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How to Travel Europe By Train: The Ultimate Guide (+ Tips!)

Beautiful views, comfortable train cars, the bustle of busy platforms, and the thrill of a new adventure: there are a lot of good reasons to travel Europe by train!

But, for those of us who grew up in a place where traveling by train isn’t common, the prospect of train travel in Europe can be as intimidating as it is exciting.

Thanks to traveling Europe extensively for years (including with our dog!) and spending more than a year living in Portugal, we’ve had a chance to appreciate countless train rides through and across Europe.

From the mind-boggling efficiency of Swiss trains to overnight train rides through Eastern Europe (Sofia to Istanbul was a particularly memorable ride) to simple jaunts across Italy, we’ve experienced just about every form of train travel in Europe.

And along the way, we amassed a huge number of European train travel tips !

This train travel guide is a culmination of everything we wish we would have known before we started traveling Europe by train , plus why we think it’s worth a try.

Table of Contents

Who is This Guide to Train Travel in Europe For?

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If you’re planning an epic, multi-destination trip and are hoping to travel by train through Europe but aren’t already comfortable with train travel on the continent, then this guide to traveling by train across Europe is for you!

We grew up in suburbs in the USA, and until we started traveling internationally in adulthood (4+ years of full-time travel , more than a year living in Lisbon, many trips across Europe, and counting!), we had virtually never taken a train.

W hile that’s certainly not the case for many people around the world, it is for thousands of our readers who grew up in similar environments to us!

If you’re excited to travel Europe by train but are learning the whole process from scratch like we once did, you’re exactly who we wrote this guide for.

While train travel in Europe isn’t exactly the same everywhere–with over 50 countries and therefore over 50 train systems, there are plenty of quirks based on location–this guide to train travel in Europe will give a solid overview that will help you start your travels with confidence.

Planes, trains, buses, rental cars, river cruises–with plenty of transportation options for getting around Europe, how do you know if train travel is for you?

In this section, we’ll break down the pros and cons of traveling Europe by train to help you decide if it’s the right transportation option for you.

Pros of Traveling Europe By Train

Taking a train across europe is a bucket-list-worthy experience..

For most of us who hail from other places, this is the number one reason to book that first train in Europe, right? 

Traveling by train through Europe tops plenty of bucket lists around the world, and for good reason: it’s an incredibly fun way to explore the continent.

On some routes, the train ride is a travel destination in its own right–and even when it’s not, it’s a cultural experience to remember.

… and can allow for spontaneity.

For some routes, especially those with fixed ticket prices (more on that in another section of this Europe train guide), traveling by train allows you to be spontaneous, coming and going from destinations with much less foresight than is required when taking planes.

Depending on where you are, it can be very scenic.

If you have daydreamed about staring out train windows in Europe as you watch mountains, streams, seas, villages, castles, and vineyards go by, let me tell you… that’s pretty much exactly what it’s like a lot of the time!

Obviously not everywhere on the continent is scenic, but if you travel Europe by train, you’re likely to experience some truly incredible views along the way.

Most train stations are in the center of the city.

In our opinion, this is one of the biggest benefits to train travel in Europe!

W hile most airports (especially airports servicing budget flights) are located far outside the city centers, train stations are generally located right in the heart of the action.

Step outside the train station in Cologne, for example, and you’ll be looking at the cathedral.

In Florence , you’ll arrive less than a 10-minute walk from the Duomo . 

In some places, like in Milan, Antwerp, Porto , and Paris’ Gare de Lyon, the opulent central train station is practically a tourist destination in its own right, so you’ll be exploring the minute you arrive, rather than spending hours getting into the city center from the airport.

No luggage limitations!

No one is going to weigh your luggage or make sure it is only a certain size on a train, so you can bring whatever you like (sports equipment and generally pets included).

Train travel in Europe is generally far more comfortable than flying.

At the end of the day, traveling Europe by train is immensely more comfortable than flying.

There’s less hassle, more comfortable seats, more ease of moving around, often better views, and more control over your environment.

If all else (price, time, etc.) were equal, we’d personally choose to take a train across Europe over a plane any day of the week.

Cons of Traveling by Train Through Europe

It can get pricey..

When you first set out to travel Europe by train, you may assume that it is more affordable than flying–but thanks to a combination of several factors, including incredibly inexpensive budget flight carriers in Europe, that’s actually not the case.

Typically, it’s cheaper to hop on a budget flight between two major European cities than take a train.

The severity of the difference, though, can vary dramatically, and there are lots of tips you can apply to your train travel in Europe to mitigate the cost, which we’ll cover in this blog post.

If you’re traveling long distances, train routes can take a prohibitively long time.

For example, when traveling from Paris to Venice , a route we’ve traveled by train, the train can easily take upwards of 10 hours, while the flight time is under 2 hours.

Now, that doesn’t account for getting to and from the airport, checking luggage, or going through security, all of which increase the amount of time a flight actually takes, but it’s still a large difference.

Train travel in Europe isn’t available everywhere.

As you move further into eastern Europe and the Balkans, train travel becomes much less prevalent (even popular Dubrovnik isn’t connected to the rest of Europe by rail).

A nd, when it does exist, can take longer and be less comfortable than planes or even buses depending on the destination.

Rail strikes can derail plans to travel Europe by train.

Generally, these are planned in advance, so you’ll know what you’re getting into before arriving, but they can be a bit of a hassle.

W e’ve had trips to both Italy and France impacted by rail strikes in the past.

If you have mobility issues, train travel can be difficult.

Lifting and storing luggage, navigating small staircases and bathrooms, and making your way through crowded train stations can be difficult if you struggle with mobility, so keep that in mind when deciding whether to travel Europe by train.

This is especially true with a short connection–we once had to literally sprint through the station to make a connecting train on time in Germany!

Traveling Europe by train can be a bit intimidating.

This isn’t a con, exactly, but there’s no doubt that the confusion surrounding train travel in Europe can prevent new visitors to the continent from trying it out, especially if they’re concerned about language barriers or navigating multiple countries.

If that’s your only hesitation, though, we urge you to set those concerns aside.

T raveling Europe by train is an incredibly rewarding experience, and well worth stepping a bit outside of your comfort zone for !

When discussing train travel in Europe, it’s important to remember that not all trains are created equal, or exist for the same purpose.

Here are a few general train categories to keep in mind as you plan your trip.

Metro/Intra-City Transport

Metros, aka subways (though some do run above ground) are public transportation used by a certain city.

While they are technically trains, metros are their own category entirely and this Europe train guide doesn’t cover them any further.

Commuter Rails/Regional Trains

Commuter rails and regional trains aren’t exactly synonymous, but for the purposes of this guide, they’re similar.

T hese are slower-moving trains used to connect surrounding villages to a major city (for example, Versailles to Paris) or trains that go within a certain country or region (for example, from Siena to Florence in Tuscany).

Most of the tips in this guide to train travel in Europe apply to these trains, but they sometimes have fewer amenities (like snacks/drinks available for purchase, for example) than high-speed or long-distance trains.

High-Speed Trains/Long-Distance Trains

These are trains that cover long distances within a country (for example, from Florence to Venice ) or cross borders (for example, from Paris to Amsterdam).

Since each country runs its own train system (often with a national carrier option and private carrier(s) mixed in), booking a ticket between countries may mean changing train companies at a city near the border.

For example, when we traveled from Paris to Venice by train, we took a French SNCF train from Paris to Turin, Italy, and then boarded an Italian Italo-branded train to travel from Turin to Venice–all booked on the same ticket.

These high-speed and long-distance journeys are the primary focus of this guide on how to travel Europe by train.

Tourist Trains

These are trains that, while technically public transportation, are typically used as tourist attractions for sightseeing purposes, and are priced accordingly.

Examples include the Glacier Express or Schniyge Platte in Switzerland, or the Jacobite Steam Train (aka Harry Potter train) in Scotland.

Sleeper Trains

Technically, sleeper trains aren’t their own category–they’re just long-distance trains with sleeper carriages in them–but they’re worth calling out separately in this guide to train travel in Europe because they’re particularly interesting for travelers.

Not only are sleeper trains a great way to save on hotel costs for a night of your trip, but they can also be quite the travel adventure in their own right!

Before you start looking into buying train tickets, there are a couple of terms to be familiar with:

First vs. Second Class Tickets

When traveling via train in Europe, you’ll generally have a choice between first and second-class tickets.

Buying a first-class ticket generally comes with slightly larger seats, sometimes the ability to reserve your exact seats when you can’t in second class (both of those facts vary based on the company you travel with), and possibly a small snack like a water bottle and a pack of cookies.

In our earlier travel years, we never used to consider these perks worth the money–but I’ll admit, as we started traveling with more luggage and most importantly, our dog Ranger, we started splurging on first-class more frequently.

The extra space can definitely come in handy if you have more than a suitcase with you!

Variable vs. Fixed Price Tickets

Variable-price tickets, as the name implies, tend to increase in price the closer your date of travel gets.

T hese tickets are generally used for high-speed trains and long-distance journeys and will be the most common form of ticket you see when traveling between countries by train in Europe.

Fixed-price tickets are more typical for regional (aka “slow”) trains and can be booked at any time–so you can just show up at the station and buy them from a kiosk without issue.

For example: if you travel from Florence to Bologna on a high-speed train, it will take around 30 minutes and that ticket has a variable price.

If you travel on the regional train that takes around an hour, the price is fixed and you can book it at any time.

When you travel Europe by train, one of the first things you’ll need to get the hang of is exactly how and where to buy European train tickets–and you have plenty of options!

Here are different ways to obtain train tickets in Europe.

Online (Via a Third-Party Site)

Third-party booking sites are incredibly useful when preparing to travel Europe by train, especially when you’re planning to travel between countries.

We use and recommend Omio , which will allow you to easily compare prices between different routes, show you the most efficient path, and allow you to book trains across Europe with no concerns about language barriers, iffy online translations of national websites, or issues with payment (some company websites struggle to process foreign credit cards).

Omio is a ticket aggregate, and searches multiple companies and routes at once, which makes it very handy for checking train timetables and possible routes as well as for booking tickets!

Search  train routes and tickets prices in Europe today!

Online (Via the Company Directly)

Alternatively, if you’re looking for the best possible deal, you can book tickets online through direct websites for most countries in Europe.

For example, here are the national train company websites for Italy , France , and Germany .

We tend to book directly whenever we’re traveling domestically in a place we’re very familiar with, like Italy.

At the Train Station

If you’re traveling a short distance on a regional or commuter rail (like to take a day trip, for example), you can also buy tickets directly at the train station.

If you’re buying train tickets in person, we recommend using the kiosks available whenever possible.

Not only do they tend to have language options that make things much easier, but they also tend to take a fraction of the time of waiting in line to be helped by a person directly.

With a Train Pass

The final option for booking tickets to travel Europe by train is to do it in one fell swoop with a Eurail pass (for non-European residents) or Interrail pass (essentially the same thing, but for European residents).

Essentially, a Eurail pass will allow you to buy a certain number of train rides (or an unlimited number) in advance, allowing you to be more spontaneous in your travels.

However, there are limitations–for example, some routes still require advance reservations and charge additional fees.

G enerally speaking, the average user will end up spending more on train travel in Europe with a pass than without one.

There are cases where a train pass makes sense, though, so if you’re planning lots of European train travel, especially in Western and parts of Central Europe , be sure to run the numbers to see if a European train pass is right for you!

Once you buy your tickets, the next step is to actually receive them!

Here are the three main options.

Most European train tickets these days can be received online and downloaded to your phone. 

When available, this is by far the easiest and quickest way to receive your tickets.

At the Station

You can also choose to receive your (paper) tickets at the station you’re departing from, either by purchasing them there as mentioned above, or by picking up tickets you bought online.

In most cases, there’s no real reason to pick up paper tickets you bought online as opposed to simply downloading them, but most countries do still have the option.

If you book tickets to travel Europe by train well in advance of your trip, many countries do also have a home delivery option where they can be mailed to you before you travel.

We took advantage of this for our very first multi-country trip to Europe and had our train tickets for our overnight route from Krakow to Budapest mailed to our then-home in San Antonio.

Honestly, it was complete overkill, even as the novice travelers we were then, and we don’t necessarily recommend doing this–but some places do have the option available.

If you’re confused, concerned, or just slightly intimidated by train travel in Europe but are ready to book your first journey, this section is for you!

Follow these instructions step-by-step, and you’ll travel Europe by train with ease.

Book your ticket.

Generally, for long or inter-country journeys, booking online is the easiest option as we outlined above.

We use and recommend Omio for booking train tickets in Europe.

Shop train tickets across Europe today!

Make sure your ticket is in hand.

This can mean downloaded onto your phone or printed onto a piece of paper in your hand.

E ither option works in most places, but whichever you choose, make sure you have your ticket handy when you board.

Head to the (correct) train station.

Most major European cities are home to more than one train station, so be sure to double and triple-check that you’re going to the right one before you set off.

Find your platform.

Much like in an airport, your first step to finding your train platform will be to check the (often large, sometimes confusing) boards bearing destinations and times.

It’s best to search for your train based on a combination of the train number, company, and departing time– not the destination. 

If your train is continuing past your stop, for example, searching by destination can get very confusing, very quickly.

European trains (and Europe in general) also use the 24-hour clock (so 3:00 PM will be displayed as 15:00, etc), so keep that in mind when looking for your train on the departures board.

Validate your ticket.

If you have a paper ticket, you’ll need to validate it before you board.

T he kiosks to validate your ticket are generally placed just before you reach the platform, but can sometimes be easy to miss if you’re not looking for them.

(As far as we’re concerned, this hassle is another point in favor of online/downloaded tickets.)

If applicable, find your train car and seat number.

If your train has reserved seats, you’ll need to find the exact train car number and seat number to sit in.

T his is most common on long-distance, high-speed trains.

… Or just look for the appropriate class.

If your train has open seating, the only seating concerns will be whether you sit in the 1st or 2nd class.

The “1” or “2” denoting whether it’s a first or second-class train car is generally marked obviously on the side of the train, near or on the door itself, so it’s fairly easy to make sure you’re in the correct place.

Stow your luggage.

In some trains, this will mean storing your luggage in the racks provided at the ends of each train car, in others, it will mean in the racks above the seats, and in still others, there are even places to store bags between the seats.

Keep an eye on what others are doing, but keep in mind that as long as your luggage isn’t in anyone else’s way, there’s generally some flexibility to the process.

Settle in and enjoy the views.

Once you’ve found your seat and stored your luggage, it’s finally time for the best part of train travel in Europe: kicking back and enjoying watching the world go by.

No matter how many times we ride trains through Europe, we never stop getting a little thrill during this part of the process!

Keep your ticket handy for when the conductor comes by.

At some point, as you travel Europe by train–and it could be 5 minutes into your ride, 5 hours into your ride, or both–a conductor will come by to check your ticket.

Be sure to have your ticket in a convenient place so that you’re ready when this happens!

Listen carefully as you get close to your destination.

As you begin to get close to your destination, it’s time to pay very close attention to the announcements.

Many European cities have train stations that sound very similar to each other, especially to those not familiar with them (for example Roma Tiburtina and Roma Termini), and you’ll want to be certain to exit the train at the correct stop.

O therwise, you might accidentally find yourself deep in the suburbs instead of in the center of the city!

In many places, especially along routes popular with tourists, arrival announcements for each station will be repeated in English, but that’s not a guarantee.

Exit the train quickly and smoothly.

When you reach your stop, be ready to exit immediately–that means luggage in hand and waiting at the end of the train car to exit.

You’ll generally see people start to queue up a few minutes before arrival.

The train stops long enough for everyone to exit comfortably, so you don’t need to push past other people or even hurry if you’re prepared.

However, if you wait until the train stops before even getting your luggage together, well–if your station isn’t the final stop, you might find the train moves on before you have time to get off.

If you have your heart set on traveling Europe by train, plan ahead.

As you plan your Europe itinerary , you’ll likely find that some destinations are better suited for traveling Europe by train than others, and it definitely pays to know which destinations require a train, plane, or bus before arriving in Europe.

Train travel in Europe is generally best suited for certain Western and Central European countries–the further you move into the Balkans and Eastern Europe, the more limited (and, shall we say, adventurous) it becomes.

And, despite being situated essentially as far to the west of Europe as you can get, Spain and Portugal are surprisingly isolated from the perspective of train travel (this is due to having a different size of railroad gauge than other countries in Western Europe).

Distance also plays a key role.

Traveling from Paris to Venice by train is a long but completely doable day, but Paris to Zagreb , not so much–that route is better suited to a plane.

Add in the fact that you’ll want to book your variable-price tickets in advance, and the bottom line is that you should definitely bank on planning at least the most important routes in advance.

Definitely book complex routes for train travel in Europe in advance.

If you’re traveling from Rome to Florence or Madrid to Barcelona, especially if you don’t mind taking a regional/slow train, you can book your train tickets once you already arrive in Europe.

For more complex or longer routes, though, you’ll make things much easier on yourself if you book before you start your trip abroad.

Bring snacks and drinks along for the ride.

While most long-distance routes will sell simple food on board like sandwiches, drinks, and pre-packaged snacks, the selection is generally about on par with airplane food, in other words, expensive and unexceptional.

Commuter and regional trains are much less likely to sell food on board.

On long-distance trains, there’s typically a dining car you can visit to make purchases, and on some routes (especially in first class), a restaurant cart will come around offering a few items, similar to a flight attendant.

Better not to worry about it, though: we recommend packing plenty of snacks (or even a full meal) and drinks to bring along, which is completely typical on trains in most places in Europe.

If you have a long train ride ahead, consider packing cards or a game.

Not only will this help entertain you throughout the journey, but it’s also a great way to meet other travelers!

Don’t count on having internet access onboard.

Even if you have a European SIM card and are traveling within the Schengen Zone (where SIM cards are supposed to work across borders), maintaining an internet connection on a European train ride is iffy.

B etween tunnels, remote countryside, border crossings, etc., it’s best not to count on having access.

If the train advertises wifi, don’t count on that either–some of them require a local tax ID number or phone number to access.

We’ve found that our best bet for internet access during train travel in Europe is whenever the train briefly stops at a station.

If you have a SIM card that works for that destination, you can usually expect at least a few minutes of connectivity there.

Make sure you go to the correct train station.

We mentioned this above, but it bears repeating: be very certain that you go to the correct train station when traveling by train through Europe… and that goes for when you get on and when you get off! 

… And show up early.

Some train stations in major cities are enormous, and can almost resemble airports, with 30+ platforms, various levels, and in some cases a mall inside them (like Roma Termini, for example).

If you’re not familiar with the station in question, be sure to leave yourself plenty of time to find your way to the correct platform once you arrive!

If you have an opportunity to take an overnight train, do!

Not only is it a great way to save on the cost of a hotel for the night , but spending the night in a sleeper car can be quite a travel adventure!

(Though in the interest of full disclosure, I have never once gotten what I would call a good night’s sleep on a train. No regrets, though, and we’ll do it again!).

Toilets are plentiful, but their quality is questionable.

In other words, bring some toilet paper (I usually keep a small packet of tissues handy for that purpose) and hand sanitizer. 

Also, wet floors aren’t exactly unheard of, so you might want to stick with close-toed shoes.

Most high-speed trains in Europe have a toilet available in every train car, so you typically won’t need to go far to find one.

If you’re a student and/or under 26, you might qualify for discounts.

Keep that in mind when booking your train tickets for Europe, and if you do book a discounted fare, be sure to keep your ID handy (it’ll likely come in handy in many other places during your trip, too).

Keep in mind that some under-26 discounts are only available to EU residents, so be sure to verify that before counting on them if you aren’t European.

You can generally bring dogs (and cats) with you on trains in Europe!

This is a bit beyond the scope of this blog post, but given that we have several photos of Ranger in here, I’m sure at least a few readers are curious!

The vast majority of trains in Europe allow well-behaved companion animals on board, with varying requirements and costs (generally either free or the price of a child) based on the animal’s size, whether it’s confined in a carrier, etc.

It’s best to check the expectations for each route in advance, but with a little planning and flexibility, your furry friends are generally welcome.

Ranger is quite the traveler and has visited 8 countries and counting with us, many of them by train!

Keep an eye on social norms.

Cultural expectations around eating, talking loudly, and storing your luggage can and will vary depending on where your train travel in Europe takes you.

B e sure to keep an eye on what everyone else is doing to ensure you’re not inadvertently committing a faux pas !

For example, if you take a train, say, in Italy and then later in Austria as you travel Europe by train, you’ll likely notice a huge difference in the noise level on the train!

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About Kate Storm

In May 2016, I left my suburban life in the USA and became a full-time traveler. Since then, I have visited 50+ countries on 5 continents and lived in Portugal, developing a special love of traveling in Europe (especially Italy) along the way. Today, along with my husband Jeremy and dog Ranger, I’m working toward my eventual goal of splitting my life between Europe and the USA.

64 thoughts on “How to Travel Europe By Train: The Ultimate Guide (+ Tips!)”

We are senior citizens planning a trip to Italy and surrounding areas in September 2022. Looking at some train travel, multiple cities for sight seeing. We like the smaller, picturesque, historical cities. What advice can you offer?

I definitely recommend searching “Italy” on our search bar (top right of the site on desktop, part of the menu on mobile). Italy is one of our favorites and we have (literally) about 100 posts about it!

For small, picturesque, historic cities, Siena, Venice (it is pretty small!), and Verona come to mind. Florence, too–surprisingly small in some ways!

For even smaller hilltop villages like Montepulciano, etc, in Tuscany, be aware that many of the train stations aren’t in the town center, so you’ll likely want to catch a taxi in many of them to avoid hauling luggage up a hill.

Two years ago we had a small villa in a very small town in Italy. We trained to a new place everyday. It was funned and easy. We took the local bus into the next target town, bought our tickets at the station and took off for the day. We went to Florence, Pizza, and several smaller towns. We are mature seniors and had no trouble getting around. Only a couple of people spoke english in a small town, but, we managed easily.

Your comments encourage me to locate a home base in Italy and take a train or bus to the surrounding suburbs etc. I’m no spring chicken nor my husband but we get around easily. Thank you

Thanks for the helpful information. Appreciate it!

My boyfriend and I just booked our first train tickets in Europe thanks to you!!! I’m so happy we found your blog. We’re going to France and Spain this summer!

Ahhh that is wonderful to hear! Have a fantastic time!

My wife and I, both 70 are taking a cruise from Budapest to Passau and plan on taking trains to Birmingham England from Passau. I’ m planning about 5 stops. First Venice then Tirano, St. Moritz, Sion, Strasbourg and finally Birmingham. I plan on a Eurrail pass. do you have any advice, help or suggestion. Thanks

Hi Wayne! If you’re planning on an Eurail pass, my best advice is to research your routes, dates, and times in advance–many popular routes will still require advance reservations even with a pass.

Kate, my wife and I are planning our first cruise in Europe, and are thinking about taking the train from Barcelona to Rome (cruise departure). Your blog was a great overview. My question has to do with ability to get off and on a subsequent train, for day visits on the way. Is switching covered or individually arranged ahead of time, and is it a good or bad idea for novice mostly monolingual travelers to Europe? Advice? Thanks,(Chuck)

If you book a ticket from Barcelona to Rome, your ticket will be good for that specific train/departure only, so you can’t get off and back on at various stops. If you want to stop places along the way, you’ll need to book individual tickets between each destination you plan to visit.

If you have your heart set on that, look into an Eurail pass–it does what you describe, however, it can get confusing (some routes still require advance reservations) and will usually be more expensive than booking tickets individually.

Traveling by train is absolutely doable as a novice traveler, but be sure to be careful when you’re booking your tickets (to ensure they’re the right dates/times/train stations you expect), and pay close attention to the stops to ensure you don’t miss yours.

Another option, if you’re traveling during the summer and want to get from Barcelona to Rome quickly without flying, would be to take a ferry to Rome and then train to a few places around Italy from there.

Hope you guys have a great trip!

My family is looking to travel from Lille to Amsterdam. My question is: when we depart out train that originated in Lille and transfer to a new train in Brussels, will we need to go through some form of customs before we board the train for Amsterdam? I just want to get an idea of how much time to leave for connecting trains.

Hi Matt! No customs required–all of those countries are part of the EU Schengen Zone, so moving between them via train is generally as seamless as road-tripping between US states.

And, is 33 minutes to connect from one train to another a lot of time? We have never done this type of thing before so I’m not sure if that is cutting it too close

33 minutes should be okay! Definitely move with purpose to find your next platform once you arrive, but you shouldn’t be in a huge hurry as long as everything is on time.

Kate- I am considering coming to Europe early for my Christmas river cruise heading out of Brussels. I was thinking of taking the train from the Brussels airport to Koln to see their markets and explore, and then doing a day train up to Dusseldorf to see their Christmas markets. It looks like about a 2 hour train ride on Thalys to Koln and then only about 30 minutes from Koln on to Dusseldorf. I will then take the train back to Brussels for my riverboat cruise. Does this sound feasible?

As long as the timetables work in your favor, I don’t see why not! Germany and Belgium are both great countries for exploring by train.

Hello Kate, We are looking to visit Italy for the first time in December/2022, I was looking in the train tours, visiting 4 cities (Rome, Florence,Venice & Naples). Your thoughts on train tours? Thank

Hi Sharon! I’m not sure what you mean by tour–if you mean a guided trip, they can of course be very fun with the right group, but I wouldn’t say you need one for this route.

All of those cities are very simple to visit independently by train, and we have taken trains to and from all of them many times (I’m actually typing this on a train to Venice).

Hi Kate, my husband and I are planning to fly in to Italy and travel by train to the following places: 1) Milan 2) Switzerland 3) Vienna 4) Prague 5) Paris

May I know if these places can be connected by train. If yes which train will you recommend, please. We are actually thinking about 15-20 days to cover these areas. As it’s our first Europe trip, do you think it’s sufficient and is there any place along the way that you would encourage to go. Thank you.

Yes, those are all excellent destinations to visit by train, so you’re good to go there. As far as specific trains, you’ll need to pull up the individual routes to check (we recommend Omio for this, especially with cross-border trains).

That’s definitely too many places for 15 days, though, and still pushing it at 20. I’d recommend trimming the itinerary a bit if you can (or adding on extra days, of course!).

Hi there This was so helpful. My husband and I are going to Amsterdamin September and then 3 nights in Bruges. All us booked but I’m overwhelmed but the trains websites. Omio is the easiest but I’m still leary. Is it legit and a decent safe way to book trains? We are only going to Belgium. Then two days to the countryside in The Netherlands which we will just grab a regional train. Everyone is telling us to book the train to Bruges. Any helpful advice would be great. We would go to Antwerp and take an IC train to Bruges an hour later,as my husband does have hip and knee problems. Thanks in advance.

I understand, it’s a lot to take on the first few times!

We use Omio regularly, as do many people we know, it’s perfectly legitimate.

The Antwerp train station will be a beautiful place to rest for an hour. It’s absolutely stunning, especially the front foyer, and often pops up on lists of the best things to see in the city!

Hi Kate, My husband and I will be traveling from Prague to cities in Austria and Germany by train next month. We have used trains a few times in Europe before, but it was pre Covid. It looks like most Covid restrictions have been dropped, but I wondered if you have to show Covid vaccination cards on the trains?

Thank You, Jaymie

I’m always hesitant to answer questions like this because I feel like I’ll be summoning disaster with how quickly things can change, LOL.

But at the moment, no, you won’t need your vaccination proof in either place as far as I know.

Life is pretty 2019 these days when it comes to the logistics of traveling around Europe as a visitor, though a handful of places still require masks on public transport (I think Vienna is one of them, but again–things change!).

This is so helpful, but I’m striking out with trains from Naples to Rome? It says that there aren’t any? Why would they list it as an option if they don’t travel to there? Also, is there a way to preview how long the train rides are to decide if we want to travel to certain cities? Cannot find any train tables. I find the Omio and Eurail sites to be difficult to navigate and I can’t get enough information to plan! 🙁 Does it make sense to buy a eurail pass first and then research times and etas? Any help is appreciated!

Trains from Naples to Rome definitely exist! It’s possible you’re looking too far in advance to book the tickets–on Omio right now, it looks like I can purchase Naples to Rome tickets up to about 6 months out.

When you search for a specific route on Omio, Trenitalia, etc, it’ll show you how long the train is and how many changes there are, if any, much like searching for a flight.

We don’t recommend using the Google tool for this, as it tends to default to how to get somewhere if you leave at that second, which can be confusing and normally involves a more complicated route than you need.

Personally, we don’t generally find Eurail passes to be worth it in terms of cost-savings for most travelers, but in terms of research, you’ll be working with the same information either way. 🙂

Hope that helps! It can be a bit confusing at first, but if you try practicing by looking at dates sooner than when you actually plan to travel, I think you’ll find the information you’re looking for.

Thank you for taking the time to write all that useful information. It is so much appreciated by many of us! 🙂

Like many of your readers, we are (two young adults) planning to visit Europe for the first time this upcoming May. We are currently looking at: Landing in the morning in Prague, spend 1 or 2 nights, then Vienna, one night, leave following morning for Bratislava (this one is a maybe, it’s so close!) OR Vienna to Venice. Spend 1-2 nights, then Zurich, and finally Munich, before we make it back to Prague to catch our returning flight. We are looking at 9 days from the morning we land. 🥴 We figured it would be more efficient to travel in a circle, as some destinations -like Paris- will be out this time around. 🙁

Thoughts on that? I will look into Omni regarding trains, but our plan is to travel only by train, if possible.

I know that’s a lot of questions, but THANK YOU so much for your help! 😊

Thanks so much, Al! So glad to be helpful. 🙂

You definitely have the right idea with traveling in a circle, though I definitely recommend trimming some destinations!

With 9 days, I’d suggest no more than 3 base cities (and that’s pushing it), and you can add a day trip or two from there if you like.

I know it’s SO tempting to add more places (I have this problem constantly myself lol) but you’ll have much more fun with a bit of time to explore each place!

I’m not sure what your priorities are or what your budget is, but based on the cities you listed, I’d cut Zurich (Switzerland is amazing, but you don’t have time) and Bratislava. Ideally, I’d suggest cutting one more city as well.

If it were my trip, personally, I’d do a Prague – Venice – Munich triangle, and potentially day trip to Neuschwanstein Castle or somewhere else in the Bavarian Alps with one of the days in Munich. That’s just personal preference, though!

You can definitely do all the destinations you listed by train, no issue there at all. 🙂

That recommendation sounds amazing. The two big ones are Prague (#1!) and Venice, but really hoping to do Munich as well.

I will look into the Bavarian Alps, as I am not familiar with them 🙂

Thanks again. Really enjoy reading through your content! 😊

If you love mountains and/or castles, you’ll definitely love them!

Enjoy some Czech beer for us 🙂

Hi, we are doing Europe by train in June. Is there a way to determine: a. which direction the train(s) are going, so we can face forward? b. Which side is considered the right side (vs left side) for best views when recommended? Thanks for your perspective.

Unfortunately, there’s no clear-cut way to determine which way trains are facing, especially because they often turn around during the route, depending on how they pull into/out of various stations. On long journeys, it’s not uncommon to find yourself facing forward part of the time and backward part of the time.

If you’re starting from the beginning of the line, you can sometimes tell which way you’ll be facing at the beginning based on the route, but not always.

The same goes for the views–for very specific routes, you can sometimes get personalized recommendations from others who have traveled the route (especially for particularly scenic ones), but there’s no simple solution to figuring it out beyond just recommendations.

It’d certainly be easier if that were the case!

Hi Kate, Really enjoying your posts, photos, and appreciate the helpful advice. I am planning a trip in Sept/Oct to visit Scotland for a week before traveling in southern Germany and Austria. What would you recommend about getting from Scotland/London to Koln, Munich or Frankfurt? Is there a good train route to take? Or is this a case where flights make more (economic or time) sense? Thanks for any pointers!

That’s definitely a route that is better served by flight, both from an economic and time perspective! 🙂

Is there something I am missing about Omio, the booking site that you recommend?

My wife and I are moving to Lyon in April and plan to go to Amsterdam in May. I went on the Omio site just to get a sense of what was available from Lyon (Gare Part Dieu) to Amsterdam (Centraal) on a random date (I picked May 9) and the site told me it could not find any trains between these places. But on the Rail Europe site, it showed a slew of trains available throughout the day.

I am confused.

I am too, I’m not sure why it’s not coming up! I just did the search myself and played around with dates, destinations, etc. Paris – Amsterdam, for example, seems to be pulling up just fine.

Could be as simple as a bug, but I just shot Omio an email asking for clarification.

Hi Kate I am Josh from KL Malaysia looking forward for europe trip in september 2023. I would like to start trip from berlin to budapest for 15 to 17 days.how to go about it by using eurorail?

Eurail has a website with a planning tool that can help you sketch out your journey.

Generally, you’ll buy either a set number of travel days within a given time period (like 7 days to be used in a month) or an unlimited pass.

Many routes do still require advance reservations (with additional fees), so be sure to check each route individually so you don’t miss anything!

Hi! I would love to travel as comfortably with my dog as you have, seeing from the pictures. I have a couple of questions: 1) what’s the name brand of that pet carrier. Looks perfect for mine. 2) Could you post tips on hoe to travel with your pet successfully.

Thank you for your content!

Yes, absolutely–with a catch (if you’re in the US). We bought the bag on Amazon Spain when living in Portugal and don’t know of an equivalent here. But this is the link: https://www.amazon.es/-/pt/gp/product/B00XR2D94W/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&fbclid=IwAR3p0Ihrxf6e1yL4nJv5pJBK0GXmOIVIqXL97ov77VRuxSIvm61M2-NbfQE&th=1

Here’s Ranger’s backpack that he gets carried in as well (size large): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07C9XLXVH?ie=UTF8&th=1&linkCode=ll1&tag=ourescapeclau-20&linkId=813c9a64c05de1faef0162cbed102f22&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl

He absolutely loves both–gets so excited when we get his bags out, and climbs right in when we get onboard!

Traveling by train in Europe with a dog is usually pretty simple, but you’ll always want to look up requirements for the specific country/train company (some require dogs not in a carrier to pay a half-fare or child’s ticket, etc).

If your dog is very small (like a yorkie or similar) they’re usually free, though again, be sure to check in advance.

I have it on my list to write a whole blog post on this topic eventually, but I hope that helps get you started! 🙂

Just wanted to say thank for you for such amazing content. We are starting to plan a 5 week trip to Europe for Summer 2024 with our 4 kids and your site and recommendations are beyond helpful.

Thank you so much, Megan! That’s wonderful to hear. 🙂 Hope you guys have an incredible trip!

Hi, planning a trip to Europe with the family. Have been to Italy, Spain, Portugal, France and UK so we are looking for something different. Like Berlin, Prague and Vienna or Amsterdam, Berlin and Brussels. Love to get your thoughts on these routes and would you recommend taking the train between these cities? Or any other 3 cities you recommend we do over 10 days.

Sounds like a very fun trip! All of the cities you mentioned are definitely doable by train, but Berlin-Prague-Vienna is more cohesive than Amsterdam-Berlin-Brussels (I also personally would put a couple of dozen other cities in the region ahead of Brussels, though it definitely has things to offer!).

Since it seems like Berlin is a priority for you, I’d recommend using that as your anchor and spanning out from there.

A few other places that could make sense, if you want to add more options to your list, could be Krakow, Budapest, or Bratislava.

If you want to start in Berlin and include Amsterdam, you might look into Hamburg, Cologne, or Bruges.

You could also head south from Berlin, and do a Berlin-Munich-Switzerland (Zurich or Lucerne if you’re looking for cities) route.

Really, the possibilities are endless, so it just comes down to the cities that call to you the most!

We are seniors, experienced travellers but novice on trains. We have 3 weeks to visit Paris, Prague, Vienna, Bern, Marseilles, Barcelona, and Lisbon. What suggestions can you offer us Thanks

My first recommendation would be to trim a city or two–3 days per city is a very fast pace to keep up for 3 weeks!

Lisbon and Barcelona are of course the biggest geographic outliers. Lisbon is a non-starter as far as train travel to the rest of these cities is concerned–realistically, it’ll make more sense to fly to and from there.

Barcelona is a bit tricky, since Spanish and Portuguese trains are on a different rail gauge than the rest of the countries on your list. You can take a high-speed train from Barcelona to Paris, but getting from Barcelona to Marseilles via train is much more challenging than you’d think it would be based on a map.

The rest of the cities you mentioned are very well-connected by train, so you shouldn’t have any issues there. 🙂

Really informative site you have here!

I’m from Asia and planning to visit Europe for the first time in Oct 2023. I’ll likely start the tour from London and have about 10 days, then will fly home from Heathrow Airport London. I’m really into trains and would love your advice on what some destinations would be possible. I’ve never been to Europe so anything is fine with me. 🙂 Thank you

Honestly, the number of options is so overwhelming that you’re going to want to narrow it down–a lot!

Assuming you plan to hop over to mainland Europe (as opposed to heading north to Scotland, for example), Paris and Amsterdam are both great jumping-off points connected to London by train.

From either city, you can then reach dozens of cities within several countries in a day’s worth of train travel (or less).

Consider taking a look at places that interest you in France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, The Netherlands, and Belgium–just to name a few!

If you want to peruse some sample itineraries, we have several in this post: https://www.ourescapeclause.com/2-week-europe-itinerary-trip/

Hope you have a fantastic trip!

Thanks for all the info contained within this blog. We are planning for summer 2024,a 2-week tour of Europe starting and finishing in the UK. How many stops would you recommend? Where would you suggest?, need to combine, beach, sightseeing and something in the Alpes? Ive got in mind Uk – South of France – Italy- Budapest-Krakow – Germany(or similar)-UK Now for the tricky bit, we are planning to do this with around 20 Explorer scouts! Any tips for travelling in groups? Can you also recommend a great website for hostels Thanks in advance

Sounds like quite the trip! 20 scouts–you guys have your work cut out for you, but I’m sure they’ll love it. 🙂 Can’t offer much personal insight in that direction myself, but I commend you guys for taking it on.

With only 2 weeks, I’d recommend 3 stops, with an additional day trip or two to add on more destinations. Sticking with the UK – South of France – Italy might work best in your case. Germany and Switzerland would also work as potential substitutes as they’re geographically close (depending on where you go).

We go into a lot more detail on putting together a 2-week itinerary in this guide: https://www.ourescapeclause.com/2-week-europe-itinerary-trip/

As far as booking lodging goes, we tend to book all of ours through Booking dot com these days. For hostels in particular, Hostelworld is also popular, though we have rarely used it ourselves. Depending on how old your scouts are you might want to double-check any age requirements for dorm stays.

We are a couple in our 60’s who have travelled by train in Italy and Japan .We are travelling to Greece for 2 weeks then flying to Hamburg.From here we are going to travel straight to Berlin(3 nights),Amsterdam(3 nights),Paris (5 nights),Interlarken,Switzerland (3 nights) then to Munich(4 nights). I have just started researching the best way to purchase rail tickets either a Eurail pass or point to point on Omio.Considering our itinerary what do you recommend?I have read that a Eurail pass is easier than point to point bookings but may be more costly.

Thanks for your blog,very informative.

Hi Francine,

In our experience, Eurail passes tend to be a bit more expensive for most travelers. Part of the reason for this is that many popular routes still require advance reservations that require you to commit to a date and often pay an additional reservation fee.

We have used an Eurail pass in the past, but these days, we always choose to book point-to-point journeys.

However, the only way to know for sure about your route in particular is to plan your trip out via Eurail (be sure to double-check what routes require reservations) and as a point-to-point trip and compare prices. Every trip is different, and since the prices for high-speed trains change depending on when you book them, there’s no way to know for certain.

If you’ve been comfortable traveling by train in other countries in the past, I wouldn’t say the ease of using an Eurail pass is worth the probable extra cost, especially with how simple it is to book train tickets online these days. It does depend on the traveler, though!

Thanks for the information Travelling to krakow then Prague Budapest and Croatia. Have 2 month. Would like to travel by train How far in advance do you need to book train tickets as I want to do it leisurely and not book to far in advance. Also what other country’s/cities do you recommend Thank you so much Betty

For most routes in that area, booking as you go (a few days to a week or so in advance) is just fine, as long as you’re a bit flexible. Exceptions can include night trains and traveling over holidays, so keep that in mind!

Keep in mind that train travel in Croatia is much less expansive than you might think–Dubrovnik doesn’t even have a train station! You can use some train routes, like Zagreb to Split, but plan on adding in buses and/or rental cars (plus ferries, of course) depending on where you want to go in Croatia.

With 2 months to travel from Krakow to Croatia, you might also consider stops in Austria (Vienna is right along your route), Slovakia (Bratislava is very easy to reach) and Slovenia. Depending on how direct you want to travel, Bosnia and Herzegovina could fit in as well.

That barely scratches the surface of the possibilities, but hopefully it gives you some ideas!

Hi! My wife and I love to travel (Between the two of us we have done Italy, Fiji, Australia and many others). We are planning on the F1 races in Spielberg, Austria next June. Thinking about the train from Vienna to Barcelona after and wondering if the ride (about a day) is worth the time? The flight is about 5 hours. We had fun on the train in Italy (Rome to Venice) We will likely leave Vienna the Mon or Tues after and have another 10 days. What do you think about Barcelona and Madrid? Do both? Or one over the other? Thanks in advance!

The distance between Vienna and Barcelona is far enough that unless the idea of a night train and a few train changes sounds like a fun adventure, I’d recommend flying! Basically as a travel experience it can work, but as a basic form of transportation, they’re a bit too far apart for the logistics to make sense.

