Imperial Capital Cities

Meet at London Heathrow for your flight to Berlin. On arrival, transfer by coach to your hotel for two nights. Day 2 begins with a guided tour. Take in the famous Brandenburg Gate, the 19th-century Reichstag Building, and the remains of the Berlin Wall, which once divided the city East to West. Your afternoon is free to continue exploring. You may like to visit the imposing Opera House, home of the world-famous Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, or the Pergamon Museum, featuring a wealth of wonderful exhibits, including life-size replicas of Ishtar Gate and the Altar of Zeus. Perhaps stroll through Berlin's Old Quarter en route to Charlottenburg Palace, the only remaining royal residence from the Hohenzollern dynasty.

• Day 1 - Dinner
• Day 2 - Breakfast

After a leisurely morning, catch the train to Prague for three nights at the 4* Hotel Diplomat. On Day 4, enjoy a walking tour of the 'Golden City'. Admire the medieval Charles Bridge and the Old Town Square as well as the city's famous castle complex, offering spectacular views across Prague's iconic skyline.

Day 5 is free. You could visit Wenceslas Square, the site of many historic events, including the birth of the Czechoslovak Republic in 1918, or Josefov, also known as 'the Jewish Quarter.' Located between the Old Town Square and the Vltava River, Josefov's history dates back to the 13th century, when it was used as a Jewish ghetto. Despite its past, the area is filled with stunning architecture. The beer houses here are well worth a visit, offering a wide variety of local ales and lagers.

• Day 3 - Breakfast, Dinner
• Day 4 - Breakfast
• Day 5 - Breakfast

Take the train to Vienna today, Austria's capital and the former seat of the Hapsburg Empire. On arrival, head out on a guided tour, seeing the city's imperial architecture lining the famous Ringstrasse, as well as the narrow houses of its idyllic Old Town. Afterwards, check into the 4* Rainers Hotel for a two-night stay.

Day 7 is free for you to discover more of Vienna. You could visit Stephansdom, the city's cathedral. This Gothic masterpiece is famed for its stunning tiled roof, patterned with brightlycoloured chevrons and Viennese eagles that almost resemble a mosaic. Climbing to the top of the spire, enjoy a superb panorama across the city's rooftops. Alternatively, Scönbrunn Palace has long been a staple of the Viennese visitor's itinerary, and is a glorious palace with extensive and well-manicured gardens.

• Day 6 - Breakfast, Dinner
• Day 7 - Breakfast

Travel by rail over the Hungarian border to Budapest. Straddling the Danube, this fantastic capital is one of Europe's finest cities, and is famed for its superb Turkish, Art Nouveau, and modern-style bath houses. Spend three nights here at the 4* Mercure Castle Hill Hotel. Tonight, enjoy a speciality evening meal and an evening coach tour, seeing the sights illuminated against the night sky.

Day 9 includes a guided tour that takes you to the famous Széchenyi Chain Bridge and Hero's Square. Flanked by the Museum of Fine Arts and the Palace of Art, this is one of the major squares in Budapest. Next, visit St Stephen's Basilica, which took over half a century to complete because of a violent storm that destroyed the cathedral's dome. Your tour also includes Fishermen's Bastion, a neo-Gothic masterpiece that's younger than it looks.

Enjoy free time on Day 10 to continue sightseeing. You could make an appointment at the famous Szechenyi baths or get some cake and coffee at Café New York, widely regarded as one of the most beautiful coffee houses in the world. On your way back to the hotel, it's worth stopping off at the Great market Hall, where you can shop and people watch like a local.

• Day 8 - Breakfast, Dinner
• Day 9 - Breakfast
• Day 10 - Breakfast

Transfer to the airport this morning for your flight back to London Heathrow.

• Breakfast