Scandinavia to Eastern Europe: Oslo to Warsaw Self-Launched Rail & Bus Adventure
14 days · Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia & Poland
Europamundo charges £1,370
No-markup version: ~£1,055 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of Europamundo's 14-day coach tour from Oslo to Warsaw, covering 8 countries and 19 destinations at your own pace. Instead of a 70-person coach and 4-star hotels, you'll use hostel dorms and budget guesthouses, night trains and budget flights, plus self-bookable walking tours and public transport. Highlights include Oslo's waterfront, Stockholm's Gamla Stan, Copenhagen's Nyhavn, Berlin's Wall history, Prague Castle, Budapest's Danube, Krakow's Old Town and a sobering visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau. Expect roughly half the operator's price — and far more flexibility (and far fewer 6am coach departures).
Day-by-day
Arrive Oslo — waterfront & city wander
Oslo, Norway
Land at Oslo Gardermoen and take the Flytoget airport train (or cheaper Vy regional train) into the city centre, ~£9-17. Check into a hostel near Sentrum/Grønland. Spend the afternoon strolling the Operahuset rooftop, Karl Johans gate, the Royal Palace exterior and Aker Brygge harbour. Self-guided walking route is free; skip the €40 private panoramic tour — Oslo's centre is very walkable. Evening: budget dinner at Grünerløkka food stalls or Mathallen food hall.
🚌Airport train Flytoget/Vy from Gardermoen to Oslo S (~£9-17), then walking/metro
🛏Hostel dorm or private budget room, central Oslo (e.g. Anker Hostel / K7 Hotel area), ~£30-40
- →Operahuset rooftop walk
- →Karl Johans gate & Royal Palace exterior
- →Aker Brygge & Akershus Fortress
- →Grünerløkka / Mathallen food hall
Oslo to Stockholm via Örebro
Oslo → Örebro → Stockholm
Long travel day. Take the SJ train Oslo–Stockholm (approx 6 hrs, book 2-3 months ahead for ~£35-55; cheaper than the operator's coach day). Break the journey at Örebro for 2-3 hours: walk up to Örebro Castle and wander the Wadköping old-town quarter — both free. Continue to Stockholm and check into a hostel in Södermalm or Norrmalm. Grab a supermarket dinner (ICA/Coop) to keep costs down.
🚌SJ train Oslo S–Örebro–Stockholm (~£35-55 if booked early)
🛏Hostel dorm or budget hotel, Stockholm (e.g. City Backpackers / Generator area), ~£35-45
- →Örebro Castle exterior & Wadköping old town
- →Stockholm arrival walk, Södermalm
- →Supermarket picnic dinner
Stockholm — Gamla Stan & museums
Stockholm, Sweden
Self-guided morning through Gamla Stan: Stortorget square, Stockholm Cathedral, the Royal Palace exterior, then the Fjällgatan viewpoint on Södermalm for the classic skyline. Join a free (tip-based) walking tour from Gamla Stan if you want the local stories, ~£5-10 tip. Afternoon: Nobel Prize Museum entry ~£10, and optionally the Vasa Museum ~£16 (the operator charges this as an extra anyway). Evening: budget meal at Östermalms Saluhall or a falafel in Södermalm (~£9).
🚌Walking + SL metro/T-bana day ticket ~£4-6
🛏Hostel dorm or budget hotel, Stockholm, ~£35-45
- →Gamla Stan & Stortorget
- →Stockholm Cathedral & Royal Palace exterior
- →Fjällgatan viewpoint
- →Nobel Prize Museum (~£10)
- →Vasa Museum (optional, ~£16)
Stockholm to Copenhagen via Helsingborg & Helsingør
Stockholm → Helsingborg → Helsingør → Copenhagen
Take an early SJ train Stockholm–Helsingborg (~4.5 hrs, ~£25-40 early booking). Stop for lunch and a walk along the harbour and Kärnan tower. Then the local ferry across the Øresund to Helsingør (~£5-7, 20 mins) — walk up to Kronborg Castle (Hamlet's castle, exterior free, entry ~£13 if you go in). Finish with the Øresundståg train Helsingør–Copenhagen (~£9, 45 mins). Check into a hostel in Vesterbro or Nørrebro.
🚌SJ train to Helsingborg (~£25-40), ferry to Helsingør (~£5-7), Øresundståg to Copenhagen (~£9)
🛏Hostel dorm, Copenhagen (e.g. Copenhagen Downtown / Generator), ~£30-40
- →Helsingborg harbour & Kärnan
- →Øresund ferry crossing
- →Kronborg Castle, Helsingør (exterior free; entry ~£13)
Copenhagen — Nyhavn, castles & Little Mermaid
Copenhagen, Denmark
Free walking tour of the centre (tip ~£5-8), covering Town Hall Square, Amalienborg Palace (watch the changing of the guard at noon), Nyhavn's coloured houses, and the Little Mermaid statue. Tivoli Gardens is optional (~£20 entry) — better value in the evening with lights. Lunch: a smørrebrød or hot dog from a Døp pølser stand (~£6). Afternoon free for the free-ish harbour, Christiania or the National Museum (free entry).