As far as Barcelona and Madrid, both are wonderful, but they’re very different. Barcelona wins on whimsical architecture and access to the sea. Madrid wins on stately art museums and for having a more laid-back vibe. We enjoy both cities, but Madrid is our personal favorite of the two (though we are in the minority with that opinion!).

If you have time to spend a few days in each, they’re definitely both worth experiencing.

Hi! Thanks for the reply….sounds like flying is the way to go….we will have 4 days each in Madrid/Barcelona so should be able to get the flavors of both. Love your blog!

Thanks, Greg! Enjoy Austria and Spain! 🙂

Hi Kate! I just found your blog while planning my first Europe trip… I’m so excited I have actual tears! I promised myself traveling around/to Europe would be something I accomplish by the time I turn 25. This train travel blog has given me so much needed information as when I originally started planning this trip a few years ago my original plan was by train. I will be combing through your blog site to read as much as I can and support you how I can.

My plan is to start in southern Portugal, through southern Spain, southern France, into Italy. I need to do more research to see if this much in a 2 week time span is even feasible. And, it looks like I may be better off taking a bus in Western Europe. This has been my one hurdle in actually going. If I’m going to go, I’m going to visit multiple countries… but the navigation between countries is the most fearful part for me. I will be using your blog to help me plan and prepare.

All this to say… I’m so glad I found your blog!! Thank you for all of your wonderful information.

Your comment brings a huge smile to my face! I remember planning our first trip so clearly at about the same age (I was 23 on our first-ever trip to Europe and 24 on our first multi-country European backpacking trip) and I can definitely say it was nothing short of life changing. 🙂

All of the places you mentioned are among our favorites in the world! And reading between the lines, it sounds like you may have a preference for coastal areas, which all of those areas have in spades.

One small snag is that you have chosen some of the hardest places to travel between countries by train in western Europe, namely Portugal and Spain. Getting between major cities by train is no issue within each country, but the two aren’t very well-connected by train to each other, and the only train route to France from Spain leaves from Barcelona. There’s a long history as to why, but basically the train rail gauges in the Iberian peninsula are different than elsewhere.

However, don’t worry! There are plenty of solutions. 🙂 Buses are definitely a great option, especially for getting between places like the Algarve and Seville, etc. There are local buses, but also check out Flixbus, which is very popular with travelers and easy to use (we’ve used it many times ourselves). Also, flying is a surprisingly affordable option–Ryanair, Easyjet, etc. have tons of routes in these areas and are frequently way cheaper than traveling by train. Blablacar–basically Uber for traveling long distances–is also an option, though not one we have lots of personal experience with.

Finally, don’t forget about ferries! They can be surprisingly affordable, especially in Spain and southern Italy. We took a ferry from Barcelona to Rome and found it very memorable with amazing views: https://www.ourescapeclause.com/barcelona-to-rome-ferry/

As I always like to tell people, getting on that first plane and starting your trip is the hardest part. After that, everything falls into place. 🙂

Hi Kate, Your blog has been super informative and helpful! We are planning a family trip to Europe this May with our 3 teenagers. Our goal is to do Rome (4 nights), Venice (2 nights), Salzburg (3 nights) and Munich (4-5 nights) in 15 days. Planning to fly into Rome and fly out of Munich or Frankfurt (Dallas is home), and travel by train from city to city. Are we taking on too much? Do you recommend using the fast train from Rome to Venice? Really want to take the train thru the Alps from Venice to Salzburg, but is it going to be much more expensive than flying? I’m assuming I need to book that leg of the train trip asap. Again, great job on the blog! It has made me very excited for our trip!

That’s great to hear, thank you!

That sounds like a good pace for a trip–if anything, 5 nights seems slightly long in Munich, though very doable with a day trip or two built in (and there are plenty of amazing ones in Bavaria!).

Taking the fast train from Rome to Venice would absolutely be our preference–it’s the fastest way to travel between the two cities by far.

Same for Venice to Salzburg (it’s a lovely train ride!). but yes, it can be more expensive than flying depending on when you book and how good of a flight deal you get. It’s much more comfortable regardless, though (not traveling to and from the airports is a big benefit in its own right). Depending on what train company you travel with, expect tickets to be available for purchase anywhere from 3-6 months in advance. I’d start watching earlier, though, just looking at more recent dates, to get a feel for what prices to expect.

Thank you for taking the time to put all of these great information together. Really appreciate it. So our plan for next year is as follow (12 days):

Spain: 1 day Madrid 1day Sevilla 1 day Barcelona

from Barcelona, take fast train to Italy 1 day Rome 1 day Naples 1 day Milan

from Milan take fast train to Switzerland:

What places (areas) would you recommend visiting in Switzerland? We would like countryside, small towns. I heard Switzerland is one of the most expensive countries to visit, so anything where we can enjoy nice scenery but not the most expensive areas. Also, is it feasible getting around in trains between these cities/countries? Thank you in advance!

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The Ultimate 2-Week Eastern Europe Itinerary: 6 Great Routes

Last Updated on January 3, 2024

by Maggie Turansky

Disclaimer: This article contains affiliate links. That means if you click a link and make a purchase, we may make a small commission. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. For more information, see our privacy policy.

Planning the perfect Eastern Europe itinerary when you only have a finite number of days or weeks to play around with can be a head-spinning and frustrating undertaking. It’s only until you sit down and pull out a map (or, more realistically, open up Google Maps) that you realise how vast this region of the continent is and how much there really is to see.

Do you want to head to the Central European favourites like Budapest or Prague ? Do you venture up north and explore the charms of the Baltic states? Or do you head southeast and devote your time to one country like Romania or Bulgaria?

So if you’re in the process of planning a trip to Eastern Europe and are a bit stuck on what the optimal route is for you, then look no further.

Table of Contents

Which countries are in Eastern Europe?

For those who haven’t travelled extensively around the region, it may not seem like the term “Eastern Europe” is even that loaded, however, you will soon learn that it is not so much a term that defines a region and can be far more political and cultural than meets the eyes.

Many people will jump to thinking that the term “Eastern Europe” refers to the Warsaw Pact countries or the countries that were under Communist rule from WWII up until the early 1990s. This typically includes the countries in former Yugoslavia and anything east of Germany or Austria (excluding Greece and Turkey).

Where things can get complicated is that many residents of certain countries don’t like to be referred to as Eastern European. For instance, the countries of Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia and Slovenia often would prefer to be referred to as Central Europe – and geographically, that is where they are.

And the countries of Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, North Macedonia and Bulgaria are best referred to as the Balkans. And Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania? They’re the Baltics.

So which countries are actually in Eastern Europe? It’s still complicated, however, you’re generally safe to assume that countries like Romania, Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus and Russia are all in Eastern Europe.

I would also go so far as to consider the countries of Georgia, Armenia and even Azerbaijan all the way in the South Caucasus as a part of Eastern Europe. I say this because, although geographically they may rest in what is technically Asia, culturally they are far more European.

So, as you can see, Eastern Europe is generally quite a vague term that encompasses a number of vastly different regions and nations. However, it is also one of our absolute favourite regions to travel in the entire world and visiting anywhere in this vast corner of Europe is sure to spark your wanderlust.

How to get around Eastern Europe

Depending on which area of Eastern Europe you intend to travel to, the best way to get around will vary. However, what’s good is that, especially if you only plan to visit major cities, it’s very easy to get around most areas relying only on the train or bus. Just what form of public transit will depend on where you are.

If you plan to do the classic “Eastern Europe” itinerary (ie Central Europe) and hit top cities like Budapest, Prague, or Krakow, then you can easily get around while relying on the train.

Train connections in Central Europe are frequent, reliable and relatively affordable — especially if booked in advance through platforms like Omio. You can click here to view schedules.

It can be popular to plan to use night trains to save on accommodation or time in transit, but keep in mind that these can book out quite early in high seasons and they can be quite expensive, depending on where you’d like to go.

If you want to save some money, you will find that the bus is a cheaper option and offers just as many routes. Companies like FlixBus offer numerous routes between cities at affordable price and buses are generally fairly comfortable and reliable. There are also overnight bus routes, but this is quite a tiring and uncomfortable way to travel.

If you happen to be travelling in the Balkans or Baltics, you are going to have to forget about any visions you had about taking the train. Rail routes are few and far between and where they may exist, they will be painfully slow, exceptionally outdated, and rather uncomfortable.

The vast majority of the Balkans and Baltics aren’t actually on a rail network, anyhow, so your best bet is going to be taking the bus if you’re relying on public transit.

In the Baltics, there is a wonderful bus company called Lux Express that is arguably going to be the nicest bus that you will ever encounter. They are comfortable, have wifi and entertainment systems and serve most major routes throughout the Baltics and even into Poland and Russia. You can book bus tickets for the Baltics here.

In the Balkans, FlixBus operates in some countries, but there are far more bus companies available and finding out the schedules can be tricky depending on where you are. Your best bet is to check out the bus timetables at the station when you arrive so you have an idea because information on the internet may be incomplete or incorrect.

If you don’t want to rely on public transit, then you can always rent a car when travelling in Eastern Europe. This will allow you to have more flexibility with your itinerary and not be at the mercy of erratic timetables and long bus or train journeys.

However, please make sure to double-check that the rental company will allow you to cross borders and that the car is provided with the adequate insurance in order to do this.

The rental company should handle this and it isn’t the consumer’s responsibility, but do make sure that you are properly equipped before starting your Eastern Europe travel itinerary.

If you want to rent a car while travelling in Eastern Europe, we recommend using RentalCars.com to find the best deals on a car hire.

Finally, it’s worth making sure you have travel insurance for your Eastern Europe trip. If you’re travelling on a budget and are only after travel medical insurance it’s worth checking out  SafetyWing’s nomad insurance.

How long to spend in Eastern Europe

So how many days or weeks should you dedicate to your itinerary through Eastern Europe? With the region encompassing so many countries and sub-regions, it can feel like there is never enough time to see everything and deciding the ideal trip length can seem incredibly overwhelming.

The first thing that you need to understand is that it is impossible to see everything in a limited period of time and if you try to cram in too much, you are going to spend the vast majority of your time in transit between cities and destinations rather than actually enjoying and exploring the destination itself.

We always encourage slow travel and that doesn’t necessarily mean that you need to take numerous weeks off in order to travel to Eastern Europe, it just means that you should absolutely spend a bit longer in each destination that you visit. So, if you only have time for a one-week itinerary, then we would suggest limiting your trip to just two cities.

If you want to see a good portion of the region you’ve decided to visit while still not taking a tonne of time off work or away from home, then we think that planning for two weeks is the ideal amount of time. Within a fortnight, you can get a good taste of whichever region you plan to visit and really experience some diverse and dynamic destinations.

Obviously, if you have longer and are looking to spend 3 weeks in Eastern Europe, then you can very much find a multitude of ways that you could fill your time.

3 weeks really is optimal to begin to dig deeper and get a bit off the beaten path and to see some cities and towns away from the major capitals. This will give you a broader idea of the general culture of whichever country or region you are visiting and help you gain a better understanding of the area.

There are always options if you have longer than 2 or 3 weeks in Eastern Europe as there are a myriad of regions and countries that you could visit.

You also could take the opportunity to base yourself for a longer period of time in a particular city and explore more of the surrounding area via day trips and even venture off the beaten tourist path in the city itself.

The possibilities are endless in Eastern Europe no matter how long you’re able to spend, just make sure that you can do each destination justice by spending enough time there.

For the purposes of this article, all of these itineraries are meant to be for about 2 weeks. If you’re looking for a one-week or 10-day Eastern Europe itinerary, then just take away one or two destinations mentioned as they interest you. Again, it’s best to keep in mind that it is impossible to pack everything in just a short time period.

Second, as mentioned earlier, there are lots of different regions that encompass greater Eastern Europe and we’ve put together itineraries for each of these.

If you want more information once you’ve decided where it is that you want to in Eastern Europe, we have dedicated itineraries for Central Europe , the Balkans , the Baltics , and even the Caucasus if you are feeling intrepid.

Central Europe Routes

Central Europe is what most people are looking for when they think to plan an itinerary for Eastern Europe. Filled with some of the most beautiful cities in all of Europe and packed with interesting culture and fascinating history, this region is sure to delight all those who venture there.

Classic Central Europe Route

This two-week itinerary will take you past some of the most popular and beautiful places to visit in what many believe to be “Eastern Europe”. This route starts in Budapest and ends in Prague, but you can easily reverse it if it makes the most sense to you.

Budapest – The capital of Hungary is an excellent place to start any trip to Eastern Europe. It is something of the gateway to Eastern Europe and a great jumping-off point to visiting Central Europe, the Balkans, or Romania.

Budapest is one of the most beautiful and dynamic cities in all of Europe and you’re sure to fall in love with it instantly with it’s incredibly picturesque skyline set along the mighty Danube River. Plan to spend about 4-5 days in Budapest to really do the city justice before moving onto your next destination.

Vienna – Though not technically Eastern Europe, Vienna is an essential addition to an itinerary of this sort. Austria’s grand capital is a lovely place to explore for about 3-4 days and it is highly recommended that you take a day trip to the nearby capital of Slovakia, Bratislava .

Brno/Olomouc – Spend 2 days exploring one of Czechia’s other cities and while Olomouc is a personal favourite of ours, Brno is a more direct stop and also offers another great perspective of the Czech Republic beyond the capital city.

Prague – No itinerary of this sort would be complete without including the Czech Republic’s inimitable capital of Prague . The city is very popular, however, there are lots of places to visit within it that are off the beaten path. Plan to spend about 3-4 days in the city itself and then give yourself more time to go on a day trip or two.

Have More Time? If you have a bit more time to dedicate to this itinerary, please consider exploring more the Czech Republic . There is so much to see in this incredible country beyond Prague – and very few international visitors tend to dig deeper and explore the country.

If you want to get out in nature and see some of the countryside, then head to the Jeseniky Mountains or Bohemian Switzerland National Park, or if you want to experience some more Czech cities, it can be worth it to head to Brno or even industrial Ostrava . For smaller towns and cities, head to Karlovy Vary , Cesky Krumlov or Pilsen.

Alternative Central European Route

If you’re still after a Central European route but want to visit more countries, consider spending a bit of time in Poland rather than Czechia.

Budapest – Again, start your itinerary in Budapest and plan to spend 4 days exploring this incredibly beautiful city. There is so much to see and do in Budapest that you’re sure not to be bored.

Vienna – From Budapest, head onto Vienna for 3 days and make sure to do a day trip to Bratislava in order to see another amazing Central European city.

Prague – Plan to spend at least 3 nights and two full days exploring Prague, taking in the city’s top sites and learning about its vast and complex history. Also, Prague has some of the best beer in the world at some incredibly affordable prices!

Wroclaw – From Prague, head over to spend a day in the charming city of Wroclaw , Poland. This lesser-visited city is dotted with interesting sites to see and full of endearing quirks — including a myriad of little dwarf statues that can be spotted throughout the city!

Krakow – End your itinerary in Poland’s second-largest city of Krakow . This city is filled with history, both heartbreaking and fascinating, and it is worth taking the time to explore that along with it’s beautiful Old Town.

It is also possible to take a day trip to the Wieliczka Salt Mine or to Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camp Museum. You could even take a day trip to the Tatra Mountains, if that suits your fancy.

Have More Time? If you have more time to devote to this itinerary, consider exploring more of Poland, including heading to the capital of Warsaw or to some smaller cities like Poznan or Gdansk , where you may find fewer crowds than in cities like Krakow and, in the latter city, even enjoy a beautiful Baltic beach. You could also combine this itinerary easily with a route through the Baltic countries if you have around 4-5 weeks to play around with.

Baltics Routes

The Baltics are one of Europe’s most underrated regions but also happen to contain some of the most charming spots in all of Eastern Europe. Filled with fairy-tale-like cities, incredible cuisine and fascinating history, this is how you should spend two weeks in the Baltics.

Classic Baltic Route

If you’re interested in dipping your toe into the Baltic countries and just want to get a feel, then this two-week route through the capitals is a great option for you.

Warsaw – Poland’s capital is one of the easiest places to begin this route. Plan to spend about 2 days exploring this historic city while taking in its refurbished Old Town and visiting some of the great museums.

Vilnius – The capital of Lithuania has been subjected to some great marketing campaigns, however, it still doesn’t get nearly the amount of visitors that it deserves.

Home to one of Europe’s largest old towns, a great cafe culture, and its own “independent republic,” plan to spend about 3 days in Vilnius to get the most out of the city and maybe take a day trip.

Riga – Next, head up to Latvia’s cosmopolitan capital of Riga. There is so much that Riga has to offer, but it is a real joy for architecture geeks — boasting one of the best collections of Art Nouveau architecture in Europe. Riga also has a lovely Old Town, great restaurants, and an incredible Central Market. Plan to spend 2-3 days in Riga to get the most out of the city.

Tallinn – The Estonian capital may well be the most beautiful city in the entirety of Europe (move over Paris or Seville!) however, very few visitors give it the time it deserves.

The medieval old town packs a significant amount of charm, but there is so much more to see in Tallinn that it’s worth spending at least 3 or 4 days to really do Estonia’s capital justice.

Alternative Baltics Route

If you are looking for an itinerary through the Baltics that allows you to really dig deep into the region, then this route commencing in Vilnius and ending in Tallinn is a great option for you.

Vilnius – Start your trip in Lithuania’s capital and plan to spend 2-3 days here exploring the top sites, going for a day trip, and enjoying the laid-back nature before moving on.

Kaunas – Lithuania’s second-largest city can be seen in about one full day, but it is still very much worth exploring. Kaunas boasts a lovely old town, one of Europe’s longest pedestrian streets, fantastic street art, fascinating museums, and an imposing medieval castle making it a can’t-miss stop in Lithuania.

Riga – Now it’s time to visit Latvia’s beautiful capital city. Take the time to enjoy its cosmopolitan energy, enjoy the cuisine, and maybe take a day trip to the seaside town of Jurmala located just outside of the city.

Tartu – Estonia’s second-largest city is far too often ignored by visitors to the Baltic, but it really shouldn’t. There are lots of things to do in Tartu that can easily occupy one or two full days including exploring the old town, visiting museums, enjoying its art scene, and indulging in some of the city’s fantastic restaurants.

Tallinn – End your itinerary in Tallinn, trying to spend at least three days enjoying this incredible city. Tallinn is so cool and dynamic and has so many layers that you are sure to be charmed and itching to explore more.

Have More Time? If you have more time to dedicate to the Baltics, there are so many more places that you could visit. Consider heading to the coast of Lithuania and exploring the city of Klaipeda and the beautiful Curonian Spit . Or, head to the seaside town of Liepaja, Latvia and take in its laid-back charms.

Alternatively, you could head to the Estonian seaside in cities like Parnu or Haapsalu or, even more offbeat, head to some of its countless islands – like peaceful Saaremaa . And though it’s definitely not Eastern Europe, many people like to continue onto Finland and the Nordics from Tallinn.

Southeastern Europe Route

If you would rather head southeast when planning your Eastern Europe travel itinerary, then these are the routes for you. Heading into the Balkans is a great choice if you want to experience a number of different cultures and learn about a different history than you would in other areas of Eastern Europe.

Central Balkans Route

This itinerary begins in Budapest and takes you through some south-central European capitals.

Budapest – There are few cities better to commence an Eastern European route in than Budapest. For this 2-week itinerary, plan to spend 4-5 days in the Hungarian capital.

Belgrade – Belgrade is a gritty, lively, energetic and dynamic city that is just so cool it is sure to take you by surprise. Known for its incredible nightlife, Belgrade is also packed with history, culture and interesting things to do that you could easily occupy yourself for the recommended 3 days in Serbia’s capital .

Zagreb – Croatia’s oft-overlooked capital is normally put on the back burner for those more eager to head to the country’s coast, however, it is worth spending a day or two exploring . There are also numerous great day trip opportunities — please try to get to Plitvice Lakes, it’s breathtakingly beautiful — from Zagreb, as well.

Ljubljana – End this itinerary for Eastern Europe in Slovenia’s capital of Ljubljana. This beautiful city is so incredibly charming that it is a strong contender for the most beautiful city in Eastern Europe (Tallinn has some competition).

Plan to spend 2 or 3 days in Ljubljana , giving yourself longer if you’re interested in going for a day trip to Lake Bled , Lake Bohinj , lovely Maribor or even the seaside village of Piran.

Classic Balkans Route

If you’re after a more classic Balkans route for your trip to Eastern Europe but only have two weeks to do it in, then plan to begin your trip in Belgrade. The central Balkans are fairly off the beaten path compared to the rest of the places on this list, however, they pack so much that it’s worth exploring.

Belgrade – Begin your trip in Belgrade, Serbia taking in all of the eclectic sites the city has to offer, experiencing its inimitable energy and learning about its vast and complex history – there are tons of walking tours here where you can learn all about this city. 3-4 days in Belgrade should be sufficient, but one can always spend more.

Sarajevo – Next, head to Bosnia & Herzegovina’s incredible capital of Sarajevo. One of the most fascinating cities to visit in this part of the world, Sarajevo has an absolutely heartbreak history that is very much worth learning about in a number of the city’s excellent museums.

Take the time to learn about its not-so-modern history, as well, enjoy the historic city centre, and take its east-meets-west vibes at this cultural crossroads. You need about 2-3 days in Sarajevo to really do the city justice.

Mostar – From Sarajevo, head south to the beautiful city of Mostar. Far too often visited only as a day trip, Mostar is best experienced over two days to really learn about this city and its complex history.

Kotor – To round out this two-week itinerary, head to the Montenegrin port city of Kotor. This city is quite popular amongst tourists — especially as a cruise ship port — but it’s definitely worth spending 2-3 full days here to get to know the city and take some day trips to the surrounding area.

Have More Time? If you have more time to spend in the Balkans, your opportunities really are endless — one could easily spend months on end in this region alone and still feel as if they’ve only scratched the surface.

From Kotor, one could easily head into Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia and onto Greece, if you want to stay further south. Or, you could head west of Kotor to Dubrovnik and explore more of Croatia.

Alternatively, you could continue on east into Bulgaria, which deserves at least a week or two to explore on its own. Planning a Bulgaria itinerary on top of this Eastern European route is a fantastic idea.

If you end up in Bulgaria and have a lot of time to play around with, then it would also make sense to head into Romania.

Again, Romania is a massive country and visitor could easily dedicate two full weeks solely to this country – take time to see sites like Bran Castle, explore the vibrant capital of Bucharest and wander through the towns and cities in Transylvania.

Booking Accommodation in Eastern Europe

Once you’ve figured out your itinerary and where you want to go in Eastern Europe, the next step is booking accommodation. Luckily, there are so many options out there to book the best places to stay that cater to all tastes and budgets.

If you’re planning on backpacking in Eastern Europe, are on a tight budget, or are just looking for some great social opportunities, then hostels are going to be your best bet. We like to search for and book hostels online through Hostelworld , which is excellent to find the best hostels and keep all of your bookings in place.

If you’re looking for a broad array of accommodation options at great prices, then you can’t go wrong with Booking.com . This is our platform of choice when we are booking traditional hotels and B&Bs and even, sometimes, whole apartments!

And finally, if you’re looking for a private apartment rental or would like to save some money while staying in a private room in a local’s home, we recommend booking your stay through Airbnb. There are countless properties available on the platform all over Eastern Europe that will ensure you have a unique and authentic place to rest your head.

There are countless options when planning the ultimate Eastern Europe itinerary and it can seem overwhelming when confronted with all of them to figure out where to go. However, this region has so much to offer that no matter where in it you end up visit, you’re sure to have an incredible time!

Are you visiting Eastern Europe? Have any questions? Let us know in the comments!

Related Posts:

The Perfect 5 to 7 Days in Romania Itinerary

One Day in Brasov Itinerary: A Day Trip from Bucharest

The Perfect 1, 2 or 3 Days in Bucharest Itinerary

About Maggie Turansky

Maggie is a co-founder and writer for The World Was Here First. Originally from the US, she has lived in five different countries and has travelled to dozens more, both solo and with her partner, Michael. She particularly loves exploring Spain and spending time in the Caucasus and the Baltics. Read more about Maggie

Hi, woderful detailing of East Europe tours. Can you please help me to figure out my trip with inclusion of Budapest, Vienna, Prague, Croatia.we wish to travel by rental car. We are planning to visit these places in November 2023 , a trip for 10 days. please suggest. Dr, Neera Mittal

I sincerely hope that in 2022, I shall be able to visit eastern Europe which I have been planning for last three years! Your writings are very informative and absorbing. Please continue your excellent efforts of writing such pieces. Thanks a lot. PS: Add some information also about expenses of different categories, if possible.

Thanks for your comment and I hope that you’re able to go on your trip this year!

Amazing info, thanks. I will put together a trip for a month. I plan to surprise my daughter in Prague where she goes to Uni. Appreciate all your hard work and easy reading style. Stay healthy and happy! <3

Thanks so much for your comment and kind words, Lynn! Hope that you and your daughter have a great trip 🙂

Hello, this was a great explanation of what eastern europe really is, and some excellent itineraries for central europe, baltics, and balkans. But after you defined eastern europe to include Romania, Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus and Russia, you left out an itinerary for that very thing. Do you have such a guide? Thank you.

Hi Kyle, unfortunately, we don’t have a lot of information about those countries (yet!). All of those places are definitely on our list though so hoping to change that in the future

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The Ultimate Interrail Itinerary for Eastern Europe

This post contains product affiliate links. These are mainly on items/hotels/tours that I personally endorse & love. I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase, but at no extra cost to you.

Planning an Interrail trip? Then check out my amazing Interrail itinerary for Eastern Europe packed full of advice & the best Interrail routes!

If you’re looking for popular Interrail routes in Eastern Europe, then you’ve come to the right place.

In this blog post I’ll go through my ultimate Interrail itinerary for Eastern Europe. This will include where to go, what to do when you’re there, and obviously how to get around.

I have so much love for travelling through Eastern Europe by Interrail. Hopefully this post inspires you to follow in my footsteps and do the same!

What is Interrailing?

Interrailing has changed a lot over the years. This year is the 50 th anniversary, and it has evolved from a rail pass just for the young to encompass all ages, from children to seniors. That means everyone from families to people in their 60s can go on an Interrail adventure! As another incentive, kids aged under 12 travel for free.

With just one Interrail pass you can access over 40,000 destinations in 33 countries. The best bit is you can have unlimited journeys in a 3-month period – this really is one of the most flexible ways of travelling to multiple countries, and Europe is the perfect place to do it.

Also, train travel is one of the most environmentally-friendly ways of travelling around. Just another reason to go on an Interrailing adventure!

They used to say Interrailing is a right of passage. Well, now anyone can do it, and there’s no better way of celebrating 50 years of Interrailing than going on an epic trip.

My Eastern Europe Interrail adventure

I first went Interrailing for 10 weeks back in 2014.

You know the story. I was in a job I didn’t enjoy, I had saved up a load of money and I was itching to go on an adventure. That’s when I decided to go Interrailing through Eastern Europe, somewhere I had never been before. In fact, I hardly knew anything about Eastern Europe – that’s what attracted me in the first place!

I didn’t actually plan all that much before I left. I had a rough itinerary for Eastern Europe, but the whole point of Interrailing was to go with the wind. It was always my idea if I liked somewhere, I’d stay. If I didn’t, I’d move on.

Honestly, I can’t tell you how much I loved that Interrailing trip. In 10 weeks I travelled to 8 different countries. I went to some of the craziest communist monuments in Bulgaria, swam in the crystal-clear waters in the Bay of Kotor in Montenegro , hiked up in the stunning Serbian mountains, and met so many incredible people along the way.

As I said, hopefully this blog post will help you plan your Eastern Europe interrailing itinerary. I promise you you’re in for a trip of a lifetime!

Interrail itinerary for Eastern Europe

Here is a quick overview of some of the destinations you can visit on this trip. Obviously you can pick and choose your favourites.

Most people travel via the capitals of each country, but I’ll point of the highlights in each place so you’re not missing out on anything.

• Bucharest, Brasov , Sibiu , Sighisoara , Timisoara – Romania
• Belgrade , Novi Sad, Bajina Basta – Serbia
• Kotor, Tivat, Durmitor National Park, Ulcinj – Montenegro
• Skopje , Ohrid , Bitola – North Macedonia
• Sofia, Plovdiv , Veliko Tarnova, Varna – Bulgaria

Places to visit in Eastern Europe

Romania is by far the most popular country in Eastern Europe. For me, it completely optimises how great it is travelling around this part of the world.

Bucharest is a really youthful and vibrant city where you can find trendy restaurants and swanky speakeasy bars. Step away from the city though, and it’s like stepping back in time.

A place I’d always recommend to people is the small city of Brasov . From here, you can explore the countryside and visit the nearby castles. If you didn’t know already, this is Dracula’s land. Bran Castle used to be the home of Vlad Tepes, otherwise known as Vlad the Impaler or Dracula.

Also, even though he never visited Romania, Irish author Bram Stoker used Bran Castle as the setting for Dracula, hence the connection here.

A couple of other places to visit in Romania are the medieval towns of Sibiu and Sighisoara, both right in the heart of Transylvania.

One of the things you will immediately notice about walking the streets of Sighisoara is the colours – practically every other building is painted a bright pastel colour, and it really brings a vibrancy to the town.

Top things to do in Romania:

1. Visit the Palace of Parliament in Bucharest , the second largest building in the world.

2. Take a tour of Bran Castle, Peles Castle and Rasnov Fortress

3. Walk the narrow streets of Sighisoara, a whole town that’s a UNESCO World Heritage site

4. Go bar hopping through the student town of Timisoara

5. Go hiking in the wild Carpathian Mountains

Language: Romanian (but English is spoken quite widely)

How many days to stay: 4 to 7 days. I personally spent about 10 days travelling around Romania as I loved it so much.

From Romania, it’s really easy catching the train to Serbia . There are plenty of trains from Timisoara to Novi Sad or direct to the capital Belgrade.

You might’ve heard of Novi Sad before from Exit music festival . This is one of the biggest and best festivals in Europe held in Petrovaradin Fortress. I’m not going to lie, adding this place to your Interrail itinerary for Eastern Europe would be absolutely incredible.

Next up is Belgrade. Belgrade is described as the Barcelona of Eastern Europe – cosmopolitan, beautiful boulevards running through the city, al fresco dining throughout summer, and a place that rarely goes to sleep at night.

I completely fell in love with Belgrade and it’s a place I’ve been dying to go back ever since.

One of the best kept secrets in Serbia is Bajina Basta.

The reason I visited Bajina Basta was to go hiking in Tara National Park. Here there is a lovely 10km to Banska Rock.

Once I made it to Banska Rock, I was treated to the most spectacular views of Serbia and Bosnia. You could clearly see the River Drina cutting through the valley, and the views were simply stunning. Honestly, you’ll be hard pushed finding a better viewpoint throughout all of Europe.

Top things to do in Serbia:

1. Party all day and all night at Exit Festival at Novi Sad  

2. Take a tour the famous fortress Kalemegdan in Belgrade

3. See the creepy Skull Tower made up of human heads in Nis  

4. Go hiking through Tara National Park

5. Marvel at the Art Nouveau architecture of Subotica City Hall

Language: Serbian (outside of Belgrade, English isn’t very common)

How many days to stay: 3 to 6 days

The easiest way of travelling from Serbia to Montenegro is between the two capitals, Belgrade and Podgorica.

This train journey is actually one of the most beautiful in all of Eastern Europe. It’s a real marvel of engineering with 254 tunnels and 435 bridges travelling through the mountains all the way down to the Adriatic Sea. One of the best bits is you can skip Podgorica (there’s really not much to do there…) and take it all the way down to Bar which is right on the coast.

By far the jewel in Montenegro’s crown and one of the highlights on any Eastern Europe itinerary is Kotor.

This is a very small medieval town nestled in the Bay of Kotor – just imagine glittering waters and sheer mountains surrounding it. One of my favourite days from my Interrail adventure was hiring a bike and cycling around the Bay of Kotor. I spent the day stopping off at secluded beaches and little local restaurants overlooking the water. It was pure bliss.

If you’re a fan of hiking then somewhere very different to the Adriatic towns of Budvar, Kotor and Tivat all is Durmitor National Park.

Carved out by glaciers and underground rivers millions of years ago, Durmitor is where you’ll find glittering lakes, dizzying canyons and nearly 50 limestone peaks over 2,000m. Basically, this is hiking and rafting country.

Top things to do in Montenegro:

1. Spend the day in the cute town of Kotor 

2. Hire a bike and cycle around the Bay of Kotor

3. Go on a boat tour at Budvar or Tivat

4. Get the adrenaline pumping white-water rafting at Durmitor National Park

5. Visit the little beach town of Ulcinj on the Albanian border

Language: Montenegrin (English is widely spoken throughout Montenegro)

How many days to stay: 4 to 7 days

North Macedonia

Another hidden gem that barely gets any attention in Eastern Europe is North Macedonia .

By far the most popular place to visit in North Macedonia is Ohrid. Based around a lake with the same name, Ohrid is one of the oldest settlements in Europe. The lake itself is over three million years old!

Walking among the streets, ancient buildings dating back 2,000 years stand next to modern shops, and the Old Town still retains an old-fashioned charm rarely found.

During summer, visiting the lake is an activity in itself. You can go swimming, paddleboarding, jet skiing, water skiing – basically, any type of water sport!

One of my favourite activities was walking around the lake to the famous Church of St. John. This might even be one of the world’s most beautiful viewpoints from a church!

If you love your history, a place I’d recommend visiting is Bitola. Here you’ll find the ancient Greek city of Heraclea Lyncestis .

It was founded by Philip the 2nd of Macedon in the middle of the 4th century BC, and he named the city after the Greek hero Heracles. It’s actually one of the finest examples of a Greek city, and one of the best-preserved ones too. The thing is, no one goes there, so you’ll have the place to yourself!

Top things to do in North Macedonia:

1. Marvel at the hundreds of statues dotted around the capital of Skopje  

2. Go kayaking through the stunning Matka Canyon

3. Take a dip in Lake Ohrid  

4. Travel back 2,400 years at Heraclea Lyncestis

5. Stand in awe at the Painted Mosque in Tetovo

Language: Macedonian (English isn’t very common in North Macedonia)

Almost all Eastern Europe Interrail routes include Bulgaria as it’s so easy travelling around by train here.

All trips usually start in the capital of Sofia as this is close to both Albania and Romania.

Sofia is a really bustling city with loads of cool restaurants and bars. One of my top suggestions is going on a food tour through Sofia. This is the best way of getting to know the city through its food (spoiler: the food is actually delicious here).

Another popular place nearby is Rila Monastry up in the mountains. If you’re feeling particular adventurous, you can hike to the Rila Lakes , spend the night in a tiny mountain hut in the middle of nowhere, and then hike to Rila Monastery the following day. 

One of the things I found so crazy about Bulgaria is there are still these giant statues commemorating the former Soviet Union. Bulgaria is the only country in Eastern Europe not to demolish these relics, and weirdly they have now become tourist attractions in their own right.

The weirdest one is the former communist headquarters outside of Veliko Tarnova. It looks like a giant UFO that’s crashed into the side of a mountain. Don’t believe me? You can read all about it here !

Top things to do in Bulgaria:

1. Hike the 7 Rila Lake s then onto Rila Monastery   

2. Visit Buzludzha, the former communist headquarters of the Soviet Empire

3. Party on the beach at Varna  

4. See the ancient amphitheatre at Plovdiv

5. Take in the beauty of Belogradchik Rocks  

Language: Bulgarian (English is spoken in Sofia and Varna, less in other parts of the country)

Interrail routes: 3 weeks in the Balkans

If I was to come up with a Interrail route for 3 weeks in the Balkans, it would look something like this. This is travelling around quite a lot, so bare that in mind!

• Bucharest – 2 days
• Brasov – 2 days
• Novi Sad – 2 days
• Belgrade – 2 days
• Kotor – 3 days
• Durmitor National Park – 2 days
• Ohrid – 2 days
• Skopje – 1 day
• Sofia – 2 days
• Veliko Tarnova – 1 day
• Varna – 1 day

Top tips for Interrailing

Choose your holiday spots wisely. Lazing on a beach in Spain is going to be a lot more expensive than lazing on a beach in Montenegro. In general, Western and Northern Europe is much more expensive compared to Eastern Europe.

Try to avoid the ‘busy season’

In Europe this is July and August, with one month either side also being popular. A trip in late September or October is much cheaper, and you still catch some of that summer sun. Many hotels and campgrounds reduce their prices up to as much as 80% after the summer holidays.

Avoid train reservations and supplements

Although most high-speed trains require reservations and/or supplements, it’s often possible to avoid paying these extras when you research alternative routes .

This means that you’ll use domestic trains, which are slower, but it normally means also that your travel is free from those extra costs. A bonus though, if you take a night train, you do have to pay a supplement (boo), but you save on accommodation cost (yah!)

Travel days

If you have limited travel days then sometimes it is cheaper to buy a train ticket to go a short distance than to have to use a whole travel day. It is best to only use travel days for longer distances or for multiple journeys. That way you’re getting the best value for your money.

Local transport

Big cities often have various train stations, so you can use your Interrail Pass to go from one part of the city to another by train. In bigger German cities, your Interrail Pass is also valid on the S-Bahn (but not on the U-Bahn).

Local transport is a cheap method to get round a city. If you’re really on a budget then look into hiring a bike or walking around the city. Much cheaper and keeps you fit too!

Will I need a visa to travel to the EU after Brexit?

Despite the UK having left the EU, you can still travel to EU countries without having to apply for a visa. You don’t need a visa if you visit as a tourist and stay for up to 90 days within a 180-day period, and the same counts for Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein.  

Interrail packing list

As you can imagine, I travel a lot. It comes with the territory of being a travel blogger! That being said, there are some things that I now can’t travel without. If you’re planning your Interrail itinerary, I’d really recommend taking these items with you:

• Sunglasses: Mens | Womens – These are an absolute must as soon as you step off the plane, holiday mode very firmly on!
• Cool felt hat – I always love travelling with a hat these days, especially during summer when the sun’s out.
• Rain jacket: Mens | Womens – Sorry guys, but it’s always a good idea to travel with a pac-a-mac or rain jacket that packs down small. Fingers crossed you won’t need to use it.
• Bum bag – Very easy and simple for wandering around a city and it means you can leave a big bag at the hotel room.
• Sleep mask – 100% take this with me on every trip.
• Ear plugs – Even if you’re staying in a 5* hotel, you might need ear plugs.

• Water bottle – I am a water bottle convert and I barely leave the house without one now. This is a great water bottle with a built in straw – it’s surprisingly handy!
• Waterproof phone carrier – Another game changer. I always use this when I’m on the beach to protect my phone from sand or when I’m kayaking to protect it from water.
• Portable charger – Does anyone travel without these now? This one is my favourite – just make sure you charge it before you get on the plane!
• Jabra earbuds – After trying so many different types of earbuds, these are now my go-to ones. Great for wandering around a city.
• Multi-adapter plug – This is the one item you’re most likely to forget.

This post was in association with National Rail to promote MyInterrail highlighting some of the best Interrail routes. As always, all views are entirely my own and without bias.

What do you think are the best places to visit in Eastern Europe? If you have any questions at all about my Eastern Europe itinerary, let me know in the comments below!

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About the Author

Macca Sherifi is the founder of the multiple award-winning blogs An Adventurous World and the Great British Bucket List. Every month he inspires over 200,000 avid readers to travel the world.

2 thoughts on “The Ultimate Interrail Itinerary for Eastern Europe”

About how much did you spend on average per day or overall for this trip?

Good question. I was aiming for a budget of about 30/50 euros per day, depending on activities. Obviously eastern Europe is a lot cheaper than western Europe, but it can still add up over a long trip.

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The Ultimate Eastern Europe Travel Guide (Updated 2024)

Fewer travelers head east – t hat’s why you should.

H ead East from Germany, and you’ll find that your Euros are less often accepted. English is not so widely spoken. The streets can appear grittier, with concrete apartment blocks often blocking out the sun. Poland has no Leaning Tower of Pisa, Budapest boasts no colosseum, and the rushing Danube may be less associated with romance than the sedate river Seine. But travel with your eyes open, and you’ll find just as much beauty, history, fun and adventure in the East as others do in the well trodden West.

Average wages behind the historic ‘Iron Curtain’ are still drastically low, which is rough on the locals, but can benefit the intrepid traveler: You’ll find that three course restaurant meal in Sofia, Bulgaria can cost you less than a cocktail in a Parisian bar. So pack a phrase book and dress up warm – we’re heading East!

• 1 Eastern Europe: An overview
• 2 Eastern Europe highlights: A sample itinerary
• 3 The Baltics: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania
• 4 Poland: Gdansk, Warsaw & Krakow
• 5 Slovakia: Zdiar, The Tatra Mountains
• 6 Hungary: Budapest
• 7 Bulgaria: Sofia
• 8 How much does a trip to Eastern Europe cost?
• 9 How long do you need to explore Eastern Europe?
• 10 Getting around
• 11 Getting there
• 12 Where to stay
• 13 When to go
• 14 Food and drink
• 15 What to do
• 16 The Thrifty Gist

Eastern Europe: An overview

The definition of Eastern Europe can be a bit contentious. I moved to Poland a few years ago and have used this country as a base on and off ever since. While the folks back in England and Australia would tend to see Poland as ‘Eastern Europe,’ here locals often insist on ‘Central Europe,’ and looking at a map, they may have a point. However for the purposes of this article, Poland makes the cut. We’re also going to look at Czechia and Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, former Yugoslavia, the Baltics and Ukraine.

