Mountains and valleys stretch across borders here, but the pace never quickens. In Hungary, Slovakia, and Poland, life still moves slowly enough to savor. You’ll notice it in the way a meal begins with stories before the first bite, in the stillness of a wooden church where every beam was laid by hand, in the laughter of a wedding playfully acted out in borrowed costumes. Many days bring music, sometimes soaring from an opera stage, sometimes drifting through a small restaurant in Kraków. It’s Central Europe the My Bella Vita way; personal, unhurried, and shaped by connection.
You will arrive in Budapest today and make your way to your hotel in the center of Pest. In the early afternoon, you’ll meet Cherrye, founder of My Bella Vita Travel, and Veira, a local historian-turned-guide, who will take you to Buda Hill for your first look at the city. From the Fisherman’s Bastion outlook, you’ll take in the view of Pest across the Danube and walk the cobbled paths around Matthias Church. The stone glows golden in the late light, and lanterns flicker on as the city settles into evening.
The day will end back on the Pest side with a welcome dinner featuring goulash, lángos, lecsó, and more. Good food, good wine, and a short stroll through the evening streets set the pace for your days ahead in Central Europe. Overnight in Budapest.
The morning will kick off with a stroll along Pest’s magnificent boulevards toward the Opera House. We’ll walk through its gilded halls and learn about the musical culture that shaped central Europe over the years. Plush seats, gilt balconies, and chandeliers catch the light, setting the stage for the concert. Following our tour, we’ll sit for a short concert by its soloists, the kind of performance many visitors never hear.
Then, we’ll trade concert halls for chopping boards with a hands-on cooking experience. We’ll meet our chef at the market, sample bites as we wander the stalls, then head to a nearby apartment kitchen. Wine is poured, platters of local meats and cheeses appear, and together we’ll prepare a Hungarian meal step by step. The class will end in time for you to enjoy the late afternoon and evening on your own, whether that means soaking in a beer bath, visiting a few of the (100s of) museums in the area, or finding your own dinner spot nearby. Overnight in Budapest.
Today we’ll check out of the hotel and head toward Eastern Slovakia. Along the way, we’ll pause in the Hungarian town of Eger, best known for its deliciously dry Bull’s Blood wine. We’ll have time to wander the town and enjoy lunch together before continuing the journey.
By late afternoon, we’ll arrive in Košice and settle into our hotel. The day’s highlight is waiting at the East Slovak Gallery, where we’ll sit down for a hands-on workshop inspired by Andy Warhol, whose parents came from this region. Bright inks and bold patterns press onto the cloth, turning simple bags into pop-art keepsakes. The evening is yours to enjoy in Košice.
We’ll start today with a stroll through Košice that culminates in an exclusive underground tour where we will see the city’s oldest foundations. The morning continues with free time at the market on Dominikánske Square, where you will have a chance to browse, sip a coffee, or simply watch the square come alive.
Then, we’ll step back to the 16th century and sample beer (after beer, after beer!) and indulge in local dishes at a restaurant that has been serving guests since 1542. After time to rest and refresh, we’ll visit the Museum of Victims of Communism for a guided look at life under the regime. The evening is free. Overnight in Košice.
We will begin today with an optional Latin mass in the Cathedral of St. Elisabeth, where choral voices rise in the shadows of soaring Gothic arches. The echo of organ pipes swells overhead, filling every corner of the cathedral. Those who would rather ease into the day can linger over what many call “the best brunch in Slovakia,” or join a relaxed Sunday morning wander in the piazza.
We’ll reground mid-morning and cross into the famed Tokaj wine region to arrive at Château Grand Bari, a modern winery born of centuries-old connections. When King Béla IV settled Italian families from Puglia here, they were thought to have brought with them vines like Furmint, foundations of Tokaj’s legendary “wine of kings.” At Grand Bari, those historic roots meet fresh design: we’ll stroll vineyard rows, wander cool tuff cellars where the noble mold still clings to the walls. The damp stone, the sweet sharpness of fermenting grapes, and the hush of the cellar create their own ritual.
Back in Košice, the evening is yours to enjoy dinner on your own and another night in the city. Overnight in Košice.
We’ll leave Košice behind and make our way toward the High Tatras National Park. Along the route, we’ll pause to see the Spiš Castle, the largest castle ruins in Central Europe. A little further on, we’ll stop in Kežmarok for a short walk through town and a visit to its wooden church, a UNESCO World Heritage site built without a single nail or metal part. Inside, the timber beams are darkened to silver by centuries of candle smoke and prayer.
After lunch, we continue to our mountain retreat. Our hotel sits on the banks of Štrbské Pleso, a glacial lake where the icy-blue water mirrors the sharp peaks above. As clouds drift across the sky, the reflections shift and ripple on the surface of the lake. Pines edge the shoreline, trails wind around the water, and the air feels lighter here. The rest of the day is yours to take in the alpine air, enjoy the wellness center, or walk around the lake before settling in for the night. Overnight High Tatras.
We’ll start the day with a ride on the ground railway up to Hrebienok Hill, then follow a mountain path to the Cold Waterfalls. Rushing streams, fresh air, and sweeping alpine views make the short hike its own reward. Lunch is served in a traditional mountain cottage, hearty and simple, the kind of food that tastes best after time outdoors.
In the afternoon, we return to our lakeside hotel for a slower rhythm. Like many Slovaks, we will pause for an afternoon coffee and pastry, my favorite daily tradition here. Steam curls above the cups and plates of layered cakes disappear quickly in the company of friends. From there, the rest of the day is yours. You can circle the paths near the hotel, unwind in the wellness center, or simply watch the Tatras shift in the afternoon light. Overnight High Tatras.
We’ll check out of our hotel and begin the drive toward Poland, stopping first in the village of Ždiar where we’ll step inside the world of carved timber houses, folk architecture, and brightly embroidered Goral costumes. Members of our group will be chosen to play the roles in a traditional Slovak wedding, as the story unfolds with music and laughter. Embroidery flashes bright against the timber walls, and the costumes themselves feel like pieces of living history.
Lunch follows in a rustic restaurant, then we will cross the border into Poland and continue to Kraków. After settling into our perfectly-located hotel, the evening is yours. Overnight Krakow.
We’ll spend the morning walking Kraków’s Old Town, pausing to try a few local favorites such as warm obwarzanek, the city’s pretzel-shaped bread, zapiekanka, bubbling open-face sandwiches, and jam-filled pierogi. The streets, squares, and stories of this city unfold best at a slower pace, with time to stop and taste along the way.
In the afternoon, a tram will carry us into Kazimierz, the historic Jewish quarter. We’ll end our journey with a farewell dinner in a traditional Jewish restaurant, where live Klezmer music will fill the room. The sound of the violin will weave among the tables, sometimes mournful, sometimes quick enough to set feet tapping. Afterwards, we will return to our hotel for one last overnight in Kraków.
After breakfast, we’ll check out of the hotel and transfer together to the Kraków airport. Morning light glints off the rooftops and church bells echo across the Old Town as we leave the city behind. For those who wish to linger longer in Kraków or continue exploring elsewhere, we can help arrange the details.
Do zobaczenia — until we meet again.
