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Planet Rail · Tailor-made rail holiday

European Odyssey by First Class Rail

First-class rail loop from London through ten European countries to Paris

Illustration of European Odyssey by First Class Rail

Planet Rail's European Odyssey is a 15-day first-class rail journey for independent travellers moving through ten countries from London to Paris. You depart London on the Eurostar, then travel by train through Cologne, Dresden, Prague, Krakow, Bratislava, Vienna, and Zurich, staying in solid 4-star hotels and one 5-star property in Bratislava. The itinerary mixes rail travel days with free days in major cities: you have a full day to explore Dresden's baroque riverfront and art galleries, two days in Prague to walk Charles Bridge and visit Prague Castle, two days in Krakow to see Wawel Castle or visit the Wieliczka Salt Mine, and a day in Vienna's coffee houses and palaces. The highlight is Day 14, when the Rail Jet carries you through the Tirol and over the Arlberg Pass at 4,000 feet, with views of Salzburg, Innsbruck, and the approach to Zurich. There are no guided excursions; you navigate stations and cities on your own schedule. This suits repeat rail travellers, history lovers drawn to Eastern European cities and castles, and independent explorers who prefer self-guided discovery.

What to know before you look closer

  • This is a self-guided tour with no escort; you arrange your own transport between train stations and hotels (though the itinerary notes that some journeys are short or a taxi ride is available).
  • Optional excursions to Auschwitz-Birkenau and the Wieliczka Salt Mine are available from Krakow but must be booked and paid separately.
  • Lunch in the Rail Jet restaurant car on Day 14 is payable locally, not included.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Cologne

    London to Cologne

    Board the Eurostar at London St Pancras International to Brussels at speeds of up to 186mph, then change trains for the onward journey along the scenic Rhine Gorge to Cologne. Overnight at the Hotel Mondial am Dom (4 star), with time to visit the world-famous cathedral, the old town or a traditional brewery tavern.

  2. Day 2overnight: Dresden

    Cologne to Dresden

    Return to Cologne station and continue east to Dresden. On arrival it is just over 1 kilometre on foot or a short taxi ride (payable locally) to the Hotel NH Altmarkt (4 star) for the next 2 nights. Spend the afternoon settling in and perhaps enjoy traditional German cuisine on the Elbhang or in the Neustadt.

  3. Day 3overnight: Dresden

    Free time in Dresden

    A free day in Dresden: visit the Frauenkirche and the Old Masters, the Blue Wonder and the Green Vault, the banks of the Elbe, the Wilhelminian district and the baroque Old Town with its splendid Renaissance, Baroque and 19th century riverfront architecture.

  4. Day 4overnight: Prague

    Dresden to Prague

    After breakfast and time for further exploring, board the direct service to the Czech Republic. On arrival at Prague HL N station make your own way to the highly-rated Appia Hotel Residence (4 star), your hotel for the next three nights.

  5. Day 5overnight: Prague

    Exploring Prague

    A full day in Prague: the Old Town Square, Charles Bridge, Prague Castle, the Josefov Jewish Quarter and Wenceslas Square, the Dancing House on the Vltava, or deeper corners such as the Vinohrady Quarter and the gardens of Prague Castle.

  6. Day 6overnight: Prague

    Exploring Prague

    A second full day to enjoy the gorgeous city of Prague at your own pace.

  7. Day 7railovernight: Krakow

    Prague to Krakow

    Make your way to Prague HL N station and join the rail service to Krakow, travelling southwards through the changing scenery of Poland. On arrival at Krakow Glowny station make your way to the popular Queen Boutique Hotel (4 star) for the next three nights.

  8. Day 8overnight: Krakow

    At leisure in Krakow - option to visit Auschwitz or the Salt Mines

    Discover Krakow: the Old Town with its soaring churches, impressive museums and the vast Rynek Glowny, Europe's largest market square, plus the glorious ensemble of Wawel Castle and Cathedral. Krakow is also the base to visit the UNESCO-listed Auschwitz-Birkenau camp or the Wieliczka Salt Mine with an English-speaking guide.