To varying degrees, all the countries described fell under the influence of the Soviet Union after the second world war. While most have now transformed into Western leaning democracies, the brutal memory of communism still rings in the ears. Poland and Hungary are sliding ominously towards the far right, and Ukraine’s recent attempt to lurch Westward politically was met with Russian tanks crossing the border into Crimea. While ‘history’ may feel like a thing of the past in London and Rome, here it is still an unfolding story.

Eastern Europe highlights: A sample itinerary

Once you spend a bit of time staring at a map, you’ll realize there’s an awful LOT of Eastern Europe. Not just in the number of countries, but in the size. Ukraine alone could comfortably fit in several Western European nations. Below I’ll sketch a rough itinerary that involves heading due south right from the Baltics into Bulgaria. You can either complete this itinerary fully (as pictured above) – requiring 5-6 weeks – or just do sections of it. 

A few things to note is that while most of these countries are in both the European Union and the Schengen Visa Free Zone, there are exceptions – notably Serbia and Ukraine. So be sure to check your visa requirements before venturing out . Also, the below is one hell of a trip and designed to give you a sense of what is available, rather than a definitive prescription – you should, of course, pick and choose. If you wanna head straight to Prague to sample the famed (and cheap) Czech beer before braving the winter streets of Vilnius, then I can’t say I blame you!

The Baltics: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania

So-named because of their position on the Baltic sea, these three small nations are often overlooked by Western travelers. But they shouldn’t be. Let’s have a look at each in turn:

Highlight : Tallinn. With a population of just 1.3 million, Estonia rapidly reinvented itself after the collapse of communism in 1989, and now is counted among one of the most technologically developed nations in the world. It offers digital citizenship to locals and expats, and is considered a digital nomad hub. If Eastern Europe in your mind is crumbling buildings and long queues for groceries, then start with Estonia to dispel those misconceptions. Get to know it like a local with a Welcome to Tallinn walking tour.

Highlight : Riga. The historic center of Riga is a Unesco world heritage site, and the beautifully preserved/restored town square is a great precursor of what you’re to expect as you explore countries like Poland and Czechia further south. Take in the most popular sights with a scenic canal boat cruise .

Highlight : Vilnius. Like Riga, the historic center of Vilnius is a Unesco World Heritage site, best explored with a local guide . Once unified with Poland, Vilnius boasts a proud literary heritage and a rich Jewish history – it was once referred to as the “Jerusalem of Lithuania.”

Poland: Gdansk, Warsaw & Krakow

One of the strongest economies to emerge from the collapse of the Eastern Bloc, Poland’s vibrant present mingles with a history that stretches back over 1000 years, through the glory days of the Poland-Lithuania commonwealth right through to the trauma suffered at the hands of the Nazis and Soviets during the 20th century. I came to this country for a week in 2015, and ended up staying on and off for three years!

Spend your final days with the Baltic Sea at Gdansk, formerly the predominantly German free city of Danzig. Walk along the old docks, or admire the city from a historic boat cruise , and remember the Solidarity movement that, led by Lech Walesa, resulted in the overthrow of communism first in Poland and then, arguably, across the rest of Europe. One of Poland’s most picturesque cities, a late night stroll through the old town and by the riverside will be a treasured memory.

The sight of unimaginable horror during the Second World War as the Soviet Tanks waited for the Nazis to eliminate all Polish resistance before sweeping in and planting the Hammer and Sickle flag over the ruined city, Warsaw’s revival is the stuff of legend. Under the shadow of the imposing Palace of Culture, the historic old town has been painstakingly restored. Visit the POLIN Jewish Museum , and experience some of the finest dining Eastern Europe has to offer among the cities many chic restaurants (Hint: Try Cafe Kafka for lunch).

Poland’s biggest tourist draw, and for good reason. The medieval old square is haunting under the moonlight, as rows of horses and cart stand to attention, ready to take the next visitor for a ride. Outside the city you can venture deep under the earth to explore the Salt Mines, and make a painful, but necessary visit to the Auschwitz Museum .

Detour: Lviv, Ukraine

Take the night train from Krakow due east to experience something truly off the beaten track. Lviv is a great way to dip your toes into the gargantuan country of Ukraine, and give yourself a thrilling few days. Historically Polish and once known by the Hapsburg name, Lemberg, Lviv boasts one of the most adventurous nightlife scenes you’ll ever encounter. From a bar named Masoch (we’ll let you guess the theme) to multi story clubs, hidden restaurants accessible only with a password, rooftop bars where you sit in broken down cars, and ancient crypts beneath the city , a weekend in Lviv will give you enough stories to make your friends jealous for years.

Slovakia: Zdiar, The Tatra Mountains

Back on the road from Poland, we cross into Slovakia. The nation’s capital, Bratislava , is a rougher, smaller version of Prague (covered below) which rewards a fun weekend. But the Tatra mountains that stretch across the Polish border offer one of Slovakia’s most intoxicating delights.

Pro tip: Hit the Polish town of Zakopane just a few clicks from the border for a taste of the local Oscypek mountain cheese, before taking a minibus to the border, walking into Slovakia, and hopping another quick bus to Zdiar, a ski resort town. Stay in the Ginger Monkey Hostel for cosy diggs and to meet fellow travelers.

Detour: Prague, Czechia

It’s a bit out of the way and means a slight tack westward, but Prague, the dynamic capital of Czechia (formerly the Czech Republic, formerly formerly Czechoslovakia) is worth making the trip. Climb the steep hill to Prague Castle , and see the spires and winding streets of the city at your feet. Jostle with buskers on Charles Bridge before settling into one of the cities many cavernous beer halls for a sip (or several) of the unbelievably refreshing locals brews that flow like water and cost half as much!

Hungary: Budapest

Hungary’s mighty capital is growing in stature as a major Eastern European destination, rivaling Prague and Krakow. Divided into two halves, hilly historical Buda and flat, gritty Pest, the glory of the Austro-Hungarian empire, the horrors of the Arrow Cross Fascist regime and communist oppression, and the contemporary hipster revival of the city can all be felt after just a few hours in town. Climb up to the exquisite Royal Palace, drink the night away in a ruin bar (start with the gigantic Szimpla), take in the stunning architecture from a river cruise , soothe your soul in a thermal bath, and burn your taste buds with spicy paprika filled Goulash. For more tips on activities to do in Budapest, check our other guide here .

From here to Sofia you’ll most likely have to choose one of the below routes, which, like different prongs on a fork, all forge their own path to Bulgaria.

Option #1: Serbia: Belgrade

Step out of the European Union and into a scarier, starker version of history in Belgrade. The winding, cobbled streets are beautiful, the old ladies haggle over the price of cucumbers on the street markets, and the clubs rage until dawn. But as with much of Europe, there’s a darker side to history here. You’ll see at the ancient fortifications, in the city’s museums, and in the bullet holes still visible on some older buildings. Take in the top attractions from a sightseeing cruise .

Option #2: Romania: Transfagarasan Highway

Bucharest is a rough and ready capital that will still provide plenty to distract and entertain you. But for me, Romania is a country of rolling green hills, famers on horseback, dark grey clouds and mercifully warm temperatures. Considered one of the best road trips in the world, rent a car and take it carefully over the Transafgarasan Highway (or sit back and relax with a day tour ) for incredible views and, of course, a climb up the steep stairs to Vlad the Impaler’s vertiginous castle (Bran Castle).

Option #3: Croatia: Dubrovnik

Go ahead, be a tourist, give yourself a treat. Famous as the filming location for much of Game of Thrones (with you can visit on dedicated tours ), this seaside city will be sure to rack up the Instagram likes. Don’t want to get caught up in the tourist crowd? Croatia’s warm and picturesque Mediterranean coast can also be experienced from cities like Split, which also boast fresh seafood and, of course, cheap local beer sold in gigantic plastic bottles. Živjeli!

Bulgaria: Sofia

How much does a trip to Eastern Europe cost?

The low cost of living in Eastern Europe constantly amazes me. To take a sample at random, I am writing this article from a cafe in Poznan, Poland. A large local craft beer would cost $2 USD, a latte about the same, and a delicious, high quality hot meal about $6-8. This is typical of Eastern Europe, with countries like Ukraine, Serbia and Bulgaria offering even cheaper rates. The major tourist towns like Prague and Budapest can sting you on accomodation if you don’t book in advance, and always be wary of nightclubs and ‘bars of ill repute’ where scams are known.

Traveling Eastern Europe can realistically be done for as little as $30-50 USD / day , including accomodation, food, beer, transport and attractions.

How long do you need to explore Eastern Europe?

The above itinerary – done properly – would require about 5-6 weeks, but you can of course take as long or as little as you like. Distances can be large and outdated transport infrastructure can mean uncomfortable journeys (hold tight to your wallet on the cheap but dusty overnight train from Belgrade to Budapest. When I did this journey in 2015, I paid just 10 Euro for the ticket including sleeper berth!).

Getting around

While rail passes are highly recommended for travel in Western Europe, in the East they are less necessary. Train travel – even when booked on the day – is outrageously cheap, with $20 being more than enough for almost any internal journey you’re likely to make. For international journeys, consider overnight buses and trains to save on a night’s accommodation. Book in advance if going between major cities – for example, the overnight train from Warsaw to Budapest can get expensive (100 euro +) if booked at the last minute, but if booked in advance, will be a mere fraction of this.

• For trains, try Bahn.de
• For buses, try FlixBus
• For flights, try WizzAir

Getting there

Most cities listed above can easily be accessed with cheap Ryanair flights from London and across Western Europe. Check Skyscanner and select “Whole Month” to visualize the cheapest dates. If traveling from afar, cities like Berlin and Munich in Germany can make convenient hubs. I’ve also found Prague to be a surprisingly affordable final destination when flying all the way from Australia / New Zealand. If coming from Scandinavia, Gdansk in Poland can sometimes be reached for as little as 15 euro.

Where to stay

Cities like Krakow and Budapest boast a thriving youth hostel culture, ideal if you want to meet other travelers and find drinking buddies for the evening. In Budapest I give my warmest recommendation to  Carpe Noctem – I practically moved in. Elsewhere, Booking.com can offer cheap short term rentals on apartments, while AirBNB is a slightly more expensive, but more comfortable option for doing the same. Although you may not even consider doing such a thing in Paris or London, don’t be afraid to be bold and check TripAdvisor for a nice hotel – I’ve found 4 or 5 star luxury for under $50 a night across Eastern Europe.

It’s no secret: Eastern Europe gets cold, with subzero temperatures not unheard of from December through to March. This has its compensations – nothing is more beautiful than a medieval town center blanketed in white snow. Christmas means Christmas markets and hot spiced wine served out of large cauldrons, but it’s also when everyone has gone home with their families. My favorite time to travel is September, when it’s still hot, but the main tourist crowds have wrapped up their summer holidays, leaving the streets clear to explore.

Food and drink

Let’s start with drink! Beer is literally cheaper than bottled water in most countries described above. Look for the local brews, but be careful – in this part of the world, beer packs a punch, and 9% alcohol volume brews are not uncommon. Vodka is available in millions of different flavors – try Zubrowka in Poland, and local fruit spirits such as the potent Sliwowica (plum spirit) are easy to find. In Hungary, try sweet and rich Tokaj wine. Eastern European cuisine tends to be heavy – food to soak up the vodka and prepare you for a long winter. Pierogi (polish dumplings) make for a hearty meal, as does Hungary’s goulash, Prague’s many manifestations of pork, and Lithuania’s rich, dark rye bread. Look out for Milk Bars in Poland for cheap meals shoulder to shoulder with students and vagabonds. Supermarket chains like Lidl and Tesco can provide you cheap groceries basically everywhere you will go.  

Every city you visit will have a museum testifying to ancient glories and more recent horrors. Budapest boasts thermal baths, Poland has its salt mines, Slovakia has mountains and Prague – well, Prague has beer and a lot more besides, and pretty much everywhere has a fair share of castles! But the best thing to do is simply to wander, walk the cobbled streets with your eyes open, look at the people, and try and learn a few snatches of the local languages. Walking tours are available in most major cities – see Viator for what’s available in your destination.

The Thrifty Gist

• Eastern Europe can be challenging, but it boasts a wealth of attractions and an unbelievably low cost of living, making it a dream destination for the adventurous budget traveler
• Highlights include the Baltic countries, Poland, Lviv, The Tatras Mountains, Prague, Budapest, Romania, Belgrade, Dubrovnik and Sofia
• Travel by overnight train or bus to save on a night’s accommodation. With the exception of a few major routes, fares are constantly low
• Germany next door can serve as an easy hub to access Eastern Europe, but cheap flights with companies like WizzAir can get you pretty much anywhere
• Stay in hostels to meet travelers and for a party vibe, use Booking.com and AirBNB for comfortable private accommodation, and search TripAdvisor for great deals of high quality hotels
• December is beautiful, but cold, and with a lot of places likely to be closed. September offers warm weather, but not too many tourists
• Drink beer, brave the local flavored vodka, and eat the hearty rich meals with a focus on meat, potatoes and bread. Yes, you’ll likely come home a few kilos heavier!
• Eastern Europe is rich in history and has seen the conflicts of several empires. Enjoy the historic old town squares, castles, and museums, but mostly just walk the fascinating streets and listen to the stories of the people you encounter.

I like that you talked about museums in every city where we will see the ancient glories and horrors of their history. I would love to visit museums when my husband and I book a European travel tour for next year. It will be for my birthday to finally push through with my dream trip, and I can definitely enjoy the visit if I can learn about their history as well.

I love how detailed your blog is. Very helpful and informative. 🙂 So, I recently visited Krakow and was blown away by how charming and picturesque it is. The old town is just so charming and there’s a really lively nightlife scene. Overall, I had a really amazing time in Krakow and would definitely recommend it to others.

Thanks Jane—couldn’t agree more, Krakow is amazing!

“Sofia is most notable for its clash of influences, the Cyrillic writing system and Orthodox religion from Russia…” That is WRONG. Bulgaria created the Cyrillic writing system and Russia adopted it… Please fix that 🙂

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Train Travel in Eastern Europe – The Adventure of Lifetime with this Amazing Eastern Europe Itinerary!

By: Author Jim Vail

Posted on Published: 3 September 15  - Last updated: 3 January 24

Home » DIY Travel » Train Travel in Eastern Europe – The Adventure of Lifetime with this Amazing Eastern Europe Itinerary!

An insider’s guide to train travel in Eastern Europe! A fantastic read for anyone who wants to ride a train across Europe! Plus, after reading this guide, you will not be able to stop yourself from buying tickets and riding across Europe.

Living in Germany allowed us to start exploring Eastern Europe and those post-Soviet countries that all gained their independence in around 1991. Taking the trains allowed us to get a taste of a few new countries at a time, meet the people, and see the landscapes glide by through the windows.

In this guide to using trains in Eastern Europe and the Eastern Europe rail pass, ee’ll share our planning strategy, suggested routes, and planning tools.

On top of that, we’ll also try to answer some frequently asked questions about train travel in Eastern Europe. And finally, we’ll share some stories from our journey.

In this article, you’ll learn:

Common Questions About Train Travel in Eastern Europe

• An Epic Eurail Eastern Europe Itinerary
• Tools for Planning a European Train Trip

Apps for Train Travel in Eastern Europe

• What are Train Stations like When You do Train Travel in Eastern Europe?

More Useful Resources for Train Travel in Eastern Europe

We really enjoyed taking the overnight trains from Ankara to Istanbul and Izmir while we were living in Turkey , and that is more what we had pictured. All of these thoughts and more were bubbling around in our heads and for the first time in a long time the prospect of going through the motions of travel, the getting from point A to point B, was something of a mystery.

When our Eurail passes arrived in the mail in early June I thought, “We have plenty of time to plan this trip.” There was this vague, nebulous idea that we would ride trains and our stops could be the capital cities of Eastern Europe.

We knew we would visit as many UNESCO World Heritage Sites as we could and that we wanted to visit as many new countries that time allowed. But when it came down to planning and figuring out a specific route we just kept avoiding it. What a chore!

And wouldn’t all of that planning and scheduling turn the trip into a checklist of sights and cities? Where was the adventure and romance of traveling through Europe on a Global pass, going wherever our fancy took us? It was easy enough to put off all of that drudgery!

We had lots of questions to answer while we were planning our train journey through Eastern Europe.

Is Train Travel in Eastern Europe Safe?

Traveling by train between cities is not the same thing as traveling on public transportation within cities. To begin with everyone should have a seat. So, there aren’t people bumping into you, trying to grab your wallet or camera.

That doesn’t mean there is no theft. It’s a good idea to keep your most valuable items, like your passport, credit cards, and money on your person. Especially on night trains, you will fall asleep, and that will give an opportunity to someone to steal.

It’s important to be aware of your surroundings, and know where your luggage is (try to stay as close as possible to it). On all the trains we’ve taken in Europe, we never felt unsafe, and we never had anything stolen. Everyone we met were just trying to get somewhere.

Do They Check Passports on Trains in Eastern Europe?

At every border, customs agents got on the train. In the Schengen zone, they visibly calculated how many days you had left on your visa. In fact, when we traversed Poland to Slovakia, a young couple were kicked off because they’d overstayed their Schengen.

Crossing the borders of all the Eastern European countries, the customs agents were thorough, but not intimidating, just like the ticket collectors.

Do You Need Seat Reservations on Trains in Eastern Europe?

One of the questions we got a lot was, “Did we always need a seat or ticket reservation?” It usually only costs a few euros to reserve a first class seat (if there is a first class car on the train) so if you have time you might as well get the reservation.

We found that many of the ticket clerks would tell us if we didn’t really need the reservation and they were always spot on. Sometimes, however, you don’t have time to make the reservation or even inquire about it. What does an intrepid Eurail traveler do in these situations?

Leaving Krakow we had intended to head north to Warsaw and had made the reservation in the afternoon the day before we planned to depart. During the evening we talked ourselves out of Warsaw and right out of Poland.

It was time to start heading south and east, that’s why we came on this trip wasn’t it? The reservation was free so we just scrapped it.

The ticket office in Krakow is open all night but I wasn’t really feeling up to the 15-minute walk at midnight so we just consulted our trusty DB Navigator , found a train leaving early the next morning, got a few hours of sleep and then jumped aboard the train for Zilina.

There weren’t any first class cars so we just grabbed a seat in second class and had a great time making friends. In Zilina we switched trains to Levoca and–yes!–there was a first class car.

The second class cars were all overloaded with no seats to be found. We had to walk through all eleven cars with the hopes that first class would have some seats available.

We checked carefully once we got there and found the last two empty seats on the train had reservation labels on them. We had learned to read them carefully and, as luck would have it, the previous occupants of these two prime seats had only been riding from Bucharest to Zilina.

They had just left when we got on. We took the seats and relaxed comfortably while at every other stop we saw more and more passengers boarding without reservations or seats.

Did we always need reservations? No, but it sure would have been better that time around. So did we go to the train station and talk to a person to plan all of our routes?

No way. Most of these ticket offices or traveler information desks are so busy, especially in summer, that we would have wasted far too much time waiting around.

Building Our Eastern Europe Itinerary

We had the map that came with our passes, and we loved pulling it out and just dreaming about the routes we’d take and the cities we’d visit, but reserve a specific train on a set date? Two months ahead of the visit?

No way. Instead, we spent time looking for resources, trying to figure out the best way to go about this and still maintain some spontaneity.

In the end, we came up with a set of tools and resources which helped us along the way, and it seems like a good idea to share those with others and hopefully help them save some time in their own journey.

Knowing where we wanted to visit along the way was helpful, and once we picked our first destination, everything else just started falling into place.

There were some days on the trip where we changed routes two or three times based on something we read online or after listening to some fellow traveler’s advice. But somehow, everything just worked during our train travel in eastern Europe.

Our final Eastern Europe itinerary turned out like this:

Weiden, Germany–Krakow, Poland–Levoca, Slovakia–Budapest, Hungary–Sibiu, Romania–Bucharest, Romania–Sofia, Bulgaria–Thessaloniki, Greece–Skopje, Macedonia–Belgrade, Serbia–Ljubljana, Slovenia–Graz, Austria–Murzzuschlag, Austria–Weiden, Germany

Train Travel in Eastern Europe – Our Train Trip Begins

Walking from our front door to the train station in our little town of Weiden, Germany , we weren’t really sure what was in store for us. Sure, we’ve both been on trains before. Even long distance overnight trains.

Would the trains of eastern Europe be clean, comfortable, and fast like those in the west? Or crowded, slow, hot and grimy, like those crossing the subcontinent of India? More likely, we thought, somewhere in between.

Weiden is a small town with a two-platform station. A few intercity trains go through and even fewer actually stop, so from there we had to take an hour-long commuter ride to Regensburg .

This short sleek new train was fast and comfortable. We were actually cold inside the car, while outside it was the beginning of one of the most blisteringly hot heat waves in Europe’s recent history.

We must have been showing our eagerness and excitement all over our faces; we looked so happy to be on our way that the ticket agent asked us within ten minutes if we wanted her to take our photo. We did!

Aside from this short interaction, train travel at the beginning of our trip was impersonal and sterile. We seemed to be traveling in our own bubble much like during air travel.

As we traveled east and then south that bubble expanded and grew to include more passengers in nearby seats. Somewhere outside of Skopje that bubble burst completely and we were part of a larger community now; all traveling, talking, commiserating, and sweating together in one car packed full of passengers.

Leaving Belgrade and traveling back west and then north we could feel that bubble contracting back towards us and enclosing us in the safe but less than stimulating travel cocoon of western Europe. It seems the more modern and fast the trains traveled the more we were isolated from our fellow travelers.

Perhaps the best example of train traveling working as a catalyst for creating community happened to us on the route between Romania and Bulgaria.

The train connecting Bucharest to Sofia, one of many magnificent Eastern European capitals , seems to have been put in place with the sole purpose of transporting backpackers and other tourist-type rail pass passengers from one major hub to another.

The train consisted of an engine and two cars and none of the passengers we encountered on that trip were from Romania or Bulgaria, everyone of us a traveler, all backpackers in spirit despite the actual luggage being carried.

That train started out as any other in the East. No air conditioning, windows open, passengers sitting quietly in their cars, some sleeping, others reading, small groups in conversation.

The usual banter back and forth: “where have you been on this trip?”, “where are you going?”… exchanges of hotel information or hidden treasures found along the way. All of that ended, however, at the border.

Our train arrived at the border crossing on time and we all sat patiently as the border patrol came on and checked passports.

After they left and we continued to sit in the hot sun, people began to get restless, walking up and down the aisles, exchanging theories on the delay–the bubble was expanding.

After half an hour someone realized we were waiting for the train coming from Sofia, the two engines would be detached and then reattached to the other train’s cars and then pull them back into the engines’ countries of origin. The tourists and the passenger cars could cross borders, but not the engines or their drivers.

After an hour with no sign of the Bulgarian train, passengers began climbing out of the cars. We descended upon that poor somnolent station building like a swarm of lotuses looking for food. Literally.

We were looking for food and drink. No one had been prepared for the delay and water (and alcohol) rations had run dry in the 100 degree heat. A foraging explorer from New Zealand found a small kiosk operating out of a ramshackle hut on the edge of the tracks selling water, snacks, ice cream and beer.

Soon, the entire contents of both cars had spilled out onto the one and only cement platform and an impromptu party broke out. There were toasts to be made, songs to be sung, food to be shared, arguments to be won, friends to be made, breakups, hookups, tears, laughter and–finally–cheers!–as the long overdue train chugged up the tracks towards our motley crew.

Back aboard the train there was a new sense of camaraderie and for a few, at least, the party continued on down the tracks.

This one train ride encapsulated the entire adventurous, and might I say, nostalgic experience. Everything I’d ever read, every story I’d been told or movie I’d seen about a train trip was found in that one leg of our journey.

To be sure, parts of that experience were repeated throughout our adventure but never was it all to be found again on one single train ride.

Beautiful sunsets were just one of the bonuses of train travel in Eastern Europe.So, aside from the adventure and the sense of mystery and facing the unknown, why travel by Eurail? The internet is overflowing with blog posts and articles about how to travel cheaper by rail.

But if you read those posts you’ll quickly discover that while it may be true that we could have done our entire journey for less than the cost of the Eastern Europe Rail Pass, we would have had to know six months prior exactly where and when we wanted to travel.

All of the legs of the journey would have needed to be booked and reserved so far in advance that there would have been no mystery, no flexibility, no unknown to face and overcome.

We were able to use our passes with a magical sense of power. A magic wand allowing admittance and passage across flowing visions of mountainous landscapes, windswept plains, and mirror like lakes reflecting the reds and pinks of sunset as we rattled off into the night.

At no time did our passes let us down. I’m pretty sure that there was one bus in Austria where the mere flash of our rail pass bewitched the driver and convinced him to let us board and ride for free.

An Epic Eurail Eastern Europe Itinerary – Train Travel in Eastern Europe

For our sample easter Europe train adventure we recommend starting out in Munich, Germany. This is a very easy destination with many affordable low cost airlines serving it. Of course, you could start your journey somewhere else along the route. Do some careful searching for cheap flights into Munich, Vienna, Prague, or Warsaw and choose the starting point that works best for you. All of these cities make an excellent starting point for this itinerary.

Munich, Germany

Munich is one of the easiest and cheapest airports to fly into. For this reason it is often the starting point for an eastern Europe train adventure. However, don’t just land, get off a plane, and climb onto a train. Take some time to visit this bustling Bavarian capital. While you’re here consider checking out: the world famous Hofbrauhaus , Berchtesgaden , and the biggest party on Earth – the Oktoberfest (if the time is right). Be sure and check out some of these must try German dishes while you are here, as well.

Time allotted: 2 days Where to stay: Design Hotel Stadt Rosenheim Munich Where to eat: Hofbrauhaus , Wirtshaus in der Au

Prague, Czech Republic

Czechoslovakia was one of the first countries to part ways from the Soviet Union and later went through the Velvet Divorce splitting into the two countries of Czechia and Slovakia. Both of these incredible countries should be on any Eastern Europe itinerary.

Czechia is best known, in my view, for inventing the best beer in the world, pilsner. The capital city, Prague, is a fairytale town with towering gothic spires, and wonderfully ornate architecture. Don’t miss the Top Attractions in Prague like the Charles Bridge, the Astronomical Clock, and the Clementinum (best view in the city). Of course, when in Prague, everyone should have a beer at U Fleku, a warm trdelnik from a street vendor, and some roast pork with bread dumplings.

Time allotted: 2 days Where to Stay: Unitas Hotel Where to eat: U Fleku , U Parlamentu

Krakow, Poland

Poland’s relatively flat landscape, punctuated by rolling hills and shallow river valleys, makes for easy traveling by train; while it’s medieval town centers offer a vibrant splash of color. Spending two days in Krakow provides the perfect introduction to this friendly country. Explore somber WWII history with a visit to Auschwitz , then go way back in time plumbing the depths of Wieliczha Salt Mine , and later take some time for a beer and pierogi in the old town central square.

Time allotted: 2 days Where to stay: Betmanowska Main Square Residence, Hotel Gródek Where to eat: Pierogarnia Krakowiacy , Gościnna Chata

Levoca, Slovakia

The train journey from Krakow to Levoca is one that needs to be taken during the day. Be sure to be on the left side of the train after leaving Zilina for the best views of the High Tatras mountains. The UNESCO inscribed walled town of Levoca is a renaissance dream . Spend the night in one of the quaint inns in the center and then explore the town in the morning. Don’t miss the Gothic church, the “cage of shame” and the old town hall.

Time allotted: One overnight Where to stay: Hotel U Leva Where to eat: U Leva

Bratislava, Slovakia

Bratislava , the capital of Slovakia, is a vibrant city embracing its proud past through a robust building renovation program. Most of the central Old Town has been restored to its medieval and Baroque splendor. Aside from taking a stroll back in time around the expansive pedestrian zone, visitors shouldn’t miss the Blue Church, the quirky sculptures, and the beautifully restored castle.

Time allotted: 2 days Where to stay: Art Hotel William, Arcadia Boutique Hotel Where to eat: Koliba Kamzík

Budapest, Hungary

Few cities have as much charm and old world mystique as Budapest . Spanning both banks of the Danube River, this incredible city of spas and baths is full of romance and culinary treasures. Take a cooking lesson , ride the Children’s Railway , and just explore the sights. Of course you must have a hearty plate of chicken paprikash, some goulash, and a bowl of fish soup on a river boat.

Time allotted: 2 days Where to stay: Danubius Hotel Gellert, Novotel Budapest Danube Where to eat: Kéhli Vendéglő , Szegedi Halászcsárda , Mazel Tov

Known for its haunting stories of Transylvanian vampires, Romania today is anything but scary. This beautifully idyllic countryside provided hours of gorgeous scenery in our window. Get off the train to see ancient castles, fortified churches, and stunning landscapes. Must try foods include mamaliga (polenta), salata de vinete (eggplant dip), and Fasole făcăluită (bean casserole).

Our recommendation is to get off the train for Sightseeing in Sibiu . Then rent a car for a few days and take a road trip to: fortified churches ,  Sighisoara , the Transfagarasan Highway , and Transylvania. Continue by train to Bucharest for a visit to the capital city.

Time allotted: 4 days Where to stay: Art Hotel (Sibiu), Cavaler (Sighisoara), Trianon (Bucharest) Where to eat: Casa Krauss (Sighisoara), Caru’ cu bere (Bucharest)

Sofia, Bulgaria

Bulgaria is situated on the historical land route into Europe from Asia. Because of this, it has seen countless invasions throughout history. Sofia’s architecture, therefore, is a crazy mix of everything from ancient roman ruins, Byzantine churches, Ottoman mosques, to Soviet gothic stadiums. This makes exploring the city particularly fascinating as you never know what to expect around the next corner. Don’t miss the multi-domed Saint Aleksander Nevsky cathedral, the ruins of ancient Serdica, and a stroll down Vitosha Boulevard pedestrian zone.

With extra time rent a car and explore the surrounding countryside with a trip to Rila Monastery or the wine growing region around Melnik .

Time allotted: 2 – 3 Days Where to stay: L’Opera House Where to eat: Moskovska Restaurant 15 , Rainbow Factory

Thessaloniki, Greece

It may be the cradle of Western Civilization but Thessaloniki still feels like Eastern Europe to me! History is everywhere in this city. And if that’s not your cup of tea, head out to the beach for some sun, swimming, and a waterfront seafood feast. Thessaloniki is a great base for exploring the surrounding countryside, especially on a road trip . From here, a visit to the stunning clifftop monasteries in Meteora is a must. With a little extra time, head into the mountains and checkout the Oracle at Delphi .

Time allotted: 2 – 3 days Where to stay: Orestias Kastorias (Thessaloniki), Kastelia (Meteora) Where to eat: The Rouga (Thessaloniki), Taverna Gardeina (Meteora)

A trip to the Balkans could easily be its own adventure. We really wanted to experience as much of eastern Europe as possible on this trip so we made overnight stops in Skopje, North Macedonia ,  Belgrade, Serbia , and Ljubljana, Slovenia . It would really take quite a bit more time to explore these countries further as the train system coverage makes travel within country time consuming, if not impossible. Still, as far as authentic travel goes, the Balkans can’t be beat.

Time allotted: 3 overnights Where to stay: Hotel Alexandar II (Skopje), Garden Hotel Srbija (Belgrade), City Hotel Ljubljana (Ljubljana) Where to eat: Old City House (Skopje), Restoran Lovac (Belgrade), Julija (Ljubljana)

Make your back to Munich before your Eurail pass expires and enjoy one last beer and wurst before you catch your flight back home!

Tools for Planning a European Train Trip and Using Trains in Eastern Europe

There are several tools that really make it easier for you to get from point A to point B, but the starting point for most of our journeys was a map–a real, paper map. Sometimes you just want to unfold a map, spread it out on the table and let your imagination take you down the roads, train lines, rivers, whatever as you use trains in Eastern Europe!

Being able to see the big picture is invaluable in this age of phone screens and tablets. Sure, with the device there’s a lot more information at your finger tips, but it’s sometimes hard to connect the dots when you’ve swiped in and out and around so much that your original starting point is somewhere out in the clouds.

And it can be hard finding a good map that shows the train networks in Europe.

Most road maps don’t do a good job of this and the small maps in most travel books are pretty useless for planning a multi-country trip. There are some good rail maps available for purchase, but we just used the planning map that came with our Eurail packet.

Did it show every route in every country we visited during our Eastern Europe itinerary? No, but it did show the major routes, enough to know if you could get from point A to point B without too many train changes.  

Google Maps

That’s where our iPhones really paid off. Our data plan is pretty generous and includes unlimited data in most of Europe; theoretically we could be online in most of the countries we visited. However, in practice we were without data more often than we had it.

We needed good offline tools and luckily there are plenty of them out there. We found that by using wifi or data when it was available we could plan a leg of the journey and then go offline and have all of that info still at our fingertips. One of the best tricks we discovered was using Google Maps offline.

But Google Maps will do so much more for you then just getting from one place to another. It has become the defacto goto app for restaurant and hotel reviews, used by both travelers and locals alike.

Tips for Using Google Maps Offline When You Do Train Travel in Eastern Europe

If you Google “using Google Maps offline”, you’ll find the answer quick enough. It’s really not a secret. There’s a couple ways to get it done but the easiest is to search for the name of the city or town where you’re heading then zoom in or out to get the area you’ll need and type “ok maps” in the search bar.

A quick download and the map is available when you’re offline simply by tapping on the three bars icon and choosing “your places”.

Another useful tip for google maps is to use the phone’s built-in GPS to make sure you know when you’re getting close to your destination or to that next transfer point. This one’s easy too.

Before you leave the data area, start a route plan for your destination. When you leave the data area you’ll still see your location on the map and you can watch the little blue ball getting closer and closer to the station. This is invaluable for knowing exactly when you will be arriving at a destination.

Pocket Earth

Another very useful map app I use all the time is PocketEarth – This is a super good offline map app, but it’s only available on iPhone.

I first found this in Singapore and it was so good there that I’ve been using it everywhere ever since. After installing the app just download the map for the country you’re visiting or just the city. It has a pretty extensive database and does a good job of providing directions. It also shows your location via GPS.

Again, here’s where the phone came in “handy”. There are plenty of apps and websites to help you plan your way through Europe. Some work better than others and some just feel better.

DB Navigator

My favorite app for route planning was the DB Navigator provided by Deutsche Bahn, the German Train company. This app can find a route from nearly any point in Europe to any other point at any time of day or night.

Another really useful feature of this app is that you can use it in map mode to find a station and see all of the possible direct destinations out. This is really useful when you’re being spontaneous and looking for something you hadn’t thought of already.

Eurail/InterRail – Rail Planner

There is also a similar app Eurail/Inter Rail–Rail Planner –and I thought it worked pretty well, but I found the DB app much easier and more accurate. For example, traveling from Thessaloniki to Skopje took 34 hours according to Rail Planner, but DB knew I could get the four and a half hour train direct between the two stations.

What are Train Stations Like When You do Train Travel in Eastern Europe?

Most of the time, we were able to just climb aboard the train we wanted and show our passes to the conductor. Other times we really did need to go through a ticketing office, to make a firm seat reservation.

Of course, that brings its own worries and frustrations. Like where is the office in the station, what language will they speak, and worse, how long will it take.

When we arrived in Budapest on a very hot and long Saturday in August, the ticketing counter was swamped with tourists, migrants, commuters and everyone was waiting for a number system that didn’t seem to be rolling over very often. Remember, August is the month that many Europeans take a holiday. It was busy!

We needed to get a reservation for our next leg, a sleeper cabin on the overnight train to Sibiu (you can’t just hop aboard these ones). I pulled 472 when the display was showing 391; I didn’t count but I’m pretty sure there were at least 80 other people waiting with number stubs in hand.

I didn’t want to spend my entire stopover in Budapest at the ticket office so I started reading the signs. One of them listed all of the places to get tickets and gave the opening times for those offices. It turned out one of the options was at the business lounge in that same station (Budapest Kaleti).

That was when we discovered our first-class Eurail pass was a magic wand that would allow us entry into the pristine, air-conditioned realm of “business lounge land.”

Here we could relax, use a clean toilet, enjoy a free snack and cold drink, and–most importantly–book our overnight train to Sibiu.

After a short but pleasant break, we left the lounge with our reservation, stopped off at the regular ticket office (serving number 432), and gave our 472 to a dejected-looking man holding number 631. It really made his day!

Power Tip: Look for business lounges in the central stations of major European cities and use your first class Eurail pass to gain entry.

Do You Need Hotel Reservations When Planning an Eastern Europe Itinerary?

The next question…How did you find places to stay without reserving ahead of time while doing this Eastern Europe itinerary?

After we decided where we were heading, out came the phones! With limited data between stations, you need to find a hotel before you get on a train. For the most part, we stopped in larger cities that have many hotels, and Booking.com came through each time. (Below we’ve listed the hotels we stayed in.)

Of course, if you have your itinerary planned out well in advance then you might as well make all your reservations ahead of time.

But, if you’re more spontaneous and drifting along wherever the current pulls you, just make sure to do it before you arrive, especially if it will be at night.

Don’t wait until you arrive to start looking for a hotel! You’ll spend hours walking around a city, dragging your luggage along behind, getting hungrier and thirstier with every failed attempt. There’s nothing worse than being tired and trying to schlepp around and find a hotel aftering doing a bit of train travel in Eastern Europe.

Need to know anything and everything about rail travel in Europe (and probably the entire world)? You will find the answer from the man in seat 61 . This is the definitive source for rail travel how-to, route planning, train information, station information, seat information, wow, you name it if there are steel rails involved he has the info.

This is pretty good website for spit-balling any travel ideas as you train travel Eastern Europe. You can put any to-from points in and get routing information and price estimates on planes, trains, automobiles, taxis, buses, planes, ferries, donkey carts…OK, just kidding about the donkey carts. But I’m sure if someone published the mule train schedule for getting around Petra then Rome2rio would include that too!

If you’re dreaming of your own Eurail journey in the not too distant future, you should definitely check out some or all of the resources we mentioned in this post. Be prepared and stay flexible; allow for spontaneity and adventure!

“Anything is possible on a train: a great meal, a binge, a visit from card players, an intrigue, a good night’s sleep, and strangers’ monologues framed like Russian short stories.” – Paul Theroux

We loved experiencing train travel in Eastern Europe! It was a fun and exciting journey that we think you should try as you plan your very own, Eastern Europe itinerary.

So, be sure to check out the Eastern Europe Rail Pass and enjoy all that this amazing part of the continent has to offer. Also, our epic train trip through Eastern Europe is partially thanks to Eurail  who offered us Global Passes to use as we wished.  As usual, all thoughts and opinions are solely our own.

Author Bio: Jim Vail , is a travel, food, and video creator and a perpetual traveler who has been travel writing for over 15 years. For many years he lived overseas in Germany, Japan, Turkey, South Korea, and the Netherlands, and he’s visited over 90 countries.

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2traveldads

Thursday 16th of February 2017

Such great storytellers, these two. Yes, a Eurail pass is NOT the cheapest or easiest way to get about Europe, but you definitely get some good stories.

Corinne Vail

Rob, That's right. It's a right of passage, and a dream for storytellers!

rhonda albom

Monday 7th of September 2015

Interesting experience. I noticed it was a resourceful Kiwi that found the water and food :) I am with you on not planning way in advance and being flexible.

Rhonda, And that Kiwi made quick friends, let me tell you!

Saturday 5th of September 2015

Interesting experience, Corinne. I am surprised than an international train from Romania had no air conditioning. 27 years ago when we moved out of Romania they still had steam engine trains, but then 2 years ago when we went back and try to travel by train between two cities I was surprised by the long way they have come. The train was very modern, air conditioned and had all the amenities a modern train should have.

Hi Anda, We had the feeling the cars were some of the older and less maintained cars that were constantly moving between the two countries. It was almost as though neither national train company had taken responsibility for their upkeep.

Thursday 3rd of September 2015

Great story, great pictures! Can't wait to read more.

Friday 4th of September 2015

Anabel, We have so much to write about! Our summer was very busy!

Interrail Planner

Blog posts to help you plan the perfect Interrail trip.

The Ultimate 3 Week Eastern Europe Interrail Route

Exploring Eastern Europe by train is an incredible way to immerse yourself in the rich history, diverse cultures, and stunning landscapes of the region. Using your Interrail pass in Eastern Europe is incredibly easy as fewer seat reservations are required than in Western Europe. From the vibrant streets of Berlin to the breathtaking coastal views in Split, this Interrail route promises an unforgettable adventure. In this blog post, we’ll guide you through a 3 week Eastern Europe Interrail itinerary that allows you to make the most of your time in each city along the way.

Day 1-4: Berlin

Kickstart your Eastern European journey in the vibrant German capital, Berlin . Spend your first day exploring the historic landmarks like the Brandenburg Gate, Checkpoint Charlie, the Reichstag (book before you go) and the Berlin Wall Memorial. Immerse yourself in the city’s art and cultural scene by visiting Museum Island or the East Side Gallery. Don’t forget to indulge in delicious German cuisine, like the legendary kebabs or currywurst, and experience the buzzing nightlife. With three nights in Berlin, you’ll have plenty of time to delve into the city’s unique atmosphere. Kreuzberg, Friedrichshain and Neukölln are cool neighbourhoods and definitely worth looking for hostels there if you’re wanting to experience the Berlin night scene.