🚌Walking + metro/bike rental (~£8)
🛏Hostel dorm, Copenhagen, ~£30-40
- →Free walking tour (tip-based)
- →Nyhavn harbour
- →Amalienborg Palace & guard change
- →The Little Mermaid statue
- →National Museum (free)
- →Tivoli (optional ~£20)
Copenhagen to Berlin by ferry & train
Copenhagen → Gedser → Rostock/Warnemünde → Berlin
Scandinavian rail-ferry day. Take the regional train Copenhagen–Nykøbing F–Gedser (or the direct Scandlines ferry connection), cross to Rostock by ferry (~£15-25), then regional trains Rostock–Berlin (~£20-25, ~3-3.5 hrs). Alternatively take a cheap Ryanair/easyJet Copenhagen–Berlin flight if prices are lower (~£25-45). Check into a hostel in Mitte or Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg.
🚌Train + Scandlines ferry via Gedser–Rostock (~£40-50) or budget flight (~£25-45)
🛏Hostel dorm, Berlin (e.g. Circus Hostel / EastSeven area), ~£20-30
- →Ferry crossing Denmark–Germany
- →Berlin arrival wander in Kreuzberg
Berlin — Wall history & free walking tour
Berlin, Germany
Join the famous free Berlin walking tour (tip-based, ~£8-10) covering Brandenburg Gate, Reichstag exterior, Museum Island, Checkpoint Charlie and the Holocaust Memorial. Afternoon: East Side Gallery (free), the Berlin Wall Memorial on Bernauer Strasse (free), and the Topography of Terror museum (free). Optional day trip to Potsdam with a Brandenburg-Berlin ticket (~£10) if you want palaces. Evening: cheap currywurst and a beer in Friedrichshain (~£10).
🚌Walking + BVG day ticket ~£8
🛏Hostel dorm, Berlin, ~£20-30
- →Free Berlin walking tour (tip-based)
- →Brandenburg Gate & Reichstag exterior
- →Holocaust Memorial
- →East Side Gallery
- →Berlin Wall Memorial
- →Topography of Terror (free)
Berlin to Prague via Dresden
Berlin → Dresden → Prague
Take an early train Berlin–Dresden (~2 hrs, ~£15-20 with a Sparpreis ticket). Spend 3 hours in Dresden: the Zwinger, Frauenkirche, Semperoper and Brühl's Terrace — all free to view outside. Then continue on a regional/Eurocity train Dresden–Prague (~2.5 hrs, ~£12-20; cheapest is the Eurocity with a Czech-ticket combo). Check into a hostel in Prague 1 or Vinohrady. Evening stroll over Charles Bridge at dusk.
🚌Train Berlin–Dresden (~£15-20) + Dresden–Prague (~£12-20)
🛏Hostel dorm, Prague (e.g. Sophie's Hostel / Mosaic House area), ~£15-25
- →Dresden Zwinger & Frauenkirche
- →Brühl's Terrace
- →Charles Bridge at dusk
Prague — Castle, Old Town & river
Prague, Czech Republic
Free walking tour of Old Town and the Jewish Quarter (tip ~£5-8). Walk across Charles Bridge to Prague Castle (grounds free; the full circuit ticket is ~£11, and the castle gardens are free). See St Vitus Cathedral, Golden Lane, and the Astronomical Clock on the hour in Old Town Square. Optionally take a 1-hour Vltava river cruise (~£10-14 via GetYourGuide) and wander Malá Strana and the Church of Our Lady before Týn. Dinner: Czech pub goulash and dumplings ~£8.
🚌Walking + tram day pass ~£4
🛏Hostel dorm, Prague, ~£15-25
- →Free walking tour (tip-based)
- →Prague Castle & St Vitus Cathedral (~£11)
- →Charles Bridge
- →Old Town Square & Astronomical Clock
- →Vltava river cruise (~£12, optional)
- →Malá Strana
Prague to Budapest via Lednice & Győr
Prague → Lednice → Győr → Budapest
Take a morning train Prague–Břeclav (~2 hrs, ~£8-12), then a local bus to Lednice (~£1.50) to see the UNESCO Lednice Castle and its gardens (grounds free; castle interior ~£6). Continue by bus/train via Břeclav to Győr (~2.5 hrs, ~£10) for a short wander around the baroque old town. Finish with a train Győr–Budapest (~1.5 hrs, ~£6). Check into a hostel in District VII (Jewish Quarter). Evening walk down to the Danube.
