Central Europe by Train

Upon arrival you’ll be picked up at the airport and taken to our hotel near the city center. After getting settled and having a rest, we’ll start off with an orientation meeting and group dinner at a well known spot famous for cosy, homemade Czech cooking.

After breakfast today we’ll embark on a half-day guided tour of Prague, a city known for its dramatic skyline, deep history, and one of the best preserved historic centres in Europe. We’ll begin at Charles Bridge, where the views open up across the river to Prague Castle, with church towers and red rooftops stretching out around us. From there we’ll enjoy a panoramic tram ride through the Lesser Town, one of Prague’s most elegant districts, where quiet streets, baroque facades, and embassy buildings sit below the castle hill. We’ll then visit Prague Castle, the vast complex that has been the seat of Czech rulers for centuries, including St. Vitus Cathedral, whose Gothic architecture, stained glass, and sheer scale make it one of the city’s most impressive landmarks. The tour will also take us through the Jewish Quarter, a major part of Prague’s history, before finishing in Old Town Square, where we’ll see the famous Astronomical Clock and be surrounded by some of the city’s most beautiful buildings. After the tour, the afternoon will be yours at leisure. Options include exploring the castle area at your own pace, browsing regional design shops for Czech glass and handmade pieces, booking a cooking class, or attending a classical concert.

Today will be your chance to go a little deeper into Prague, choosing what you are most curious about, with our tour leader available to help with your plans. A standout option is a hands-on marionette workshop, where you’ll work with a local maker to assemble and decorate your own puppet, and learn why puppetry became such a proud Czech tradition. For a day trip, Terezín is an option for those interested in the stories that shaped this region, and Kutná Hora is another wonderful choice, known for its Gothic architecture and a very different side of Bohemia. You could also choose to keep it simple with a long lunch, a relaxed wander through streets you have not seen yet, and time to enjoy Prague at your own pace, a city that is genuinely rewarding to explore on foot.

After breakfast today, we’ll take the train to Vienna, a journey of 4 hours that brings us into one of Europe’s great imperial capitals. Once we arrive we’ll check into our hotel and head out for lunch, a nice chance to settle in and enjoy a taste of traditional Viennese cooking. Afterwards we’ll visit a classic Viennese coffee house, one of the city’s loved traditions, where coffee is served in its own distinct styles and the cake counter is part of the ritual, making it easy to pick whatever looks most tempting. We’ll then take an easy orientation stroll through the nearby centre, pointing out the key areas around us and the easiest routes to get around, while also getting our first feel for the elegant streets, heritage buildings, and atmosphere that make Vienna so enjoyable to explore.

This morning we’ll embark on a half-day tour of Vienna, a place shaped by imperial power, music, and a long cafe tradition. We’ll visit Schonbrunn Palace, the former summer residence of the Habsburgs, where the scale of the palace and gardens gives a clear sense of the dynasty's world. We’ll then continue to explore some of the city’s most important highlights, including St Stephens Cathedral, the main Gothic church and one of the standout known landmarks, and the Vienna State Opera, one of the great cultural institutions of Europe. We’ll also explore the historic centre, with its grand streets, elegant facades, and significant buildings that show why this was once the heart of a vast empire. After the tour we’ll enjoy lunch at a Heuriger, a traditional Viennese wine tavern where local wine is served alongside simple regional dishes, giving us a very different side of the capital from the imperial landmarks of the morning. The rest of the evening will be free, giving you time to relax, enjoy more of the centre at your own pace, or head back out for dinner, a concert, or a stroll through the streets.

After breakfast today we’ll leave Vienna behind for a full-day trip to Bratislava, a chance to spend the day in a smaller capital that feels very different from Vienna. Once we arrive we’ll visit Bratislava Castle, set high above the city, where the hilltop position gives us sweeping views over the old town, the Danube, and the surrounding area. We’ll also visit St Martins Cathedral, one of the city’s main historic churches, where Hungarian kings and queens were once crowned. Along the way we’ll enjoy lunch before continuing with a guided walking tour through Bratislava's old town, where we’ll explore its beautiful streets, lively squares, and graceful buildings while getting a better feel for the city beyond its headline sights. After the tour, there will be some free time to enjoy the centre at your own pace before we return to Vienna in the evening.

Today will be a free day at leisure, giving you plenty of time to enjoy Vienna in the way that suits you best. You may wish to explore the Belvedere for its art and architecture, spend time walking through Vienna's historic streets, or simply enjoy the city at a slower pace with cafes, shops, and museums. It is an excellent chance to shape the day around your own interests and enjoy more of the city on your own terms. In the evening we’ll come back together for a private classical music concert, a special way to experience one of the traditions that Vienna is most known for. This will be a memorable chance to enjoy the music in an intimate setting and end the day with a taste of the elegance and cultural life that have made Vienna such an important musical city for centuries.

After breakfast today we’ll board the train for the 2.5-hour journey to Budapest, where the Danube divides the city between the hills of Buda and the grand boulevards of Pest. Once we arrive and settle into our hotel, we’ll head out for an early lunch featuring traditional Hungarian cuisine, a first taste of Budapest's rich food culture. Later we’ll head on an introduction to the city, its history, and its culture as we explore the heart of Pest and walk along the Danube Promenade. We’ll start at St. Stephen's Basilica, one of the city's main churches, then continue past the elegant Gresham Palace and the Chain Bridge, the famous crossing that linked Buda and Pest and helped shape Budapest into the capital it is today. As we walk, we’ll take in the beautiful architecture, wide river views, and some of the most important landmarks in the city centre. We’ll finish at the Parliament, one of Budapest's most striking and recognizable buildings, and the Shoe Memorial.

We’ll head out this morning for one of Budapest’s top experiences, a visit to one of the city’s impressive Turkish bathhouses, where thermal bathing has been part of life here for centuries. Fed by natural hot springs, these bathhouses are known for their domed rooms, stone pools, steam, and mineral rich thermal waters, with traditions that go back to the Ottoman period. It is one of the most distinctive things to do in Budapest and a great way to enjoy a part of the city that visitors have been coming to for generations. Afterwards, the rest of the afternoon will be free for you to enjoy Budapest at your own pace. You may want to explore the Castle District, walk along the Danube promenade, browse the Central Market Hall, visit a museum, or settle into a cafe for an unhurried afternoon.

Our final day of the trip will be free at leisure, giving you time to enjoy Budapest in the way that suits you best. If you would rather keep exploring, you might choose to visit Buda Castle and the Castle District, take in the views from Gellert Hill, stroll along the Danube promenade, or spend time at the market shopping for paprika, sweets, and other Hungarian specialties. For those who would like to get out of the city, there are also day trip options such as Szentendre, a small riverside town just outside Budapest known for its baroque streets, galleries, and relaxed old town atmosphere. However you choose to spend the day, our tour leader will be on-hand to help you plan it. We’ll then come back together in the evening for a farewell dinner at one of the city's top restaurants, a wonderful way to celebrate the trip and end our time in Europe as a group.

You will be picked up at the hotel by a private driver who will take you to the airport for your departing flight.