- -Orientation walk of Venice with Trip Leader
- -Vienna highlights drive
- -Orientation walk of Bratislava with Trip Leader
- -Budapest highlights drive
- -Walking tour of Kraków with Trip Leader
- -Walking tour of Prague with Trip Leader
- -Orientation walk of Dresden with Trip Leader
- -Berlin highlights drive
Your dream trip starts here
Get Social: Central & Eastern Europe Highlights
Trip overview
TRIP VIBE = fast-paced fun with tons of socialising, bucket-list sights and good times all round.
Done with the standard Euro trip and now you want more? More pasta, pierogi, paprika and Pilsner? You’re gonna find it here. From Vienna’s baroque palaces to Amsterdam’s cobblestone streets, Budapest’s ruin bars to Berlin’s beer halls – and the lesser-known gems of Bratislava and Kraków. This is Central and Eastern Europe: the highlights. Everyone’s invited. Let’s do this.
Tales from Topdeckers
Trip itinerary
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Rome (Italy)
1Ready to sack off the mundane and uncover the extraordinary? Meet us in bella Roma. You probs know it for its EPIC ancient ruins. But it’s so. Much. MORE. We rec you arrive a few nights before to get your bearings. Pass by the Pantheon, throw your two cents in the Trevi Fountain, (don’t) sit on the Spanish Steps and stand in the shadow of the mighty Colosseum. Epic doesn’t even cut it. Back to the first day of the rest of your life... Meet the people you’re gonna call fam by the end of the trip for your first included dinner in the real Rome. You''re in Disneyland for foodies so it’s guaranteed to be good. Buon appetito!
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Meals
- Dinner
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Meals
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Rome – Venice
2No lies – we have a long drive today. BUT name a better way to get to know your trip mates than handing round the AUX cord. Later, we''ll park up in Venice – home to over 400 bridges and birthplace of Vivaldi. Acquaint yourself with the usual suspects on an orientation walk with your Trip Leader – passing the likes of St Mark''s Square, Doge’s Palace and Accademia Bridge. Tonight: this beautifully romantic city is yours for the taking. Round up the gang, score a cheap(ish) meal at Osteria Al Portego, then enjoy a spritz (or two) overlooking one of Venice’s fuchsia-pink sunsets.
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Activities
- Orientation walk of Venice with Trip Leader
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Meals
- Breakfast
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Activities
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Venice
3Centuries-old architecture. Inventive cuisine. And a bucket-load of culture. Venice is just begging to be explored. Do the obvious and hop aboard a gondola ride along the Grand Canal. Spend your time seeking out the epic Libreria Acqua Alta bookshop. Head off the tourist trail with a trip to Giudecca Island. Or forget all the above and embark on a day-long gelataria-crawl. Go wandering. Get lost in the maze of canals and piazzas. That’s what makes the memories.
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Your Options
- Get a personalised trip t-shirt, hoodie or singlet: prices available locally
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Your Options
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Venice – Vienna (Austria)
4Order one last coffee in poor Italian (hey, you tried!), this morning we’ll weave our way through the Alps to Austria. Ten points if you can guess what Vienna is famous for. Musicians. Grand coffee houses. And strudel (duh!). Enjoy a quick stop at the opulent Schönbrunn Palace (home of the Princess Sisi), before driving by the likes of the Opera House, Hofburg Palace, Museum Quarter and Ringstrasse. The rest of the afternoon is 100% up to you. For dinner, head to the Naschmarkt and try some knödel (Austrian dumplings) or go for the obvious choice – schnitzel. Later: gather the fam and make a beeline for the city’s microbreweries or cool cocktail bars.
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Activities
- Vienna highlights drive
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Meals
- Breakfast
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Activities
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Vienna
5A whole day in Vienna – prepare to have your heart well and truly stolen. Head to the Museum Quarter and explore. All about the aesthetic? MUMOK’s modern art is a must. Wander around the pretty-extra Hofburg Palace. Grab a table at Cafe Central for the most boujee afternoon tea you’ve ever had (be prepared to queue). Or experience Vienna’s hipster hub in Neubau. Tonight, enjoy the sweet sounds of Mozart and Bach played by a Viennese orchestra at an optional concert. Even if classical music isn’t your usual go-to, this is something special.
