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Great Rail Journeys · Escorted tour

Imperial Cities: Prague, Vienna & Budapest

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

Illustration of Imperial Cities: Prague, Vienna & Budapest

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.

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

  1. Day 1overnight: Prague

    Fly to Prague

    Meet the Tour Manager at London Heathrow and fly to Prague. On arrival, check in to a four-star hotel in the 'diplomatic district' near Prague Castle. The hotel has three restaurants, a café, a flower shop and a wellness centre. Option to purchase a Prague Visitor Pass for unlimited public transport and entry to most attractions. This evening, gather at the hotel for the first dinner together.

    Meals: Dinner

  2. Day 2overnight: Prague

    Discovering the 'City of a Hundred Spires'

    Guided tour of Prague's cultural and architectural highlights. Visit Prague Castle, the largest medieval complex in Europe, St Vitus Cathedral, St George's Basilica, the quaint Golden Lane, the iconic Charles Bridge and Old Town Square with its renowned astronomical clock (installed 1410). Afternoon at leisure; options include the Czech Beer Museum, Museum of Fantastic Illusions or Speculum Alchemiae. Dine independently this evening.

    Meals: Breakfast

  3. Day 3overnight: Prague

    Free day to explore Prague

    Full day at leisure in Prague. Options include a gentle cruise on the Vltava, exploring Josefov (the Jewish Quarter) with the Old New Synagogue (oldest active synagogue in Europe), the Spanish Synagogue, and various Franz Kafka statues including the rotating kinetic head sculpture. Relax at gourmet restaurants, cocktail bars or cafés.

    Meals: Breakfast

  4. Day 4railovernight: Vienna

    Vienna Calling

    Leave Prague by train after breakfast, travelling through sweeping fields, sleepy towns and verdant forests to arrive in Vienna in the early afternoon. Guided tour of Vienna including the famous Ringstrasse boulevard, the Vienna State Opera, the Austrian Parliament, and the Hofburg Palace, seat of the Habsburg dynasty from 1273 to 1918. Stroll through the cobbled streets of Vienna's historic centre (UNESCO World Heritage site). Check in to hotel, then dinner at a traditional Austrian restaurant.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  5. Day 5overnight: Vienna

    At leisure in imperial Vienna

    Full free day to explore Vienna at your own pace. Options include Schönbrunn Palace and its decorative gardens, the world's oldest zoo (founded 1752), the Spanish Riding School with Lipizzan dancing horses (pre-booking required), St Stephen's Cathedral in Stephansplatz, and the Prater gardens with its famous funfair and iconic Ferris wheel. Enjoy a traditional Viennese coffeehouse experience with Sachertorte. Dine independently this evening.

    Meals: Breakfast

  6. Day 6railovernight: Budapest

    An evening Danube cruise in Budapest

    Free morning in Vienna, option to visit Belvedere (two Baroque palaces and an art gallery containing Gustav Klimt's The Kiss). In the early afternoon, travel by train from Austria to Hungary. Arrive in Budapest in the early evening and check in to the Buda hotel. Free time to relax, then transfer to Óbuda for dinner in a traditional restaurant. After dinner, embark on an evening Danube cruise, viewing the illuminated Parliament building, Buda Castle and the Chain Bridge.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  7. Day 7overnight: Budapest

    Uncovering the 'Pearl of the Danube'

    Guided tour of Budapest after breakfast, viewing the iconic Parliament building, Castle Hill, the Baroque castle, Gothic Matthias Church and Fisherman's Bastion. Free for the rest of the day, options include the Széchenyi Baths (largest medicinal bath in Europe), the Art Deco Gellért Baths, or Café New York. Dine independently this evening, sampling goulash or paprika chicken.

    Meals: Breakfast

  8. Day 8

    Homeward bound

    Make your way to Budapest airport for flights home. Land back in the UK later today, concluding the imperial adventure.

    Meals: Breakfast

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 and 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

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.

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