Basix
Explorer
Rail
Discover Central Europe
8 days • 4.6
4.5
Excellent
18 reviews
8 days
Start
Budapest, Hungary
Finish
Venice, Italy
Trip Code
AMRC
Min Age
15
Trip Size
1 - 16
Physical Rating
Meals
4 breakfasts
Transport
Train, Public Bus, Private vehicle
Accommodation
Hotel (5 nights), Guesthouse (2 nights)
From £1,082(8 days)
Trip Informations
Why you’ll love this trip
Discover the artistic history of unique Vienna – the perfect blend of modern and historical personality – then enjoy some Kaffe and kuchen (coffee and cake) at a local café that empowers older residents with employment and purpose.
Stroll stunning Salzburg, backdropped by the Eastern Alps, with a free day to wander the Old City and the New City, divided by the Salzach River.
Escape city life on the peaceful shores of Lake Bled in Slovenia. Maybe visit the church on the tiny fairytale island in the lake's centre and treat yourself to a slice of Bled's famous cream cake.
See the iconic Venice, which looks like it comes straight out of a postcard, and soak up opportunities like sailing the canals on a gondola or tucking into a huge plate of pasta.
Make cross-country travel a breeze with a European trip including train travel. Enjoy extra time to sit back, relax, play games with your fellow travellers or watch the changing scenery roll by.
Is this trip right for you?
This trip is made for travellers who value their independence but also want the benefit of a local leader and a group of like-minded travellers. The itinerary has a mix of included activities and free time when your leader will offer suggestions. Please budget spending money for optional activities you want to partake in.
Accommodation on this trip is basic. Hotels in Europe often don't have double beds, but rather two single beds that can be pushed together/apart. Rooms can be small and in some cases bathroom facilities will be shared.
Summer temperatures can be very high in many of the regions visited (over 40°C), which can be uncomfortable. It’s important to use sun protection, wear layers to combat the heat and drink plenty of water. Please keep in mind that many European hotel rooms are not equipped with air-conditioning. In Winter, warm layers will be needed as snow can be expected in some regions. Carefully consider the time of the year you wish to travel and your suitability to that season.
The primary means of transportation on this trip is by train. Train travel is a fast way to traverse long distances, allowing you to avoid traffic jams and arrive right into the city centre. Trains are comfortable and often decked out with air-conditioning, toilets, a snack bar (or vending machine) and power points. You'll have to carry your own luggage on and off the train, as well as some short distances to the hotel (no longer than 30 minutes), so make sure it doesn’t exceed our weight and size recommendations. You can find details in the 'Packing' section of the Essential Trip Information.
Itinerary
From fairytale castles to iconic canals, discover the best of Central Europe
Discover some of the hottest locations in Central Europe with a trip that offers you loads of free time and a local leader with all the best recommendations on how to spend it. Start off in Budapest and maybe choose to wander the iconic ruin bars in the Jewish quarter. Head to cosmopolitan Vienna, perfect for art lovers, and marvel at the historical architecture before tucking into some Kaffe and kuchen at a local café that empowers the city's older citizens with employment and purpose. Dip into scenic Salzburg and explore the city backdropped by mountains – home to Mozart’s birthplace and an epic fortress overlooking the town. Soak in all the natural beauty and iconic sights in Bled, then end it all in Venice (pizza and wine, anyone?).
