Imperial New Year - Vienna and Budapest

Celebrate the arrival of 2024 along the Danube river while visiting three Hapsburg imperial cities, Vienna, Bratislava, and Budapest.

Breakfast will be waiting for you when you arrive in Budapest on Thursday morning, after which you will take a guided tour of the city before checking in to your four star hotel. On Friday you will have the chance to visit the Slovakian capital, Bratislava.  Saturday you will make a change of venue to Vienna, where you can immerse yourself in Austrian art, opera and culture or visit the lively Prater amusement park. Sunday offers you the chance to participate in various wintersports at Semmering, one of Austria's most well known resorts, before ringing in the New Year in the timeless city center of the capital of the Austrian Empire.  

Spaces on the Imperial Weekend always sell out quickly. Reserve yours today  with Kaiserslautern Outdoor Recreation!

Estimated Itinerary

27 December: Kaiserslautern to Budapest

After settling into your seat you will lean back and relax while your comfortable coach whisks you away to Budapest, the first destination in your multi-city trip. Don’t forget the essentials for your overnight ride.  Blankets, pillows, power banks, snacks and drinks will all help make your overnight journey to Budapest more enjoyable.

28 December: Budapest

Breakfast will be waiting for you when you arrive at your 4 star hotel, located on Vaci Utca, Budapest’s famous shopping street. Once you have stored your luggage and filled your stomach, you will take a guided tour of the city, once one of the Imperial Hapsburg capitals. From the overlook at Buda Castle you can look down and across the river into Pest’s lively downtown district and St. Istvan’s Cathedral.  Once you are familiarized with the city, your afternoon and evening are free to use any way you wish.

29 December: Free day in Budapest or Excursion to Bratislava*

Visiting Bratislava, the Slovak capital, today, will allow you to check another country off your been-there, done-that list. While small, Bratislava was the capital of the Kingdom of Hungary for almost 300 years. The charming city center, Stare Miasto, is a worthwhile way to spend your day in Bratislava.  Whether you visit Slovakia or not, you will be able to enjoy a final night in Budapest before continuing to Vienna.

* Optional excursion paid directly to tour manager, €40 per person

30 December: Vienna

This morning you will arrive in Vienna, whos historic residents are remembered by the city’s name, the “City of Music”. Schubert, Straus, Mozart, Beethoven, Liszt, Brahms and many other musicians have made Vienna their home, as did the Hapsburg dynasty and Sigmund Freud. The Austrian Empire’s capital on the Danube has been the home of art, music and culture since the middle ages and continues to be ranked as one of the highest cities in the world for “Quality of Life”. After your tour of the city center, you can enjoy your evening however you wish. Your tour manager will be able to assist you in planning your evening or in purchasing tickets to cultural or musical events. 

31 December: Free day in Vienna or Optional Excursion to Semmering* for Winter Sports

Vienna is home to many famous attractions and cultural institutions, including the Prater Amusement Park, the Vienna Boys Choir, the Hofburg and the Spanish Riding School.  Explore the city on your free day or take the chance to enjoy the winter sports options available to you at nearby Semmering**.   Located at 3117 meters (almost 2 miles) above sea level, Semmering is a winter sports paradise noted for its skiing, but sledding, snowshoeing, winter walking and cross country skiing are also available**.  Don’t tire yourself out too much though, Vienna is an exciting place to be at midnight when the calendar changes to 2024.

* Optional excursion paid directly to tour manager €30 per person
** Lift tickets, equipment or clothing rental not included

1 January: Schoenbrunnen Palace and return to Kaiserslautern

After breakfast, you will board your coach for the return to Kaiserslautern, but you have one more photo stop to make before you hit the road; Schoenbrunnen Palace.  Whether you admire the architecture from inside* or outside the palace and gardens are a beautiful end to your time in Vienna.  You will arrive in Kaiserslautern late this evening.

* Optional Palace entry not included

Price, on or prior to Friday, October 20:

• Double Occupancy: $829 per person
• Single Occupancy: $1129

Price, on or after Saturday, October 21:

• Double Occupancy: $929 p.p.
• Single Occupancy: $1129
   
• Up to 2 children aged 4-11 in family room or adjoining double rooms with 2 paid adults: $699 per child
• Infants under 4 sharing existing bedding with adult: $229 per infant

• Room assignments for families will be determined individually by the hotels based on their specific capacity and available room types. 
• Families will be assigned to either Family Rooms or adjoining double rooms by the hotels.
• Kaiserslautern Outdoor Recreation will request Family rooms upon customer request, but does not guarantee the room configuration assigned by the hotel.

Trip Includes:

• Round trip tour bus transportation
• 2 overnights at Mercure Budapest Korona**** or equivalent
• 2 overnight at IntercityHotel Wien****  or equivalent
• Daily breakfast (including upon arrival in Budapest)
• Guided tours of Vienna and Budapest

Optional Excursions: 

• Day trip to Bratislava: €40 per person, paid on site to tour manager, cash only
• Wintersports at Semmering: €30 per person, paid on site to tour manager, cash only

What to Bring:

• Comfortable, weather appropriate shoes and clothing
• Credit/Debit Card or Euro and Hungarian Forints
• Military ID and Passport 

Departure: 6 p.m.

Return: Sunday evening