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Tailor Made Rail · Tailor-made luxury rail holiday

Luxury Central Europe by Rail

First Class rail loop through five Central European capitals, Amsterdam to Cologne

Illustration of Luxury Central Europe by Rail

Tailor Made Rail's Luxury Central Europe by Rail is a 13-day, 12-night First Class rail holiday that departs London and returns there via Eurostar, visiting the five grand capitals of Amsterdam, Berlin, Prague, Vienna, and Budapest, with a final stop in Cologne. The journey unfolds at a leisurely pace: one night in Amsterdam, two nights each in Berlin, Prague, Vienna, Budapest, and Salzburg, allowing time to walk the historic neighbourhoods and major landmarks of each city. You travel by named trains including EuroCity and RailJet, with upgrades to Business Class on the central European legs. All hotels are four and five-star properties; breakfast is included daily, and private car transfers meet you at the station in Berlin, Prague, Vienna, Budapest, and Salzburg. Rail tickets, seat reservations, and comprehensive travel documentation are handled by Tailor Made Rail. This package suits luxury seekers, repeat rail travellers, couples wishing to tailor their journey, and history lovers drawn to Europe's imperial capitals.

What to know before you look closer

  • Hotels are marked 'or similar' in the itinerary; your final accommodation depends on availability and the tier selected
  • Single supplements apply for sole occupancy; pricing quoted is for two people sharing a twin or double room
  • Supplements may apply during peak periods, particularly at short notice

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Grand Hotel Amrath, Amsterdam

    London to Amsterdam

    Direct Eurostar service under the Channel and through northern France and Belgium to Amsterdam.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Adlon Kempinski Berlin (or similar)

    Amsterdam to Berlin

    Train bound for the German capital, arriving mid to late afternoon, with a private car and driver to the hotel for a 2-night stay.

  3. Day 3overnight: Adlon Kempinski Berlin (or similar)

    Berlin

    Full day exploring Berlin's Brandenburg Gate, TV Tower, Reichstag, Tiergarten and the Berlin Wall Memorial.

  4. Day 4railovernight: Hotel Aria (or similar), Prague

    Berlin to Prague (via the Elbe Valley)

    EuroCity train south through former East Germany, stopping in Dresden, then along the Elbe Valley into Prague; met by a driver for the transfer to the hotel.

  5. Day 5overnight: Hotel Aria (or similar), Prague

    Prague

    Explore the Old Town, Charles Bridge, the castle and the Franz Kafka Museum.

  6. Day 6overnight: Sans Souci Hotel (or similar), Vienna

    Prague to Vienna

    RailJet service from Prague to Vienna in Business Class, met by a chauffeur transfer to the hotel.

  7. Day 7overnight: Sans Souci Hotel (or similar), Vienna

    Vienna

    Explore Ringstrasse, the State Opera House, St Stephen's Cathedral and Prater Park.

  8. Day 8overnight: Corinthia Hotel (or similar), Budapest

    Vienna to Budapest

    Austrian Railways RailJet in Business Class across the plains of eastern Austria to Budapest Keleti station, with a private meet-and-greet transfer.

  9. Day 9overnight: Corinthia Hotel (or similar), Budapest

    Budapest

    Explore the Hungarian Parliament, the Chain Bridge, Heroes' Square and Fisherman's Bastion.

  10. Day 10overnight: Radisson Blu Altstadt (or similar), Salzburg

    Budapest to Salzburg

    Austrian RailJet from Budapest Keleti station direct to Salzburg, met at the station and taken to the hotel.

  11. Day 11overnight: Radisson Blu Altstadt (or similar), Salzburg

    Salzburg

    Explore Salzburg's musical links to Mozart and The Sound of Music, the old town and the hilltop castle.

  12. Day 12railovernight: Pullman Cologne (or similar)

    Salzburg to Cologne

    EuroCity train across the border into Germany via Munich Hbf and Frankfurt to Cologne.

  13. Day 13rail

    Cologne to London

    Free morning in Cologne, then a German ICE service to Brussels and an evening Eurostar (Eurostar Plus class) back to London.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 4The EuroCity train travels south through the Elbe Valley, passing through Dresden and along the river valley into Prague
  • Day 6RailJet Business Class from Prague to Vienna across the border into Austria
  • Day 8Austrian Railways RailJet in Business Class crosses the plains of eastern Austria to Budapest Keleti station
  • Day 12EuroCity train departs Salzburg and crosses into Germany via Munich and Frankfurt, arriving in Cologne
  • Day 13German ICE service carries you from Cologne to Brussels, then an evening Eurostar Plus returns to London

Included

  • All rail journeys, in first class
  • Seat reservations where required
  • Upgrades from first class to business on Prague-Vienna, Vienna-Budapest and Budapest-Salzburg
  • 12 nights' handpicked hotel accommodation with breakfast
  • Private meet-and-greet car transfers on arrival in Berlin, Prague, Vienna, Budapest and Salzburg
  • Easy-to-follow travel documentation
  • Despatch of tickets by email
  • Proactive rerouting in case of strikes or disruptions

Questions travellers ask

Is all train travel included?
Yes. Tailor Made Rail includes all rail journeys in First Class with seat reservations where required. Upgrades to Business Class are provided on the Prague-Vienna, Vienna-Budapest, and Budapest-Salzburg legs.
Which trains are used?
The tour uses Eurostar (London to Amsterdam and return), EuroCity (Berlin to Prague via the Elbe Valley, and Salzburg to Cologne), RailJet (Prague to Vienna to Budapest to Salzburg in Business Class), and German ICE (Cologne to Brussels).
What hotels are included?
Tailor Made Rail books handpicked four and five-star hotels: Grand Hotel Amrath (Amsterdam), Hotel Adlon Kempinski (Berlin), Aria Hotel Prague, Hotel Sans Souci (Vienna), Corinthia Budapest, Radisson Blu Altstadt (Salzburg), and Metropolitan Hotel by Flemings (Cologne). All include breakfast.
Are transfers included?
Yes. Private meet-and-greet car transfers are provided on arrival in Berlin, Prague, Vienna, Budapest, and Salzburg.
When does it run and what does it cost?
The tour runs year-round. Low-season pricing (November to April) starts at GBP 2,999; high-season (May to October) starts at GBP 3,099. Pricing is per person for two sharing a room; single supplements apply.
Can I customise the itinerary?
Yes. Tailor Made Rail allows you to decide your travel dates, adapt the route to suit your plans, change hotels, and add extra nights, destinations, and tours.

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