Day 4-7: Prague

Next, head to the enchanting city of Prague , known for its fairytale-like architecture and rich history. The train from Berlin takes around 4 hours 35 minutes. Spend your first day exploring the UNESCO-listed Prague Castle, St. Vitus Cathedral, and the charming Old Town Square. Wander across the iconic Charles Bridge and soak in the breathtaking views of the Vltava River. Take time to visit the famous astronomical clock and delve into Prague’s thriving arts scene. Enjoy traditional Czech cuisine and sample some of the world-renowned Czech beers during your stay. Escape the hustle and bustle of the city by heading to Petrin Hill, a peaceful green oasis. Climb up the hill to reach Petrin Tower, a smaller version of the Eiffel Tower, for breathtaking views over Prague. It’s also worth checking John Lennon Wall in the Mala Strana district.

For nightlife, the Old Town itself is great but it’s also worth checking out Wenceslas Square, Vinohrady, Žižkov, Karlin and Smíchov for some less-touristy bars.

Day 7-9: Krakow

From Prague, take a train to Krakow (around 8 hours), a city in Poland teeming with medieval charm and a tragic history. Start by visiting the historic Wawel Castle, the Royal Cathedral, and the fascinating Wieliczka Salt Mine. Explore the beautifully-preserved Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and make sure to visit the poignant Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum, a somber reminder of World War II. With two nights in Krakow, you’ll have ample time to appreciate the city’s unique atmosphere and traditional Polish cuisine. Little Havana Party Hostel is a great place to stay as they run bar crawls every night, which allows you to meet lots of fellow travellers. Make sure to sample Poland’s national drink; Wodka is a vodka bar in the Old Town and offers over 100 different flavours of vodka, ranging from fruity, to spicy and even a little bizarre!

Day 9-12: Vienna

Next, board a train to Vienna (around 7 hours), Austria’s elegant capital known for its imperial palaces, classical music heritage, and grand architecture. Begin by exploring the magnificent Schönbrunn Palace and gardens, followed by a visit to the iconic St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Discover the artistic treasures of the MuseumsQuartier and indulge in Vienna’s coffeehouse culture. Don’t miss the opportunity to attend a classical music concert or opera performance in one of the city’s renowned venues. Vienna may not have a river flowing directly through the city centre like some other European cities, but it still offers beautiful waterfront areas along the Danube River where you can hang out and enjoy the scenery like Danube Island, Copa Beach and Hermann’s Strandbar .

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Strandbar Herrmann (@strandbarherrmann)

Day 12-14: Bratislava

A short train ride connects the two closest capital cities in Europe, Vienna and Bratislava. Two days in the charming capital of Slovakia is plenty of time. Spend your first day exploring the compact Old Town, wandering through its narrow streets, and admiring the impressive Bratislava Castle. Sample traditional Slovak dishes and immerse yourself in the city’s relaxed atmosphere. On your second day, head to the Blue Church then take a stroll along the Danube River and enjoy the panoramic views from the UFO Observation Deck.

Day 14-17: Budapest

From Bratislava, take a scenic train ride to Budapest (about 2 hours 45 minutes), the so-called “Pearl of the Danube.” Budapest is certainly one of the most popular Interrail cities, featuring on most people’s Interrail routes. It combines culture with party very well. 3 days in Budapest is a good amount of time to get stuck in. Start your exploration with a visit to Buda Castle and Fisherman’s Bastion, where you can enjoy stunning views of the city. Cross the famous Chain Bridge back to Pest and explore the Hungarian Parliament Building and St. Stephen’s Basilica. Relax in one of Budapest’s thermal baths, such as the Széchenyi or Gellért Baths, and don’t forget to cruise along the Danube River to appreciate the city’s illuminated beauty at night.

When it comes to the nightlife in Budapest , one of the city’s most unique and popular attractions is the concept of ruin bars. These bars are located in abandoned buildings, courtyards, or old factories that have been transformed into eclectic, artistic, and vibrant spaces. Here are some of the top ruin bars to experience in Budapest:

• Szimpla Kert : Considered the pioneer of ruin bars in Budapest, Szimpla Kert is a must-visit. This sprawling ruin bar is located in the Jewish Quarter and is known for its quirky decor, graffiti-covered walls, and mismatched furniture. Enjoy live music, DJs, film screenings, and a variety of drinks in a bohemian atmosphere.
• Instant : Just a short walk from Szimpla Kert, Instant is another popular ruin bar known for its multiple rooms and three floors, each with its own unique theme. From psychedelic walls to a room filled with neon lights, Instant offers an immersive experience. Dance to a diverse range of music genres and enjoy the lively crowd.
• Fogas Ház : Located in the downtown area, Fogas Ház is a multifunctional space that includes a ruin bar, a garden courtyard, a club, and a cultural center. It hosts various events such as concerts, exhibitions, and parties. Explore the different rooms and soak in the artistic and alternative vibe.
• Mazel Tov : While not a traditional ruin bar, Mazel Tov is a popular ruin-style restaurant and bar located in a renovated courtyard in the Jewish Quarter. The space features a glass ceiling, brick walls, and a trendy atmosphere. Enjoy a delicious meal inspired by Israeli and Middle Eastern cuisine, and later in the evening, the bar area becomes lively with music and cocktails.
• Anker’t : Situated in a former office building courtyard, Anker’t offers a mix of indoor and outdoor spaces. It hosts a variety of events, including concerts, parties, and exhibitions. With its spacious garden and industrial-style interior, Anker’t is a great place to enjoy drinks, dance, and mingle.
• Corvintető : Located on the rooftop of an old department store, Corvintető offers panoramic views of Budapest’s skyline. This rooftop ruin bar hosts DJs, live music, and themed parties. Dance the night away under the stars and enjoy the vibrant atmosphere.

Ruin bars are known for their laid-back and alternative vibes, with a mix of locals and tourists. They are often open until the early hours of the morning, making them ideal for those seeking a lively and memorable night out in Budapest.

Day 17-19: Ljubljana

Venture further south to Ljubljana, the charming capital of Slovenia. The train takes around 9 hours from Budapest so a night train could be considered here. Spend your first day wandering through the pedestrian-friendly Old Town, with its colourful buildings, picturesque bridges, and outdoor cafes. Climb up to Ljubljana Castle for panoramic views of the city, and visit the Dragon Bridge, a symbol of Ljubljana. Take a boat tour along the Ljubljanica River and explore the beautiful Tivoli Park. Ljubljana’s relaxed atmosphere and green spaces will surely captivate you during your two-night stay. If you have enough time, you’re only an hour away from Lake Bled – one of the most beautiful lakes in Europe and definitely worth a day trip.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Interrail Planner (@interrailplanner)

Day 19-22: Split

Travel on a long train down to Split (again, consider a night train or potential stopover in Zagreb) and conclude your Eastern European Interrail adventure in the stunning coastal city of Split, Croatia . Begin by exploring the UNESCO-listed Diocletian’s Palace, an ancient Roman palace complex that has transformed into a vibrant neighbourhood filled with shops, restaurants, and historical sites. Take a stroll along the Riva promenade and relax on the beautiful beaches nearby. Don’t miss the opportunity to visit the nearby Plitvice Lakes National Park , a natural wonderland of cascading waterfalls and turquoise lakes. We think Split is the ideal place to finish because it ends the Interrail trip in a really relaxing way and there are some many day trips you can do from Split , as well as there being lots of flights back to the UK and other European cities. If you want to keep travelling, hop on the bus to Dubrovnik and then onto Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina , or Serbia!

As your Interrail journey comes to an end, you can reflect on the incredible memories you’ve made during your Interrail adventure through Eastern Europe. This itinerary allows you to delve into the unique character of each city, from Berlin’s cosmopolitan vibe to Split’s coastal charm. Remember to book your train tickets in advance, as well as secure accommodations along the way, to make your trip smooth and hassle-free. Enjoy your travels and embrace the wonders of Eastern Europe!

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Europe by Train: 20 Itinerary Ideas for 10 Days of Travel

There’s no better way to slow travel through Europe than by train. Here are 20 itinerary ideas for 10 days in Europe by rail – with options for every travel style, budget and season.

Europe is experiencing something of a railway renaissance, with old tracks being revived and new rail routes opening up.

Whether you’re looking for a fast-paced, multi-country itinerary or you prefer to explore one country in depth, travelling by train is an easy and affordable way to get around.

Some of these train journeys are among the most beautiful on Earth; others are a convenient way to get from A to B. Whatever you’re looking for, here are 20 of the best Europe 10-day itinerary ideas to get on board with.

Please note: This post contains affiliate links, meaning I may earn a commission if you make a purchase by clicking a link (at no extra cost to you). Learn more.

10-day itineraries for travelling Europe by train

Each of these Europe train itineraries is perfectly suited to 10 days of travel but can easily be shortened or extended depending on how much time you have.

Depending on your travel plans and just how far you plan to ride the rails, it might be economical to pick up a Eurail Global Pass.

Similar to a Amtrak Rail Pass in the US or the JR Pass in Japan, it can be used for multiple trips across the continent (it covers 33 countries in total). There are no fixed dates, and you have complete flexibility to design your own route.

Learn more about the Eurail Pass and purchase your pass online here through the official website .

Central Europe by Train: Hungary to Slovenia

• Route: Budapest – Bratislava – Vienna – Ljubljana
• Editor’s pick

This route traverses four of Central Europe’s great capitals: Budapest, Bratislava, Vienna and Ljubljana.

Made for travellers who don’t mind moving at a fast pace and want to make the most of their 10 days in Europe, this itinerary hits all the urban highlights of Hungary , Slovakia, Austria and Slovenia with plenty of opportunities for day trips to castles, wineries and hiking areas in between.

Start in Hungary’s enthralling capital and spend a few days experiencing the best of Budapest . Don’t miss a morning wander around the covered market, a soak in the Gellert or Széchenyi Thermal Bath, and sunset at Fisherman’s Bastion.

After the impressive scale of Budapest, Slovakia’s capital (3.5 hours away by train) seems diminutive in comparison – but don’t be fooled, Bratislava has a lot to offer visitors. With one full day in the city you can catch all the highlights, starting with a morning walking tour of the historic Old Town core and culminating with a view from the castle grounds.

For something different, cross the famous UFO Bridge to wander around Petrzalka , a colourful neighbourhood on the opposite side of the river. Then indulge in a day trip on the Danube or through the countryside to visit Slovakia’s amazing castles, wineries and old towns .

Continue to Austria, following the mighty Danube river. For this leg you can choose between a morning train (1.5 hrs) or if the weather is good, the ferry (1.5 hours). Vienna needs no introduction – there are countless things to keep you occupied in this classic European capital for 2-3 days, ranging from historic cafes to museums and churches.

When you’ve had your fill, board the train for a final time for the scenic journey to Ljubljana. This train ride takes the better part of a full day and leads you through some of southern Austria’s and northern Slovenia’s most beautiful countryside. Stopovers in Graz or Maribor (Slovenia’s second-largest city) can easily be arranged if time permits.

Fall in love with petite and pretty Ljubljana by wandering the river’s edge through the Old Town, browsing the produce market and taking the funicular up to the castle. Bled is within easy reach (under 1.5 hours by train or bus) and you won’t regret adding on a half-day trip to visit the region’s most iconic lake .

Northern Italy: Milan to Trieste

• Route: Milan – Verona – Padua – Venice – Trieste
• Designed by: Sophie from Just Heading Out

Italy has more than enough on offer to fill 10 days of travel or more . This route takes you to some of the most popular cities in the north of Italy plus a few underrated places.

Start in Milan, the elegant fashion capital. Spend two nights here to eat, drink, shop and see the highlights: The Duomo, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, and the Castello Sforzesco. The next day, take either the regional train (2 hrs) or the fast train (1.25 hrs) to Verona.

Verona’s biggest claim to fame is as the setting of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet , so you must visit Juliet’s balcony and Romeo’s house. But there’s much more to Verona! Climb up to the Castel San Pedro for a great view of the city, visit Castelvecchio, and see an opera performance at the historic Arena.

After two nights in Verona, board an early train to Padua (1 hr). Padua is noticeably less touristy than Verona or Milan. As one of the oldest cities in Italy , it features a beautiful historic city centre. Visit the Cathedral, the Botanical Gardens, and the Prato della Valle.

After dinner, it is time to take a train to Venice (30 mins). When you arrive, check into your hotel and rest up for three days of sightseeing . Aside from the highlights – such as Ponte Rialto, Doge’s Palace and Piazza San Marco – be sure to leave some time to explore the streets and get lost down the alleyways. A day trip to Murano and Burano is certainly worth the effort.

From Venice, it is a 2-hour train ride to Trieste. This underrated city lies close to Italy’s borders with Austria and Slovenia, and both influences can be clearly felt in the food, culture and architecture.

Trieste is the perfect place to slow down and relax for a day at the beach. Finish your trip around Northern Italy by visiting the Castello di San Giusto and Miramare Castle.

Southern Spain’s Andalusia: Madrid to Granada

• Route: Madrid – Toledo – Cordoba – Seville – Granada

While a road trip in Spain might be the best way to explore the country from top to bottom, you can still see a lot when travelling on the country’s railway network. This itinerary focuses on the southern part of the country: the culturally distinct and utterly mesmerising Andalusia region.

Spain’s capital is a natural place to begin. If it’s your first visit, pause for a day or two to visit the most important landmarks in Madrid before boarding a train to Toledo. Half an hour later, you’ll find yourself walking the streets of one of Spain’s most magical and history steeped cities . For all the best things to do in the imperial city, see this guide to Toledo .

For the remainder of your Spain train itinerary, divide your time between Cordoba (4 hours from Toledo by train), Seville (40 minutes from Cordoba) and Granada (1.5 hours from Seville). Each of these three Andalusian cities has its particular charms and fair share of awe-inspiring landmarks, most notably the Mezquita in Cordoba, the Alcazar in Seville and the one and only Alhambra in Granada.

If you have more time, finish with a couple of days on the coast or head west to Lisbon to continue travelling around Portugal by train.

Poland & Germany: Krakow to Berlin

• Route: Krakow – Wroclaw – Dresden – Berlin
• Designed by: Kami from Kami and The Rest of The World

This train journey takes you through some of the most beautiful and interesting cities of Poland and Germany and allows you to see some lesser-known yet amazing corners of Central Europe.

Featuring historical sites, beautiful nature and hip spots, the itinerary is good for anyone who’s interested in culture and history but also wants to venture beyond the expected.

Start your journey in Krakow, the former capital of Poland and one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. You need at least two days to see all the main sights, starting with the Old Town and the Wawel Castle, the riverside and the Jewish quarter, Kazimierz. Krakow is a perfect base for side trips, the most popular being the UNESCO-listed salt mine in Wieliczka and Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp. Both are easily reached by train.

From Krakow, continue by direct train to Wroclaw (3 hrs), one of the main cultural capitals of Poland. Set aside a full day to see the city, taking your time to fall in love with the colourful Market Square and to find as many quirky dwarfs as possible. In the evening be sure to find the magical ‘neon yard’.

From Wroclaw, you can easily explore part of the Lower Silesia region – probably the most interesting part of Poland. Easy train trips include beautiful Swidnica , with its spectacular 17th-century Church of Peace (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), the stunning Ksiaz Castle (the third largest castle in Poland), numerous spa towns, and the Sudety mountains.

From Wroclaw, continue by train toward Dresden but stop on the way in Goerlitz, the city divided by the Polish-German border. It’s one of the prettiest and best-preserved German cities and you’ll surely recognise it from numerous movies, including The Grand Budapest Hotel and Inglourious Basterds . The train trip from Wroclaw to Dresden takes a little over 3 hours and Goerlitz is more or less halfway.

Even though the city was badly destroyed during WWII, Dresden has some of the most impressive Baroque architecture you can find in Europe. You need two days to see it properly, but the main highlights of the city are conveniently located in the centre.

Finish your trip in the cool and vibrant capital of Germany, Berlin (2 hrs by train from Dresden), where you can enjoy a variety of attractions – from historical monuments and mementos of 20th-century world events – and alternative sites such as Kreuzberg.

The Swiss Alps: Geneva to Tirano via the Glacier Express

• Route: Geneva – Bern – Interlaken – Zermatt – St Moritz – Tirano
• Designed by: Allan from It’s Sometimes Sunny in Bangor

This 10-day itinerary is breathtaking all year round – but at the same time it’s winter-inspired as it follows some of the highest peaks in Europe and takes you to some of the most popular destinations for winter sports in the Swiss Alps.

Many of the stops are hard to reach, so the most convenient start is Geneva near the France/Switzerland border.

A day or two is enough time to explore Geneva, the largest city in Switzerland, before forwarding to the charming administrative capital of Bern (2 hrs). You can cover the main attractions of this small but beautiful city in a day – the connecting bridges are a must see – before the next stretch to Interlaken (1 hr), a resort town known as the ‘adventure capital of Switzerland’.

Interlaken is an ideal base to explore the many surrounding mountain peaks including the famous Jungfrau. The 3-Day Jungfrau Travel Pass offers great value for money when exploring this area’s mountains by train and cable car.

This Swiss rail itinerary then takes you high into the alps to visit some of the most beautiful winter resort towns in the world. The first is Zermatt (2.5 hrs), set beneath the majestic Matterhorn (AKA the Toblerone mountain). Cable cars from Zermatt whisk you up towards the peak.

A day is long enough to explore the town before joining the Glacier Express , one of the most scenic train rides in the world. After 7 hours riding the rails through mountainous terrain you’ll finally reach St Moritz where you can connect to yet another breathtaking train, the Bernina Express, to cross into Italy. The trip ends at Tirano (4 hrs). Spend a day in this resort town before continuing on to Milan or Turin for onward travel.

The Balkans by Train: Zagreb to Bar

• Route: Zagreb – Belgrade – Bar

Bus is by far the preferred way to travel around the Balkans region – but there is one rail route that should be on every traveller’s radar. The train from Belgrade (Serbia) to Bar ( Montenegro ) is easily one of the most scenic and yet underrated in all of Europe.

With 10 days up your sleeve, you can tackle this full-day journey (the day train is highly recommended) plus add a few days in Croatia’s capital, Zagreb , at the beginning of your trip.

Zagreb is often overlooked in favour of Venetian cities along the Dalmatian Coast – yet Croatia’s capital is easily one of its most beautiful destinations , albeit in a slightly unconventional way. Zagreb is loaded with history, street art and beautiful churches, including the iconic St. Mark’s, with its colourful tiled roof.

After a day in Zagreb, board a train for Serbia’s capital, Belgrade (6 hrs). The former administrative centre of Yugoslavia is a must-visit for those interested in modern history and Brutalist architecture. Spend a morning at Avala Tower , climbing up to the viewing deck for a panorama, cycle around the concrete jungle that is New Belgrade, and wander the old neighbourhood of Zemun. House of Flowers, the final resting place of Josip Broz Tito, is a fascinating visit – but if you only have time for one museum in Belgrade, make it the Tesla Museum.

Completed in 1976 and officially opened by President Tito himself, the Belgrade to Bar train passes over no fewer than 435 bridges on its way to the Adriatic Coast. It’s all about the journey: The part of Montenegro the train traverses is absolutely stunning , especially when the train passes over marshy Lake Skadar.

When you arrive in Bar, make a detour to Stari Bar to explore the ruined old town and the aqueduct before finding a spot to relax on the beach. Pleasant swimming beaches can be found down the coast in Ulcinj – itself a good jumping off point for travelling into Kosovo or Albania .

The Netherlands’ Randstad: Rotterdam to Amsterdam

• Route: Rotterdam – Den Haag – Amsterdam
• Designed by: Erin from Pina Travels

This European train route brings you to three beautiful Dutch cities within a region of the Netherlands known as ‘The Randstad’, the most heavily populated and developed part of the country.

On this route, you’ll get to experience the best of Dutch culture , architecture, history and food. Travel times between cities are short and direct, which makes this an easy train itinerary with maximum time to explore each destination.

The route begins with three days in Rotterdam. During WWII, Rotterdam was completely flattened by bombing. The city has since been rebuilt, and is now a modern metropolis that’s packed with history, art, good food and amazing architecture. While in Rotterdam, check out the city’s famous ‘cube houses’ to walk among the blocks and visit the Show Cube Museum . You’ll also want to check out the Erasmus Bridge, the Van Nelle Factory (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), and Market Hall, where you can enjoy Dutch art and food all under one roof.

From Rotterdam, take a quick 25-minute train ride to your next destination, Den Haag (The Hague). Plan to spend three days in this city, which is known for being the seat of the Dutch government since 1588. Den Haag is home to the Gothic-style Binnenhof complex and the 16th-century Noordeinde Palace, which is one of the Dutch Royal Family’s official palaces. You’ll also find plenty of museums, churches, and restaurants that are worth visiting.

Next, take a 45-minute train ride from Den Haag to the capital of the Netherlands, Amsterdam to witness the artistic heritage, elaborate canal system and iconic narrow houses for yourself. You’ll want to spend four days visiting popular attractions plus experiencing alternative things to do in Amsterdam .

Visit the Rijksmuseum to see the work of the Dutch masters and visit the Anne Frank Museum to learn the story of the Jewish wartime diarist. When you’re hungry, be sure to drop by Upstairs Pannenkoekenhuis to try some classic Dutch pancakes!

Portugal by Train: Lisbon to Santiago de Compostela

• Route: Lisbon – Coimbra – Porto – Santiago de Compostela
• Designed by: Or from My Path in the World 

Covering three of the biggest cities in Portugal along with the endpoint of the famous Camino de Santiago pilgrimage, this route is perfect for history and culture lovers, as well as for anyone looking to immerse themselves in Portugal’s laid-back yet lively atmosphere , taste great food and wine, and meet friendly locals.

Lisbon is a contagiously vibrant city and it’s worth dedicating four days to experience the best of it, including its landmarks, museums, enchanting neighbourhoods and culinary and nightlife scenes. Some of the must-sees are Sao Jorge Castle, the National Tile Museum, Belem Tower, and the Santa Luzia Lookout Point – but the bucket list goes on and on.

A 2-hour train ride will take you to Coimbra, a postcard-perfect city on the Mondego River. Coimbra is known for its 13th-century UNESCO-Listed university, one of the oldest in Europe . While touring it, it’s possible to visit the Baroque Joanine Library, the Botanical Garden, gorgeous courtyards, and much more.

Other things to do here include visiting Sé Velha (Coimbra’s cathedral), admiring the Manga Cloister, and watching a Fado de Coimbra concert. This music genre originated in Lisbon but Coimbra has developed its own typical style.

After two days, continue to Porto (1.5 hrs), another must-visit place in Portugal . Spend another two days in this city, a fantastic base to explore the Douro Valley if you feel like hiring a car. Visit Livraria Lello (an astounding bookstore), wander through the Crystal Palace Gardens, visit the Bolsa Palace, and cross the bridge over to Gaia to tour some top port wine cellars.

Lastly, Spain’s train company, Renfe, can take you from Porto to Vigo (2.5 hrs) and from Vigo to Santiago de Compostela (50-90 mins), where you can spend your last day and a half. As the endpoint of the pilgrimage route Camino de Santiago, its highlight is, of course, the impressive UNESCO-Listed cathedral, built in the 11th-13th centuries.

Mainland Greece: Athens to Thessaloniki 

• Route: Athens – Meteora – Thessaloniki
• Designed by: Chrysoula from Greece Travel Ideas

This 10-day train journey in Mainland Greece covers the country’s two major cities and the natural wonder of Meteora.

The train ride from Athens to the port city of Thessaloniki via Meteora is dramatic, as it passes through narrow valleys and steep mountainous countryside. The greatest treat is the chance to discover Meteora, with its amazing rock formations and six monasteries perched on high rocky crags.

Athens is rich in archaeological treasures that are easy to visit on foot. Other things to see include the Archaeological Museum, the various markets, and the Changing of the Guard ceremony in Syntagma Square. Four days or longer is required to enjoy all of these attractions.

The train from Athens to Meteora (Kalambaka station) leaves Larissis Athens station in the early morning and takes 4.5 hours. The journey passes through beautiful mountainous countryside with narrow valleys. It’s quite a long walk to the first of the monasteries and they are spread out across a wide area, so it’s best to take a taxi or pre-book a guided Meteora tour.

Most visitors to Meteora stay for two days in nearby Kastraki or the larger town of Kalambaka. All 6 of the monasteries are open to the public and accessible via stone-cut steps, but it’s advisable to limit yourself to 3-4 per day.

The train journey from Kalambaka to Thessaloniki takes 3.5 hours. Thessaloniki is an attractive port city with a rich history and reputation for good food, so it’s ideal to spend at least 2-3 days here. Thessaloniki has several notable Byzantine, Roman, Ottoman, and Sephardic Jewish monuments. In contrast, there are lovely beaches within easy reach, good shopping and a vibrant nightlife.

Czechia & Germany: Prague to Munich

• Route: Prague – Nuremberg – Munich
• Designed by: Riana from Teaspoon of Adventure

This 10-day train journey is all about beautiful buildings, rich history and – if you’re a fan – drinking lots of delicious beer!

Each of these cities has something special to offer and no shortage of things to keep you entertained. They’re also all quite close to one another, so you won’t waste too much time getting from one spot to the next.

The trip starts in Prague , one of the most beautiful capital cities in Europe, where you’ll spend three nights. On day one, walk through some of Prague’s most beautiful neighbourhoods before checking out Vysehrad castle in the afternoon. End your first day trying Czech food classics such as pork, dumplings and of course, beer! 

Start the second day with a walking tour through the Old Town and Wenceslas Square, take photos on the Charles Bridge, then enjoy a river cruise in the evening. On your third and final day in Prague, see the John Lennon Wall, visit the famous Prague Castle, and end with a beautiful view from Letna Beer Garden.

From Prague, head out on a 6-hour train journey to Nuremberg, where you’ll spend three nights. Your first day in Nuremberg should be dedicated to exploring the Old Town. Don’t miss Weissgerbergasse, a street filled with historic timber houses.

Take a guided tour of the Nuremberg Memorial to learn more about the Nuremberg Trials and visit the courtroom where the trials took place. For more history, visit the Nazi Rally Grounds and Documentation Centre on the afternoon of day two. For something lighter, admire the artwork at Albrecht Dürer’s House and visit the Imperial Castle of Nuremberg.

To finish, take a one-hour train ride from Nuremberg to Munich for your final 4 days. Get your beer fix at a local beer hall or garden, tour the beautiful Old Town, including Marienplatz and Frauenkirche, shop the food markets, and visit local museums.

On your last day in Munich, head out on a day trip. Visit Dachau, the oldest and largest concentration camp in Germany for an important tour through history, or head to Neuschwanstein Castle, the inspiration behind Sleeping Beauty .

Ukraine’s Big Three: Kiev to Lviv

• Route: Kiev – Odessa – Lviv
• Designed by: Amy from Moonshine and Minibuses

This itinerary hits the three most-visited cities in Ukraine , giving you an eclectic overview of Europe’s biggest country.

While you can take the day train in order to enjoy the views, Ukraine’s night trains are the recommended affordable way to cover a lot of ground quickly. If you’re nostalgic, the overnight trains are often a trip into the past!

Landing in Ukraine’s capital will launch you right into the middle of one of the most dynamic countries in Europe. From colourful medieval legends to stoic Soviet architecture , centuries of history are on display at every corner.

With four days in Kiev, join the pilgrims in the monastery caves of Lavra Pechersk and peek at mummified monks, explore the luxurious private residence of ousted President Yanukovych, and dine at restaurants headed by internationally renowned chefs.

Just when you’re getting into the groove of Ukraine, head to Odessa, the Pearl of the Black Sea, travelling either by intercity or overnight train. Odessa has a reputation for being a party town (that it gleefully lives up to), but in addition to the beach clubs and Gilded Age bars, make sure you take some time to learn about the history of the city. Established under Catherine the Great, it has a diverse and dramatic background.

After two or three days of living life to the fullest in Odessa, head towards Lviv. This city is nearly 800km from Odessa, so it’s best to take the overnight train. Considered a cultural hub, Lviv is a tapestry of idyllic European scenes, from its cobblestone streets to its skyline of church spires. Wander down alleys, pop into coffee shops, and peer into the myriad of churches.

End your trip to Ukraine at an underground bunker-style pub, a craft beer ‘theatre,’ or the regal opera house (or even the cocktail bar below it!).

Transiberian Express: Siberia to St. Petes

• Route: Irkutsk, Siberia – Moscow – St. Petersburg
• Designed by: Sinead from Map Made Memories

This itinerary offers something for everyone as it combines historic sites and the fantastic architecture of the big cities with small-town rural Russia, nature trails and scenic landscapes.

Spend a day exploring Irkutsk on foot following the city’s ‘green line’, a tourist trail painted on the pavement that covers points of interest around the city. Take a full day trip to Lake Baikal 70km away. Shop in the fisherman’s market at tiny Listvyanka, visit the wooden Church of St Nicholas, take a boat trip on the world’s deepest lake, or enjoy a scenic hike in the hills surrounding the lake.

The train from Irkutsk to Moscow takes around three-and-a-half full days following a popular stretch of the Trans-Siberian Railway route.

When you arrive in Moscow, spend 3-4 days visiting the imposing Kremlin, Lenin’s Tomb and the incredible Armoury. Tour opulent churches such as the iconic St Basil’s Cathedral and the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour.

For an amazing view of sprawling Moscow, head to the deck on the top of the Central Children’s Store, an enormous toy store in the centre. Spend a day riding the elaborately decorated Russian Metro system and make a stop at VDNKh to view the sculptures and to visit the Museum of Cosmonautics.

The journey from Moscow to St. Petersburg takes 4 hours on the fast train or 8 hours on a slower overnight train.

Enjoy a leisurely trip on St. Petersburg’s canals before exploring the elaborate Winter Palace (try to book tickets in advance as there are usually long queues). Make time to visit the ornate Church of the Spilled Blood, decorated from floor to ceiling in tiny, colourful mosaics depicting intricate biblical scenes.

The Best of Britain: London Loop

• Route: London – Bath – Cardiff – Liverpool – Edinburgh – York – London
• Designed by: Tracy from UK Travel Planning

This 10 day best of Britain by rail itinerary is the perfect way for first-time visitors to explore some of the most popular cities across Britain’s three nations. In addition to visiting the three capitals, the itinerary also includes a trio of England’s most beautiful and interesting smaller cities.

A round trip itinerary, the journey starts and ends in London. To start, explore the sights, landmarks and attractions of the UK capital . A guided tour may be the best option to make the most of your day.

Departing from London, head to the UNESCO World Heritage Listed city of Bath. Travel time by train between the cities is around 1.5 hours with direct services departing from London Paddington to Bath Spa. The main highlights of Bath include the Roman Baths, Bath Abbey and the Royal Crescent. Sally Lunn’s is a popular cafe for a cake and a cuppa. On your third day, continue exploring Bath or jump on the train to Salisbury and Stonehenge.

After spending two nights in Bath, travel to the Welsh capital Cardiff (1 hr). In Cardiff, visit the castle, stroll the centenary walk or join a Gavin & Stacey or Dr Who themed tour.

Travel from Cardiff to Liverpool (3.5 hrs) and spend an afternoon exploring the main sights of the city including Albert Dock. Another option here is to take a Beatles tour and visit the childhood homes of Paul McCartney and John Lennon.

The Scottish capital, Edinburgh, fills the itinerary for days 6-7. There are plenty of things to do and see over two days, including Edinburgh Castle, walking the Royal Mile, shopping on Princes Street, and enjoying the views from Arthur’s Seat.

Then, travel from Edinburgh along the Northumberland Coast and through the cities of Newcastle and Durham before arriving in York (2.5 hrs). Walk the city walls, visit York Minster, learn about the city’s history at the Jorvik Viking Centre, and shop on the Shambles. For the best afternoon tea, head to the iconic Bettys Tea Rooms before travelling back to London on day 10 (2 hrs) to complete your loop.

To put a festive spin on this UK road trip, consider timing your journey to spend Christmas in London .

Norway by Train: Bergen to Oslo via the Flam Line

• Route: Bergen – Voss – Myrdal – Flam Fjord – Gudvangen – Laerdal – Flam – Myrdal – Oslo
• Designed by: Tracy from Tracy’s Travels in Time

This rail itinerary from the coastal city of Bergen to Norway’s capital, Oslo, is perfect for those who want to experience the breathtaking beauty of this Scandinavian country. Train lovers will enjoy travelling on the Flam railway, which is recognised as one of the most scenic rail journeys in the world.

Spend the first couple of days exploring the city of Bergen. Not-to-be-missed highlights include the UNESCO World Heritage Site of old Hanseatic wharf and the buildings at Bryggen, Bergen’s fish market, and a ride on the funicular to Mount Floyen for spectacular views of the city.

On day three, hop on the train to the small resort town of Voss. The journey takes 1.5 hours with beautiful views along the way. If you’re visiting in summer, enjoy the hiking trails around Voss. In winter, make sure you book accommodation in advance as Voss transforms into a popular ski resort.

After spending the night in Voss, take the train to Myrdal (1 hr) where you alight and transfer to the Flamsbana Line. This is one of Norway’s most popular attractions, so book your tickets in advance.

As well as the Flamsbana, there are a few things to do and see in Flam including the museum – but the main attraction is the fjord on which Flam sits. Catch a boat and enjoy a spectacular scenic trip along two of Norway’s most famous fjords to the neighbouring village of Gudvangen.

The next few days offer the perfect opportunity to explore the local area. Stay in Gudvangen overnight before catching a bus to the nearby town of Laerdal via one of the longest road tunnels in the world.

Relax for a few days, enjoy a few hikes or cycle around. Explore the Gamle Laerdalsoyri village in Laerdal, whose wooden houses date back to the 18th and 19th centuries. The Borgund Stave Church near Laerdal is the best preserved stave church in Norway and can be reached by bus or bicycle.

On day eight, take the bus to Flam (50 mins) and jump onto the Flam railway back to Myrdal. Trains run from Myrdal to Oslo up to four times a day, but be sure to check connections.

The final two days of this itinerary are spent in Norway’s capital, Oslo. Explore the city’s museums (fans of artist Edvard Munch can experience his works at the new Munch Museum) and enjoy the architecture, cafes and foodie culture .

Northern Spain: Madrid to Barcelona via Basque Country

• Route: Madrid – Bilbao – San Sebastián – Zaragoza – Barcelona
• Designed by: Vicki from Vicki Viaja

While many visitors to Spain only travel back and forth between the most popular destinations, this Spain 10-day itinerary leads you to the north of the country – an area known for its great food and unique culture.

The itinerary starts in the capital of Spain, Madrid. In three days, you can get a good first impression of Spanish culture and visit essential sights such as the Plaza Mayor and the Almudena Cathedral.

The journey continues to the north of Spain. In Bilbao (4-5 hours from Madrid by train), you can experience the unique culture of the Basque Country. Bilbao is also the ideal destination for art lovers. Besides the world-famous Guggenheim Museum, the art museum Museo de Bellas Artes de Bilbao awaits you.

San Sebastián, also called Donostia, is another example of a great city in the Basque Country. After taking the train from Bilbao (2 hrs), get to know the northern beaches. The most famous in the area is the Playa de la Concha. Don’t miss the sunset .

Continue 3 hours by train to Zaragoza, a beautiful city in Spain that is unfortunately overlooked by most travellers. The city is built in the typical Spanish style and its restaurants allow you to try lots of delicious dishes from the region. Particularly impressive is the Pilar, the city’s basilica, which is located in the center. It’s the largest of its kind in Spain and is considered one of the most important churches in the country.

The last stop is in the Catalan capital Barcelona , 90 minutes by train from Zaragoza. Spend a few days relaxing on the beach, soaking up Catalan culture, and discovering some of the most impressive buildings of the Modernisme movement, including the Sagrada Família, La Pedrera and Casa Batlló.

East Meets West: Istanbul to Bucharest

• Route: Istanbul – Edirne – Plovdiv – Sofia – Bucharest

This train journey is unique because it crosses continents, taking you from Istanbul from East to West, Asia to Europe, and through to Bulgaria and Romania. Trains in this part of Europe might be a little slower and less comfortable than what you’re used to, but that’s all part of the fun.

Start your epic rail journey the best way possible by crossing the Bosphorus into Europe. Istanbul is a huge, heaving city. Whatever time of year you visit – winter or summer – and however you choose to explore it – by focusing on the highlights, by wandering the less-touristy neighbourhoods or by letting your stomach guide you between the best restaurants and markets – you really can’t go wrong. Just make sure to set aside time for the Hagia Sophia and Grand Bazaar.

Before leaving Turkey , make an overnight rest stop in the city of Erdine (4 hours from Istanbul by train) to see the stunning 16th-century Selimiye Mosque before crossing the border into Bulgaria. As you continue moving north, you’ll see how the historic Ottoman influence has permeated the Balkans region.

While Sofia, Bulgaria’s capital city, has its draws and is worthy of a day or so of your time, Plovdiv is where you should direct most of your attention. One of the oldest cities in Europe, Plovdiv counts an immaculate Roman Amphitheatre and exquisite Bulgarian Revival architecture among its many virtues. To get there, you’ll need to take a bus or local train from Sofia.

The Sofia to Bucharest leg over the Danube river is another highlight of this itinerary – just be warned that it takes a full day to reach Romania’s capital and in the winter months , you may need to change trains at the border.

Devote some of your time in Bucharest to learning about Romania’s tumultuous recent history and don’t leave without visiting the vibrant Piata Obor market . One of the best things to do in winter is hop between the many cafes and wine bars, an experience that will show you a different side to the city.

Transylvania by Train: Bucharest to Sibiu

• Route: Bucharest – Brasov – Sighisoara – Sibiu

A perfect extension on the previous itinerary (or a wonderful rail journey all on its own), Transylvania by train is a slow travel experience that will allow you to soak up the magnificent landscapes and wild nature this part of Romania is known for.

This trip is all about the fortified churches, Saxon cities and magnificent castles, with a side of hiking (or skiing) plus plenty of opportunities to immerse yourself in Transylvania’s unique culture along the way.

A road trip through this area of the Balkans will give you more flexibility, but the romance and nostalgia of the train can’t be beat. Connections are reasonable, times fast and fares extremely affordable, making this a great choice for budget-conscious travellers.

Departing from Bucharest, take an early morning train (1.5 hrs) to the small city of Sinai to visit the awe-inspiring Peles Castle. As you break through into mountainous territory and enter Transylvania proper, your first stop is Brasov, another hour north by rail. Brasov is the first of three charming cities on this itinerary and warrants at least two full days, with an afternoon set aside for visiting Bran Castle.

The fortified city of Sighisoara (4 hours by train) is smaller than Brasov but even more charming. Walk the old walls, admire the craft guild gates and climb up both the bell and church tower for a view.

Sibiu (3 hrs) is known for its distinctive vernacular architecture and grand main square – there are towers here that you can climb for an aerial view, too. Connections back to Bucharest are easy to find, or you can continue west to Timisoara then cross into Northern Serbia .

Classic Italy: Venice to Rome

• Route: Venice – Florence – Rome
• Designed by: Samantha from The Wandering Wanderluster 

Train travel is arguably one of the most romantic ways to travel. So why not travel by train through three of Italy’s most romantic cities?

Venice, Florence and Rome are three of the most-visited cities in Europe and fortunately they are very well connected by Italy’s high speed rail network, which means you can easily visit them all in 10 days.

The beauty of this short Italy itinerary is that it can be done in either direction and thanks to the frequency of train departures, you can pretty much leave and travel onto your next destination anytime you want.

Start your trip in the serene ‘Floating city’ of Venice in the north, known for its charming canals, gondolas and beautiful architecture that lines the main artery through the city, the Grand Canal. There is a lot to see in Venice but for first timers, three days is plenty for the main highlights.

Jump on a 2-hour train and arrive in the heart of the Renaissance city of Florence for another three-day stay. Art lovers will trip over their tongues at the sheer volume of masterpieces to see in the city, while foodies will want to devour their body weight in Bistecca alla Fiorentina and drown themselves in Tuscan wine.

Finally, head to Italy’s magnificent capital city, Rome, where there are as many ancient ruins as there are churches – the main must-visit being St Peter’s Basilica inside Vatican City.

Three Great Capitals: Paris to London

• Route: Paris – Brussels – London
• Designed by: Dymphe from Dymabroad

This is the perfect itinerary by train for visiting three of the greatest European capitals.

Start in the French city of Paris where you can glimpse the Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum and Sacré-Cœur in Montmartre. To explore the highlights of the city, three days is a good amount of time.

The train journey from Paris to Brussels takes about 1.5 hours. The capital of Belgium houses some of the institutions of the European Union. After two days, continue to London (2.5 hrs) for Big Ben, London Eye, Tower Bridge, and Oxford Street.

There are plenty of Instagrammable places in London to check out. Three days in the city is plenty of time to see the most iconic sights.

Christmas Market Route: Frankfurt to Metz

• Route: Frankfurt – Cologne – Aachen – Liege – Metz

This festive-themed train trip around Europe takes you between five of the region’s most atmospheric Christmas Markets in Germany, Belgium and France. Travel times are short, so you can easily accomplish this route while the markets are in full swing.

Frankfurt’s Christmas Market dates back to 1393 and is one of Germany’s largest and most spectacular festive events. While you wait for Römerberg square to transform into an open-air market, spend your days in Frankfurt roaming the riverside and the reconstructed Altstadt Old Town. For more things to do in Frankfurt, see this list .

If you’re looking for something special to buy from the market in Frankfurt, a locally made blue-and-white pitcher jug is a great choice. Save some room in your suitcase, though, because there’s lots more shopping to come.

Cologne (60 minutes from Frankfurt by train) and Aachen (30 minutes from Cologne by train) boast two more gorgeous German-style Christmas Markets.

