18 to 35s Real Central Europe

Guten tag! Welcome to Germany. Your adventure kicks off with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight in Berlin. If you arrive early, maybe explore the city on foot – Berlin is packed with historic sites, cutting-edge galleries and iconic architecture. The city also boasts a party scene that makes NYC’s nightlife seem tame. After your meeting, why not get to know your new travel crew and head out for currywurst (hot dogs covered in ketchup, Worcestershire sauce and curry powder) and a stein.

This morning, say goodbye to Germany and travel to Wroclaw – the cultural centre of southwest Poland sitting on the banks of the Oder River. You’ll arrive in the early afternoon. Settle into your hotel, then follow your leader on an orientation walk around the city that makes it feel as though you’ve stepped back in time. The rest of the day is free for you to explore how you wish. Maybe check out Ostrow Tumski (Cathedral Island), the Old Town Square and the Four Denominations District, where the city’s incredible architecture and history are on display. Or appreciate Wroclaw from the Oder and picnic with a few of your new travel buddies.

This morning, board a train to Krakow – your base for the next two nights. As you stroll the streets of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Old Town, glimpse the medieval architecture, the castle, churches and sprawling squares with your leader. Grab some zapiekanka along the way (an open-faced baguette topped with mushroom and cheese) – a beloved street snack. Later, strike out on your own and maybe visit Wawel Royal Castle, which sits atop a hill next to the Vistula River, or glimpse the impressive St Mary's Basilica and its extraordinary wood-carved Gothic altarpiece. You could also stroll around the lively Kazimierz district, known for its vibrant art scene and nightlife. Historically, this district was the centre of Jewish life and culture in Krakow. Today, it’s full of galleries, artist’s workshops and bars that stand alongside the medieval synagogues and old city walls.

Today is a free day for you to explore Krakow. Walking the Royal Route – the former path of Polish monarchs – takes you past most of the Old Town’s greatest treasures, including Florianska Gate and the Barbican. Tonight, visit a traditional bar mleczny (milk bar) for dinner. Polish milk bars, which were popular in WWII, are local canteens where you can get a home-cooked meal. Offering a glimpse into authentic Polish life, having dinner here means no English menus, sharing tables when it’s busy and soaking up the local atmosphere. There are very few tourists who think to visit a milk bar, unless they know a local!

This morning after breakfast, head to the Czech Republic. Take a bus to the town of Ostrava, then board the train to Prague. After checking into your hotel, your leader will show you some of Prague’s best sites on an orientation walk. Then you’re free to explore on your own. Maybe wander the streets of the Jewish Quarter and check out the oldest surviving synagogue in Europe or learn about Prague’s favourite son at the Franz Kafka Museum. Make sure to take a scenic stroll along the Charles Bridge and watch the Astronomical Clock in action as it ticks over. This is a gorgeous city, so exploring on foot is the way to go.

Today you can enjoy more free time in Prague to visit the sites you missed yesterday. Prague Castle has a great viewpoint that provides sweeping views of the city’s red rooftops and medieval architecture. Consider a daytrip to Kutna Hora, where you can visit Sedlec Ossuary – an eerie chapel decorated with human skeletons – or St Barbara’s Church and its medieval frescoes. Prague’s Old Town becomes particularly magical at night. Return for an evening stroll to soak up the atmosphere before checking out some of the town’s cosy cellar hangouts or underground absinthe bars. If you’re into jazz, Prague boasts one of the best scenes in Europe! Ask your leader for suggestions if you’re not sure where to head out tonight.

Bid farewell to Prague today and travel south to the fairytale-like town of Cesky Krumlov. Dating back to the 13th century, this tiny town closely resembles Prague with its gorgeous castle across the river and pretty mix of Renaissance and Baroque architecture. Head out on a leader-led walk around town, learning about the architectural symbolism and Old Town mysteries. After, you’ll have some free time – maybe head to the top of the Castle Tower for a great view of the town’s red rooftops and distant rolling green hills, explore the castle and its gardens or browse the shops that line the riverfront. If you’re feeling active, ask your leader about rafting and canoeing activities on offer (time and weather permitting).

