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Explore Central Europe

9 days, Berlin to Budapest

An amazing night time scene of downtown and the parliament building in Budapest, Hungary

Delve into the cultural wonders of Central Europe on a survey of its most celebrated landmarks, from Germany’s iconic Brandenburg Gate to Czechia’s centuries-old Charles Bridge. Step into the past in Berlin, Vienna, Prague, Budapest, and the Bohemian countryside, exploring ancient castles and historic districts alongside local historians. Taste culinary specialties, discover contemporary art, and experience the ever-evolving vibrancy of these storied places.

9 days - Berlin to Budapest

From$2749USD
Valid on May 4 2024
Trip Code: EDENG

Need a flight? We can help.

Call us to book your flights! We'll find you the best option!

Delve into the cultural wonders of Central Europe on a survey of its most celebrated landmarks, from Germany’s iconic Brandenburg Gate to Czechia’s centuries-old Charles Bridge. Step into the past in Berlin, Vienna, Prague, Budapest, and the Bohemian countryside, exploring ancient castles and historic districts alongside local historians. Taste culinary specialties, discover contemporary art, and experience the ever-evolving vibrancy of these storied places.

Is this tour for me?

Travel Style: National Geographic Journeys

Greater exploration, insider access, and the freedom to roam – all without sacrificing comfort.

Service Level: Upgraded

Quality accommodations and more inclusions than on other G Adventures tours, like meals, private transport, and activities.

Physical Rating: 2 - Light

Light walking and hiking suitable for most fitness levels. Nothing too challenging.

Trip Type: Small Group

Small group experience; Max 16, Avg 12.

Age requirement: 12+

All travellers under age 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

Check Your Visa Requirements

Before booking, use our handy entry requirements tool so you know which documents you need to enter and travel through the countries on your trip.

View our Entry Requirements tool

9 days - Berlin to Budapest

From$2749USD
Valid on May 4 2024
Trip Code: EDENG

Need a flight? We can help.

Call us to book your flights! We'll find you the best option!

See how your trip uplifts communities

In a number of impactful ways, your adventure directly benefits the local people and places we visit.

Trees for Days

Help us spread love around the world — with trees! Together with Planeterra, we'll plant one tree in your name for every travel day.

Trees planted for this trip: 9

Ripple Score

Want to create ripples that change lives? The higher the Ripple Score percentage, the more money stays in the local communities you visit.

Ripple Score for this trip: 99

While London, Paris, and Washington showcase their greatness for all the world to see, Berlin does something completely different. It makes you think.” —Jamie Jensen, “Tales from the City,” National Geographic Traveler

Itinerary Notes

There are new Health & Safety Protocols for National Geographic Journeys tours. Please see here for full details and up-to-date requirements as they may change.

Itinerary

Day 1Berlin

Arrive at any time.

Day 2Berlin

Set out on an orientation walk with your CEO to get your bearings. Then discover sections of the Berlin Wall with a local historian, delving deeper into the political and social history of the so-called Iron Curtain from its rise to its fall. During free time this afternoon, opt to join a river tour, people-watch at the historic Brandenburg Gate, or glimpse the city’s flourishing art scene at local galleries and museums.

Exclusive Inclusions:

Your Journeys Highlight Moment Walk the Berlin Wall with a Historian

Meals included:

Breakfast

Day 3Berlin/Prague

Travel by private vehicle to Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic and one of Europe’s best-preserved medieval cities. Enjoy a guided tour of the historic centre, which dates largely to the 14th century and has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage site. As you walk along the cobbled streets, chart the city’s development through the centuries according to architectural style, from the Middle Ages to present day. This evening, opt to watch the sunset from a lively beer garden on the banks of the Vltava River.

