Compare Splendors of Budapest, Vienna & Prague by Abercrombie & Kent vs The Backpacker by Interrailing Packages
Compare details and see what other travelers are saying.
Trip |
4 | Great
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5 | Excellent
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Duration | 10 days | 22 days |
Price From | $ 7,495 | $ 1,694 |
Price Per Day | $ 750 | $ 77 |
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Trip Style | Small group tour | Self-guided tour |
Lodging Level | Luxury | Standard |
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Countries Visited | ||
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Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | Ground transport included |
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Meals Included |
9 Breakfasts, 5 Lunches and 5 Dinners |
N/A |
Description |
Explore the great cities of Central Europe, enjoying a private evening cruise through Budapest on the Danube, a Chef's Table experience in Bratislava; a tour of Vienna's Schönbrunn Palace and a visit to the Jewish Quarter in Prague. |
If you’re looking for an interrail holiday that has Europe’s bucket list cities packed into one unforgettable 3-week trip, The Backpacker can offer you exactly that. Over the course of the 3 weeks, you will visit the likes of Krakow, Budapest, and Ljubljana, to name only a few! This package is suitable for all types of travellers that want to make the most of their interrail holiday experience! |
Day 1: Arrive Budapest, Hungary
Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace Budapest
Arrive in Budapest, a city occupying both sides of the Danube River and founded in 1873, when right-bank Buda and Óbuda joined left-bank Pest. Transfer to your hotel, where you join your A&K Resident Tour Director and fellow guests for a welcome dinner. Budapest’s broad avenues and turn-of-the-century architecture have earned it the name, “the Paris of Eastern Europe.” Like Paris, it is a cultural mecca for writers, artists and musicians.
Day 2: Budapest | Matthias Church & Fisherman’s Bastion
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
Accommodation: Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace Budapest
This morning, cross the Danube River to explore the Buda side of the city. Visit Matthias Church, the 13th-century coronation cathedral of Hungarian kings, and Fisherman’s Bastion, offering spectacular views of the city. Built in neo-Gothic and neo-Romanesque styles, the bastion is named for the guild of fishermen who defended this part of the city during the Middle Ages. Then, meet a Buda resident for lunch in the gardens of her villa — an experience specially planned for A&K guests. Enjoy your afternoon at leisure, relaxing in your luxurious accommodations or exploring this romantic city on your own, perhaps dining at one of Budapest’s fine restaurants. Choose one on your own or ask your Resident Tour Director for a list of recommendations by A&K.
Day 3: Budapest | Across the Bridge in Pest
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Accommodation: Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace Budapest
Today, explore Pest, starting with a private visit to the beautiful, neo-Renaissance Hungarian State Opera House, which was commissioned by Emperor Franz Joseph and opened in 1884. Continue your city tour as you view Heroes’ Square and stop to see the Great Synagogue as well as St. Stephen’s Basilica, whose south tower houses the largest bell in Hungary. Then, visit the Central Market Hall, to view the vast array of food and crafts on sale throughout its three floors, including cheeses, sausage and other local specialties, and enjoy time at leisure for lunch on your own. Later, visit the Parliament Building before spending the remainder of your afternoon at leisure. This evening, after dinner, embark on a private cruise of the romantic Danube, to watch the glittering lights of Budapest drift by in the night.
Day 4: Bratislava, Slovakia/Vienna, Austria | Chef’s Table
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel Sacher Wien
Journey overland to Bratislava, capital of Slovakia, for a guided walking tour of its Old Town, once a jewel of the Austro- Hungarian empire. Stop at a local restaurant where you enjoy a Chef’s Table experience, having lunch with its esteemed chef, who shares insights into seasonal dishes and his life as a restaurateur. Embark on a high-speed catamaran for a quick cruise along the Danube River to Vienna, Austria. Enjoy dinner at your hotel tonight.
Day 5: Vienna | Hofburg & Schönbrunn Palaces
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel Sacher Wien
Join your local guide for a walking tour of marvelous Vienna. At the Hofburg Palace — former seat of emperors and current residence of the president of Austria — visit the Treasury to admire its glittering collection of Imperial regalia. Continue to the Gothic St. Stephen’s Cathedral, before lunch at a local restaurant. This afternoon, tour Schönbrunn Palace, the former residence of Habsburg monarchs.
