Discover Central Europe





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?).
4.7
33 reviewsStart: Budapest, Hungary
End: Venice, Italy
- Duration
- 8 days
- Group size
- 1 to 16
- Minimum age
- 15 years old
- Style
Basix: Simple accommodation, local transport and lots of free time
Original: Tourist-class hotels, some meals included and a great mix of included activities and free time
Comfort: Comfortable accommodation, with a relaxed pace of travel and many included meals and activities
Premium: Our best accommodation, exclusive inclusions and our most experienced leaders
- Basix
- Theme
Our themes categorise trips based on a common interest or activity, while showcasing the highlights of a destination.
- Explorer, Rail
- Physical rating
Indicates how physically exerting a trip is, and how fit you will need to be to enjoy it. More info on physical ratings
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.
View the itinerary for departures between 01 January 2026 - 31 December 2026
Itinerary
Szia! Welcome to Hungary. Your adventure begins in the gorgeous dual city of Budapest with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight. If you arrive early, why not stroll around the grand architecture and boulevards to get your bearings. Maybe explore one of the local markets and pick up a langos (a deep-fried Hungarian pastry with different toppings). Why not head out to Statue Park to get an insight into the city’s past or take a soak in one of the many thermal bath complexes around town. After the meeting tonight, perhaps get a group of friends together for a Hungarian feast of goulash or check out some ruin bars – unique nightlife hubs great for groups in the Jewish Quarter, these bars feature a whole heap of weird and wonderful decor.
- Hotel (1 night)
There are no meals included on this day.
- Budapest - Pub Crawl (starting from) - HUF9000
- Budapest - Central Market - Free
- Budapest - Transport and Entry to Statue Park - HUF5000
- Budapest - Parliament Tour - HUF13000
- Budapest - Great Synagogue - HUF13000
- Budapest - Bike Ride - HUF15000
- Budapest - Hungarian National Museum - HUF2900
- Budapest - House of Terror - HUF4000
- Budapest - Szechenyi Thermal Baths - HUF13500
It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance details and next of kin information at this time. If you are going to be late, please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.
Due to the popularity of the Hungarian Parliament Buildings, we recommend booking this in advance if you wish to visit at: parlament.hu/en/web/visitors
Hop on a train this morning to the cosmopolitan city of Vienna. After dropping your bags at your accommodation, you’re in for a real treat! Stop for Kaffe and kuchen (coffee and cake) with your group at Vollpension – a local cafe that empowers older members of the community by providing them with employment and purpose, while bridging the gap between the staff and the younger patrons who visit the cafe. Have a chat with the friendly staff while enjoying your sweet treat in this warm and welcoming environment.
- Hotel (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Vienna - Kaffee and Kuchen Experience
Your travel time today will be approximately 3 hours.
You’re free to choose your own adventure today, and Vienna has a lot to offer! For art lovers, there's a vast array of museums, including the Albertina, the Leopold, Kunsthalle Wien and the Museum of Modern Art. Those interested in 19th- and 20th-century Austrian art should visit the Belvedere Palace – home to Gustav Klimt's painting 'The Kiss'. Check out the colourful Hundertwasserhaus or the dome of the Secession building. Perhaps visit Hofburg Palace – once the imposing winter retreat of Habsburg royals and now the official residence of the Austrian president, or visit the gothic St Stephen’s Cathedral and the neo-classical Graben. If you want to see something impressive, head to the State Opera House – one of the world's most important opera houses and the heart of classical Viennese culture.
- Hotel (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Vienna - Spanish Riding School Practice - EUR28
- Vienna - Schoenbrunn Palace - EUR22
- Vienna - St Stephen's Tower - EUR6
- Vienna - Prater Ferris Wheel - EUR15
- Vienna - Belvedere Gallery (Lower Gallery) - EUR17
- Vienna - Albertina Museum - EUR19
- Vienna - Leopold Museum - EUR17
- Vienna - Hofburg Palace & Sisi Museum - EUR20
If you wish to visit the Schoenbrunn Palace today, be aware that the gardens are free to all visitors but there is a charge for entrance and tours of the palace. Avoid long queues by pre-booking your tickets at schoenbrunn.at.
Travel to Salzburg this morning via train – this Austrian hub on the border of Germany is backdropped by the Eastern Alps and divided by the Salzach River. When you arrive, you’ll have a full free day to explore all this gorgeous city has to offer, from the Old City to the New City. Maybe head to Mirabell Palace and Gardens for a picnic if the weather's nice or discover Mozart’s birthplace. Head to the medieval walls of Fortress Hohensalzburg and marvel at the architecture (you can also pay to get inside), or find a great viewpoint and snap some photos of the city in the shadow of the mountains, with the fortress looming above on the hill. Tonight, why not ask your local leader for the best spot for dinner.
- Hotel (1 night)
- Breakfast
- 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
Your travel time today will be approximately 3 hours.
Hop on a train to the Slovenian resort town of Bled. Sitting at the edge of the Julian Alps, this place is full of picturesque sights that are sure to take your breath away and the rail journey from Salzburg is a great way to start! Grab a window seat if you can, as you'll be crossing the Alps through a tunnel that sits 1300 m above sea level, with mountain vistas on every side. When you arrive, follow your leader to the shore of glistening Lake Bled, where many of the town’s attractions can be seen. After soaking in the sights with your group, you’ll have a free afternoon to choose your own route. For a taste of the local cuisine, try some Bled cake made of vanilla, custard, cream and pastry (many local cafes and cake shops claim theirs is the best, so if you must, maybe try a few and compare). After settling into your accommodation tonight, why not head out for a group dinner.
- Guesthouse (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Bled - Lake Walk
Your travel time today will be approximately 4.5 hours.
