Bohemian Rhapsody: Prague’s Music and Culture with Rossen Milanov

April 12–19, 2027

Pricing: $6,850 per person; For a single room add $1,230

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For more information, contact ATA at 877-298-9677 or Reservations@academic-travel.com

Overview

Often regarded as a crossroads of imagination, Prague is a city where soaring spires, cobbled lanes, and the majestic Vltava River have inspired generations of artists, thinkers, and musicians. Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra Music Director Rossen Milanov and Chautauqua Travels invite you to experience the Czech capital through its enduring musical spirit on this eight-day tour in Prague. From grand concert halls and intimate palace salons to historic theaters where Mozart once stood at the podium, each day reveals a new layer of the city’s artistic identity. Explore masterpieces of architecture, history, and design, and gain insight into the composers, patrons, and performers who shaped classical music’s Romantic era. Step inside the stunning Klementinum Library, wander through storied neighborhoods, and discover how Bohemian spa towns transformed the region into a premier hub for wellness and high-society diplomacy during an excursion to Karlovy Vary. This immersive portrait of Prague provides a living backdrop to centuries of creative expression.

Questions?

Please contact ATA at:
Toll-Free Number: 877-298-9677
Reservations@academic-travel.com

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Trip Highlights

  • Attend music and opera performances in renowned Prague concert halls, intimate palace salons, and impressive Gothic churches.
  • Visit Prague Castle, the largest ancient castle complex in the world and home to St. Vitus Cathedral, St. George’s Basilica, and the historic Golden Lane.
  • Discover rare musical manuscripts annotated by Mozart and Beethoven in the Lobkowicz Palace Collection, followed by an concert in the beautiful Baroque Concert Hall.
  • Tour historic landmarks like Charles Bridge, the Klementinum, and the Estates Theatre where Mozart conducted the premier of his celebrated Don Giovanni.
  • Enjoy an excursion to Karlovly Vary, the famed Bohemian spa town known for its thermal springs, whimsical colonnades, and 14th-century origins.

Trip Expert: Rossen Milanov

Mr. Milanov has established himself as a conductor with considerable national and international presence. Past positions include Music Director of Symphony Orchestra of Bulgarian National Radio, New Symphony Orchestra in Sofia, Symphony in C in New Jersey, Orquesta Sinfónica del Principado de Asturias (OSPA) in Spain and Slovenian RTV Symphony Orchestra in Ljubljana. Nationally, he has appeared with the Colorado, Milwaukee, and Seattle Symphonies, National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center, and with the Civic Orchestra in Chicago, among others, and internationally he has collaborated with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, Rotterdam Philharmonic, Sofia Philharmonic, Mexico Philharmonic, Colombia and Costa Rica National Symphonies, and New Zealand Symphony Orchestras. Noted for his versatility, Milanov is also a welcomed presence in the worlds of opera and ballet and has collaborated with some of world’s preeminent artists including Yo-Yo Ma, Itzhak Perlman, Joshua Bell, and Renée Fleming, among others. Rossen Milanov studied conducting at the Bulgarian Music Academy, Tanglewood Music Center, Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia and The Juilliard School in New York, where he received the Bruno Walter Memorial Scholarship. A passionate chef, he often dedicates his culinary talents to various charities.

Rossen Milanov

Itinerary

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

Day 6

Day 7

Day 8

Day 1

Welcome to Prague

Arrive on individual flights into Prague and transfer independently to your hotel. In the evening, gather with your host, Rossen Milanov, and fellow travelers, for a festive welcome dinner at a nearby restaurant.

Included Meal: Dinner

Accommodations: Grand Hotel Bohemia

Day 2

City of A Hundred Spires

Get an introduction to this “city of a hundred spires” during a walking tour featuring iconic sites such as the Old Town Square, St. James Basilica, Prague Astronomical Clock, and the historic Charles Bridge. After lunch, climb the spiral staircase of the historic Klementinum, founded by Jesuits in 1556 and now home to one of the most beautiful baroque libraries in the world. Return to your hotel for time to refresh, then attend a classical symphony concert at one of Prague’s storied concert halls. Specific concert details will be announced at a later date.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodations: Grand Hotel Bohemia