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Your Options
- Viennese orchestra experience: from €55
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Your Options
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Vienna – Bratislava (Slovakia) – Budapest (Hungary)
6Our Vienna love affair was short but oh-so-sweet. Up next? The twin cities of Buda and Pest. But first: a quick whip around Slovakia’s fascinating capital. Three countries in one day? Only with us. In the City of Bridges, we’ll be chauffeured past the Chain Bridge, Castle District, Gellert Hotel, Heroes’ Square and House of Terror on a driving tour. SD cards full and tummies grumbling, it’s time to sample some of the local fare. Goulash. Chicken paprikash. Langos. Dobos cake. Hopefully you like paprika, they’re kinda obsessed with it here. This eve, hop on an optional cruise down the Danube (Buda Castle and House of Parliament look extra spesh lit up like Christmas). Oh, and did we mention there’s unlimited prosecco?
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Activities
- Orientation walk of Bratislava with Trip Leader
- Budapest highlights drive
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Meals
- Breakfast
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Your Options
- Danube River cruise, with unlimited prosecco: from €35
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Activities
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Budapest
7You wanted freedom to explore – here it is. Check out the Central Market Hall. Soak in the therapeutic waters of the Széchenyi Thermal Baths. Head to Buda Castle and check out all the views from Fisherman’s Bastion. Or explore the city on two wheels during an optional bike tour. Later, there’s a chance to tuck into tasty local food and watch traditional Hungarian folk dancing in an historic wine cellar. And later? Hang with the hipsters and drink local pálinka (fruit brandy) at one of the original ruin bars.
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Your Options
- Bike tour of Budapest: from €30
- Traditional Hungarian dinner in an historic wine cellar, including folk dancing show: from €65
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Your Options
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Budapest – Kraków (Poland)
8Legend has it a dragon had to be defeated in order for Kraków to be built (eat your heart out, Game of Thrones). Get acquainted with this gem of a city on a walking tour – complete with an introduction to its resident dragon. Then? Take Fleetwood's advice and go your own way. Top up your history knowledge at Wawel Castle, explore the hip cafes and boutiques in the Jewish Quarter, head to Schindler's Museum or find a local haunt and tuck into a piled-high plate of pierogi.
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Activities
- Walking tour of Kraków with Trip Leader
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Meals
- Breakfast
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Activities
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Kraków
9Here’s a free day we prepared earlier. Need some suggestions? Head to Hamsa in the heart of the Jewish Quarter for some ''Hummus and Happiness'', shop for the ‘Gold of the Baltic’ in the UNESCO-listed Cloth Hall. Or do as the locals do and head to Okraglak for some drool-worthy street food – Zapiekanki is a must! Then: it''s time to refine your vodka palette on an optional tasting tour. Learn the history behind Polish vodka and sample a few uniquely flavoured varieties as you go. Refuse to drink it without Red Bull? There are plenty of bars to pull into for a tasting of the local beer instead.
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Your Options
- Vodka tasting: from 269 PLN
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Your Options
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Kraków – Prague (Czech Republic)
10Onwards to the spire-filled skyline and mysterious streets of Prague! Our Trip Leader will get us acquainted with this picture-perfect city – complete with quirky clock tower – and point out all the must-dos for our free day tomorrow. After hunting down some sma~ený sýr (fried cheese of dreams) for dinner, hit the town to try some local Czech beer or sample a cocktail at The Alchemist – an old-school venue with a 1950s’ vibe. Hint: if you want the full experience, ask for the 'choose your fate'. We'll see you in the morning.
