Planet Rail
Imperial Cities: Berlin, Prague, Budapest, Vienna and Nuremberg by First Class Rail
12 daysfrom $2,931
Ffestiniog Travel · Escorted tour
Eastern Europe
Journeys on the Zugspitze, Zillertalbahn and Aachenseebahn Railways and the scenic Semmering Line are combined with visits to cultural and historical sites
Day by day
- Day 1railovernight: Cologne
London to Cologne
A mid-morning departure by Eurostar from London St Pancras to Brussels, then onwards to Cologne where we stay for 1 night
- Day 2railovernight: Innsbruck
Onwards to Innsbruck
Morning departure by train to Munich for a connection onwards to Innsbruck for a 3-night stay. The rest of the day is at leisure to explore.
- Day 3overnight: Innsbruck
Zillertalbahn & Mayrhofen’s Cable Car
We journey to Jenbach to catch the Zillertalbahn steam service to the market town of Mayrhofen at the end of the Zillertal Valley. Upon arrival there will be time for lunch before taking a ride on the Penkenbahn cable car, at 1,790m above sea level, before returning to Jenbach and Innsbruck.
- Day 4railovernight: Innsbruck
Zugspitze Rack Railway
By rail to Garmisch Partenkirchen – gateway to the top of Germany. The Zugspitze, standing at 2,962m above sea level, is Germany’s highest mountain. We enjoy a comfortable ascent onboard the cogwheel train from Zugspitzbahn station via Grainau to Lake Eibsee and through the 4.5km Zugspitze tunnel. Our journey continues on the Gletscherbahn cable car from Zugspitze plateau to the top station, before returning to Lake Eibsee by cable car. Here we join the railway again for our return to Garmisch Partenkirchen and onwards to Innsbruck.
- Day 5railovernight: Vienna
Innsbruck to Vienna
Today we take the morning train from Innsbruck to Vienna for a 3-night stay. Once in Vienna the rest of the day is free to explore with your 24-hour Vienna travel card (included).
- Day 6railovernight: Vienna
The Semmering Line
Travel from Vienna to Graz across the stunning Semmering Pass, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The journey includes 41km of tunnels and viaducts and is an impressive feat of railway engineering, delivering spectacular views en route. There will be time for lunch in Austria’s second city Graz before returning to Vienna for the evening.
- Day 7railovernight: Vienna
Vienna to Bratislava
A day trip to Slovakia’s capital city, Bratislava. We board the morning fast ferry for a journey along the Danube River and enjoy views of the floodplains, the historic town of Hainburg and Devin Castle en route. We arrive in the heart of the old town where we have time to explore the Hlavne Namestie (Main Square) which is surrounded by 14th Century Gothic and Baroque architecture, St Martin’s Cathedral, the Blue Church and St Michael’s Gate before returning to Vienna by train.
- Day 8railovernight: Budapest
Vienna to Budapest
After breakfast we travel by direct train to Budapest where we stay for 2 nights. The afternoon is free to explore Budapest, a cosmopolitan capital city full of art nouveau architecture and several UNESCO World Heritage Sites, all of which can be easily explored using the city’s extensive tram system and the 48-hour travel pass (included). This evening we have a sunset cruise along the Danube River.
- Day 9railovernight: Budapest
Hungarian Railway Museum
A morning visit to Europe’s largest open air railway museum in Vasuttorteneti Park. The roundhouse and its 34 bays provide an ideal home for the operational vintage fleet. This includes a steam engine built in 1870 and the legendary Árpád railcar, built in 1934. The gem of the vintage fleet is the elegant teak dining car built for the Orient Express in 1912. This afternoon we return to the city to continue exploring the vast tram network.
- Day 10railovernight: Prague
Budapest to Prague
A morning train sees us arrive in Prague late afternoon for a 3-night stay. We have the rest of the day to explore this stunning city. Why not visit sights such as the Old Town, Jewish Quarter or Prague Castle.
- Day 11overnight: Prague
Prague Transport Museum
Today we enjoy a tour of the Public Transport Museum, which houses a unique collection of trams and trolleybuses and we take a ride on a privately chartered vintage tram.
- Day 12overnight: Prague
Prague at Leisure
A free day to further explore all that Prague has to offer.
- Day 13railovernight: Frankfurt
Prague to Frankfurt
After breakfast we have a full day’s train journey to Frankfurt where we stay for 1 night.
- Day 14rail
Homeward Bound
Morning train from Frankfurt to Brussels where we connect with the Eurostar service to London, arriving mid-afternoon.
Included
- All rail travel as stated in Standard Class
- Accommodation in good quality hotels on bed and breakfast basis
- Excursions as specified
- Public transport passes in Vienna and Budapest
- Local taxes/fees
- Services of a tour leader from London and throughout the tour
