Cakes and Coffeehouses!
Budapest, Hungary & Vienna, Austria
June 11 - 21, 2023
Budapest, Hungary & Vienna, Austria
June 11 - 21, 2023
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Layers of rich chocolate buttercream, tender sponge cake, thin and crunchy caramel... you might have enough reasons to go on this trip already, and we've only described one cake!
Join us on this 10-night vacation to Budapest and Vienna to explore these beautiful cities through two delicious delights for which they are famous: cakes and coffee! We'll sample delectable confections at the oldest coffee house in Budapest, sip a rich brew at a legendary Austrian coffee house whose patrons have included figures such as Freud and Trotsky, and taste-test our way through a historic and controversial Viennese dessert!
Of course, there is more to experience beyond these culinary treats. We'll also visit one of Budapest's thermal baths (built atop natural hot springs), go on a tour of picturesque Hungarian wineries, explore Vienna's magnificent Schönbrunn Palace, stroll across the majestic bridges that stretch across the Danube, and much, much more. Read on to learn all about this delicious vacation.
Join us on this 10-night vacation to Budapest and Vienna to explore these beautiful cities through two delicious delights for which they are famous: cakes and coffee! We'll sample delectable confections at the oldest coffee house in Budapest, sip a rich brew at a legendary Austrian coffee house whose patrons have included figures such as Freud and Trotsky, and taste-test our way through a historic and controversial Viennese dessert!
Of course, there is more to experience beyond these culinary treats. We'll also visit one of Budapest's thermal baths (built atop natural hot springs), go on a tour of picturesque Hungarian wineries, explore Vienna's magnificent Schönbrunn Palace, stroll across the majestic bridges that stretch across the Danube, and much, much more. Read on to learn all about this delicious vacation.
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A Few Trip Highlights:
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Cakes and Coffeehouses 2023 Itinerary
(subject to change or rearrangement based on site availability) Click below to see our plans for each day! Day 0: Depart Your Home Airport and Head to Budapest!
Reach out any time if you have any questions about booking flights. Day 1: Arrival and Welcome Reception
Arrive in Budapest and take your private shuttle from the airport to our hotel. Come to our casual welcome reception in the early evening, where we can begin getting to know one another. Will Liz have cute gift bags waiting for you? You know she will. Day 2: Buda
We’ll spend much of the day on the Buda side of the Danube, beginning with a tour of the unique and unforgettable Hospital in the Rock. We’ll then relax with coffee and cake at the oldest confectionery in Budapest. In the afternoon, we’ll enjoy a walking tour of the nearby Castle District, from which we’ll also be able to enjoy stunning panoramic views of the city! Day 3: Pest
We’ll spend today on the Pest side of the Danube, starting with a tour of the Dohany Street Synagogue. One of the most famous buildings in Budapest, it is the largest synagogue in Europe, and its 19th-century “Moorish Revival” architecture gives it an unmistakable appearance. Our tour will also include information about the history of Jewish life in Budapest. In the afternoon, we’ll have coffee and cake at another of the city’s historic cafes. From there, we’ll ride the M1–the oldest metro line in continental Europe–and emerge onto the Andrassy ut, a boulevard lined with and surrounded by shops, restaurants, and a variety of other points of cultural and historic interest. You’ll be free to spend your afternoon shopping and exploring all that this lively area has to offer before we meet in the evening for a group dinner, followed by a short walk along the Pest side of the Danube to get an up-close look at Hungary’s Parliament building after nightfall. Day 4: Hungarian Wine Tour and Tasting
Join us for cake and coffee at yet another iconic Budapest cafe before we are driven in a private shuttle to an afternoon wine tour! Vineyards abound in the wine-producing regions of the Hungarian countryside, and on our trip outside the capital we’ll visit multiple wineries, with stops for sampling along the way, of course! At the conclusion of our tour, we’ll enjoy a traditional Hungarian dinner together before being driven back to our hotel in Budapest. Day 5: Thermal Baths
Since the city is situated atop hot springs, Budapest has a number of thermal baths, and this morning we’ll travel to the Gellert thermal baths for a morning of relaxation and leisure. Famed for its Art Deco style, the century-old Gellert has a variety of different baths and pools, and, outdoors, Europe’s first wave pool! Day 6: Vienna, Guten Tag!
We’ll check out of our Budapest hotel this morning, and take a scenic 2.5-hour train ride to Vienna. After we’re all settled into our new hotel, we’ll take a short walk to a cafe to begin sampling Viennese coffee and cake! Day 7: Viennese Coffee Culture
We’ll spend the morning and early afternoon on a private tour introducing us to the secrets of Vienna’s coffee culture as well as some of the city’s best markets and cafes. Along the way, there will be savory and sweet treats alike, including a light breakfast and a lunch complete with Austrian wine. Afterward, you’ll be free to spend the rest of your afternoon seeing the sights in the city center, shopping, or perhaps catching a nap in your room to get re-energized for a night on the town! Day 8: The Sounds of Vienna
We’ll walk through central Vienna today, starting and ending with tours of former residences–now museums–of two legendary composers who called the city home, Mozart and Beethoven. In between those two stops, we’ll see various points of interest along the way on our stroll through the historic city center, and naturally, we’ll also take a break for coffee and cake! Day 9: Schonbrunn Palace
Today we’ll visit stunning Schonbrunn Palace, former summer residence of the Habsburg royal family. And of course, later in the afternoon we’ll have coffee and cake at another of Vienna’s cafes! Day 10: Austrian Wine Tasting
We’ll take a short trip to the bucolic wine-producing area beyond the Vienna city center for our Austrian wine tour and tasting! We'll be given a tour of a local winery's wine cellar and--weather permitting--vineyards, in addition to a tasting of four different Austrian wines! After our tour and tasting, we'll enjoy a late lunch together, where you may want to savor yet another glass of wine with your meal! Day 11: Heading Home (or elsewhere) from Vienna
All good things must come to an end. Liz and Adam will be on hand to help you as you check out from the hotel and get ready for your flight or train to your next destination! |
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Registration for this trip is now closed, but we'd love to have you join us on future small-group tours!
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Included:
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Not Included:
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At Leaping Hound Travel we strongly believe in a world that celebrates diversity and inclusivity. We are committed to supporting BIPOC, trans, and queer travelers. We donate a portion of our profits to organizations such as Black Lives Matter, we research the safety and security of potential travel destinations, and we partner with minority-owned businesses whenever possible.
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Vegan? Gluten free? Halal? Kosher? If you have any special dietary needs, just let us know--we will make sure the group meals accommodate your needs, and we'll be happy to help you research your options for your independent, individual meals, too.
Questions about accessibility? Though our group trips are designed for the moderately active, with a fair amount of walking, we are happy to work with you in advance and discuss the possibility of alternate arrangements if you need them. (And of course, we are also happy to work with you to create custom individual vacations for any level of mobility.) Need more time in Europe? Want to extend your stay? If you are interested in adding days to your trip on either end, we would be happy to arrange and book things for you, for no additional service fee. |
