Berlin to Budapest





From Berlin to Budapest, bask in the Bohemian glow of eastern Europe
Mix medieval castles with underground absinthe bars on this eight-day adventure through Central Europe. Start strong with Berlin’s blend of historic sites and modern comforts before experiencing the unique landscape at Bastei. Head to Prague, a Bohemian cultural hub, and take in the beautiful city by day and the buzz of Old Town by night. Bratislava holds many old-world charms and Budapest is packed with winding streets to explore. With plenty of free time at each stop and a leader on hand providing the know-how, you won’t be short of stories after this trip.
4.9
38 reviewsStart: Berlin, Germany
End: Budapest, Hungary
- 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
- Begin your adventure in Berlin – an exciting city with a complex history. In your own time, see the remaining fragments of the infamous wall that once divided the city, but now unites it with murals and memorials.
- Take in some of Germany’s best views from the heights of Bastei – a towering sandstone formation home to a medieval castle.
- Immerse yourself in the bohemian vibes of the Czech Republic, soak up the smooth sounds of jazz at a low-lit bar in Prague and sample locally made pilsners.
- With plenty of free time in vibrant Budapest at the end of your trip, whether you end up taking a slow cruise down the Danube or downing a couple of local brews in a ruin bar is totally up to you!
- 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
Guten Tag! Welcome to Germany. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight in Berlin. If you arrive early, you may like to take a Spree River cruise, visit the multiple museums and galleries at Kulturforum Potsdamer Platz or stop by the impressive Berliner Dom Cathedral. Tonight after your meeting, why not join your newfound travel pals for dinner? Berlin’s food is a mix of classic German with Bavarian, Italian and Middle Eastern influences. But who can go past a traditional currywurst, schnitzel or pretzel together with a stein of beer.
- Hostel (1 night)
There are no meals included on this day.
- Berlin - Museum Pass (3 Day Ticket) - EUR32
- Berlin - Bike Tour - EUR30
- Berlin - Jewish Museum - EUR10
- Berlin - National History Museum - EUR10
- Berlin - Pergamon Museum - EUR18
- Berlin - Spree River Cruise - EUR27
- Berlin - Berliner Dom Cathedral - EUR10
- Berlin - TV Tower - EUR25
- Berlin - Kulturforum Potsdamer Platz - EUR12
- Berlin - German History Museum - EUR7
- Berlin - Checkpoint Charlie Museum - EUR18
- Berlin - Schloss Charlottenburg - EUR12
- Berlin - Reichstag (time slot must be booked online in advance) - Free
- Berlin - Topography of Terror - Free
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.
Set out to discover more of Berlin today, as you’ll have free time to enjoy it as you please. There are plenty of impressive sites for you to check out – the Brandenburg Gate, remnants of the Berlin Wall and the dominating Reichstag building – either on your own, during a bike tour or all at once from the observation deck of the Berlin TV Tower. There are also a couple of unique memorials, like the Jewish Memorial and the Topography of Terror, which are well worth your time. Tonight, maybe explore Berlin’s thriving foodie scene with a few dinner suggestions from your leader.
- Hostel (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Berlin - German History Museum - EUR7
- Berlin - Kulturforum Potsdamer Platz - EUR12
- Berlin - TV Tower - EUR25
- Berlin - Checkpoint Charlie Museum - EUR18
- Berlin - Topography of Terror - Free
- Berlin - Reichstag (time slot must be booked online in advance) - Free
- Berlin - Schloss Charlottenburg - EUR12
- Berlin - Jewish Museum - EUR10
- Berlin - Bike Tour - EUR30
- Berlin - Museum Pass (3 Day Ticket) - EUR32
- Berlin - National History Museum - EUR10
- Berlin - Berliner Dom Cathedral - EUR10
- Berlin - Spree River Cruise - EUR27
- Berlin - Pergamon Museum - EUR18
This morning, say goodbye to Berlin and hop on an early train to Dresden. After checking in to your accommodation, travel to Rathen, where you can enjoy a hike to the sandstone pinnacles of Bastei. The unique rock formation offers some of Germany’s best views and is home to the remnants of the medieval Neurathen Castle. If a hike doesn’t take your fancy, you’re welcome to join in on the journey to Rathen and spend your time exploring the riverside village or stay in Dresden, immersing yourself in the city’s history and heritage.
