Europe: North to South Self-Launched — Berlin to Barcelona

Arrive in Berlin and get settled. The city is extremely well connected by public transport — grab a 7-day BVG transit pass (around £35) on arrival to cover all your U-Bahn, S-Bahn and bus travel throughout your stay. Check into a well-rated central hostel such as Generator Berlin Mitte or EastSeven Berlin Hostel. Spend the evening exploring the neighbourhood around your accommodation — grab a currywurst and a beer at a local imbiss to set the tone.

🚌Public transport from Berlin airport: Airport Express (FEX) or S-Bahn to city centre, ~£4

🛏Generator Berlin Mitte or EastSeven Berlin Hostel

• →Arrive and check in to hostel — Generator Berlin Mitte or EastSeven Berlin Hostel (~£22–28/night in dorm, ~£55 private)
• →Buy 7-day BVG public transport pass (~£35)
• →Optional: Self-guided walk around Mitte/Prenzlauer Berg in the evening

Berlin's major historical sites are largely free or low-cost to visit independently. Walk from the Holocaust Memorial (free, open 24/7) to Brandenburg Gate, then up Unter den Linden to Museum Island. The Berlin Wall Memorial on Bernauer Strasse is free and extraordinarily powerful. In the afternoon, head to Checkpoint Charlie and the East Side Gallery. Book a GetYourGuide walking tour of Berlin's Cold War history (~£15) if you'd like a guide for part of the day. Optional: pre-book a Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp tour via GetYourGuide (~£25 including transport) — highly recommended.

🚌BVG transit pass covers all city travel

🛏Generator Berlin Mitte or EastSeven Berlin Hostel

• →Holocaust Memorial — free entry, outdoor memorial open 24/7
• →Brandenburg Gate and Reichstag exterior — free
• →Berlin Wall Memorial (Bernauer Strasse) — free
• →Museum Island exterior / TV Tower view
• →East Side Gallery — free, 1.3km open-air gallery
• →Optional: Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp guided tour via GetYourGuide (~£25 including bus)

Take an early morning FlixBus or Deutsche Bahn regional train from Berlin to Dresden (approx. 2 hrs, £12–18). Spend 2–3 hours in Dresden's stunning Altstadt — the Frauenkirche, Zwinger Palace courtyards and Brühl's Terrace are all free to walk around. Then continue to Prague by FlixBus or RegioJet coach (Dresden–Prague ~2 hrs, £8–14). Arrive early evening. Check in near Old Town — Czech Inn or Mosaic House are excellent budget options. Walk to Old Town Square for dinner.

🚌Berlin to Dresden: FlixBus or Deutsche Bahn regional train (~£12–18, ~2 hrs). Dresden to Prague: FlixBus or RegioJet coach (~£8–14, ~2 hrs)

🛏Czech Inn Hostel or Mosaic House, Prague (~£18–25 dorm, ~£50–60 private)

• →Dresden Frauenkirche and Zwinger Palace courtyards — free exterior visit
• →Brühl's Terrace riverside walk — free
• →Old Town Square, Prague — arrive and explore in the evening

Prague is one of Europe's most walkable cities. Head up to Prague Castle in the morning — entry to the castle grounds is free, though individual palaces charge (St Vitus Cathedral area ~£14 for short circuit). Walk back down through Malá Strana and across Charles Bridge. In the afternoon, take a self-booked shared boat tour on the Vltava River (~£12 via GetYourGuide) or rent a rowboat near Čechův Bridge (~£10/hr). Spend the evening in Old Town — try svíčková at a local Czech restaurant.

🚌Prague public transport (metro/tram) — 24-hr pass ~£4

🛏Czech Inn Hostel or Mosaic House, Prague

• →Prague Castle grounds — free entry; short circuit ticket for interiors ~£14
• →St Vitus Cathedral — included in short circuit ticket
• →Charles Bridge walk — free
• →Vltava River boat cruise — book via GetYourGuide (~£12)
• →Old Town Square and Astronomical Clock — free

Take a FlixBus or RegioJet early morning from Prague to Munich (approx. 4–5 hrs, £15–22). Arrive mid-morning and explore Munich's city centre: Marienplatz and the Glockenspiel, the Englischer Garten, and a beer hall lunch at the Hofbräuhaus. Then take a late afternoon train from Munich to Innsbruck with ÖBB (~1.5 hrs, ~£20–28 booked in advance). Check into Nonstop Hostel or Haiku Haus Innsbruck. Stroll the Old Town and see the Golden Roof in the evening.

