OUR STORY CENTRAL EUROPE

TOUR START DATES:

JUNE 24 -OR- JUNE 28, 2026

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Join us in the heart of Europe to explore the story of our People – their enduring accomplishments, their world-changing ideas, and their sorrows – on this moving Jewish and world heritage travel experience for all.

Our Story spans up to 15 days of guided touring – covering Poland (Warsaw & Krakow), Hungary (Budapest), Slovakia (Tatra Mountains & Bratislava), Austria (Vienna & Wachau Valley), Czechia (Prague & Terezin), and Germany (Dresden & Berlin). However, travelers have the option to begin and end their Our Story travels at pre-defined points to accommodate different touring interests and availability (see route options).

A professional Jewish educator and local European guides lead the tour. The itinerary highlights Jewish and world heritage sites, with opportunities for adventure, culture, and self-discovery along the way. Groups are limited to 28 adult travelers for your comfort.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

Trace the legend of the Golem among Prague’s Jewish Quarter jewels
Navigate the Grand Market of Budapest and attend a symphony in Vienna
Explore the Wachau Valley on a Danube riverboat and wander Prague’s Old Town Square
Walk in the footsteps of Freud and Herzl in Vienna
Celebrate the revival of Polish Jewish life at the Krakow JCC
Confront what was lost in Auschwitz and honor the defiance of the Warsaw Ghetto
Discover Krakow’s Jewish Culture Festival (June departures)

PROGRAM ITINERARY

The following is our projected itinerary, subject to reasonable change based on local considerations

DAY 1 > WEDNESDAY | Honoring the Jews of Warsaw

NOTE: Those arriving on Tuesday evening can be accommodated at the Warsaw hotel based on our group rates. Contact us to learn more.

Arrive at Warsaw Airport and transfer independently to your central hotel.
At 9:00 AM, gather in the lobby for a brief orientation with your Jewish educator and fellow travelers.
Begin your journey at the acclaimed POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews, tracing a thousand years of Jewish presence in Poland. Visit the Nozyk Synagogue, the only pre-war synagogue still active in Warsaw.
At 3:00 PM, reconvene for a guided exploration of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising Route — from the Rappaport Memorial and Umschlagplatz to Mila 18 and the Route of Heroes – honoring the courage of those who resisted oppression.
Conclude the day with a stroll through Warsaw’s Old Town, beautifully rebuilt after World War II, followed by a festive welcome dinner at a local restaurant.

Overnight: InterContinental Hotel – Warsaw, Poland
Meals Included: Dinner

DAY 2 > THURSDAY | The Krakow Legacy

Depart Warsaw for Krakow, the cultural heart of Polish Jewry.
Upon arrival, explore Kazimierz, the city’s historic Jewish district – home to the Ramah, Temple, and Old Synagogues, as well as atmospheric streets lined with cafés and art studios.
Check in to your hotel and enjoy dinner at leisure.
Evening travelers in June will have the chance to experience the Krakow Jewish Culture Festival, a lively celebration of Jewish music, art, and renewal.

Overnight: Qubus Hotel – Krakow, Poland

Meals Included: Breakfast

DAY 3 > FRIDAY | Confronting Auschwitz & Birkenau

Journey to Auschwitz II–Birkenau, where the immensity of the Holocaust is felt most profoundly. A packed lunch will be provided for the day.
Continue to Auschwitz I, the administrative center of the complex, to visit the preserved watchtowers, cell blocks, crematoria, and the infamous Arbeit Macht Frei gate.
Pause for reflection and a short ceremony at the restored Oświęcim Synagogue, symbolizing remembrance and renewal.
Return to Krakow by late afternoon, with the option to welcome Shabbat at the local synagogue community.
Enjoy a group Shabbat dinner in Kazimierz.

Overnight: Golden Tulip Krakow Kazimierz – Krakow, Poland
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

DAY 4 > SATURDAY | Shabbat in Krakow

Spend a peaceful Shabbat exploring Krakow on foot.
Visit Wawel Castle and its scenic grounds overlooking the Vistula River.
Enjoy Shabbat lunch at the Krakow JCC, a vibrant hub for modern Jewish life in Poland.
In the afternoon, walk through the former Krakow Ghetto and visit Oskar Schindler’s Factory Museum, which chronicles the lives saved under Nazi occupation.
Dinner and evening at leisure.