Today you have a free day to enjoy all the fun activities Bled has to offer (calling all nature lovers!) Maybe take a full-day adventure around Triglav Massive – there are many outdoor activities available here to get the blood pumping, such as rafting, caving, canoeing and swimming in the warmer months. Why not hire a bike and head out of town to Vintgar Gorge, where you can walk through a natural canyon. Perhaps explore Bled Castle, sitting atop the cliff overlooking the lake, or catch a pletna (small wooden boat) over to the island in the middle of the lake to ring the wishing bell. Your leader will have all the best options, so be sure to chat with them for their recommendations. If you’d prefer to have a relaxing day and the sun is out, maybe just enjoy the beauty of Lake Bled, find a quiet spot near the lake and spend the day reading or people-watching.
- Guesthouse (1 night)
There are no meals included on this day.
- 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
This morning, travel to Venice. A city of canals, Venice is built over a hundred small islands connected by 400 bridges. When you arrive, head out for an orientation walk with your leader – the best way to see Venice is by foot – passing by the Grand Canal, Rialto Bridge, Palace of the Doge, Piazza San Marco and the Bridge of Sighs. There are shops, markets, galleries and churches around every corner here, so there’s plenty to explore. Tonight, what better to do than tuck into some iconic Italian cuisine (and maybe a big glass of vino?).
- Hotel (1 night)
There are no meals included on this day.
- Ca’ D’Oro - Galería Franchetti - EUR15
- Venice - Accademia Gallery - EUR16
- 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
Your travel time today will be approximately 5.5 hours.
With no activities planned for today, you’re free to leave your accommodation at any time after checkout. That doesn’t mean your adventure has to end! Italy’s city of canals is an extraordinary place to see on foot, and if you’d like to spend an extra day or two exploring, just speak to your booking agent.
There are no meals included on this day.
Due to the popularity of some activities in Venice, we recommend booking in advance if you wish to visit. St Mark's Basilica and Bell Tower can be booked at: basilicasanmarco.it/?lang=en. Doge's Palace can be booked at: palazzoducale.visitmuve.it/en/home
Inclusions and activities
4 breakfasts
Train, Public Bus, Private vehicle
Hotel (5 nights), Guesthouse (2 nights)
- Vienna - Kaffee and Kuchen Experience
- Bled - Lake Walk
- Budapest - Pub Crawl (starting from) - HUF9000
- Budapest - Central Market - Free
- Budapest - Transport and Entry to Statue Park - HUF5000
- Budapest - Parliament Tour - HUF13000
- Budapest - Great Synagogue - HUF13000
- Budapest - Bike Ride - HUF15000
- Budapest - Hungarian National Museum - HUF2900
- Budapest - House of Terror - HUF4000
- Budapest - Szechenyi Thermal Baths - HUF13500
- Vienna - Spanish Riding School Practice - EUR28
- Vienna - Schoenbrunn Palace - EUR22
- Vienna - St Stephen's Tower - EUR6
- Vienna - Prater Ferris Wheel - EUR15
- Vienna - Belvedere Gallery (Lower Gallery) - EUR17
- Vienna - Albertina Museum - EUR19
- Vienna - Leopold Museum - EUR17
- Vienna - Hofburg Palace & Sisi Museum - EUR20
- 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 - 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
This trip generates 22 kg of CO2-e per person per day
Learn more about our climate commitment.
When you travel with us, The Intrepid Foundation gives you more opportunities to support important causes in destinations you visit.
Before you book you should know
- Please keep your luggage as small and light as possible. You'll be travelling on public transport where storage space is limited. You'll need to be able to lift your luggage into storage racks, walk across cobblestone streets with it and carry it up and down stairs.
- 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.
The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline only and may change. On some occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our preferred accommodation. In these cases, we will use a similar standard of accommodation.
Throughout the trip, we request that our properties prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination or on some trips, have use of shared day rooms until all rooms are available.
OCCASIONAL ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATION
The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline. On rare occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our usual accommodation. A similar standard of accommodation will be used in these instances.
CHECK-IN TIME
Throughout the trip we request that our hotels prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination.
PRE/POST TRIP ACCOMMODATION
If you've purchased pre-trip or post-trip accommodation (if available), you may be required to change rooms from your trip accommodation for these extra nights.
FACILITIES
Your accommodation may not always have private en suite facilities or air-conditioning. European hotels generally don't provide kettles or fridges.
Baross City Hotel
Baross ter 15
Budapest
HUNGARY
Phone: +36 14613010
Description
Hotel Baross is a 25-minute drive from Budapest Ferenc Liszt International airport. Alternatively take the Shuttle Bus from the airport to Budapest Keleti Railway station which takes around 45 minutes, the hotel is a 4-minute walk from the station.
Instructions
If you have pre booked an arrival transfer, your transfer driver will be waiting at the currency exchange office after baggage claim, holding a board with the Intrepid Logo or your name on it. In case of flight cancellations, changes, if you experience severe delays at immigration, baggage collection or customs, or if you are not able to find the driver, please contact the transfer operator directly: +36 302 801 219.
If arriving by train: Keleti train station is just one minute walk to the hotel.
If arriving by plane: Take the bus number 100E to Kálvin tér (it takes about 35-40 minutes). At Kálvin tér, change to Metro number 4 (green line) towards Keleti pályaudvar (Eastern Railway Station) and ride it until the last stop. From there it is just a minute walk to the hotel. Total travel time is approximately 1 hour. You will need two separate tickets, one for the bus and one for the metro. Make sure you validate your ticket as ticket checks on the metro are common. If in doubt about which ticket type to choose at the vending machine you can also buy your ticket at the tourist information desk in the airport's arrival hall.
Dates and prices
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.
Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.
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