Is train travel included in the price?

Yes. All rail tickets are included: high-speed ICE, Thalys, Rail Jet, and regional trains connecting the eleven cities in second class. A first-class upgrade is available for USD 529 per person and includes seat reservations.

Is this tour escorted or independent?

It is independent and self-guided. Travel to Europe provides a day-by-day itinerary and tour information sheets. There is no tour manager. Two days include optional or guided activities: a Sound of Music tour on Day 14 and an all-day escorted coach tour to the Royal Castles on Day 16.

What hotels are included?

Eighteen nights in three and four-star hotels: Peyris Hotel in Paris (3 nights), Hotel Domspitzen in Cologne (1), Hotel Amano Grand Central in Berlin (2), Pullman Dresden Newa (1), 987 Design Hotel Prague (2), Mercure Bratislava Centrum Hotel (1), Royal Park Boutique Hotel in Budapest (2), Hotel Schani Wien in Vienna (2), Mozart Hotel in Salzburg (1), King's First Class Hotel in Munich (2), and Hotel Hollander Hof in Heidelberg (1).

What is included beyond hotels and rail?

Buffet breakfast daily, private airport transfers at arrival and departure, 48-hour or 24-hour city cards with hop-on hop-off passes in Berlin, Dresden, Budapest, and Vienna, the 4-hour Sound of Music tour in Salzburg, the all-day escorted coach tour to Linderhof and Neuschwanstein castles with admissions, and entry to Munich museums and attractions.

How much walking is involved?

Each city includes walking tours or self-guided exploration of Old Towns and major sites. An optional half-day trip to the Sachsenhausen Memorial is suggested in Berlin. There is no specific distance or difficulty level stated for any walks.

When does this tour run?

Travel to Europe publishes no departure dates in the evidence provided. Contact them directly to confirm availability.

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

19-Day Imperial Cities & Paris Rail Circle Tour (19R01)

Paris to Heidelberg rail circle through eleven European imperial cities

Travel to Europe (To-Europe) operates a 19-day independent rail tour that departs from and returns to Paris, threading through eleven imperial cities across six countries: Cologne, Berlin, Dresden, Prague, Bratislava, Budapest, Vienna, Salzburg, Munich, and Heidelberg. The journey spans 18 nights in three and four-star hotels with daily breakfast. Travelers receive a detailed day-by-day itinerary and information sheets to navigate independently without a tour manager. The bulk of the tour unfolds on high-speed trains (ICE, Thalys, Rail Jet, and regional services in second class), interspersed with hop-on hop-off city buses, optional walking tours, and sightseeing passes in major cities. Day 14 brings a 4-hour Sound of Music tour from Salzburg, and Day 16 features an all-day escorted coach excursion to Neuschwanstein and Linderhof castles in Bavaria. This tour suits first-time rail travelers who appreciate structure and independence in equal measure, as well as repeat rail travelers keen to cover substantial ground and history-lovers drawn to palaces, cathedrals, and WWII memorials across Central Europe.

What to know before you look closer

The single supplement is high: priceSingleFrom at USD 7799 compared to half of the double-occupancy price, adding approximately USD 1050 per person beyond the stated from-price
Meals other than daily breakfast are not included; lunch and dinner must be arranged independently at each stop
The final hotel choice in each city depends on availability within the tier selected; Travel to Europe may book similar-category alternatives to those listed

