Call to book01904 521 936
Tour Search
#Favourites

Grand Imperial Cities

Save
4.5 stars(55 reviews)
Gallery Video
Small Group

Four 'must-see' cities on one rail tour

You are viewing the 2023 itinerary. Select your departure year
20232024
13 days From £2,295 £2,195 per person
Save up to £150pp

Save up to £150pp on selected European holidays when traveling in 2023, for new bookings made before 31st March 2023. 

View terms and conditions

2023 Tour code: HUC23

About the tour

Discover the culture and history of Europe's grandest cities, Vienna, Budapest, Prague and Berlin. With guided tours, delicious local flavours and unique experiences, including a railway run entirely by school children, this once turbulent region is brought to life on your journey across four countries.

Highlights

What’s included

Itinerary

Day 1 - London and Frankfurt

From London St Pancras, we take the Eurostar to Brussels, continuing to Frankfurt for the night.

Includes
  • Dinner
  • Eurostar Meal (First Class only)
Day 2 – Vienna

We board a train for the journey south through Germany, crossing the Austrian border on our way to Vienna. We spend the next three nights in the Austrian capital.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 3 – Discovering Vienna

A guided tour showcases the Imperial architecture of the Ringstrasse - a wide avenue that encircles the Old City - as well as the impressive Hofburg Palace, built by the indomitable Hapsburgs. We also see the impressive Opera House and Vienna's grand Parliament building. Afterwards, we make our way to Vienna's famous Schönbrunn Palace, the summer residence of the Imperial family, and have a guided tour of this impressive building and its immaculate state rooms. Our tour ends with an Appelstrudel show at the Café Residenz, followed by a hot drink and strudel. We then have some free time to stroll through Schönbrunn's elaborate gardens.

Includes
  • Breakfast
Day 4 - Exploring Vienna

You're free to continue sightseeing at your own pace today. Vienna's glorious St Stephen's cathedral, known as the 'Stephansdom', is located at the very centre of the city. This Gothic masterpiece is famed for its stunning tiled roof, patterned with brightly coloured chevrons and Viennese eagles, and by climbing to the top, you'll be rewarded with one of the best views of the city. Alternatively, a ride on the giant Ferris wheel in the Prater Gardens offers a more laid-back way to enjoy Vienna's skyline. Between sightseeing there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy a typical Viennese coffeehouse experience and a slice of delicious Austrian Sachertorte.

Includes
  • Breakfast
Day 5 – Budapest

We travel to Budapest, experiencing this city of two halves from a unique perspective this evening. The flatter, lively region of Pest looks across the water to its older, historical neighbour, the hilly Buda, which rises up away from the banks of the river. The city was once the joint capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and tonight, after dinner at a traditional restaurant, we embark on an illuminated night-time tour by coach. Tracing the Danube south, our evening is filled with stunning views of the city after dark, including the famous Széchenyi Chain Bridge and spectacular Gellert Hill.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 6 – Guided tour of Budapest

A guided coach tour introduces us to Budapest's other main sights by day. We pass impressive buildings and monuments on both sides of the Danube, including the Neo-Gothic Parliament building, designed to look like the Palace of Westminster, Budapest Castle, Matthias Church and the more modern Fishermen's Bastion. Later, we enjoy a ride on the Children's Railway, a service operated by Hungarian schoolchildren that runs through the woods of the hills above Buda, with magnificent views of the greenery surrounding the city.

Includes
  • Breakfast
Day 7 – Budapest

With a free day, you might like to unwind with a visit to one of the public yet ornate bath houses dotted around the city, such as the Art Deco Gellért thermal baths. For something slightly different, you could visit Statue Park, known locally as Szoborpark and located in a quiet suburb of Buda. Described as a 'Communist theme park', it contains a large statue of Lenin and Cubist statues of Marx and Engels. This evening, you could take a stroll along the Danube and eat at one of the riverside restaurants, or stop to experience one of Budapest's popular 'Ruin Bars'.

Includes
  • Breakfast
Day 8 – Prague

We depart Budapest by train, travelling through Slovakia to the Czech Republic and arriving in Prague for a three-night stay amid the copper-domed churches of 'The City of a Hundred Spires'.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 9 – Touring Prague

A guided walking tour through the narrow streets of Prague's Old Town reveals some of the city's most famous sights. We begin at Hradcany Castle, the largest medieval complex in Europe, before strolling across the 14th-century Charles Bridge to admire the 75 statues built along its walls and the Gothic spires of St Vitus' Cathedral in the distance. We also stop to look at the city's renowned astronomical clock. Dating back to medieval times, it's one of the oldest working pieces of its time, showing the relative positions of the sun, moon, earth and zodiac constellations.

Includes
  • Breakfast
Day 10 – Prague at leisure

Enjoy a free day getting to know Prague better. Gourmet restaurants, cocktail bars and trendy cafés are easy to find. If you're looking for something more authentic, you can feast on pork and dumplings washed down with beer in a traditional pub, or 'hospody', ahead of a leisurely amble along the Vltava River. Or you may prefer to take a gentle cruise through the city, a relaxing way to see the sights.

Includes
  • Breakfast
Day 11 – Berlin

Catching the train from Prague, we travel through the Bohemian countryside into Germany, following the route of the River Elbe to Berlin for two nights. On arrival, we set out on a guided walking tour of Germany's capital to uncover its fascinating history, contrasted with the city's vibrant present. We see the remains of the Berlin Wall - a poignant reminder of the city's turbulent past, now decorated with colourful street art - and the Brandenburg Gate. A spectacular 18th-century neoclassical monument, this is the city's oldest surviving gate and a symbol of unity in Germany.

