The Legendary Danube: Self-Launched Prague to Budapest

Arrive in Prague and get settled into your hostel in the Old Town or Žižkov neighbourhood. Spend the evening wandering the banks of the Vltava River, grabbing a traditional plum dumpling (švestkové knedlíky) at a local restaurant, and washing it down with a classic Pilsner Urquell at a riverside bar. The city is extremely walkable — no guided tour needed tonight.

🚌Fly into Prague Václav Havel Airport, take Airport Express bus to Náměstí Republiky (~£2)

🛏Hostel or budget hotel in Old Town or Žižkov — e.g. Sir Toby's Hostel or Mosaic House Design Hotel (~£25–35/night)

• →Wander the Vltava riverbank at sunset
• →Try plum dumplings and Pilsner lager at a local pub (e.g. Lokál or U Fleků)
• →Stroll across Charles Bridge in the evening when crowds thin

A full day exploring Prague on foot. The city's compact historic core makes it ideal for self-launched sightseeing. Head up to Hradčany Castle and St. Vitus Cathedral first thing in the morning before the crowds arrive — entry to the castle grounds is free, cathedral interior tickets cost around £8. Then walk downhill through Malá Strana to the Old Town to see the famous Astronomical Clock strike the hour. Grab a trdelník from a market stall on Charles Bridge (touristy but fun), and catch street performers in Wenceslas Square in the afternoon.

🚌All on foot or tram (24-hour tram pass ~£3.50)

🛏Same hostel/budget hotel as Day 1 (~£25–35/night)

• →Hradčany Castle grounds (free entry) and St. Vitus Cathedral (~£8 via direct booking)
• →Old Town Astronomical Clock – watch the hourly chime (free)
• →Browse market stalls and watch street performers on Charles Bridge (free)
• →Wenceslas Square afternoon stroll (free)

Spend the morning doing any last Prague exploration — the architectural beauty of the Josefov Jewish Quarter or Vinohrady neighbourhood rewards a slow morning walk. Then take an afternoon train to Nuremberg. The Deutsche Bahn/České dráhy direct service runs Prague–Nuremberg in around 3.5 hours. Book in advance via the DB website for the best fares. Arrive in Nuremberg early evening and check in. Dinner at a traditional Franconian Wirtshaus — try Nuremberg's famous mini bratwurst.

🚌Prague to Nuremberg by direct train (~3.5hrs, book via DB.de or CD.cz, ~£20–35 booked in advance)

🛏Hostel or budget hotel in Nuremberg city centre — e.g. Five Reasons Hostel & Hotel (~£28–38/night)

• →Morning free exploration of Prague's Josefov or Vinohrady neighbourhood
• →Train journey through the Bohemian countryside — scenic in its own right
• →Evening arrival in Nuremberg: try Nuremberg bratwurst at Bratwurst Röslein or similar (~£12 for dinner)

Nuremberg is one of Germany's most historically layered cities. Walk the medieval city walls and visit the Gothic St. Lorenz Church for free. Climb up to Kaiserburg Castle for panoramic views (entry ~£8 via direct booking). In the afternoon, take a short tram or bus to the Nazi Party Rally Grounds and Documentation Centre — this sobering museum is essential context for understanding 20th-century Europe (~£6 entry). Consider a day-trip out to the charming Franconian town of Roth independently by regional train (~20 mins, ~£5 return).

🚌City tram/bus day pass (~£5), regional train to Roth if desired (~£5 return)

🛏Same hostel as Day 3 (~£28–38/night)

• →Walk Nuremberg's medieval city walls and see the gilded Schöner Brunnen fountain (free)
• →Kaiserburg Castle and views over the old town (~£8, book direct at kaiserburg-nuernberg.de)
• →Nazi Party Rally Grounds & Documentation Centre (~£6, self-guided audio tour available)
• →Optional: Day-trip to Roth by regional train (~£5 return) to see half-timbered houses and Schloss Ratibor

Take a morning regional train from Nuremberg to Regensburg (~1hr, ~£15). Regensburg is one of Germany's best-preserved medieval cities and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Walk to the Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall) and the remarkable Porta Pretoria — a Roman gateway built in 179 AD that you can genuinely walk through. The old town is wonderfully compact. Afternoon: rent a bike from one of the town's rental shops (~£12/day) and cycle along the Danube towards Weltenburg, or take a scenic boat trip to the Benedictine Monastery at Weltenburg (~£10 return ferry, monastery entry ~£3). Evening back in Regensburg for dinner.

🚌Nuremberg to Regensburg by regional train (~1hr, ~£15 via DB.de)

🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Regensburg — e.g. Hostel Regensburg or Hotel Münchner Hof (~£28–38/night)

• →Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall) exterior and old town walk (free)
• →Porta Pretoria Roman gateway — 179 AD (free)
• →Optional: Boat to Benedictine Monastery Weltenburg (~£10 return ferry + £3 entry)
• →Bike rental and Danube riverside cycling (~£12/day)

Take an early train from Regensburg to Passau (~1hr 15min, ~£18). Passau is the dramatic 'City of Three Rivers' where the Danube, Inn, and Ilz converge — the meeting point of the three rivers is best seen from the fortress above town (Veste Oberhaus, entry ~£5). Allow 2–3 hours to walk the old town and enjoy a coffee overlooking the confluence. Then take the afternoon train onward to Linz, Austria (~45min, ~£10). Linz is an underrated city with a thriving arts scene. Walk the hilltop nature trails at Pöstlingberg for panoramic views over the city and Danube (free, or take the Pöstlingbergbahn tram ~£4 return).

