London may be huge, but Central London can be walked all over, from the quirky pop-up stalls of the south bank to the glitz of the West End and out to Hyde Park. The buzzing cosmopolitan nature of the city probably makes it the most culturally diverse in the world.

If you’d like to spend a night in London before you head off then get in touch and we can customise this for you.

Alternatively, If you’re travelling on an Interrail pass for the trip, you can use this to get from your hometown to London for free, as long as it’s on the same day as your departure! This does not apply if you have individual tickets in PDF form.

Highlights

    See some world-famous landmarks

    Watch a show at one of many West End Theatres

    Experience the quirky nightlife of Soho

    Eurostar to Brussels – 4 hours

Belgium’s biggest city accommodates an eclectic mix of old and new, from Europe’s most beautiful square, lined with guild houses and continental cafes, to its bureaucratic alter-ego as the capital of the European Union itself. Come for the delicious beer, waffles, and moules frites.

Highlights

    Love a good pint? Head to Delirium Cafe where they have more than 2000 types of beer!

    See Europe’s most beautiful square, the Grand Place

    Try to find the Manneken Pis fountain statue

    Train to Amsterdam – 4 hours

Despite being credited with certain recreational pastimes, there is actually a lot more to the city than the stereotypical picture, with its abundance of engaging museums, beautiful townhouses, and canals. Find out what makes Amsterdam the beating heart of the Netherlands.

Highlights

    Visit the Van Gogh Museum

    Discover Europe’s biggest historic centre by pedal

    Take a tour of the Red Light District

    Train to Berlin – 7 hours

Berlin is the alternative, cool kid of Europe and a pro at being edgy. It’s how people dress, their liberal attitudes, the graffiti, the skaters and BMXers, the art, the clubs and the food. Berlin is also crammed full with fascinating WWII history around every corner so there really is something for everyone.

Highlights

    See a section of the old Berlin Wall

    Climb the dome of the renovated Reichstag

    Discover the nightlife of Schoneberg and Kreuzberg

    Trains to Krakow – 10 hours

Krakow escaped being reduced to rubble in WWII, preserving the postcard-perfect Old Town and the cellars housing its famous bars and clubs. That’s not to say it doesn’t share a chapter of history in the nearby Auschwitz concentration camp which demands a humble visit.

Highlights

    See Europe’s largest medieval market square

    Take photos of Poland’s best-preserved city

    Find one of many Gothic cellar bars open until late

    Night Train to Prague – 9 hours

Prague is stunning; there’s no better word to describe it. On any side street or square you’ll find unique buildings full of colourful detail. The Czech Republic is also the home of Pilsner beer, with no lack of establishments to sample it in.

Highlights

    Cross the enchanting Charles Bridge

    Marvel at the curvy design of the Dancing Building

    Try all the Czech Pilsner beers in the Old Town pub

    Train to Munich – 6 hours

The capital of Bavaria and Germany’s third largest city will draw you in with its elegance and attractions to match those of the bigger names in Europe, with its pedestrianised city centre and impressive monuments, museums, and art galleries. Let’s not forget the beer, and plenty of it at Oktoberfest!

Highlights

    Learn about the city at the Stadtmuseum

    Walk across the sprawling Englisher Garten

    Join the Bavarian beer festival of Oktoberfest

    Train to Vienna – 4 hours

Vienna is crisp, clean, and chic with its biggest draw factor being the multitude of classical palaces and grand imperial buildings. Whether you’re into royal history or not, the sheer scale of it here will be encapsulating for all, whilst not forgetting the great bars and eateries.

Highlights

    Visit the Spanish Riding School of Vienna

    Eat real apple strudel and wiener schnitzel

    Go to a classical concert in a city renowned for its music

    Train to Bratislava – 1 hour

Bratislavans are incredibly friendly and, as the city has not yet been discovered by the mainstream tourist (stag-dos aside), food, beer, and wine are still cheap here. It’s just as beautiful as its neighbouring Eastern European capitals, but smaller, quieter, and with an idyllic medieval feel.

Highlights

    Climb up to the 19th century castle

    Take a night tour to admire Bratislava’s beauty

    Do some folk-art shopping at Úľuv

    Train to Budapest – 3 hours

Proudly guarding the Danube, the once twin cities of Buda and Pest show off every architectural style from Baroque to Art Nouveau. With its rickety trams and turn-of-the-century feel, you’ll be charmed by its past while you cure your hangover at any of the multitude of hot baths.

