If you've ever wondered how it would be to time-travel, this compact visit to the Czech Republic,

Austria and Hungary is for you. Powder-blue cathedrals leap up from the heart of valley towns. Incredibly intact villages are so perfectly preserved that the U.N. recognizes them as World Heritage Sites. Strolling through wide open farmland, you’ll be forgiven if you feel you’ve stepped back into feudal times. Of course, the gems of this journey are Prague and Budapest, one-time capitals of the Habsburg Empire whose spires and castles create the continent’s most inspiring skylines. Whether you’re sipping wine from the terraced vineyards along the Danube valley or hitching a ride on a friendly farmer’s tractor, you’ll marvel that these places still exist. And you’ll bring home with you a rich slice of Europe’s life and history that most travelers never see.