Jewish Heritage/Interest Tour of Europe

Day 1: Monday – Arrival in Warsaw
Welcome to Warsaw! Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel. In the afternoon, visit the Museum of the History of Polish Jews.* At night, a welcome dinner.

(D)Note: You must arrive Warsaw by 1pm to take part in this tour.

Day 2: Tuesday – Warsaw
A day dedicated to the story of Warsaw’s once-thriving Jewish Community unfolds. In the morning, drive to the former Jewish Ghetto and see the Warsaw Ghetto Heroes monument. Stop at Umschlag Platz, the rail station where Jews were transported to Treblinka. Visit the Old Cemetery, which dates back to 1806. Also visit the Nozyk Synagogue and the Jewish Historical Institute. After this emotional experience, continue on a walking tour to the charming old town and lively Market Square. The remainder of the day is yours at leisure. (B)

Day 3: Wednesday – Warsaw | Krakow
Morning pilgrimage to Auschwitz-Birkenau. Visit Block 27, dedicated to the martyred ‘kedoshim.’ The fortified walls, the barbed wire, the platforms, the barracks, the gallows, the gas chambers and the cremation ovens all bear witness to the conditions within which Hitler’s genocide took place in the former concentration and extermination camp. A box lunch will be provided. (B,L)

Day 4: Thursda – Krakow
Visit Kazimierz, the former Jewish section, where the original buildings still remain intact. See the ancient Remuh Synagogue, where Jews still worship today; the nearby Old Cemetery; the 14th-century Alt Synagogue, recently restored, which houses the Museum of Jewish History and Culture; and the Galicia Museum for a contemporary look at the Jewish past in Poland. After lunch at a local restaurant, enter Oskar Schindler’s former factory, now a museum. Drive via other sights highlighted in the movie Schindler’s List. Continue to the main Market Square which was constructed in the 14th-century and is the largest medieval square in Europe. See the popular Renaissance-style Cloth Hall, once a major center of international trade. Enjoy free time for exploring or shopping. (B,L)

Day 5: Friday – Krakow | Budapest
Drive cross the Slovak border and through the scenic countryside of Slovakia, which is dotted with charming villages and farms, then arrive in Budapest, the sophisticated capital of Hungary. In the evening, attend evening services at the impressive Dohany Street Synagogue built in 1859, which has been beautifully restored. Following services, enjoy a wonderful Shabbat dinner at a deluxe restaurant. (B,L,D)

Day 6: Saturday – Budapest
In the morning, enjoy an orientation walking tour of the majestic capital of Hungary. Discover the the old Belvaros district and the heart of Budapest, with ever expanding pedestrian zones, shopping streets, fountains and parks. You will be attracted to the statues, domes and mosaics on the Neoclassical and Art Nouveau buildings. The afternoon is at leisure to explore on your own. (B)

Day 7: Sunday – Budapest
Morning walking tour to the Jewish Museum with its wealth of artifacts and documents relating to Jewish life in Hungary. Stop at the unique Weeping Willow Memorial, dedicated to Jews who perished during the Nazi reign of terror. Inside tour of the beautifully restored Dohany Street Synagogue, the largest in Europe and second largest worldwide. In the afternoon, explore Buda and Pest linked by eight graceful bridges. Drive via Heroes’ Square, the Castle District and Fishermen’s Bastion for glorious views of the Danube. At night, enjoy a boat cruise on the Danube River where Budapest’s most beautiful sights, bathed in light, unfold before you. (B)

Day 8: Monday – Budapest | Prague
Transfer for a flight or train from Budapest to Prague. Meeting and transfer to your hotel. The remainder of the day is yours at leisure to enjoy this charming city. (B)

Day 9: Tuesday – Prague
Morning panoramic city tour includes views of the State Opera, Wenceslas Square, the National Museum, and the Charles Bridge. Continue to the city’s Historic Center and see the Prague Castle and the St. Vitus Cathedral. Afternoon Jewish interest walking tour features the Jewish Town Hall with its distinctive tower and clock with Hebrew letters; the 15th-century Jewish cemetery; and the Jewish Museum complex, including s a vast network of buildings and synagogues. The remainder of the day is yours at leisure to enjoy this charming city on your own. (B)

Day 10: Wednesday – Prague
Choose to have a day at leisure or take an optional pilgrimage to Terezin, former model concentration camp. Visit the small fortress, museum, and the Jewish cemetery with its impressive Menorah Sculpture surrounded by symbolic, nameless graves. Return to Prague for the rest of the day at leisure. In the evening, a special farewell dinner. (B,D)

Day 11: Thursday – Prague | Vienna
Transfer to the rail station for first class train to Vienna. Enjoy the scenic countryside before arriving in Vienna then transfer to your hotel. The remainder of the day is yours to explore this amazing city on your own. If you wish to visit the Stadttempel, it can only be visited for prayers (Friday evening or Saturday morning) or regularly guided tour (Mondays through Thursdays at 11:30am or 2pm), so you may be able to make the 2pm tour. (B)

Day 12: Friday – Vienna
During your morning private walking tour you will learn about the Jewish life and heritage in Vienna from past to present. You will see the monuments, the Jewish Museum of Vienna, the Judenplatz Museum, the touching new Holocaust Memorial and the Stadttempel, Vienna’s only surviving pre-war Synagogue. After lunch, enjoy a panoramic city tour to some of the major historical sights including the magnificent Schoenbrunn Palace, known as the “Versailles of Austria,” with its opulent and impressive interior, including the magnificent ceremonial rooms in the central part of the palace. (B)

Day 13: Saturday – Vienna
Time at leisure to explore this wonderful city on your own. At night, enjoy a Mozart and Strauss Concert in the Kursalon, the very place where Johann Strauss used to direct his orchestra from the position of first violin! (B)

Day 14: Sunday – Departure from Vienna
Transfer to the airport for your return flight. (B)