- Hotel (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Bastei - Hike
- Dresden - Electric Car Manufacturer Tour - EUR9
Your travel time today will be approximately 3 hours. Your trekking distance today will be approximately 4 km.
In winter months, heavy snow is a possibility near the Sandstone Mountains, meaning today's hike may not be possible. Your leader will keep you updated on weather conditions near Bastei.
Leave Germany behind and board the train to Prague. You'll travel through the Labe Valley, with fairytale-like landscapes to the right and left. This is a gorgeous train journey, so grab a window seat if you can and get lost in the scenery! When you arrive, check-in at your hotel and then see the highlights on a leader-led orientation walk. Prague's architecture can be traced from the Middle Ages through to the avant-garde of the Gehry-designed Dancing Building (also called the Fred and Ginger Building). Finish with a visit to a Czech brewery, where you can sample a pilsner in its homeland. Spend your free afternoon at Prague Castle – the biggest in the Czech Republic – where you'll find the famous St Vitus Cathedral and Golden Lane. Continue to wander through the old Jewish Quarter to see what remains of the city's formerly significant Jewish community.
- Hotel (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Prague - Czech Brewery Visit
Your travel time today will be approximately 3 hours.
With another free day in Prague, maybe learn how the Bohemian artists, writers, dissidents and the Bohemian mentality shaped the nation. Don’t forget to sample some traditional and modern Czech snacks along the way. If you feel like a daytrip out of the city, ask your leader to help you organise a trip to Kutna Hora. See the Church of Santa Barbara and Sedlec ossuary or The Church of Bones – a small Roman Catholic chapel that contains skeletons of between 40,000 and 70,000 people! At night, Prague’s Old Town comes alive with many great restaurants and pubs, some in old vaulted cellars. The nightlife in Prague is also some of the best in Central Europe. Whether you're after dance clubs, beer halls, jazz clubs or underground absinthe bars, there's something for everyone.
- Hotel (1 night)
There are no meals included on this day.
- Prague - Castle Visit - CZK450
- Prague - National Museum - CZK350
- Prague - Town Hall Clock Tower - CZK300
- Prague - Museum of Communism - CZK380
- Prague - Jewish Quarter - CZK500
- Prague - Bike Tour - CZK650
- Prague - Kafka Museum - CZK300
- Prague - Mucha Museum - CZK300
- Kutna Hora - Day Trip (by public transport) - CZK250
- Kutna Hora - Church of St Barbara - CZK160
- Kutna Hora - Sedlec Ossuary & Bone Church - CZK160
Leave Prague and travel to Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia. Set along the Danube, Bratislava blends past and present with its charming Old Town and lively boutiques and cafes. You have a free day to explore it all today. You could climb to the top of the tower at Michael’s Gate or UFO Tower for a bird’s eye view of Bratislava, visit the Bratislava City Museum to learn about the country’s communist past or spot as many of the city’s quirky statues as you can. For dinner, maybe seek out some local delicacies like kapustnica (a sauerkraut and sausage soup) – your leader will have the lowdown on the best spots.
- Hotel (1 night)
There are no meals included on this day.
- Bratislava - Blue Church Bratislava - Free
- Bratislava - Kamzik TV Tower - Free
- Bratislava - Slavin War Memorial - Free
Your travel time today will be approximately 5 hours.
Transfer from Bratislava to Budapest and enjoy a free day in the self-proclaimed Pearl of the Danube. Perhaps explore the historical Buda Castle and palace complex. Forget about the bustling city and lose yourself in the history of the winding streets of the Castle District, which dates back to the 13th century. In the afternoon, you could take a slow cruise along the Danube for some pretty epic views of the riverside Parliament Building, the Castle District and the bridges linking Buda to Pest. The spectacle is particularly beautiful, especially at sunset and at night.
