Budapest to London: Bike Tours & Belgian Waffles — Self-Launched

Fly into Budapest Liszt Ferenc International Airport — budget carriers like Ryanair and Wizz Air serve the city from most UK and European hubs. Check into your hostel in the ruin bar district (District VII) and get your bearings. Head out to one of Budapest's legendary ruin bars — Szimpla Kert is the iconic starting point — to meet fellow travellers and kick off the adventure.

🚌Airport to city centre: BKK bus 100E to Deák Ferenc tér (~£2)

🛏Hostel dorm in District VII — e.g. Wombats Budapest or Maverick City Lodge (~£18–22/night)

• →Arrive and check in to a central hostel (e.g. Maverick City Lodge or Wombats Budapest)
• →Evening drinks at Szimpla Kert ruin bar in District VII
• →Explore the Kazinczy Street bar scene

A full morning and afternoon to explore Hungary's magnificent capital before catching the overnight train to Kraków. Visit the neo-Gothic Parliament building (book tickets online in advance, ~£8), soak in the Széchenyi thermal baths (~£18), or stroll across the Chain Bridge to Buda Castle. In the evening, board the overnight sleeper train to Kraków — book via the MÁV or Interrail website. This saves a night's accommodation cost.

🚌Overnight sleeper train Budapest Keleti → Kraków Główny (~7 hrs, ~£25–35 booked via MÁV or Interrail)

🛏Overnight sleeper train to Kraków (~£25–35 for a couchette)

• →Visit the Hungarian Parliament building (book online, ~£8)
• →Soak at Széchenyi Thermal Baths (~£18)
• →Walk across Chain Bridge and explore Buda Castle Hill
• →Stroll the Great Market Hall and grab a lángos

Arrive in Kraków in the morning and check into your hostel near the Old Town. Kraków is one of Europe's most beautiful and historically rich cities. You have several options: book a guided tour to Auschwitz-Birkenau (~£12–15 via GetYourGuide or direct at auschwitz.org — book well in advance), visit the Wieliczka Salt Mine (~£15), or spend the day exploring the atmospheric Jewish Quarter (Kazimierz) on foot. In the afternoon, join the free orientation walk around the Old Town Rynek Główny square.

🚌Arrive by overnight train from Budapest (included in Day 2). Local trams and walking.

🛏Hostel dorm in Kraków Old Town — e.g. Greg & Tom Beer House Hostel or Mosquito Hostel (~£10–14/night)

• →Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial & Museum tour (book well ahead, ~£12–15 via auschwitz.org)
• →Wieliczka Salt Mine tour (~£15 via GetYourGuide)
• →Explore Kazimierz Jewish Quarter on foot
• →Walk Rynek Główny (Main Market Square) and see St Mary's Basilica

Take a daytime train from Kraków to Prague (book in advance via CD.cz or Omio, ~£20–30, journey ~7–8 hrs with a change in Ostrava or Katowice). Arrive in Prague in the late afternoon, check into your hostel in the New Town or Žižkov neighbourhood. Join the free Prague Old Town walking tour (tip-based, departs daily from Old Town Square) for orientation. End the night at a traditional Czech beer hall — U Fleků or Lokál are beloved classics — for a genuine pint of Czech lager.

🚌Train Kraków Główny → Praha Hlavní Nádraží (~£20–30 via Omio or CD.cz)

🛏Hostel dorm in Prague — e.g. Sir Toby's Hostel (Holešovice) or Mosaic House (~£15–20/night)

• →Daytime train Kraków → Prague (~7–8 hrs, ~£20–30)
• →Free walking tour of Prague Old Town (tip-based, via PragueWalkingTours.com)
• →Evening at a traditional Czech beer hall (U Fleků or Lokál)
• →Cross the Charles Bridge at dusk

A full free day to explore one of Europe's most stunning cities. Hike up to Prague Castle complex (grounds free, inner attractions ~£10–14) for panoramic views over the red-roofed city. Wander the cobblestoned lanes of Malá Strana, the Old Jewish Ghetto (combined museum ticket ~£12), and cross the Charles Bridge. For foodies, grab a trdelník (chimney cake) and explore the Manifesto Market street food stalls.

🚌Walking and Prague Metro (~£1 per trip)

🛏Hostel dorm in Prague (2nd night, same as Day 4)

• →Prague Castle complex and St Vitus Cathedral (~£10–14 for combined ticket)
• →Old Jewish Quarter & Museum (~£12)
• →Wander Malá Strana and the Charles Bridge
• →Street food at Manifesto Market

Take the morning train from Prague to Berlin (book via Deutsche Bahn or Omio, ~£20–40, ~4.5 hrs). Arrive early afternoon, check into your hostel in Mitte or Prenzlauer Berg. Join one of Berlin's famous free walking tours (New Europe or Sandemans, tip-based, departs daily from Brandenburger Tor) for a brilliant city orientation. The evening is yours — Berlin's nightlife is legendary, from cocktail bars to techno clubs.

🚌Train Praha Hlavní Nádraží → Berlin Hauptbahnhof (~£20–40, book via DB or Omio)

🛏Hostel dorm in Berlin — e.g. Generator Berlin Mitte or Circus Hostel (~£18–25/night)

• →Train Prague → Berlin (~4.5 hrs, ~£20–40)
• →Free walking tour of central Berlin (Sandemans or New Europe Tours, tip-based)
• →Evening drinks in Mitte or Prenzlauer Berg
• →Optional: early visit to the East Side Gallery (free, open 24/7)

Berlin is a city that wears its history on its sleeve and rewards slow exploration. Visit the Berlin Wall Memorial (Bernauer Strasse, free), the Brandenburg Gate (free), and the Checkpoint Charlie Museum (~£12). The Holocaust Memorial (free) is a must. For a deeper dive into Cold War history, book a Trabant driving tour or a Stasi Museum visit (~£6). End the day with dinner in Kreuzberg — some of Berlin's best multicultural food is here.

