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Ffestiniog Travel · Escorted tour

Behind the Scenes in Central Europe

15-day escorted rail journey through Germany, Czech Republic, Austria

Illustration of Behind the Scenes in Central Europe

Ffestiniog Travel operates this 15-day escorted tour combining rail travel and heritage railways across Germany, the Czech Republic, and Austria. The journey starts in London with Eurostar to Brussels, then by high-speed train to Essen, and concludes in Frankfurt with Eurostar back to London. An InterRail Pass grants unlimited travel between major cities, while the tour focuses on narrower-gauge railways and transport heritage: the Waldviertalbahn's two scenic lines near Gmünd (where you ride narrow-gauge steam trains and visit the workshop), the Schafbergbahn cog railway climbing to an Alpine summit in the Salzkammergut, chartered vintage trams in Prague, and the Meiningen Steam Locomotive Works in Germany. You spend three nights each in Prague, Salzburg, and Gmünd, with shorter stays in Essen, Nuremberg, Meiningen, and Frankfurt. Hotels are three to four-star, breakfast is daily, and a tour leader from London travels with the group. The pace is relaxed, with free time in most cities to wander historic centres and visit museums independently.

What to know before you look closer

  • Only one departure listed: September 2026. Narrow-gauge steam trains on the Waldviertalbahn run only two weekends per month; the tour is scheduled around this constraint, but confirm the exact dates with Ffestiniog Travel.
  • Day 4 in Prague is unguided; you explore independently or take an optional InterRail day trip to Karlovy Vary.
  • Day 11 in Nuremberg includes free time; the Railway Museum entry is free with your InterRail Pass but not a guided activity.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Essen

    To Essen

    Morning Eurostar from London St Pancras to Brussels, where we board a high speed train to Essen. Our hotel for the evening is just a short walk away from the station and dinner here is included.

  2. Day 2overnight: Prague

    To Prague via Berlin

    Depart Essen in the morning for Berlin and on to Prague, where we will enjoy a 3-night stay at our centrally located hotel.

  3. Day 3overnight: Prague

    Prague Transport Museum

    Enjoy a guided tour of the Public Transport Museum, which houses a unique collection of trams and trolleybuses, and take a ride on a privately chartered vintage tram.

  4. Day 4overnight: Prague

    At Leisure in Prague

    A day at leisure to explore this capital city. Why not visit sights such as the Old Town, the Jewish Quarter, or Prague Castle? Alternatively, you may wish to make use of your InterRail Pass and take a day trip to Karlovy Vary, a picturesque town renowned for its opulent architecture and hot spring spas.

  5. Day 5railovernight: Gmünd

    To Austria

    We take the main line train and cross the border into Austria and our next destination, Gmünd, where we arrive early afternoon. Here we find our hotel for the next 3 nights is on the main square in the heart of the historic town.

  6. Day 6overnight: Gmünd

    Narrow Gauge Steam to Groß Gerungs

    The two Waldviertalbahn lines from Gmünd operate steam trains on just two weekends per month but we have done our best to schedule our tour around this constraint (on other days diesel trains operate). Today, we plan to depart in the afternoon, arriving back early evening.

  7. Day 7overnight: Gmünd

    Steam to Litschau

    This morning we visit the Waldviertalbahn workshop before departing on the second of Gmünd’s two lines mid-morning, arriving back mid-afternoon.

  8. Day 8overnight: Salzburg

    On to Salzburg

    We travel via Tulln an der Donau and St Pölten to Salzburg, where we stay for 3 nights. An afternoon arrival leaves time to stroll through Salzburg’s Old Town, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site, famous for its Baroque architecture and picturesque location on the Salzach River.

  9. Day 9railovernight: Salzburg

    St Wolfgang & the Schafbergbahn

    Coach transfer to St Wolfgang and the Schafbergbahn, which is the steepest cog wheel railway in Austria. We travel to the summit and have time to take lunch and enjoy the panoramic view of the Salzkammergut mountains and its lakes. On arrival back into St Wolfgang, we visit the depot before we sail across the lake to St Gilgen. Return by road to Salzburg.