🚌Train Prague–Břeclav (~£10), local bus (~£2), train via Győr to Budapest (~£14)
🛏Hostel dorm, Budapest (e.g. Carpe Noctem / Maverick area), ~£15-22
- →Lednice Castle & UNESCO gardens
- →Győr baroque old town
- →Evening walk along the Danube
Budapest — Buda, Pest & thermal baths
Budapest, Hungary
Free walking tour of Pest and Buda (tip ~£5-8): St Stephen's Basilica, Parliament exterior, the Chain Bridge, and up to Fisherman's Bastion and Matthias Church on the Buda side for the best views. Afternoon: soak in the Széchenyi or Gellért thermal baths (~£10-16) — a highlight the coach tour misses entirely. Evening: ruin-bar crawl in District VII (Szimpla Kert) with cheap langos or a £7 dinner.
🚌Walking + metro/tram day pass ~£4
🛏Hostel dorm, Budapest, ~£15-22
- →Free walking tour (tip-based)
- →Fisherman's Bastion & Matthias Church
- →Chain Bridge & Parliament exterior
- →Széchenyi or Gellért thermal baths (~£12)
- →Ruin bars & langos
Budapest to Krakow via Bratislava & Trenčín
Budapest → Bratislava → Trenčín → Krakow
Early train Budapest–Bratislava (~2.5 hrs, ~£8-12). Quick 2-hour wander: Old Town, the UFO bridge and a climb to Bratislava Castle (free). Then a train Bratislava–Trenčín (~1.5 hrs, ~£5) to see the dramatic Trenčín Castle perched above the town (exterior free; entry ~£5). Continue on a regional train to Žilina and connect to Krakow (overnight option: take a night train Budapest–Krakow instead, booking a couchette ~£25-35 to save a hotel night). Check into a hostel near the Old Town.
🚌Train Budapest–Bratislava (~£10), Bratislava–Trenčín (~£5), Trenčín–Krakow via Žilina (~£15-20)
🛏Hostel dorm, Krakow (e.g. Greg & Tom / Mosquito area), ~£15-22
- →Bratislava Old Town & Castle
- →Trenčín Castle & old town
- →Arrival walk through Krakow Old Town
Krakow — Old Town, Wawel & Auschwitz-Birkenau
Krakow, Poland
Morning free walking tour of the Old Town and Main Market Square (tip ~£5-8), then walk up Wawel Hill (castle courtyard free; state rooms ~£9). In the early afternoon, take the direct public bus or a booked shuttle to Auschwitz-Birkenau (~£5-8 bus, 1.5 hrs) and join an official on-site guide (book through the Auschwitz Museum site ~£10-12 or the equivalent GetYourGuide entry, which includes transport). Allow 3.5-4 hours underground/on-site — the coach version here gives you only 90 minutes. Return in the evening; optional stop at Kalwaria Zebrzydowska if you're taking a private shuttle.
🚌Walking + public bus Krakow–Oświęcim (~£6 return) or booked shuttle
🛏Hostel dorm, Krakow, ~£15-22
- →Free walking tour (tip-based)
- →Main Market Square & St Mary's Basilica
- →Wawel Hill
- →Auschwitz-Birkenau official guided visit (~£11)
- →Kalwaria Zebrzydowska (optional)
Krakow to Warsaw — Old Town & farewell
Krakow → Warsaw, Poland
Take the EIP express train Krakow–Warsaw (~2.5 hrs, ~£15-25) or the cheaper intercity (~£10-15). Self-guided afternoon in Warsaw: the reconstructed Old Town and Royal Palace (exterior free; entry ~£8), the Palace of Culture, Łazienki Park and the Chopin Monument. Optionally the Warsaw Rising Museum (~£7) or POLIN Museum (~£8). Finish with a pierogi dinner in Praga (~£8) — and if your flight home is next morning, an airport hotel or the S2 train makes the early departure easy.
🚌EIP/IC train Krakow–Warsaw (~£15-25) + walking/metro ~£4
🛏Hostel dorm, Warsaw (e.g. Oki Doki / Tatamka area), ~£15-25
- →Warsaw Old Town & Royal Palace
- →Palace of Culture & Łazienki Park
- →Chopin Monument
- →Warsaw Rising Museum (optional ~£7)
- →Praga pierogi dinner
Self-launched vs. Europamundo
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Europamundo | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,055 | £1,370 |
| Duration | 14 days | 14 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £315 per person (23%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Europamundo-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,055
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Scandinavia to Eastern Europe: Oslo to Warsaw Self-Launched Rail & Bus Adventure cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,055 per person for 14 days in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia & Poland. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Europamundo?+
Yes — Europamundo charges around £1,370 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,055 — a saving of roughly £315 (23%) per person.
How long is the Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia & Poland trip?+
This itinerary runs 14 days, covering 14 day-by-day stops through Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia & Poland.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, city-breaks, budget trip through Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia & Poland, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
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