Day 6: Vienna | Visions of the Imperial City
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel Sacher Wien
This morning, enjoy a panoramic tour of Vienna, viewing the Prater and its Giant Ferris Wheel. See the Secession Building and the famous Hundertwasser House, and then visit the Belvedere Gallery, where you find many works by the brilliant and controversial symbolist artist Gustav Klimt, including The Kiss. Lunch and the afternoon are at your leisure to shop and explore independently.
Day 7: Prague, Czech Republic | Testaments to Tolerance
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Mandarin Oriental, Prague
Travel to Prague, visiting Trebic en route, a town that dates to at least 1101, when the Benedictine Order founded their monastery here. Visit the ensemble of the Jewish Quarter, the old Jewish cemetery and the 13th-century Basilica of St. Procopius, a remarkable example of the influence of Western European architectural heritage. Together, these sites comprise a UNESCO World Heritage Site and serve as reminders of the co-existence of Jewish and Christian cultures here, from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. Significantly, Trebic’s Jewish Quarter is the only Jewish monument outside of Israel specifically placed on the UNESCO List. Enjoy lunch in a local restaurant, before continuing to Prague.
Day 8: Prague | Synagogues & Remembrance
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
Accommodation: Mandarin Oriental, Prague
Today, embark on a walking tour of Josefov, the city’s Jewish Quarter, which remained a walled ghetto until 1848. View the birthplace of Franz Kafka (part of the State Jewish Museum complex). Best known for his existentialist novel, The Metamorphosis, Kafka is widely considered one of the most influential writers of the 20th century. Proceed to visit the Old Jewish Cemetery, site of 12,000 graves, and the Old-New Synagogue, Europe’s oldest active synagogue, completed in 1270. After lunch, enjoy a private visit to the Estates Theater, a refreshing glass of fine sparkling wine and a mini-concert (subject to rehearsal schedules). Built in 1783, this theater represents one of the finest examples of neoclassical architecture in Prague and it was here, in October of 1787, that Mozart conducted the premiere of Don Giovanni. At the end of the afternoon, meet a local Czech artist, Tony Manto, at his gallery and learn about the art of glassblowing for an unforgettable artisan visit. Manto’s creations, made from local Czech iron, glass, porcelain and wood, are designed to inspire by appealing to all five senses.
Day 9: Prague | Private Monastery Library Visit
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Accommodation: Mandarin Oriental, Prague
Privately visit the Baroque library halls of the Strahov Monastery, and view its incredible frescoes, which reside amid detailed stucco ceiling decorations. Stroll in the peaceful quiet, looking up at the mural devoted to the intellectual progress of mankind, and let yourself contemplate a bygone era. Then, admire the religious artifacts at the Loreto Chapel, a remarkable Baroque monument that remains a place of pilgrimage. Also, view the towering, Gothic St. Vitus Cathedral, which houses the tombs of Bohemian kings and Holy Roman Emperors, including that of Wenceslas I, Duke of Bohemia — legendary subject of the beloved Christmas carol, Good King Wenceslas. Cross the famous Charles Bridge, an iconic landmark of Prague completed in 1402. Walking past its statues of saints makes for a fitting conclusion to your visit to the historic central European capital, and sets the tone for a celebratory farewell dinner at a nearby local restaurant.
Day 10: Depart Prague
Meals: Breakfast
Transfer to the airport to board your flight home.
DAY 1: Arrive in Amsterdam and stay overnight in Amsterdam
Day 2 and 3: Explore Amsterdam and overnight in Amsterdam
First stop on your interrail holiday around Europe's glorious cities is Amsterdam, often referred to as 'Venice of the North'. The capital of the Netherlands is a city on everyone's bucket list, and I think it's safe to say you need to visit the Dam at least once in your life! From unconventional restaurants, local craft beers to world-class museums, it's easy to see why it's at the top of everyone's list. Don't forget that this city has more bicycles than people, therefore the only way to explore is in true Netherlands style!
