Budapest, Vienna & Prague Performance Tour

Discover Budapest with a local guide, starting with a ride on the Castle Hill funicular to the Royal Palace in historic Buda. See the Hungarian Parliament lined with 90 statues, then visit Matthias Church, known for its vivid painted interior, before taking in sweeping views from Fisherman’s Bastion.

Budapest is rich with natural springs that bubble up over 10 million gallons of hot water everyday and so thermal baths have become engrained in Hungarian culture and are believed to provide health and beauty benefits. Experience this ancient Hungarian tradition when you visit one of Budapest’s many thermal baths.

Venue options for choirs and orchestras include the imposing St Stephen's Basilica, which has played a central role in the musical life of the area since its consecration in 1905. The Monday organ recitals are a must for anyone with a musical interest. Equally impressive is the Church of Our Lady, commonly known as Matthias Church. Other options include the Stefania Palota, an elegant former 19th century palace, and Nador Hall.

Explore Vienna’s imperial past with a guided visit to the Hofburg, the historic seat of the Habsburgs. Continue to the elegant Belvedere Palace before viewing the famed Vienna Opera House. Visit St. Stephen’s Cathedral in the heart of the city, then end your tour at Schönbrunn Palace, where young Mozart once performed for Marie Antoinette.

Visit St. Stephen's Cathedral, one of the greatest Gothic structures in Europe. St. Stephen’s is rich in woodcarvings, altars, sculptures, and paintings. One of the paintings shows the scene of the double marriage between the Habsburg, Bohemian, and Hungarian dynasties in 1515 that laid the foundation of the Austrian Empire.

Spend some meditative time at the Central Cemetery where we will find the tombs of Beethoven, Brahms, Schoenberg, and Schubert, as well as Mozart's Monument. Other notable musicians buried here are Antonio Salieri, Hugo Wolf, Karl Goldmark, and the singer Lotte Lehmann.

This interactive museum is located in the former home of Otto Nicolai, founder of the Vienna Philharmonic. Explore the lives of classical composers, compose your own waltz, and discover the science behind sound and hearing. Step onto a virtual conductor’s podium to lead the Vienna Philharmonic, and receive feedback from the musicians themselves.

Visit the Mozarthaus Vienna, the only one of Mozart’s residences to survive to the present day. He lived here during one of his most productive periods and composed "The Marriage of Figaro" along with many other well-known works.

Beethoven lived here for most of his heroic period from 1804 to 1815. During this time, he composed many of his greatest works, including Symphonies 4, 5, 7, and 8, the opera "Fidelio," the Fourth Piano Concerto, and several string quartets.

Performance groups may have the opportunity to take the stage at historic venues such as St. Stephen’s Cathedral—closely tied to Vienna’s rich musical heritage—or the beautifully baroque Peterskirche, known for its outstanding acoustics. For those seeking a secular space, the Haus der Musik, Vienna’s renowned Museum of Music, also offers an excellent performance setting.

Telc lies at the midpoint of the old King's route from Vienna to Prague. Telc is the best preserved Renaissance town north of the Alps, and was added to the UNESCO list of international heritage sights in 1993.

Feel the inspiration behind Franz Kafka’s novels as you wander the medieval streets of Mala Strana. Continue into Josefov, the Jewish Quarter, to see Europe’s oldest synagogue, which dates back to 1270.

Explore Prague with a guided tour of Old Town Square and its famous Astronomical Clock, where carved figures appear each hour. Walk across Charles Bridge with views of the Vltava and the city’s spires, then stop at the John Lennon Peace Wall. Finish at Prague Castle, a vast complex of courtyards and palaces that once housed the Habsburgs.

Potential venues include (but are not limited to): Church of St. Simon and Jude, St. Salvator Church, Church of St. Wenceslas, Hall of the Cultural Center Novodvorska, English International School, Hlahol Concert Hall, Evangelic Chapel Korunni, St. Martin in the Wall, the Hall of the House of Culture Krakov, or a lunchtime performance at St. Vitus. These venues accommodate a range of performance types and offer unique cultural experiences.