Day 1: Budapest, Hungary
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Arrival Airport: Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport (BUD)

Welcome to Budapest! After you've left the airport and settled into your hostel, you may explore beautiful Budapest on your own, using your 72-hour public transport card to get from place to place. Don't miss sites like the famous public baths, the gorgeous Buda castle, or other major historical landmarks.

Accommodation: Avenue Hostel or similar

Day 2: Budapest, Hungary
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Enjoy breakfast at your hostel before heading out for a full day of sightseeing. If you haven’t yet visited the thermal baths or major historical landmarks (like the Fisherman’s Bastion, St. Peter’s Basilica, and the Parliament Building), this is your chance to do so. Along the way, you may stop at a public market or restaurant to try some traditional Hungarian food.

Accommodation: Avenue Hostel or similar

Day 3: Budapest, Hungary, and Krakow, Poland
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Grab breakfast at the hostel before spending your day out and about in Budapest. This is your chance to explore the city — with all of its architectural beauty and cultural richness — so you’ll want to take some time to soak in the atmosphere and create memories.

In the evening, you'll head to Budapest Népliget bus station, where you will board an overnight bus bound for Krakow, Poland.

Accommodation: overnight bus

Day 4: Krakow, Poland
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You will arrive in Krakow around 6:30 a.m. Grab breakfast in the city center, then use your public transportation card to explore the city and its historical landmarks, or take an optional add-on tour of Auschwitz. In the afternoon, you may choose to explore Krakow’s famous Cloth Hall or Wawel Castle.

This city is rich in history, and if you’d like to learn more about the horrifying events and long-term impact of WWII, there’s no better place to do so.

Accommodation: Ginger Hostel or similar

Day 5: Krakow, Poland, and Prague, Czech Republic
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Enjoy a delicious breakfast at the hostel before exploring Krakow a bit more. You'll have most of the day to explore both tourist favorites and hidden gems, and you'll have ample time to find a new favorite restaurant, too.

In the evening, it will be time to move to the next destination of this trip — the Czech Republic’s grand capital city, Prague! You will board a bus at approximately 10 p.m. at Krakow MDA. This overnight bus journey will last roughly seven hours.

Accommodation: overnight bus

Day 6: Prague, Czech Republic
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Upon arriving in Prague in the early morning, you’ll have time to get acquainted with Prague’s public transportation system before grabbing breakfast. This city is packed with beautiful and historical sites, including Charles Bridge, Prague Castle, the Astronomical Clock, and the Old Town Square.

Your afternoon will consist of independent exploring. Prague is extremely walkable, so exploring on foot is the best way to discover the city’s Old World charm.

Accommodation: Hostel Prague Tyn or similar

Day 7: Prague, Czech Republic, and Berlin, Germany
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Grab breakfast at the hostel and explore a little bit more of Prague before hopping on public transport to the train station. You will board a train bound for Berlin, Germany. The train ride should be approximately four and a half hours.

Upon arriving in Berlin, you will use public transportation to reach your hostel. After checking in, you may opt to visit some of Berlin’s most popular historical landmarks, like the John Lennon Wall (specifically the East Side Gallery), the Brandenburg Gate, Museumsinsel (Museum Island), the Holocaust Memorial, Schloss Charlottenburg, and the Reichstag. Given Berlin’s artsy reputation, you can also set forth on a self-guided street art tour, making sure to keep an eye out for colorful murals and gritty installations.

Accommodation: Pfefferbett Hostel or similar

Day 8: Berlin, Germany
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Grab breakfast near the hostel, and spend your time exploring all the landmarks you didn’t have a chance to see during your first day in the city.

In the evening, you may continue exploring Berlin to your heart’s content. This city is known for its great nightlife, offering tons of activities and venues for your evening revelry.

Accommodation: Pfefferbett Hostel or similar

Day 9: Berlin, Germany / USA
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You'll eat breakfast near the hostel, then get ready to say goodbye to Europe. While it’s been a remarkable trip, it’s officially time to return home. Auf Wiedersehen!

Departure Airport: Berlin Tegel Airport (TXL)

+ What vaccinations should I get before my trip?

It's important to receive the most accurate and up-to-date travel health information before departing for Europe. The only one qualified to provide you with this advice is your family physician or a specialist from a Travel Health clinic. We can provide some general guidance on what websites to check, but these websites are no substitute for a personal consultation with a qualified medical professional.

+ Can you arrange my Europe travel visas?

If you are an American traveler joining this trip in 2019 or 2020, you will not need a visa. Beginning in 2021, many travelers (including Americans) will need to apply for the ETIAS visa waiver, a new form of travel authorization, to enter the countries in the Schengen Area (including Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Germany). Please see here for more information on ETIAS.

In any case, please use VisaHQ to verify the visa requirements for your travel plans.

+ How should I pack for this trip?

Please see our blog article and video to learn more about packing for Europe.

+ Do your tours include international airfare?

Travelers arrive from all over the world to begin our tours, and it is not possible to include international airfare in our prices. We would be happy to help you arrange flights. Just ask for an air quote when making your booking.

+ I'm a solo traveler — will I be charged a single supplement?

We are happy to accommodate single travelers! Please note that we will add a single supplement charge to your trip cost. Bon voyage!