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Travel to Europe (To-Europe) · Independent rail vacation package

11-Day Amsterdam to Budapest Rail Tour (11R02)

Central Europe by rail from Amsterdam to Budapest with castle tours

Illustration of 11-Day Amsterdam to Budapest Rail Tour (11R02)

Travel to Europe's 11-day Amsterdam to Budapest Rail Tour strings together eight cities across four countries using high-speed trains: the ICE from Amsterdam through the Rhine Valley, and the Rail Jet along the Danube from Munich onward. The operator structures the journey as a self-guided independent package, giving you control over daily exploration while providing detailed itinerary sheets, walking suggestions, and pre-arranged hotels near each station. Two escorted highlights anchor the middle: an all-day coach tour from Munich to Neuschwanstein Castle and Linderhof Palace (Day 5), and the 4-hour Sound of Music tour in Salzburg (Day 6). You spend two nights each in Munich, Vienna, and Budapest, allowing time to visit nine included museums and castles. Breakfast is daily; lunch and dinner are on your own. This suits independent travellers new to rail who want structure and admission bundles, and couples or repeat rail visitors seeking Central European capitals and Bavarian palaces without excessive daily moves.

What to know before you look closer

  • Hotel names are marked 'or similar,' meaning the final property depends on availability and the booking tier selected.
  • The tour starts from Amsterdam Central Station but no Amsterdam nights are included by default; overnight accommodation must be added separately.
  • Single-room supplement is USD 1,330 above the per-person double rate, a 53% increase from the base price of USD 2,529.
  • Lunch and dinner are not included; only daily buffet breakfast is provided.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Cologne

    Cologne

    Tour starts from Amsterdam Central Station; no Amsterdam nights included by default (can be added). High-speed ICE (about 2:40 hrs) to Cologne; visit Cologne Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Wurzburg

    Wurzburg

    High-speed train from Cologne to Wurzburg. Visit the Wurzburg Residence (admission included) and, seasonally, Fortress Marienberg.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Nuremberg

    Nuremberg

    ICE train from Wurzburg to Nuremberg. Admission to the Imperial Castle (Kaiserburg) included.

  4. Day 4railovernight: Munich

    Munich

    High-speed ICE rail from Nuremberg to Munich (about 1 hour). Munich admission package included, plus self-guided walking-tour suggestions.

  5. Day 5overnight: Munich

    Escorted Coach Tour to Neuschwanstein Castle and Linderhof Palace

    All-day escorted coach tour via Oberammergau to Linderhof Palace and Neuschwanstein Castle; admissions included.

  6. Day 6railovernight: Salzburg

    Salzburg

    High-speed Rail Jet from Munich to Salzburg (about 1:50 hrs). Includes the 4-hour English-speaking Sound of Music tour.

  7. Day 7railovernight: Vienna

    Vienna

    High-speed Rail Jet from Salzburg to Vienna (about 2:40 hrs). Includes the 48-hour Vienna Card.

  8. Day 8overnight: Vienna

    Vienna

    Full day of sightseeing with the Vienna Card, including the Ringstrasse and Schonbrunn Palace and Garden.

  9. Day 9railovernight: Budapest

    Budapest

    Train from Vienna to Budapest (about 2:45 hrs). Includes the 48-hour Hop-on Hop-off City Tour ticket; visit the Royal Palace, Parliament Building and St. Stephen's Basilica.

  10. Day 10overnight: Budapest

    Budapest

    Continue sightseeing with the Hop-on Hop-off ticket; visit the Chain Bridge and the 'Shoes on the Danube Bank' memorial.

  11. Day 11

    Budapest Int. Airport

    Airport shuttle transfer from the hotel to Budapest Airport, where the tour ends.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 1ICE high-speed train from Amsterdam Central Station to Cologne; visit Cologne Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
  • Day 5All-day escorted coach tour to Neuschwanstein Castle and Linderhof Palace via Oberammergau with admissions included.
  • Day 6Rail Jet from Munich to Salzburg; 4-hour English-speaking Sound of Music tour included.
  • Day 7High-speed Rail Jet from Salzburg to Vienna; 48-hour Vienna Card included for public transport and museum discounts.
  • Day 9Train from Vienna to Budapest; 48-hour Hop-on Hop-off City Tour ticket included; visit Royal Palace, Parliament Building, and St. Stephen's Basilica.

Included

  • 2nd-class rail tickets for all listed journeys
  • Hotels as listed (or similar), centrally located near each train station
  • Buffet breakfast daily
  • Admission to Wurzburg Residence and Marienberg Fortress
  • Admission to the Imperial Castle, Deep Well and Sinwell Tower in Nuremberg
  • Munich admissions: Residence Museum, Treasury, Cuvilliés-Theatre, Hall of Fame, Nymphenburg Palace and Park, Marstallmuseum, Museum of Nymphenburg Porcelain
  • All-day escorted coach tour to Oberammergau, Linderhof Palace and Neuschwanstein Castle
  • 4-hour Sound of Music tour in Salzburg
  • 48-hour Vienna Card
  • 48-hour Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Bus ticket in Budapest
  • 20-35 page tour information sheets with day-by-day itinerary

Not included

  • Airfare from your origin to Amsterdam Int. Airport / from Budapest International Airport to your origin
  • All meals other than breakfast
  • Gratuities (tips)

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included in the price?
Yes. 2nd-class rail tickets for all journeys from Amsterdam to Cologne, Cologne to Nuremberg, Nuremberg to Munich, Munich to Salzburg, Salzburg to Vienna, and Vienna to Budapest are included. First-class upgrade with seat reservations is available for USD 329 per person.
Is this tour escorted or independent?
It is a self-guided independent tour. You navigate between hotels and attractions on your own, with walking-tour suggestions and detailed itinerary sheets provided. Two days include escorted coach tours: the all-day Neuschwanstein and Linderhof tour from Munich (Day 5) and the 4-hour Sound of Music tour in Salzburg (Day 6).
What is included in the price?
The package includes 2nd-class rail, hotels with daily breakfast, admission to nine castles and museums (Wurzburg Residence, Nuremberg Imperial Castle, Munich Residence and Nymphenburg, Neuschwanstein, Linderhof, Vienna museums via Card, Budapest Palace and Parliament), two escorted coach tours, Vienna 48-hour Card, Budapest 48-hour Hop-on Hop-off ticket, and detailed information sheets. Airfare, lunch, dinner, and gratuities are not included.
When does this tour run?
Travel to Europe does not list specific departure dates in the available information. Contact the operator to confirm when the tour departs.
How many nights does the tour include?
10 nights across 11 days, with multi-night stays in Munich (2 nights), Vienna (2 nights), and Budapest (2 nights). All hotels are centrally located near train stations.
What is the single-room cost?
USD 3,859 per person, compared to USD 2,529 per person for a double room. The supplement is USD 1,330.

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