🚌Berlin U-Bahn and S-Bahn day ticket (~£8)

🛏Hostel dorm in Berlin (2nd night, same as Day 6)

• →Berlin Wall Memorial at Bernauer Strasse (free)
• →Brandenburg Gate and Reichstag (book free Reichstag dome visit at bundestag.de)
• →Checkpoint Charlie Museum (~£12)
• →Holocaust Memorial (free)
• →Dinner in Kreuzberg

A third day in Berlin means you can go deeper. Visit Museum Island (Pergamon Museum, Neues Museum — combined ticket ~£18), explore the Tiergarten park, or take a street art tour of Kreuzberg and Friedrichshain. In the evening, experience Berlin's world-famous nightlife — from the canal-side bars of Kreuzberg to the club scene around Warschauer Strasse. Even if clubs aren't your thing, the bar culture here is unmatched in Europe.

🚌Berlin public transport day ticket (~£8)

🛏Hostel dorm in Berlin (3rd night, same as Day 6)

• →Museum Island — Pergamon Museum or Neues Museum (~£18 combined ticket)
• →Tiergarten park stroll and Victory Column
• →Street art tour of Kreuzberg/Friedrichshain (self-guided or via GetYourGuide ~£10)
• →Berlin nightlife — Warschauer Strasse bar and club strip

Catch a morning train from Berlin to Amsterdam (book via Deutsche Bahn or Thalys, ~£30–50, ~6 hrs). Arrive in the afternoon and check into your hostel — Jordaan or De Pijp neighbourhoods are great bases. Spend the evening strolling the canal rings, grabbing Dutch bitterballen at a local brown café (bruin café), and getting your bearings for tomorrow's big bike day.

🚌Train Berlin Hbf → Amsterdam Centraal (~£30–50, book via DB or Thalys)

🛏Hostel dorm in Amsterdam — e.g. Generator Amsterdam or Shelter Jordan (~£22–28/night)

• →Train Berlin Hauptbahnhof → Amsterdam Centraal (~6 hrs, ~£30–50)
• →Evening canal-side walk through Jordaan district
• →Dinner at a Dutch brown café (bruin café) — try bitterballen and jenever
• →Check out the Leidseplein or Rembrandtplein bar scene

Amsterdam is best explored by bike — like a local. Rent a bike from MacBike or Starbike (from ~£10/day) and cycle the canal rings, through Vondelpark, and out to the NDSM Wharf for street art and views. Visit the Anne Frank House (book online well in advance at annefrank.org, ~£13) or the Rijksmuseum (~£20). Take a self-guided canal boat tour via a rented pedalo (~£10) or book a budget boat tour via GetYourGuide (~£12). In the evening, explore the Jordaan's bars.

🚌Bike rental (~£10) — the best way to see Amsterdam

🛏Hostel dorm in Amsterdam (2nd night, same as Day 9)

• →Rent a bike and cycle the canal rings (~£10/day from MacBike)
• →Anne Frank House (book ahead at annefrank.org, ~£13)
• →Rijksmuseum (~£20) or Van Gogh Museum (~£20)
• →Vondelpark picnic
• →Budget canal boat tour via GetYourGuide (~£12)

Take a morning Thalys or Intercity train from Amsterdam to Brussels (book via Thalys.com or Omio, ~£15–30, ~2 hrs). Drop your bags at your hostel near the Grand Place and dive straight into Belgian indulgence. Brussels is compact and walkable — explore the magnificent Grand Place (free), find the Manneken Pis, and load up on genuine Belgian waffles from Maison Dandoy (~£3–5). Sample Trappist beers at Delirium Café (home to 3,000+ beers) and pick up chocolate from Pierre Marcolini. Consider a quick day trip to Bruges by train (~£10 return, ~1 hr).

🚌Train Amsterdam Centraal → Brussels Midi (~£15–30 via Thalys/Omio)

🛏Hostel dorm in Brussels — e.g. 2GO4 Quality Hostel Grand Place (~£18–22/night)

• →Train Amsterdam Centraal → Brussels Midi (~2 hrs, ~£15–30)
• →Walk the Grand Place and surrounding old town (free)
• →Belgian waffles at Maison Dandoy (~£3–5)
• →Delirium Café for Belgian beers (3,000+ varieties)
• →Belgian chocolate tasting
• →Optional day trip to Bruges by train (~£10 return)

Board the Eurostar from Brussels Midi to London St Pancras (book at eurostar.com, ~£40–70, ~2 hrs). Arrive in London and celebrate the end of an epic 12-day European adventure. If you have time before departure, London's South Bank, Borough Market, and Tate Modern are all within walking distance of St Pancras. Depart at any time — your adventure is complete!

🚌Eurostar Brussels Midi → London St Pancras (~£40–70, book in advance at eurostar.com)

🛏N/A — end of trip (arrange London accommodation separately if staying on)

• →Eurostar Brussels Midi → London St Pancras (~2 hrs, ~£40–70, book at eurostar.com)
• →Arrive in London — explore the South Bank or Borough Market
• →Celebrate the end of an epic 12-day adventure!