🚌Prague to Munich: FlixBus or RegioJet (~£15–22, ~4–5 hrs). Munich to Innsbruck: ÖBB train (~£20–28, ~1.5 hrs — book ahead on oebb.at)

🛏Nonstop Hostel or Haiku Haus Innsbruck (~£20–28 dorm)

• →Marienplatz and Glockenspiel, Munich — free
• →Hofbräuhaus beer hall lunch (~£15)
• →Englischer Garten walk — free
• →Golden Roof (Goldenes Dachl), Innsbruck — free to view from outside
• →Innsbruck Old Town evening stroll

Before leaving the Tyrol, visit Swarovski Crystal Worlds (Wattens, ~20 min from Innsbruck by shuttle, ~£20 entry + £5 shuttle). Then take a train from Innsbruck to Zurich via beautiful Alpine scenery — ÖBB/SBB connection (~3 hrs, £30–45 booked in advance on sbb.ch or oebb.at). Check into Langstrassse Hostel or Youth Hostel Zurich. Note: Switzerland is expensive — budget carefully. Explore the Old Town (Altstadt) on foot in the evening and walk along the Limmat river.

🚌Shuttle Innsbruck–Swarovski (~£5 return). Innsbruck to Zurich: ÖBB/SBB train (~£30–45, ~3 hrs — book ahead)

🛏Langstrasse Hostel or Youth Hostel Zurich (~£28–38 dorm)

• →Swarovski Crystal Worlds entry (~£20) + shuttle from Innsbruck (~£5 return)
• →Train journey through Tyrolean and Swiss Alpine scenery
• →Zurich Altstadt (Old Town) self-guided walk — free
• →Limmat riverside walk and Lake Zurich views — free

Take an early SBB train from Zurich to Grindelwald (~2 hrs, ~£25 each way — buy a Swiss Day Pass ~£60 for unlimited travel, which covers this day). In Grindelwald, take the First cable car up (~£25 return) and walk the First Cliff Walk suspended bridge — a highlight of the Alps. Have lunch at a mountain restaurant. Descend and take the train back via Interlaken to Lucerne (~1.5 hrs), where you'll spend a couple of hours walking the Chapel Bridge (Kapellbrücke) and Old Town before the evening return to Zurich. Consider Mount Titlis as an optional upgrade (~£80–100 independently, cheaper than the operator's €185).

🚌Swiss Day Pass (~£60) covers all SBB trains today — excellent value for Zurich–Grindelwald–Lucerne–Zurich routing

🛏Langstrasse Hostel or Youth Hostel Zurich

• →SBB train Zurich to Grindelwald (~£25 each way, or Swiss Day Pass ~£60)
• →First cable car, Grindelwald (~£25 return)
• →First Cliff Walk suspended bridge — included with cable car
• →Mountain lunch at Bergrestaurant First (~£15–20)
• →Lucerne — Chapel Bridge (Kapellbrücke) and Old Town walk — free
• →Optional: Mount Titlis cable car from Engelberg (~£80–100 independently, book via titlis.ch)

A scenic transit day through three beautiful stops. Take the SBB train south from Zurich through the St Gotthard tunnel to Bellinzona (~1.5 hrs, ~£20) — the town's three UNESCO-listed medieval castles are free to walk around. Continue by train to Como (~1 hr, ~£8), explore the lake promenade and Cathedral on foot, and have lunch by the water. Then take a short train to Milan (~1 hr, ~£8). Check into Ostello Bello Milano or The Hub Hotel. Walk to the Piazza del Duomo in the evening — the exterior is free and stunning at night.

