A glance at the skyline, rising gracefully above the Golden Horn harbor, reveals the layers of Istanbul’s history. Minarets and domed mosques fill the panorama, next to Greek towers and Roman columns. In the harbor, modern catamarans ferry locals and tourists. With etr, you’ll delve into centuries past to discover the culture and commerce that have kept Istanbul humming.

Krakow & Prague, two cities with deep historical and cultural significance and diverse student appeal, are part of etr’s extensive reach into Central and Eastern Europe.

Budapest, officially the capital of Hungary and popularly known as the “Queen of the Danube,” has been formed by a truly rich (if slightly turbulent) mix of cultures throughout the past millennia. Since the Celtic Eravisci tribe settled the area in the fourth century B.C., it has been home to the Romans, Mongols, Ottomans, and Habsburgs, among others.

Prague, for decades hidden behind the Iron Curtain, has since been revealed as one of Europe’s most beautiful cities, a dusty jewel awaiting your exploration.  This city on the Vlatava is divided into several parts: old town and new town on one side of the river, the mysterious quarter of Mala Strana on the other, and then the old castle, and St Vitus’s cathedral, from above.  The Charles Bridge connects the two sides, and seethes day and night with activity...

Once the capital city of Poland, Krakow today remains the cultural center of this country. Home to nearly a quarter of Poland’s museum holdings and fine examples of a wide range of architectural styles, this city was understandably named as one of the nine European Cities of Culture in 2000.

Peter the Great built the city as his “window on the west” and most often we arrive in St Petersburg the traditional way, on the train, overnight from Moscow. The sights of this city on the Neva (surprisingly, just over 300 years old) are many and varied, and include the Peter and Paul fortress, St Isaac’s cathedral, the battleship Aurora, and the awesome collections of the Hermitage, a true rival to the Louvre in Paris as Europe’s leading art museum.

In Moscow we begin where Russia begins, in Red Square naturally.  With the colorful St Basil’s cathedral at one end, the square is the heart of the capital and it is from here we step behind the imposing walls of the Kremlin.  Inside its fabled cathedrals and extensive collections at the Armory, we begin to understand the historical foundations of this grand and imposing country.

For many travelers to Greece, the mainland often serves as little more than a waypoint en route to the azure delights of the Greek Isles. However, for those seeking the heart of ancient civilization, which is the vast majority of etr groups, no place is more delightful than the Peloponessos.

In the capital city of Plato and Aristotle, the emphasis (as you can imagine) is on all things ancient.  But don’t assume that this is just a city of silent stone—Athens is alive and bustling with residents who are lucky enough to live side by side with the cradle of western civilization. We’ll explore all sides of Athens, taking in the famed monuments of Ancient Greece, the architecture of the 19th century Plaka district, and the lively theatres,

For three weeks every August, countless musicians, artists, and filmmakers descend on Edinburgh and transform the Scottish capital into the center for all things up-and-coming. The world-renowned Edinburgh International Festival draws annual hordes of visitors, but savvy Scotsmen and experienced travellers know that this city offers so much more than one yearly party.  In the Royal Museum and the National Gallery of Scotland we’ll discover endless artistic treasures