Central & Eastern Europe in 3 Weeks: Berlin to Bucharest
Connect Germany, Czechia, Poland, Hungary, and Romania entirely by scenic EuroCity and InterCity rail. Experience Prague Gothic towers, Krakow medieval square, thermal baths in Budapest, Transylvanian castles in Brasov, and Bucharest monumental boulevards on a smart backpacker budget.
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Intercity route legs
Day-by-day itinerary
Berlin Arrival & Tiergarten
BerlinArrive in Berlin. Explore the Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag.
Museum Island & Berlin Wall
BerlinTour the Pergamon Panorama and walk along the East Side Gallery.
Kreuzberg & Street Food
BerlinExplore the trendy neighborhoods of Kreuzberg and Neukolln.
EuroCity Train through Saxon Switzerland to Prague
PragueTake the scenic EuroCity along the Elbe canyon to Prague. Stroll across Charles Bridge at dusk.
Prague Castle & Lesser Town
PragueTour Saint Vitus Cathedral, Golden Lane, and Mala Strana courtyards.
Old Town Square & Vinohrady Cafes
PragueWatch the Astronomical Clock and enjoy Czech pilsner in leafy Vinohrady.
RegioJet Train East to Krakow
KrakówTravel across the Polish border to historic Krakow. Walk around Rynek Glowny market square.
Wawel Royal Castle & Kazimierz Jewish Quarter
KrakówExplore Wawel Hill overlooking the Vistula and dine in bohemian Kazimierz.
Wieliczka Salt Mine or Planty Park
KrakówVisit the underground chapels of Wieliczka or relax along Krakow green belt.
Scenic Rail South to Budapest
BudapestTake the train south into Hungary across the Danube Bend into Budapest Nyugati.
Buda Castle & Fisherman Bastion Views
BudapestWalk across Chain Bridge and admire panoramic river views from Fisherman Bastion.
Szechenyi Thermal Baths & Ruin Bars
BudapestSoak in the grand neo-Baroque pools of Szechenyi and explore the ruin bars of the Jewish Quarter.
Great Market Hall & Margaret Island
BudapestSample langos fried bread at the market and cycle around leafy Margaret Island.
Overnight Sleeper Train to Transylvania
BrașovBoard the Ister overnight train climbing into the Carpathian Mountains to Brasov.
Saxon Brasov & Black Church
BrașovExplore the cobblestone medieval center of Brasov and the Black Church.
Bran Castle & Mount Tampa Hike
BrașovTake the local bus to dramatic Bran Castle and hike Mount Tampa for valley views.
Peles Castle Day Trip in Sinaia
BrașovVisit the fairytale neo-Renaissance Peles Castle nestled in the mountain forests of Sinaia.
Train to Bucharest Capital
BucharestTake the CFR train south to Bucharest. Explore the lively pedestrian alleys of Lipscani.
Palace of the Parliament & Calea Victoriei
BucharestTour the monumental Palace of the Parliament and stroll historic Calea Victoriei.
Village Museum & Herastrau Park
BucharestVisit open-air thatched cottages at the National Village Museum and relax by the lake.
Bucharest Cafes & Departure
BucharestEnjoy Romanian coffee and covrigi pastries before taking the 20-minute train to Otopeni Airport.
✂️ What I Would Cut If Short on Time
If limited to 14 days, finish in Budapest and save Romania for a future trip.
Make this trip cheaper
These options use the current typical minimum fare in our route records. They are not guaranteed quotes, and prices can change before booking.
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