Highlights

    Relax in the 15th century thermal spas

    Take panoramic photos from the scenic Buda castle

   Go to Sziget rock and indie festival in August

    Bus to Belgrade – 9 hours

The capital of Serbia won’t disappoint you. Visitors from surrounding countries come here for the all-night party scene and friendly atmosphere. Tourists also come to see the world’s largest Orthodox church or just wander around the bohemian town centre from a bygone era.

Highlights

    Visit the 18th century Belgrade Fortress

    Climb the cobbled streets of Skadarlija

    Float down the Danube on the splavovi party boats

    Bus to Zagreb – 6 hours

A city of flowers and fountains with a curious Mediterranean feel, Zagreb is a year-round destination with a museum-café-theatre culture by day and a lakeside party by night. In winter, a tram ride out of the city provides scenic hiking and skiing opportunities.

Highlights

    Catch a 360-view from the Lotrščak Tower

    Stroll through the beautiful Mirogoj cemetery

    Have a coffee in Kino Europa, Zagreb’s oldest cinema

    Train to Ljubljana – 3 hours

Ljubljana is a colourful chocolate-box city with a café culture that brings a festival atmosphere to it all summer long. See the castle perched above the city or take a day trip out by train to the picturesque Lake Bled, where you can hire a rowing boat and visit the island in the middle.

Highlights

    See the 16th century castle on the hill

    Wander through the colourful streets

    Take in 360-views from an art-deco skyscraper terrace

    Trains or Bus to Venice – 7 hours

Venice is nothing short of unique, built on mudbanks in the lagoon, it forewent the convenience of cars for the charisma of canals. Getting lost in Venice is part of the fun, and if you’re on foot you’ll only find small backstreets or large piazzas, not a single road in sight.

Highlights

    Cross the iconic St Mark’s Square

   Get lost in the alleyways and canals of the city

    Ride a vaporetto down the grand canal

    Train to Rome – 4 hours

When in Rome, do as the Romans do. If that means indulging in gelato, pizzerias, cafes, and trattorias, then so be it. Rome will delight you with its eateries and mesmerise you with its monuments. Also visit Vatican City, the world’s smallest country!

Highlights

    Marvel at the ruins of the Roman Forum

    See the world-famous Colosseum

    Try real Italian coffee, ice-cream, and pizza

    Train to Florence – 1.5 hours

If you are touring the big cities of Europe and want to escape to the countryside, then the capital of Tuscany is one of the easiest places to do it from. Not that you’d want to, of course, once you’ve been seduced by the birthplace of Renaissance art and architecture…but we’ll leave that up to you!

Highlights

    See Michelangelo’s statue of David

    Explore countless Renaissance chapels and churches

   Eat any number of fun flavours of exquisite ice-cream

    Train to Milan – 2 hours

Milan is cosmopolitan and fast-paced, a beacon of Western fashion with an addiction to culture as much as clothes. The world-acclaimed La Scala Opera House sits here, as does Leonardo da Vinci’s famous The Last Supper on the wall of Santa Maria Delle Grazie Basilica.

Highlights

Visit the vast 14th century cathedral

Get (window) shopping at Europe’s fashion capital

See a performance at the famous La Scala Opera

    Train to Nice – 5 hours

Looking out onto the French Riviera, Nice is a chic city with some of the best food in the country. Its appeal was future-proofed by 19th century British aristocrats who commissioned the popular Promenade des Anglais beachside walkway by which to stroll at sunset.

Highlights

    Explore the old-world town of Nice

    See the sunset from the Promenade des Anglais

    Take a sightseeing cruise of the Cote d’Azur

    Trains to Barcelona – 10 hours

Barcelona is a city which offers everything in abundance. Delicious food, awesome nightlife, spectacular views from on high, and architectural and artistic marvels all around. As if that wasn’t enough, there’s plenty of green space (and beach) around… A trip to the Sagrada Familia cathedral, still in construction, is a must.

Highlights

    See the Picasso Museum in the Gothic Quarter

    Spot Gaudi’s distinctive architecture in Parc Guell

   Crawl the bars around Las Ramblas

    Train to Paris – 7 hours

Paris is a byword for romance, a synonym for style, and the epitome of elegance. The pride of France and one of the most beautiful cities in the world, Paris needs little introduction, from the Eiffel Tower to the Pont Neuf, it bedazzles visitors and oozes charisma at every turn.

Highlights

    See the Mona Lisa at the Louvre Museum

    Watch a cabaret act at the famous Moulin Rouge

    Experience the colourful nightlife of the Marais

    Train to London  – 4 hours

Finish your trip back in the UK’s enigmatic capital city and take a deep breath, you’ve made it!

Either finish your journey here (you can add on post-trip accommodation at check-out if you’d like), or continue your onward journey home (on the same day) to your nearest UK station for free using your Interrail pass!