When your time in Germany draws to a close, cross the border by train to visit Liege (20 mins) where you’ll find yet another classic market, this time with Belgian souvenirs and food . Finish with a scenic train trip through Luxembourg to the French city of Metz (4 hrs), where a special gastronomic market awaits.

More Europe travel inspiration

• Europe road trip itinerary inspiration : 13 ideas for winter
• Foodie experiences in Europe
• Best places to go in Europe in fall
• Train travel packing list

Awesome information. I am going to use this guide to enhance my travels abilities.

So happy I came across this post! What a great list! I really like the look of the Swiss rail trip.

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• Europe , Inspiration

Are you thinking of backpacking Eastern Europe but aren’t sure where to begin or how to plan your amazing adventure? Well, whether you want to spend 10 days, 2 weeks, or 1 month traveling around, here’s my guide to the ultimate Eastern Europe itinerary!

Psst. This post contains affiliate links. Read our disclosure .

After spending two months backpacking Eastern Europe, it has become one of my favorite parts of the world!

From historic Krakow and bustling Prague to picturesque Budapest and quaint Bratislava, Eastern Europe has a lot to offer each and every traveler. Not only is this part of Europe ridiculously affordable, it’s also packed with fabulous vegan food !

Although, if vegan food and affordability isn’t doing it for ya, here are a few other draws of traveling Eastern Europe:

✓ Captivating history at every turn ✓ Gorgeous cobblestone roads (Instagram loves this! 😉) ✓ Mind-blowingly beautiful cities and towns ✓ Cheap a** beer (I’m talking like $3 for a liter of beer) ✓ Awesome hostels (and hotels) ✓ Delicious food ✓ And… super affordable (yes, I’m mentioning it again because OMG, who wouldn’t want to travel for under $40/day for everything? )

Itching to get your Eastern Europe travel plan put together? I thought so!

Though you could spend decades exploring all the cool crevices and underrated spots of Eastern Europe, most of us don’t have that much time.

So, here’s my guide on the best Eastern Europe itinerary for 10 days, 2 weeks, or even one big fat awesome month!

Table of Contents

ULTIMATE EASTERN EUROPE TRIP PLANNER

So, with all of these suggested itineraries, they start in the beautiful capital of Warsaw, Poland. A super duper handy city to begin in, it’s a great setting off point for the rest of Eastern Europe.

10 Day Eastern Europe Itinerary

This suggested 10 day itinerary is for those who want to see the best of what Eastern Europe has to offer but don’t have much time to head out to the lesser-known cities and destinations.

Thus, it focuses on cultural hubs and bustling cities with historic touches and lots of things to do!

Day 1-2: Warsaw, Poland

While I personally wasn’t a huge fan of Warsaw, there are a ton of things to see and do here! Plus, the main squares are super duper cute and most definitely worth a visit.

Not to mention, the vegan food in Warsaw is off the charts! Make sure to grab a few vegan pierogies while visiting this city.

Best Things to Do in Warsaw, Poland:

• Explore the Old Town
• Walk through Łazienki Park
• Have a pint in the Old Town Market Square
• Visit the Warsaw Uprising Museum (SO good!)
• Give your condolences at the Okopowa Street Jewish Cemetery
• Admire the views at the Palace of Culture and Science
• Check out the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
• View the Jewish Ghetto Memorial

Where to Stay in Warsaw:

• Budget : Press Hostel • €7-28 — OR — DREAM Hostel Warsaw • €10-41
• Mid-Range : Old Town Bridge Rooms • €35-49 — OR — Old Town Home • €47-52
• Higher-End : Pokoje Gościnne Dom Literatury • €57-93 — OR — PURO Warszawa Centrum • €78-200
• Luxury : Sofitel Warsaw Victoria • €149-304 — OR — The Westin Warsaw • €113-431

Not sure if visiting Poland is worth your time? Take a look at these 27 magical photos of Poland — I have no doubt your mind will be changed!

Day 3-5: Krakow, Poland

If you’re backpacking Eastern Europe, Krakow is a must! In fact, Dan and I loved this city so much we spent over 4 days here. And no, we didn’t get bored because holy moly, there is SO much to do here!

Best Things to Do in Krakow, Poland:

• Explore Krakow’s Main Square
• Visit Wawel Castle
• Have your mind blow at the Wieliczka Salt Mines
• Check out Oskar Schindler’s Factory (Schindler’s List)
• Day trip to Auschwitz Concentration Camp
• Explore the historical Jewish Quarter (Kazimierz Neighborhood)
• Try some traditional (vegan) Polish food — click here to read my Krakow vegan food guide!
• Visit the beautiful St Francis’ Basilica

Where to Stay in Krakow:

• Budget : Lemon Tree Hostel • €7-10 — OR — Bubble Hostel • €12-46
• Mid-Range : Words & Swords Apartments • €18-32 — OR — Apartamenty Marco • €39-51
• Higher-End : Aparthotel Stare Miasto • €80-156 — OR — Hotel Wit Stwosz • €72-139
• Luxury : Hotel Unicus Palace • €155-271 — OR — Hotel Polski Pod Białym Orłem Hotel • €120-416

Psst, interested in reading my 1-week Poland itinerary ? You’ll discover how to spend 7 days exploring Warsaw, Krakow, and the fairytale town of Wroclaw!

Day 6-8: Prague, Czech Republic

Another must-see city when on an Eastern Europe trip, Prague is a historical and cultural gold mine, not to mention it’s also pretty affordable for being such a popular destination!

Best Things to Do in Prague, Czech Republic:

• Wander about the Old Town Square
• Visit Prague Castle
• Explore the Jewish Ghetto Quarter
• View the Astronomical Clock Tower
• Have a drink of traditional Czech beer ( super affordable!)
• Stroll across the Charles Bridge
• Marvel at St. Vitus Cathedral
• Visit the KGB Museum
• Admire the Lennon Wall
• Go cruising on the Vltava River
• Party up in Prague (the clubs are fantastic)

Where to Stay in Prague:

• Budget : Hostel Kaiser • €18-25 — OR — Hostel Franz Kafka • €8-38
• Mid-Range : The Republic Garden • €19-23 — OR — Pension Karlova • €65-95
• Higher-End : Historic Royal Apartment • €89-119 — OR — Ibis Praha Old Town • €73-85
• Luxury : Mordecai Twelve • €115-178 — OR — Hotel Pod Věží • €93-127

Day 8-10: Budapest, Hungary

Though Poland is hands down my favorite country in Eastern Europe, Hungary is a close second. Budapest is extremely picturesque and such a beautiful city with loads of awesome things to do!

Best Things to Do in Budapest, Hungary:

• Visit St. Stephen’s Basilica (make sure to go up to the top for a gorgeous view of Budapest!)
• Go for a dip at one of the many Budapest Baths (Gellert & Széchenyi Thermal Baths)
• Admire the Hungarian Parliament Building
• Walk the Danube Promenade (and check out the infamous shoes)
• Check out Heroes’ Square
• Explore the Fisherman’s Bastion (awesome spot for a photo!)
• Visit the Dohány Street Synagogue
• Party at some ruin pubs
• Go up to Buda Castle (head up in the funicular!)
• Check out the Hungarian National Museum

Where to Stay in Budapest:

• Budget : 2B Hostel & Rooms • €13-67 — OR — Activity Hostel • €18-20
• Mid-Range : Apartment Ginkgo • €35 — OR — Urban Rooms • €45-75
• Higher-End : Basilica Friends Apartment • €100-140 — OR — The Loft Budapest • €87-105
• Luxury : Prestige Hotel Budapest • €144-261 — OR — Aria Hotel Budapest • €347-500

Need some foodie inspiration? Click here to open a new tab to my vegan food in Eastern Europe post!

2-Week Eastern Europe Itinerary

This suggested two week itinerary focuses on a lot of the same cities and destinations as above but with a few more awesome places sprinkled in.

Additionally, a few more days are added to places like Prague and Budapest, where you can have more time to venture outside the city!

Click here to visit the list of the best things to do in Warsaw and where to stay in the city above.

Click here to visit the list of the best things to do in Krakow and where to stay in the city above.

Day 5-6: Wroclaw, Poland

Wroclaw was absolutely one of my favorite places to visit in Eastern Europe!

An adorable, picturesque city straight outta a fairytale, Wroclaw features gorgeous pastel-colored buildings, cute little gnomes dotted around the city, delicious food, cool pubs, and more.

Click here to open a new tab for my 24-hour guide to Wroclaw, Poland.

Day 6-9: Prague, Czech Republic

In addition to the best things to do in Prague above (click here to see the list), an extra day in Prague gives you the freedom and time to either do more things in the city or head out on a day trip!

I personally recommend doing a day trip to the infamous Bone Church in Kutna Hora. You can find my guide on how to do a day trip by train to that cool destination here !

Day 10-11: Bratislava, Slovakia

In my humble opinion, Bratislava is one of the most underrated cities in Eastern Europe! Many skip over this little capital when traveling from Prague or Vienna to Budapest but it is SO worth a visit.

Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia but it’s so small it gives the feel of a small town (which I love!). Since it’s so small, you can spend little time here yet see tons.

Best Things to Do in Bratislava, Slovakia:

• Visit Bratislava Castle (and walk the beautiful gardens!)
• Explore the historic Bratislava city center
• Eat some delicious vegan food (Bratislava is surprisingly awesome for veggie travelers!)
• Admire St Elizabeth’s Church (Blue Church)
• Check out St. Martin’s Cathedral
• Wander about looking at all the gorgeous colored buildings
• Look for the statues dotted around the Old Town

Personally, when Dan and I visited, we went on a free tour with our hostel ( Wild Elephants )! I highly recommend you do the same to see the best of Bratislava in a short amount of time.

Where to Stay in Bratislava:

• Budget : Wild Elephants Hostel • €11-15 — OR — DREAM Hostel Bratislava • €12-16
• Mid-Range : Zeitlos boutique hostel • €18-20 — OR — Downtown Apartment Nicole • €34-40
• Higher-End : Apartman Sv. Urban • €53-59 — OR — VIP Apartments • €73-81
• Luxury : Arcadia Boutique Hotel • €95-191 — OR — Radisson Blu Carlton Hotel • €122-383

Day 11-14: Budapest, Hungary

In addition to the list of the best things to do in Budapest above, with an extra day you can either explore more of the city and have a more relaxed time, or you can choose to do a couple day trips to fill the time.

Here are some Budapest day trips & tours I recommend:

• Half-Day Etyek Wine Tour from Budapest
• Danube Bend & Szentendre with Lunch: Day Tour from Budapest
• Szentendre Half-Day Tour from Budapest
• Budapest: Underground Caving Adventure Tour

After reading the 1-week and 10-day Eastern Europe itinerary ideas above, you might be wondering… what is the best way to get around Eastern Europe?

As someone who has traveled Europe several times now, I highly recommend either trains or buses to get between destinations!

Here are my two top ways to book Eastern Europe transportation:

• Flixbus — A ridiculously affordable bus operator that basically goes between every city in Europe. Whether you need to get a short bus to Budapest from Prague or a longer, overnight bus from Berlin to Munich, Flixbus probably offers that bus journey!
• The Trainline — Hands down one of the best sites to search and find the cheapest train tickets. Not to mention, their app is great for paperless tickets!

1-Month Eastern Europe Itinerary

If you have the time, this is my absolute favorite itinerary for Eastern Europe. Not only do you have the opportunity to see more, you get to travel slower, which is a big part of traveling sustainably . Cool, right?

Additionally, I left a couple days spare for you to play with. This could mean you spend a day or two more in a city you really enjoy or you could travel more slowly between places for even cheaper transportation.

Day 1-3: Warsaw, Poland

Click here to take a look at the list above for things to do in Warsaw and where to stay!

Day 4-7: Krakow, Poland

Click here to take a look at the list above for things to do in Krakow and where to stay!

Although, with a few days in Krakow, try passing the time with one of these day trips and tours:

• Full Day Tour from Krakow to Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camps
• Creepy Krakow: 2-Hour City Walking Tour
• Full-Day Zakopane & Tatra Mountains Guided Tour (SO awesome!)
• Half-Day Salt Mine Tour and Schindler’s Factory

Day 7-9: Wroclaw, Poland

Click here to read my Wroclaw, Poland travel guide, where you’ll find the best things to do and where to stay!

Day 9-14: Prague, Czech Republic

Ample time in Prague gives you more time to see this beautiful city! With 4 full days in Prague, you can relax and chill out, as well as see and explore a bunch of awesome sites, attractions, and more.

If you want to explore Prague with a tour or do a day trip, check out these:

• Český Krumlov Full-Day Trip from Prague
• 6 Hour Best of Prague Tour: Castle, Jewish Quarter, Cruise & Lunch
• Prague: Ghosts and Legends 1.5-Hour Walking Tour
• Kutna Hora & Bone Chapel Tour from Prague

None of those interest you? Take a look at more Prague tours here !

Day 14-16: Vienna, Austria

Although you could spend multiple days seeing the best of what Vienna has to offer, it’s a pretty darn expensive city so I recommend limiting your time here to save some dollars.

On the flip side, if you do have a good-sized budget for backpacking Eastern Europe, spend more time here! It’s a beautiful city.

Best Things to Do in Vienna, Austria:

• Marvel at Schönbrunn Palace (don’t forget to walk around the magnificent gardens!)
• Visit St. Stephen’s Cathedral (go up to the top for a great view!)
• Admire the Rathaus (aka the Vienna Town Hall)
• Check out Hofburg Palace
• Visit the Belvedere Museum
• Explore the Vienna Natural History Museum
• Wander about the Naschmarkt

Where to Stay in Vienna:

• Budget : CH-Hostel • €35-47 — OR — Pension Dr. Geissler • €49-144
• Mid-Range : CH-Wellnessapartments • €89-114 — OR — Hotel Josefshof am Rathaus • €92-281
• Higher-End : City Pension Stephansplatz • €131-249 — OR — Boutique Hotel Das Tigra • €124-310
• Luxury : Steigenberger Hotel Herrenhof • €205-921 — OR — Park Hyatt Vienna • €409 – a ridiculous amount

Want to explore the city with some tours? Check out some here !

Day 16-18: Bratislava, Slovakia

Click here to read my list of the best things to do in Bratislava and where to stay above.

Day 18-21: Budapest, Hungary

Click here to read my list of the best things to do in Budapest and where to stay above. Or click here to check out my list of Budapest day trips and tour recommendations.

Transportation Between Budapest and Cluj-Napoca

The next destination on this suggested Eastern Europe is Cluj-Napoca in Romania. Keep in mind, Romania is outside the Schengen Area, which means you’ll have your passport stamped when at the Hungary-Romania border.

The train between Budapest and Cluj-Napoca takes around 7-8 hours. This means an all day event (the Romanian countryside is nice to look at) or you can opt for a night train, which means saving money on accommodation.

Alternatively, you can also take a bus between the two destinations . Again, similar to the train, you an opt for a day or night bus. However, the night bus is a lot faster at around 9 hours, whereas the day bus takes around 11.

Day 21-23: Cluj-Napoca, Romania

A bustling city in central Romania, Cluj-Napoca is hailed for its University and exciting city life, as well as its beautiful churches and cathedrals.

With a beautiful blend of Eastern Europe history and Western Europe modernity, you can find lots of things to do, cool sites, and wondrous attractions here.

Best Things to Do in Cluj-Napoca, Romania:

• Check out the Cluj-Napoca Art Museum
• Relax at the Botanical Garden
• Explore the many churches and cathedrals (St Michael’s Church, Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral, Piarists’ Church, Reformed Church)
• Wander the city on an affordable local tour
• Hike up Cetățuia Hill for a beautiful view of the city
• Chill out in Central Park (the city’s gorgeous green heart)
• Discover traditional Romania at the Ethnographic Park Romulus Vuia
• Learn all things strange medicine at the Pharmacy Museum
• Uncover ghosts and experience paranormal activities at the Hoia Baciu forest

Where to Stay in Cluj-Napoca:

• Budget : Zen Hostel by Pura Vida • €10-31 — OR — Retro Hostel • €14-37
• Mid-Range : Modern Central-Near Unirii Square • €34-54 — OR — Old Central Apartment • €36-42
• Higher-End : Camino Home • €53-67 — OR — Neo Apartment Eroilor • €52-63
• Luxury : Luxury Nook • €143 — OR — Cluj Lux Apartment Central • €101-105

Transportation Between Cluj-Napoca and Braşov

Between these two Romanian cities, you can opt for either train or bus. Train takes around 6-7 hours and a bus takes around 5 hours.

Although, as someone who has taken the train, I highly recommend it. It’s super duper slow but you get a sneak peak of the Romanian countryside (which is extremely beautiful, IMO).

Day 22-25: Braşov, Romania

Want to visit a fairytale town? (Other than Wroclaw, Poland, that is. 😉)

Head to Braşov and you’ll step foot into a magical land filled with cute little buildings, beautiful architecture, traditional Romanian settings, and, yes, even mysterious vampires (ever heard of Dracula?)!

Known as the gateway to Transylvania, Braşov is one of my favorite destinations and a must-visit on any Eastern Europe itinerary.

Best Things to Do in Braşov, Romania:

• Explore Piata Sfatului, Braşov’s main square
• Visit the Biserica Neagra (Black Church), which is the largest Gothic Church in Eastern Europe
• Hike up Tampa Mountain for a gorgeous view (you can also ride the cable car up if you’re not into hiking)
• Walk the narrowest street in Europe (Strada Sforii, aka String Street)
• Marvel Catherine’s Gate and Braşov’s Medieval Walls
• Simply stroll through the picturesque streets of Braşov

Where to Stay in Braşov:

• Budget : Old Downtown Hostel • €10-12 — OR — Boemia Hostel • €12-13
• Mid-Range : Studio Brasov • €25-30 — OR — All Season Studios • €36-44
• Higher-End : Casa Veche • €51-65 — OR — Hotel Bella Muzica • €50-94
• Luxury : Superb Historical Center Brașov • €97-141 — OR — Vila Katharina • €81-122

Pro Tip : Braşov isn’t massive so if you have seen all you want to see in the city, venture out and do a day trip to Bran Castle (aka Dracula’s Castle), the Libearty Bear Sanctuary Zarnesti , traditional Romanian villages, or even into the Carpathian Mountains for some killer views.

Here are some highly-rated tours I recommend:

• From Brasov: Tour of Castles and Surrounding Area
• Romanian Mountain Villages Day Tour
• Bear Sanctuary and Bran Castle Day Trip
• Chauffeur Service in Brasov: You Decide where to Go

Day 25-28: Bucharest, Romania

The glorious capital of Romania, Bucharest has tons to offer in terms of awesome things to do, cool sites, and mesmerizing attractions. Not to mention, loads of food options!

In fact, due to its beautiful architecture, classical art, ample green space, cute little cafes and eateries, and captivating history, Bucharest is sometimes referred to as the Paris of Eastern Europe. Even cooler, the city was literally modeled after Paris (the French architecture is abundant!).

Best Things to Do in Bucharest, Romania:

• Admire the Palace of Parliament (the second largest building in the world after the Pentagon)
• Wander about the Old Town
• Marvel at the history and architecture of Victoriei Avenue
• Take a step back in time and visit some of Bucharest’s churches (a few of the best are Stavropoleos, Coltea, Zlatari, Bucur, and Radu Voda)
• Relax and stroll through the local parks (there’s a lot to choose from!)
• Visit the Village Museum to get a peak at traditional Romanian life
• Go on a free walking tour!

Where to Stay in Bucharest:

• Budget : Antique Hostel • €8-38 — OR — Hostel Bauhaus Bucharest • €16-38
• Mid-Range : Vila Ana • €33-57 — OR — Anathea Apartment • €36-40
• Higher-End : Filitti Boutique Hotel • €58-110 — OR — Concorde Old Bucharest Hotel • €70-150
• Luxury : Hilton Garden Inn Bucharest • €107-200 — OR — Hotel Cismigiu • €109-158

Holy freakin’ moly, what a whopper of a blog post, amirite?

There’s a lot of info packed in these suggested 10-day, 2-week, and 1-month Eastern Europe itineraries but I truly hope they help you figure out where you want to visit!

Are you considering backpacking or traveling Eastern Europe soon? Or just looking for some inspiration? If you have any questions or need some other tips, stick ’em in the comments below!

Not sure what to check out next? Readers love these posts:

• The ultimate winter packing list for Europe
• 11 essentials to pack for a first trip to Europe
• The best list of awesome things to do in Salzburg, Austria
• 6 lucrative ways to make real money while traveling
• Top sites I use to score cheap flights

Like this post on the ultimate Eastern Europe itineraries? Pin it!

As mentioned above, this post contains affiliate links. Which means if you make a purchase through the links, this site receives a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps us continue bringing you wanderful inspiration! Read our full disclosure here .

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Article comments.

Kovalska Natali

If your time is limited but you want to get the most out of your trip in Europe, take a look at this itinerary. Everything is easily reachable by train.

Dinesh Chandel

Planning to do 2 weeks eastern eruope tour…we are school mates aged 45 , 11 in numbers, who do reunions abroad…

We prefer nature, partying, adventure activities, ……def not into meausum and religious place visiting….

We intend to start from Istanbul, do Hungary, Romania, Ukraine …etc….

Inputs highly appreciated..

We would prefer budget model for exploration..

Thanks and regards

Hey Dinesh! Sounds like a fun trip! I’ve never been to Istanbul or Ukraine so I can’t recommend or give my opinion on those destinations but I can highly recommend Romania for outdoor adventures, mountains, hiking, etc. and Hungary for cultural activities, sightseeing, and delicious food scenes. Both Romania and Hungary are budget-friendly so you won’t have any trouble there! Additionally, if you’re looking for exceptional adventure activities, consider heading up to the Tatra Mountains between the border of Poland and Slovakia — beautiful landscapes and lots of hiking opportunities!

lisa barrows

Determining the travel time, train route and destinations are important first steps to your Interrail adventure. We advise you to look at these steps before buying your Interrail pass. After all, you can decide which ticket suits you best when you know all your destinations beforehand. There are many Interrail passes you can choose from, and all of them differ in terms of validity and number of travel days. Some passes are valid in one country, but there are also tickets that you can use to travel with Interrail throughout Europe. You can buy a ticket which allows you to travel throughout Europe for 10, 15 and 22 days or even 1 to 2 months.

Very detailed itinerary giving three options. Should be bookmarked for an easy reference to the travel to Eastern Europe region

Vaskar Bhattacharya

Thanks for the captivating source of information.

Just wanted to enquire about the budget for a 10-day solo trip to Eastern Europe. Do you conduct the same?

I am from India (Kolkata to be precise)

Hi Thanks for the detailed itenary for three options i can choose last option i am solo traveller and Just wanted to enquire about the budget for 4 weeks or month do conduct the same or suggestion plz

i am from india (Hyderabad)

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Travel Europe on a Budget

The Savvy Backpacker

City Guides .\33 a132798-3f3b-4585-954d-7e70cf863447{fill:#231f20}

Gateway to eastern europe travel itinerary (travel time: 2-4 weeks).

Itinerary for the Gateway to Eastern Europe.

Trip Planning

Eastern Europe has a lot to offer visitors — an interesting history, unique architecture, amazing nightlife, post-Soviet edge, cheap prices, and just the right amount of grit. Our ‘Gateway To Eastern Europe’ itinerary is great for first-time visitors, people wanting to add some Eastern European flair to a bigger European adventure, or travelers wanting to stretch their travel money a little further.

This particular itinerary starts in Berlin and goes south to end in Dubrovnik. It should take you around 22-32 days depending on your speed of travel and whether you choose to visit every city on the list. Toward the second half of the trip, the towns tend to be smaller, so many people feel that 1-1.5 days is enough to see everything they need to see.

No itinerary is perfect (including this one), and this route skips some amazing cities and towns — but this should serve as a good framework for your trip.

Also, you may consider using a rail pass for this trip  — but the second half of the trip is mostly serviced by bus, so plan accordingly.

Note: I used Omio to map my course and to get an idea of the travel times. The site also shows multiple travel options (trains, planes, buses, driving, etc.) and price estimates.

Gateway To Eastern Europe Itinerary

Let’s jump into The Savvy Backpacker’s Gateway to Eastern Europe itinerary.

Approx. 4+  days

If you haven’t already been, I suggest starting in Berlin. It’s a great segue from Western Europe to Eastern Europe thanks to its strong communist-era influence. Berlin is a physically large city with multiple neighborhoods, so you’ll want to give yourself multiple days to explore everything.

If you’ve already been to Berlin, then start in Kraków, Poland.

Approx.  2-3 days

Take a train from Berlin to the lovely Polish city of Kraków. This well-preserved medieval city is a great place to explore for a few days. Plus, it’s known for its nightlife and cheap drinks. Kraków is also near the Auschwitz concentration camp, which is a popular/sobering day trip option.

Approx. 3- 4 days

Take an overnight train from Kraków to Prague (which arrives around 6:30 am). You can also take a long-distance coach that will take about 8-9 hours.

Prague is often said to be the most beautiful city in Europe, so it’s no wonder it’s a popular destination. It has a solid nightlife scene thanks to its reasonably affordable prices (although they are higher than most other eastern European cities). It’s a fairly compact city, so you can see the highlights in a few days.

Český Krumlov is a popular side trip for people visiting Prague… it’s basically a mini-Prague, but with fewer people. If you have the time, it’s a good place to spend a day. Skip it if your time is limited.

Vienna (optional)

Travel via bus or train to get from Prague to Vienna — both options take about 4 hours, but the bus will probably cost half as much.

Vienna has traditionally been the crossroads of Central Europe, so it’s a mix of multiple cultures… I think of it as an opulent gateway to eastern Europe. It’s known as the City of Music, so if you’re into classical music or opera then you’ll want to check that out. It’s also consistently ranked as one of the best places to live.

However, if you’re looking for “gritty” eastern Europe destinations, you might want to skip Vienna and go straight to the next city — Budapest.

Approx.  3-4 days

If you’re coming from Vienna via train, it will take about 2.5 hours. If you’ve decided to skip Vienna, the train from Prague to Budapest takes about 7-8 hours (there are both day and overnight trains available).

Budapest is called the “Paris of the East” and it’s one of my favorite cities in Europe. It has everything you’d want in a city (architecture, great nightlife, shopping, restaurants, etc.) and it’s affordable. Budapest is also known for its natural thermal baths — which are popular with locals and visitors.

NOTE: If you have limited time in Europe, we suggest sticking to the destinations above, as they serve as a good two-week introduction to Eastern Europe.

Approx. 2  days

Take an overnight train from Budapest to the Slovenian capital of Ljubljana. This city is known for its green space, outdoor cafés, and a large number of university students.

The picturesque Lake Bled is about an hour away via train or bus and makes a great day trip from Ljubljana. Many people spend a night or two in Lake Bled to enjoy outdoor activities if time allows.

Take either a train or a bus from Ljubljana to Zagreb (they both take about 2.5 hours). Spend a few days soaking up the city’s famous 18th- and 19th-century Austro-Hungarian architecture.

Zadar (optional)

Approx. 1-2  days

If you have time, Zadar is a great coastal town known for the Roman and Venetian ruins of its peninsular old town. It’s about a 3.5 to 4.5-hour bus ride from Zagreb. However, if you’re short on time, you may wish to skip Zadar and head directly to Split.

Approx. 2  days (maybe add a day if you want to spend extra time on the islands)

Split is about a 5.5 to 6-hour train or bus ride from Zagreb (or about a 3-hour bus ride from Zadar).

This beautiful city is located along the Dalmatian Coast and boasts a fortress-like city center and beautiful beaches — so stay a while and work on your tan.

Split is also in close proximity to many of Croatia’s beautiful islands, so stick around for an extra day or two (or ten) if you want to explore the islands.

Mostar is about a 4-hour bus ride from Split.

Mostar, which is located in southern Bosnia and Herzegovina, is most famous for its iconic Stari Most (Old Bridge). This medieval town is a great place to spend a few peaceful nights enjoying the old architecture, surrounding forested mountains, waterfalls, and city ruins.

Approx. 2-3  days

Dubrovnik is a 2.5 to 3-hour bus ride from Mostar or a 5-hour bus ride from Split.

Perched on the Adriatic Sea, Dubrovnik is a true jewel of Croatia and shouldn’t be missed. It’s famous for its Old Town and its massive city walls that were completed in the 16th century. George Bernard Shaw once claimed said, “those who seek paradise on Earth should come to Dubrovnik ,” so do yourself a favor and visit.

Total Trip Length 21 Days – 33 Days

If you skip the optional cities as noted, you can do this trip comfortably in about 21-24 days. And, of course, you can always tweak this itinerary to add/subtract destinations from your trip.

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My Eastern Europe Itinerary: 2 Weeks By Train Through 5 Countries

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In May 2017, I set off on an Eastern Europe rail adventure with two friends. Before going, I kept searching for an Eastern Europe itinerary for my trip, but I couldn’t find one. So I decided to share my EXACT 2-week itinerary, with ALL the costs and details, to help you plan your trip.

I feel compelled to begin this post with this: Yes, I realize “Eastern Europe” is a contentious term loaded with complicated socio-political history. I am also well aware Italy is nowhere near Eastern Europe, but most of my trip took place in the area of Europe most Americans call “Eastern Europe,” so for the sake of SEO, I had to use those terms so people who were searching in Google would find what they needed. I am very sorry if this offends anyone! Much love to all. 

* Some of the links below are affiliate and referral links, meaning I get a commission or credits if you choose to purchase through my links—at no extra cost to you.*

Table of Contents

My 2-week Eastern Europe Itinerary: An Overview

How much it cost to travel by train through eastern europe for 2 weeks.

*Note: For days 1 through 9, that lodging price was split among 3 people. For days 11 through 15, I didn’t pay for lodging (stayed with friends) .

“Should I Get a Eurail Pass?”

It depends. Sometimes it saves you money; sometimes it doesn’t. 

Here’s what I recommend. Go to Eurail.com and enter your trip itinerary and find out how much it would cost for a Eurail pass. Then, go to the various countries’ rail sites and add up how much it would cost if you just bought each individual ticket separately (like I did). Go with whichever is cheapest!

As you can see, if I had gone through Eurail pass, I would have paid $387. Without a Eurail pass, by booking each ticket individually, I paid $218.48 . That’s a savings of $168.52! So be sure to do the math and check to see which option is cheaper for you. It varies depending on the itinerary.

Click here to use the Eurail Pass Calculator and decide if a rail pass will save you money!

Favorite Things I Packed for My 2-Week Eastern Europe Trip

• Timbuk2 Aviator backpack . This is the one carry-on backpack I traveled across 5 countries with!
• Runner’s belt  to stash passport and cash. Trust me, when you’re hopping trains like every other day, you do NOT want to lose your passport in the shuffle. On this trip, I kept all my valuables (passport and cash) inside this runner’s belt.
• Chrysalis Cardi Multiway Clothing (Can be worn EIGHT PLUS ways!). When you’re traveling this much, you need to pack light, and you  need  something that can serve multiple purposes. Ladies, get
• the Chrysalis Cardi . I brought TWO of these on my trip (one in gray, the other in purple), and I practically lived out of them.
• Before starting the trip, I read this hilarious book about Eastern Europe , and it helped me appreciate these countries so much more!

My 2-Week Eastern Europe Itinerary: The Nitty Gritty Details

All right, listen up! To prevent this post from being 20,000 words, below I dive into a breakdown of what I did on each day. But for ALL THE DETAILS, I will link to other posts I wrote on how to get train tickets to specific destinations and destination guides. I hope this helps!

Day 1: Arrive in Venice

I had already been volunteering in another part of Italy, but decided to meet two of my American friends in Venice to begin our trip. I took a train from Padua and arrived at Santa Lucia station. They flew in from Florida and arrived at Marco Polo airport, took the bus from the airport and then walked to Santa Lucia station to meet me there.

• 11:30 a.m. – Meet at Santa Lucia station. From there, we took the  vaporetto  (water taxi) to our hotel, Da Marinella, in the neighborhood of Castello.
• Check in at Da Marinella .  Finding  affordable  hotels or Airbnbs in Venice was a CHALLENGE.  Da Marinella  was the best bang for our buck.

All the staff spoke English, though I did practice my Italian just for fun. They automatically handed us English menus too.

• Grab gelato at Gelato Fantasy. Gelato Fantasy Addess: Calle dei Fabbri, 929, S.Marco, Venezia VE, Italia Hours: Monday-Sunday 10 a.m. to midnight If you’re looking for good, homemade gelato, then stop by Gelato Fantasy. I got the small cone with chocolate and hazelnut (because, sadly, they did not have my all-time favorite flavor of Baccio). The cones were interesting, with a lemony flavor. If you, however, want Baccio, there is a little gelateria inside Piazza San Marco. I don’t remember the name of it, but I think it said “American” on the outside. That’s not helpful, is it?
• Grocery shopping at Coop.  If you need to shop for groceries, I highly recommend Coop. Coop Address: San Marco, 4173, 30124 Venezia VE, Italy Hours:  Daily 8:30 a.m. – 10 p.m.
• Watch the sun set along the Grand Canal.

The Best Thing I Did in Venice

Woke up early (before 5 a.m.) to see the Piazza San Marco before the crowds arrive.

Where to Stay in Venice

I would recommend Da Marinella  for a short stay in Venice. It’s budget friendly, something hard to come by in this city.

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Click here to search the best budget-friendly hotels in Venice

What I Would Have Done Differently in Venice

• I would have stayed in Padua and taken the 30-minute train into Venice. Padua is more up to my speed, a medium-sized college town.
• I would have gone in a cooler month. Venice was sometimes unbearably hot! Even at the end of May.

>> Click here to read my Venice travel guide <<

Day 2: Explore Venice. Then Take the Train from Venice to Salzburg

• 5:30 a.m. (or earlier) – Go to Piazza San Marco (St. Mark’s Square) to experience the beauty and quiet of it before the crowds arrive.
• From there, walk to the famous Bridge of Sighs.
• After, grab coffee and a light breakfast at  Ponte delle Paste (opens 6:30 a.m.).
• 9:30 a.m. – Get in line to see San Marco church when it lights up! Yes, it’s free.
• Grab lunch at Farini , famous for its thin crust pizza Farini Address: San Lio – Castello 5602 Hours: Monday-Thursday: 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday-Sunday: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.Farini is a hopping little pizzeria/bakery in Venice. We only popped in because we saw it was  always crowded, which must be a good sign, right? It turns out they’re famous for their thin crust pizza. For whatever reason, my pizza was thick crust, while my friend (who ordered the exact same pizza), got a thin crust one. What I ordered:  Salame Piccante pizza and Romana salad. I only ordered the salad because I missed avocado and felt like being healthy, but I wouldn’t recommend it. Definitely get THIN crust pizza here! Finding seating is a battle here because it’s so popular, and it’s mostly bar seating, no private tables. It might be best to get yours to go.

Taking the Train from Venice to Salzburg

We decided against the overnight train (exhausting) and opted for the afternoon train.  We took the afternoon train from Venice to Salzburg via Innsbruck. Now, that’s important to note: We made sure to have a connection in Innsbruck. Why? This is the scenic route, passing through the breathtaking Brenner Pass, near the Dolomites.

During transfer at Innsbruck, go downstairs to the grocery store and buy food at the deli there . I had the BEST Salami sandwich of my life there. There is also a juice bar in the middle of the store.

For more details, check out my post about my train ride from Venice to Salzburg via Innsbruck.

Where to buy train tickets online:  OBB (Austrian railway)

Which route to take:  Santa Lucia Venezia to Salzburg HBF via Innsbruck (Scenic Brenner Pass)

1:50 p.m. – Depart Venice

9:04 p.m. – Arrive in Salzburg

Cost: $53.77

Get a Eurail pass to save money!

Yes, my trip to Salzburg was crazy short—not even 24 hours. To be honest, I had no interest in seeing Salzburg, but my friend really wanted to see it, so this was more her stop.

Where to Stay in Salzburg

We stayed at Amadeus Residence in Salzburg , and this was one of my favorite apartment rentals of the trip! Everything was impeccably clean, and the apartment is so well constructed you don’t hear a SOUND. We were also able to walk to Old Town, though it did take about 30 minutes; I didn’t mind! It was only about a 10-minute walk from the train station, so this was a huge plus for us. Click here to check the latest rates of Amadeus Residence in Salzburg .

Click here to see a list of the best hotels in Salzburg

Salzburg Tips

• If you arrive by train, stop by the SPAR grocery store inside the train station. It’s fairly extensive, and it’s a great place to stock up on drinks and foods for your trip before you head to your hotel. It’s open till 6am to 11pm every day, so even though we got in late, around 9, we were able to stop by!
• The Salzburg train station DOES have luggage lockers , so if you have an awkward gap of time between when you check out of your hotel and when your train departs, you can lock up your luggage inside the station and use that time to explore Salzburg. Word to the wise: The luggage lockers are tricky! Read my post on How to Use the Luggage Lockers Inside Austrian Train Stations.

Day 3: Explore Salzburg by Day. Then Take the Train to Vienna (Optional: Stopover in Linz)

Okay, admittedly, I did very little in Salzburg. My friends were the ones who got up early to explore the museums and downtown. I opted to sleep in, head to Sunday mass at 11:30 a.m at Salzburg Cathedral , and then explore downtown by foot for just a little while.

Why You Should Take WESTbahn Instead of OBB from Salzburg to Vienna

I highly recommend taking the WESTbahn train from Salzburg to Vienna, NOT OBB! WESTbahn is a privately owned rail company (OBB is government owned. Here’s why I preferred taking WESTbahn to Vienna:

• Flexible times – You can buy a WESTbahn ticket last minute without any price hikes!
• Easy to purchase – You can buy tickets onboard! With credit card! It’s awesome
• Way nicer – OBB trains are actually really nice (especially for Eastern Europe), but WESTbahn is even nicer

A Quick Stopover in Linz, Austria

We did a quick stopover in Linz, Austria, to see a friend whom I met in Toronto! Small world, right?

If you do stop in Linz, highly recommend this ice cream shop: Eis Greissler . They have very eclectic flavors! I got asparagus, goat cheese, and hazelnut!

Where to Stay in Vienna

We stayed at this lovely one-bedroom apartment Airbnb . I highly recommend it! Thomas was awesome, and even provided us with a mobile hotspot we carried around the city so we always had Wi-Fi!

Click here to search for hotels in Vienna

What We Did in Vienna on Day 3

• Explore Vienna by foot.  When we arrived in Vienna, we were pretty spent. We went for a walk through the city just taking photos of the glorious architecture. Then we grabbed dinner at
• Grab comfort food dinner at Kolar Beisl – Kleeblattgasse . This cozy pub is situated in a cobblestone side street just off posh Stefansplatz. We opted to sit in the cozy outdoor seating, complete with little folded-up blankets in the wooden chairs. Kolar Beisl brews their own beer and specializes in savory filled pita sandwiches. Sounds simple? Maybe, but it’s  delicious . Whatever you get, make sure it has sour cream (you can ask for it to be added to any of the pitas, on the side). The sour cream  makes  it! What I ordered : The pita with tomato sauce, salami, pineapple, and Camembert cheese. I also ordered sour cream on the side, which I’m not sure how much that cost (if any) to add on. My friend ordered the pita with sour cream, turkey, lingonberries, and Camembert cheese, and while I loved mine, I think hers tasted even better! Definitely order a pita with that sweet and savory combo. SO GOOD.Also, if you’re wondering whether you should get the regular size or the small, I was pretty hungry and ordered the regular size and was able to finish the entire thing. Cost: 7.30 euros

Day 4: Explore Vienna

I was NOT expecting to love Vienna as much as I did; in fact, it was probably my favorite stop on the trip. I only added Vienna to our itinerary because EVERYONE said I couldn’t miss it.

On the morning of day 4, my travel companions grabbed a swanky breakfast at Cafe Mozart, while I stayed in daydreaming about living in Vienna and pursuing my writing career full-time. Seriously, I LOVED this apartment .

• Breakfast at Mozart Coffee House. Address: Albertinaplatz 2, 1010 Wien, Austria
• Walk around the city. The park, Karlsplatz, by the metro station in front of the church is beautiful.
• Lunch at Naschmarkt.  As overwhelming as the offerings at the famous outdoor food market Naschmarkt were, the quality of the foods we chose were underwhelming. We tried gyros, fruits, pastries, and more, but nothing was truly spectacular. It’s still fun to go and sample things.
• Tour Belvedere Gardens and Palace. Address: Prinz Eugen-Straße 27, 1030 Wien, Austria
• Stand in line for standing room tickets at Vienna Opera House .  We got to watch Swan Lake ballet! It was absolutely breathtaking.
• Leave the ballet during intermission and go to Cafe Landtmann for cake. Address: Universitätsring 4, 1010 Wien, AustriaWalk there because Vienna is super walkable and gorgeous! On the way, admire the rose garden, Parliament, and Rathaus (City Hall).
• Grab a hot dog (with mustard!) from Opernwurst Stadl and walk home to eat it.  We went to a really sketchy Wurstelstand (hot dog stand) simply because it was the closest to our Airbnb and near the opera house. It’s called Opernwurst Stadl. It was good (I mean, as good as hot dogs can be), but it was uncomfortable because it was late at night, and it was only older men at the stand. We three women, dressed up coming from the opera house, felt out of place. Here’s a list of the top hot dog stands in Vienna . Opernwurst Stadl Address: Operngasse 9, 1040 Wien, Austria

The Best Thing I Did in Vienna

Waiting in line for standing room tickets at the Vienna State Opera House was by far the best thing we did in Vienna! The experience is one you can’t miss. Check out my full post on How to Get Standing Room Tickets at the Vienna Opera House .

