Budapest to Berlin on a Shoestring

Day 1 Budapest

Arrive at any time. There will be a welcome meeting in the evening at 6 or 7pm followed by an optional group dinner. Look for a welcome note at reception with more details.

Situated on a beautiful stretch of the Danube, Budapest consists of two parts: Buda and Pest. Buda is the older and more historical part of the city, with old narrow winding streets and medieval buildings. Here you can find Buda’s most ancient sights: the Royal Palace, St. Matthias Church, Fisherman’s Bastion and Castle Hill with its old town. You might like to have dinner in a local restaurant on Váci Utca, which is the bustling main street of Budapest. We also recommend a visit to the Szechenyi thermal baths for a real treat – Budapest style!

Day 2 Budapest

Free time to explore Hungary’s capital. Opt to check out the beautiful Parliament building, stroll the streets or check out the thermal baths. Night train to Krakow.

Day 3-4 Krakow

Orientation walk upon arrival, then walk up Kosciuszko’s Mound for the best panoramic views over Krakow. Free time to visit Auschwitz, travel to see old salt mines or stay in the city to explore the Jewish Quarter.

Krakow is a thriving European city that still retains the old Eastern European charm. Visit the Old Town’s Rynek Glowny square, one of the world’s largest medieval squares. You can sit for hours watching the people wander by over the cobblestoned streets. Make time to indulge in the mighty carbohydrate, Poland’s favorite food group. As the birthplace of the bagel you can sample them from vendors in the square or eat your body weight in the most delicious of Polish delicacies, the pierogie. These little ravioli-like pouches filled with all sorts of things, the best being mashed potato, will tempt you to work your way through each variety during your stay. To really eat like a local, get your CEO to take you to a “milk bar” where you can line up with the locals for traditional cheap Polish food, cafeteria style! When you awaken from your carb-coma, visit the royal castle perched on the Wawel Hill, providing a great view of the city.

For some of the history that makes Krakow so famous, visit the former Jewish district with its 7 synagogues, which was used as the location for filming the movie Schindler’s List. Three gigantic Gothic churches and more than 800 pubs are huddled in nooks and alleyways where time slows down.

If you can tear yourself away from the charms of Krakow, make a visit the Wieliczka Salt Mines, located only a short distance away. Here, you will be plunged into a deep underground network of tunnels and chambers some 135m below the surface. The Blessed King’s Chapel is a highlight not to be missed, with its elaborate salt chandeliers and carvings.

You may want to end your day embracing Polish social traditions in one of Krakow’s many cellar restaurants and pubs. Dive into the thriving social scene over a few vodkas in one of these cheerful establishments, Zubrowka (Bison Grass Vodka) is a must!

Not far outside of the city is the site of some of history’s most horrific crimes, Auschwitz-Birkenau. The site embodies tragedy, inhumanity and the survival of will. Today the museum stands testament to the inconceivable atrocities of the Second World War, whilst paying tribute to the thousands of lives unjustly taken within.

Day 5-6 Prague

Day bus to Prague, then enjoy an orientation walk around town including a visit to a genuine beer hall. Free day for independent exploration—check out the Prague castle complex or walk the cobblestone streets through the old town and Jewish ghetto.

Prague is regarded by many as the unspoilt jewel in Europe’s historic crown. As well as the chance to visit all the major sights of the Old Town and Hradcany (the Castle of the Bohemian Kings), we have time to simply soak up the atmosphere of a unique community.

Just a stone’s throw away is Charles Bridge, by day thronged with vendors and street musicians. At night, the bridge is less crowded, and it’s much easier to appreciate the scenery as well as the ever-so-slightly sinister quality of the statues looming overhead. Cross the bridge and you’ll find yourself in Mala Strana, a far less crowded district that offers the perfect atmosphere for some introspective wandering. If you can handle the stairs, climbing the hundreds of steps to the famous Prague Castle (known as Hradcany), you’ll be rewarded with a glorious view of the city. Like Charles Bridge, the castle is best enjoyed at night, when there is dramatic lighting and few visitors.

If you’re in the area and want to experience traditional Czech pubs, which are guaranteed to be loud, lively, and packed with locals on any night of the week, this is the place to find restaurants serving traditional Czech cuisine such as fried pork cutlets, goulash, and dumplings.

The Prague Ghetto, which includes the Jewish Cemetery and Synagogues is one of the famous areas of Europe where the Jews of the city lived and thrived before WWII and definitely worth a visit.

Prague certainly has no shortage of breathtaking views and the next hill over from the castle, Petrin Hill, offers a less obstructed panorama-style view. If you’re not in the mood for hiking uphill, you can always take a cable car all the way to the top. An alternative is an evening watching the sunset from the heights of the Letna Beer Garden, where you can sample Czech beer, world-famous for its superb quality and low cost, on a warm summer evening.

Estimated travel time: Krakow to Prague 8 hours

Day 7 Berlin

Take a train to Germany, and enjoy an orientation walk in Berlin. Enjoy a final evening with the group in this city well known for its vibrant nightlife. Berlin is an amazing city with tangible historical importance and a melting pot of different cultures and flavours.

The very name Berlin conjures images of the famous Berlin Wall. Two sections of the wall still remain on display- the East Side Gallery, where artists have decorated the remaining section of the wall, and the Berlin Wall Memorial (Gedenkstatte Berliner Mauer). Down the street from the Berlin Wall is the Haus am Checkpoint Charlie, a museum that documents the history of the wall, and interestingly, many of the different ways people tried to escape. Learn about all of the creative ways used to cross over to the other side. After, you can head over to the Brandenburg Gate, another spot of great historical significance. Here, hundreds of thousands of people were finally able to cross from the East side to the West after the fall of the wall. It has traditionally been a political rallying point for different groups and continues to be so today.

For those interested in Berlin’s government, past and present, visit the Reichstag, home to the German parliament. Here, you can go up to the glass dome for a view of Berlin, or learn about the fascinating history of the building. For more history from this grim period, visit the Topographie des Terrors, a row of old cellars where prisoners were tortured. See the hundreds of pictures from the era and read the newspaper clippings to get a better understanding of what went on in the cellars and throughout Nazi Germany.

Finally, for an amazing view of Berlin, visit the famous Berlin TV Tower with a viewing room and cafe located 203 meters above ground, providing sweeping views of the city.

Day 8 Berlin

Depart at any time.