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Ffestiniog Travel · Escorted tour

Eastern Europe

Escorted rail journey through five Central European capitals by train.

Illustration of Eastern Europe

Ffestiniog Travel's 14-day Eastern Europe tour is an escorted rail journey from Cologne to Frankfurt, crossing five countries and stopping in the region's great capitals: Innsbruck, Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest, and Prague. A tour leader from London travels with the group throughout, handling logistics while you experience the trains and cities at a relaxed pace with mostly three-night stays in each major center. The itinerary showcases Europe's most celebrated mountain railways. On Day 3, you travel on the Zillertalbahn steam service to Mayrhofen, then ascend by cable car to 1,790 meters. On Day 4, the Zugspitzbahn cogwheel train carries you through a 4.5-kilometer tunnel to the 2,962-meter summit of Germany's highest mountain. Day 6 crosses the UNESCO World Heritage Semmering Line from Vienna to Graz, a feat of 19th-century engineering with 41 kilometers of tunnels and viaducts. Between train journeys, you visit the Hungarian Railway Museum, a private vintage tram in Prague, and enjoy a Danube sunset cruise in Budapest. The tour suits rail enthusiasts seeking both heritage railways and cosmopolitan European cities, as well as couples looking for structured travel with free time to explore.

What to know before you look closer

  • Only one departure is currently listed: June 2027.
  • Day 7 includes a ferry segment to Bratislava rather than a train journey; the package emphasizes rail but this leg is by water.
  • The from-price of £3,140 (or USD $4,193) is for Standard Class rail; First Class upgrade is available at extra cost.

Day by day

  1. 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

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. 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).

  6. 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.

  7. 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.

  8. 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.

  9. 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.

  10. 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.

  11. 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.

  12. Day 12overnight: Prague

    Prague at Leisure

    A free day to further explore all that Prague has to offer.

  13. Day 13railovernight: Frankfurt

    Prague to Frankfurt

    After breakfast we have a full day’s train journey to Frankfurt where we stay for 1 night.

  14. Day 14rail

    Homeward Bound

    Morning train from Frankfurt to Brussels where we connect with the Eurostar service to London, arriving mid-afternoon.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 3Day 3: Ride the Zillertalbahn steam service to Mayrhofen, then ascend the Penkenbahn cable car to 1,790 meters above sea level.
  • Day 4Day 4: Travel by Zugspitzbahn cogwheel train from Garmisch-Partenkirchen through a 4.5-kilometer tunnel to Lake Eibsee, then rise by cable car to the 2,962-meter summit of Germany's highest mountain.
  • Day 6Day 6: Cross the UNESCO World Heritage Semmering Line from Vienna to Graz, traversing 41 kilometers of tunnels and viaducts.
  • Day 8Day 8: Arrive in Budapest by direct train and enjoy an evening sunset cruise along the Danube River.
  • Day 9Day 9: Visit Europe's largest open-air railway museum in Budapest, including a 1912 Orient Express dining car and a 1870 steam engine.

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

Questions travellers ask

Is all the train travel included in the price?
Yes. All rail travel is included in Standard Class, plus specialty railways such as the Zugspitze, Zillertalbahn steam service, and the Semmering Line. First Class upgrade is available upon request for an additional fee.
Is this an escorted or independent tour?
This is an escorted tour. Ffestiniog Travel provides a tour leader from London who travels throughout the 14 days.
What trains are featured on this trip?
The trip includes the Eurostar (London to Brussels to Cologne), Zillertalbahn (steam service to Mayrhofen), Zugspitzbahn (cogwheel train to Germany's highest mountain), Penkenbahn and Gletscherbahn cable cars, and the UNESCO-listed Semmering Line from Vienna to Graz. Regional trains connect the major cities.
What hotels are included?
Ffestiniog Travel books solid three-star properties: CityClass Hotel am Dom in Cologne, AC Hotel Innsbruck, Leonardo Hotel Vienna, IntercityHotel Budapest, Bologna Hotel Prague, and Motel One Frankfurt. All include bed and breakfast.
When does this tour depart?
One departure is currently listed: June 2027 at £3,140 per person.
What is included in the price?
All Standard Class rail travel, hotel accommodation on bed and breakfast basis, excursions such as cable car rides and museum visits, 24-hour and 48-hour public transport passes in Vienna and Budapest, a Danube sunset cruise, and the services of a tour leader from London. Local taxes and fees are included.

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