Young & Free in Europe: Self-Launched Rail, Bus & City Life from Vienna to Milan
12 days · Vienna, Budapest, Zagreb, Ljubljana, Venice & Milan
Choose Balkans charges £1,540
No-markup version: ~£940 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched 12-day rail-and-bus run through Central Europe and northern Italy, hitting the same cities as the Choose Balkans group tour — Vienna, Budapest, Zagreb, Ljubljana, Venice and Milan — but booked independently at hostel prices. You'll ride the same intercity trains and buses, soak in the Széchenyi Baths, walk Zagreb and Ljubljana's old towns, day-trip to Lake Bled, and finish with a Venice gondola shared among new friends and Milan's Duomo. All costs are approximate per person in GBP and assume dorm beds, self-catering plus local eats, and standard-class public transport.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Vienna & meet your hostel crew
Vienna, Austria
Land at Vienna International Airport and take the S7 suburban train or CAT bus to the city centre (~£4). Check into a central hostel like Wombats City Hostel near Naschmarkt or Hostel Ruthensteiner. Spend the afternoon walking Stephansplatz and the Ringstrasse, then grab a welcome drink at a Naschmarkt bar where hostel social nights are common — an easy way to find travel buddies for the days ahead.
🚌S7 train from airport to Wien Mitte ~£4, then walk/tram
🛏Wombats City Hostel Vienna or Hostel Ruthensteiner, 4-6 bed dorm (~£28)
- →Walk Stephansplatz & the Ringstrasse
- →Visit Rathaus (Vienna City Hall)
- →Evening drinks at a Naschmarkt bar
Full day exploring Vienna
Vienna, Austria
A full Vienna day on foot and by tram. Wander the historic centre, see the Vienna State Opera and Hofburg Palace from outside (free), step into St. Stephen's Cathedral (free entry to nave), stroll Belvedere Gardens past the Klimt-facing palace, and browse the MuseumsQuartier's courtyard benches. Loop via Maria-Theresien-Platz between the twin museums, then treat yourself to Sachertorte at Café Sacher or a cheaper slice at Café Hawelka.
🚌24h Vienna public transport pass ~£9
🛏Wombats City Hostel Vienna dorm (~£28)
- →Vienna State Opera exterior & standing-ovation tickets (€13 if you catch a show)
- →Hofburg Palace exterior & gardens
- →St. Stephen's Cathedral
- →Belvedere Gardens
- →MuseumsQuartier
- →Maria-Theresien-Platz
- →Sachertorte at a traditional café
Vienna to Budapest
Budapest, Hungary
Morning train on the RegioJet or ÖBB Railjet from Vienna Hauptbahnhof to Budapest Keleti — roughly 2h40 and £15-25 if booked ahead online. Drop bags at a Pest-side hostel like Retox or Wombats Budapest. Do your own orientation walk: Andrássy Avenue, Heroes' Square, then down to the Danube promenade for the Parliament and Chain Bridge views. Tonight, hit the ruin pubs in District VII — Szimpla Kert is the classic.
🚌Railjet/RegioJet Vienna to Budapest ~£20
🛏Retox Party Hostel or Wombats Budapest, dorm (~£16)
- →Self-guided orientation walk through Pest
- →Danube promenade stroll
- →Ruin pub crawl in District VII
Széchenyi Baths & Buda Castle Hill
Budapest, Hungary
Book a Széchenyi Thermal Baths ticket online (~£19, cheaper with a locker-only ticket) and float in the outdoor pools with the locals. Then cross the Chain Bridge to the Buda side: Fisherman's Bastion and Matthias Church for panoramic views, or take the free-ish walk up Gellért Hill for sunset. Optional detour to leafy Margaret Island if the weather's good.
🚌Metro/day ticket ~£5
🛏Retox Party Hostel or Wombats Budapest, dorm (~£16)
- →Széchenyi Thermal Baths entry
- →Fisherman's Bastion & Matthias Church
- →Hungarian Parliament building views
- →Margaret Island walk
Budapest to Zagreb
Zagreb, Croatia
The route's long and scenic: take the direct MÁV/ÖBB train Budapest Déli to Zagreb Glavni, roughly 6h and £25-35. Alternatively a FlixBus runs for ~£18-25. Arrive in Zagreb and check into a hostel near Jelacic Square (Hostel Chic or Swanky Mint). Evening self-guided orientation around Ban Jelačić Square, Tkalčićeva Street's café strip and the Upper Town's St. Mark's Church.
🚌Train or FlixBus Budapest to Zagreb ~£28
🛏Hostel Chic Zagreb or Swanky Mint Hostel, dorm (~£20)
- →Orientation walk around Zagreb city centre
- →Upper Town & St. Mark's Church
- →Café time on Tkalčićeva Street
Zagreb to Ljubljana
Ljubljana, Slovenia
Morning FlixBus or train from Zagreb to Ljubljana, about 2h30 and £12-18. Check into a Ljubljana hostel like Hostel Celica or Fluxus. Self-guided orientation: Prešeren Square, the Triple Bridge, the colourful riverside buildings along the Ljubljanica, and Ljubljana Castle via the funicular (~£5) or the free footpath up.