Inclusions
Meals
4 breakfasts
Transport
Train, Public Bus, Private vehicle
Accommodation
Hotel (5 nights), Guesthouse (2 nights)
Included activities
Vienna - Kaffee and Kuchen Experience
Bled - Lake Walk
Optional activities
Budapest - Szechenyi Thermal Baths (starting from) - HUF9400
Budapest - Pub Crawl (starting from) - HUF9000
Budapest - Central Market - Free
Budapest - Transport and Entry to Statue Park - HUF5000
Budapest - Parliament Tour - HUF12000
Budapest - Great Synagogue - HUF13000
Budapest - Bike Ride - HUF6000
Budapest - Hungarian National Museum - HUF2900
Budapest - House of Terror - HUF4000
Vienna - Spanish Riding School Practice - EUR28
Vienna - Schoenbrunn Palace - EUR22
Vienna - Food, Coffee & Market Tour Urban Adventure - EUR115
Vienna - St Stephen's Tower - EUR6
Vienna - Prater Ferris Wheel - EUR14
Vienna - Belvedere Gallery (Lower Gallery) - EUR15
Vienna - Albertina Museum - EUR19
Vienna - Leopold Museum - EUR15
Vienna - Hofburg Palace & Sisi Museum - EUR16
Salzburg - Mirabell Palace and Gardens - Free
Salzburg - Mozart's Birthplace - EUR12
Salzburg - Old Market Place - Free
Salzburg - Old City Hall - Free
Salzburg - St. Peter's Abbey - Free
Salzburg - Hohensalzburg Castle - EUR11
Salzburg - Salzburg Cathedral - Free
Triglav National Park - River Rafting - EUR55
Triglav National Park - Bus and Cable Car Trip to Mt Vogel - EUR32
Triglav National Park - Emerald River Adventure (full day) - EUR110
Triglav National Park - Canyoning - EUR65
Bled - Mountain Bike Hire - EUR25
Bled - Pletna Boat Trip - EUR14
Bled - Castle - EUR15
Ca’ D’Oro - Galería Franchetti - EUR15
Venice - Accademia Gallery - EUR16
Venice - Chicchetti & Wine Tour of Venice Urban Adventure - EUR112
Venice - Gondola Ride - EUR80
Peggy Guggenheim Collection - EUR17
Venice - Doge's Palace & Bridge of Sighs - EUR30
Venice - St Mark's Basilica Treasury - EUR5
Venice - St Mark's Campanile - EUR12
Dates and availability
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Important notes
1. A single supplement is not available on this trip.
2. If you have prebooked departure transfer with us, please read Finishing Point Instructions in Essential Trip Information document for exact details. Your transfer may include a water taxi, or a car taxi, and you may be required to walk for a short distance from your hotel to the starting point of the transfer route.
Reviews (17)
5 stars
12
4 stars
4
2 stars
1
Aimee
May 04, 2025
We had such a good time on this trip! We actually got engaged in Bled, had such a good time and our tour guide Peter was fantastic. Liked every stop. Really recommend. Basic accommodation but that’s what we paid for.
Karl
May 04, 2025
A beautiful, well guided and simple tour of central europe. Basic package exceeded the level of quality we were exepecting and would recommend for anyone looking for a well balanced multi destination trip.
Virgilyn blue
Apr 02, 2025
I love travelling with intrepid. Cannot wait for the next one. Thank you for Marta (tour guide) and the group.
Jayson
Jan 05, 2025
Thoroughly recommend this trip, if booking in winter months bring a warm Jacket/Coat, Scarf and Gloves. If you have Monika as your tour guide you won't be disappointed, she is friendly, approachable and well organised, please go to the restaurants she books in Hungary & Slovenia very nice. Not my first trip with Intrepid and has not failed in a excellent tour around Central Europe. I recommend getting to Hungary a day earlier and staying an extra day if you haven't been to Venice Italy.
francis
Dec 01, 2024
First time traveling with Intrepid, did it at the recommendation of a friend and I wouldn't hesitate to do it at the drop of a hat all over again. Mind you, it was our guide and the members of the group who made our trip a wonderful experience.
David
Oct 05, 2024
Great trip, great team leader and lots of new friends. 10/10 recommend this trip 👌🏼
Kathy
Sep 13, 2024
I would highly recommend Intrepid’s, Discover Central Europe trip. Our recent trip surpassed my expectations in every aspect including organization, accommodation and orientation to each city. You’ll experience local restaurants, hidden non/tourist gems and a wonderful balance of group and free time. Our leader Sonja was an absolute pro!
Sinead
Sep 07, 2024
This tour was a great opportunity to see so many cities in the space of a week. It was a lovely tour for a solo traveller and our tour leader Martin was exceptional. It was a great way to travel and I would easily do another one!
Sarah
Sep 03, 2024
As a first-time Intrepid traveller, I wasn't sure what to expect but was pleasantly surprised with my experience. If you are a solo traveller, I highly recommend Intrepid as a lot of the guess-work is taken out and you can meet so many wonderful people within your tour group.
Robyn
Jun 22, 2024
As two older women the trip was more than we expected. At times it was challenging and you need to have a reasonable level of fitness. You get the freedom to do your own thing with the support of a guide (ours was fabulous) to get you on your transport and direct you to your accommodation. Loved it.
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