Central and Eastern Europe train tours

Central and Eastern Europe covers around 16 countries:

• Albania
• Austria
• Bulgaria
• Croatia
• Czech Republic
• Estonia
• Germany
• Hungary
• Latvia
• Liechtenstein
• Lithuania
• Poland
• Romania
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Switzerland

That’s a lot of ground to cover. Rather than rushing through all 16, we recommend getting properly acquainted with a handful.

Our itineraries focus on a handpicked selection – think Austria, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Germany and Hungary. This way, you can settle into each place instead of just passing through.

Keen to delve even deeper? Combine a tour of Switzerland, Germany, Austria or Italy with your Eastern Europe escape.

Yes. Trains link cities like Vienna, Prague, Budapest and Berlin quickly and comfortably, without the hassle of driving or parking in unfamiliar cities.

You’ll travel between city centres, arriving close to your hotel with time to explore on arrival day.

Most of our Central and Eastern Europe train tours cover 2 to 4 capital cities, depending on how many days you have.

Our 7-day trips typically link 2 to 3 cities, such as Prague, Vienna and Budapest by train. Choose a 10-day tour, and you could add a fourth city, like Berlin.

Or, if you’ve got over 2 weeks, you can go further still. Our 17–21-day itineraries link 5 countries – Switzerland, Italy, Austria, the Czech Republic and Germany.

Unsure how you want to pace your trip? Speak to one of our local experts – we’ll help you find the balance between hitting the cities you want without speeding through and missing out on the best bits.

English is widely spoken in hotels, train stations and restaurants throughout the region’s large cities. That said, learning a few phrases tends to earn a smile from locals, wherever you are.

We’d suggest at least 2 nights per city. This gives you a full day to explore without feeling rushed. But with so many royal palaces, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, museums and medieval streets to discover, adding extra nights rewards you with more stories to tell.

Get inspired by these guides:

• Best things to do in Berlin
• Top things to do in Budapest
• Your guide to Prague in winter
• Best places to visit in Austria

Yes. Some of our longer itineraries start in Zurich and Lucerne, cross into Milan, then continue through Innsbruck and Salzburg on the way to Vienna, Prague and Berlin.

It’s a great option if you’d like to see Alpine lakes and Italian piazzas alongside the Eastern European capitals.

Yes, very much so. These tours are designed to be seamless introductions to Central and Eastern Europe, with accommodation, trains, travel times and route planning handled before you go.

You’ll still have plenty of free time each day to wander at your own pace.

Both work well, and it comes down to the experience you’d like to have.

Spring, summer, and early autumn (May to October) are best for outdoor sightseeing, with long daylight hours. The warmer weather at this time of year is perfect for enjoying palace gardens and dining al fresco.

Come winter, city squares host twinkling Christmas markets and 15th-century castles are dusted in snow.

November and December bring Christmas markets, and the warmth of Budapest’s thermal baths is extra welcoming. Outside the festive season, the winter months of November to March are also the quietest time to visit.

Find out more about what makes cities like Vienna, Prague and Budapest among the best places to go in Europe around Christmas.

No. All train tickets between cities are booked for you in advance and included in your itinerary. You just need to make your own way to the train station – you’ll find instructions included in your personalised itinerary.

Yes. Our itineraries are designed by local experts, but you’re free to add optional activities, such as guided tours or day trips to nearby cities. Take your pick from excursions including brewery tours, lake cruises and guided city walking tours. Or why not make your arrival and departure even smoother with private airport transfers?

You can also add extra nights to the start and end of most of our itineraries. For instance, you could extend your stay in Vienna to take in an opera.

Customise your itinerary when you’re booking online, or speak to our travel experts about tailoring your trip.