24 Days | Travel through the gems of Central Europe and explore Romania
Experience the best of this old-world region on a journey through enchanting Central Europe and Romania. Travel to Austria and be immersed in the country's superb musical heritage and step back in time in the castles of the Czech Republic. Experience Polish traditions while exploring the romantic Old Town of Krakow and get active in Slovakia's Tatra Mountains. Then Explore Hungary and Romania, from the beautiful Baroque churches of Budapest to the haunted castles of Transylvania. Learn about the failed Turkish invasion of Eger and take a wine cellar tour in the Valley of the Beautiful Women. Become acquainted with traditional Romanian culture and customs in Maramures. Tour the medieval churches of Brasov, dine with a local family on an overnight homestay in Viscri and visit Bucharest's 12-storey Palace of Parliament. This epic journey through Central Europe and Romania gives a great insight in to that magical part of the world.
Trip overview
- Start
- Vienna, Austria
- Finish
- Bucharest, Romania
- Theme
- Explorer
- Destinations
- Slovakia, Romania, Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic, Austria
- 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
- Style
- Original
- Ages
- Min 15
- Group size
- Min 1 - Max 15
- Trip code
- AMSCC
- See the classic Polish cities of Wroclaw and Krakow and feel the emotional wallop of a sobering visit to nearby Auschwitz.
- Immerse yourself in the history, architecture and bohemian vibes of the Czech Republic. Step right into a fairytale in the World Heritage-listed town of Cesky Krumlov before soaking up the smooth sounds of jazz at a low-lit bar in Prague.
- Hike in the picturesque Tatra Mountains and traverse the steep slopes via funicular, gondola and electric steam train.
- Sample the famous Hungarian 'bulls blood' in Eger, the wine that supposedly gave the Hungarian army supernatural strength during their battle against the Ottoman Empire.
- Learn spooky stories while travelling through beautiful Transylvania, famous for its medieval fortified churches and as the birthplace of the inspiration for the world's most famous vampire, Dracula.
- Less time spent travelling; more time to explore each destination. The primary means of transportation on this trip is by train. Trains are a fast way to cross long distances, allowing you to avoid traffic jams and arrive right into the city centre. They are comfortable and all have toilets, however, can sometimes be quite busy. Please note that you'll have to carry your own luggage on and off the train, so make sure it doesn’t exceed our weight and size recommendations. You can find specifics under ‘Packing’ in the ‘Essential Trip Information’ section.
- Don’t let the heat keep you from exploring the world! Summer temperatures can be very high in many of the regions visited (over 40°C), which can make things uncomfortable. It’s important to use sun protection, wear layers to combat the heat, and drink plenty of water.
- In some train stations and most of your accommodation there are no lifts or escalators. Please be aware that you will have to carry you own bags up and down stairs and on and off public transport. It is recommended you pack lightly. You can find some packing guidelines in the 'packing' section in the trip notes.
- Hotels in Europe often don't have double beds, but rather two single beds that can be pushed together. In some cases, bathroom facilities will be shared rather than ensuite.
- This trip is designed to give you a fair amount of free time so you can explore each destination at your own pace. We will, however, take you on regular orientation walks, so you'll be on your feet quite a lot. While this may be tiring for some, it’s the best way to get your head around a place and to set yourself up for further discoveries.
- On this trip you must pack as lightly as possible because you will be expected to carry your own bag and although you won't be required to walk long distances with your luggage (max 30 minutes), we strongly recommend keeping the weight under 15kg / 33lb. Most travellers carry their luggage in a backpack, although an overnight bag with a shoulder strap would suffice if you travel lightly.