Please note: For departures 13/04/2023, 08/06/2023, 26/06/2023 and 14/09/2023 you will stay at the Mercure MOA hotel in Berlin.

Includes
  • Breakfast
Day 12 – Discovering Berlin

Your day is free to continue sightseeing. You could visit the Reichstag and Checkpoint Charlie, which details the history of the Berlin Wall, or head to Potsdam, home to the Baroque flower gardens of Park Sanssouci. Alternatively, you may like to visit the imposing Opera House, home of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, or the Pergamon Museum, to see its wonderful exhibits, including life-size replicas of Ishtar Gate and the Altar of Zeus. You could take a stroll through Berlin's Old Quarter enroute to Charlottenburg Palace, the only remaining royal residence from the Hohenzollern dynasty. You might also find time to try a Bratwurst or pretzel for an authentic taste of German cuisine.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 13 – London

We travel by rail to Brussels after checking out of our hotel. Here, we join the Eurostar to London St Pancras.

Includes
  • Breakfast
  • Eurostar Meal (First Class only)

Additional information

Info - Travel Options

We offer a Standard Class and First Class rail options for departures on this tour. You can find out which class each departure is by clicking on the information button in the pricing grid.

Departure times

Provisional departure and return times, where available, can be found together with our dates and prices by clicking on the 'Prices & Availability' button. We write to all booked customers approximately 10 weeks prior to the start of their tour to advise the exact departure and return time for their particular group.

Mobility information

Due to the nature of our tours they are generally unsuitable for those with restricted mobility. If you’d like to discuss any particular holiday with us in this respect, then please don’t hesitate to call us.

Hotels

Mercure Hotel MOA, Berlin

Mercure Hotel MOA, Berlin

View hotel

NH Collection Berlin Mitte am Checkpoint Charlie

NH Collection Berlin Mitte am Checkpoint Charlie, Berlin

View hotel

Continental Hotel, Budapest

Continental Hotel, Budapest

View hotel

Three Corners Lifestyle Hotel, Budapest

Three Corners Lifestyle Hotel, Budapest

View hotel

Lindner Hotel, Prague

Lindner Hotel, Prague

View hotel

Occidental Praha Wilson, Prague

Occidental Praha Wilson, Prague

View hotel

Vienna House Andel's Prague

Vienna House Andel's Prague, Prague

View hotel

Hotel Erzherzog Rainer, Vienna

Hotel Erzherzog Rainer, Vienna

View hotel

Trains

Eurostar
Thalys
The Children's Railway

Enhance your holiday

Upgrades

London Hotels
UK rail connections

Reviews

4.5 stars4.5 / 5 · 55 reviews

  1. 5 stars
    (33)
  2. 4 stars
    (17)
  3. 3 stars
    (4)
  4. 2 stars
    (1)
  5. 1 star
    (0)

Colin Grimes

3 stars

Submitted 10 Oct 2022

The itinerary was too packed. Providing 3 venues would work better, or include 3 days in Berlin as well. Good hotels, especially Vienna and Prague. Moving our own cases was uncomfortable, especially on the outward trip. Our guides were personable and informative, particularly Ryan in Berlin, who gave us a well-considered, poignant walking tour. Eric Wise was helpful, efficient and coped well under pressure, due to Eurostar rearrangements. Eurostar was disappointing. They did not provide a promised meal on the 1st class return journey and the outward breakfast was meagre. They issued tickets for an earlier return train from Brussels then left us stranded! We were grateful for the bed and breakfast provided at the Indigo hotel. Hopefully, we will be reimbursed by GRJ for the evening meal and taxi, as promised? Please find enclosed receipts for the meals and taxi for 2 persons. We paid extra for an upgrade to `5 star all the way`, but, unfortunately, this was not always the case; for example, the Budapest hotel and some train journeys. GRJ have impressed us by upholding our original booking over 2 years and managing to deliver a good standard, despite Covid!! Janet & Colin Grimes

Collected by Trustpilot

MrsLYNDAOCONNOR

3 stars

Submitted 08 Oct 2022

We have said all that needs to be said in our customer questionnaire. Meant to give four star rating,but it seems we have only given three.

Collected by Trustpilot

Mrs A O'Brien

5 stars

Submitted 08 Oct 2022

Excellent tour - good mix of guided tours and free time to explore on your own. We had a knowledgeable tour manager who was able to advise us on free time activities. Good selection of hotels.

Collected by Trustpilot

Happy Customer

5 stars

Submitted 05 Oct 2022

This tour of 4 cities is excellent with very good hotels, tour guides and manager. The excursions are very good with a lot of history and information about the cities. You do have to be physically fit for this tour as there are many early starts to get trains etc and a lot of walking around the cities, although use of the local transport systems can help. You also have to be prepared for changes to train timetables and other small unplanned events.

Collected by Trustpilot

J Donaldson

4 stars

Submitted 05 Oct 2022

A great trip. We enjoyed it. However, a lot of 'dead time' is spent on trains and coaches to and between cities in crowded and, sometimes, noisy trains on not very scenic routes. With better planning of the time available, it could be a much better, less tiring holiday. Take a good book to read between destinations! The cites definitely are worth seeing.

Collected by Trustpilot

Julia Mace

4 stars

Submitted 04 Oct 2022

Very interesting, excellent hotels, tour manager very good ??just a bit too much walking.

Collected by Trustpilot

Show 6 more reviews

Tailor made for you

Customise this tour with Great Rail Journeys Independent

Grand Imperial Cities

Four 'must-see' cities on one rail tour

Call

Enquire
Lynne Broadley
Lynne
Jo Jones
Jo
Related inspiration from our journey blog