🚌Zurich to Bellinzona: SBB train (~£20, ~1.5 hrs). Bellinzona to Como: Trenitalia (~£8, ~1 hr). Como to Milan: Trenitalia (~£8, ~40 min)

🛏Ostello Bello Milano or The Hub Hotel, Milan (~£22–30 dorm, ~£60–70 private)

• →Bellinzona castles (Castelgrande, Montebello, Sasso Corbaro) — free to walk grounds
• →Como lake promenade and Cathedral — free
• →Piazza del Duomo, Milan — free exterior; Duomo interior entry ~£5
• →Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II — free to walk through

Take an early Frecciarossa or Italo high-speed train from Milan to Pisa (~2.5–3 hrs, £20–35 booked ahead on trenitalia.com or italotreno.it). The Piazza dei Miracoli and Leaning Tower area is a 15-minute walk or cheap taxi from Pisa Centrale station. The square itself is free to enter — tower climb tickets (~£20) must be booked ahead at opapisa.it. Allow 1.5–2 hours, then take a connecting Frecciarossa to Rome (~1.5 hrs from Pisa, £20–30). Check into The Beehive or Generator Rome. Drop your bags and explore Trastevere in the evening.

🚌Milan to Pisa: Frecciarossa/Italo high-speed train (~£20–35, ~2.5–3 hrs — book ahead). Pisa to Rome Termini: Frecciarossa (~£20–30, ~1.5 hrs — book ahead at trenitalia.com)

🛏The Beehive Hostel or Generator Rome (~£22–32 dorm, ~£65–80 private)

• →Piazza dei Miracoli and Leaning Tower of Pisa — square free; tower climb ~£20 (book ahead at opapisa.it)
• →Pisa Cathedral exterior — free
• →Trastevere neighbourhood evening wander and dinner, Rome

Rome is a full day and then some. Start early at the Colosseum — book timed entry tickets online in advance (colosseo.it, ~£18 including Roman Forum and Palatine Hill). Walk the Imperial Forums, Circus Maximus, Baths of Caracalla (~£8), and Castel Sant'Angelo (exterior free, interior ~£15). For the Vatican, book a skip-the-line Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel tour via GetYourGuide (~£45–55) — far cheaper than the operator's €70 optional. End the day at the Pantheon (~£5 entry), Trevi Fountain, and Piazza Navona — all in the historic centre, walkable in an evening. Dinner in Trastevere.

🚌Rome metro and walking — buy single tickets (~£1.50 each) or 48-hr pass (~£7)

🛏The Beehive Hostel or Generator Rome

• →Colosseum, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill — book ahead at colosseo.it (~£18 combo)
• →Imperial Forums and Circus Maximus — free exterior
• →Baths of Caracalla (~£8)
• →Castel Sant'Angelo — exterior free; interior ~£15
• →Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel — book skip-the-line via GetYourGuide (~£45–55)
• →Pantheon entry (~£5)
• →Trevi Fountain and Piazza Navona — free
• →Dinner in Trastevere (~£15–20)

Fly from Rome (Fiumicino or Ciampino) to Madrid. Book independently with Vueling, Ryanair or Iberia — typically £40–90 booked a few weeks in advance, far cheaper than the group tour's included flight priced into the package rate. Transfer into central Madrid by metro from Barajas Airport (Line 8, ~£5). Check into Hat Madrid Hostel or Generator Madrid in the city centre. Spend the evening exploring the lively streets around Gran Vía and Malasaña.

🚌Rome Fiumicino/Ciampino to Madrid Barajas: budget flight (~£40–90 — book at least 3–4 weeks ahead). Madrid metro Line 8 from airport (~£5)

🛏Hat Madrid Hostel or Generator Madrid (~£22–30 dorm, ~£60–70 private)

• →Fly Rome to Madrid — book independently with Vueling/Ryanair/Iberia (~£40–90)
• →Madrid Airport metro transfer (Line 8 to city centre, ~£5)
• →Evening walk around Gran Vía and Malasaña neighbourhood

Madrid's major sights are compact and walkable. The Prado Museum is free after 6pm (entry ~£15 otherwise — book timed entry at museodelprado.es). Walk the Paseo del Prado boulevard, past the Cibeles and Neptune fountains, to Retiro Park — free to enter, hire a rowing boat on the lake (~£6). See the Palacio de Cristal in the park. In the afternoon, visit the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium via a self-booked tour (~£25 on realmadrid.com — cheaper than the operator's included version when priced per-person). Dinner around Plaza Mayor (~£15–20).