Day 3

Castle Walls and Palace Halls

Embark on a guided tour of Prague Castle, the world’s largest ancient castle complex, where highlights include the soaring Gothic grandeur of St. Vitus Cathedral, St. George’s Basilica, and the charming storybook houses and shops of Golden Lane. Continue to Lobkowicz Palace, where the noble House of Lobkowicz preserves an extraordinary private collection of art and manuscripts. Enjoy lunch, a tour of the galleries, and a classical concert in the palace’s intimate salon. Return to your hotel for an aperitivo and informal discussion with your host, followed by dinner and the rest of the evening at your leisure.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodations: Grand Hotel Bohemia

Day 4

Mozart and the Music of Prague

Today, explore two of Prague’s most important musical landmarks, beginning at the elegant Estates Theater, one of the oldest European theaters still in use and where Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart conducted the premier of Don Giovanni. Then visit the grand Municipal House, a masterpiece of Czech Art Nouveau design. A private tour will showcase the intricately decorated interiors and culminate in a visit to Smetana Hall, whose impressive organ is adorned with a medallion of famed Czech composer Bedřich Smetana. In the evening, gather for dinner in a local restaurant.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodations: Grand Hotel Bohemia

Day 5

The Sound of a Nation

Continue your exploration of Prague’s musical heritage with a visit to the elegant Rudolfinum, home of the renowned Czech Philharmonic, followed by the Bedřich Smetana Museum. Beautifully situated along the banks of the Vltava River, this comprehensive museum is dedicated to the life and works of Bedřich Smetana, widely regarded as the father of Czech music. Return to your hotel for an aperitivo and informal discussion with your host. This evening, experience Prague’s vibrant performing arts scene with an opera or ballet at one of the city’s grand venues. Specific performance details will be announced at a later date.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodations: Grand Hotel Bohemia

Day 6

Bohemian Spa Traditions

Travel by coach to the picturesque spa town of Karlovy Vary, founded in the 14th century by Charles IV and now recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its whimsical architecture and celebrated thermal springs. Visit the elegant Hot Spring Colonnade and the striking Church of Saint Peter and Paul, then gather for lunch. The afternoon is yours to explore Karlovy Vary at your own pace, perhaps strolling along the colonnades, sampling the mineral waters, or relaxing in one of the town’s charming cafes. Return to Prague, where dinner and the rest of the evening will be at your leisure in Prague.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodations: Grand Hotel Bohemia

Day 7

Mostly Mucha

Begin your day with a visit to the Mucha Museum, devoted to the distinctive Art Nouveau works of Alphonse Mucha. Housed in an historic Baroque building, the museum offers an intimate look at Mucha’s iconic posters and decorative panels and provides insight into his broader vision of art as a unifying cultural force. Continue with a private tour of the beautifully restored State Opera, recently restored to its original Neo-Renaissance grandeur, then enjoy a concert in one of Prague’s famous churches, such as St. Nicholas Church or Church of Saint Martin in the Wall. Specific program details will be announced at a later date. Afterwards, raise a toast to your journeys during a festive farewell dinner.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodations: Grand Hotel Bohemia

Day 8

Departures

Transfer individually to the airport and depart Prague on individual flights for your journey home

Included Meal: Breakfast

What’s Included?

  • All accommodations for the duration of the tour
  • Meals, as noted in the itinerary
  • All sightseeing and visits as noted in the itinerary
  • Expertise of a Chautauqua expert, ATA-hired travel director, and local guides throughout the tour
  • All gratuities for on-tour guides, drivers, hotel, and restaurant staff as part of the group program
  • All on-tour transportation, unless otherwise noted
  • Quietvox listening devices to facilitate audibility and social distancing on tour
  • The assistance of an ATA professional travel team to assist with pre-trip questions, travel arrangements, including flights, extra hotel nights and other services
  • Comprehensive pre-departure mailings and materials with information about the destination and what to expect on tour, including a suggested reading list
  • Emergency evacuation insurance

Accommodations

Grand Hotel Bohemia, Prague
Located in the heart of Prague’s Old Town, the Grand Hotel Bohemia has been effortlessly blending classic elegance with modern comfort since 1927. Its 79 well-appointed rooms offer a work desk, pillow menu, spacious bathrooms, air conditioning, Wi-Fi, flat-screen televisions, and tea and coffeemaking equipment. The upscale Steiner’s Bar and Restaurant serves a traditional Czech cuisine with contemporary flair and signature cocktails based on local fruit schnapps, while the opulent Boccaccio Bar is where important figures from the First Czechoslovak Republic used to convene. (7 Nights)