Itinerary
View the itinerary for departures between 01 January 2024 - 31 December 2024
Inclusions
21 breakfasts, 3 dinners
Train, Public bus, Private vehicle, Bicycle, Metro, Taxi, Tram
Hotel (18 nights), Pension (4 nights), Homestay (1 night)
- Vienna - Kaffee and Kuchen Experience
- Cesky Krumlov - guided tour
- Wroclaw - Orientation walk
- Swidnica - Church of Peace visit
- Oswiecim - Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum join in guided tour
- Tatranska Lomnica - Tatra Mountains Hike (not between Nov and Mar)
- Tatra Mountains - Hrebienok Funicular
- Tatra Mountains - Tatranska Lomnica Gondola
- Eger - Wine Sampling
- Maramures - Day Tour with Local Guide
- Maramures - Sapanta Merry Cemetery
- Maramures - Barsana Monastery
- Viscri - Local Home Cooked Dinner
- Viscri - Sock Project
- Viscri - Fortified Church
- Bran Castle - Tour
- Bucharest - Walking Tour with Local Guide
- Vienna - Belvedere Gallery (Lower Gallery) - EUR15
- Vienna - Albertina Museum - EUR19
- Vienna - Sisi Museum - EUR18
- Vienna - Spanish Riding School Practice - EUR28
- Vienna - St Stephen's Tower - EUR6
- Vienna - Schoenbrunn Palace - EUR22
- Vienna - Hofburg Palace & Sisi Museum - EUR16
- Vienna - Leopold Museum - EUR15
- Vienna - Prater Ferris Wheel - EUR14
- Vienna - Vienna Boys Choir Concert - EUR70
- Vienna - Belvedere Gallery (Upper & Lower Gallery Combined Ticket) - EUR26
- Vienna - Belvedere Gallery (Upper Gallery) - EUR18
- Vienna - Food, Coffee & Market Tour Urban Adventure - EUR115
- Vienna Opera Guided Tour - EUR13
- Cesky Krumlov - Brewery Tour - CZK200
- Cesky Krumlov - Egon Schiele Art Centrum - CZK200
- Cesky Krumlov - Rafting or Canoe Trip (per person) - CZK1200
- Cesky Krumlov - Guided Castle Tour - CZK300
- Prague - Jewish Quarter - CZK500
- Prague - Kafka Museum - CZK260
- Prague - Mucha Museum - CZK300
- Prague - Museum of Communism - CZK380
- Prague - Castle Visit - CZK350
- Prague - Town Hall Clock Tower - CZK250
- Prague - Bike Tour - CZK650
- Prague - The Dancing House - Free
- Prague - John Lennon Wall - Free
- Prague - Food by Foot Urban Adventure - EUR95
- Kutna Hora - Church of St Barbara - CZK160
- Kutna Hora - Sedlec Ossuary & Bone Church - CZK160
- Prague - Beer and Czech Tapas Tour Urban Adventure - EUR75
- Prague - Prague Discovery Urban Adventure - EUR74
- Kutna Hora - Day Trip (by public transport) - CZK250
- Prague - Prague Parks and Views Urban Adventure - EUR89
- Krakow - Rynek Underground Museum - PLN32
- Krakow - Cloth Hall 'Sukiennice' - Free
- Krakow - Schindler's Factory Museum Tour - PLN65
- Krakow - Galicia Jewish Museum - PLN20
- Krakow - History Museum - PLN28
- Krakow - St Mary's Basilica - PLN15
- Krakow - Walking Tour - PLN30
- Krakow - Wawel Royal Castle - PLN35
- Wieliczka - Salt Mines Tour - PLN230
- Tatranska Lomnica - Summer Luge - EUR3
- Tatranska Lomnica - Bike Rental - EUR10
- Tatranska Lomnica - Spa treatment in Grand Hotel Praha (from) - EUR20
- Tatranska Lomnica - Ski Museum - EUR3
- Budapest - Transport and Entry to Statue Park - HUF5000
- Budapest - Pub Crawl (starting from) - HUF9000
- Budapest - Best Beers of Budapest Urban Adventures - EUR74
- Budapest - Parliament Tour - HUF10000
- Budapest - Bites & Sights Food Tour Urban Adventure - EUR79
- Budapest - Central Market - Free
- Budapest - Szechenyi Thermal Baths (starting from) - HUF9400
- Budapest - Buda Castle Explorer Urban Adventure - EUR55
- Budapest - Hungarian National Museum - HUF2900
- Budapest - Bike Ride - HUF6000
- Budapest - Hungarian State Opera House Tour - HUF7000
- Budapest - House of Terror - HUF4000
- Budapest - Great Synagogue - HUF9000
- Eger - Castle - HUF4000
- Eger - Minaret - HUF800
- Eger - Astronomy Museum, Camera Obscura, Panoramic terrace in the Lyceum building - HUF2600
- Eger - Town Under The Town - HUF4500
- Sighisoara - Church of the Dominican Monastery - RON10
- Sighisoara - Covered Stairway - Free
- Sighisoara - Church on the Hill - RON5
- Sighisoara - The Clock Tower - RON16
- Viscri - Prince Charles House - RON15
- Viscri - Blacksmith demonstration - RON80
- Brasov - Cable Car to Mt Tampa - RON50
- Rasnov - Fortress - RON20
- Brasov - Walking Tour with Local Guide - RON200
- Brasov - The Black Church - RON20
- Bucharest - Bike Tour - EUR25
- Bucharest - Urban Adventures Bohemian Bucharest Markets and Mahallas Tour - EUR75
- Bucharest - Village Museum - RON30
- Bucharest - Palace of Parliament Tour - RON60
- Bucharest - Romanian Athenaeum - RON10
- Bucharest - Former Ceausescu Residence - RON65
Dates and availability
Important notes
1. A Single Supplement is bookable on this trip, excluding Day 3&4. Availability is limited due to small properties we use. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
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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