🚌Madrid metro and walking — 10-trip metro card (~£12) covers the day

🛏Hat Madrid Hostel or Generator Madrid

• →Paseo del Prado, Cibeles and Neptune fountains — free
• →Prado Museum — free entry 6–8pm daily; otherwise ~£15 (book at museodelprado.es)
• →Retiro Park and Palacio de Cristal — free park entry; rowing boat hire ~£6
• →Plaza de Colón and Plaza Mayor — free
• →Puerta de Alcalá — free
• →Santiago Bernabéu Stadium tour — self-book at realmadrid.com (~£25)

Take an early AVE high-speed train from Madrid to Zaragoza (~1.5 hrs, ~£20–35 booked ahead on renfe.com). Visit the Cathedral-Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar — free to enter the exterior, interior entry ~£3. Then take a regional train towards Barcelona, stopping at L'Espluga de Francolí for Poblet Abbey (~45 min walk or local taxi from station, ~£8 guided tour entry — book ahead at poblet.cat). Continue by regional train to Barcelona (~1.5–2 hrs). Check into Somnio Hostel or Generator Barcelona. Explore El Born neighbourhood in the evening.

🚌Madrid to Zaragoza: AVE high-speed train (~£20–35, ~1.5 hrs — book at renfe.com). Zaragoza to L'Espluga de Francolí: regional Renfe train (~£12, ~1.5 hrs). L'Espluga to Barcelona: regional train (~£8, ~1.5 hrs)

🛏Somnio Hostel or Generator Barcelona (~£22–32 dorm, ~£65–75 private)

• →Cathedral-Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar, Zaragoza — free exterior; interior ~£3
• →Poblet Abbey guided tour — ~£8 (book ahead at poblet.cat)
• →El Born neighbourhood, Barcelona — evening explore

Barcelona is the grand finale. Book Sagrada Família entry well in advance online (sagradafamilia.org, ~£26 basic entry, ~£36 with tower access) — the operator charges €65 for a guided group visit; you can do the same for half the price with an audio guide included in the ticket. Walk La Rambla down to the seafront and Barceloneta beach. Explore the Gothic Quarter. In the afternoon, see Park Güell (free areas) or book the monumental zone (~£10, book ahead at parkguell.barcelona). End the day at Maremagnum by the sea or in the lively El Raval neighbourhood.

🚌Barcelona metro T-Casual 10-trip card (~£12) covers the day

🛏Somnio Hostel or Generator Barcelona

• →Sagrada Família — book ahead at sagradafamilia.org (~£26–36, audio guide included)
• →La Rambla walk — free
• →Gothic Quarter self-guided wander — free
• →Park Güell monumental zone (~£10 — book ahead at parkguell.barcelona)
• →Barceloneta beach — free
• →Maremagnum leisure complex by the sea — free to explore
• →Casa Batlló or Casa Milà (La Pedrera) exterior walk — free; interior optional (~£25–30)

Final breakfast in Barcelona — grab a croissant and coffee at a local café on Las Ramblas or in the Eixample neighbourhood (~£5). If time allows before your flight or onward journey, visit the Picasso Museum (~£14, book at museupicasso.bcn.cat) or simply wander the El Born or Gràcia neighbourhoods. Barcelona El Prat Airport is easily reached by the Aerobus (~£6) or metro (~£5). Bon viatge!

🚌Aerobus from Plaça Catalunya to Barcelona Airport (~£6, ~35 min) or metro L9 (~£5)

🛏Check out — tour ends

• →Final breakfast at local café (~£5)
• →Optional: Picasso Museum (~£14 — book at museupicasso.bcn.cat)
• →Optional: El Born or Gràcia neighbourhood final wander
• →Transfer to Barcelona El Prat Airport — Aerobus (~£6) or metro L9 (~£5)