Overnight: Qubus Hotel – Krakow, Poland
Meals Included: Breakfast & Lunch

DAY 5 > SUNDAY | From Poland to Hungary

Travelers concluding their journey in Poland depart after breakfast. New participants joining in Budapest meet the group this evening.

Depart Krakow and travel south toward Budapest, with a break in Donovaly, a picturesque Slovak mountain village. Take the gondola to a scenic summit for panoramic views of the Tatra Mountains.
A packed lunch is provided, with local fare available on your own.
Arrive in Budapest, settle into your hotel, and meet at 7:00 PM for a group dinner at Kosher Deli Budapest in the historic Jewish Quarter.

Overnight: InterContinental Hotel – Budapest, Hungary
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

DAY 6 > MONDAY | Exploring Buda and Pest

Begin the day at the moving Shoes on the Danube memorial, then view the iconic Chain Bridge spanning the river between Buda and Pest.
Ascend Castle Hill to admire panoramic views and visit the remains of a medieval synagogue.
Break for lunch in the bustling Great Market Hall, followed by an in-depth tour of the Jewish Quarter — including the Dohány Street Synagogue, the Wallenberg Memorial, and the Weeping Willow sculpture.
Conclude at Heroes’ Square, one of Budapest’s most renowned landmarks.
Evening option: unwind in the Szechenyi Thermal Baths (independent activity).

Overnight: InterContinental Hotel – Budapest, Hungary
Meals Included: Breakfast

DAY 7 > TUESDAY | Heritage in Bratislava

Depart Budapest for Vienna, stopping en route in Bratislava to visit the grave of Chatam Sofer, a revered scholar and rabbi.
Continue to Vienna and pause for lunch (on your own) at the historic Naschmarkt, the city’s open-air culinary hub.
In the afternoon, explore the Kunsthistorisches Museum, one of Europe’s great art collections, and stand at Heldenplatz, where Hitler once proclaimed the Anschluss in 1938.
Check in to your hotel, then walk through Leopoldstadt, Vienna’s old Jewish district, to see the Leopoldstädter Temple Memorial, marking what was once the largest synagogue in the city.
Optional evening visit to Prater Amusement Park to ride the famous Riesenrad Ferris wheel.

Overnight: InterContinental Hotel – Vienna, Austria
Meals Included: Breakfast

DAY 8 > WEDNESDAY | Vienna’s World Heritage Sites

Discover the Judenplatz, the heart of Jewish Vienna since medieval times, and visit the Shoah Memorial and Stadttempel, the city’s only surviving synagogue from before World War II.
Stroll along Berggasse, home to Sigmund Freud and Theodor Herzl, whose revolutionary ideas changed the modern world.
Then step into the grandeur of Schönbrunn Palace, once the summer residence of the Habsburgs.
Evening and dinner at leisure – perhaps enjoy a local classical concert or Viennese café experience.

Overnight: InterContinental Hotel – Vienna, Austria
Meals Included: Breakfast

DAY 9 > THURSDAY | Discovering the Wachau Valley

Cruise the Danube River through the enchanting Wachau Valley to Weißenkirchen. Sample regional wines at Domaine Wachau, and explore Dürnstein, a storybook town crowned by castle ruins.
Continue by coach to Prague, checking in to your Old Town hotel.
In the evening, attend a classical concert in the Spanish Synagogue, followed by dinner at a local kosher restaurant.

Overnight: Hilton Hotel Old Town – Prague, Czechia
Meals Included: Breakfast & Dinner

DAY 10 > FRIDAY | Jewels of Josefov in Prague

Immerse yourself in Josefov, the Jewish Quarter of Prague. Visit the Old Jewish Cemetery, Altneuschul (Old-New Synagogue), and Jerusalem Synagogue.
See the Franz Kafka House, and learn about the mystical Golem of Prague — a story that has inspired Jewish folklore for centuries.
Cross the Charles Bridge, and discover the melodic link between a local folk tune and Israel’s Hatikvah.
Ascend Petrin Hill for a sweeping city panorama before visiting Prague Castle and its Golden Lane.
Option to join a local congregation for Kabbalat Shabbat (traditional or egalitarian).
A festive Shabbat dinner follows at Chabad’s Prague Grill.

Overnight: Hilton Hotel Old Town – Prague, Czechia
Meals Included: Breakfast & Dinner

DAY 11 > SATURDAY | Prague’s World Heritage Sites

Enjoy a relaxed morning in Prague.
Gather for a closing lunch celebration and reflection on the European journey so far.
Later, explore Old Town Square, view the Astronomical Clock, the Klementinum Library, and the Prague Metronome overlooking the Vltava River.
Evening at leisure for personal exploration or optional group gathering.
Overnight: Hilton Hotel Old Town – Prague, Czechia
Meals Included: Breakfast & Lunch

DAY 12 > SUNDAY | Terezin and Dresden

Travelers finishing in Czechia depart after breakfast.

Depart Prague for the Terezin Ghetto and Concentration Camp, a site of profound remembrance.
Continue north into Germany to discover Dresden, rebuilt in stunning detail after its wartime destruction.
Arrive in Berlin, check into your hotel, and enjoy dinner on your own.

Overnight: Crowne Plaza Berlin City Centre – Berlin, Germany
Meals Included: Breakfas

DAY 13 > MONDAY | Cold War to German Reunification

Explore Berlin’s Reichstag, symbol of a reunited Germany, and gaze through its striking glass dome.
Walk through the Brandenburg Gate and visit multiple Holocaust memorials commemorating Jews, Roma, LGBTQ, and others persecuted by the Nazis.
Enjoy lunch at Hackescher Markt in the city’s Jewish Quarter and see the ornate New Synagogue.
Learn about the Stolpersteine Project, cleaning memorial plaques that honor individual victims.
Continue to Checkpoint Charlie and the East Side Gallery, where murals line remnants of the Berlin Wall – a global canvas for freedom and memory.

Overnight: Crowne Plaza Berlin City Centre – Berlin, Germany
Meals Included: Breakfast

DAY 14 > TUESDAY | Potsdam

Travel to the Wannsee Villa, where the Nazi regime coordinated the “Final Solution.” Pause at the Platform 17 Memorial at Grunewald Station.
Continue to Potsdam, famed for its palaces and parks. After lunch on your own, visit Cecilienhof Palace, site of the Potsdam Conference that shaped post-war Europe.
Stroll through Sanssouci Gardens, admiring the New Palace and Sanssouci Palace, before returning to Berlin for a farewell kosher dinner celebration.

Overnight: Crowne Plaza Berlin City Centre – Berlin, Germany
Meals Included: Breakfast & Dinner

DAY 15 > WEDNESDAY | Farewell

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel and bid farewell to your guides and fellow travelers.

Meals Included: Breakfast

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SIGN UP EARLY AND SAVE

Sign up at least five months in advance for $100/person early registration savings. Your deposit is fully refundable up to four months prior, so the savings are commitment-free.

WHAT’S INCLUDED

A professional guide/educator leads the group on a 24/7 basis and expert city guides join our group most days
Centrally located 4* and 5* hotels with porterage included
Breakfast daily and additional meals according to the itinerary (kosher and vegetarian)
Private air-conditioned touring vehicle
All programming and site entrances according to the itinerary
Wireless touring headsets
For groups with 20+ travelers

WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED

Flights to/from Europe
Airport transfers
Travel insurance (optional) Insure your investment, and plan ahead for the unexpected with a travel insurance plan
Gratuities (suggested $150-$250/traveler)
Hotel incidentals, and meals not marked as included

TRAVELING TO/FROM EUROPE

Travelers are responsible for booking their own travel into Warsaw or Budapest on arrival and out from Krakow, Prague, or Berlin at the conclusion of their Our Story travels (depending on your route choices).

Travelers should plan to arrive no later than 2:00pm on their chosen start date and are encouraged to arrive an evening in advance to better acclimate and take advantage of the full program offerings. Group hotel rates are offered for those arriving early, subject to availability (contact us to learn more).

The program concludes following breakfast on the chosen end date and onward travel may be booked anytime in the morning and beyond – standard hotel checkout is at 11:00am.

Airport transfers at the start and end of the program are not included in the program package. Taxis and Uber rides are widely available at our starting and ending point airports.

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DATES & COSTS

Sign up at least five months in advance for $100/person early registration savings. Your deposit is fully refundable up to four months prior, so the savings are commitment-free.

TOUR ROUTE OPTIONS	TOUR COSTS/PERSON	2026 DATES
Warsaw, Krakow, Budapest, Vienna, Prague & Berlin	Double Room: $4,950 Single Room: $6,250	June 24 – July 8
Warsaw, Krakow, Budapest, Vienna & Prague	Double Room: $4,250 Single Room: $5,300	June 24 – July 5
Warsaw & Krakow	Double Room: $2,400 Single Room: $2,700	June 24 – June 28
Budapest, Vienna, Prague & Berlin	Double Room: $4,450 Single Room: $5,450	June 28 – July 8
Budapest, Vienna, Prague	Double Room: $3,750 Single Room: $4,600	June 28 – July 5

ENROLLMENT TERMS

To reserve your spot, a $250/person fully refundable deposit is due at the time of your registration.
Sign up at least five months in advance to lock in your spot and receive a $100/person discount
The deposit becomes non-refundable four months prior to the program start date.
The balance is due no later than two months prior to the program start date after which all payments are non-refundable and exceptions will be considered on a case-by-case basis at Authentic Israel’s discretion.
Cancellations must be made in writing, and we encourage you to obtain a travel insurance policy.
Payments may be made by check or credit/debit card, however, a 3.50% processing fee applies for credit/debit card payments (does not apply to the initial $250 deposit). Note: credit card fees are not refundable
Program dates are confirmed, however, Authentic Israel reserves the right to consolidate or cancel trip dates in extraordinary circumstances.
Authentic Israel reserves the right to deny acceptance on the tour according to its sole discretion.
All program costs are listed in US Dollars.

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QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

Who staffs the tour?

Our Story is led by a professional Jewish educator/guide who escorts the tour on a 24/7 basis. Our program leader is joined by expert local guides in most cities, many of whom are part of their local Jewish communities.

How active is the touring?

Our Story is an active tour designed for adults. Touring days are full and designed to provide you with as rich an experience as possible. Travelers should feel comfortable with lots of walking, including walking on uneven surfaces (e.g., cobblestones), standing for long periods of time, and generally being on their feet for most of the day. This trip is not wheelchair or walker accessible.

How many people travel in the group?

We host no more than 28 adult travelers per group, and we may host up to two groups traveling concurrently with separate staff teams and staggered itineraries.

Can I start or end the tour on a date not shown as a route option?

We offer a number of entry and exit point options to accommodate travelers with different travel interests and availability. We believe these are the optimal options based on logistical and social considerations. We do not recommend deviating from the route options offered, but you may contact us with special requests.

How is this a Jewish experience?

Our Story is a pluralistic Jewish travel experience open to all. Group meals are kosher or kosher-style (no pork or shellfish and with vegetarian options), and all touring on Saturdays is by foot. Lunches and dinners on Shabbat are all included and kosher. Breakfast is the standard buffet offered at our hotels.

How all-inclusive is the experience?

The program covers all touring, private transportation, all meals listed as included, hotel accommodations including porterage, and an educational staff team. You’ll be responsible for your connecting travel for the start/end of the program, any meals not included, gratuities, as well as travel insurance, should you wish to obtain it.

How do I get ready for the trip?

Detailed pre-trip materials are distributed 3-4 months prior to arrival. You’ll also be invited to a trip Facebook group to connect with fellow travelers before the program and stay in touch afterward.

How confirmed are the tour dates?

Program tour dates are confirmed, however, Authentic Israel reserves the right to cancel trip dates in extraordinary circumstances (e.g. security or public health-related considerations).

TRAVEL BEYOND THE EXPECTED

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