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Great Rail Journeys · Escorted tour

Grand Imperial Cities

Twelve-day escorted rail journey through Vienna, Budapest, Prague and Berlin.

Illustration of Grand Imperial Cities

Great Rail Journeys operates this 12-day escorted rail tour through six European countries, departing London and ending in Amsterdam. Traveling by Eurostar and First Class rail, you spend three nights in Vienna exploring the Ringstrasse, Hofburg Palace and Schönbrunn Palace, where you attend an apple strudel-making show. Two nights in Budapest include a guided coach tour of Parliament and Buda Castle, an evening Danube cruise with illuminated city views, and a ride on the narrow-gauge Children's Railway through the Buda Hills operated by Hungarian schoolchildren. Three nights in Prague begin with a guided walking tour of the medieval castle complex and Charles Bridge to the Old Town Square, with free time to explore further. Two nights in Berlin include a sightseeing tour of Checkpoint Charlie, the Berlin Wall and Brandenburg Gate. A dedicated UK Tour Manager accompanies the group throughout, and luggage is transferred between hotels from Vienna onward. This trip suits history lovers interested in imperial architecture, repeat rail travelers, and couples seeking guided comfort with daily free time.

What to know before you look closer

  • Some departures (23rd March, 27th April and 21st September) travel Eurostar Standard and Standard Class rail instead of Plus and First Class; light meals are omitted on two of these dates.
  • The 11th May departure stays in Bratislava on Day 2 instead of Vienna due to the Eurovision Song Contest; the 23rd May departure travels by coach from Prague to Dresden then by rail to Berlin rather than direct rail.
  • Hotel accommodation varies by departure date: two Vienna hotel options, one Prague option marked for the 25th September departure, and one Berlin option noted for specific dates.
  • Single supplement is GBP 900 (approximately USD 1,095), which exceeds half the base double-occupancy price.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Frankfurt

    From London to Frankfurt

    Meet the Tour Manager at London St Pancras and board the Eurostar to Brussels, travelling in Plus class (light meal included). Continue by First Class rail from Brussels to Frankfurt, arriving early evening. Check in to hotel near the city's main shopping streets and enjoy a three-course dinner. Note: 27th April and 21st September departures travel Eurostar Standard without light meal and by Standard Class rail. Departures 11th & 18th May 2026 and 7th September 2026 stay in Nuremberg at NH Collection; 11th May stays in Regensburg at Novotel Regensburg Zentrum.

    Meals: Eurostar Light Meal, Dinner

  2. Day 2railovernight: Vienna

    Vienna Calling

    After breakfast, travel by train across Bavaria, following the Danube through historic Regensburg into Austria, arriving in Vienna this afternoon. Time to explore at leisure after check-in. Regroup in the evening for dinner at a local Austrian restaurant. Note: 11th May departure stays in Bratislava due to Eurovision Song Contest. 5th October departure stays at NH Wien Belvedere.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  3. Day 3overnight: Vienna

    Discovering Elegant Vienna

    Morning sightseeing tour of Vienna's imperial architecture along the grand Ringstrasse, including the Vienna State Opera and Parliament. Visit Hofburg Palace and then Schönbrunn Palace for a guided tour of the state rooms, concluding with an apple strudel show, hot drink and tasting. Afternoon free to explore or relax. Dine independently this evening. Note: 11th May departure tours Vienna by coach then returns to Bratislava by catamaran. For 21st & 25th September departures the strudel show isn't available but hot drink and strudel are still included.

    Meals: Breakfast

  4. Day 4overnight: Vienna

    Memorable Moments and Café Culture on a Free Day in Vienna

    A free day to explore Vienna at your own pace. Options include the Upper and Lower Belvedere Palaces, the Spanish Riding School, St Stephen's Cathedral, the Prater Gardens and Wiener Riesenrad Ferris wheel, or a traditional Viennese coffeehouse. Note: 11th May departure spends a free day in Bratislava.

    Meals: Breakfast

  5. Day 5railovernight: Budapest

    To Budapest, the 'Pearl of the Danube'

    Bid farewell to Austria and head east into Hungary. Arrive in Budapest early afternoon for a guided coach tour viewing the neo-Gothic Parliament building, Buda Castle, Matthias Church and Fisherman's Bastion. Dinner in a traditional restaurant in Óbuda. After dinner, enjoy an evening Danube cruise with illuminated views of the city's landmarks. Note: 11th May departure travels by rail to Vienna and onwards to Budapest.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  6. Day 6railovernight: Budapest

    An Enchanting Journey Through the Buda Hills

    Travel to Széchenyihegy in the Buda Hills and board the narrow-gauge Children's Railway for a 40-minute journey through peaceful forests, operated by Hungarian schoolchildren aged 10–14. Return to hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure. Optional visits to Gellért thermal baths, Széchenyi medicinal baths or Memento Park. Dine independently this evening.

