choir for the main gala concert of the festival. (B,D)

Day 9, Saturday June 27: Budapest

This morning after breakfast dive into the rich musical heritage of this city, including a visit to the brand new House of Music where you'll discover the musical greats such as Kodaly and Bartok. Today sees the last day of the Festival, as you rehearse and perform your final stand-alone concert as part of the festival. Celebrate your participation with a farewell dinner in a traditional Hungarian restaurant with folk music (B,D)

Day 10, Sunday June 28: Departure

Transfer to the airport for return flight to the United States (B)