Is the train travel included?

Yes. The package includes 2nd-class rail tickets on all legs: ICE trains, Rail Jet trains, and regional rail. 1st-class upgrade is available for an additional 329 USD.

Is this escorted or independent?

Independent. Travel to Europe provides a day-by-day itinerary and information sheets. There is no tour manager, but the package includes an escorted coach tour to the Royal Castles and a guided Sound of Music tour in Salzburg.

Which trains are used?

High-speed ICE trains (Frankfurt to Cologne, Cologne to Berlin), Rail Jet trains (Budapest to Vienna, Vienna to Salzburg, Salzburg to Munich), EuroCity and regional trains (Berlin to Dresden, Dresden to Prague, Prague to Bratislava), and IC and ICE-valid tickets for the remaining legs.

What is the nightly hotel standard?

Three-star hotels including Hopper St. Antonius (Cologne), Hotel Amano Grand Central (Berlin), Pullman Dresden Newa (Dresden), 987 Design Hotel Prague, Mercure Bratislava Centrum, Royal Park Boutique Hotel (Budapest), Hotel Schani Wien (Vienna), Mozart Hotel (Salzburg), King's First Class Hotel (Munich), and Hotel Hollander Hof (Heidelberg).

What is included in the price?

Rail tickets, 15 nights hotel accommodation, daily buffet breakfast, city sightseeing passes (Berlin, Budapest, Vienna), entrance to museums in Munich, the Sound of Music tour, the Royal Castles escorted coach tour with castle admissions, and taxi transfer from Heidelberg station to hotel.

How much walking is involved?

Days include self-guided walking tours of city centers, optional walking-tour suggestions (Brandenburg Gate, Checkpoint Charlie, Charles Bridge), and castle grounds exploration. Hop-on hop-off buses are available in Berlin, Dresden, and Budapest to reduce walking.

Travel to Europe (To-Europe) · Independent rail circle tour

16-Day Imperial Cities Rail Circle Tour (16R01)

Self-guided rail circle through five Central European imperial capitals, Frankfurt to Heidelberg

Travel to Europe's 16-Day Imperial Cities Rail Circle Tour is a self-guided journey for independent travellers who want to experience five Central European capitals over two weeks. Starting at Frankfurt International Airport, the tour takes you by high-speed ICE and Rail Jet trains through Cologne, Berlin, Dresden, Prague, Bratislava, Budapest, Vienna, Salzburg, and Munich, ending in Heidelberg. Each city offers one to two nights in three-star hotels with daily buffet breakfast. The itinerary balances included guided experiences, such as a 4-hour Sound of Music tour in Salzburg and an all-day escorted coach excursion to Neuschwanstein and Linderhof castles, with independent exploration. You have day-by-day information and access to city sightseeing passes and hop-on hop-off buses in Berlin, Dresden, and Budapest. There is no tour manager; the trip suits repeat rail travellers, independent explorers, and history enthusiasts keen to navigate multiple imperial cities and train changes across five countries without a group.

What to know before you look closer

The single supplement is 5,389 USD versus 3,489 USD for double occupancy (a 54% premium); confirm final costs before booking.
All meals other than daily buffet breakfast are not included; budget for lunch and dinner throughout Central Europe.
Most hotel stays are one night; the itinerary moves cities every one to two days.

Day by day

Day 1railovernight: Cologne
Frankfurt Int. Airport/ Cologne
High-Speed ICE train from Frankfurt Int. Airport to Cologne (under an hour). Visit the Kolner Dom (Cologne Cathedral), a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Day 2railovernight: Berlin
Berlin
High-Speed ICE train from Cologne to Berlin (under 4.5 hours). Sightseeing using the 48-hour Berlin Welcome Card, including hop-on hop-off double decker buses M100 and M200.
Day 3overnight: Berlin
Berlin
Walking tour suggestions around Brandenburg Gate, the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, Checkpoint Charlie and the Topography of Terror; optional half-day trip to the Sachsenhausen Memorial.
Day 4railovernight: Dresden
Dresden
EuroCity train from Berlin to Dresden. Hop-on Hop-off bus tour of Dresden covering the Frauenkirche, Dresden Zwinger and Semperoper.
Day 5railovernight: Prague
Prague
RailJet or EuroCity train from Dresden to Prague (about 4 hours). Explore the Old Town including Charles Bridge and the Astronomical Clock.
Day 6overnight: Prague
Prague
Optional free English-speaking 3-hour walking tour of the 'Golden City', including Prague Castle and the Lesser Quarter.
Day 7railovernight: Bratislava
Bratislava
Train from Prague to Bratislava. Visit Bratislava Castle, St. Martin's Cathedral and the Old Town Hall.
Day 8railovernight: Budapest
Budapest
Speed rail from Bratislava to Budapest (under 3 hours). Sightseeing with a 48-hour Hop-on Hop-off pass, including the Royal Palace and Parliament Building.
Day 9overnight: Budapest
Budapest
Continued sightseeing with the Hop-on Hop-off pass; visit the Chain Bridge, the Shoes on the Danube Bank memorial and the Holocaust Memorial Center.
Day 10railovernight: Vienna
Vienna
High-speed Rail-Jet from Budapest to Vienna (about 2.5 hours). Visit the Hofburg Imperial Palace and State Opera House using the 48-hour Vienna Card.
Day 11overnight: Vienna
Vienna
Full day of sightseeing in Vienna with the Vienna Card, including the Ringstrasse and Schonbrunn Palace and Garden.
Day 12railovernight: Salzburg
Salzburg
High-speed Rail Jet from Vienna to Salzburg (about 2:40 hrs). Afternoon 4-hour English-speaking Sound of Music tour.
Day 13railovernight: Munich
Munich
High-speed Rail Jet from Salzburg to Munich (about 1:40 hrs). Sightseeing and self-guided walking tour of the city center.
Day 14overnight: Munich
Escorted coach tour to the Royal Castles
All-day escorted coach tour via Oberammergau to Linderhof Palace and Neuschwanstein Castle, including a guided tour of the castle interior.
Day 15railovernight: Heidelberg
Heidelberg
About three-hour speed rail journey from Munich to Heidelberg Central Station, plus taxi transfer to the hotel. Walking tour of the Old Town and Heidelberg Castle.
Day 16rail
Frankfurt Int. Airport
Taxi transfer to Heidelberg Station and Speed-train to Frankfurt International Airport, where the tour ends.