- Hotel (1 night)
- Breakfast
Your travel time today will be approximately 3 hours.
After breakfast this morning, your trip comes to an end in Budapest. If you’d like to extend your stay, just speak to your booking agent.
- Breakfast
- Budapest - Pub Crawl (starting from) - HUF9000
- Budapest - Central Market - Free
- Budapest - Transport and Entry to Statue Park - HUF5000
- Budapest - Great Synagogue - HUF13000
- Budapest - Hungarian National Museum - HUF2900
- Budapest - House of Terror - HUF4000
- Budapest - Bike Ride - HUF15000
- Budapest - Szechenyi Thermal Baths - HUF13500
- Budapest - Parliament Tour - HUF13000
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
Inclusions and activities
5 breakfasts
Train, Tram, Metro, Public Bus
Hotel (5 nights), Hostel (2 nights)
- Bastei - Hike
- Prague - Czech Brewery Visit
- Berlin - Museum Pass (3 Day Ticket) - EUR32
- Berlin - Bike Tour - EUR30
- Berlin - Jewish Museum - EUR10
- Berlin - National History Museum - EUR10
- Berlin - Pergamon Museum - EUR18
- Berlin - Spree River Cruise - EUR27
- Berlin - Berliner Dom Cathedral - EUR10
- Berlin - TV Tower - EUR25
- Berlin - Kulturforum Potsdamer Platz - EUR12
- Berlin - German History Museum - EUR7
- Berlin - Checkpoint Charlie Museum - EUR18
- Berlin - Schloss Charlottenburg - EUR12
- Berlin - Reichstag (time slot must be booked online in advance) - Free
- Berlin - Topography of Terror - Free
- Dresden - Electric Car Manufacturer Tour - EUR9
- Prague - Castle Visit - CZK450
- Prague - National Museum - CZK350
- Prague - Town Hall Clock Tower - CZK300
- Prague - Museum of Communism - CZK380
- Prague - Jewish Quarter - CZK500
- Prague - Bike Tour - CZK650
- Prague - Kafka Museum - CZK300
- Prague - Mucha Museum - CZK300
- Kutna Hora - Day Trip (by public transport) - CZK250
- Kutna Hora - Church of St Barbara - CZK160
- Kutna Hora - Sedlec Ossuary & Bone Church - CZK160
- Bratislava - Blue Church Bratislava - Free
- Bratislava - Kamzik TV Tower - Free
- Bratislava - Slavin War Memorial - Free
- Budapest - Pub Crawl (starting from) - HUF9000
- Budapest - Central Market - Free
- Budapest - Transport and Entry to Statue Park - HUF5000
- Budapest - Great Synagogue - HUF13000
- Budapest - Hungarian National Museum - HUF2900
- Budapest - House of Terror - HUF4000
- Budapest - Bike Ride - HUF15000
- Budapest - Szechenyi Thermal Baths - HUF13500
- Budapest - Parliament Tour - HUF13000
This trip generates 18 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 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 take part in.
- A short 4 km hike is included on this trip. You'll need a moderate level of fitness and suitable footwear and clothing. If hiking isn’t your thing, you'll have the option to explore Dresden or Rathen instead.
- 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 remember 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 for 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.
Generator Berlin Mitte
Oranienburger Strasse 65
Berlin
10117
GERMANY
Description
Generator Berlin Mitte is situated in two renovated 19th century old buildings walking distance of iconic Berlin landmarks such as Hackescher Markt and Alexanderplatz. It features historic courtyard, on site bar, library, free Wi-Fi, 24-Hour Reception, travel shop, cafe, luggage storage and laundry service. Private rooms are equipped with en-suite bathroom, complimentary toiletries, towels, hair dryer and usb sockets.
Instructions
Pre booked arrival transfer from Berlin Airport (BER): If you have pre booked an arrival transfer your transfer driver will be waiting at the exit 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: +49 30 2016 3040. Alternatively, take train from BER airport in direction of the city centre to Berlin-Friedrichstraße train station. From there walk cca 800 m or 10 minutes.
Dates and prices
Important notes
1. A single supplement is not available on this trip.
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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