Hop into your private transfer and travel across the border to Austria and the Baroque city of Vienna. A perennial favourite for the world’s most liveable city, Vienna is also a dream for starry-eyed travellers looking for delicious coffee and pastries (sachertorte in particular), classical music and grand palaces. Get acquainted with the city on a leader-led walk and then enjoy some free time to explore on your own. Art lovers have their pick of museums to explore – maybe check out modern Austrian art at the Leopold Museum, paintings by Monet, Degas and Picasso at the neo-classical Albertina or the world’s largest collection of paintings by Austrian painter Gustav Klimt at Belvedere Palace. This evening, why not sample Vienna’s incredible musical heritage and catch a performance at one of the city’s historic venues such as the Vienna State Opera House.

Spend another day exploring Vienna’s rich artistic and intellectual heritage. Maybe head to Belvedere Palace, Schoenbrunn Palace or the Hofburg Palace complex to discover Austria’s symmetrical take on over-the-top grandeur. You might like to explore some of the city’s more niche museums like the Schnapps Museum, the Sigmund Freud Museum or the Globe Museum, which is located inside the impressive Austrian National Museum. Climb the tower of St Stephen’s Cathedral, take a spin on the Prater Ferris Wheel or catch a dressage show at the Spanish Riding School. If you didn’t head out last night, maybe cap off a culture-filled day with a spot of Mozart, Bach or Schubert at the opera house.

This morning you’ll continue your exploration of Europe’s opulent past in Budapest. Take a train and watch the scenery pass you by. When you arrive, your leader will show you around the city on an orientation walk where you can sample a Hungarian specialty – langos (fried dough). More than just a fairy-tale-like ode to the past, Budapest is also a bustling city with hip bars, trendy cafes and plenty of cheap eats. Your evening is free and your leader will make sure that you're equipped with all the insider knowledge when it comes to which are the best (and best-kept secret) ruin bars. A night out here might just be your highlight of the trip!

Enjoy a free day to explore Budapest further today. Visible from pretty much everywhere in the city, the 13th-century Buda Castle is a must-see. Why not imagine how Hungarian kings used to live by touring the palace complex, which houses the Hungarian National Gallery and the Budapest History Museum. Or you could head to Fisherman’s Bastion for the best view of the city before taking a leisurely stroll along the cobbled streets of the Castle District. Another option is a boat trip along the Danube River, where you’ll get a different view of the Parliament buildings, the Castle District and the bridges that link Buda and Pest. Tonight, find one of the many great dinner spots or head back to the ruin bars for a night out.

Get ready for a long day of travel today as you make the journey to Ljubljana. From there, you’ll travel to Bled – a scenic lakeside town tucked at the foothills of the Julian Alps. Arrive in the late afternoon and head to the iconic lake. Here, your leader will point out the town’s best attractions, like its 11th-century clifftop castle and the small island in the lake’s centre. Use the rest of the day to search for Bled’s famous cream cake (which shouldn’t be hard, every cafe in town claims to make the best one) or choose to join the group for an optional dinner of Slovenian specialties.

Postcard-perfect Bled (the perfect spot if you need a new banging Instagram) is also tailor-made for adventure, and as today is a free day, it’s up to you how you’d like to get active (or chill out and stare at the scenery – it never gets old). Hiking, biking, canoeing and rafting are all on the cards. You can choose to hire a bike and explore the surrounds, head to Vintgar Gorge for a walk through its natural canyon or go rafting along the Soca River. You could even venture further afield and take a day trip to Bohinj – another lakeside town. If you’d like to keep it more lowkey, you could head to Bled Castle or take a pletna (small wooden boat) to the church on the island in the middle of the lake to ring the wishing bell.

This morning, travel to Venice – brace yourself for some amazing scenery on the way. Venice is one of a kind, built over a hundred small islands connected by 400 bridges. As well as all those romantic canals, it has all the hallmarks of a fine old Italian city – world-class food, performance, art and architecture. When you arrive, check into your accommodation, then you’ll have a bit of time to walk around – Venice is great to explore on foot. This city is full of famous landmarks like the Grand Canal, the shops of the Rialto Bridge, the Palace of the Doge (ruler of Venice), the Piazza San Marco and its golden basilica, and the Bridge of Sighs. Don't even think about leaving until you've eaten some tiramisu! This is where the dish was born, and they know how to do it just right.

Your trip comes to an end today after breakfast. As there is much to see here, you may want to book an extra couple of days in Venice to give yourself more time to explore – just speak to your booking agent ahead of time.