  9. Day 9overnight: Krakow

    At leisure in Krakow - option to visit Auschwitz or the Salt Mines

    A second full day for Krakow and its surrounding region, with the option of Auschwitz-Birkenau or the Wieliczka Salt Mine, the oldest operational mines in Europe and a UNESCO World Heritage site.

  10. Day 10overnight: Bratislava

    Krakow to Bratislava

    After a leisurely final morning in Krakow, board the direct service to Slovakia. On arrival at Bratislava Hlavna Stanica station make your own arrangements to the charming Marrol's Boutique Hotel (5 star) for the next two nights.

  11. Day 11overnight: Bratislava

    Exploring Bratislava

    A day for Bratislava's interesting history, beautiful landscapes, vibrant culture, local cuisine, wine and stylish shopping arcades, from the magnificent cathedral to the cozy cafes of its narrow streets and the historic wine cellars of the city centre.

  12. Day 12overnight: Vienna

    Onwards to Vienna

    After breakfast return to the station and make the short journey to Austria. On arrival in Vienna make your own way to the welcoming Hotel Harmonie (4 star), well-located in the centre with easy access to the city's principal attractions, for two nights.

  13. Day 13overnight: Vienna

    Vienna

    Explore Vienna: the Spanish Riding School, Prater Park with the ferris wheel from 'The Third Man', the Baroque Belvedere Palace, the grandiose Ringstrasse by tram, traditional coffee houses, and further afield the Schonbrunn Palace.

  14. Day 14railovernight: Zurich

    Vienna to Zurich through the Tirol, Alps and Arlberg Pass

    Board the high-speed Rail Jet to Zurich as the Tirolean and Alpine scenery unfurls, past Salzburg and Innsbruck and through the Arlberg Pass at over 4,000 feet, with the option of lunch in the restaurant car (payable locally). The train trundles through Liechtenstein before continuing past Lake Zurich to the city. Overnight at the Hotel Helmhaus (4 star).

  15. Day 15rail

    Zurich to London - Homeward Bound

    After an early breakfast, perhaps a whistle-stop tour of Zurich's Old Town between the Hauptbahnhof and the lake, before boarding the TGV to Paris. A private taxi transfer takes you to the Gare du Nord for the Eurostar home to London St Pancras, with a light meal and drinks in your Standard Premier Class seat.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 1Eurostar departs London St Pancras at 186mph, then you change trains to travel the scenic Rhine Gorge toward Cologne and visit the world-famous cathedral.
  • Day 4Direct train service from Dresden carries you into Czechia and Prague, crossing into a new country by rail.
  • Day 14The Rail Jet climbs through the Arlberg Pass above 4,000 feet, passing Salzburg and Innsbruck, through Liechtenstein, and down to Lake Zurich.
  • Day 15TGV takes you from Zurich to Paris, followed by Eurostar in Standard Premier Class back to London St Pancras.

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included in the price?
Yes. Planet Rail includes first-class rail on Eurostar, regional trains, and the Rail Jet. The from-price is GBP 2,295 (approximately USD 3,065).
Is this tour guided or self-guided?
It is a tailor-made, self-guided independent holiday. There is no escort. You make your own way between stations and hotels, and choose what to visit in each city.
Which trains are used?
Eurostar (London to Brussels and return Paris to London in Standard Premier Class), regional trains to Cologne, Dresden, Prague, and Krakow, and the Rail Jet from Vienna through the Arlberg Pass to Zurich. The Zurich to Paris leg is by TGV.
What hotels are included?
Four-star hotels in Cologne, Dresden, Prague, Krakow, Vienna, and Zurich, and a 5-star hotel (Marrol's Boutique Hotel) in Bratislava. You stay one to three nights in each city.
What is not included?
Meals are not mentioned as included. Optional excursions to Auschwitz-Birkenau and the Wieliczka Salt Mine are available but booked and paid separately. Lunch in the Rail Jet restaurant car is payable locally.
How much walking is involved?
Each city day involves walking to visit museums, squares, castles, and historic sites at your own pace. The hotel-to-station journeys are short (under 1 kilometre in Dresden, for example) or a short taxi ride.

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