Enjoy a 22-day odyssey through Central Europe including time in Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary, Slovenia and Italy. See the remains of the Berlin Wall and the Trevi Fountain in Rome. Unearth medieval secrets in Cesky Krumlov and rest on the banks of Budapest’s River Danube. Bask in Bled’s beauty and discover pastel-coloured villages along the Cinque Terre. From the backstreets of Prague to the canals of Venice and beyond, this journey is the perfect way to experience the diverse offerings of Europe’s delightful middle.
Berlin, Germany – Rome, Italy
Begin and end in cities known for their complex pasts and influential art movements, albeit in very different ways – Berlin and Rome.
Step back in time as you wander Krakow’s World Heritage-listed Old Town and the 13th-century town square of Rynek Glowny.
Relax on the peaceful shores of Lake Bled in Slovenia. Maybe visit the tiny island church on the lake or treat yourself to a slice of Bled’s famous cream cake.
Walk along Cinque Terre’s rocky coastal pathways, calling into the sleepy pastel villages of Manarola, Riomaggiore and Vernazza.
Explore Rome’s instantly recognizable landmarks like the Colosseum, the Sistine Chapel and St Peter’s Basilica – no less impressive for their notoriety.
This trip is made for travellers who value their independence but also want the benefit of a local leader and a group of like-minded travellers. The itinerary has a mix of included activities and free time when your leader will offer suggestions. Please budget spending money for optional activities you want to partake in.
This is a ‘combo’ – two itineraries stitched together to make a longer adventure. Your group leader and the composition of your group may change in Venice.
Space is at a premium in Europe and your hotel is no exception. A single supplement is not available on this trip. Rooms are often small, but usually, the central location makes up for that. For those travelling as a duo, hotels in Europe often don’t have double beds, but rather two single beds that can be pushed together. In some cases, bathroom facilities will be shared rather than ensuite.
Summer temperatures can be very high in Europe (over 40°C). It’s important to use sun protection, wear layers to combat the heat, and drink plenty of water. Please carefully consider the time of the year you wish to travel and your suitability to that season.
The primary means of transportation on this trip is by train. Trains are a fast way to cross long distances, allowing you to avoid traffic jams and arrive right into the city centre. They are comfortable and have toilets, however, can sometimes be quite busy. Please note that you’ll have to carry your luggage on and off the train, so make sure it doesn’t exceed our weight and size recommendations. You can find specifics under ‘Packing’ in the Essential Trip Information.
If you have more time to explore the region you may want to check out our other trips in Europe, such as our ‘Europe Explorer’ (trip code ZMRFC), a 36-day trip taking in the highlights of Europe. It starts in Barcelona and ends in Rome, taking in France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Poland, Czech Republic, Austria, Slovenia and Italy. This trip can also be booked in individual segments to suit the amount time you have available for your trip in Europe.
There are no meals included on this day.
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.
There’s not a lot of free time in Berlin on this trip so we highly recommend you plan extra time here to fully experience this great city. Please consult your booking agent if you are interested in booking extra nights here before your trip.
If you would like to learn more about the history of World War II at the former Nazi concentration camp in Auschwitz, tomorrow is your best option to do so. Please note that tickets for the mandatory guided tour sell out well in advance so need to be pre-booked as early as possible. To do so, please visit the official museum website. You can also ask your leader to help you at the beginning of the trip, but there’s no guarantee that tickets will be available then. Transfers to and from Auschwitz can be booked at shorter notice.
There are no meals included on this day.
There are no meals included on this day.
There are no meals included on this day.
There are no meals included on this day.
Today’s accommodation is multishare. In the atmospheric hostel in Cesky Krumlov, we use quadruple, triple and some twin rooms as well as small apartment-like lodgings.
There are no meals included on this day.
There are no meals included on this day.
If you wish to visit the Schoenbrunn Palace today, be aware that the gardens are free to all visitors but there is a charge for entrance and tours of the palace. Avoid long queues by pre-booking your tickets at schoenbrunn.at.
There are no meals included on this day.
There are no meals included on this day.
There are no meals included on this day
There are no meals included on this day.
As this is a combination trip, your group leader and the composition of your group may change at this location. There will be a another group meeting to discuss the next stage of your itinerary and you’re welcome to attend, as this is a great chance to meet your new fellow travellers. After the meeting perhaps enjoy dinner with your fellow travel companions at a local restaurant.
There are no meals included on this day.
There are no meals included on this day.
Please remember to bring comfortable footwear such as trainers or light hiking shoes. Due to recent landslides in the area it is currently not possible to walk the Via dell’Amore and the coastal section between Manarola and Corniglia. There are alternative inland routes, however these are of a higher physical rating and involve steep ups and downs. It’s possible to take the train for these sections. Due to safety reasons some sections of any path can be closed at short notice.
The individual Florentine State Museums have slightly different opening times and closing days between them, but the website firenzemusei.it has everything you need to know about all of them, including the option to purchase tickets. We suggest that you pre-book your visit to the Uffizi, as this museum experiences enormous queues (up to 5 hours) all year round. Make your reservations for these museums for any time today. To book an Urban Adventure in Florence go to urbanadventures.com/destination/florence-tours or speak to your booking agent.
There are strictly enforced dress codes that apply to those wishing to enter the churches of the Vatican City. Men must wear long trousers (no shorts) and cover their shoulders and women must cover from shoulder to below the knee. Check the Vatican website (vatican.va) for updated information on when you can visit. Tickets for the Vatican Museum can and should be booked online at: biglietteriamusei.vatican.va. The Vatican Museum is closed on some days, including most Sundays. On the last Sunday of the month, it’s open and free (but expect large crowds). Tickets for Galleria Borghese can also be booked online at galleriaborghese.it. In order to allow enough time in the museum and to avoid the crowds it is recommended to start the museum visit as doors open. Please note that pre-booked tickets are not required if you just want to visit St Peter’s Basilica and the dome.
There are no meals included on this day.
If you have some more time in Rome, why not check out the day trips offered by Urban Adventures. Speak to your booking agent or go to urbanadventures.com/destination/Rome-tours for more information.