What I Would Have Done Differently in Vienna

I REALLY wanted to participate in a Vienna Coffeehouse Conversation event! It’s where strangers sit down in a coffeehouse together with a menu of questions. You should totally do this if your Vienna trip dates align with the event dates!

Day 5: Take the train from Vienna to Budapest

• Grab breakfast at cute cafe nearby, Vollpension .  Okay, I didn’t actually get to  eat at Vollpension because of a nasty episode of food poisoning. Remember our little hot dog stand adventure? Well, I made the mistake of eating the leftovers the next day, and even though I had refrigerated them, they must have gone bad. Almost as soon as they hit my stomach, I felt like hurling. So…I didn’t feel like eating.
• Grab a cream cheese strudel (Topfenstrudel) and latte (Melange) from Cafe Goldegg. Then walk to the train station, which is nearby.

How to Take the Train from Vienna to Budapest

Route:  Wien to Budapest-Keleti (direct)

Travel time:  2 hours 40 minutes

Cost: $20.85

2:39 p.m.   – Depart Vienna

5:19 p.m. – Arrive in Budapest

• Check into this Airbnb .  I LOVED staying here. Seriously, I wanted to live here for the summer.
• Eat dinner at Beszálló.  This was an eclectic place with an unexpected twist: Hungarian-Asian fusion! Sad news, though, as of April 2018, they have closed. On their Facebook page , they said they might reopen in a different location, though.

Day 6: Explore Budapest

• Start the day with brunch at Zoska. There’s a lovely little park just a few steps away. Zoska Address:  Ferenczy István utca 28. Budapest, Hungary 1053 Hours: Monday-Saturday 7 a.m.-7 p.m. CLOSED Sundays What I ordered: The pear and goat cheese scrambled eggs and a latte Cost: 1780 HUF ($6.79 USD)
• Stroll to the antique bookstore down the street.  This is a good place to buy Hungarian language book souvenirs. Even if you’ll never be able to read them, they make for great conversation starters when sitting on your coffee table back home!
• Go on a guided audio tour of the House of Terror.  Allocate at least 2 hours. It’s very overwhelming due to the sheer amount of information and the sadness of it all. Add the audio tour guide so you can better understand what you’re looking at. Otherwise, you can read papers printed at the entrance of each exhibit. House of Terror Address: 1062 Budapest, Andrássy út 60. Hours: CLOSED Mondays Open daily 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Cost: Admission: 3,000 HUF ($11.44 USD) Audio guide (optional but recommended): 1500 HUF ($5.72 USD)
• Grab lunch at Panineria. This is RIGHT by the House of Terror, so it’s a great place to stop by after your tour. Panineria Address: Budapest, Andrássy út 52, 1062 Hungary What I ordered:  Cheesy chicken wrap and a bottle of water Cost: 1860 HUF ($7.10 USD)
• OPTIONAL:  Spend the day at the Turkish baths. We simply went to the Sczechenyi Bath to look around. We did not go into the baths.
• Peek inside the Opera House.  We didn’t attend an opera, but we went inside the opera house to admire its beautiful interiors.
• Stock up on snacks at Spar.  Look for Turorudi candy bar, a popular Hungarian treat. The Hazelnut one is tasty!
• Play with the cats at   Whiskers Cat Pub.  While walking around, we stumbled upon a cat pub—yes, you can get alcoholic beverages and play with cats inside a playroom. Fun stuff.
• Walk along the Danube across the Chain Bridge.  I didn’t expect Budapest to be so romantic! Strolling along the Danube was one of my favorite things I did there. Definitely go before sunset and stay till after sunset. The day versus night views are both beautiful, but so different.
• Enjoy a light dinner and an Aperol Spritz at a Dubarry restaurant overlooking the Danube.

Day 7: Explore Budapest Some More

• Visit the Great Market Hall (Central Market).  Great place to purchase paprika. Early morning the food stalls and souvenir shops on the 2nd floor aren’t really open yet. So don’t expect to eat breakfast here if you go early.
• Grab breakfast at ​Gerlóczy Café. Sit outside. This little cafe is a taste of Paris, complete with outdoor seating for people watching along the sidewalk. I loved the little newspaper menus. Gerlóczy Café Address: Budapest, Gerlóczy u. 1, 1052 Hungary What I ordered:  Salami omelette with tomato and basil. It is served kind of like an egg pizza! I also ordered a latte. My friend ordered the Viennese sizzling sausage and it looked so good. Cost: 2430 HUF ($9.27 USD)
• 10:30 a.m. – Take the Budapest Free Walking Tour .  Yes, there is no charge to go on the tour, but here’s the catch: The tour guide is compensated in tips, so be sure to tip him/her at the end of the tour. The tour lasts around 3 hours. Bring water and maybe a snack. If you go in May or June, it will get HOT. You’ll end at the famous St. Matthias church. Everything around there is pricey. So head back down and across the bridge into Pest to get food.
• Eat one of the BEST and CHEAPEST dinners you will ever have at   at Frici papa kifőzdéje . Frici Papa Address: Budapest, Király u. 55, 1077 Hungary What we ordered: – Rántott sajt (fried cheese) – Vörösboros marhapörkölt (famous goulash! Beef with red wine) – Nokedli (noodle) –  Not the noodle you’re thinking, though. This is also known as Spätzle or Hungarian Dumpling. It’s a chewy, lumpy egg noodle. Tastes DELICIOUS! You eat it with the goulash. –  Király palacsinta  – We ordered this for dessert. It’s basically a crepe with chocolate sauce, vanilla sauce, and whipped cream on top. It wasn’t that good though, so I wouldn’t recommend ordering it. – Vilmoskörte Pálinka  –  Ah, pálinka, the national alcoholic drink of Hungary. We ordered it just to try it. It is a very strong fruit brandy. Cost: 4230 HUF ($16.14 USD!)
• Take a joy ride on a river taxi on the Danube , passing in front of Parliament at sunset. Get off the tram at Árpád Híd, walk to Népfürdö Utca. Get on #12 ferry headed SOUTHBOUND. Get off after you pass Parliament (stop is Petöfi Tér). ONLY free to BKK pass holders on WEEKDAYS, not weekends.
• Head to a Ruin Pub (Anker’t).
• Grab a late-night snack at Retro Langos.  This is a famous little food stand in a lot with other food stands. There is outdoor seating in front of it. It’s open till very late at night. Get the classic: Sour cream and cheese! Retro Langos Address: Budapest, Podmaniczky Frigyes tér 4, 1054 Hungary

Where to Stay in Budapest

David and Sophie’s Airbnb in the trendy shopping district of Budapest was PERFECT for three people! And if you leaned out the window and looked at  just  the right angle, you could see the Danube. Seriously, consider staying here .

Click here to search the best hotels in Budapest

The Best Thing I Did in Budapest

The best thing I did in Budapest was definitely anything along the Danube at night.

Is Uber Available in Budapest?

No! But it’s pretty walkable and the trams/subways were fine.

What I Would Have Done Differently in Budapest

• There’s a church inside a cave in Budapest, and I wish I’d gone to see it!
• There’s also Memento Park , an open-air museum where old remnants of Communist Hungary are on display for the world to remember what it was like. This is located a bit outside of the city, so thanks to my poor planning, we didn’t have a chance to go. I would’ve loved to see it though. It makes a fitting complement to the House of Terror.

Day 8: Take train from Budapest to Prague

Where to buy train tickets online:  MÁV Group (Hungarian railway)  

Route:  Budapest-Keleti to Prague

Travel time:  6 hours 41 minutes

11:25 a.m. – Depart Budapest

6:06 p.m. – Arrive in Prague

What We Did in Budapest and Prague

• In the morning, go to Fruccola and grab some snacks for the train ride.
• 11:25 a.m. – Take train from Budapest to Prague . Wi-Fi worked well for majority of trip!
• 6:06 p.m. – Arrive in Prague.
• Walk to Old Town – I got dinner from street food vendor at a festival by a church. Then we got a Kielbasa with spicy mustard at a stand in Wenceslas Square—very good. It was a Friday night and VERY rowdy with streets packed with stag parties. This was a surprise to us. It felt a lot like Vegas…
• Cross the Charles Bridge.  It will be crazy crowded, nothing like the Chain Bridge in Budapest. There are often street performers on the bridge too.
• Visit astronomical clock.

Where to Stay in Prague

My friends and I stayed in an Airbnb that I wouldn’t recommend. After my friends left, though, I checked into this Airbnb , which I really liked!

Click here to see a list of some of the best hotels in Prague

Does Prague Have Uber?

Yes! But we had issues with reliability. On the way to the airport, I had to request several times because drivers kept canceling on me!

What I Would Have Done Differently in Prague

• I would NOT go on a weekend during the summer. The beautiful city is trashed by drunk bachelors.
• I would stay in the Vinohrady neighborhood , which is off the beaten tourist path.

Day 9: Explore Prague

• Granola and yogurt

  Cost:  210 CZK ($9.86 USD)

• Buy one-day tram ticket.  Buying a tram ticket was a good choice for us to get around quickly. We really only needed it for one day.
• Visit Mucha museum.  If you love art nouveau, this is a must-see, a museum dedicated to the work of Czech artist Alphonse Mucha. Mucha Museum Address: Kaunický palác Panská 7 110 00 Prague 1 Hours: Daily 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Cost:  240 CZK for 1 Adult ticket
• Buy souvenirs.  The shops along the streets where the Moka museum is have lots of little souvenirs, particularly if you prefer the edible kind.
• Get rose gelato at Amorino. It was HOT that day, so some gelato was a nice refreshment. Amorino Address Malostranské nám. 38/24, 118 00 Malá Strana, Czech Republic
• Catch a symphony inside an old chapel Mozart once played in: Klementinum Mirror Chapel.  We bought these tickets online about two months in advance.
• Beef in red wine sauce served with dumplings
• Potato salad
• We each ordered beer. I had the Mazak coffee stout

  Cost:  230.66 CZ ($10.83 USD!)

Day 10: Explore Prague

At this point, my traveling companions left me and I was burnt out from a month of travel.

I went to get breakfast at McDonald’s—I know, I know. But hear me out: I was sick of traveling and rather missing home, which is funny, because I never eat McDonald’s in the U.S. This meal was unremarkable.

Then I went to the 11 a.m. mass at St. Thomas Catholic Church . HIGHLY recommend going. It’s beautiful.

Then I checked into this new Airbnb .

Then I went to a local supermarket and bought frozen pizza to make dinner at my Airbnb. Woohoo! Craazzyy times in Prague!

Day 11: Arrive in Krakow

Originally, I was going to take a train from Prague to Krakow, but after almost 2 weeks of grueling train travel, I decided to change my plans last minute and fly to Krakow with a layover in Berlin.

You CAN take a train from Prague to Krakow if you want though.

Where to Stay in Krakow

Thanks to my lovely friend, Winnie, we got a sweet room at the Sheraton Grand Krakow —and oh my gosh,  luxury .

We had a floor-to-ceiling window view of Wawel Castle! The best part was the free food in the lounge, which was enough to serve as meals for us when we didn’t feel like going out to eat. They also serve a complimentary breakfast that was out of this world, including made-to-order omelets. Highly, highly recommend staying here .

Sheraton Grand Krakow Powiśle 7, 31-101 Kraków, Poland

Click here to search for more hotels in Krakow, Poland

• Walk around Wawel Hill.  There is a statue of a dragon that breathes fire!
• Walk around Old Town.
• Go inside the beautiful St. Mary’s Basilica .  The interior of this church is one of the most beautiful I’ve seen. It is free to go inside to pray and attend mass, of course. If you want to go inside as a tourist though, there is a small fee.
• Dinner at Pod Aniolami Grodzka 35, 33-332 Kraków, Poland What I ordered: – 5-piece dumplings – Pork loin – Bread with lard Cost:  172 PL

Is Uber Available in Krakow?

Yes! I used Uber to get from the airport to the hotel and also to get from the hotel to the Sanctuary of Divine Mercy.

What I Would Have Done Differently in Krakow

Stayed longer.

Day 12: Explore Krakow

• Half-day tour of Auschwitz.  We booked a combination Auschwitz/Salt Mines tour through Viator , and while the tour leaders did their best, it was one of my bigger regrets of the trip. The gravity and solemnity of Auschwitz really requires the whole day. Afterward, you’re emotionally spent and trying to process so much. To rush from that to the Salt Mines (which is a humorous tour) feels really messed up.
• Half-day tour of Salt Mines.  If you’re claustrophobic, I do NOT recommend going on this tour. I’m not claustrophobic, but by the end of it, I felt very panicked and wanted desperately to get back up to the earth above (you go 400 feet underground to do this tour. No sunshine. No natural air.). The guided tour is very humorous and upbeat, and obviously, the salt mines are awe-inspiring, but I found it all a bit creepy too.

What we ordered: 

• 7 dumplings cabbage and mushroom and spinach almond

Day 13: Explore Krakow. Then Take the Train From Krakow to Warsaw

• Visit the Sanctuary of Divine Mercy .  We took an Uber from the Sheraton Grand Hotel to the Sanctuary of Divine Mercy. It was surprisingly difficult to find much information on this place, despite its huge significance. When you arrive, you’re free to roam the grounds. I recommend: – Visit the chapel. – Visit adoration chapels. – Go inside the church. You can go to confession. This was confusing because the confessionals didn’t have anything to indicate what language the priest spoke. So I approached an employee/security guard and asked. He directed me to a priest who spoke English. – Attend mass after. – Visit souvenir shops nearby. Sanctuary of Divine Mercy address: Siostry Faustyny 3, 30-420 Kraków, Poland

How to Take the Train From Krakow to Warsaw

Where to buy tickets online: PKP (Polish State Railways)

How much it cost: 135 PLN ($38 USD)

Route:  Krakow Glowny to Warsaw

Duration: 2 hours, 31 minutes

4:49 p.m. – Depart Krakow

7:10 p.m. – Arrive in Warsaw

Where to Stay in Warsaw

We stayed with a family friend just outside of Warsaw in the country.

Click here to search for hotels in Warsaw, Poland

• Dinner at Mango Vegan Street Food .  Okay, so where was the first place we dragged my family friend who is a Polish man in his 60s? Why, to a trendy, hipster vegan restaurant, of course! And he actually liked the food, even though he said, “Had you told me I’d be eating at a vegan restaurant tonight, I never would have believed you.” Mango Address: Bracka 20, 00-001 Warszawa, Poland What I ordered: Pita Falafel Ananas + Awokado, which is a pita filled with falafel, pineapple, avocado, lettuce, tomato, pickled radish, and other delicious things. Highly recommend it! Cost: 16.90 PLN ($4.76 USD)

Day 14: Explore Warsaw

• Explore Polish supermarkets and be amazed.  You might find it odd that going grocery shopping is one of my “must-dos” while in Warsaw, but you have to see it to believe it. I’m American, so I  know supermarkets. But Polish supermarkets will blow anything you ever knew about megamalls and Walmart Supercenters out of the water. The selection is overwhelming! My theory is that it’s a direct result of the fact that Poland was under communist rule for so long, when it was common to go to the grocery store to find empty shelves. Now, Poland has swung in the opposite direction: bountiful stores with abundant options.
• Visit the Warsaw Uprising Museum . Warsaw Uprising Museum Address: Grzybowska 79, 00-844 Warszawa, Poland Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Friday 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Thursday 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday 10 am.-6 p.m. *Closed Tuesdays* Cost: 25 PLN (FREE Admission on Sundays!)
• Tour Wilanów Palace grounds .
• Eat dinner at Kuznia Kulturalna.  I had some sort of fish atop a bed of pureed carrot, topped with a bundle of green beans. It doesn’t seem to be on the menu anymore. You can check out their menu here .
• Grab dessert at a nearby ice cream shop.  Here is a very important Polish word for you to learn: “lody”! It means ice cream, and it’s pronounced “LO-dee.” We grabbed lody at a lody shop just across from Kuznia Kulturalna. You can find many of these around the palace grounds.

Day 15: Fly out of Warsaw

And that was my whirlwind 2-week Eastern Europe itinerary by train! It was a LOT to pack into just 14 days. I had to kind of recover from it all after the trip. It was a GREAT way to try out each city in the hopes of returning for a longer period in my favorite places. I liked to think of this Eastern Europe trip as a “sample platter” of sorts. :) Enjoy your trip!

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Europe by train: Five great one-week rail trip routes

Posted on Last updated: June 5, 2024

Explore Europe by train with five of the best European rail trip itinerary ideas you can do in just one week, covering Northern Europe, Italy, Eastern Europe, Spain and Portugal, and Scandinavia.

* This site contains affiliate links , where I get a small commission from purchases at no extra cost to you.

Train travel is one of the best ways to explore Europe – the continent is fairly compact so it’s easy to get around and there’s a wide network of train routes and rail passes available, so you can just sit back and soak up the views. But if you want to explore Europe by train, most suggested rail itineraries are geared up for InterRailers with months to spare.

That’s not the only option though – you can have a mini European rail adventure too. Just choose a region and a few destinations and create your own route. Or if that sounds too much work, here are five of the best one-week European rail trip ideas to get you started.

Each of the routes is possible in a week’s holiday, but if you’ve got more time you can take it slower and spend more time in each place. The idea isn’t to wear yourself out trying to see everything in every destination, but to take in the highlights and get a taste for each place (if you find somewhere you love, you can always come back again and stay longer).

From Scandinavia to Spain, there’s the perfect European rail route for you – and if you’re ready to go, check out my detailed one-week itinerary posts, which are linked to after each route description and give you the full details of which trains to take, how much they cost, how to book tickets, what to see and where to stay along the way.

Don’t want to organise it yourself? You can also book a custom rail trip based on any of our Europe by train itineraries through our partners Byway ,* the flight-free holiday platform. And you can save £100 off your first booking using the code LUCE100 if you book before the end of June 2024.

5 itineraries for exploring Europe by train

Northern Europe: Canals and chocolate

Amsterdam > Bruges > Paris > Chur > Milan

This train journey takes you through some of Northern Europe’s higlights – from its cosmopolitan capital cities to its storybook canalside towns and on through the mountains of the Alps on board one of Europe’s most spectacular train journeys.

Start your trip in Amsterdam and spend the day exploring this vibrant city with its 50km of canals and 1500 bridges. Visit one of Amsterdam’s art and culture museums, take a walk around the UNESCO-listed Canal Ring or hire a bike to explore further afield.

Then take an early train to the pretty Belgian city of Bruges (3 hours) for an afternoon feasting on local beer and chocolate. Next morning, climb to the top of the Belfort tower or take a boat trip along Bruges canals before catching an afternoon train to Paris (3 hours).

Paris has something for everyone – big-name museums like the Louvre and Musée d’Orsay, iconic monuments like the Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe, parks, pavement cafés and boutique shops. Or why not try out some of the city’s more unusual attractions , like the Promenade Plantée railway line turned park or underground Musée des Égouts?

Then take the train on to Chur (5.5 hours) and spend the evening in Switzerland’s oldest city. Catch the Bernina Express the following morning – one of the most scenic train rides in Europe. This four-hour rail journey runs through the stunning scenery of the Swiss Alps, across bridges and viaducts past Alpine meadows and traditional mountain villages.

The Bernina Express terminates in Tirano in Italy, where you change onto a local train to connect on to Milan (3 hours). Then spend your final morning shopping and sightseeing in the Italian fashion capital’s historic heart before heading home.

Read the full Northern Europe by train itinerary

Italy: Palazzos and pizza

Venice > Florence > Rome > Naples > Sorrento > Sicily

This rail trip is a feast of Italian culture, history, food and wine, travelling from Venice in the north to Sicily in the south. Begin your trip with a full day in Venice – cruise the Grand Canal, get lost in the backstreets and brave the crowds at St Mark’s Square and the Doges Palace. Then take an early train on to Florence the following morning (2 hours).

Spend the afternoon soaking up Florence’s artistic atmosphere, with galleries, museums, churches and palazzi overflowing with Renaissance masterpieces, and try some delicious Tuscan food and wine. Next morning, take the short train journey to Rome (1.5 hours).

Explore some of Rome’s historic highlights, from the Colosseum and Pantheon to St Peter’s Basilica and the Trevi Fountain, before finding the perfect piazza for a sunset aperitivo .

Travel further south to the gritty coastal city of Naples (1 hour 10 mins) to spend the day exploring its archaeological treasures and stuffing yourself in the home of pizza before taking the Circumvesuviana railway south to Sorrento. Eat gelato and soak up the seaside views in Sorrento then spend the next day visiting some of the nearby sights.

You can go back in time with a trip to the buried Roman cities of Herculaneum and Pompeii , climb Mount Vesuvius, take a boat trip along the coast to the colourful villages of the Amalfi Coast or head across the Bay of Naples to the glamorous island of Capri.

Then finish your trip by travelling south to Sicily. Getting there’s an adventure in itself – you can take the train all the way as it travels onto the ferry for the 30-minute boat trip across the Messina Straits. Once in Sicily, get a taste of the island by choosing from Taormina (6 hours 45 mins), Catania (7.5 hours) or Palermo (9 hours) for your final stop.

Read the full I taly by train itinerary

Eastern Europe: Concerts and cake

Budapest > Bratislava > Vienna > Ljubljana > Zagreb

Head east to some of Europe’s cultural capitals to experience world-class art, architecture and music as you travel to five different countries in just one week. Start your rail journey through Eastern European in the Hungarian capital Budapest, with a full day to soak up the city’s culture, steam in its thermal spa baths and party by night in its ruin pubs.

Then catch a train to Bratislava in Slovakia (2.5 hours), a compact city on the banks of the Danube. Spend the afternoon checking out Bratislava’s mix of 18th-century and Socialist-era architecture, from the blue Church of St Elisabeth to the quirky ‘UFO’ Bridge.

Then travel on to Vienna in Austria (1 hour by train – or if you fancy a change from rail travel, the two cities are also connected by a boat which runs along the Danube).

Visit an ornate palace, take an architecture walk around the Ringstrasse, watch the horses at the Spanish Riding School, catch a Mozart concert at the State Opera House and fill up on delicious sachertorte at a traditional Viennese coffee house.

Next travel on to Ljubljana in Slovenia (6 hours) along the route of the scenic Semmering Railway through Austria’s mountains. Spend the afternoon exploring the bridges and Baroque churches of Ljubljana’s charming old town and catch sunset from the castle.

Take a day trip from Ljubljana to beautiful Lake Bled (1 hour by train), famous for its island church, hilltop castle and creamy custard Bled cakes. Then end your trip in Zagreb, across the border in Croatia (2.5 hours), with a day wandering around the historic Upper Town, picnicking in Maksimir Park and visiting the Museum of Broken Relationships.

Read the full Eastern Europe by train itinerary

Spain & Portugal: Paella and port

Barcelona > Valencia > Madrid > Porto > Lisbon

This rail journey takes you across Spain and Portugal, from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic, with plenty of fantastic food and drink along the way. Start your trip in the Catalan capital city of Barcelona and spend a full day checking out Gaudi’s unique architecture, people-watching on Las Ramblas and soaking up the sunshine on Barceloneta beach.

Then take an early train down the coast to Valencia (3 hours) where you have the afternoon to explore its mix of old and new – from the traditional buildings of the Ciutat Vella to the Space-Age City of Arts and Sciences – and try a paella in the city where it was created.

The next day take the short train ride inland to the Spanish capital Madrid (1.5 hours) for an evening of eating and drinking in the city’s tapas bars. Spend the next morning discovering Madrid’s parks, museums and historic buildings – from the famous Prado art museum and Mercado de San Miguel food market to the largest palace in Europe.

Then travel across the border to Porto (6 hours 45 minutes via Vigo) and spend the next day taking a traditional rabelo boat trip beneath the six bridges over the River Duoro and port-tasting at the famous producers across the river in Vila Nova de Gaia.

Finally travel south to Lisbon (3 hours) to end your trip with a feast of local seafood and pastel de nata custard tarts in Portugal’s capital. Check out the city’s street art scene, ride one of the vintage trams and get a workout climbing to the top of the Miradouro São Pedro de Alcantara or Miradouro do Graça for views across Lisbon’s red rooftops.

Read the full Spain and Portugal by train itinerary

Scandinavia: Fjords and funiculars

Copenhagen > Stockholm > Oslo > Flåm > Bergen

This final Europe by train itinerary takes in some of the scenic highlights of Scandinavia on a journey across three countries. Start with a full day in Danish capital Copenhagen – cycle the cobbled streets, ride the Tivoli Gardens rollercoasters, walk along the canals of Christianshavn and check out Nyhavn’s design shops and Michelin-starred restaurants.

The following day, take the train across the border to Sweden, travelling to Stockholm across the Öresund Link, a unique combination of a bridge and a tunnel (5.5 hours). Then spend the afternoon and the new morning exploring Stockholm.

Wander through the medieval streets of Stockholm’s Gamla Stan old town, learn about Sweden’s most famous exports at the ABBA and Nobel Prize museums, or take a boat trip to explore some of the 30,000 islands which make up the Stockholm Archipelago.

Then catch an afternoon train across the border to Oslo in Norway (6.5 hours), where you have the next day to soak up Scandinavian culture at the city’s museums, art galleries and the impressive modern Opera House or historic 13th-century Akershus Fortress.

Next head west along the scenic rail route towards the coast – first taking a mainline train to Myrdal (4.5 hours) and then catching the stunning Flåmsbana mountain railway down to Flåm, passing mountain peaks, lakes and waterfalls (50 minutes).

Spend the night in Flåm on the edge of the fjords, and take a boat trip into the Sognefjord the next morning before travelling to Bergen (2 hours). Finish your trip visiting the colourful wooden houses of the UNESCO World Heritage Bryggen district, checking out the views from the Mount Fløyen funicular and eating seafood at Bergen’s fish market.

Read the full Scandinavia by train itinerary

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Monday 26th of February 2024

Hey Lucy, these train journey articles are fab and so informative, thanks!

I’m planning to do either the Scandinavian or Northern Europe one solo - would you say both of these would be safe for a solo female?

Monday 15th of May 2023

Hi Lucy, Hope you are well. Loved your article! Planning a trip with kids age 14 and 8. Want to see two countries ( france/switzerland) and end up in London. Would love to see switzerland through rail...like those lovely videos we keep seeing but also explore a bit more. How can we plan this best? Any advice/guidance will be much appreciated! Thank you in advance. Warm regards, Saba

Lucy Dodsworth

Friday 26th of May 2023

Hi Saba, depending on how long you have you could start in Milan and take the Glacier Express scenic train (https://www.ontheluce.com/swiss-scenic-trains-and-the-diy-alternatives/) from Tirano to Zermatt, then travel on to Geneva and into France, either heading down to the South of France or north along the border to Strasborg and Colmar towards Paris.

Sonia henry

Wednesday 26th of April 2023

Hi Lucy trying to get from Athens by train what countries can I do

Tuesday 2nd of May 2023

Hi, you could travel up through North Macedonia, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, Austria and Germany. Or another alternative is to take a ferry to Bari in Southern Italy and travel north from there.

Monday 27th of February 2023

Hi Lucy. Your feedback is very informative. I'm thinking about going to Norway in a couple weeks for about 7 days. What countries can I visit from Norway within that time? I'm looking to capitalize on as much places I can see. I mentioned Norway, but not quite sure as yet. I may consider Denmark. Let me know your recommendations.

Tuesday 7th of March 2023

Hi Darren, my Scandinavia itinerary covers Denmark, Norway and Sweden is a week so that should be easily doable in your timescale. You can also catch the ferry from Stockholm to Tallinn in Estonia if you also want to venture into the Baltics, there are frequent sailings and it's only around two hours.

Tuesday 20th of September 2022

Loved your article. Do you have any suggestions for an itinerary with an overnight train so that we can experience a night on a sleeper train (with a cabin and bathroom)?

Thursday 22nd of September 2022

Hi Pam, there are quite a few to choose from in Europe – I did a post on some of my favourites here https://www.ontheluce.com/european-night-trains/ but you could travel London to Scotland on the Caledonian Sleeper or the ÖBB Nightjet trains run from Austria to France and Germany, and both have cabins with private bathrooms.

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This Train Pass Is the Secret to City-hopping Through Europe on the Cheap (Video)

For many travelers, exploring Europe is a must — a rite of passage, even. And for travelers looking to plan the perfect Eurotrip, snagging a Eurail pass is vital.

Since its debut in 1959, Eurail has helped travelers squeeze the most out of their time abroad. The pass has long been a favorite among backpackers, study-abroad students, wandering nomads, and those with limited vacation days, but a strong desire to see the world. If you're out to cover a lot of ground in a short amount of time, or you just want some freedom from the hassle of travel planning, investing in a Eurail pass is a no-brainer.

Below, we've put together a complete guide to the Eurail pass, covering everything you need to know to use the pass and optimize your time in Europe.

Who Should Buy a Eurail Pass and Why

Eurail is a single rail pass that grants access to 40,000 destinations across 33 different countries in Europe. In other words, it's the most flexible and convenient way for visitors to explore the continent with ease. Unlike a traditional train ticket, a Eurail pass gives travelers the ability to utilize existing infrastructure — Europe's thousands of railways — to travel between destinations for a set amount of days.

If you're heading to Europe and planning on visiting more than one location — as in, multiple countries or even multiple cities within the same country — then you're going to want to equip your journey with a Eurail pass. The pass essentially provides all-inclusive access to Europe's well-connected train system, meaning you don't have to book tickets for each individual leg.

Eurail passes are available to anyone — college-age backpackers, couples, families, and travelers looking to make the most of their time in Europe on a budget — but special discounts are provided to certain age groups.

The catch? Eurail passes are not available to Europeans; they're solely for non-European residents. However, European citizens do have the option of purchasing an Interrail Pass, which is similar to a Eurail pass, but for Europeans only.

How to Buy and Use a Eurail Pass

Currently, Eurail offers two different pass types: the Global Pass and the One Country Pass. A Global Pass is essentially the all-inclusive option: It gives travelers the ability to take a train between any of Eurail's 33 participating countries. Meanwhile, the One Country Pass works only within a single country (there are 29 countries currently available on this pass).

Travelers select either a Flexi Pass, which includes a predetermined amount of train travel days (such as four travel days within one month), or a Continuous Pass, which includes unlimited train travel days during a predetermined trip length (such as 15 days or three months).

Eurail also groups certain regions, so that you can score multiple countries for the price of one. For example, the Benelux Pass includes Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg, while the Scandinavia Pass includes Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden.

Once you've chosen the pass that best fits your needs, you can order it through Eurail's website . Eurail ships the physical pass booklet to you worldwide, including an address in Europe, if you're already there. It's best to order your pass at least four weeks before your trip to ensure it ships in time and you can secure any necessary reservations. However, you can plan as far as 11 months in advance. You can also purchase a pass at European train stations.

Before you can use the pass, you'll need to activate it. Validating the pass can be done online using Eurail's free pre-activation service at checkout, or at a European train station once you arrive. You must activate the pass within 11 months of its issue date.

Once your pass is validated, you're ready to go. Simply choose a train and then present your pass upon boarding. Make sure to fill out the required information in your pass booklet for each ride, as the conductor will come by to verify and stamp it.

Eurail's easy-to-navigate Rail Planner App lets you search train timetables, plan your route, and make reservations where needed. The My Trip section of the mobile app makes it simple to save your journey and see your route broken down as a day-by-day itinerary.

Note that some trains in Europe require a seat reservation. In these cases, railway carriers charge a reservation fee that is not included in the price of your Eurail pass. However, seat reservation prices are typically nominal (around $10 to $25, even for overnight trains).

Most reservations can be booked through Eurail's Self-Service option. Alternatively, you can book in person at the station, over the phone, online, or through the Rail Planner App.

Eurail Pass Cost and Discounts

In 2019, Eurail retired its two- to four-country Select Passes, focusing instead on the Global and One Country Passes. These changes enabled Eurail to roll out significantly discounted prices, add a second-class option on all adult Global Passes, and even introduce a Senior category, encouraging an older generation to travel as well.

The cost of a Eurail pass varies widely depending on the type of pass you purchase. For example, a Global Pass with five travel days in one month is usually between $319 and $425, while a 15-day unlimited pass falls between $501 and $667. A three-month unlimited pass usually costs between $1,019 and $1,358, and a One Country Pass for Italy is usually $144 to $271, while France is typically $87.

There are various age-group discounts available: Travelers aged 12 to 27 can purchase Youth tickets and receive a 25 percent discount (up from 23 percent in 2019), while seniors aged 60 or older receive a 10 percent discount. Children under 11 travel for free.

If you're not eligible for an age-based discount, keep an eye out for special promotions — Eurail regularly runs deals, especially for booking far in advance.

Where to Go With a Eurail Pass

Eurail's network includes 33 of the 44 countries in Europe, so your options are plentiful, and you can travel to a new country every day, if that's what strikes your fancy.

Plus, Eurail regularly adds new countries and routes to their portfolio — as of Jan. 1, 2020, Estonia and Latvia are the most recent additions. Popular destinations like France, Italy, Germany, Ireland, Switzerland, Spain, and Poland have long been included.

Eurail also recently added a Greek Islands Pass , which covers ferry trips between 53 Greek islands aboard partner carriers Superfast and Blue Star Ferries. The Greek Islands Pass is available for $102 (five trips within one month) or $199 (six trips within one month). The pass is also available at Eurail's discounted Youth rate of $77 or $175 for the five- and six-trip option, respectively.

Benefits of Having a Eurail Pass in Europe

The main perk of exploring Europe with a Eurail pass is the fact that it enables you to hit multiple stops with minimal hassle. For one affordable price, you can board trains across the continent and hop between destinations with ease, freeing you from the logistical nightmare of planning and arranging tickets for each individual leg of your journey.

A Eurail pass allows travelers to be as flexible or organized as they choose to be on a trip to Europe. During one short visit, you can check off bucket-list spots like Italy, France, Great Britain, Spain, Germany, and more. Or, you can explore just one country in-depth, without having to arrange tickets every time you want to head somewhere new.

Eurail also partners with hostels, tour operators, and restaurants across Europe, so there are some added pass benefits such as discounts at Generator Hostels, free or discounted ferry and bus trips, and cards that grant access to a city's top attractions.

To maximize your pass, figure out the optimal pass type for your needs and then fully explore the benefits that come with your purchase. You'll be posing in front of the Eiffel Tower and snacking on pizza in front of the Colosseum in no time.

Recommended Eurail Pass Routes

If you've never been to Europe, you'll likely want to use your Eurail pass to hit highlights like London, Paris, Rome, Barcelona, and Berlin, but don't pass up the opportunity to get off the beaten path a bit, too. With a Eurail pass, you're free to get creative.

If you've always wanted to visit Luxembourg and Lithuania, but have no interest in Spain or Portugal, that's not a problem: Depending on the pass type you purchase, your travel plans are entirely up to you. Just make sure to consult a map and plot a route that makes sense geographically.

Are you more into nature's wonders than mankind's? Book a Scandinavia Pass and wander through Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Finland in pursuit of the northern lights. Or, experience the beauty of Switzerland, a favorite among families — Switzerland's Glacier Express from St. Moritz to Zermatt, included in a Eurail pass, traverses 91 tunnels, crosses the Oberalp Pass, and winds through the stunning Swiss Alps. The Golden Pass route, also included, skirts Lake Geneva and passes through some of the most picturesque mountain towns in Europe, including Gstaad and Interlaken.

Another idea is to add a theme to your itinerary: With the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics around the corner, why not take an Olympic tour of Europe? You can start at the site of the first-ever Winter Olympics in 1924 — Chamonix, France — and then head to Paris, home of the second-ever Summer Olympics in 1900. From there, hop to Antwerp, Belgium — home to the first Olympic games after the turmoil of World War I — and then take the high-speed Eurostar under the English Channel to London, England, the site of the 2012 Summer Olympics.

Exploring lesser-visited Eastern Europe is also made easier by Eurail. With 2020's inclusion of Estonia and Latvia, the pass now covers rail travel across all of the Baltic countries for the first time in its history. Plus, with the pass, you can take the ferry between Riga and Stockholm or Germany, or from Tallinn to Stockholm or Helsinki, all for up to 50 percent less than you'd pay for these same international ferry connections without the pass.

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Why You Should Consider Train Travel in Europe

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Train system in Europe

Europe train map, booking train travel in europe, 3 ways to make your european train fare cheaper, smart money move: earn points on train travel, train travel in europe recapped.

If you’ve been dreaming about visiting Europe this summer and eating gelato in Italy or visiting the Basílica de la Sagrada Familia in Spain, good news: Airfare is down 8% compared to this time last year, according to Hopper’s 2024 Summer Travel Outlook.

And once you’re in Europe, you may be able to save money if you travel by train. Traveling by train in Europe is convenient and sustainable. Plus, some trains, like the Glacier Express in Switzerland, are designed to travel through scenic destinations so you can sightsee while you relax.

If you’re considering incorporating train travel into your European itinerary , here’s what you need to know about getting around and how to save money on tickets.

There are several train companies in Europe. Some only offer regional train service, while others offer trains between countries. As you plan your trip, familiarize yourself with the train companies that serve your intended destination so you can determine if traveling by train makes sense for you.

Here are some train companies that serve different countries in Europe:

Eurostar trains travel between the U.K., France, Belgium, Netherlands and Germany. (Although the U.K. is not in Europe, it's a popular destination on its own and often coupled with a European itinerary.) 

NS is the leading train company in the Netherlands. 

Renfe is the national train company in Spain. 

Deutsche Bahn (DB) offers long-distance and regional trains in Germany.

SNCF Connect offers high-speed train travel in France.

Trenitalia is the state-run train company in Italy.

Glacier Express offers scenic trains within Switzerland.

Some of these train companies have partnerships with each other to offer convenient connection options. For example, DB-SNCF is a joint venture between DB and SNCF that links travel between Germany and France.

If you Google search “Europe train map,” you’ll find many different maps based on regions, countries, or travel throughout the continent. Here’s a European train map offered by Trainline, which shows different destinations accessible by train.

The interactive map on Trainline’s website highlights popular routes across the country. If the country you’re looking for isn’t featured or you want to see regional trains instead, make your search more specific to check availability.

Buying train tickets in Europe is fairly straightforward. You can purchase your tickets through:

An online travel agency (OTA): Several OTAs that sell train tickets in Europe include Trainline, Rail Europe, Eurail and Omio.

The train company: If you know which train company serves your destinations, consider booking directly on the train company's website in case you need make any changes, since booking travel through an OTA adds an extra layer of complexity . 

At the train station: If you don’t know (or plan) your schedule in advance, you can purchase a ticket at the train station. Keep in mind purchasing at the train station is running a risk that the train time you want might be sold out, or more expensive, since it’s a last-minute purchase. 

Depending on when and where you buy your tickets, there are a few ways to save money on train travel within Europe.

1. Comparison shop

If the train company and an OTA offer tickets, compare prices to see where those seats are cheaper. We searched for a train from Paris to Amsterdam in August 2024 on the Eurostar site and on Trainline to see which option is cheaper.

Booking directly with Eurostar (price in U.S. dollars and euros)

Booking a Eurostar train on Trainline (price in U.S. dollars and euros)

If you pay in euros, tickets on Eurostar and Trainline are the same price (60 euros). But if you pay in U.S. dollars, the fare is slightly cheaper on Trainline ($68.30 versus $70). If you don’t have a credit card that waives foreign transaction fees, you’d want to book the ticket from Trainline in U.S. dollars.

Generally though, if you’re going to Europe — or really anywhere outside of the U.S. — consider using a credit card that waives foreign transaction fees , because these pesky fees are usually between 1% to 3% and can quickly add up.

2. Take advantage of discounts

There are often discounts available for students, seniors and families.

For example:

Spanish train operator Renfe, offers up to a 30% discount on tickets for those ages 14 to 25.

Eurail offers a family discount, a 10% senior discount and up to 25% off for travelers age 27 or below. 

Eurostar offers discounted rates for those under age 26 and 60 and up. 

Other discounts or sales may be available, so be sure to shop around. Booking early can also score you a deal. For comparison purposes, we searched for a ticket from Rome to Milan on Trenitalia one week and three months out. Most of the available tickets a week out were priced at $108, while the tickets three months in advance hovered around $48.

3. Consider travel insurance

According to NerdWallet’s annual summer travel survey , an impressive 84% of Americans plan on vacationing in 2024, with 45% of Americans going on a summer trip (June-August). Summer travelers plan to spend $3,594, on average, for their flights and hotel stays.

When considering an expensive vacation, travel insurance can be a good option, particularly if your trip plans are nonrefundable and you want overseas medical coverage. Even if you have a credit card that offers complimentary travel insurance , most U.S.-based medical plans don’t protect you for medical care abroad.

In addition to travel medical coverage, a comprehensive travel insurance plan includes benefits such as trip cancellation , trip interruption , baggage delay and lost luggage coverage . If you don’t need travel medical insurance, and the coverage provided by your travel credit card is sufficient, you may not need to purchase a standalone travel insurance policy.

» Learn more: How to find the best travel insurance

If you have a credit card that earns extra points for travel, using it to buy train tickets makes sense since trains are part of the travel category. Here are some popular cards that earn additional rewards for travel and don’t charge foreign transaction fees.

on Chase's website

• 2 points per $1 spent on travel, including train travel.

• 3 points per $1 spent on travel, including train travel.

• 2 miles per $1 on every purchase.

• 3 points per $1 on transit, including train travel.

Terms apply.

Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's over $900 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,125 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

Earn 40,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $3,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

» Learn more: Best travel credit cards

Traveling around Europe by train can be a great way to explore one or several countries, all while avoiding the hassle of the airport or renting a car. There are many options for finding train tickets, but generally, purchasing tickets in advance and directly from the train company can save money.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2024 :

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

On a similar note...

