Best of Central Europe

  • Europe
  • Duration: 15 Days
  • Start: Vienna, Austria
  • Finish: Budapest, Hungary
  • Destination: Europe
  • Group size: 1-15
  • Operator: Intrepid
Experience the charm, sophistication and elegant feel of Central Europe on this 15-day classical and steady-paced exploration from Vienna to Budapest. Bask in the tradition of vivacious Vienna, discover the hidden fairy tale gem of Cesky Krumlov.

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Highlights

Discover the heart and history of Central Europe

Experience the charm of Central Europe on this 15-day, steady-paced adventure from Vienna to Budapest. Discover the hidden fairytale gem of Cesky Krumlov, hike the Tatra Mountains in Slovakia and step back in time as you walk the streets of Wroclaw. Spend a night at Vienna’s quirky Magdas Hotel, join your local leader on an orientation walk through Prague and indulge in coffee and cake at Vollpension – a local cafe that empowers older members of the community. Visit the classic Polish cities of Wroclaw and Krakow, join a guided tour of the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum and round off your journey with free time to uncover Budapest’s eclectic neighbourhoods.

 


Why you’ll love this trip

  • Hike through the lesser-known Tatra Mountains in Slovakia. With a range of trails available, you’ll be high above the valley floor, admiring the views in no time.
  • See the classic Polish cities of Wroclaw and Krakow and feel the emotional wallop of a sobering visit to nearby Auschwitz.
  • Discover Cesky Krumlov on a guided tour around town with your small group. See medieval buildings, beautiful countryside and the flowing Vltava River.
  • Get the low-down on Budapest’s classic charm, cafe culture and eclectic neighbourhood vibes during your time here. Have you actually been to Budapest if you didn’t go to the ruin bars?
  • Savour the Viennese tradition of kaffee and kuchen (coffee and cake) at a cafe that empowers older locals by providing them with employment and fostering social connections.

 

Is this trip right for you?

  • Please keep your luggage as small and light as possible. You’ll be travelling on public transport where storage space is limited. You’ll need to be able to lift your luggage into storage racks, walk across cobblestone streets with it and carry it up and down stairs.
  • Don’t let the heat keep you from exploring the world! Summer temperatures can be very high in many of the regions visited (over 40°C), which can make things uncomfortable. It’s important to use sun protection, wear layers to combat the heat, and drink plenty of water.
  • If you have more time to explore the region you may want to check out our trip Journey through Central Europe & Romania (AMSCC). This trip heads further east and explores Romania and Bulgaria. Or you may want to consider our trip Vienna to Dubrovnik (AMSNC), continuing down the Balkans peninsula through Belgrade, Sarajevo and ending in Dubrovnik on the Adriatic Coast. Most departure dates are designed to create these perfect combos.

 


 

Inclusions and activities

  • Meals: 12 breakfasts
  • Transport: Train, Public bus, Private vehicle, Bicycle, Metro, Taxi
  • Accommodation: Hotel (12 nights), Pension (2 nights)

 

Included Activities

  • Vienna – Kaffee und Kuchen Experience
  • Cesky Krumlov – guided tour
  • Wroclaw – Orientation walk
  • Swidnica – Church of Peace visit
  • Oswiecim – Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum join in guided tour
  • Tatranska Lomnica – Tatra Mountains Hike (not between Nov and Mar)
  • Tatra Mountains – Hrebienok Funicular
  • Tatra Mountains – Tatranska Lomnica Gondola ride

 


 

Important notes

1. A Single Supplement is bookable on this trip, excluding Day 3&4, subject to availability at the time of booking. Please consult your agent for booking.

 


 

Booking terms & conditions

Before you book a trip with Intrepid, please take the time to read and understand what terms and conditions apply to your booking. For most of our trips, you will be booking directly with Intrepid so our Standard Booking Conditions and any applicable Special Conditions will apply. Please note that there are three versions of the Standard Booking Conditions depending on what location you are booking from.

Prices can change at anytime – Our prices drop or increase based on demand, seasonality, availability and market conditions.
Learn more about pricing

Lock in your trip with a $400 flexible deposit if it departs 56+ days from now. Terms and conditions

 

Itinerary

Day 1 • Vienna

Guten Tag! Welcome to Vienna, Austria. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm. If you arrive early, why not walk around to get your bearings or, better yet, take a spin on the famous Prater Ferris Wheel nearby for a bird’s eye view. Your base for the next couple of nights is Magdas Hotel – a social enterprise dedicated to supporting refugees in a united and compassionate workplace in Vienna. Magdas employs staff from across the world, so expect to hear many accents from a range of backgrounds. The hotel itself is an eclectic mix of styles, décor and furniture, and used to house a homeless shelter before being renovated for its current purpose. Be sure to check out your surroundings and have a chat to some of the staff! After your important meeting, why not use tonight to get you know your travel pals over some dinner.

Special information

It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance details and next of kin information at this time. If you are going to be late please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place. If you can’t arrange a flight that will have you arrive at the hotel by early evening, you may wish to arrive a day early so you’re able to attend. We’ll be happy to book additional accommodation for you (subject to availability).