Day 4: Train from Amsterdam to Berlin and stay overnight in Berlin
Days 5 and 6: Explore Berlin and stay overnight in Berlin
Our Backpacker holiday package takes you to the city in Europe often compared to New York, as it never sleeps! The locals of Berlin are known as the lotus-eaters of Germany as they love nothing more than a good time. Don't let this put you off! As this city is pulsating with museums, tasty beer, and an unimaginable history! It's safe to say that Berlin is a city loved by those on an interrail trip. Remember that history will greet you at every corner, as Berlin once staged a revolution, headquartered by Nazis, bombed to bits, divided in two and then finally reunited.
Day 7: Train from Berlin to Prague and stay overnight in Prague
Days 8 and 9: Explore Prague and stay overnight in Prague
It's no secret that Prague is one of Europe's most magical, affordable and beautiful cities, a perfect addition to any interrail route. The 'City of a Thousand Spires' is an architectural gem, the city has been an important UNESCO World Heritage Site which attracts more and more tourists every year! The narrow streets open up onto fantastic squares which host to medieval-looking homes and historical buildings for you to explore! Start in the centre of the Old Town, home to the major sights and has been the city's main marketplace for a millennium.
Day 10: Train from Prague to Krakow and stay overnight in Krakow
Day 11: Explore Krakow and stay overnight in Krakow
When you take a holiday in Europe, you will find that there are many beautiful cities, but nothing compares to the beauty of the Old Town in Krakow. You can take on this city on foot as all the main sights are within walking distance. All of the cobbled streets and squares, scenic parks and medieval castle walls are added extras! Thousands of people visit this city every year with the aim to visit the poignant Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial, which is unquestionably the most important trip to do on this interrail route.
Day 12: Train from Prague to Vienna and stay overnight in Vienna
Day 13: Explore Vienna and stay overnight in Vienna
Vienna, a beautiful city in Eastern Europe that looks like it was lifted straight from the pages of a fairytale, with its clean, wide boulevards, efficient transport system, pleasant sights, and large green spaces. It's not hard to fall in love with this beautiful city. Vienna holds a considerable reputation for being the music capital of the world, with the likes of Mozart calling this place home. Coffeehouses have been an essential part of the city's cultural fabric since 1685. They make for great places to gather for a coffee, gossip and to eat Sacher Torte, of course. Finding your favourite is one of the real joys of visiting this city on any holiday in Europe!
Day 14: Train from Vienna to Budapest and stay overnight in Budapest
Day 15 and 16: Explore Budapest and stay overnight in Budapest
Visit the city in Europe nicknamed the City of Spas for a reason, as it's filled with beautiful baths all with healing properties on this Backpacker holiday. Not to mention, the architecture surrounding the baths is a sight to see on its own! Take a walk through the streets of this city and you will notice the beauty becomes apparent. You will soon understand why many tourists flock here for a city break every year. The buildings here take on many architectural styles and the city is famous for its Art Nouveau architecture. Budapest's foodie scene is increasingly interesting, with plenty of restaurants and cafes serving up delicious local dishes such as goulash!
Day 17: Train from Budapest to Ljubljana and stay overnight in Ljubljana
Day 18 and 19: Explore Ljubljana and stay overnight in Ljubljana
Ljubljana, Slovenia's capital city is the hidden gem of Europe and is loved by our customers! A holiday to Europe deserves to have Ljubljana included. This is a city renowned for green space, beautiful bridges and buildings. As well as dozens of different urban design elements such as lamposts, pillars, and pyramids. While you're here you need to visit Lake Bled. This is definitely one of the most spellbinding places in Slovenia, if not Europe. This incredibly scenic lake near the Alps looks too good to be real! With the island church, clifftop castle, and mountain backdrop, you're sure to find more than enough to keep you entertained here!
Day 20: Train from Ljubljana to Venice and stay overnight in Venice
Day 21: Explore Venice and stay overnight in Venice
Welcome to the ancient town built on a lagoon, Venice! This city has a collection of domes and spires rising out of the Adriatic Sea. Filled with life and stunning architecture. Venice is filled with bars, cafes, and restaurants where locals and travelers meet up to have a good time with food and a drink or two. This city built on water is famous for the beautiful gondola rides which take you back in time and allow you to appreciate the rich beauty of this city, a holiday experience in Europe you will never forget!