The Man in Seat 61

How to travel by train from

London to sofia & bulgaria.

• Buy train tickets
• Buy ferry tickets
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Train travel UK & Ireland...

Train travel in europe..., train travel in asia..., train travel in africa..., train travel in america..., train travel in australasia, london to bulgaria by train, a 48 hour balkan adventure.

It's not difficult to travel to Bulgaria by train, in fact it's a safe, comfortable and interesting journey.  The train ride from London to Bulgaria takes as little as 2 nights, with a variety of possible routes and options.  The train times, fares, and how best to buy tickets are all explained on this page.

Train times, fares & tickets

Route map:  London to Sofia by train

Useful country information

London to sofia by train.

London to Sofia via Romania is a long way round compared to the traditional direct route through Belgrade, but with the Zagreb-Belgrade train suspended since the pandemic and the Belgrade-Sofia route also screwed up, the route via Romania is the viable one.

Option 1 , Eurostar to Brussels or Paris, Nightjet sleeper train to Vienna and connecting train to Budapest, sleeper train to Bucharest, daytime train to Sofia.

Option 2 , the ferry alternative.  London to Amsterdam via the Harwich-Hoek ferry, then by train from Amsterdam to Sofia via Vienna, Budapest & Bucharest.

Option 1 , London to Sofia via Vienna, Budapest & Bucharest

London ► sofia.

Day 1, travel from London to Vienna using an afternoon Eurostar from London to Paris or Brussels, then the 3-times-a-week Nightjet sleeper train from Paris to Vienna or the 3-times-a-week Nightjet sleeper train from Brussels to Vienna.  See the London to Austria page for details .

Day 2, travel from Vienna to Budapest by railjet train , leaving Vienna Hbf at 11:40 and arriving Budapest Keleti at 14:19.

The swish Austrian railjet train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  By all means take an earlier train if you'd like more time in Budapest, perhaps for lunch.

The Muntenia has 4 & 6-berth couchettes and ordinary seats.  A Romanian sleeping-car with cosy 1, 2 & 3-bed compartments is attached from Arad (depart 21:04) to Bucharest.  There's no catering car, so bring your own food & drink.

Sofia ► London

In summer from mid-June to early October this is a direct train, or rather, one 2nd class Sofia-Bucharest through coach with side corridor & compartments.  The other cars in this train run between Sofia & Ruse.

There's no catering so bring a picnic and some wine or beer, a good book, and enjoy the ride.  It's a lovely scenic route, meandering at leisurely speed through the beautiful green valleys of Bulgaria.  You then cross the Danube from Ruse in Bulgaria to Giurgiu in Romania over Europe's longest steel bridge, 2.5 km long.

Day 1, travel from Bucharest to Budapest by sleeper train Muntenia , leaving Bucharest Nord at 21:00 and arriving Budapest Keleti at 12:50.

The Muntenia has 4 & 6-berth couchettes and ordinary seats.  A Romanian sleeping-car with cosy 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments is attached from Bucharest as far as Arad (arrive 08:54).  There's no catering car, so bring your own food & drink.

Day 2, travel from Budapest to Vienna by EuroCity train, leaving Budapest Keleti at 14:40 and arriving Vienna Hbf at 17:20.

An earlier connection is possible, but I'd allow for delay and book this one.

How much does it cost?

How to buy tickets.

Step 1, book the Eurostar from London to Paris or Brussels at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) and add to basket. 

Booking opens up to 6 months ahead .  You print your own ticket or can load it into the Eurostar app to show on your phone.

Step 2, book the sleeper train from Paris or Brussels to Vienna at www.thetrainline.com and add to basket.

Step 3, book the train from Vienna to Budapest at www.thetrainline.com , add to basket and check out.

Step 4, book a couchette from Budapest to Bucharest at the Romanian Railways international website bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro . 

You can book one-way or round trip in either direction.  Booking opens 60 days ahead .  You print your own ticket.

What's the journey like?

1. London to Paris or Brussels by Eurostar

Eurostar trains link London & Paris in 2h20, London & Brussels in just 2 hours, travelling at up to 300 km/h (186 mph).  There are two bar cars, power sockets at all seats and free WiFi.  Standard Premier and Business Premier fares include a light meal with wine (or breakfast, on departures before 11:00).  There's a 30-minute minimum check-in as all border formalities are carried out before you board the train.  More about Eurostar & check-in procedure .  St Pancras station guide .   Brussels Midi station guide .  In Brussels, I recommend using the Pullman Hotel bar as your VIP waiting room .

2. Paris or Brussels to Vienna by Nightjet   See the Nightjet guide

3. Vienna to Budapest by Railjet

Railjets are ÖBB's (Austrian Railways) premier trains, with economy & 1st class, plus a premium 1st class called business class.  There's a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  In 1st & business class, restaurant car orders are taken and served at your seat.  More about railjets .  Budapest Keleti station guide .

4. Budapest to Bucharest on the sleeper train Muntenia

The train has a Romanian couchette car with 4 & 6-bunk compartments, these convert from seats to bunks at night will sheet, pillow and blanket provided.  There are toilets & washrooms at the end of the corridor.  A sleeping-car is attached from Timisoara to Bucharest with cosy 1, 2 & 3-bed compartments with washbasin.

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Option 2 , London to Sofia via Hoek van Holland & Bucharest

This is the ferry alternative, a version of option 3 that substitutes rail & sail for Eurostar.  If you live in East Anglia or prefer a ferry to Eurostar and the Channel Tunnel for some reason, this is a useful alternative.  It's often cheaper than Eurostar at short notice.

Day 2, travel from Amsterdam to Vienna by Nightjet sleeper train , leaving Amsterdam Centraal at 19:00 and arriving Vienna Hbf at 09:17.

This comfortable Austrian Nightjet train has an air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-car with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There are toilets & a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers.  The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu.  The train has couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats.  A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment.  See the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video .

Fares start at €49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, €59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, €89.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €109.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €159.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.

Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or Austrian Railways own site www.oebb.at (same prices, in €, more fiddly).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket.

Tip:   If you have a sleeper ticket and/or 1st class ticket for the onward train to Budapest, you can use the ÖBB lounge at Vienna Hbf between trains, with complimentary tea, coffee, snacks & free WiFi.

Day 2, travel from Vienna to Amsterdam by Nightjet sleeper train , leaving Vienna Hbf at 20:10 & arriving Amsterdam Centraal 09:59.

Fares start at €49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, €59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, €89.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €109.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €159.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

London to Veliko Tarnovo

Bulgaria's ancient capital, Veliko Tarnovo is well worth a visit.  Below left, the main gate to the Royal hill and old cathedral.  Below right, the old town.  The station is at the foot of the hills on which the city is built, it's a longish walk up to the town, you may want to take a taxi.  Click for map of Veliko Tarnovo showing station .

To reach Veliko Tarnovo from London or Paris ,  you have two main options:

Option 1, travel from London to Sofia using one of the options shown above , then take a Bulgarian domestic train from Sofia.  You can check train Sofia to Veliko Tarnovo train times at www.bdz.bg .

Option 2, you can travel from London to Bucharest and use the train from Bucharest to Istanbul which calls at Veliko Tarnovo, see the London to Istanbul page for details .

European Rail Timetable & maps

Rail Map Europe is the map I recommend, covering all of Europe from Portugal in the west to Moscow & Istanbul in the east, Finland in the north to Sicily & Athens in the south.  Scenic routes & high-speed lines are highlighted.  See an extract from the map .  Buy online at www.europeanrailtimetable.eu (shipping worldwide) or at www.amazon.co.uk (UK addresses).

Click the images to buy online

Hotels in sofia & bulgaria, travel insurance & other tips, always take out travel insurance.

You should take out travel insurance with at least £1m or preferably £5m medical cover from a reliable insurer.  It should cover trip cancellation and loss of cash & belongings up to a reasonable limit.  These days, check you're covered for covid-19-related issues, and use an insurer whose cover isn't invalidated by well-meant but excessive Foreign Office travel advice against non-essential travel. An annual policy is usually cheapest even for just 2 or 3 trips a year, I have an annual policy with Staysure.co.uk myself.  Don't expect travel insurance to bail you out of every missed connection, see the advice on missed connections here .  Here are some suggested insurers, I get a little commission if you buy through these links, feedback always welcome.

Get an eSIM with mobile data package

Don't rely on WiFi, download an eSIM with a European mobile data package and stay connected.  Most newer mobile phones can download a virtual SIM including iPhone 11 & later, see device compatibility list .  There's no need to buy a physical SIM card!  Maya.net is a reliable eSIM data retailer with a 4.5 out of 5 Trustpilot rating and a range of packages including unlimited data .

Get a Curve card for foreign travel

Most banks give you a poor exchange rate then add a foreign transaction fee on top.  A Curve MasterCard means no foreign transaction fees and gives you the mid-market exchange rate, at least up to a certain limit, £500 per month as I write this.  The money you spend on your Curve card goes straight onto one of your existing debit or credit cards.  And you can get a Curve card for free.

How it works:   1. Download the Curve app for iPhone or Android .  2. Enter your details & they'll send you a Curve MasterCard - they send to the UK and most European addresses.  3. Link your existing credit & debit cards to the app, you can link up to two cards with the free version of Curve, I link my normal debit card and my normal credit card.  4. Now use the Curve MasterCard to buy things online or in person or take cash from ATMs, exactly like a normal MasterCard. Curve does the currency conversion and puts the balance in your own currency onto whichever debit or credit card is currently selected in the Curve app.  You can even change your mind about which card it goes onto, within 14 days of the transaction.

I have a Curve Blue card myself, it means I can buy a coffee on a foreign station on a card without being stung by fees and lousy exchange rates, just by tapping the Curve card on their card reader.  The money goes through Curve to my normal debit card and is taken directly from my account (in fact I have the Curve card set up as payment card on Apple Pay on my iPhone, so can double-click my phone, let it do Face ID then tap the reader with the phone - even easier than getting a card out).  I get a little commission if you sign up to Curve, but I recommend it here because I think it's great.  See details, download the app and get a Curve card , they'll give you £5 cashback through that link.

Get a VPN for safe browsing.  Why you need a VPN

When travelling you may use free public WiFi which is often insecure.  A VPN encrypts your connection so it's always secure, even on unsecured WiFi.  It also means you can select the geographic location of the IP address you browse with, to get around geoblocking which a surprising number of websites apply.  See VPNs & why you need one explained .  ExpressVPN is a best buy with a 4.7 out of 5 Trustpilot ranking which I use myself - I've signed up as an ExpressVPN affiliate, and if you go with expressvpn.com using this link you should see a special deal, 3 months free with an annual subscription.  I also get some commission to help support this site.

Carry an Anker powerbank

Tickets, reservations, hotel bookings and Interrail or Eurail passes are often now held on your mobile phone.  You daren't let it run out of power, and you can't always rely on the phone's internal battery or on being near a power outlet.  I always carry an Anker powerbank which can recharge my phone several times over.  Buy from Amazon.co.uk or Buy from Amazon.com .

Touring cities?  Use hill walking shoes!

One of the best things I've done is swap my normal shoes for hill-walking shoes, in my case from Scarpa.  They're intended for hiking across the Pennines not wandering around Florence, but the support and cushioning for hiking works equally well when you're on your feet all day exploring foreign cities.  My feet used to give out first and limit my day, now the rest of me gives up before they do!

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8 Things To Know About Travelling to Eastern Europe

If you are planning a trip to Eastern Europe then this article is for you.

As a tour guide myself, I get the same questions from travellers who are travelling to Eastern Europe.

Hi, we’re Rach & Marty!

We’ve visited every country in the world and want to help you get the most out of your travels!

Whether you need an expertly planned itinerary , some experienced hints and tips , or just craving a delicious food adventure , we’ve got you covered!

We may earn affiliate commissions from websites we link to, at no cost to you. Click here for details.

So I decided to answer them all here, and I am certain you’ll find this helpful.

Table of Contents

1. What countries are in Eastern Europe?

Let’s start with the definition of Eastern European Countries. This really depends on how you split Europe into regions. You either have Western and Eastern Europe or split them into more appropriate regions of Balkans, Baltics, Central Europe and Eastern Europe.

In the wider sense, there are 20 Countries in Eastern Europe, and they can also be split into these four regions.

• Central Europe:  The Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Hungary, 
• Eastern Europe:  Ukraine, Belarus, Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova and the European part of Russia.
• The 3 Baltic states : Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia
• The Balkans : Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Serbia, Macedonia, Kosovo and Albania

If you are getting the Balkans and Baltics confused, I recommend reading my article Baltics and Balkans Countries Explained .

2. Is it safe to travel in Eastern Europe?

I have been asked these questions for many years but this year, the main reason is the war in Ukraine that has everyone worried. So let me answer both points:

Is travelling to Eastern Europe safe for solo travellers or women?

Absolutely. Apart from Belarus, every country in Eastern Europe has a lower crime rate than countries in Western Europe. So, the chances of you being robbed, pickpocketed, or involved in any form of crime are on par with Western Europe. 

I personally feel safer as a solo woman on the streets of Eastern European capitals than in London or Paris at night. The point is, you are as safe as in Western Europe.

Our  12 tips for safe travel  apply when travelling to Eastern Europe and the rest of the world too.

Please note: Some capital cities have a small number of bars where male tourists end up “spending a lot of money” on drinks with pretty girls who invite them there. 

Is it safe to travel to Eastern Europe right now with the war in Ukraine?

With the ongoing war in Ukraine, I hear more people being hesitant about travelling to Eastern Europe. Being from Slovakia, I don’t believe it matters if you are in Poland, Germany , or Austria .

Should this conflict spill over into other countries beyond Ukraine in Eastern Europe, they are all part of NATO, and it would mean the whole of Europe is at war based on international law. 

3. What is the best way to travel around Eastern Europe?

Is Eastern Europe easy to travel around? Yes, it is. Travelling to Eastern Europe from Western Europe is easy, there are plenty of flights to get you to your first point of travel or you can get there by train to bus. As for continuing your travelling in Eastern Europe, well the infrastructure is also great.

Here are recommended ways to travel around Eastern Europe:

Travelling in Eastern Europe by trains 

While trains in Eastern Europe might not be as fast as TGVs in France or Switzerland, and Italy, the good news is that there are many, and they often cost a third of the price.

There are great overnight trains with sleepers and some exceptional private trains too, such as Regiojet .

I wrote a dedicated blog on how to travel Europe by train for all the know-how. As for Eastern Europe, just remember the Balkans have too many mountains and trains might not connect all cities, buses are therefore a better option. But trains are a fantastic option for Prague – Bratislava – Budapest journey.

You can continue on Belgrade or add Warsaw and Krakow.

I use Trainline to search, compare and book the cheapest train fares all over Europe. Their website is so user-friendly, and the prices are unbeatable, with the average saving being up to 60 off!

Travelling to Eastern Europe by bus:

You can get everywhere and anywhere on buses in Eastern Europe. Some of the best international routes are run by Flixbus (a German Company), Eurolines, Regiojet and Omnibus. The good news is that they often include free wifi, sometimes even a coffee and USB chargers.

Plus, they can be super affordable, and buying a ticket is easy online.

I recommend using Rome2Rio to check the connection for the best option to get from A to B. And to make instant reservations, we use Omio  to reserve train and bus tickets all over Europe.

For domestic routes, you can always find buses that will get you there.

Car Rental in Eastern Europe: 

Yes, car rental in Europe gives you much freedom if you are keen to explore countries in depth with smaller towns or national parks.

If you’re planning to see the main cities, you are better off using a train/bus/plane to get between them and then public transport. The best way to get around the cities is on public transport (trans, metro, buses) and with a combination of Uber/Grab/taxi. 

Parking, tolls, and the cost of fuel when renting a car might add up quickly when travelling to Eastern Europe and around. And sometimes resting on a 5-hour train journey is a better option than a 4-hour drive by car. 

Lowcost Airlines in Eastern Europe

With the expansion of low-cost companies across Eastern Europe, you can get some amazing deals with airlines such as AirBaltic, Ryanair, Easyjet and Wizz Air, with a base in Budapest being the best . 

With Wizz Air, you might be able to fly from Bratislava to Sofia for as little as 11 Euros. Budapest to Zadar for 20 Euros.

To find the best deals, book on Skyscanner . 

Is country hopping in Europe possible? 

Absolutely. You can choose your type of transport with Omio  or mix it up. Travelling to Eastern Europe these days can easily include multiple countries in a trip.

Get Connected with eSIM

Get connected easily on your travels—buy an eSIM! It works like an app: buy it, download it, and get connected in minutes! It’s easy, affordable, and convenient. Keep your original phone number, too!

Use our code: RACHEL5045  to get $3 off your first purchase!

4. Which countries in Eastern Europe are part of the European Union?

When travelling to Eastern Europe, don’t forget to check your visa requirements. For most nationalities, travel here is straightforward within the EU (the majority of countries are part of the Schengen Zone where free movement without borders has been established across 26 countries), but it’s always good to check countries’ requirements from outside of the EU.

We wrote this post on  The Complete List of all the Countries in the EU in 2023  to explain in more detail. 

11 Eastern European countries are part of the European Union:  

• Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia.

9 Countries in Eastern Europe are NOT part of the European Union:

• Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia  are in the process of integrating the EU legislation into national law and might become part of the EU in the next years.
• Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Moldova, and Ukraine  are not part of the EU, but some are hoping to join.

5. What is the best country in Eastern Europe?

This is a really difficult question to answer as each country has something to offer. Just because Croatia is more visited than Romania doesn’t mean it’s less worth it. Travelling to Eastern Europe is a joy because often you will find amazing places you knew little about. 

I have visited all the capitals and main cities in Eastern Europe, and Prague , Tallinn , and Dubrovnik are three of my favourites.

Perhaps my passion for eating the best Czech food in Prague keeps me returning time and again. It could also be because there are so many awesome things to do in Prague too.

As for my favourite country, I would have to say Slovenia. Gorgeous, with lovely capital beautiful nature, and fantastic food . and I love the Slovenian people.

Just don’t get Slovakia mixed up with Slovenia:  Slovakia vs Slovenia – What is the difference?

Make sure you get Travel Insurance before hitting the road. We recommend Heymondo & SafetyWing

Click here and get 5% off Heymondo from us!

6. Can I pay by card in Eastern Europe?

Yes, debit and credit cards such as Visa and Mastercard are accepted everywhere. American Express not so much, mostly in high-end shops, hotels, and restaurants.

The only time you’ll need cash is when buying fruit at local markets, souvenirs, and when paying at smaller restaurants. It’s always good to have cash on you and use the card when you can.  Don’t forget that you might be charged an international fee for each payment unless you have a card that offers no international fees.

Read more about the debit card we use to travel the world with zero ATM or international fees. Or better yet, sign up for a WISE international bank account, a very wise move for sure.

Also, generally speaking, in bigger cities and capitals in Eastern Europe, more people pay by card than in smaller villages.

There are plenty of ATMs to withdraw money, but ALWAYS use official bank ATMs and avoid EURONET ATMs – they are scams and you will get the worse possible exchange rate.

My friend was travelling to Eastern Europe and decided to take a lot of cash out in Prague in Euros – lost so much money as the ATM charge them really high fees.

Avoid Euronet ATMs. And if you must use one, then ensure you select to withdraw cash in the currency of the country you’re in, NOT in your home currency. If you do that, you’ll get a terrible exchange rate as I mentioned above.

7. Do people speak English in Eastern Europe?

Yes. The majority of the younger generation in Eastern Europe has learned English as a second language.

The opinion that nobody speaks English in Eastern Europe is very dated and it is one of the common misconceptions about Eastern Europe.

Of course, the ability to speak English varies between the countries in Eastern Europe, but when in doubt, find someone under 40 and the chances are they will speak English.

If they don’t, please note that the majority of people in Eastern Europe do speak 2-3 or even 4 languages, English just might not be one of them for the older generation. If you know German, you might also try it, especially in the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, and Croatia.

And, Russian was commonly taught in the former Soviet countries (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Ukraine etc).

• 🔥 Hot Tip: Book accommodation on Booking.com
• 🎟 Book your tickets online: We use Viator and GetYourGuide
• 🔋 Stay charged: This Belkin Power Bank is essential!
• 📸 Join a Group Tour: Search Tourradar for Group Tours
• ✅ Get Connected with eSIM: Easy and affordable! View eSIM

8. Do Eastern European countries use Euro?

Just because countries are in European Union, it doesn’t mean they use Euro. We wrote this dedicated post about the countries in Europe that use the euro to explain this a little more.

Here is a quick list and map of countries in Eastern Europe that use the euro as their main currency.

There are 7 countries in Eastern Europe that use euros as their currency:

• *Montenegro (not in the EU, but use Euro)
• *Kosovo (not in the EU, but use Euro)

And there are 6 countries in Eastern Europe and the EU that do not use the euro:

• Bulgaria –  Bulgarian lev (will adopt Euro in January 2024)
• Croatia –  Croatian kuna ( will adopt Euro in January 2023 )
• Czech Republic –  Czech koruna
• Hungary –  Hungarian forint
• Poland –  Polish złoty
• Romania –  Romanian leu

While euro is not their currency, you might find some places accept euro for payment, especially in Prague, Budapest, or Dubrovnik. Usually, you pay a lot more in euros than when paying in local currency.

Countries in Eastern Europe and not in the EU that do not use the euro, but they own currency: 

• Albania –  Albanian lek
• Belarus –  Belarusian ruble
• Bosnia and Herzegovina –  Bosnia and Herzegovina convertible mark
• Moldova –  Moldovan leu
• North Macedonia –  Macedonian denar
• Russia  – Russian ruble
• Serbia –  Serbian dinar
• Ukraine –  Ukrainian hryvnia

Best 10-day itinerary for Eastern Europe

One of the most common questions is where to go when travelling to Eastern Europe.

Since people have 2 weeks, here are a few suggestions for Eastern Europe trip itinerary, or more specific a 10-day itinerary for Eastern Europe.

I have included an itinerary for 10 days across the Baltics, Balkans, Central Europe, and more of the East part of the Balkans.

You can connect these cities with public transport (bus or train) and can add some day trips as well, but as it’s based on 4 – 5 cities in 10 days, so it can be fast-paced. 

• Best of Central Europe 10-day Itinerary: Prague – Krakow – Bratislava – Budapest (add Ljubljana)
• Best of Baltics in 10 days: Tallinn – Riga – Vilnius – Warsaw – Krakow
• Best of Eastern Europe in 10 days: Budapest – Ljubljana – Split – Sarajevo
• 10 Days across the Balkans Itinerary: Belgrade – Sarajevo – Mostar -Dubrovnik 
• Eastern European itinerary from Black to the Adriatic Sea: Bucharest – Sofia – Skopie – Tirana – Kotor

Interested in joining a group? Book one of these group tours

If you plan to visit multiple countries in Europe, we’ve got you covered.

Check out our comprehensive city guides below where we recommend the best places to visit, top attractions, day tours and best places to eat!

Don’t miss our EUROPE CITY GUIDES

• ROME 3 Days Itinerary
• VENICE 1-Day Itinerary
• FLORENCE 2 Days Itinerary
• AMSTERDAM 3 Day Itinerary
• PARIS 4 Days Itinerary
• BUDAPEST 2 Days Itinerary
• PRAGUE 2 Days Itinerary
• LONDON 1 Day Itinerary
• ATHENS 1 Day Itinerary
• BERLIN 2 Days Itinerary
• VIENNA 2 Days Itinerary
• LISBON 2 Days Itinerary

We’ve got more helpful posts for you!

You may be interested in these 13 things to do in Bratislava, Slovakia and these Best Restaurants in Bratislava are worth a visit.

For the Czech Republic, here are the best things to do in Prague . Don’t miss tasting the best Czech food in Prague— our top 6 places .

Travel Tips for Europe

We have many travel guides and tips for Europe— an incredible continent!

Are you travelling on a budget? These ten cheapest European countries will help you plan an itinerary that lets you see as much as possible while there.

Furthermore, if you plan to travel long-term (or at least until the money runs out), these 21 cheapest countries to visit will help you make your hard-earned dollars stretch a bit further.

Delicious cuisine can be enjoyed across Europe, and our food map of Europe will inspire your culinary journey.

For food lovers, don’t miss our top 10 best countries for foodies, a couple of them are located in Europe.

Here are 8 things to know about travelling to Eastern Europe  and it’s good to know these  7 misconceptions about Eastern Europe  too.

These top 6 travel hacks to save money  are great to read when planning your travels.

You’ll need to stay connected while travelling in Europe. We recommend eSIM. It’s easy, reliable and affordable. View eSIMs for individual European countries , or consider a regional eSIM for Europe (which covers 39 countries).

If your travels in Europe are part of a much larger global adventure, then a Global eSIM may be the answer. It connects you in 124 countries , offering data-only eSIM and data/call/text eSIM . The Global eSIM has been a game-changer; we couldn’t imagine travelling without it now.

If you want to travel with like-minded travellers, consider joining a group tour. View the best deals on group tours in Europe .

Check out our best-ever travel tips compiled from more than twenty years of experience.

Travel Planning Resources

✈️ Flights : We use Skyscanner to book cheap flights worldwide.

🏨 Accommodation :  Booking.com is our preferred platform for booking hotels and accommodation. We use Vrbo to book apartments and long-term stays.

🏥 Travel Insurance : We recommend Heymondo ( Get 5% off Heymondo)  & SafetyWing

🚌 Transportation : Trainline is the best website to reserve trains. We use Omio to book transport worldwide. For travel in Asia, we use 12Go.  

🚘 Car Rental : We use DiscoverCars to book rental cars worldwide.

👫 Group Tours :  G Adventures OR compare multi-day tours worldwide with Tourradar .

📸 Day Tours & Trips :  GetYourGuide  & Viator are the only two platforms you need.

📚 Lonely Planet: The Best Range of Travel Guides & Ebooks , and FREE Shipping! (use code RACHELDAVEY10 for a 10% discount)

🎒 Luggage :  Osprey Farpoint 40L Backpack  or  Samsonite Luggage Range.

🛄 What to Pack:  Don’t forget your Universal charger and a good  power bank .  To help you pack the essentials, here is our ULTIMATE Packing List for all Travellers .

🐶 Become a House Sitter:  Join Trusted Housesitters and enjoy FREE accommodation worldwide. Use our invite to receive 25% off your new membership.

💰 Send Money Anywhere: WISE  &  Revolut  are the best online accounts that let you send money, get paid, and spend money internationally. Both are so easy to use and way cheaper than any bank transfer.

📶  Stay Connected: Airalo eSIM allows you to get connected the moment you land at your destination, and you can avoid those expensive data roaming charges. We LOVE this product! Use promo code NOMAD15 for 15% off ALL eSIMs (new Airalo users only) OR use NOMAD10 for 10% off ALL eSIMs (for existing Airalo users)

✅ Check out our Travel Gear  and  Travel Resources for more valuable tips to save you money!

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Europe Travel Guide

Last Updated: April 18, 2024

From beautiful Paris to smoke-filled coffeeshops in Amsterdam, Oktoberfest to La Tomatina, Europe is a massive, diverse continent with an unlimited assortment of things to see and do. You won’t have any problem filling your time, whether you’re backpacking Europe for a few months on a budget or just spending a few weeks there on a well-earned vacation.

The continent boasts wonderful beaches, historical architecture, amazing wine, and tons of world-class festivals. Every country is incredibly different from the next too, providing limitless variety in what you do during your trip.

I first backpacked Europe in 2006 and was hooked immediately. I’ve been visiting every year since, have run tours around the continent, and even wrote a book on traveling in Europe . It’s a destination I love and never get tired of exploring.

This guide will give you an overview of Europe and the tips and tricks you need to start planning your trip. I’ve also written extensive travel guides to each country on the continent (linked below in this post) so you can get more in-depth information for your specific itinerary too!

Table of Contents

• Things to See and Do
• Typical Costs
• Suggested Budget
• Money-Saving Tips
• Where to Stay
• How to Get Around
• How to Stay Safe
• Best Places to Book Your Trip
• Related Blogs on Europe

Click Here for Country Guides

Top 5 things to see and do in europe.

1. Tour the Greek Islands

These islands are the mecca of summer beach fun and each is unique in its own great way. There’s Ios (beach party central with archeological ruins and awesome boat tours); Kos (ancient ruins and nature); Crete (Bronze Age ruins of Knossos, hiking, beaches, and wine), Santorini (iconic blue water, white buildings, and local wineries); Mykonos , (the upscale party island with beautiful beaches, villages, and sunsets), Naxos (best island in the Cyclades). Plus, Milos, Corfu, Lemnos, Zakynthos, and so many more! With hundreds of islands in the country, you can always find what you are looking for!

2. Ride the rails

Europe is famous for its international rail system. Rail passes like the Eurail Pass have been around forever and still make it very easy to get from country to country on a relatively small budget (and with lots of flexibility). Europe has some of the fastest trains in the world that travel up to an incredible 217 mph (350 kph). The whole continent is connected by trains and there’s a growing push for even more connections and long-distance, high-speed trains in order to reduce flying and help combat climate change. There’s nothing more quintessential than riding the trains in Europe and I encourage you to take as many trains as possible. It’s one of the best ways to see the continent.

3. Get lost in Paris

The “City of Lights” is everything people say it is. I fell in love with it the first time I stepped foot in Paris . The city is just magical. You have a ton of museums, cafes, jazz clubs, famous art, and beautiful architecture. I love just strolling around the streets of the Quartier Latin (Latin Quarter) or Montmartre neighborhood as it makes for a breathtaking day. Another one of my favorite things to do here is just sit in the Jardin des Champs-Élysées park and picnic like the Parisians. For something a bit different, check out the famous Catacombs and Paris Sewer Museum. With so much to offer in the way of culture, history, and gastronomy, it would take years to see everything here but you can still get a good feel of the city in a few days.

4. Go city hopping

There are so many amazing cities in Europe that we’d need a top 100 to list them all. Here are some of my personal favorites and must-see cities: London is rich in history, culture, and the famous Big Ben clock; Edinburgh is a vibrant medieval city with cozy pubs and a famous castle with a huge New Year’s Eve Party; Amsterdam has cozy coffee shops and canopied tree-covered canals; Berlin has a wild party scene, street art, and the Berlin Wall; Barcelona has tapas, beach, and unique Gaudi architecture; coastal Lisbon has colorful tiles, old tramcars, cobblestone streets and plenty of fresh seafood; Prague has a beautiful intact Old Town, incredible architecture and eclectic bars; Tallinn Estonia has beautiful medieval buildings with colorful roofs. Florence  is a mecca for Italian Renaissance architecture, art history, and gelato; Stockholm mixes medieval architecture and modern art and design. Crisscross the continent, take in the culture, and enjoy all the historic cities!

5. Hit the Alps

Whether you go skiing in the winter or hiking in the summer, the Alps hold some of the most breathtaking views in all the world. You don’t even need to be an expert hiker because there are mountain trails for all levels and crystal-clear Alpine lakes. Check out the spectacular Eibsee trail loop in Bavaria at the foot of Die Zugspitze, Germany’s tallest mountain, for the clearest, multi-colored, sparkling lake you’ve ever seen. Or the Männlichen Kleine Scheidegg Panorama trail in Switzerland’s stunning green and snow-capped Alps. Or visit Italy’s Dolomites in South Tyrol for the scenic Seceda trail. The Alps have trails for every fitness level and in every season.

Other Things to See and Do in Europe

1. tour amsterdam.

I love Amsterdam so much that I lived here for a short period of time in 2006. Here cobblestone and brick streets weave around lovely canals as people ride their bikes to and fro. My favorite things to enjoy here are Amsterdam’s vibrant art and music scene and there are also a ton of interesting museums here like the Anne Frank House, FOAM, the history museum, and the hemp museum. Be sure you get out of the center into Jordaan and Oost with their wonderful outdoor cafes and fewer tourists. Also, a visit to Amsterdam wouldn’t be complete without a canal cruise to visit the many islands and there are many to choose from that include snacks and drinks, sunset cruises, live guided tours, and more.

2. Hang out in Barcelona

Barcelona is a city that goes 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It truly could give NYC a run for the “city that never sleeps” title. Be prepared for late-night dinners and parties until dawn. Besides a great food and nightlife scene, there is a wonderful beach, tons of Gaudi architecture (including the fairytale-like Parc Güell, as well as the iconic Sagrada Familia , which has been under construction for over 100 years!), incredible food tours, one of the best history museums in the country, and lots of outdoor spaces. What I love about Barcelona is that when you’re ready to chill, you can wander around Parc de la Ciutadella and marvel at the majestic fountains, plant life, and buildings created from an ornate military fortress.

3. Visit Berlin

Hip and trendy Berlin is an energetic destination. It is one of Europe’s most affordable capital cities, with a vibrant music and art scene and a growing foodie movement. Be sure to spend some time learning about the city’s darker history via the many excellent museums, memorials, and landmarks. The East Side Gallery, a section of the Berlin Wall that’s now painted with murals, and the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe are two especially powerful reminders of Germany’s past. For all periods of German history, don’t miss the Deutsches Historisches Museum (German Historical Museum) – it’s one of the best history museums in the world. Once you’ve had your fill of history, relax in Berlin’s many green spaces, from Tempelhof Field, the site of a former airfield and popular local hangout spot, to Tiergarten, a tree-covered former hunting ground for 17th-century aristocrats.

4. Drink beer at Oktoberfest

Oktoberfest is a must for anyone going to Germany at the end of September. While not a budget option since beers now cost 15 € a maß, I love the energy and friendly camaraderie this event inspires. For two weeks, millions of people from all over the world gather for lots of beer, excitement, music, and wild fun. Watching thousands of people sing together, raising quart-sized beer mugs for endless toasts, and enjoying the general party atmosphere makes you feel good about the world. (Or maybe that’s just the beer?) Just be sure to book your accommodation well in advance and be prepared to pay top prices for them. If you don’t have an outfit, don’t worry, there are plenty of shops even at the main train station where you can buy a Bavarian dirndl dress and men’s lederhosen.

5. Experience London

Get a taste of English culture in diverse London . The museums here are some of the best in the world (most are free) and include the Tate, the British Museum, the City Museum, the National Gallery, the Historical Museum. There’s no shortage of iconic sights here as well, with Big Ben, the House of Parliament, the London Eye, the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, and of course, Buckingham Palace. I love London’s diversity because of the countless international eateries with great food and wonderful pub culture, perfect for after a long day seeing the sights. Head to Brick Lane on the weekends for some amazing food and craft markets. I prefer Paris to London, but there is something sophisticated and fun about London. Just watch those pints — London is not a cheap destination!

6. Get outdoors in Scandinavia

My favorite region in Europe is Scandinavia. The quality of life here is high, the people are beautiful and friendly, and the cities are clean and historic. Cycling the cities, taking canal tours, hiking the vast forested areas, archipelago hopping, enjoying fika (a Swedish coffee break), and warming up in saunas are just a few of the popular activities that await you here. True, this area of Europe is not cheap, but there are plenty of ways to reduce your expenses. Don’t let the high prices scare you away. Highlights for me include Copenhagen , Stockholm , Gotland, Norway’s fjords, and Lapland in Finland .

7. Get enchanted in Prague

Prague has an amazing history and is one of the most beautiful and picturesque cities I’ve ever seen. Highlights include the 9th-century Prague Castle, the magnificent Charles Bridge (built in the 14th century and one of the oldest standing bridges in the world), the 10th-century old square with its iconic astronomical clock, and the winding Jewish Quarter. Even if you only have a few days there don’t miss the free walking tour which is one of my favorites in Europe and the best way to learn about the Old Town and the tragic history of the city that went from thriving Bohemian capital of art, music, and literature to part of the Iron Curtain after WWII. Some of my favorite gems here include the fantastic black light theater shows in 4D and the one-of-a-kind medieval dinner show in an old tavern complete with musicians and jugglers not to mention hearty food and drinks. During the weekends it heaves with people enjoying the bars, cheap beer, and delicious food so try to visit during the week (and in the spring or fall) to beat the crowds.

8. Relax on the French Riviera

Here, you can pretend to live the high life for a little bit. Have fun in the sun, relax on the beach, swim in azure blue water, hobnob with the rich and famous, and sail on (or gaze at) gigantic yachts. As for cities, Nice is nice with its palm-tree-lined promenade, old town, and many art museums. If you want to go see how the rich and famous live, spend an afternoon checking out Cannes to soak up some glamorous vibes on La Croisette where they hold the famous Cannes Film Festival. The kingdom of Monaco with its tiny streets, beautiful buildings, and world-famous casino is just a skip away too.

9. Enjoy the great outdoors in Interlaken

Located in the beautiful mountains of Switzerland, Interlaken is a gorgeous place to unwind with fantastic hiking, delicious hot chocolate, and plenty of outdoor sports. The area is full of natural attractions to explore, including the St. Beatus Caves (complete with a legendary dragon), the cascading 500-meter-high (1,640 feet) Giessbach Waterfalls, the Jungfraujoch mountain railway (which leads to the highest train station on the continent), and a plethora of lakes (hence the town’s name). It’s a good alternative to all the cities and museums. Interlaken is also a popular party destination for backpackers and other young travelers. By far, my favorite scenic and visually stunning trail was the Oberberghorn panoramic hike, where you can wander the green mountain ridge ogling the amazing views and the turquoise-blue Brienzersee.

10. Experience history in Rome

In this thriving historical city, you can’t walk two feet without stumbling over a ruin, making Rome a history buff’s dream. Its tiny streets are perfect for wandering as you explore the Colosseum, see the Forum and Palatine Hill, visit the Pantheon, spend time in Vatican City, admire the Spanish Steps, and toss coins into the famous Trevi Fountain. The skip-the-line tickets can definitely be worth it so you don’t waste time waiting outside attractions. Rome also has amazing food (it’s Italy, after all) and nightlife. Visit the Trastevere area for a taste of “local” Rome and chill bars. It’s my favorite area in the city because you feel like you’re in a small village in the middle of a big city.

11. Hike around the Cinque Terre

Cinque Terre is my favorite part of Italy. These five beautiful cliffside towns are perched near warm waters and beautiful olive and grape groves. There are wondrous and strenuous hikes in these hills; for a real challenge, take trail #8. Or just walk the coastline for something less difficult. Many activities here revolve around the coastline: kayaking, swimming, having a beach picnic or visiting the Technical Naval Museum. If you happen to be here in December or January, don’t miss the Nativity Manarola, the world’s biggest lighted nativity scene.

12. Tour Krakow

Krakow looks like it stepped out of a medieval postcard. It’s a hip, trendy, and youthful city that’s the center of education in Poland, meaning there are a lot of university students here. Most travelers come to party here (the vodka is cheap) but try to enjoy the city’s history and food besides just the bars. Walk the Royal Road through the Old Town to the 13th-century Wawel Castle, tour Schindler’s Factory (where Schindler saved over 1,200 Jews during World War II), and visit the sobering Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp. You can also take a fascinating day trip to the UNESCO World Heritage Wieliczka Salt Mine, a 13th-century mine with cavernous chambers, statues, chapels, chandeliers, and cathedrals all carved out of salt.

13. Visit the ruin bars in Budapest

The coolest nightlife in all of Europe is found in Budapest . Built in abandoned buildings, ruin bars feature funky art installations, repurposed furniture, and quirky decor. They are amazing, fun, and great places to meet locals, as people of all ages flock here. Open since 2001, Szimpla Kert is the original ruin bar and one of my favorites, along with Instant-Fogas Complex, which takes up an entire building and is actually many different bars in one. Don’t skip the ruin bars — they’re one of the most unique things about the city!

14. Explore Cornwall

The best part of England is outside London, yet unfortunately, not a lot of travelers leave London. Head west to the area of Cornwall for cheaper prices, welcoming locals, natural beauty, great hiking, rolling hills, plenty of medieval castles, and picturesque small towns. If you like biking, the Camel Trail from Bodmin to Padstow is worth the trip and you even pass by a local vineyard. It’s an easy way to spend a day (and it’s pretty flat so it’s not too hard to do.) Plus, I had the best fish and chips in Cornwall! Overall, it’s what you think of as “traditional England.”

15. Walk the Camino

El Camino de Santiago (The Way of Saint James) is an ancient pilgrimage route that stretches from France all the way across northern Spain. It is a 500 mile (800 km) trail that winds through incredible terrain, ending in Santiago de Compostela at the cathedral where St. James is supposedly buried. As a pilgrim, you get a “pilgrim’s passport” which allows you to stay in affordable pilgrim-only hostels, making this a surprisingly budget-friendly adventure. While it usually takes over a month to complete, you can just walk a section if you don’t have the time. To receive a “Compostela” (certificate of completion), you just need to walk the last 62 miles (100 km), which generally takes 4-5 days.

16. Throw tomatoes during La Tomatina

By far my favorite festival, the largest food fight in the world happens during the last Wednesday of August in Bunol, Spain. What started in 1945 as a local brawl has turned into a massive event drawing tens of thousands of people from all over the world. For about an hour, everyone throws tomatoes at each other, leaving streets ankle-deep in tomato juice. Afterward, everyone walks down to the river, cleans off, and then heads to the town square for sangria and music.

17. Find Dracula in Romania

Not a lot of people visit Romania but this underrated country in Eastern Europe has undiscovered yet picturesque medieval towns like Brasov (home to “Dracula’s castle”), Sighisoara, and Sibiu; gorgeous beaches on the Black Sea; and incredible hiking in the Fagaras Mountains — all at dirt-cheap prices. Other major sights include frescoed Byzantine monasteries, the steepled wooden churches of Transylvania, the hip university town Cluj-Napoca, the post-communist capital of Bucharest, and the Danube Delta, a huge nature reserve.

