Jewish Singles Eastern Europe Tour
Warsaw - Krakow - Budapest - Prague
August 26 - September 6
$3,285* 

Immerse yourself in Jewish history and have fun on this unique Jewish vacation. Tour the Warsaw Ghetto, see Auschwitz and Birkenau and mourn the victims of the Holocaust. Enjoy the pleasures of medieval Krakow, Budapest and Prague from vodka tasting to magnificent castles. Join with Jewish singles and solo travelers of today and see this land as it once was, and encounter the Jews who still live in these places.

 Download Jewish Singles Eastern Europe Tour Brochure

Day 1 - Thursday, August 26: Depart From Home

Your vacation begins when you board your overnight flight to Warsaw. Plan your flight to arrive in the late morning. Remember you are flying home from Prague!

Day 2 - Friday, August 27: Warsaw, Poland

Meet all your new singles travel friends as you are greeted at the airport and transferred to our hotel. Shuttles will be running throughout the day.

Our Warsaw city tour begins at 2:00pm, which includes all the 'must see' monuments and sights of Warsaw: Lazienki Park, Theatre Square with Grand Opera and former Town Hall Buildings. Drive through the most famous and elegant avenues in Warsaw and see Nowy Swiat and Krakowskie Przedmiescie avenues, the Presidential Palace, University of Warsaw, Holy Cross Church with Chopin's heart, Copernicus Statue. The Old Town was decimated and reduced to rubble during World War II but has been rebuilt using the original materials and is now a UNESCO site. From the square we head to the Vistula River and to see the old city walls.

To give the group a chance to get over jet lag, tonight we will walk to a local restaurant for an optional relaxing dinner.   Hotel - Radisson Blu

Day 3 - Saturday, August 28: Warsaw 

Our morning tour tells the story of Warsaw's once thriving Jewish community. Before WW II, Warsaw had one of the greatest numbers of Jewish inhabitants in the world then they were almost annihilated by the Nazis in 1944 there are still several hidden traces of Jewish culture and history. During the tour you will see the Monument to the Warsaw Ghetto Heroes, Zamenhofa Street, the remains of Nalewki Street which once teemed with business life, Mila Street (including the bunker where the commander of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising committed suicide), the Umschlagplatz Wall (from where 300,000 people were deported in cattle trucks for Treblinka death camp), enter the Nozyk Synagogue, the Jewish Theatre (only professional Yiddish theatre in Europe), the Jewish Cemetery and the former Orphanage of Dr. Janusz Korczak, who refused to be saved and accompanied his Jewish children to Treblinka.

Afternoon free to relax or continue to explore Warsaw. The Royal Way is a 2.5 mile stretch leading from Castle Square to Lazienki. It is lined with shops and cafes. A the end of the Royal Way is Lazienki Park, home to Chopin’s monument, the last Polish King’s summer palace, ponds, paths and some cafes. The Palace of Culture and Science was given as a ‘gift’ from Stalin and is the tallest structure in Poland. You can take the elevator to the 30th floor for great panoramic views of the city.

Our Welcome Dinner at the Teatr Sabat consists of dining, dancing and entertainment in an elegantly decorated hall reminiscent of pre-war Warsaw. The unique interior and on-stage talent helps create an authentic cabaret atmosphere. Polish and international singers, celebrities and notables frequently appear on stage and the theatre. However, the beautiful and talented Sabat dancers with their exquisite costumes and detailed choreography are the true stars of the night! Following the dinner and entertainment, guests are invited to dance their troubles away to some great live music.   Hotel - Radisson Blu

Day 4 - Sunday, August 29: Warsaw - Krakow

After breakfast we check out and drive to Auschwitz and Birkenau, the largest and most notorious complex of Nazi extermination camps. KL Autschwitz, originally Polish military barracks, was transformed by the occupying Nazis into an efficient forced-labor camp and center for the systematic murder of Jews, Gypsies, Russian POWs and others considered undesirable by the Nazis. Over the years the camp was extended and eventually consisted of three main parts and more than 40 su­b-camps. The Nazi murders were stopped when the Soviet Army entered the camp on January 27, 1945.