🚌Regensburg to Passau by regional train (~1hr 15min, ~£18). Passau to Linz by train (~45min, ~£10 via OeBB.at)

🛏Hostel or budget hotel in Linz city centre — e.g. Wombat's City Hostel or Hotel Wolfinger (~£28–38/night)

• →Passau City of Three Rivers viewpoint from Veste Oberhaus fortress (~£5)
• →Old town walk along the Inn and Danube confluence (free)
• →Linz: Pöstlingberg hilltop nature trail and panoramic city views (free walk or ~£4 tram)
• →Optional: Cycle along the Danube from Linz using Nextbike rental (~£5/hr)

Take a morning train from Linz to Melk (~1hr, ~£12). Melk's Benedictine Abbey is one of Europe's most spectacular baroque monasteries — the self-guided tour includes frescoed ceilings, a jaw-dropping library, an ornate pipe organ, and sweeping Danube views (~£14, book direct at stiftmelk.at). After the abbey, walk down to the Danube riverside and enjoy the Wachau Valley scenery. Then take the afternoon train to Vienna (~1hr 20min, ~£15). Check into your Vienna hostel and take an evening stroll along the Ringstrasse to see the Opera House and St. Stephen's Cathedral lit up.

🚌Linz to Melk by train (~1hr, ~£12 via OeBB.at). Melk to Vienna by train (~1hr 20min, ~£15 via OeBB.at)

🛏Hostel or budget hotel in Vienna — e.g. Wombat's City Hostel Vienna or Magdas Hotel (~£30–45/night)

• →Melk Benedictine Abbey self-guided tour with frescoed ceilings, library & pipe organ (~£14, stiftmelk.at)
• →Walk along the Danube in Melk and enjoy Wachau Valley views (free)
• →Evening stroll along Vienna's Ringstrasse — Opera House, Rathaus, Parliament (free)
• →St. Stephen's Cathedral exterior (free, tower climb ~£5)

A full day in Vienna. Start at the Kunsthistorisches Museum (Museum of Fine Arts) — one of the world's great art museums with Bruegel, Raphael, and Vermeer (~£16, book at khm.at). Walk across the Maria-Theresien-Platz to the Natural History Museum if time allows. Then explore the Imperial Palace complex (Hofburg) and its surroundings — the exterior and courtyards are free. Afternoon: head out on the U4 to Schönbrunn Palace and gardens (~£20 for Grand Tour, gardens free). Rent a Vienna City Bike to explore Danube Island (Donauinsel) or the Ring road (~£1/hr with Vienna City Card). End the day with a Viennese Melange coffee and Sachertorte at a traditional Kaffeehaus.

🚌Vienna U-Bahn/tram day pass (~£6), City Bike rental (~£1/hr)

🛏Same hostel as Day 7 (~£30–45/night)

• →Kunsthistorisches Museum (Museum of Fine Arts) (~£16, book at khm.at)
• →Hofburg Imperial Palace complex exterior and Heldenplatz (free)
• →Schönbrunn Palace Grand Tour (~£20) or free gardens walk
• →Vienna City Bike rental along Danube Island or Ringstrasse (~£1/hr with City Card)
• →Traditional Viennese Kaffeehaus for Melange and Sachertorte (~£8)

Take a morning train from Vienna to Budapest Keleti (~2.5hrs, ~£20 booked in advance via MÁV or OeBB). Arrive by midday and check in. Budapest rewards walkers: head straight to Heroes' Square (Hősök tere) and Városliget Park for an iconic introduction to the city (free). Walk or take the famous M1 metro line (the oldest electric underground railway on the European continent, ~£1) to the city centre. Afternoon: soak in Budapest's famous thermal baths — Széchenyi is the most spectacular (~£20, book via gyogyfurdok.hu). Evening: explore the legendary ruin bar district in the Jewish Quarter, starting with Szimpla Kert.

🚌Vienna to Budapest Keleti by train (~2.5hrs, ~£20 booked in advance via OeBB.at or MAV-Start.hu)

🛏Hostel in Budapest — e.g. Maverick City Lodge or Hive Party Hostel (~£18–28/night)

• →Heroes' Square (Hősök tere) and Millennium Monument (free)
• →M1 metro ride — Europe's oldest electric underground (~£1)
• →Széchenyi Thermal Baths (~£20, book at szechenyifurdo.hu)
• →Hike up Gellért Hill for panoramic Danube views (free)
• →Evening ruin bars in the Jewish Quarter — start at Szimpla Kert

Final morning in Budapest. Grab a langos (deep-fried flatbread with sour cream) from the Great Market Hall for breakfast (~£3) and browse the stalls for paprika and local crafts. If time allows before your departure, walk across the Chain Bridge for views of the Parliament building and Buda Castle. Budapest Keleti connects by train to Vienna Airport and direct trains run to many European cities. Alternatively, Liszt Ferenc Airport is served by the 100E airport bus from Deák Ferenc tér (~£2.50).

🚌Budapest to airport: 100E bus from Deák Ferenc tér (~£2.50), or train connections from Keleti

🛏Check out (or one final night if departing late — ~£18–28/night)

• →Breakfast at the Great Market Hall — try langos (~£3)
• →Final walk across Chain Bridge with views of Parliament and Buda Castle (free)
• →Optional: Buda Castle and Fisherman's Bastion morning visit if departing late (~£3 Fisherman's Bastion tower)