🚌FlixBus Zagreb to Ljubljana ~£15
🛏Hostel Celica or Fluxus Hostel Ljubljana, dorm (~£22)
- →Orientation walk in Ljubljana old town
- →Prešeren Square & Triple Bridge
- →Ljubljana Castle (funicular or walk)
- →Riverside café stop
Ljubljana & Lake Bled day trip
Ljubljana / Lake Bled, Slovenia
Make Lake Bled your day trip: catch a direct bus or train from Ljubljana (~1h10, £7-10 return). Walk the lakeside path, rent a pletna boat or rowboat to the island church (~£12), and climb to Bled Castle for the postcard view. Back in Ljubljana, spend the evening wandering the old town's markets and riverside bars.
🚌Return bus/train Ljubljana–Lake Bled ~£12
🛏Hostel Celica or Fluxus Hostel Ljubljana, dorm (~£22)
- →Lake Bled lakeside walk & island boat trip
- →Bled Castle viewpoint
- →Ljubljanica River evening stroll
- →Local market browsing
Ljubljana to Venice
Venice, Italy
There's no direct fast rail, so the practical route is FlixBus Ljubljana to Venice Mestre (~3h30, £20-28) or a bus to Trieste then a regional train into Venezia Santa Lucia. Stay in Mestre or a Cannaregio hostel to keep costs down (Venice hostels fill fast). Spend the evening exploring canals, bridges and hidden corners, with an aperitivo at a bacaro.
🚌FlixBus Ljubljana to Venice ~£24; vaporetto day pass ~£22
🛏Generator Venice or Anda Venice (Mestre), dorm (~£30)
- →Evening canal and bridge wandering
- →Bacaro cicchetti and spritz stop
- →Grand Canal vaporetto ride (day pass ~£22)
Venice canals & shared gondola
Venice, Italy
Book a shared gondola ride through GetYourGuide or a Venice operator (~£30-35 per person for the ~30 min shared slot), which is the same experience as the tour's included ride but split among dozens rather than your group. Then wander to the Rialto Bridge, browse boutique shops, discover quiet squares like Campo Santa Margherita, and finish with gelato and espresso.
🚌Vaporetto day pass ~£22
🛏Generator Venice or Anda Venice (Mestre), dorm (~£30)
- →Shared gondola ride through the canals
- →Rialto Bridge & Grand Canal
- →Boutique shopping and quiet piazza wander
- →Gelato and espresso stops
Venice to Milan
Milan, Italy
Take a Frecciarossa or Italo train from Venezia Mestre/Santa Lucia to Milano Centrale, about 2h20 and £20-35 if booked early. Check into a Milan hostel like Ostello Bello Grande or Combo. Free-entry sights: the Duomo exterior and piazza, and the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II (if you want to climb the Duomo terraces, book a rooftop ticket ~£12 online). Evening aperitivo in Navigli.
🚌Frecciarossa/Italo Venice to Milan ~£28
🛏Ostello Bello Grande or Combo Milano, dorm (~£28)
- →Duomo di Milano piazza & cathedral
- →Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II
- →Navigli district aperitivo
Milan slow day & final night out
Milan, Italy
A relaxed Milan day: revisit the Duomo and Galleria, do last-minute shopping on Corso Buenos Aires, and soak in the elegant atmosphere. Optional cooking class or food tour for a farewell-style experience (book via Klook from ~£45). Final night out with any hostel friends you've collected — pizza and wine in the Navigli or Brera.
🚌Milan metro day ticket ~£4
🛏Ostello Bello Grande or Combo Milano, dorm (~£28)
- →Duomo & Galleria stroll
- →Shopping on Corso Buenos Aires
- →Optional Milan cooking class or food tour
- →Final night out in Navigli or Brera
Depart Milan
Milan, Italy
Pack up and head to the airport. Malpensa Express from Cadorna or Centrale runs every 30 min (~£11); Linate is reachable by metro/bus (~£2). If you've got time before your flight, grab a last espresso and panzerotto near the Duomo.
🚌Malpensa Express ~£11 or Linate bus/metro ~£2
🛏Check-out (no overnight)
- →Last espresso and Duomo farewell walk
Self-launched vs. Choose Balkans
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Choose Balkans | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£940 | £1,540 |
| Duration | 12 days | 12 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £600 per person (39%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Choose Balkans-style trips? Check them out here.~£940
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.
Customise with Tour BusterCreated by
Travel Crew
0 trips
Frequently asked questions
How much does Young & Free in Europe: Self-Launched Rail, Bus & City Life from Vienna to Milan cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £940 per person for 12 days in Vienna, Budapest, Zagreb, Ljubljana, Venice & Milan. 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 Choose Balkans?+
Yes — Choose Balkans charges around £1,540 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £940 — a saving of roughly £600 (39%) per person.
How long is the Vienna, Budapest, Zagreb, Ljubljana, Venice & Milan trip?+
This itinerary runs 12 days, covering 12 day-by-day stops through Vienna, Budapest, Zagreb, Ljubljana, Venice & Milan.
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 budget, backpacker, city-breaks trip through Vienna, Budapest, Zagreb, Ljubljana, Venice & Milan, 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?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
No comments yet — be the first to share your take.
Sign in to leave a comment.