The moments this trip is built around

Day 1High-speed ICE train from Frankfurt International Airport to Cologne, arriving near Cologne Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Day 5RailJet or EuroCity train from Dresden to Prague across the Czech border, then explore Charles Bridge and the Astronomical Clock.
Day 12Afternoon 4-hour Sound of Music guided tour in Salzburg, including locations from the film.
Day 14All-day escorted coach tour to Neuschwanstein Castle and Linderhof Palace in Bavaria, including guided castle interior tours.

Included

Unrestricted High-Speed ICE rail ticket Frankfurt Int. Airport to Cologne
ICE rail ticket Cologne to Berlin, plus 48-hour Berlin Welcome Card
Rail ticket Berlin to Dresden, plus Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Bus ticket in Dresden
Rail ticket Dresden to Prague
Rail ticket Prague to Bratislava
Rail ticket (EuroCity-valid) Bratislava to Budapest, plus 24-hour Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Bus ticket in Budapest
Rail Jet ticket Budapest to Vienna, plus 48-hour Vienna Card
Rail Jet ticket Vienna to Salzburg, plus 4-hour Sound of Music tour
Rail Jet ticket Salzburg to Munich, plus admission to Munich Residence Museum, Treasury, Cuvillies-Theatre, Hall of Fame and Statue of Bavaria, Nymphenburg Palace and Park, Marstallmuseum and Museum of Nymphenburg Porcelain
All-day escorted coach tour to Oberammergau and the Royal Castles (Neuschwanstein Castle and Linderhof Palace), with admissions
Rail ticket (IC-valid) Munich to Heidelberg, plus taxi transfer from Heidelberg Central Station to hotel
Rail ticket (ICE-valid) Heidelberg to Frankfurt Int. Airport
Buffet breakfast daily
15 nights hotel accommodation per itinerary

Not included

Airfare from/to your origin to/from Germany
All meals other than breakfast
Gratuities (tips)

Questions travellers ask

Is the train travel included?: Yes. The package includes 2nd-class rail tickets on all legs: ICE trains, Rail Jet trains, and regional rail. 1st-class upgrade is available for an additional 329 USD.
Is this escorted or independent?: Independent. Travel to Europe provides a day-by-day itinerary and information sheets. There is no tour manager, but the package includes an escorted coach tour to the Royal Castles and a guided Sound of Music tour in Salzburg.
Which trains are used?: High-speed ICE trains (Frankfurt to Cologne, Cologne to Berlin), Rail Jet trains (Budapest to Vienna, Vienna to Salzburg, Salzburg to Munich), EuroCity and regional trains (Berlin to Dresden, Dresden to Prague, Prague to Bratislava), and IC and ICE-valid tickets for the remaining legs.
What is the nightly hotel standard?: Three-star hotels including Hopper St. Antonius (Cologne), Hotel Amano Grand Central (Berlin), Pullman Dresden Newa (Dresden), 987 Design Hotel Prague, Mercure Bratislava Centrum, Royal Park Boutique Hotel (Budapest), Hotel Schani Wien (Vienna), Mozart Hotel (Salzburg), King's First Class Hotel (Munich), and Hotel Hollander Hof (Heidelberg).
What is included in the price?: Rail tickets, 15 nights hotel accommodation, daily buffet breakfast, city sightseeing passes (Berlin, Budapest, Vienna), entrance to museums in Munich, the Sound of Music tour, the Royal Castles escorted coach tour with castle admissions, and taxi transfer from Heidelberg station to hotel.
How much walking is involved?: Days include self-guided walking tours of city centers, optional walking-tour suggestions (Brandenburg Gate, Checkpoint Charlie, Charles Bridge), and castle grounds exploration. Hop-on hop-off buses are available in Berlin, Dresden, and Budapest to reduce walking.