  10. Day 10overnight: Salzburg

    Hohensalzburg & City Tour

    Morning ride on the cable car Festungsbahn to the fortress which towers over the city. After a guided tour and time for lunch, we take a trolleybus city tour on a historic vehicle and visit the trolleybus depot.

  11. Day 11railovernight: Nuremberg

    On to Nuremberg

    We cross the border into Germany and travel via Munich to Nuremberg. Upon arrival, we have a free afternoon to explore Nuremberg including its Railway Museum which is a short walk from the hotel and where InterRail Pass holders gain free entry. Alternatively, you may wish to wander around this historic medieval city.

  12. Day 12overnight: Meiningen

    Meiningen & Beer Tasting

    Heading north, we travel via Erfurt to Meiningen where we stay for 2 nights. Upon arrival we will be transferred by road to Ostheim vor der Rhön, where we will visit a 300-year-old family-run brewery, now in its tenth generation of ownership.

  13. Day 13overnight: Meiningen

    Steam Locomotive Works

    This morning, we visit Meiningen’s Steam Locomotive Works (Dampflokwerk), the last major repair and maintenance workshop in mainland Western Europe that still has the knowledge and technology necessary to repair and overhaul historic steam engines. This afternoon is free to explore Meiningen.

  14. Day 14railovernight: Frankfurt

    To Frankfurt

    We travel by regional train to Eisenach where we have time to purchase lunch before departing on board an ICE service to Frankfurt. Our hotel for the evening is conveniently located outside the station, and dinner is included tonight.

  15. Day 15rail

    Homeward Bound

    Morning ICE service to Brussels where we connect with the Eurostar service to London, arriving late afternoon.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 3Guided tour of Prague's Public Transport Museum and chartered vintage tram ride through the city
  • Day 6Afternoon journey on narrow-gauge steam train on the Waldviertalbahn from Gmünd to Groß Gerungs, with steam trains running two weekends per month
  • Day 9Ride on the Schafbergbahn, Austria's steepest cog railway, to the summit with panoramic views of the Salzkammergut lakes and mountains
  • Day 10Morning cable car ride on the Festungsbahn to Hohensalzburg fortress, followed by a historic trolleybus city tour of Salzburg
  • Day 13Visit to Meiningen's Steam Locomotive Works, the last major repair workshop in mainland Western Europe for historic steam engines

Included

  • Eurostar travel in Standard Class
  • Standard Class InterRail Pass for unlimited travel
  • Excursions as specified
  • Accommodation in good quality hotels on a bed and breakfast basis
  • Welcome and farewell dinners
  • All local taxes/fees
  • Services of a tour leader from London and throughout the tour

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes. The package includes Eurostar in Standard Class and a Standard Class InterRail Pass for unlimited rail travel throughout the tour. All trains named in the itinerary are covered.
Is this an escorted tour?
Yes. Ffestiniog Travel provides a tour leader from London who accompanies the group throughout the 15 days.
Which scenic railways are included?
The Waldviertalbahn narrow-gauge steam lines (Gmünd to Groß Gerungs and Gmünd to Litschau), the Schafbergbahn cog railway to the summit near St Wolfgang, and the Festungsbahn cable car in Salzburg. The itinerary also includes chartered vintage tram rides in Prague and a historic trolleybus tour in Salzburg.
What is included in the price?
Eurostar and InterRail travel, accommodation in good-quality hotels on a bed and breakfast basis, welcome and farewell dinners, all excursions as specified, local taxes and fees, and the tour leader's services. Lunch and dinner on most days are not included.
How much walking is involved?
Moderate. The tour includes city strolls in Prague, Salzburg, and Nuremberg, visits to railway museums and workshops, and depot visits. There are no hikes. Coach transfers connect some destinations.

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