Day 2 • Vienna

Join your leader for a walk through the city’s compact centre this morning. Stop at the gothic St Stephen’s Cathedral, wander past the neo-classical Graben and have a look at the Hofburg Palace. Continue along the Ringstrasse and then finish your orientation walk of the city at the State Opera House – one of the world’s most important opera houses and the heart of classical Viennese culture. Then you’re in for a real treat! Stop for kaffe and kuchen (coffee and cake) at Vollpension, a local cafe which empowers older members of the community by providing them with employment and purpose, while bridging the gap between the staff and the younger patrons who visit the cafe. Have a chat with the friendly staff while enjoying your sweet treat in this warm and welcoming environment. This afternoon is then free for you to keep on checking out the sights of the city. Art lovers have a so much choice when it comes to museums, such as the Albertina, located in the Museum Quarter. Otherwise, you might like to head out to Schoenbrunn for a guided audio tour of the grand summer palace, designed by Empress Maria Theresa.

Special information

If you are interested in visiting the Schönbrunn Palace, Vienna, we strongly suggest planning your visit for anytime today and pre booking your tickets at: https://www.schoenbrunn.at

If you are interested in visiting the Vienna Opera Guided Tour, Vienna, we strongly suggest planning your visit for anytime today and pre booking your tickets at: https://www.wiener-staatsoper.at/en/staatsoper/guided-tours/

Day 3 • Cesky Krumlov

Depart Vienna by minivan this morning and cross the border into the Czech Republic. Your next stop is the southern Bohemian town of Cesky Krumlov. This picturesque medieval town dates back to the 13th century and looks like it’s straight out of a fairy tale. Cesky Krumlov means ‘crooked meadow’, because it sits on a tight bend of the Vltava River. When you arrive, take a guided tour of the town with a local guide, starting in the main square. Wander through Old Town, see the city’s oldest pharmacy then arrive at the Cesky Krumlov Castle. See the royal gardens from above and enjoy the panoramic views of the town below.

Special information

Your travel time today will be approximately 3.5 hours.

Day 4 • Cesky Krumlov

Today is a free for you to enjoy as you please. Perhaps take an optional guided castle tour, which lets you in on the mysteries that lie behind every corner of this stronghold dating back to 1253. For those who want a bit more culture, you could visit the Egon Schiele Art Centrum and browse the gallery that’s dedicated to the Austrian painter. If you’re after something more active, jump into a canoe and check out the town from a different perspective – on the Vltava River.

Day 5 • Prague

Leave Cesky Krumlov in your dust and travel by bus to Prague. When you arrive, head out on an orientation walk with your leader so you can get your bearings of the local neighbourhood. For your free afternoon and evening, why not discover another great side of Prague – its music! The city has one of the longest-standing and respected jazz scenes in Europe, with jazz clubs playing into the early hours of the morning. Otherwise, have a wander along Charles Bridge or Old Town Square for some magical photo opportunities.

Special information

Your travel time today will be approximately 4 hours.

Day 6 • Prague

Today is free to explore Prague. The city offers many possibilities, so perhaps take a walk around the Jewish Quarter and pay your respects at the Gothic-inspired Old Jewish Cemetery. This is Europe’s oldest surviving Jewish cemetery, with 12,000 tombstones and 100,000 graves. There is also the Museum of Communism, which details the struggles of many European countries and their political rule in the 19th and 20th centuries. Tonight, be sure to check back in with your group and perhaps organise some dinner and drinks in one of the city’s renowned beer halls – it’s a perfect way to Czech off another day in Prague.

Day 7 • Wroclaw

This morning, take local trains and private bus to cross the border into Poland and travel to Wroclaw. Wroclaw is the cultural centre of southwest Poland, sitting on the banks of River Oder for over 1000 years and shaped by influences of Czech, German and Polish rule. On the way, stop in Swidnica, a town known for its intriguing Lutheran Church of Peace. Arrive in Wroclaw in the early afternoon and settle into your hotel, then follow your leader on an orientation walk around this city that makes it feel as though you’ve stepped back in time. The rest of the time today and tomorrow is free for your own discoveries.

Special information

Your travel time today will be approximately 5 hours.

Day 8 • Wroclaw

Spend another day exploring Wroclaw however you’d like! You may consider checking out Ostrów Tumski (Cathedral Island), the Old Town Square and the Four Denominations District, where the city’s incredible architecture and history is on full display. Don’t miss out on appreciating Wroclaw from River Oder or experiencing the vibrant cultural scene – your leader will be on hand to give recommendations on local hotspots.

Day 9 • Krakow

Hop back on a local train to Krakow. Possibly the best known of all Poland’s cities, Krakow was the residence of Polish kings from the 11th to the 17th centuries, and its Old Town is a World Heritage-listed site. Take part in a leader-led orientation walk with your group, and once you know your whereabouts, you could go and discover one of the biggest – and arguably most beautiful – medieval squares in Central Europe. Maybe discover Wawel Royal Castle, which sits atop a hill next to the Vistula River. Check out the 13th-century town square of Rynek Glowny and get a glimpse inside St Mary’s Basilica which features an extraordinary wood-carved Gothic altarpiece. There’s also the lovely neo-Gothic St Francis’ Basilica, which has some of Poland’s best Art Nouveau. In Krakow, you will also find the second oldest university in Central Europe. Jagiellonian University counts Copernicus and Pope John Paul II among its alumni. Tonight is again all yours to do as you please – a good idea is to make your way to the Jewish Quarter for its laidback vibes and good food.

