Authentic Europe · Guided

The Best of Central & Eastern Europe

14-day guided rail tour: Berlin to Budapest across 5 countries

The Best of Central & Eastern Europe, a rail journey with Authentic Europe

Authentic Europe runs this 14-day guided small-group tour through Central and Eastern Europe, starting in Berlin and ending in Budapest across five countries. The group is capped at 16 travellers, and the tour mixes guided highlights with a large amount of free time: after two days in Berlin, day four is a guided visit to the Auschwitz-Birkenau memorial from Krakow, followed by a day at leisure there. Day six carries the group by train to Prague for three nights, with two of them left free, before the route continues overland to the medieval town of Český Krumlov and on to Vienna, where day eleven includes a guided walking tour. A second train ride, on day twelve, reaches Budapest for the final two nights. The mix of guided orientation tours and open days suits travelers who want the structure of a small group with room to explore each city independently.

What to know before you look closer

  • No current departure dates are listed in the evidence; confirm the calendar and price with Authentic Europe before booking.
  • Six of the 14 days are listed as 'day at leisure' (days 2, 5, 7, 8, 11, and 13) with no guided activity, even though the tour is described as guided.
  • The evidence names only one hotel, the AC Hotel Berlin Humboldthain Park; the other five cities are described only as a standard room with breakfast, so confirm the exact properties with Authentic Europe.
  • The itinerary explicitly names a train for only two of the intercity transfer days (Krakow to Prague, and Vienna to Budapest); the other transfers are not attributed to a specific mode in the evidence, so confirm with Authentic Europe which legs are rail versus minibus.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Berlin

    Arrival in Berlin, the capital of Germany

  2. Day 2overnight: Berlin

    Day at leisure in Berlin

  3. Day 3overnight: Krakow

    Travel to Krakow, one of Europe's most beautiful cities

  4. Day 4overnight: Krakow

    Visit Krakow & Auschwitz-Birkenau memorial visit

  5. Day 5overnight: Krakow

    Day at leisure in Krakow

  6. Day 6railovernight: Prague

    Train to Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic

  7. Day 7overnight: Prague

    Day at leisure in Prague

  8. Day 8overnight: Prague

    Day at leisure in Prague

  9. Day 9overnight: Český Krumlov

    Travel to the medieval town of Český Krumlov

  10. Day 10overnight: Vienna

    Travel to Vienna, the capital of Austria

  11. Day 11overnight: Vienna

    Day at leisure in Vienna

  12. Day 12railovernight: Budapest

    Train to Budapest, the capital of Hungary

  13. Day 13overnight: Budapest

    Day at leisure in Budapest

  14. Day 14

    Final day and departure from Budapest

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 4A guided visit to the Auschwitz-Birkenau memorial from Krakow.
  • Day 6The tour travels from Krakow to Prague by train.
  • Day 9Travel to the medieval town of Český Krumlov.
  • Day 12The tour travels from Vienna to Budapest by train.

Included

  • 13 nights hotel accommodation in a standard room with private shower or bath/WC, breakfast included
  • Guided orientation tours in Krakow and Prague
  • Auschwitz entrance fee and guided tour
  • Guided walking tour in Vienna
  • Stop at Nem Adom Fel Café and Bar
  • Transportation between destinations and to/from activities
  • Electronic travel documentation, including a detailed travel itinerary and travel voucher
  • 24/7 Emergency phone service while travelling

Questions travellers ask

Is this tour guided or independent?
It is guided, for a small group capped at 16 travellers, though several days are left free as 'day at leisure' for travelers to choose their own activities.
Is train travel included?
Yes, though the itinerary specifically names a train for only two legs: Krakow to Prague on day 6, and Vienna to Budapest on day 12. Other transfers use the tour's minibus transportation.
What guided activities are included?
Guided orientation tours in Krakow and Prague, a guided tour of the Auschwitz-Birkenau memorial, a guided walking tour of Vienna, and a stop at a café in Budapest.
Which countries does the tour visit?
Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria, and Hungary, starting in Berlin and ending in Budapest.
What is included in the price?
13 nights of hotel accommodation with breakfast, the guided tours and Auschwitz entrance fee, transportation between destinations, and 24/7 emergency phone support.

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