Central Europe Heritage Tours
Jewish tour to
Budapest, Prague, Dresden and Berlin

This tour is the quintessential Jewish Heritage tour in Central Europe, offering homage to the countless contributions made by Jews over the centuries to the spirit and culture of this part of the world. Budapest, Prague and Berlin: Each of these cities evokes not only world history but a deep, rich, and specifically Jewish past. Come and recognize our continuing legacy to the Jewish soul of Central Europe and the world. Pre or post tours can be arranged to other cities or countries not included in the itinerary, such as Vienna or Poland.

In 2011 we are focusing on the Central Europe tour going to Budapest, Vienna and Prague. Please check that tour for details. We can arrange pre or post tour programs in Berlin.

Day 01 Monday Arrival in Budapest
Arrival in Budapest Airport. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel. Later, meet your Tour Director, who will give you a first introduction to this majestic place during an orientation tour, before checking in at your luxurious hotel in the heart of the city. Remainder of the day at leisure. In the evening, time for Welcome Dinner. Kempinski Hotel.

Day 02 Tuesday Budapest
Breakfast at the hotel. Depart on a Jewish Tour in Budapest, home of Eastern Europe’s largest Jewish community. Visit the birthplace of Theodore Herzl, founder of Zionism, the Jewish Museum, and the lavish Dohany Synagogue, where Liszt performed on the organ. Continue to the Weeping Willow Memorial Tree, dedicated to the 600,000 Hungarian Jews who perished in the Holocaust. Lunch is served during the tour. Next, drive to the hilly Buda side of the city to enjoy panoramic views of Budapest and the Danube River (which divides the city into “Buda” and “Pest”). Continue to Castle Hill, where Emperors of the Austro-Hungarian Empire once ruled one of Europe’s most powerful entities. Pass the Royal Palace and the ornate St. Matthias Church, entering Fisherman’s Bastion and the Citadel for spectacular views of some of Budapest’s famous buildings. En route back to Pest, see the Raoul Wallenberg Memorial, honoring the noble Swedish diplomat, rescuer of thousands of Jews during the Holocaust. Remainder of the day at leisure. Kempinski Hotel.

Day 03 Wednesday Budapest – Prague
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Prague by coach. Sit back and relax as you drive through the colorful farmlands. Upon arrival in Prague, check into your luxurious hotel in the historic Jewish Quarter. Remainder of the day at leisure. Kempinski Hotel.

Day 04 Thursday Prague
Breakfast at the hotel. Begin your Jewish Tour in Prague with a walking tour of its uniquely-preserved Jewish Quarter, known as Josefhov, which survived, ironically, due to the Nazi’s intention of making Prague itself a museum of the “Vanished Jewish Race.” The Jewish Quarter is actually one of the principal sights for tourists of all religions when touring Prague. Stroll the charming streets and visit the Maisel, Spanish, Pinkas, and Klaus Synagogues, the Ceremonial Hall, and the oldest existing Synagogue, the Old-New (“Alt-Neu”) Synagogue. Prague’s Jewish Museum uses several of these Synagogues as exhibits, and thus boasts one of the most extensive Judaica collections in the world. Also visit the striking Old Cemetery, dating back to the 15th Century, burial place of many of Prague’s famous Jews, among them the beloved Rabbi Loew. Lunch is served during the tour. In the afternoon, continue on a tour of the Prague Castle Area and Lesser Town. Drive to the top of Hradcany Hill, and see the imposing Castle, now the official residence of the President of the Czech Republic. Continue to the stunning St. Vitus Cathedral before reaching the Lesser Town and its picturesque streets. Cross the famous Charles Bridge, always crowded with artists showing their work. From here, continue to explore the delightful and colorful streets of Prague. Remainder of the day at leisure. Intercontinental Hotel.

Day 05 Friday Prague
Breakfast at the hotel. Depart on an excursion to Terezin (Theresienstadt). This former fortress was, on the order of Heydrich, transformed to a notorious “model” concentration camp, from which Jews from all parts of Europe were assembled while waiting to be transported to their deaths. The tour will include the barracks, crematorium, cemetery and Ghetto Museum, which contains a unique exhibition of art and poetry created by imprisoned Jewish children, as well as original Nazi documents. Later, return to Prague. In the evening, enjoy Friday night dinner. Intercontinental Hotel.

Day 06 Saturday Prague
Breakfast at the hotel. Enjoy a full day at leisure, with time to experience Shabbat Services in one of Prague’s many synagogues, and/or explore the historical city on your own. Intercontinental Hotel.

Day 07 Sunday Prague – Dresden – Berlin
Breakfast at the hotel. Depart Prague. Drive north towards Germany and the city of Dresden, one of Europe’s most exquisite and culturally rich cities. In 1945, the city was almost destroyed in a massive bombing raid; during the Cold War years, it lay fallow behind the Iron Curtain. Since the fall of the Wall, however, Dresden has risen out of the ashes and may be enjoyed in all its baroque beauty once again. Like the city itself, the Dresden Jewish community has also experienced a post-wall renaissance, attested to by the architecturally unique new Synagogue – a landmark on the new Dresden skyline. Our Jewish Tour in Dresden includes Lunch at the bright new JCC (part of the Dresden Synagogue complex) followed by a walking tour of old Dresden. You will see the Semper Opera, the Frauenkirche, and the Zwinger, all among the world’s most impressive feats of architecture. Later, continue to the complex, fascinating and ever-evolving city of Berlin, a pivotal place in both world history and culture, and the site, today, of an amazing influx of Jewish consciousness. Remainder of the day at leisure. Berlin Hilton Hotel.

Day 08 Monday Berlin
Full Buffet Breakfast at the hotel. This morning visit the former Eastern part of the city. The Jewish Tour of Berlin begins with a visit to the Jewish Quarter and its synagogues. Insight into Berlin will also be gained by visiting “Check Point Charlie” and Alexanderplatz, once the cold center of Communist East Germany. You will also see “Unter den Linden,” the Brandenburg Gate (the former gate to, and symbol of, the city of Berlin), Museum Island and the Pergamon Museum. Lunch is served during the tour. In the afternoon, visit the more modern parts of Berlin and the area around the chic Kurfurstendamm Boulevard. Continue via the Reichstag and the Bellevue Palace, residence of the new German President, to the brand-new Potsdamer Square and Tiergarten. Remainder of the day at leisure. Berlin Hilton Hotel.

Day 09 Tuesday Berlin
Full Buffet Breakfast at the hotel. This morning is devoted to the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, designed by American architect Peter Eisenman. Close to the Brandenburg Gate, this evocative memorial is composed of 2,711 soaring, tomblike stones, of varying heights, amongst which one wanders on gently uneven ground. The accompanying Education Center, with its state-of- the-art exhibits, is also fascinating. Later, visit the new Jewish Museum Berlin. Finished in 2001, this architecturally profound museum was designed by Polish-born Jewish- American architect Daniel Libeskind, and provides a unique look at 2,000 years of Jewish history. Today, it is one of the most-visited sights in Berlin. Afternoon is at leisure for you to explore Berlin on your own. Tonight’s Farewell Dinner is served in a local Restaurant. Berlin Hilton Hotel.

Day 10 Wednesday Berlin - USA
Full Buffet Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport.