2026 Prague, Vienna, and Budapest

We invite you to experience Central Europe’s beguiling capital cities! We’ll explore the history, arts, and culture of each location through unique guided experiences.

Over five days in Prague, we will trace the city’s history from its medieval foundations through the post-Communist era.

Vienna boasts imperial palaces, lively brew pubs, and world-renowned museums. We will also dive into music and art through sites important to Mozart, Beethoven and Gustav Klimt.

During our last stop, in Budapest, we will relax in soothing thermal springs, wander through bustling flea markets, and enjoy a cruise along the iconic Danube River.

The ride between the destinations offers views of charming villages and lush, rolling countryside.

See all the details below and use the REGISTER NOW button above to join us!

This tour starts in Prague and ends in Budapest. You can view — and download or print — the most up-to-date itinerary here.

Our intention with each tour is to provide an itinerary that introduces you to key elements related to your destination or the educational theme, while also providing some free time for you to pursue your own interests or have some down time. The balance can vary from day to day, and from tour to tour.

You’ll get the most out of study travel if you research what to do during your free time. This allows you to reap the benefits of group travel, while also customizing the tour to your interests and activity level. Read more about How to Be an Independent Group Traveler.

Juliet Patterson is an Associate Professor of Practice in English at St. Olaf and has taught creative writing, literature and composition since 2014. She is the author of a memoir Sinkhole: A Legacy of Suicide and two full-length poetry collections. Her current non-fiction project is a personal and cultural exploration of the year 1979. Juliet’s teaching and research interests center on literature, storytelling and human geography. She is also the director of the college’s Environmental Conversations program.

Rachel Moritz is the author of two books of poetry and co-editor of a collection of personal essays. A graduate of Macalester College and the University of Minnesota, she teaches creative writing in the Twin Cities community and develops museum exhibits for family audiences. A lover of travel who spent her early years living overseas, Rachel brings an interest in history, museums, and lifelong learning.

Juliet and Rachel love to explore the world together, learning about new cultures, geographies, and art with their teenage son. They also enjoy time outdoors, camping, biking, and reading good books.

Expect to be dazzled by European cities rich with tradition.

Movement between cities may be by air-conditioned private motor coach or train. Movement within each city and at cultural/historic sites will be on foot, requiring a lot of walking and standing, often over uneven ground. To fully partake in this tour, you should have good balance, and be capable of walking several miles a day, climbing stairs that may not have handrails, keeping pace with an active group of travelers on long days of traveling, dealing with the emotional highs and lows that can occur when experiencing a different culture, and being a considerate member of the group (prompt, courteous and flexible). You always have the option of skipping a group activity you think will be too strenuous and remaining back at the hotel or on our private bus. 

Any participant who has demonstrated an inability, in the opinion of the tour leader, of keeping up with the group or of safely participating in program activities may be prohibited from participating in certain activities.

You will be responsible for carrying your own luggage throughout the tour. Traveling lightly is highly recommended.

Hotels will be tourist class (four-star or superior rating) with private baths, air conditioning, and English-speaking staff.

Inclusions and exclusions vary by tour, so please read the following information carefully. We try to strike a balance between nickel-and-diming you once on the tour and allowing you some freedom in your price point (for meals, for example). A variety of modes of transportation tends to be pricier than a single bus throughout the tour. Highly rated guides are essential and should command higher wages.

The tour price is $7,563 per person, based on double occupancy. A supplement of $1,588 applies for single occupancy.

Inclusions: discussions led by Juliet and Rachel, a full-time guide, accommodations, breakfast daily and group meals as listed on the itinerary, admissions for group activities, ground transportation during the tour (excluding airport transfers), gratuities to group guides, drivers, and group meal servers, and limited medical coverage while overseas. 

Exclusions: Airfare to and from Europe is not included. Participants are solely responsible for all expenses not specifically included in the tour price. Examples of excluded expenses are: international airfare, airport transfers if you are not on the recommended flights, any passport and visa fees, any recommended immunizations or vaccinations, baggage and trip cancellation insurance, alcoholic beverages, including at group meals, laundry, dry cleaning, phone charges, room service or other items of a personal nature, expenses incurred during free time or non-group activities, lunch and dinner, unless specifically included on tour itinerary.

P.S. Prices have been steadily climbing in the tourism industry since the pandemic. The most recent five year average for Alumni & Family Travel tour fees is $564 per tour day. (We do not include pure travel days when calculating the daily fee, because international airfare is not included in the tour fee.) This tour is a great value, coming in at $540 per day.

This schedule is based on payments St. Olaf College must make to tour vendors to guarantee group rates. We highly recommend that you purchase additional trip cancellation insurance at the time of registration to recover your payments should you need to withdraw from the tour.

Deposit due:                   $500 upon registration
Refund if you cancel:   $475 if you cancel on or before September 14, 2025. If the deposit is made after September 14, 2025 there is no refund.

Interim payment due:  $3,000 on September 15, 2025
Refund if you cancel:    $1,500 if you cancel on or before March 14, 2026

Balance due:                   March 15, 2026
Refund if you cancel:   None, unless the tour is full and your place can be resold

Cancellations must be in writing.

Read these legal documents: Terms and Conditions and Release and Waiver.

Review the latest information on recommended immunizations, visit the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

Check your passport: no visa is required for stays under 90 days, but you should ensure that your passport has at least 3 months’ validity past the program return date and at least one blank visa page. You should also take a look at the International Travel section of the U.S. State Department’s website.

Take time to prepare for your adventure by checking out a variety of resources, including frequently asked questions, general health information, included travel insurance, safety overview, and more.

See our Booking Your Flights tips, but do not book non-refundable airfare until we can confirm this program is a GO.