Central Europe by Rail — Eight Nights through Four Cities
Four central European cities, two nights in each, joined by train and run in a loop that ends in Vienna.
- Duration
- 8 Nights / 9 Days
- Destinations
- Prague · Budapest · Salzburg · Vienna
- Travel style
- Cultural
- Stays
- Comfort standard
Journey overview
Four central European cities, two nights in each, joined by train and run in a loop that ends in Vienna.
Photographs: Moyan Brenn · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0 · Perituss · Wikimedia Commons · CC0 · Picturesque Hohensalzburg fortress and Salzburg cathedral skyline. Salzburg, Austria — ABBPhoto via Envato Elements
Why you'll love this journey
- Two nights each in Prague, Budapest, Salzburg and Vienna.
- Four cities joined by train, with no internal flights.
- The Sound of Music tour through the Salzburg lake country.
- A guided city tour in every city on the itinerary.
- An open-jaw routing — into Prague, out of Vienna.
Day-by-day itinerary
You are met on arrival by a representative and driven to your hotel in a private vehicle. Prague's old centre is small and is at its best early in the morning or late in the evening, when the day crowds have gone. The rest of the day is free.
A city tour of Prague. The old town square with its astronomical clock, the Charles Bridge across the Vltava and the castle complex on the hill above are the fixed points, and the city is compact enough for one tour to genuinely cover it.
You make your own way to the station for the train to Budapest, approximately six hours, and your own way from Budapest station to your hotel. This is a travel day — check-in is from around three in the afternoon and the evening is what remains of it.
A city tour of Budapest. Buda rises on the hills with the castle district and the fishermen's bastion; Pest lies flat across the river with the parliament along the embankment. The tour covers both halves, which is the only way the city makes sense.
You make your own way to the station for the train to Salzburg, approximately six hours, and your own way to the hotel on arrival. The line runs west across Hungary and into Austria, with the mountains beginning towards the end of the journey.
A Sound of Music tour out of Salzburg, through the lake country south of the city and the locations used in the film. Among them is the Rock Riding School, cut into the cliff face behind the old town and still used as a performance venue.
You make your own way to the station for the train to Vienna, about three hours — much the shortest leg of the trip — and your own way from Vienna station to your hotel. The afternoon is free.
A city tour of Vienna. The imperial buildings along the Ringstrasse, the cathedral at the centre and the palaces on the city's edge are what the tour is built around. The rest of the day is free.
Breakfast at the hotel, then check out and a private transfer to Vienna airport. The source advises reaching the airport three to four hours before your departure flight.
Make this journey yours
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Inclusions & exclusions
Included
- Eight nights' accommodation — Prague 2, Budapest 2, Salzburg 2 and Vienna 2.
- Daily breakfast at the hotel, from Day 2 to Day 9.
- Private airport transfer on arrival, Prague airport to your hotel.
- Private airport transfer on departure, your Vienna hotel to the airport.
- Prague city tour.
- Budapest city tour.
- Salzburg Sound of Music tour, including the Rock Riding School.
- Vienna city tour.
- Rail journeys Prague to Budapest, Budapest to Salzburg and Salzburg to Vienna.
Not included
- GST is extra and is charged on the final amount.
- TCS is extra and is charged on the final amount.
- International airfare is extra and is not included.
- Domestic and internal airfare is extra and is not included.
- Visa is extra and is not included — visa fees, associated service charges, airport taxes and any related charges.
- Travel insurance is extra and is not included.
- Transfers to and from every railway station. The source states on each of the three rail legs that you make your own way to and from the stations.
- All meals other than the daily breakfasts listed above, and any meal expressly listed as part of a named included component. Lunches, dinners and drinks with meals are not included otherwise.
- Every activity the itinerary marks as optional. Optional excursions are named so you know what is available locally; none of them is included in the price.
- City tax, tourist tax or resort fee. Most European cities levy a per-person per-night tax which the hotel collects directly at check-in or check-out. It is not included.
- Any transfer other than those specified under Inclusions.
- Any sightseeing, entrance ticket or excursion not specifically listed under Inclusions.
- Tips and gratuities.
- Personal expenses — laundry, telephone, minibar, and anything of a personal nature.
- Early check-in and late check-out charges, and any hotel upgrade.
- Anything not specifically listed under Inclusions.
Accommodation, meals & transport
What the journey covers day to day, taken from this package's own inclusions.
🏨 Accommodation
- Comfort standard
- Eight nights' accommodation — Prague 2, Budapest 2, Salzburg 2 and Vienna 2.
🍽 Meals
- Daily breakfast at the hotel, from Day 2 to Day 9.
🚆 Transport
- Private airport transfer on arrival, Prague airport to your hotel.
- Private airport transfer on departure, your Vienna hotel to the airport.
Flights, visa & practical
Arranged separately from the journey itself — listed here so there are no surprises.
✈ Flights
- International airfare is extra and is not included.
- Domestic and internal airfare is extra and is not included.
🛂 Visa
- Visa is extra and is not included — visa fees, associated service charges, airport taxes and any related charges.
🛡 Insurance
- Travel insurance is extra and is not included.
Every journey is quoted individually for your travel dates and party. Read our pricing terms for how a quotation is prepared. Cancellations and amendments follow our Refund & Cancellation Policy and Terms & Conditions.
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The Acropolis and its museum with a guide, before the heat and the crowds
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