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Central Europe: Berlin, Prague, Vienna and Budapest

12 days by train from Berlin to Budapest: Potsdam, a day in Dresden on the way to Prague, Český Krumlov, the Wachau valley from Vienna and two nights on the Danube in Budapest.

12 days · Berlin to Budapest · up to 12 guests

The facts

At a glance

Length
12 days, 11 nights
Start and end
Berlin to Budapest
Group size
7 to 12 guests
Activity level

Moderate

City days on foot: about 8 to 12 km a day on paving and cobbles, with stairs at Prague Castle, Castle Hill in Budapest and the old towns, and 2 to 4 hours standing in palaces and museums. Three train days with four trains with your bags to lift onto racks (your guide helps). Every long walk has a shorter version, and you can sit out any afternoon visit.

Meals included
11 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 1 dinner
Room of your own
+ CAD 595 (estimated price)
Season
April to October

Highlights

Why this trip

  • The Berlin Wall Memorial on Bernauer Strasse in the quiet of the morning, and the Reichstag dome on a booked evening slot
  • Sanssouci and the vineyard terraces of Potsdam, with lunch in the Dutch Quarter
  • A day in Dresden between trains: the rebuilt Frauenkirche, the Zwinger and Brühl's Terrace over the Elbe
  • Charles Bridge at about 8 am, then Prague Castle as its doors open
  • Český Krumlov's castle and the bend of the Vltava, a full day from Prague
  • Schönbrunn at opening and Bruegel's paintings in the Kunsthistorisches Museum
  • Melk Abbey, then the Danube boat through the Wachau vineyards to Dürnstein
  • The Budapest Parliament tour, the Széchenyi Baths and a last evening on the Danube

What makes this trip different

  • Free time is part of the plan

    Free time and choices are marked on the days they fall.

  • Solo without the penalty

    A room of your own is + CAD 595 (estimated price).

Day by day

Itinerary

GERMANYCZECH REPUBLICAUSTRIAHUNGARYSLOVAKIAPOLANDDanubeElbeVltava1234BerlinDays 1 to 4PotsdamDay 3DresdenDay 4PragueDays 4 to 7Český KrumlovDay 6ViennaDays 7 to 10MelkDay 9DürnsteinDay 9BudapestDays 10 to 12

Tap any stop on the map to open that day

Arrive in Berlin

Berlin Brandenburg Airport to your hotel in Berlin-Mitte

  • Welcome dinner
  • Stay in Berlin
  • Drive about 45 min

Fly into Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER), about 25 km south-east of the centre. A driver meets you in arrivals and takes you to the hotel, about 45 minutes depending on traffic.

Evening

Plan to land by about 4 pm so you are settled before the evening briefing; if you arrive early, leave your bags at the hotel and walk along the Spree to the Berliner Dom and Museum Island, a few minutes away. In the early evening your See Sight Tours guide meets the group in the hotel for a short briefing on the twelve days ahead: how the trains work, what to pack for a day in Dresden, and which mornings start early and why. Then we walk together to a welcome dinner of Berlin and Brandenburg dishes in the centre. Tomorrow starts at a gentle pace, so tonight is for sleeping off the flight.

Included

  • Pick-up at Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER)
  • Welcome briefing with your guide
  • Welcome dinner

Free time: Free until the evening briefing

  1. Berlin3 nights
  2. Prague3 nights
  3. Vienna3 nights
  4. Budapest2 nights
  • Overnight stop
  • Day trip
  • By boat or train
Print itinerary

Wildlife and weather: May, June and September are the best balance of warm days and lighter crowds. July and August are hot in Vienna and Budapest and busy at Prague Castle and Schönbrunn, which is why we go at opening. April and October can be cool and wet; the Wachau boats and the Český Krumlov castle tours run from about April to October.

Want this plan in your inbox?

Get the day-by-day itinerary by email, or ask us anything about this trip. A trip planner replies the same or next business day.

Before you book

Right for you?