Our tour begins with a 15-minute documentary film about the liberation of the camp. Then we continue through Auschwitz, see exhibits in some of the surviving prison blocks, the gas chamber and the crematorium. Next we visit the larger Auschwitz II, better known as Birkenau. This portion of the complex was specifically designed and purpose-built to carry out the extermination of European Jews. The Martyrdom Auschwitz Museum was established on the site in 1947 and was added to the UNESCO world heritage list in 1979. At Birkenau go up to the watchtower above the entrance gate to see the view of the biggest Nazi extermination camp.

Arrive in Krakow, a beautiful city whose fairy-tale castle and Market Square is spread out like a living museum. Spend time at Market Square, with its Renaissance-style Cloth Hall; you can shop to your heart's content!

Let's kick off our evening with a bit of traditional Polish culture - Vodka tasting.  Did you know that the origins of vodka date back to the early Middle Ages? Initially used in medicine, it took a half a century (ca 15th century) for vodka to become one of the most popular drinks. Find out more at the Polish vodka tasting evening! Warm up with 4 different and delicious Polish Vodkas served together with some traditional Polish snacks to complement the chest warming Vodkas.   Hotel - Andel's Hotel

Day 5 - Monday, August 30 - Krakow 

We start our day at Kazimierz, the former Jewish section, where the original buildings still remain intact. Visit the ancient Remuh Synagogue, where Jews still worship today and the nearby cemetery. Kazimierz, named after King Kazimierz lll who invited Jews to Poland in the 14th century, became a flourishing area of Jewish religion and culture. Due to religious tolerance that prevailed in Poland from the 15th century, the area became a safe heaven for Jewish refugees from all over Europe. Retrace the religious diversity which resulted in the construction of numerous synagogues including the oldest preserved synagogue in Poland still present. Visit the monument commemorating the victims of the former Nazi concentration camp in Plaszów. Then drive by Oskar Schindler's former factory and other sights highlighted in the movie Schindler's List.

Our afternoon tour takes us to the Wieliczka Salt Mine, an amazing Unesco underground world of wonders. The mine has been worked for 900 years and was one of the largest salt mines in the world with underground passages and 2000 caverns of various sizes. Legend has it that the salt mines were part of the dowry of the Hungarian princess, Kinga, when she married Boleslaw the Shy over 700 years ago. Our guided tour takes us from 210 to 440 feet underground passing through galleries and chambers on three levels.  Hotel - Andel's Hotel

Day 6 - Tuesday, August 31: Krakow - Budapest

On the drive from Krakow to Budapest is one of the most beautiful Polish rivers located north-east from the Tatra Mountains. The raft trip down the Dunajec river through the Pieniny Gorge and along the Polish-Slovak border is one of true delight. Sit comfortably on traditional wooden rafts and admire the limestone landscape and listen to the stories of our experienced raftsmen called "flisacy".

Late arrival in Budapest. Check in to our hotel and walk to a local restaurant for optional dinner.    Hotel - Hilton Budapest

Day 7 - Wednesday, September 1: Budapest

Sleep late or just relax before our Hungarian Cooking Lesson and Lunch. Explore Market Hall, the largest indoor market in Budapest with stalls offering a variety of vegetables, fruits, cheeses and meats. Learn how to prepare some famous Hungarian dishes and take home the recipes. After our lesson enjoy a lunch of Hungarian goulash soup and traditional pancakes.

On our afternoon/evening tour of Budapest we will explore the most beautiful and interesting sights of Hungary's capital city. With the Danube River flowing by, the ring boulevards and the numerous eclectic and revival buildings, Budapest is rightly considered to be the pearl of Europe. Explore Buda and Pest with its wealth of historic monuments, linked by eight graceful bridges. Immerse yourself in Hungarian legends and culture and discover why Budapest is called ‘Paris of the East’ on our night walking tour. An enchanting river cruise down the Danube caps off our evening. We sail past beautiful scenery on the Buda side, including the Royal Place, the Matthias Church, Gellert Hill and the Technical University.  Hotel - Hilton Budapest

Day 8 - Thursday, September 2: Budapest - Prague

Learn more about the Jewish community of Budapest on our fascinating morning walking tour. Walk through the former Jewish ghetto and visit the Dohány Street Synagogue, world's second largest and 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. Then, on to the Raoul Wallenberg monument, honoring the Swedish diplomat who saved thousands of Jews during the Holocaust.