Day by day

Day 1overnight: Paris
Arrival in Paris
Private transfer from Paris Int. Airport to hotel in Paris. 2 Day Hop-on Hop-off Paris city tour pass covering Notre Dame Cathedral, Musee d'Orsay, Champs-Elysees, Arc de Triomphe and the Grand Palais.
Day 2overnight: Paris
Paris
Full day of sightseeing in Paris with the Hop-on Hop-off pass, including the Eiffel Tower, the Marais neighborhood and the Louvre.
Day 3overnight: Cologne
Cologne
High-speed ICE or Thalys from Paris North Station to Cologne (under 4 hours). Visit the Kolner Dom (Cologne Cathedral), a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Day 4railovernight: 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 5overnight: 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 6railovernight: Dresden
Dresden
Direct speed-train from Berlin to Dresden (about 2 hours). Hop-on Hop-off bus tour of Dresden covering the Frauenkirche, Dresden Zwinger and Semperoper.
Day 7railovernight: Prague
Prague
Speed train from Dresden to Prague (about 2 hours). Explore the Old Town including the Astronomical Clock and Charles Bridge.
Day 8overnight: Prague
Prague
Optional free English-speaking 3-hour walking tour of the 'Golden City', including Prague Castle and the Lesser Quarter.
Day 9railovernight: Bratislava
Bratislava
Speed train from Prague to Bratislava (a little more than 4 hours). Visit Bratislava Castle, St. Martin's Cathedral and the Old Town Hall.
Day 10overnight: Budapest
Budapest
Under three hours to Budapest. Sightseeing with a 24-hour Hop-on Hop-off pass, including the Royal Palace, Parliament Building and St. Stephen's Basilica.
Day 11overnight: 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 12railovernight: Vienna
Vienna
High-speed Rail-Jet from Budapest to Vienna (about 3 hours). Visit the Hofburg Imperial Palace and State Opera House using the 48-hour Vienna Card.
Day 13overnight: Vienna
Vienna
Full day of sightseeing in Vienna with the Vienna Card, including the Ringstrasse and Schonbrunn Palace and Garden.
Day 14railovernight: Salzburg
Salzburg
High-speed Rail Jet from Vienna to Salzburg (about 2:40 hrs). Afternoon 4-hour English-speaking Sound of Music tour.
Day 15railovernight: 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 16overnight: 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 17railovernight: 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 18railovernight: Paris
Paris
Taxi transfer to Heidelberg Central Station, then via Mannheim to Paris on high-speed ICE or TGV (under 3.5 hours). Afternoon sightseeing in Paris with the 2 Day Hop-on Hop-off pass.
Day 19
Paris
Tour ends. Private transfer to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport.

The moments this trip is built around

Day 1Private transfer from Paris airport and 2-day hop-on hop-off pass to explore Notre Dame Cathedral, the Louvre, and the Eiffel Tower
Day 3High-speed ICE or Thalys train from Paris North Station to Cologne in under 4 hours, visiting the Cologne Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Day 14High-speed Rail Jet from Vienna to Salzburg followed by a 4-hour English-speaking Sound of Music tour
Day 16All-day escorted coach tour via Oberammergau to Linderhof Palace and Neuschwanstein Castle with guided castle interior tour
Day 18Return to Paris on high-speed ICE or TGV from Heidelberg via Mannheim in under 3.5 hours

Included

Private transfer from Paris Int. Airport to hotel in Paris, plus 2 Day Hop-on Hop-off Paris City Tour Bus ticket
High-Speed rail ticket Paris to Cologne
High-Speed rail ticket Cologne to Berlin, plus 48-hour Berlin Welcome Card
Speed train ticket Berlin to Dresden, plus Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Bus ticket in Dresden
Speed train ticket Dresden to Prague
Speed train ticket Prague to Bratislava
Rail ticket 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 Munich to Heidelberg, plus taxi transfer from Heidelberg Central Station to hotel
Rail ticket Heidelberg to Paris (via Mannheim)
Private transfer from hotel in Paris to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport
Buffet breakfast daily
18 nights hotel accommodation per itinerary

Not included

Airfare from/to your origin to/from Frankfurt International Airport
All meals other than breakfast
Gratuities (tips)

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included in the price?: Yes. All rail tickets are included: high-speed ICE, Thalys, Rail Jet, and regional trains connecting the eleven cities in second class. A first-class upgrade is available for USD 529 per person and includes seat reservations.
Is this tour escorted or independent?: It is independent and self-guided. Travel to Europe provides a day-by-day itinerary and tour information sheets. There is no tour manager. Two days include optional or guided activities: a Sound of Music tour on Day 14 and an all-day escorted coach tour to the Royal Castles on Day 16.
What hotels are included?: Eighteen nights in three and four-star hotels: Peyris Hotel in Paris (3 nights), Hotel Domspitzen in Cologne (1), Hotel Amano Grand Central in Berlin (2), Pullman Dresden Newa (1), 987 Design Hotel Prague (2), Mercure Bratislava Centrum Hotel (1), Royal Park Boutique Hotel in Budapest (2), Hotel Schani Wien in Vienna (2), Mozart Hotel in Salzburg (1), King's First Class Hotel in Munich (2), and Hotel Hollander Hof in Heidelberg (1).
What is included beyond hotels and rail?: Buffet breakfast daily, private airport transfers at arrival and departure, 48-hour or 24-hour city cards with hop-on hop-off passes in Berlin, Dresden, Budapest, and Vienna, the 4-hour Sound of Music tour in Salzburg, the all-day escorted coach tour to Linderhof and Neuschwanstein castles with admissions, and entry to Munich museums and attractions.
How much walking is involved?: Each city includes walking tours or self-guided exploration of Old Towns and major sites. An optional half-day trip to the Sachsenhausen Memorial is suggested in Berlin. There is no specific distance or difficulty level stated for any walks.
When does this tour run?: Travel to Europe publishes no departure dates in the evidence provided. Contact them directly to confirm availability.