    Meals: Breakfast

  7. Day 7railovernight: Prague

    Budapest to Prague: From the Danube to Vltava

    Leave Budapest after breakfast by train to Prague, passing the Danube Bend and Visegrád citadel, crossing southern Slovakia and through Brno. Arrive in Prague late afternoon and check in to hotel in the Smíchov area on the western bank of the Vltava. Dinner in the hotel this evening. Note: 25th September departure stays at Vienna House by Wyndham Diplomat Prague.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  8. Day 8overnight: Prague

    Uncovering the Medieval Sights of Prague

    Guided walking tour after breakfast starting at Prague Castle, the largest medieval complex in Europe, including St Vitus Cathedral, St George's Basilica and Golden Lane. Cross the 14th-century Charles Bridge and stroll to the grand Old Town Square with its renowned astronomical clock (installed 1410). Afternoon at leisure. Dine independently this evening.

    Meals: Breakfast

  9. Day 9overnight: Prague

    History, Religion and Culture on a Free Day in Prague

    A free day to explore Prague at leisure. Options include a Vltava river cruise, Franz Kafka statues and the Spanish Synagogue in Josefov (Prague's Jewish Quarter), gourmet restaurants, cocktail bars and traditional Czech pubs.

    Meals: Breakfast

  10. Day 10railovernight: Berlin

    Arrival in Berlin, a City of Contrast

    Leave Prague by train, passing the sandstone cliffs of Bohemian Switzerland, arriving in Berlin mid-afternoon. After check-in, a local guide leads a sightseeing tour covering Checkpoint Charlie, the Berlin Wall and the Brandenburg Gate. Dine independently this evening. Note: 23rd May departure travels by coach from Prague to Dresden, then by rail to Berlin.

    Meals: Breakfast

  11. Day 11overnight: Berlin

    Discovering the Culture of Berlin at Leisure

    Free day to explore Berlin at your own pace. Options include the Reichstag glass dome, East Side Gallery, Berlin Wall Memorial on Bernauer Strasse, Museum Island and the Pergamon Museum, Tiergarten, Berlin Zoo, Bauhaus Archive, Charlottenburg Palace or a day trip to Potsdam and Park Sanssouci. Final group dinner together at a local restaurant this evening.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  12. Day 12rail

    Homeward Bound

    After breakfast, transfer to Berlin's main railway station and travel to Brussels via Cologne. Board the Eurostar in Brussels and arrive at London St Pancras International in the evening. Note: 18th May departure travels back via Amsterdam instead of Brussels.

    Meals: Breakfast, Eurostar Light Meal

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 3Guided tour of Vienna's imperial Ringstrasse, including the Vienna State Opera and Parliament, followed by a tour of Schönbrunn Palace state rooms with an apple strudel-making show and tasting.
  • Day 5Evening illuminated Danube cruise viewing the neo-Gothic Parliament building, Buda Castle and Matthias Church lit against the night sky.
  • Day 6Ride the narrow-gauge Children's Railway through the Buda Hills for 40 minutes, operated by Hungarian schoolchildren aged 10 to 14.
  • Day 8Guided walking tour starting at Prague Castle, crossing the 14th-century Charles Bridge to the Old Town Square with its astronomical clock installed in 1410.
  • Day 10Sightseeing tour of Berlin covering Checkpoint Charlie, the Berlin Wall and the Brandenburg Gate with a local guide.

Included

  • Expertise of a UK Tour Manager from start to finish
  • 11 nights' 4-star hotel accommodation
  • Eurostar Plus class travel (except 23rd March, 27th April & 21st September departures which travel Standard)
  • First Class rail travel throughout (except 23rd March, 27th April & 21st September departures which travel Standard Class)
  • All rail, cruise and coach travel throughout the tour
  • Eurostar light meals (excluding 27th April & 21st September departures)
  • Breakfast each day
  • 5 dinners
  • Group luggage transfers between hotels from Vienna to Berlin
  • All guided tours and excursions

Not included

  • Cancellation & Travel Insurance

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Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes, Great Rail Journeys includes all rail, coach and cruise travel throughout the tour. Eurostar travel to and from Brussels is included in Plus class (or Standard on select departures), and First Class rail travels Brussels to Vienna, Vienna to Budapest, Budapest to Prague, and Prague to Berlin.
Is this tour escorted?
Yes, a UK Tour Manager accompanies the group from start to finish. Guided tours are provided in Vienna, Budapest, Prague and Berlin; days 4, 9 and 11 are free time to explore at your own pace.
What is included in the price?
The from-price of GBP 2,399 includes 11 nights in four-star hotels, Eurostar and First Class rail travel, all coach and cruise transfers, breakfast daily, five dinners, Eurostar light meals, all guided tours and excursions (including the Children's Railway and Danube cruise), luggage transfers between hotels from Vienna to Berlin, and Tour Manager expertise throughout.
What hotels are used?
Great Rail Journeys uses four-star hotels: in Vienna the Mooons Hotel or NH Wien Belvedere (3 nights), in Budapest the Three Corners Lifestyle Hotel (2 nights), in Prague the OREA Hotel Andel's (3 nights), and in Berlin the NH Collection Berlin Mitte am Checkpoint Charlie (2 nights). One night in Frankfurt precedes Vienna.
When does the tour depart?
Great Rail Journeys operates nine departures in 2026 and 2027: in March, April, May, June, July, August, September and October. Exact dates are available from the operator.
How much walking is involved?
A guided walking tour of Prague Castle complex and Charles Bridge is included. Vienna and Berlin sightseeing tours involve some standing. Days 4, 9 and 11 offer free time; physical demands depend on your own choices. The itinerary otherwise relies on coach and train travel between cities.

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