How much does it cost?

From £1,299 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $1,755 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.

Is the rail travel included?

Yes. Standard Class rail from Prague to Vienna and Vienna to Budapest is included, along with all flights, coach transfers, and the evening Danube cruise.

Is this an escorted tour?

Yes. A UK Tour Manager accompanies the group throughout, and guided tours of all three cities are included. You have free days to explore independently.

What hotels are included?

Great Rail Journeys books the Diplomat Hotel Prague (4-star, 3 nights), Hampton By Hilton Vienna City West (3-star, 2 nights), and Mercure Castle Hill Budapest (3-star, 2 nights).

How many meals are included?

Breakfast is included every day. Dinner is included on days 1, 4, and 6. Most other meals are at your own expense.

When does this tour run?

The operator has not published specific departure dates in the available information; contact Great Rail Journeys to confirm availability.

Is there much walking involved?

Guided tours of each city involve walking through historic centres and viewing monuments. You have free days to explore at your own pace, and several free days include optional visits to baths and museums.

Great Rail Journeys · Escorted tour

Imperial Cities: Prague, Vienna & Budapest

Eight-day escorted tour through Prague, Vienna, and Budapest by train and flight.

Great Rail Journeys operates this 8-day escorted journey through three imperial capitals. Beginning with a flight to Prague, you spend three days exploring the medieval 'City of a Hundred Spires', visiting Prague Castle, St Vitus Cathedral, and the Charles Bridge before a full free day. You then travel by regional train through countryside and forests to Vienna, where guided tours cover the Ringstrasse and Hofburg Palace, with a free day for Schönbrunn Palace or the Spanish Riding School. The final leg by train takes you to Budapest, where you experience an evening Danube cruise viewing illuminated landmarks before a guided tour of the Parliament, Matthias Church, and Castle Hill. Throughout, a UK Tour Manager provides continuity, while breakfast is included daily and select dinners are provided. The pace mixes structured sightseeing with ample free time, suiting history-minded travellers and those new to escorted rail travel.

Price history

Across 5 checks, this price has held at £1,299 every time.

Each point is a day we checked this operator's own page, not a weekly average, and the line holds flat between checks rather than guessing at movement we did not see. 3 of 5 points are a live read of the operator's page. Hollow points are values shown when the trip was first listed here and never confirmed with the operator.

What to know before you look closer

The group size can reach 40 people; confirm group scale before booking if you prefer smaller escorted tours.
Only 3 dinners are included; most other meals are unguided and at your own expense.
Regional airport flights from outside London Heathrow are available but cost extra.

Day by day

Day 1overnight: Prague
Fly to Prague
Meet the Tour Manager at London Heathrow (or fly from a regional airport) to Prague, checking in to a four-star hotel near Prague Castle for the first dinner together.
Day 2overnight: Prague
Discovering the 'City of a Hundred Spires'
Guided tour of Prague Castle, St Vitus Cathedral, Golden Lane, across Charles Bridge to the Old Town Square and its astronomical clock.
Day 3overnight: Prague
Free day to explore Prague
Free day, with options including a Vltava river cruise or exploring the Jewish Quarter of Josefov.
Day 4railovernight: Vienna
Vienna Calling
Train to Vienna, arriving for a guided tour of the Ringstrasse and the Hofburg Palace, followed by dinner at a traditional Austrian restaurant.
Day 5overnight: Vienna
At leisure in imperial Vienna
Free day, with options including Schönbrunn Palace, the Spanish Riding School, St Stephen's Cathedral, or the Prater gardens.
Day 6railovernight: Budapest
An evening Danube cruise in Budapest
Train to Budapest, checking into a Buda hotel, dinner in Óbuda, followed by an evening cruise on the illuminated Danube past the Parliament, Buda Castle and the Chain Bridge.
Day 7overnight: Budapest
Uncovering the 'Pearl of the Danube'
Guided tour of Budapest including the Parliament building and Castle Hill, with Matthias Church and Fisherman's Bastion, and free time to visit the Széchenyi or Gellért thermal baths.
Day 8
Homeward bound
Transfer to Budapest airport for the flight home.

The moments this trip is built around

Day 2Guided tour of Prague Castle, the largest medieval complex in Europe, St Vitus Cathedral, and the Charles Bridge, ending at Old Town Square to see the astronomical clock installed in 1410.
Day 4Travel by train from Prague through sweeping fields, sleepy towns and verdant forests, arriving in Vienna for a guided tour of the Ringstrasse boulevard, Vienna State Opera, and Hofburg Palace.
Day 6Evening Danube cruise in Budapest, viewing the illuminated Parliament building and Buda Castle after checking in to the hotel.
Day 7Guided tour of Budapest's Parliament building, Castle Hill, Matthias Church, and Fisherman's Bastion, with free time to visit the Széchenyi or Gellért Baths.

Included

Expertise of a UK Tour Manager from start to finish
7 nights' 3 or 4-Star hotel accommodation
Standard Class rail travel
All rail, cruise and coach travel throughout the tour
Flights from London Heathrow to Prague, Budapest to London Heathrow (regional flights available)
Breakfast each day, 3 dinners
All guided tours and excursions

Not included

Cancellation & Travel Insurance

Questions travellers ask

How much does it cost?: From £1,299 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $1,755 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.
Is the rail travel included?: Yes. Standard Class rail from Prague to Vienna and Vienna to Budapest is included, along with all flights, coach transfers, and the evening Danube cruise.
Is this an escorted tour?: Yes. A UK Tour Manager accompanies the group throughout, and guided tours of all three cities are included. You have free days to explore independently.
What hotels are included?: Great Rail Journeys books the Diplomat Hotel Prague (4-star, 3 nights), Hampton By Hilton Vienna City West (3-star, 2 nights), and Mercure Castle Hill Budapest (3-star, 2 nights).
How many meals are included?: Breakfast is included every day. Dinner is included on days 1, 4, and 6. Most other meals are at your own expense.
When does this tour run?: The operator has not published specific departure dates in the available information; contact Great Rail Journeys to confirm availability.
Is there much walking involved?: Guided tours of each city involve walking through historic centres and viewing monuments. You have free days to explore at your own pace, and several free days include optional visits to baths and museums.