Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we’re talking about the countries of Central Europe. Sometimes the most difficult part of travel is deciding where to go and building out a travel itinerary. There are so many cool places to visit in Europe that it can be hard to narrow them down. Today we’re going to share our recommendations for a 10 to 14-day itinerary through central Europe.
Budapest, Hungary
We recommend starting in Budapest, Hungary. It’s one of the best cities in Europe to visit, so it’s a great place to start your Central Europe itinerary. There are so many cool things to see in Budapest. A few of our favorites include:
- Buda Castle
- The Parliament Building
- The Terror Museum
Five Things You’ll Love & Hate About Budapest
Vienna, Austria
Less than three hours by train from Budapest, our next stop is Vienna. In terms of culture, Vienna is one of the top places to visit in Europe. It was once the capital of the Holy Roman Empire, as well as the Habsburg Dynasty. Some of our favorite things to do in Vienna include:
- St. Stephen’s Cathedral
- Walking the pedestrian street along Graben
- Visiting the Vienna State Opera, Wiener Staatsoper
- Visit some of Vienna’s palaces, including Schönbrunn Palace and Belvedere Palace
- Experience Vienna’s famous cafe culture, with a cup of coffee and a slice of sacher torte.
Five Mistakes to Avoid When You Visit Vienna
Bratislava, Slovakia
Slovakia’s capital city is worth a visit and is an easy day trip from Vienna. It’s only about an hour by bus from Vienna and is like a miniature Vienna. However, Bratislava is a really interesting juxtaposition of old Europe and mid-century Communism. One one side of the Danube, you have Old Town and the Bratislava Castle As you cross the “UFO bridge” you’ll see Communist-era gray block buildings.
Five Things You’ll Love & Hate About Bratislava
Prague, Czech Republic
From Vienna, make your way to Prague. It will take about four hours by train to get from Vienna to Prague. Prague is really the jewel of this Central Europe itinerary as it’s one of my best cities in Europe to visit. In fact, Prague is one of my top three cities in the world. Some of my favorite things to see in Prague include:
- Old Town Square
- Astronomical Clock
- Charles Bridge
- Jewish Quarter and the Jewish Cemetery
- Prague Castle and St. Vitus Cathedral
- Sampling Czech cuisines, like duck and beer
If you are planning a ten-day tour of Central Europe, these three destinations (plus a Bratislava day trip) will round out your Central Europe itinerary. If you have an extra four days, I recommend adding Salzburg, Austria, and Munich, Germany to your Central Europe itinerary.
Ten Things You Should NOT Do in Prague
Salzburg, Austria
From Vienna to Salzburg, it’s about three hours by train. It’s the home of the “Sound of Music” movie. The town has been very well-preserved, and even the more modern places like McDonald’s have been built to fit the 18th century aesthetic. This is also the home of Mozart, so there are many Mozart attractions to see in Salzburg. Some other things to see in Salzburg include:
- The Hohensalzburg Fortress on the hill
- Christmas markets if you visit Salzburg in the winter
- Sound of Music Tour to hit all the movie highlights
Five Things You Will Love & Hate About Salzburg
Munich, Germany
Munich is another amazing city in Central Europe, and it’s only 90 minutes by train from Salzburg. Known best for Oktoberfest, Munich is fun year-round. Some of my favorite things to do in Munich include:
- Visit the Hofbrauhaus for a liter stein of beer
- Munich has three really great art museums, each of which is worth visiting
- Nymphenburg Palace
- Residenz
- Visit car museums
Munich also has some great day trip opportunities, including Neuschwanstein Castle.
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I hope this is helpful as you start to plan out your Central Europe itinerary. There are endless destinations to visit in Central Europe, but these are some of the highlights from my years living in Europe and traveling there with my family. Looking for more tips on travel in Europe? Check out these other blog posts: