Rome to Berlin: Piazzas, Prague & the Past — Self-Launched
15 days · Europe (Italy, Slovenia, Austria, Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic, Germany)
G Adventures charges £1,905
No-markup version: ~£878 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A do-it-yourself version of G Adventures' 15-day 18-to-Thirtysomethings rail trip from Rome to Berlin, covering seven countries by train, bus and metro. You'll hit Rome, Florence, Venice, Ljubljana, Vienna, Budapest, Kraków, Prague and Berlin, staying in well-located hostels and budget guesthouses and booking the same social-enterprise tours (Migrantour Rome, Nem Adom Fel café) and big-ticket activities (Auschwitz, Budapest history walk, Prague beer hall) directly or via GetYourGuide/Klook. All transport is bookable yourself through Trenitalia, ÖBB, FlixBus, RegioJet and PKP Intercity — no group, no leader, no mark-up. Costs below are realistic backpacker estimates in GBP and do not include flights to Rome or home from Berlin.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Rome
Rome, Italy
Land at Fiumicino and take the Leonardo Express train into Termini (~€14 / £12, 32 mins) or the Terravision/SIT shuttle bus (~€7). Check into a hostel in Monti or Trastevere. Spend the evening wandering the Pantheon, Piazza Navona and the Trevi Fountain on foot, then eat cacio e pepe or supplì in Trastevere (~€15). If you want the Colosseum, book a timed ticket online in advance (€18 + €6 booking).
🚌Leonardo Express airport train £12
🛏Hostel dorm in Monti or Trastevere (e.g. The RomeHello, Generator Rome) — £22-28
- →Evening walk: Pantheon, Piazza Navona, Trevi Fountain
- →Trastevere dinner and drinks
Migrantour Rome, then train to Florence
Rome → Florence
Join a Migrantour Rome walk (the social enterprise G Adventures uses — book direct at migrantour.org, ~€20-25 / £18-22 for a 2-hour neighbourhood tour led by a migrant guide). Afterwards grab a slice of pizza al taglio and take a Frecciarossa or Italo high-speed train to Florence (~1h 35m, book 2-3 weeks ahead for €25-35 / £22-30; slower regionale+Intercity via Bologna is cheaper). Evening orientation walk past the Duomo, Piazza della Signoria and Ponte Vecchio.
🚌High-speed train Rome→Florence £22-30
🛏Hostel dorm near Santa Maria Novella (e.g. Ostello Bello Firenze, Plus Florence) — £25-32
- →Migrantour Rome walk (book direct, ~£18-22)
- →Florence orientation walk: Duomo, Ponte Vecchio, Piazza della Signoria
Florence free day (or Siena day trip)
Florence / Siena, Italy
Book the Uffizi (€25 / £21) or Accademia (David, €16) timed entry online well in advance. Alternatively take the 1h 20m regional train or 1h Rapida bus to Siena (~€10 / £8.50 each way) and climb Torre del Mangia for Tuscan views. Optional: an Oltrarno food tour via GetYourGuide (~£45-60) or self-guided grazing at Mercato Centrale. Sunset at Piazzale Michelangelo is free and worth the climb.
🚌Local bus/tram £3; optional Siena return train £17
🛏Hostel dorm, Florence — £25-32
- →Uffizi Gallery (pre-book)
- →Piazzale Michelangelo sunset walk
- →Optional Siena day trip
- →Optional Florence food tour via GetYourGuide
Train to Venice
Florence → Venice
Take a Frecciarossa from Firenze S.M. Novella to Venezia Santa Lucia (~2h 15m, €20-35 / £17-30 if booked ahead). Venice day-tripper access fee applies on peak dates — if you're staying overnight, register for the exemption online beforehand. Wander from Santa Lucia through Cannaregio to the Rialto and San Marco, cross the Accademia bridge and check out the Campanile (€8 / £7) at sunset. A gondola is ~€90/£78 for 30 mins shared; a traghetto crossing is €2.
🚌High-speed train Florence→Venice £17-30; vaporetto day pass €9.50/£8
🛏Hostel on the mainland near Mestre (e.g. Anda Venice, Generator Venice on Giudecca) — £25-30
- →Canal-side orientation walk
- →Campanile San Marco lookout
- →Optional gondola ride (share the cost)
- →Murano/Burano vaporetto hop
Venice to Ljubljana
Venice → Ljubljana, Slovenia
No direct train anymore — take a FlixBus or Nomago bus from Venice Mestre to Ljubljana (~3h, €15-25 / £13-22). Drop bags at a hostel in the old town, then walk the Ljubljanica river banks lined with cafés, cross the Triple Bridge and hike or ride the funicular up to Ljubljana Castle (€10-15 / £9-13). Optional half-day trip to Lake Bled by bus or train (~1h, €6-8 each way) — swim or row to the island church.
🚌FlixBus Venice→Ljubljana £13-22
🛏Hostel in Ljubljana centre (e.g. Hostel Celica, Vila Veselova) — £18-25
- →Ljubljanica riverside cafés
- →Ljubljana Castle & funicular
- →Optional Lake Bled trip
Bus to Vienna
Ljubljana → Vienna, Austria
FlixBus runs Ljubljana to Vienna in ~5-6h for €20-30 / £17-26 (a direct train via Villach is faster but pricier). Check into a hostel near the Naschmarkt or Westbahnhof, then walk the Ringstrasse loop: State Opera, Hofburg, St Stephen's Cathedral (free entry) and the Rathaus. Finish with a beer and schnitzel at a Beisl (~€15).
🚌FlixBus Ljubljana→Vienna £17-26; Vienna metro/tram day ticket €5.80/£5
🛏Hostel dorm in Vienna (e.g. Wombats City Hostel, Hostel Ruthensteiner) — £25-32
- →Ringstrasse orientation walk
- →St Stephen's Cathedral
- →Naschmarkt
Vienna free day
Vienna, Austria
Pick your palace: Schönbrunn (€22-30 with interiors) or Belvedere (€19 / £16) for the Klimts. Catch the Lipizzaner morning exercise at the Spanish Riding School (€14-18 / £12-15 — cheaper than a full performance) and consider an evening standing-room ticket at the State Opera (€13-18 / £11-15, queue early). Cheap eats: würstelstand sausages (€5) or a Naschmarkt picnic.
🚌Tram/metro day ticket £5
🛏Hostel dorm, Vienna — £25-32
- →Schönbrunn or Belvedere
- →Lipizzaner morning exercise
- →Optional Vienna State Opera standing ticket
Train to Budapest
Vienna → Budapest, Hungary
RegioJet or ÖBB/MÁV train from Wien Hauptbahnhof to Budapest Keleti in 2h 30-3h (€15-25 / £13-22 book ahead). Walk from the Great Market Hall up to the Chain Bridge and Buda Castle, then book a Big Night Out yourself: ruin bars in District VII (Szimpla Kert, Instant), craft beer flights €2-3 a pint.
🚌Train Vienna→Budapest £13-22; Budapest metro single 450 HUF/£1
🛏Hostel dorm in District VII (e.g. Retox, Maverick City Lodge budget rooms) — £15-22
- →Chain Bridge & Buda Castle walk
- →Great Market Hall
- →Ruin bar night out
Budapest free day
Budapest, Hungary
Do a self-booked Budapest history walking tour via GetYourGuide or Free Budapest Walking Tours (~€15-25 / £13-22; the free tour expects ~€10 tip). Afternoon at the Széchenyi or Gellért thermal baths (5,700 HUF / £12-13), then a Danube river cruise at golden hour (~€12-18 / £10-16, book ahead). Hungarian National Museum is 3,500 HUF / £8 if you want more history.
🚌Metro/tram day pass £3.50
🛏Hostel dorm, Budapest — £15-22
- →Budapest history walking tour (GetYourGuide)
- →Thermal baths visit
- →Evening Danube cruise
Budapest → overnight train to Kraków
Budapest → Kraków, Poland
Free morning — visit the Parliament (book the tour online, 7,000 HUF / £15) or stroll Andrássy Avenue. In the afternoon stop by Nem Adom Fel Café (the G Adventures-supported café employing Hungarians with disabilities) for coffee, then catch the direct overnight train or FlixBus Budapest–Kraków (train couchette/seat ~€30-50 / £26-44; night bus ~€25 / £22). Book on ÖBB or PKP Intercity ahead of time — sleeper berths sell out.
🚌Overnight train/bus Budapest→Kraków £26-40
🛏Overnight train or night bus (seat/couchette)
- →Parliament visit (pre-book)
- →Nem Adom Fel Café
- →Andrássy Avenue wander
Kraków & Auschwitz
Kraków, Poland
Book the Auschwitz-Birkenau memorial directly at auschwitz.org (free entry, ~50 PLN / £10 for a guided group visit in English) plus a shuttle bus or train from Kraków (~14 PLN / £3 each way, 1h 20m) — or a GetYourGuide day tour with transport (~£35-45) if you want it simpler. Allow 4-6 hours. Back in Kraków, walk Kazimierz (the old Jewish Quarter), grab a bar mleczny milk-bar lunch (15-25 PLN / £3-5) and check out the Wieliczka Salt Mine if you have another half day (€25-30 / £22-26).
🚌Local bus/train to Oświęcim £3; Kraków tram £1
🛏Hostel in Kraków old town (e.g. Mosquito Hostel, Greg&Tom) — £15-20
- →Auschwitz-Birkenau visit (book at auschwitz.org)
- →Kazimierz Jewish Quarter walk
- →Bar mleczny lunch
Train to Prague
Kraków → Prague, Czech Republic
Take the RegioJet or PKP Intercity/České dráhy day train Kraków–Prague (~6h, €15-30 / £13-26 booked in advance — RegioJet is usually cheapest). Arrive, check into a hostel in Old Town or Vinohrady and do an evening walk over Charles Bridge at dusk. Dinner at a Czech pub — svíčková and a Pilsner for ~250 CZK / £8.50.
🚌RegioJet train Kraków→Prague £13-26; Prague metro/tram 24h pass £4
🛏Hostel dorm in Prague (e.g. Sophie's Hostel, Czech Inn) — £18-25
- →Charles Bridge at dusk
- →Old Town Square
- →Czech pub dinner
Prague: castle, beer hall & night out
Prague, Czech Republic
Morning at Prague Castle (Hradčany) and St Vitus Cathedral (circuit ticket 450 CZK / £15), walk down through Malá Strana. Afternoon options: Old Town Hall clock tower (480 CZK / £16), Museum of Communism (380 CZK / £13) or the free Letná beer garden. Evening: a genuine Pilsner beer hall (Lokál, U Fleků) and a self-organised night out in Žižkov. Optional Czech craft beer & food tasting tour via GetYourGuide (~£45).
🚌Tram £1.20
🛏Hostel dorm, Prague — £18-25
- →Prague Castle & St Vitus Cathedral
- →Old Town Hall clock tower
- →Letná beer garden
- →Pilsner beer hall
Train to Berlin
Prague → Berlin, Germany
EC train or FlixBus Prague–Berlin takes 4h-4h 45m (€18-35 / £16-30; book early for the €17.90 Sparpreis). Settle into a hostel in Mitte or Kreuzberg, then walk the Brandenburg Gate, Reichstag exterior, Checkpoint Charlie and a stretch of the East Side Gallery. Evening kebab or currywurst (£8) and Berlin's famously cheap bars.
🚌Train Prague→Berlin £16-30; Berlin AB day ticket €8.80/£7.50
🛏Hostel dorm in Berlin (e.g. Circus Hostel, EastSeven) — £25-32
- →Brandenburg Gate & Reichstag
- →East Side Gallery
- →Checkpoint Charlie
Berlin free day & departure
Berlin, Germany
Use your final day for the Berlin Wall Memorial (free), the Jewish Museum (€15 / £13), the German Historical Museum (€7 / £6) or a free walking tour (tip ~€10). The Reichstag dome is free but needs an online reservation weeks ahead. If you're flying out, the BER airport express train is €4.40 / £3.80 from Hauptbahnhof.
🚌BER airport train £4; day ticket £7.50
🛏Hostel dorm, Berlin — £25-32 (or depart)
- →Berlin Wall Memorial
- →Jewish Museum
- →Free walking tour
- →Reichstag dome (pre-book)
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£878 | £1,905 |
| Duration | 15 days | 15 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,027 per person (54%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£878
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Rome to Berlin: Piazzas, Prague & the Past — Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £878 per person for 15 days in Europe (Italy, Slovenia, Austria, Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic, Germany). This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £1,905 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £878 — a saving of roughly £1,027 (54%) per person.
How long is the Europe (Italy, Slovenia, Austria, Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic, Germany) trip?+
This itinerary runs 15 days, covering 15 day-by-day stops through Europe (Italy, Slovenia, Austria, Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic, Germany).
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, budget, backpacker trip through Europe (Italy, Slovenia, Austria, Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic, Germany), self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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