Good for you if you want

  • First-time visitors who want the four capitals with the main sights included, not sold as extras
  • Travellers who like trains and would rather not spend long days on a coach
  • Anyone who wants three nights in each big city instead of a new hotel every night
  • Solo travellers who want a small group and a fair single price

Not for you if you want

  • Step-free access: cobbles, castle hills and old buildings without lifts are part of every city
  • Travellers who want a party-led trip of bars and nightlife
  • Anyone wanting Salzburg, Kraków or Bratislava; this route goes direct
  • Travellers who cannot lift a suitcase onto a train rack

Book flights after we confirm your seat.

11 nights

Where you'll stay

Your hotels are named in your trip confirmation.

  • Berlin3 nights
  • Prague3 nights
  • Vienna3 nights
  • Budapest2 nights

One price

What's in the price

Included

Accommodation

  • 11 nights in central hotels of at least a 3-star-plus standard: 3 in Berlin, 3 in Prague, 3 in Vienna, 2 in Budapest
  • Rooms shared, or your own for a supplement
  • We name each hotel when we confirm your dates

Transport

  • Pick-up at Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) and drop-off at Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport (BUD)
  • Reserved train seats: Berlin to Dresden, Dresden to Prague, Prague to Vienna and Vienna to Budapest
  • Station to hotel transfers in each city
  • Our own vehicle and driver for Potsdam, Český Krumlov and the Wachau
  • The Danube boat from Melk to Dürnstein and an evening boat in Budapest
  • Public transport tickets on city touring days

Your guide

  • A See Sight Tours guide with the group for the whole trip, who handles the tickets, the trains and the bags
  • Licensed local guides at Prague Castle, the Hofburg and the Budapest Parliament, where a site requires one

Activities

  • Berlin Wall Memorial, the Brandenburg Gate, the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe and the Neues Museum (Berlin)
  • Sanssouci Palace and park and the Glienicke Bridge (Potsdam)
  • The Reichstag dome (Berlin)
  • The Frauenkirche, the Zwinger and Brühl's Terrace (Dresden)
  • Prague Castle, Charles Bridge, the Old Town Square and the Jewish Museum (Prague)
  • Český Krumlov Castle tour and gardens (Český Krumlov)
  • Schönbrunn Palace Grand Tour, the Hofburg courtyards and the Kunsthistorisches Museum (Vienna)
  • Coffee and cake in a Viennese coffee house
  • Melk Abbey and the Wachau by boat to Dürnstein
  • Hungarian Parliament tour, Castle Hill and the Széchenyi Baths (Budapest)

Meals

  • 11 breakfasts
  • 6 lunches: in Berlin, Potsdam, Dresden, Prague, Český Krumlov and Dürnstein
  • 2 dinners: a welcome dinner in Berlin and a farewell dinner in Budapest

Not included

  • International flights to Berlin and from Budapest
  • Travel insurance
  • Visa or travel authorisation fees, if any apply to your passport
  • Meals not listed
  • Drinks, except the glass of wine at the Wachau lunch
  • Tips
  • Optional activities, such as a Vienna concert or the Upper Belvedere
  • Personal expenses
  • Towel rental at the Széchenyi Baths

Extras

Room of your own
CAD 595 (estimated price)

When you can go

Dates and prices

Pick your start date when you request to book. We check that date and confirm it in your quote.

Prefer to travel without a group or guide? Ask us about arranging hotels, transport and city tours for you to travel independently.

Before you book

Booking terms

Nothing is charged now. Full terms and the cancellation schedule come with your quote, before you accept.

Business addresses

See Sight Tours Trips (USA): 3172 N Rainbow Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89108, United StatesSee Sight Tours Trips (Canada): 5305 50 Avenue, #1091, Red Deer, AB T4N 4B6, Canada+1-888-961-6584

Guest reviews

What guests say

Reviews from guests on our day tours.

Cornelius Amann
October 06, 2026
google

5/5

Parminder did a great job guiding us around, giving us tips & teaching us the history of the falls. A great experience!

