11-Day Balkan Adventure: Budapest to Frankfurt (Vienna Schonbrunn Palace)

We'll drive to the Croatian capital Zagreb, whose buildings are still well preserved despite having gone through several military incursions. This ancient city is full of beautiful Gothic architecture with exquisitely crafted detailing. Together with its Mediterranean cuisine and locally produced wines, as well as friendly Croatian hospitality, Zagreb is sure to be a wonderful experience. You will visit the city's highlights such as Zagreb Cathedral, the Ban Jelacic Square, and the Church of St. Mark.
 

Enjoy a guided tour to Plitvice Lakes National Park, consisting of 16 lakes joined by waterfalls, walkways, and hiking trails. In the dense mountains, layers of travertine barriers create a natural dam, forming fairy tale lakes. The calcium carbonate rich water has a special silver color, mirroring the trees on its surface. The views are stunning.
 

Accommodations for the evening are in Zadar or a nearby city.

After breakfast we'll do some sightseeing in the ancient city of Zadar. This city retains the narrow streets and buildings of medieval times, infused with a strong religious atmosphere. Close to the waterfront, you can admire the modern Sea Organ and Sun Salutation, an amazing solar light display. Then we'll drive to Split, the second largest city in Croatia. The city has many ancient Roman style buildings dating back over 1,700 years. The most famous are the ruins of Diocletian's Palace, built in the fourth century AD.



 



Accommodations for the evening are in Dubrovnik or a nearby city.

People fall in love with Dubrovnik at first sight. This culturally and historically rich city is more recently known as the filming location for King's Landing in Game of Thrones. But the real stars of the show are Dubrovnik Old Town, the city walls, Lovrijenac Fortress, Rector's Palace, and the Franciscan Monastery. You can also take a cable car to up to the mountain for an aerial view of the city below (own expense).

 



Accommodations for the evening are in Dubrovnik or a nearby city.

The Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina is the focus of today’s itinerary. Our first stop: Pocitelj, the stepped medieval fortress, now a UNESCO World Heritage site. You will also see stunning Blagaj with its Dervish Monastery nestled in a 200 meter high cliff, surrounded by crystal clear streams. Then we head to the ancient city of Mostar, to cross the magnificent ancient arch bridge and capture the beautiful scenery on both sides of the river. After visiting this ancient city of poetry and paintings, we'll drive to our hotel for the evening, in or near Sarajevo.
 

Sarajevo was once an important gateway to the East. This city, which combines different religions and cultures, has a very unique European style. Its profound historical imprint, which includes the assassination at Latin Bridge that caused the First World War, and the Sarajevo Meeting of Cultures Line, can still be found in the Old Town. The rebirth and transformation of Sarajevo is reflected in the modern architecture of the new city. After our visit, we'll cross the border back into Croatia.
 

Accommodations for the evening are in or near Vinkovci.

Departing in the morning we'll first visit Pecs. Located between the Danube and the Drava, it is one of the most attractive cities in Hungary, with a pleasant climate and long history. Pecs also features a magnificent museum and the best Turkish ruins in the country. Pecs is known for music, opera, and ballet. The highlight is the Pecs Cathedral towering over central Szent Istvan Square. We'll drive back to Budapest in the afternoon.
  

After breakfast, it's off to Vienna, the capital of Austria, to see Schonbrunn Palace, former summer residence of the Imperial family and preferred living quarters of Empress Maria Theresa; Stadtpark (City Park), home of the gilded bronze statue of Johann Strauss; the Austrian Parliament Building; the world-famous Vienna State Opera; and Hofburg Palace.

  
After a stroll along the Kartnerstrasse we'll arrive at St. Stephen's Cathedral. Tickets for a Viennese Waltz concert may also be arranged (at your own expense).

After breakfast, we'll head up into the Alps to fabled Mondsee, a town situated on the shores of Lake Mondsee, home to the medieval Mondsee Abbey. The cloister church was used as the site for the wedding in The Sound of Music. After arriving in Munich, we'll visit Marienplatz, a central square in the city center, and New Town Hall, which has continuously housed the city council, the mayor's office, and part of the the administrative body since 1874.
  
Our hotel for the evening will be in Munich or a neighboring city.

After breakfast we'll take the mountain roads farther into Switzerland, slowly winding our way up to the snow-capped giants of the Alps. Once in Engelberg, we'll take the gondola 45 minutes up to Mount Titlis, 10,623 feet above sea level.
  
We'll go inside a glacier cave and stroll across Titlis Cliff Walk, Europe's highest suspension bridge. You may opt to have your lunch at one of the several dining establishments at the peak (own expense).
  
Afterwards we'll drive to picturesque Lucerne to see the Lion Monument and venture into the narrow alleyways to find the perfect souvenir. Shops selling Swiss watches are also in abundance here. We'll spend the night in Zurich or a neighboring city. 
 

After breakfast we'll go out into beautiful Zurich, the financial capital of Switzerland. Our first stop will be Lake Zurich for some of the best photo opportunities of the day, followed by a trip to Schaffhausen to see Rhine Falls.
  
Then we'll take the mountain roads back across the German border to see the Black Forest and Lake Titisee. The optional lunch by the lake includes pork knuckle and authentic black forest cake. Then we'll return to Frankfurt.