Special information

Your travel time today will be approximately 3.5 hours.

Day 10 • Krakow

Today, take the shared transport to Oswiecim and embark on a sobering tour of Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum. Local guide will take you through the museum and its sites on included join-in tour. Back in Krakow in the afternoon, spend some more time exploring in your own time. Or, if you can tear yourself away from Krakow, head out to the Wieliczka Salt Mines – a network of tunnels and chambers some 135 metres below the ground. This is a salt mine that was in operation for over 700 years and is a World Heritage-listed site. At night, pull up a pew and indulge in a plate of pierogi and a few beers to say cheers to another day.

Day 11 • Tatra Mountains

Say farewell to Krakow today and travel by local bus through southern Poland to Slovakia. The trip may be long and a little slow, but the scenery of rolling hills and tiny villages will keep your eyes occupied. Tatranska Lomnica is your destination in Slovakia. It’s a small alpine resort at the base of the Vysoke Tatry (High Tatra) Mountains. The Tatras – the highest range of the Carpathians – stretch for about 60 kilometres across the Polish-Slovakian border and are a hiker’s dream. The evening is free for you to enjoy as you please, and perhaps the best way to do it is to sit back, relax and soak up the atmosphere of this beautiful mountainous region.

Special information

Your travel time today will be approximately 3 hours.

Day 12 • Tatra Mountains

This morning, head out on an included hike in the High Tatra Mountains. The most known route is about 6 km in length and it is normally completed in 3 hours, including stops on the way. The route includes gradual hill ascents and descents and walking on gravel and uneven rocky surfaces with some slippery sections. The pace and distance will be decided on the day, depending on weather and group abilities – parts of it will involve travelling by funicular, gondola and electric train. During the walk, you may notice that some parts of the forest have been destroyed. This was the result of a tornado-like storm in 2004 that decimated approximately 10,000 hectares of timberland. In the afternoon, head back to the accommodation and enjoy the remainder of the day in this beautiful location.

Special information

The trail includes gradual hill ascents and descents and gravel and uneven rocky surfaces with some slippery sections. An alternative and easier route can be suggested by the tour leader to those that do not wish to complete the long walk. We recommend a good pair of comfortable shoes and clothes for unpredictable mountainous weather. It’s also a good idea to bring a day pack with water and snacks for you along the way.

There may be still be considerable snow in April and May, which may prevent you from choosing the usual hiking route. Please ensure you bring extra warm clothes and waterproof boots in April. Having said that, the crisp, clear atmosphere and fewer tourists make this a fantastic time to visit.

Day 13 • Budapest

You have an early start today for the long journey to Budapest. As there won’t be too much free time to explore on arrival, perhaps check in to the accommodation and then go for a brief walk around the neighbourhood to get your bearings. The grand architecture and boulevards, café culture and interesting laneways make this one of the truly great cities of Europe. Take the evening as an opportunity to relax after a long day of travelling. Visiting one of Budapest’s many restaurants or eclectic ‘ruin’ bars in the Jewish Quarter is a sure-fire way to have a good night out with your crew.

Special information

Your travel time today will be approximately 8 hours.

Day 14 • Budapest

Today you have a full free day to explore Budapest. Known as ‘The Pearl of the Danube’, Budapest is a great city to enjoy from the water. Perhaps take a boat trip along the river or catch a funicular up to Buda Castle for spectacular views of the Parliament Building and the Pest side of the city. You could head to Statue Park to see the communist monuments that were removed from the city after the fall of the Iron Curtain. One unmissable activity is to soak in Budapest’s hot thermal baths. The pools vary in temperature, and some even feature whirlpools or seats where you can enjoy a game of chess. You might like to take part in one of our Urban Adventure day tours. See urbanadventures.com for more information.

Special information

Many museums throughout Europe are closed on Mondays. If you are interested in a particular museum, you may want to check the opening times and plan your time in Budapest accordingly.

If you are interested in visiting the Budapest Parliament, Budapest, we strongly suggest planning your visit for anytime today and pre booking your tickets at: https://jegymester.hu/event-host/900/parlament

Day 15 • Budapest

Your adventure ends after breakfast today. There are no activities planned and you’re free to depart the accommodation at any time, provided you comply with the hotel’s check-out time.

Dates and prices

From AUD $5,195 per person, twin share · 15 Days

October 2026 2 departures
March 2027 1 departure
April 2027 3 departures
May 2027 3 departures
June 2027 2 departures
July 2027 2 departures
August 2027 2 departures
September 2027 4 departures
October 2027 2 departures

Prices are per person, twin share, in AUD and can change at any time. Tap a departure to enquire.

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