Jane
October 06, 2026
gyg

5/5

Good views of the surrounding area of Halifax in a comfortable minivan

Susan
October 06, 2026
gyg

5/5

June was brilliant- made good contact beforehand and really attentive and knowledgeable. Made me feel like I was special- something only experience can do. Thank you June.

Tom L
October 05, 2026
tripadvisor

5/5

Our host was very knowledgeable, friendly and even provided some humor.

MandL83
October 05, 2026
tripadvisor

5/5

Peter was a very good guide, giving us insight into the various parts of the Park, including parking lot congestion details, trail and viewing location suggestions.

Darren O
October 05, 2026
tripadvisor

5/5

Excellent morning spent with my guide Nancy. Very knowledgeable and friendly. Thoroughly enjoyed my trip

4.7/5 from 38,601 guest reviews

Good to know

Questions

What does the price include?

Eleven nights in central hotels, 11 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 2 dinners, reserved seats on four trains, airport and station transfers, our own vehicle for Potsdam, Český Krumlov and the Wachau, your See Sight Tours guide throughout, and the entries in the day plan, from Sanssouci and Prague Castle to Schönbrunn, Melk Abbey, the Budapest Parliament and the Széchenyi Baths.

How big is the group?

The small-group trip runs with 7 to 12 guests. That is small enough to board a train together without a scramble, fit around one table at lunch and hear the guide in a crowded castle courtyard. Most trips on this route run with up to 16 or 18.

Who leads the trip?

A See Sight Tours guide travels with the group from the Berlin airport to the Budapest airport, handling the tickets, trains and bags. At Prague Castle, the Hofburg and the Budapest Parliament we add licensed local guides where the site requires one. We name your guide when we confirm your dates.

How fit do I need to be?

Moderately. City days mean about 8 to 12 km on foot, often on cobbles, with climbs to Prague Castle, the Gloriette and Castle Hill. You lift your own case onto four trains, with help. Each long day has an easier version, and you can sit out any afternoon visit.

I am travelling solo. What does a room of my own cost?

A room of your own is from CAD 595 more, about 17 percent of the trip price, and it is the same standard and location as the twin rooms. If you would like to share, ask when you book and we will try to match you with another solo guest of the same gender.

When is the best time to go?

May, June and September give warm days and fewer crowds. July and August are hot and busy, which is why we visit Prague Castle, Schönbrunn and Melk at opening. The trip runs from April to October, when the Wachau boats and the Český Krumlov castle tours operate.

How does booking work?

Choose a start date and request to book. We confirm your place within 24 hours, and no payment is taken when you send the request. The small group starts from CAD 3,495 per person sharing, with taxes included.

Can we travel privately or on our own dates?

Yes. The trip also runs as a private trip for your party only, on a date you choose, with your own guide and vehicle. If you would rather travel independently on your own dates, ask us from the dates section and we will quote the same hotels, trains and tickets without a guide.

Do I need a visa for Germany, the Czech Republic, Austria and Hungary?

Not if you hold a Canadian, US, UK or Australian passport: all four countries are in the Schengen area, which allows visa-free stays of up to 90 days in any 180. Your fingerprints and photo are recorded at your first entry, and ETIAS pre-travel authorisation is not yet in operation; we confirm at booking whether it applies.

Why trains between the cities and not a coach?

The trains between Berlin, Dresden, Prague, Vienna and Budapest run from centre to centre in two to four hours, faster and calmer than the motorway. Our own vehicle comes in where trains do not reach well: Potsdam's palaces, Český Krumlov and the Wachau, where we also ride the Danube boat.

Is Berlin to Budapest by train comfortable with luggage?

Yes, with one suitcase and a day bag. We ride four trains on reserved seats, a van meets us at every station, and your guide helps lift cases onto the racks. In Dresden the bags go into station left luggage, or our vehicle carries them to Prague, so you never haul them around a town.

Why is the Český Krumlov day longer on the road?

It is about two and a half hours each way from Prague, so day 6 has about five hours of driving, the only day over our four-hour limit. We chose it over a one-night stop so you keep three nights in one Prague hotel, and we break the drive with a coffee stop. You can stay in Prague instead.

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