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Activities
- Walking tour of Prague with Trip Leader
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Meals
- Breakfast
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Activities
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Prague
11Another day, completely your way. Trust us, there’s plenty to Czech out (ha!). Seek out the John Lennon wall. Soak up some history at the Communist Museum. Take the funicular up Petrin Hill for allll the views. Check out what the Dancing House is all about. Or grab a delish roast pork roll at one of the street vendors lining Old Town Square. Fancy yourself as a bit of a beer connoisseur? This evening, check out the local beer scene at a cool microbrewery. Cheers!
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Prague – Dresden (Germany) – Berlin
12From one beer capital to the next. Get acquainted with 800 year-old Dresden – a city virtually destroyed in WWII and then rebuilt – before we make tracks to Berlin. Prep yourself for currywurst and more hipsters per capita than anywhere else. We'll drive you around to see the main sights including (what's left of) the Berlin Wall, the Holocaust Memorial, Museum Island and Alexanderplatz. Tonight: get the group together to see whether this city’s nightlife really lives up to the hype.
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Activities
- Orientation walk of Dresden with Trip Leader
- Berlin highlights drive
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Meals
- Breakfast
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Activities
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Berlin
13A city exploding with culture, history and bloody good food – you’ve got 24 hrs to make the most of it. Our advice? Opt in for a historic walking tour that’s actually interesting. You’ll get a local insight into what the city was like under Nazi rule and tick off the likes of the Reichstag, Checkpoint Charlie and Brandenburg Gate. Plus, all the insider tips on how to spend the rest of your free day. Or put those elastic waistbands to the ultimate test on a locally-led food tour. We’re talking kebabs, pastries, more currywurst, pierogi and local Pilsner beer. Tonight, seek out Burgermeister for dinner. This place used to be a public toilet (ew) but now serves up the best burgers in Berlin (yum). Or see if Mustafa’s kebabs meets expectations.
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Your Options
- Third Reich walking tour: from €20
- Afternoon food tour of Berlin: from €50
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Your Options
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Berlin – Amsterdam (Netherlands)
14Ok, nobody panic – the adventure is coming to a close. But we’re not done yet! The GPS is set for Amsterdam today. Once we arrive, hit the cobblestones and explore the likes of Dam Square, the Royal Palace and the National Monument. This place is a foodie’s haven so you’ll have no issues finding somewhere to settle in for dinner. Give into temptation and grab a cone of hot chips with mayo. Mmm. Later, head to a canalside wine bar or brewery to keep the good times rolling.
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Meals
- Breakfast
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Meals
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Amsterdam
15This is our last full day together. So, don’t hang about – get on your bike! Check out Amsterdam''s iconic canals, bridges and parks on an optional bike tour. History buffs should pay a visit to the Anne Frank House (don’t forget to book in advance!). Culture fiends should make a beeline for the Van Gogh Musuem and Rijksmuseum. Or if you’re wanting a more chill vibe, head to Hannekes Boom for waterfront views, good food and all-round good times. Whatever you get up to, make sure you’re back in time to toast the final night of our European adventure at tonight’s group dinner.
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Meals
- Dinner
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Your Options
- Bike tour of Amsterdam: from €32
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Meals
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Amsterdam – London (England)
16Seriously? It’s over? After breakfast, we’ll make tracks to LDN. Blast the Trip Song one last time – who’s up for a reunion trip next year?
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Meals
- Breakfast
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Meals
Your Inclusions
Activities
Accommodation
-15 nights in hostels
Transport
Air-conditioned coach
Your Options
FYI: these are optional activities available locally. Things might change – prices are here to give you a rough idea.
-Get a personalised trip t-shirt, hoodie or singlet: prices available locally
-Viennese orchestra experience: from €55
-Danube River cruise, with unlimited prosecco: from €35
-Bike tour of Budapest: from €30
-Traditional Hungarian dinner in an historic wine cellar, including folk dancing show: from €65
-Vodka tasting in Kraków: from 269 PLN
-Third Reich walking tour: from €20
-Afternoon food tour of Berlin: from €50
-Bike tour of Amsterdam: from €32
Views & reviews
Latest reviews
Average rating based on 30 reviews-
Jennifer Ng September 2024
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David Ja September 2024
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Olivia Mi September 2024
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