18. Drink whisky in Islay

Whisky has a long history on Islay , an island off Scotland’s west coast. It’s been made there since the 16th-century — first in backyards and then, starting in the 19th-century, in large distilleries. Over the years, whisky from the island came to be considered a specialty and was used to flavor a lot of other blends on the mainland. There are currently nine working distilleries on the island, all located along the island’s shores, with Laphroaig, Ardbeg, and Lagavulin being the most famous. Most distilleries here make single-malt Scotch, meaning that only one type of grain (barley) is used. My visit here was amazing and, even if you don’t like whisky, there are tons of good hikes and walks throughout this magnificent island.

19. Explore Iceland

Iceland is a magical country with majestic waterfalls, hidden hot springs around every corner, and sweeping vistas unlike anywhere else in the world. After my first visit, the country quickly became one of my favorite countries. With whale watching in the summer, the northern lights in the winter, and geothermal baths for soaking in year-round, there really is no bad time to visit! While Iceland’s main draw is the epic natural landscapes, it’s worth spending a couple of days in Reykjavik with its café culture, artsy feel, and brightly colored wooden row houses.

20. Sail the Croatian coast

With calm winds, short distances, a coastline littered with over 1,000 islands, and countless historical sites, Croatia is one of the world’s best sailing destinations. If you can, go during the shoulder season when you can find some great deals. Plan to stay at least a couple of days on one of the islands, with the most popular being Brac, Hvar, Krk, Cres, and Lošinj. However, don’t be afraid to get off the beaten path and explore some of the lesser-known islands such as Silba, Vis, and Lastovo. If you want to splash out and spend a week partying on a yacht, check out The Yacht Week, which hosts week-long parties, complete with DJs, from May-September. You can book a full boat to share with friends or just a cabin if you’re traveling solo. Prices start at 5,250 HRK per person and go up to 9,300 HRK.

21. Explore the Balkans

While the Balkans have become more popular with backpackers in recent years, it’s still largely overlooked by most budget travelers, despite being an extremely budget-friendly region. The Balkan peninsula is home to great (and again, overlooked) wine, beautiful medieval towns like Kotor and Mostar, stunning mountainous landscapes, beautiful pebble beaches, coffee culture, fresh, hearty yet inexpensive food, and museums covering the area’s history, including the most recent turbulent events of the early 1990s. I especially loved my time in Albania . Don’t miss the beautiful beaches in Ksamil, nicknamed the “Maldives of Europe’ as well as the mountain village of Gjirokastër, which was occupied by Romans, Byzantines, and Ottomans. The Balkans have so much to offer for every budget and every country has its unique cultural flavor.

22. Take a wine tour in the Loire Valley

Located in central France, the picturesque Loire Valley is a UNESCO World Heritage site and stretches 280 kilometers (174 miles) along the Loire River. One of the major wine-producing regions of France, the area is home to some of the best wines in the world, with over 1,000 vineyards open to the public. Even those who don’t drink wine will enjoy the beautiful small towns, great food, and the region’s over 300 impressive chateaux. I loved the medieval Chenonceau Castle and Chateau Villandry and the small villages like Saint-Florent-le-Vieil. Spring and Autumn are my favorite times to visit because you can go biking and do outdoor activities when it’s not too hot and there are fewer people. It’s an area not to be missed.

23. See Fado in Portugal

Fado is an important musical tradition in Portugal , originating in Lisbon and stretching back some 200 years. The word “fado” likely stems from the Latin word for fate, and it’s very haunting, poetic, and emotional music. Most of the songs follow themes of loss and mourning, and the music was popular with the working class (especially sailors). Performances normally take place in restaurants during dinner. In Lisbon, head to Clube de Fado, Tasca do Chico, Parreirinha de Alfama, or Senhor Vinho.

24. Tour green Slovenia

Slovenia is one of Europe’s least-visited destinations, which is mind-blowing to me because it’s an amazing place to visit. Slovenia offers all the beauty of Western Europe but at a fraction of the cost and with a fraction of the crowds. Perfect for outdoor adventure lovers, Slovenia offers rugged mountains, untouched landscapes, fantastic ski resorts, plentiful wine, sprawling cave systems, incredible food, and postcard-perfect lakes, such as the famous Lake Bled with its castle on an island. I loved Piran, Slovenia’s often overlooked coastal Venetian-style harbor town that was actually founded 3000 years ago. Stroll around its beautiful windy cobble-stoned streets, beautiful plazas, and take advantage of the many affordable restaurants right on the water. Make sure to also spend a few days in the country’s capital, Ljubljana, known as one of the continent’s greenest and most livable cities. Take a river cruise to see the city and enjoy the friendliness of the locals.

  For more information on specific countries in Europe, check out the guides below:

• Albania Travel Guide
• Austria Travel Guide
• Belgium Travel Guide
• Belarus Travel Guide
• Bosnia & Herzegovina Travel Guide
• Bulgaria Travel Guide
• Czechia Travel Guide
• Croatia Travel Guide
• Denmark Travel Guide
• England Travel Guide
• Estonia Travel Guide
• Finland Travel Guide
• France Travel Guide
• Germany Travel Guide
• Greece Travel Guide
• Hungary Travel Guide
• Iceland Travel Guide
• Ireland Travel Guide
• Italy Travel Guide
• Latvia Travel Guide
• Lithuania Travel Guide
• Malta Travel Guide
• Moldova Travel Guide
• Montenegro Travel Guide
• Netherlands Travel Guide
• Norway Travel Guide
• Portugal Travel Guide
• Poland Travel Guide
• Romania Travel Guide
• Scotland Travel Guide
• Slovakia Travel Guide
• Slovenia Travel Guide
• Spain Travel Guide
• Sweden Travel Guide
• Switzerland Travel Guide
• Ukraine Travel Guide

Europe Travel Costs

Accommodation – Accommodation prices vary greatly by region. In Western Europe, hostel dorm rooms cost between 25-45 EUR per night, depending on the room’s size and the popularity of the hostel. I stayed in a 6-bed dorm in Berlin for 20 EUR, while the same one would have cost me around 45 EUR in Paris. A room in Paris costs on the higher end and a room in cheaper Athens costs on the lower end.

In Eastern Europe, hostel dorm rooms cost between 10-15 EUR per night depending on the size of the dorm room and the popularity of the hostel. The further east you go, the cheaper it gets. Expect to pay around 30-60 EUR per night for a private room that sleeps two.

In Scandinavia, hostel dorm beds cost around 25-45 EUR, while private rooms are 65-80 EUR. Budget hotels start around 85 EUR.

Most accommodations offer free linens, free Wi-Fi, and a lot offer free breakfast, but it’s important to check specific websites for exact amenities.

Campsites cost between 10-15 EUR per night for a basic plot for two without electricity.

Food – Food traditions in Europe run deep, stretching back centuries to become integral parts of each country’s culture. From baguettes in France to tapas in Spain, from hearty Eastern European stews and goulash to the fresh vegetables and olive oils of the Mediterranean, European cuisine varies as much as the countries themselves. Food prices differ greatly across the continent, so check individual country guides for specifics.

But no matter where you are, even in the more expensive countries, finding places to eat within your budget is easier than you might think. Throughout Western Europe, you can find small shops, street food stalls, or food trucks where you can get sandwiches, gyros, kebabs, slices of pizza, or sausages for between 3-7 EUR. These shops are most often found in train stations, bus stations, and main pedestrian areas, and offer cheap food alternatives that can have you eating on 12-17 EUR per day. Fast food (think McDonald’s) costs around 7-10 EUR for a combo meal.

Turkish, Middle Eastern, and Vietnamese eateries abound in Germany, while Indian food is incredible and everywhere in the United Kingdom. Meals at these restaurants usually cost between 8-12 EUR.

Restaurant meals in casual, traditional eateries generally cost around 13-25 EUR for a main dish and drink. Food is much cheaper in the east than in the west, and in the west, northern regions like Scandinavia and the UK are more expensive than southern countries like Spain, Portugal, and Italy.

In Eastern Europe, even if you are eating out for all your meals, you can still get by on a food budget of as little as 15 EUR per day.

For drinks, a pint of beer is 2-5 EUR, a glass of wine is 2-7 EUR, a cappuccino is 2-5 EUR, and cocktails range from 6-14 EUR.

If you eat out, do so at lunch and get the prix-fixe menu (two-course or three-course set menu). Restaurants offer this set menu during lunch, and with prices between 10-20 EUR, it’s a way better deal than the regular dinner menu. You can also get affordable lunches at outdoor markets. So many European cities have huge fresh food markets throughout town.

You can cook your own food for around 45-65 EUR per week. This gets you basic staples like rice, pasta, seasonal produce, bread, and some meat. You can save money by shopping at discount supermarkets like Profi, Lidl, Aldi, and Penny Market.

If you want to save big money on meals, head to one of the markets, pick up some cheese, wine, bread, meats, or anything else, and go to the park for a picnic. (Or grab a sandwich for later!) You’ll find the locals doing the same thing, and it’s one of the cheaper ways to get a true taste of local food.

Backpacking Europe Suggested Budgets

Prices for travel in Europe vary greatly depending on how far north, east, south, or west you travel. If you stick to the budget accommodations, food, and tours listed here and use all my tips on saving money, you need about 65-110 EUR per day in Western Europe, 40-50 EUR in Eastern Europe, and about 85-130 EUR in Scandinavia.

Those numbers reflect a traveler who stays in hostels, cooks some meals and eats out cheaply, enjoys a few drinks, and sticks to free and cheap activities like hiking, walking tours, and enjoying nature. This is your typical backpacker budget. You aren’t going to have a fancy time, but you aren’t going to want for anything either.

However, by getting tourist cards and rail passes, avoiding flights, occasionally Couchsurfing or camping, cooking all your meals, and not drinking, you can travel a lot cheaper. On this budget, you could do Western Europe on 35-45 EUR per day, Eastern Europe on 20-25 EUR, and Scandinavia on 50-65 EUR. That would require you to take a train or a bus or hitchhike everywhere, skip most museums, and limit how often you go out.

Generally, the suggested daily budget for Europe is 80-120 EUR. You can use the chart below to get an idea of how much you need to budget daily. Keep in mind these are daily averages – some days you’ll spend more, some days you’ll spend less (you might spend less every day). We just want to give you a general idea of how to make your budget. Prices are in EUR.

Europe Travel Guide: Money-Saving Tips

Individual country guides have more specific information on how to save money in them but here are some general tips on cutting your costs while you explore Europe:

• Picnic – This continent has a lot of little shops where you can buy pre-made sandwiches or ingredients to make your own. Many supermarkets have delis as well where you can get food to go. Buy some food, eat outside, and watch the city and its people go by. It’s a much more enjoyable and cheaper way to eat.
• Eat local and cheap – Not into picnicking? Eat at local sandwich shops, pizza parlors, Maoz, Wok to Walks, and outdoor street vendors. Avoiding restaurants and eating at a lot of the local “grab n’ go” places gives you a taste of the local cuisine at a much cheaper price. If you’re really on a budget, use your creative cooking skills to prepare meals at the hostel as well.
• Stay with a local – Hostels can add up really quickly. If you don’t have any friends with whom you can stay, consider using Couchsurfing , which connects you with locals who let you stay with them for free. Plus, they tend to also have meetups to meet other locals and travelers. It’s a great way to save on accommodation and meet a local who can share their insider tips and advice.
• Camp in a garden – A very good camping service specific to Europe is Campspace , which allows you to pitch a tent in someone’s backyard for free or for a small fee (around 10-20 EUR). All of the garden owners have profiles that tell you what services and facilities they offer. Also, many countries allow wild camping (like Sweden), which can save you a fortune if you have a tent.
• Take the bus – Budget bus companies like Flixbus can take you across the continent for cheap. I personally feel it’s best for day travel as sitting up for an overnight bus isn’t really ideal for sleeping. It isn’t glamorous, but with tickets starting at 5 EUR, you really can’t complain!
• Get a Rail Pass – Eurail Passes have saved me hundreds of dollars. If you are traveling far distances and through many countries, they are a great deal.
• Take the free city tours – One of the great things about Europe is that you can find free walking tours in all the major cities. They can be a great way to see the city attractions, take in some history, and learn your bearings without spending any money. Just make sure to tip your guide at the end!
• Plan accordingly – Plan your trip around Europe so you avoid doubling back. Transportation is a big expense so proper planning can save you a lot of money (and time). Go in a straight line or a loop. Booking your accommodation ahead helps you save as well since cheap, good places unsurprisingly get reserved first. One thing I’ve learned is that waiting until the last minute means you get stuck with expensive places or cheap places no one wants.
• Fly cheap – If you know where you are going and a train won’t do, try to book flights early. You can often get round trip fares for as little as 5 EUR from many of the European discount airlines like Ryanair or Wizz. Many capital cities have smaller airports farther from the city with ‘inconvenient’ times but cheaper fares. Keep in mind you might need to factor in an early morning Uber or taxi if the busses aren’t running and you have an early flight!
• Drink less – Those 5 EUR beers add up. Hit happy hours or pick and choose when you party. Hostel bars are a good place to get cheap drinks or buy your alcohol at the supermarket. Plus, in Europe, it’s legal to drink outside in parks, plazas, by the lakes or rivers. You’ll find you can save a lot of money by not going to bars and clubs. Partying your way across the continent will destroy your bank balance in no time.
• Get a city tourist card – Many local tourism offices sell a tourism card for all their attractions, tours, and restaurants. This card gives you free entry and substantial discounts on all the attractions and tours in a city, free local public transportation (a huge plus), and discounts at a few restaurants and shopping malls. They save a ton of money. If you plan on doing a lot of sightseeing, get one of these cards.
• Rideshare – If you’re flexible in your schedule, use the ridesharing service BlaBlaCar to catch rides with locals between cities (or countries) by paying a small fee. It’s like Airbnb but for rides. I used this service in Switzerland and, not only did I save a lot of money, but I got to meet interesting people and learn about local culture and life. Drivers are verified and it’s perfectly safe, though sometimes rides cancel at the last minute (which is why you need to be flexible). Check their ratings first and try to use rides where the person has done many trips.
• Bring a water bottle – The tap water is safe to drink in most of Europe, so bring a reusable water bottle to save money and reduce your plastic use. LifeStraw is my go-to brand as their bottles have built-in filters to ensure your water is always clean and safe.
• Get a HostelPass – HostelPass is a discount membership for hostels in Europe. Members get 10-20% off select hostels around Europe, as well as perks like free breakfast or free drinks. There are discounts on tours and activities too. It’s a great way to save money if you’re bouncing around Europe as they have hostels in 18 countries around the continent.

Where to Stay in Europe

Europe has a ton of budget accommodation options. The individual country and city guides have tons of recommendations but here’s a short list of some of my favorite budget hostels and hotels around Europe:

• The Flying Pig (Amsterdam, The Netherlands)
• Hotel 54 (Barcelona, Spain)
• Generator Hostel (Copenhagen, Denmark)
• Harcourt Hotel (Dublin, Ireland)
• Castle Rock (Edinburgh, Scotland)
• Ios Palm Pansion (Ios, Greece)
• Greg and Tom’s Party Hostel (Krakow, Poland)
• Largo da Sé Guest House (Lisbon, Portugal)
• Sophie’s Hostel (Prague, Czech Republic)
• The Yellow (Rome, Italy)
• City Backpackers (Stockholm, Sweden)

How to Get Around Europe

Public transportation – Transportation around most European cities is by tram, subway, or bus. Prices are typically around 2 EUR for a one-way ticket in Western Europe and closer to 1 EUR in Eastern Europe. Most large cities also have day passes available that offer unlimited public transportation. These passes are usually 5-12 EUR per day.

In large cities with international airports, there is usually a bus or train available that ferries travelers from the downtown core to the airport. Expect to pay around 5-15 EUR to get to/from the airport.

Bus – Buses are not quite as comfortable as Europe’s trains, although certain lines do have great amenities (like roomy seats and Wi-Fi). While buses are not the most efficient way to travel around the continent, they’re certainly dependable, reliable, and cheap. You can find last-minute rides for as little as 5 EUR. A route from Berlin to Munich is about 25 EUR, while Paris to Bordeaux can be as low as 10 EUR. Longer routes, like Amsterdam to Copenhagen, start at around 47 EUR.

Each country has its own national bus service, but some lines also take you long distances internationally. Megabus and Flixbus (which now owns Eurolines) are the most popular companies.

Train – Train travel is a great way to see Europe. Intercity train prices vary wildly from country to country, depending on whether you take the slow train or a high-speed train and how far in advance you book. For example, a high-speed train from Berlin to Munich costs around 38-60 EUR, Bordeaux to Paris is about 50-85 EUR, and Madrid to Barcelona ranges from 45-85 EUR. Non-high-speed trains and other intercity lines are a lot cheaper, generally costing about 40-50% of the price of high-speed trains. Eastern Europe inter-country trains usually cost between 45-100 EUR when the ticket is booked last minute. Short train rides of 2-3 hours within countries cost about 27 EUR.

To find routes and prices for trains around Europe, use Trainline .

You may also want to consider getting a Eurail Pass , which allows travelers to explore Europe by providing a set number of stops in a specific time period. These passes are continent-wide, country-specific, or regional. It can potentially save you hundreds of dollars.

Ridesharing/Car sharing – If your schedule is flexible, use a ridesharing service and catch rides with locals between cities (or countries). Drivers are verified and it’s perfectly safe. BlaBlaCar is the most popular.

If you’d rather rent a car yourself and find passengers to share a ride with, use Discover Cars to find the best car rental prices.

Flying – Budget airlines are so prolific that competition helps keep fares low. You can often find tickets where the fare is just 5 EUR round-trip! Companies like EasyJet, Ryanair, Wizz, and Vueling offer mind-blowingly cheap flights throughout Europe. Book at least a month early to scoop up great deals.

Make sure that the airport they fly into isn’t too far out of your way (transportation from the secondary airport sometimes negates the savings from using the budget airline itself).

Keep in mind that you’ll have to pay to check your baggage on these cheap flights. It costs about 25-39 EUR for one checked bag. If you wait to pay for your luggage at the gate, you end up paying almost double. Travel carry-on only to avoid this added cost.

Hitchhiking – Hitchhiking in Europe is very safe, but it’s not for everyone. Hitching is quite common around the continent and I’ve met a number of travelers who have done it (I, myself, traveled this way in Bulgaria and Iceland). Some countries are very supportive (Romania, Iceland, Germany) while others may be a bit more time-consuming (Italy, Spain). HitchWiki is the best website for hitchhiking info.

Here are my suggested articles for how to get around Europe:

• 7 Cheap Ways to Travel Across Europe
• Are Eurail Passes a Giant Scam or Do They Save You Money?
• The Ultimate Guide to Finding Cheap Flights

When to Go to Europe

There’s no wrong time to visit Europe. Peak season is summer, when Europe gets crowded and August is the time most European families are at the beach so everything becomes more crowded and expensive. But the overall atmosphere and weather are great during this time, so it’s still worth visiting during peak season (just book your accommodation in advance — especially in August). Keep in mind it’s much hotter in summer so if you like AC, be sure to check that your hostel or hotel has it before you book. You can expect the most crowds in Western Europe. For this reason, I feel summer is a great time to visit the Balkans and the Baltics because many people head to the beaches in Spain, France, Italy, Croatia, and Greece.

Shoulder season is spring and fall (April-May and September-October). It’s still warm during this time but there aren’t as many crowds and prices are cheaper. This is my favorite time to visit hotspot places like Spain, Croatia and Greece, where it’s still hot enough to swim in the sea but you have way more room on the beach. It’s also a good time to go hiking in the Alps in Germany, northern Italy, Slovenia and Switzerland because it’s cooler during the day so you’re much less sweaty on the mountain without shade. The weather is good, the crowds are smaller, and the prices lower.

Winter is from November to February but in much of Central Europe, it’s wet and cold until March or April. It gets cold, even as far south as it gets (like Greece). On the other hand, the Christmas season has Christmas markets and festivals galore! Even if it’s cold, this is a cultural tradition you can’t miss and why I love Europe in December. There is hot mulled wine, sweets, and plenty of hot snacks, which vary by country. One of my favorites is Prague because the Old Town Square is lit up with a gigantic tree with aromas of crispy cinnamon pastries and mulled wine. Berlin takes their Christmas markets very seriously, so there are around 80 different markets with special themes.

Winter is fantastic in Europe for skiing and snowboarding but it doesn’t have to break the bank if you plan carefully. While Switzerland and France are probably the most famous, they are also expensive, but there are plenty of budget winter options.

How to Stay Safe in Europe

Europe is very safe for backpacking and solo traveling, even if you’re traveling solo, and even as a solo female traveler. Violent crimes against tourists are very rare. In fact, some of the safest countries in the world are in Europe. (I wrote a whole article about how Europe is safe to visit right now .)

That said, there are scams and petty crimes you should watch out for, especially around popular tourist landmarks. The most important thing to be aware of is pickpockets in crowds and on public transportation. Zip your bags and don’t put your mobile phone in a jacket pocket where someone could quickly take it. This should be obvious but don’t flash your money to let everyone know you have a huge wad of cash.

When choosing a hostel, look for ones with lockers. It’s always a good idea to carry around a padlock or combination lock. Most hostels are safe and travelers respect each other and I’ve rarely seen things happen to people’s valuables. Nevertheless, I always think that prevention is better.

As anywhere, the standard precautions apply (never leave your drink unattended at the bar, never walk home alone intoxicated, etc.). When at the bar, always keep an eye on your drink. Avoid walking home alone at night if you’re intoxicated.

For female travelers in particular, it’s always a good idea to have a bit of extra money on you just in case you need to take an Uber or taxi back by yourself so you don’t take unnecessary risks to save money. If you’re using apps to date people while traveling, please use common sense and meet in public places. Since I’m not a female traveler, please check out the numerous female bloggers who have first hand knowledge of this.

If you’re worried about scams, you can read about common travel scams to avoid here.

If you rent a vehicle, don’t leave any valuables in it overnight. Break-ins are rare, but it’s always better to be safe than sorry. Be aware that the UK drives on the left and that most rental cars in Europe will have manual transmissions unless you request otherwise.

When hiking, always bring water, sunscreen, and bandaids or foot plasters. There is nothing worse than being halfway up the mountain with a blister and nothing you can do about it!

Likewise, when at the coast, don’t forget not only to wear sunscreen! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen people get burnt to a crisp the first day. Be sure to check the weather before you depart and dress accordingly.

If you do experience an emergency, dial 112 for assistance.

Always trust your gut instinct. Make copies of your personal documents, including your passport and ID. Forward your itinerary to loved ones so they know where you are.

The most important piece of advice I can offer is to purchase good travel insurance. Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. You can use the widget below to find the policy right for you:

Europe Travel Guide: The Best Booking Resources

These are my favorite companies to use when I travel. They consistently have the best deals, offer world-class customer service and great value, and overall, are better than their competitors. They are the companies I use the most and are always the starting point in my search for travel deals.

• Skyscanner – Skyscanner is my favorite flight search engine. They search small websites and budget airlines that larger search sites tend to miss. They are hands down the number one place to start.
• Hostelworld – This is the best hostel accommodation site out there with the largest inventory, best search interface, and widest availability.
• Booking.com – The best all around booking site that constantly provides the cheapest and lowest rates. They have the widest selection of budget accommodation. In all my tests, they’ve always had the cheapest rates out of all the booking websites.
• HostelPass – This new card gives you up to 20% off hostels throughout Europe. It’s a great way to save money. They’re constantly adding new hostels too. I’ve always wanted something like this and glad it finallt exists.
• Get Your Guide – Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace for tours and excursions. They have tons of tour options available in cities all around the world, including everything from cooking classes, walking tours, street art lessons, and more!
• The Man in Seat 61 – This website is the ultimate guide to train travel anywhere in the world. They have the most comprehensive information on routes, times, prices, and train conditions. If you are planning a long train journey or some epic train trip, consult this site.
• Rome2Rio – This website allows you to see how to get from point A to point B the best and cheapest way possible. It will give you all the bus, train, plane, or boat routes that can get you there as well as how much they cost.
• FlixBus – Flixbus has routes between 20 European countries with prices starting as low 5 EUR! Their buses include WiFi, electrical outlets, a free checked bag.
• SafetyWing – Safety Wing offers convenient and affordable plans tailored to digital nomads and long-term travelers. They have cheap monthly plans, great customer service, and an easy-to-use claims process that makes it perfect for those on the road.
• LifeStraw – My go-to company for reusable water bottles with built-in filters so you can ensure your drinking water is always clean and safe.
• Unbound Merino – They make lightweight, durable, easy-to-clean travel clothing.
• Top Travel Credit Cards – Points are the best way to cut down travel expenses. Here’s my favorite point earning credit cards so you can get free travel!

GO DEEPER: Nomadic Matt’s In-Depth Budget Guide to Europe!

While I have a lot of free tips on Europe, I also wrote an entire book that goes into great detail on everything you need to plan a trip here on a budget! You’ll get suggested itineraries, budgets, even more ways to save money, my favorite restaurants, prices, practical information (i.e. phone numbers, websites, prices, safety advice, etc etc), and cultural tips.

I’ll give the insider view of Europe that I got from years of traveling and living here! The downloadable guide can be used on your Kindle, iPad, phone, or computer so you can have it with you when you go. Click here to learn more about my book on Europe!

Europe Travel Guide: Related Articles

Want more tips for your trip? Check out all the articles I’ve written on Europe travel and continue planning your trip:

The 7 Best Hotels in London

10 Scotland Road Trip Tips You Need to Know Before You Go

The Perfect 7-Day Croatia Itinerary

The 6 Best Hotels in Copenhagen

The 6 Best Hotels in Florence

The 7 Best Hotels in Madrid

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The 10 best sleeper-train journeys to take in Europe in 2024

Oct 19, 2023 • 8 min read

After a night on the Caledonian Sleeper, you’ll wake up in the Scottish Highlands © Lucy Knott Photography

A few years ago, competition from low-cost airlines and high-speed railways looked like they would spell the end for sleeper trains, which were increasingly starting to look like relics.

But an increased interest in slow travel and concern about the environmental impact of flying (driven partly by the Swedish concept of  flygskam,  or “flight shame,” movement) have boosted demand for sleeper trains. In a remarkable reversal of fortunes, operators across Europe – including several new entrants – are bringing routes back, in some cases for the first time in generations, and establishing new services, often across borders. 

Overnight trains do more than save on a night’s accommodation. They’re an adventure in themselves, recreating the romance of a bygone era as they transport travelers, families and business people across the continent under the cloak of darkness. 

Most services offer a mixture of sleeper compartments with room for two or four passengers; six-person, dormitory-style couchettes; and cars with standard seats. On some trains, however, private compartments equipped with showers and innovative capsule-style berths are becoming available on trains with new or refurbished carriages. This enhances the sense that the next generation of night trains has arrived.

Munich, Germany to La Spezia, Italy

Frequency: daily except Saturday Approximate duration: 11 hours

Nightjet ’s Munich –to– La Spezia service is one of many night routes that offer the only direct connection between their start and finish points. Passengers can board an early-evening train south from Bavarian city’s vast Hauptbanhof station aiming for Austria , northeast Italy and onward, via Genoa (another great stop-off option), to the Ligurian coast . If everything’s on time – which, it should be noted, is not a given on night services, especially those crossing borders and picking up carriages from other services – then you could beat the crowds to the Cinque Terre ’s walking trails (accessed by a local train from La Spezia). Or you could just settle in to this underrated city for a late breakfast and marvel at the city’s art-nouveau architecture, best explored by strolling the stairways that rise uphill from the waterfront.

Hamburg to Stockholm

Frequency: nightly  Approximate duration: 14 hours

This Swedish Railways (SJ)–operated service, one of the darlings of the new European night scene , has grown in popularity and scope since its launch. 

During the summer of 2023, the SJ Euronight to and from Stockholm extended to start and finish in Berlin  – a change now being made permanent. Still, travelers should not miss the chance to explore the lively maritime city of Hamburg  – plus, starting the journey here makes more sense if you’re connecting from points further south and west. From Hamburg, the night service north heads into Denmark and makes an early hours crossing of the Öresund Bridge to Malmö . 

Beyond the southern tip of Sweden , morning views of Nordic forests and lakes root travelers in their surroundings until the train pulls into Stockholm Central station, located in the middle of the tangle of waterways and islands in the heart of Sweden’s capital.

Private operator Snälltåget also operates seasonal night services on this route. This train is a good alternative if your timings or availability don’t work out on the SJ train, or if you want to try out Snälltåget ’s highly regarded restaurant coach.  

Zurich to Zagreb

Frequency: daily Approximate duration: 15 hours

A convenient route between Switzerland ’s largest city and the compact, beautiful Croatian capital , this Euronight services crosses five countries over approximately 15 hours. It’s worth taking this journey in the summer, as it’s one of Europe’s most scenic routes, passing through Austria and Slovenia  – both countries where you’re hard-pressed to find an unattractive railway line. It also passes (without stopping) through the tiny Alpine principality of Liechtenstein . You can get a taste of this train by riding as far as Ljubljana in Slovenia, though this misses a lovely stretch of track running alongside the Sava River between there and the border.

Berlin to Brussels

Frequency: six nights a week from December 2023 (though with different operators and routes; see below) Approximate duration: 11.5 hours

The much-heralded European Sleeper service from Brussels to Berlin has proved an invaluable addition to the night-train scene, and the company behind it has plans to run the train through to Prague starting in 2024. With stops in Antwerp , Rotterdam and Amsterdam , this thrice-weekly train reinstated a route phased out in 2008. Starting December, it will be joined by a Nightjet service making the same journey on three alternate days, though taking a different route via Liège and heading down the Rhine to Mannheim . (This train runs as part of the existing Brussels-to-Vienna Nightjet.) Brussels makes for a fast journey from London  – and, since there’s no need in Brussels to change stations (as in Paris), it’s an ideal starting point for UK -based travelers looking to snooze their way deeper into Europe.

London to Fort William, Scotland

Frequency: daily except Saturday Approximate duration: 13.5 hours

Great Britain has only two sleeper trains – and both have recently benefited from major upgrades in what many see as a vote of confidence in the country’s overnight services. The Night Riviera runs southwest from London’s Paddington Station and keeps going until it runs out of rails – and land – at Penzance in Cornwall . But it’s the Caledonian Sleeper that gets Britons most excited . This legendary train leaves Euston Station each night and, via a series of carriage shuffles unnoticed by the snoozing passenger, reaches Edinburgh , Inverness , Aberdeen ,  Fort William and points in between. 

The through service to Fort William is the most spectacular leg, offering a night on the rails and a morning crossing wonderful Highland scenery before depositing fresh-faced passengers at the foot of the path up Ben Nevis, the country’s highest peak.

Budapest to Bucharest

Frequency: daily Approximate duration: 17 hours

One of Europe’s most beautiful stations, Budapest ’s Keleti terminal is the starting point for this fantastic overnight adventure. There are in fact three sleepers that ply this route, but the timing of the Ister is arguably the most optimal: it departs shortly after 7pm and arrives at Bucharest ’s Gara de Nord in mid-morning, meaning passport control takes place around midnight. The big benefit of the lazy morning on the train is the chance to enjoy the superb scenery of the section of the Carpathian Mountains before crossing the plains on toward the capital. From Bucharest there’s a direct summer sleeper connection onward to Istanbul , another railway odyssey to the edge of Europe .

Trondheim to Bodo

Frequency: daily Approximate duration: 10 hours

Under normal circumstances, the jaw-dropping views offered by any Norwegian rail journey would make a night train a wasted opportunity. But there are two factors that argue for taking the 10-hour Trondheim -to- Bodø service. First, if you do this journey during the summer you needn’t miss anything – the sun will hardly set. Second, Norwegian trains are very pleasant places to hang out for a while, and a berth on a night train is an excellent deal in a country where bargains are few and far between.

Rome to Venice 

Frequency: daily Approximate duration: 7 hours

A quiet star of Europe’s night train scene, Italy’s InterCityNotte (ICN) services crisscross the country, offering several unmissable routes. While trains heading from Rome to Sicily garner attention thanks to the novelty of the ferry that carries carriages across the Strait of Messina, there are reasons to head from the capital in the opposite direction.

A Trieste -bound sleeper hauls out of Roma Termini each evening and ambles through the romantic regions of Lazio , Umbria and Tuscany . Snoozing travelers may be awakened by some shunting as northbound carriages are moved off at Mestre, before an unforgettable crossing of the lagoon causeway to Venice itself. Any bleary eyes should be swiftly jolted into life by the sunshine of a Venetian dawn, the first sight of the city with pretty much no one else around, and a strong espresso or two.

Paris to Latour de Carol

Frequency: nightly (departure times vary) Approximate duration: 12 hours

Having axed all but a handful of Intercités trains de nuit  in 2016, SNCF (French National Railway Company) has spent the past few years plotting to revive some of the canceled services. One survivor has been the service from Paris to Latour de Carol , deep in the Pyrenees . Four- and six-berth couchettes and a seated carriage make the journey south, passing through Limoges , Toulouse and the foothills of the Pyrenees to arrive at the border station of Latour de Carol.

From here, it’s possible to continue, via a suburban train, to the heart of Barcelona in around three hours, offering an epic alternative to the TGV service from Paris to the Catalan city via Montpellier and the French Mediterranean coast. The scenic, narrow-gauge Petit Train Jaune also leaves from Latour de Carol, offering a dramatic mountain train ride with connections on to Perpignan .

Innsbruck to Cologne 

Frequency: daily Approximate duration: 11.5 hours

There are a multitude of reasons to hop aboard this excellent Nightjet sleeper service, particularly in this direction. First, Innsbruck ’s beautiful location in the Tyrolean Alps makes it a rewarding spot to explore pre-voyage, with hiking trails in summer and ski runs in winter. Second – and excitingly for true train geeks – Nightjet services offer unique double-decker sleeper compartments, with deluxe berths on the upper level. Third, if you can rouse yourself early, these trains travel through the early morning along the beautiful Rhine Valley Line, passing time-worn castles and vast vineyards on their way north to Cologne .

As if all that weren’t enough, Cologne’s cathedral , right next to the railway station, is one of the great icons of Europe. Watching its twin spires grow in stature as you chug towards the city is a fitting finale to this magnificent journey.

Booking information

The resurgence in night trains’ popularity means booking ahead is essential. Depending on where you’re traveling, berths go on sale between 30 and 180 days in advance; it’s best to book as far ahead as possible. Seat61 , Trainline.com and national train operators can guide you through the booking process.

This article was first published Sep 22, 2018 and updated Oct 19, 2023.

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30 Days in Europe: Travel Tips & Itinerary Ideas

Discover Europe in 30 days with our tips and itinerary ideas for a diverse and enriching adventure

A budget-friendly journey blending adventure and culture awaits

Welcome, willkommen, bienvenue to Europe, one of the most diverse continents on the planet. Steeped in history, culture and tradition, Europe is famously abundant with art, antiquity, and ornate architecture –there’s good reason why the Grand Tour was a rite of passage for the 18th-century aristocracy– and a 30-day tour offers a chance to experience more than a brief snapshot of its character and beauty.

With 44 countries spanning nearly four million square miles (10m sq. km), Europe is a vast yet surprisingly connected continent. In a month, you can beach hop around the Mediterranean, trek through the Tatra Mountains, and see Amsterdam through Rembrandt’s lens with ease.

Spending 30 days in Europe costs less than you think. While it’s relatively cheap and straightforward to fly between major cities, exploring by road or rail is the most popular – and best – way to see Europe. Whether you want to scale the lofty Eiffel Tower in Paris, explore Rome’s ancient Colosseum, or see the gargantuan dome of the Hagia Sofia in Istanbul, a well-thought-out itinerary can be accessible to all budgets. 

One of the most logical, convenient, and time-savvy ways to see Europe is on an organized adventure, where all the planning, logistics, and hard work is done for you. Whether you’re on a backpackers’ budget or want a once-in-a-lifetime holiday, here’s how to get the best out of Europe in just 30 days .

Top tips for planning your itinerary

1. don’t try to see everything.

Rome wasn’t built in a day. And Europe can’t be seen in a month, but you can scratch more than the surface on a 30-day traveling budget. Whether you want to tick off the top sights or spend your time more leisurely and get to know the vibe of a city, research, and planning is always the key to a successful trip. 

Feeling free and easy? Why not leave the itinerary to the professionals and book an organized adventure? With many trips starting in London, the adventures begin as soon as they hit the rails or road, traveling through key cities across Europe, including Barcelona, Amsterdam, Paris, Berlin, and Budapest.

2. Schedule in plenty of downtime

So many cities, so little time can be the death knell of fun when you’re traveling. While it’s tempting to pack your 30 days in Europe to the brim, it’s important to remember it’s a holiday, not a challenge. Let go of the FOMO and factor in some downtime on the beach or in the mountains to rest and recharge.

3. Pick your top destinations

Whether you want to island hop around Greece, bathe in Iceland’s Blue Lagoon or embark on a Game of Thrones pilgrimage to Dubrovnik, take time to choose what you really want to get out of your 30 days in Europe. Have a wish list as a baseline and work your itinerary and budget around it.

There are dozens of 30-day organized adventures available across Europe, many of which combine the big-hitting city stops like Amsterdam, Paris and Berlin, along with lesser-known destinations like Kotor, Tirana and Delphi.

How to get around Europe

Although vast, Europe is an accessible continent and you can cover plenty of distance in 30 days. Depending on your budget and what you want to achieve, flying is usually the quickest way to hop between major cities; however, you do lose much of the charm you get from seeing Europe from ground level.

Traveling by train is one of the best ways to explore the continent. Europe has an extensive cross-border rail network which is reliable, efficient, and reasonably priced. Eurail offers interrailing passes that fit a 30-day budget and allow more freedom to explore on your own timetable.

If keeping costs down is a major factor, low-cost coach and bus services such as FlixBus and Infobus can be good options, having routes to more than 1200 destinations in 24 countries.

Alternatively, booking an organized adventure will really make the most of your 30 days on the continent. There are dozens of brilliant itineraries covering all interests and budgets –almost always including travel, accommodation, and the services of a tour leader– it’s a great way to travel around Europe with like-minded people. 

See Also: The Seven Most Scenic Train Rides in Europe

30 days in Europe: Where to go and what to do

With 30 days to play with, Europe really can be your oyster. Amsterdam to Antwerp, London to Ljubljana, Zurich to Zagreb, you can easily check out 10 countries or more on a 30-day budget. Classic Europe itineraries include Paris, Amsterdam, Barcelona, while the more unique itineraries include destinations like Pamplona, Liechtenstein, and the Rhineland. Focus on one or two regions and get stuck into seeing the best of it on a 30-day European holiday. 

See Also: 50 Fabulous and Free Things to Do in Europe

Western Europe

From Anne Frank Huis in Amsterdam to the Zurich opera, most classic pan-European tours focus on the big hitters – Paris, Berlin, Rome, Venice, Barcelona – where there’s enough culture and history to fill 300 days, let alone 30. 

Some organized adventures will take a deeper dive into western Europe, starting in London and winding through 18 or 19 destinations, including Biarritz and Madrid, the French Riviera and Monaco, Florence, Venice, and Rome, while others will include a river cruise through the Rhineland, a tour of Cologne and the last few days enjoying Amsterdam.

Southern Europe

Sweeping across from Spain to Serbia, the southern Europe region incorporates Portugal, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Croatia, Albania, Slovenia and more. From the temples of ancient Greece, the ruins of Rome to the beaches of Spain, Cyprus, and Albania, southern Europe is great for combining culture and kick-back time. 

For something a little different from the classic European Grand Tour, book an organized adventure that takes in the most fascinating destinations along the Mediterranean and Dardania route. Several 30-day itineraries have options that start in Tirana, Albania, and wind across the length of southern Europe, including overnights in Naples and Pompeii, Durmitor National Park in Montenegro, Sarajevo, Belgrade and Budapest.

Central and Eastern Europe

From the emerald-hued Plitviče Lakes in Croatia and the bohemian nightlife of Sofia, to the Gothic architecture and beer taverns of Prague, there are a million and one reasons to include central and eastern regions on your 30-day European trip, not least because these affordable cities will make a tight budget stretch even further.

Whether you start in Vienna or Vilnius, there are a number of organized adventures that explore central and Eastern Europe’s most captivating cities, including Bucharest, Sofia, and Plovdiv. Alternatively, choose an itinerary that ventures into the rugged landscape of the High Tatra Mountains between Poland and Slovakia.

Northern Europe

With its design-centric cities, glacial fjords and stark arctic wilderness, Northern Europe can feel like an entirely different planet, compared to the rest of the continent. From the geothermal waters of Iceland’s Blue Lagoon, and the pop culture museums of Stockholm to the fjords of Norway, there are plenty of reasons to head north on your adventure. 

From Copenhagen and Oslo to Stockholm, you can have some incredible Nordic adventures on these 30-day itineraries across northern Europe. Several include overnight cruises from Stockholm to Helsinki or crossing over the Arctic Circle to Rovaniemi in Finnish Lapland. 

For more inspiration — or to book a hassle-free holiday and travel with a group of like-minded people — check out our full range of 30-day Europe tours.

See Also: The Best Places to Travel Alone in Europe

Tracey Davies

Tracey Davies is a Brighton-based travel writer, journalist and editor of 101 Singles Holidays, as well as a former co-host of “The Carry On” travel podcast.

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