Afternoon train to Prague. Upon arrival we will be transfered to our hotel for a late night check-in. Hotel - Hilton Old Town

Day 9 - Friday, September 3: Prague

This morning we begin our fascinating journey through the history of Prague, an enchanting city with over 4,000 monuments.

First we drive along the Moldava River to Prague Castle, where we will enjoy a walking tour. Visit Prague Castle, which has retained churches, chapels, halls and towers from every period of its history, and then St. Vitus Cathedral. We continue with a walk down the hill to Charles Bridge, one of the most famous cultural monuments in Prague. This bridge is 1706 ft long with 30 statues and connects the Old Town with the Little Quarter. Then walk through the Old Town where you will discover many unique shops on both sides of the street. The tour finishes in the Old Town Square at the Old Town Hall with its famous Astronomical clock. Here, you can also admire the beauty of the gothic Tyn Church and the baroque St. Nicholas's Church.

Let's have lunch at a Medieval Brewery. First watch a brewery tour video and sample a beer with the brew master, then onto the processing vaults where the brew master will show us the brewing process. After the tour we will have lunch, potato soup followed by beer goulash and dumplings, then for dessert, apple pie. All washed down with another creamy black beer. The local musicians will entertain us during lunch.

Afternoon free to explore, rest or shop.

Tonight discover the Krizik's Singing Fountain, a spectacular show based on music and light arrangements together with stunning water creations. During the performance hear recorded music from world-known authors of classical and modern music such as Vivaldi, Beethoven, Mozart, Beatles, Jean Michel Jare', Queen and others. After the performance take a bus tour of Illuminated Prague passing by Charles Bridge, Prague Castle, Municipal House, Powder Tower and the National Theatre.  Hotel - Hilton Old Town

Day 10 - Saturday, September 4: Prague

After breakfast our walking tour of the Jewish Quarter (Josefov) begins. Hear about the traditions, customs and legends of the Jewish people in Prague, from their early settlements in the 10th century through the poverty of the pogrom refugees, their glittering successes and their enforced isolations.

Explore the Jewish Museum, the synagogues, the 15th century cemetery and the streets of the former Jewish Ghetto. The Maisel Synagogue exhibits a cross-section of the history of the Jews in Bohemia and Moravia, from the foundation in the 10th century to their emancipation in the 18th century. The Spanish Synagogue follows on chronologically from the Maisel Synagogue with an exhibition devoted to the history of the Czech and Moravian Jews from the 18th century to present day. After World War II, the Pinkas Synagogue was turned into a Memorial to the Jews of Bohemia and Moravia murdered by the Nazis. Located at the entrance to the Old Jewish Cemetery, the Klausen Synagogue was the largest synagogue in the Jewish ghetto and the seat of Prague's Burial Society. The Ceremonial Hall houses the second part of the exhibition 'Jewish Customs and Traditions'. Robert Guttmann Gallery displays the Jewish Museum's research and restoration work, as well as temporary exhibitions of Czech Jewish artists.  Hotel - Hilton Old Town

Day 11 - Sunday, September 5: Prague

Terezín (Theresienstadt), former ghetto/concentration camp, approximately a one-hour drive from Prague, is a must-see to understand the complicated history that unfolded here in 1941 when the region's thousand-year-old Jewish communities were deported through Terezin -- a way-station to the East and the death camps of Auschwitz, Treblinka and others. See the Gestapo prison and the Terezin Ghetto Museum to learn what happened to so many innocent people. Actual artifacts, children's drawings, poetry and other rare items have survived their creators to eloquently speak for them. The Crematorium and other memorials also are included.

Upon returning to Prague you will have a few hours for last minute exploring or to purchase that final souvenir before we leave for dinner.

Wind your way down the circular stairway to our Farewell Dinner in a restored stone-vaulted cellar dating back to 1689. Restaurant Metamorphis has tasty continental cuisine and a good selection of French, Italian and Czech wines. Nightly jazz plays while having your meal under the tented patio facing the charming Tyn courtyard.  Hotel - Hilton Old Town

Day 12 - Monday, September 6: Depart Prague

Sad to say but our Jewish Eastern Europe Singles Tour has come to an end. After breakfast it is time to say goodbye to all your new travel buddies as we make our way to the airport and our flights home.