Meals included:

Breakfast

Day 4Prague

Enjoy a free day to explore the “city of a hundred spires.” Wind your way past baroque domes and Gothic spires, sprawling plazas and spectacular cathedrals. Cross the iconic Charles Bridge, amble through the historic Jewish Quarter, marvel at the medieval astronomical clock, and delve into modern history at Wenceslas Square, where citizens rallied for an end to communism during the Velvet Revolution. Opt to climb more than 200 steps up to the palaces and courtyards of the monumental Prague Castle, the world’s largest ancient castle complex. Check out a local restaurant and try traditional Czech cuisine, such as goulash and dumplings.

Meals included:

Breakfast

Day 5Prague/Český Krumlov

Take a scenic drive through the Bohemian countryside to the fairytale town of Český Krumlov, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Opt to visit the Český Krumlov State Castle and Chateau, and get lost in the Gothic castle’s hidden passageways, Baroque theatre, and hedge maze as you explore these epic grounds built between the 14th and 19th centuries.

Meals included:

Breakfast

Day 6Český Krumlov/Vienna

Cross the border into Austria, and go on orientation walk around Vienna. Stop by a local café to pair a cup of rich Viennese coffee with a slice of the famed Sacher torte—a decadent chocolate and nougat confection historically linked to the city’s distinguished coffee houses. Enjoy free time this evening to see Vienna’s world-renowned opera house or simply enjoy a walk around the elegant capital.

Exclusive Inclusions:

Your Foodie Moment Sacher Torte Tasting

Meals included:

Breakfast

Day 7Vienna

This morning, join a local chef at the famed Naschmarkt, established in the 16th century as a marketplace for wooden milk bottles, sampling some of Vienna's finest delicacies as you explore the stalls and lanes. Enjoy time this afternoon to discover the city on your own. Take in some of Europe's most distinguished art galleries, visit the stunning Lipizzaner horses of the renowned Spanish Riding School, experience mass with the Vienna Boys Choir, or settle into a café.

Exclusive Inclusions:

Your Journeys Highlight Moment Naschmarkt Walk

Meals included:

Breakfast

Day 8Vienna/Budapest

Catch a train to the Hungarian capital, Budapest. Head out for an orientation walk, then pay a visit to a G Adventures–supported café where proceeds support Hungarians living with a disability as well as rural Roma communities. During free time, opt to “take the waters” at a thermal bathhouse or explore the stunning Baroque castle, the historic resident of the Hungarian kings.

Exclusive Inclusions:

Your G for Good Moment Nem Adom Fel Café and Bar

Meals included:

Breakfast

Day 9Budapest

Depart at any time.

Meals included:

Breakfast
View full itinerary

What's Included

  • Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Walk the Berlin Wall with a Historian, Berlin
  • Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Naschmarkt Walk, Vienna
  • Your G for Good Moment: Nem Adom Fel Café and Bar, Budapest
  • Your Foodie Moment: Sacher Torte Tasting, Vienna
  • Orientation walk in Budapest
  • Tour Prague's old town including the Jewish quarter, clock tower, Charles Bridge, and Wenceslas Square
  • Visit a Viennese café and sample Sacher Torte
  • All transport between destinations and to/from included activities

Accommodations

Hotel/pensions (8 nts).

Meals

8 breakfasts
Allow USD430-560 for meals not included.

Transportation

Train, private van, walking.

Staff & experts

Local Guide, CEO (Chief Experience Officer) throughout

Available extras (Add these to your tour when you book)

Budapest History Walking Tour - From $32.00

Unravel the secrets of Budapest on a 3-hour walking tour of the city's medieval and Jewish districts. Your guide will meet you and then take you to visit Great Market Hall, the city's largest food market, before making your way through winding streets to see remnants of Budapest's 15th-century fortress walls. Immerse yourself in the pre-Ottoman worlds of Buda and Pest, separated by the Danube River, and learn about events of historical significance along the way. Stop for a coffee break, then continue onto the city's Jewish district and visit the Dohany Street Synagogue to learn about the history of Hungarian Jews. Today, this area is known for its "ruin bars" and is a lively center of nightlife.

Make it a private tour

Book this tour as a private departure, with your own CEO and all the benefits of a G Adventures group tour.

Explore Central Europe

| 9 days - Berlin to Budapest - from $2749 USD