European Whirl: Self-Launched Edition (London to London, 19 Days)
19 days · Western & Central Europe (London, Amsterdam, Berlin, Prague, Munich, Austrian Tyrol, Venice, Rome, Florence, Swiss Alps, Paris)
Contiki charges £2,380
No-markup version: ~£1,690 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of Contiki's 19-day 'European Whirl' — same 11 cities, same hostels, same highlights, booked entirely by you. You'll travel London → Amsterdam → Berlin → Dresden → Prague → Munich → Austrian Tyrol → Venice → Rome → Florence → Interlaken → Paris → London using budget flights, Flixbus/RegioJet coaches and trains instead of a private coach, staying in the very same hostel chains Contiki uses (Via, Generator, Plus Prague, Wombat's, A&O, Youth Hostel Interlaken). Guided group activities are swapped for self-bookable versions on GetYourGuide, Klook or direct with local operators. Roughly a third of the price and completely on your own schedule. Costs are approximate per person and exclude flights to/from the UK unless noted.
Day-by-day
London to Amsterdam
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Make your own way to London St Pancras and take the Eurostar to Amsterdam Centraal (book 3-4 weeks ahead, ~£45-70 one-way; cheaper than the Dover-Calais ferry + coach combo once you factor in time). Alternatively, take a Flixbus from London Victoria overnight (~£25-35). Check into Via Hostel Amsterdam (the same hostel Contiki uses) — dorm beds run ~£30-40/night in peak season. Head out for a group-style dinner at a canal-side Indonesian or Dutch restaurant in the Jordaan.
🚌Eurostar London to Amsterdam, ~£45-70
🛏Via Hostel Amsterdam (dorm) — ~£30-40/night
- →Eurostar London St Pancras to Amsterdam Centraal
- →Self-guided Jordaan neighbourhood wander
- →Dinner at a canal-side eetcafé
Amsterdam
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Rent a bike (~£12/day) and do the city the local way — canals, Vondelpark, Albert Cuyp market. Book a 75-minute canal cruise on GetYourGuide (~£16) and a skip-the-line Rijksmuseum or Van Gogh Museum ticket (~£20-25). In the evening, do a bar hop through Leidseplein or book a cheese-and-clog farm dinner tour out to Edam (~£45 including transport and meal).
🚌Bike rental ~£12
🛏Via Hostel Amsterdam (dorm) — ~£30-40/night
- →Canal cruise (GetYourGuide)
- →Rijksmuseum or Van Gogh Museum
- →Bike rental and Vondelpark
- →Cheese-making barn dinner experience
Amsterdam to Berlin
Berlin, Germany
Take the ICE train Amsterdam-Berlin (~6h, book ahead on bahn.de for ~£35-55) or a Flixbus (~7h, ~£20-30). Check into Generator Alexanderplatz — the exact hostel Contiki uses — dorm ~£25-35/night. Do a free self-guided orientation walk: Checkpoint Charlie, Brandenburg Gate, Reichstag, the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, and the East Side Gallery. Berlin's free walking tours (tip-based, ~£5-10 tip) leave from Brandenburg Gate daily.
🚌ICE train Amsterdam to Berlin, ~£35-55
🛏Generator Alexanderplatz (dorm) — ~£25-35/night
- →Free tip-based Berlin walking tour
- →Brandenburg Gate and Reichstag exterior
- →East Side Gallery
- →Checkpoint Charlie
Berlin
Berlin, Germany
Deep-dive day. Book a Third Reich historical walking tour via GetYourGuide (~£15) or a Kreuzberg street-art and culture tour (~£14). In the afternoon, hit Museum Island (day pass ~£20) or the Topography of Terror (free). Evening: currywurst and beer in Kreuzberg, or a techno night if you're up for it — Berlin's clubs are world-famous and entry is ~£12-18.
🚌Berlin AB day ticket ~£8
🛏Generator Alexanderplatz (dorm) — ~£25-35/night
- →Third Reich walking tour (GetYourGuide)
- →Kreuzberg cultural discovery walk
- →Museum Island day pass
- →Alternative Berlin street-art tour
Berlin - Dresden - Prague
Prague, Czech Republic
Break the journey with a stop in Dresden — the RegioJet or Flixbus Berlin-Prague route passes through, or take a direct train and hop off. Spend 3-4 hours walking the rebuilt Baroque old town: Frauenkirche, Zwinger Palace, the Royal Residence and the Semperoper. Then continue to Prague (RegioJet Berlin-Dresden-Prague from ~£18-25). Check into Plus Prague hostel (Contiki's pick) — dorm ~£15-22/night.
🚌RegioJet Berlin-Dresden-Prague, ~£18-25
🛏Plus Prague (dorm) — ~£15-22/night
- →Dresden old town self-guided walk
- →Frauenkirche and Zwinger Palace
- →RegioJet coach leg to Prague
Prague
Prague, Czech Republic
Do a self-guided walk through the Castle District and Old Town Square — Astronomical Clock, Charles Bridge, St Vitus Cathedral. Book a 'Hidden Prague' local-guide tour on GetYourGuide (~£14) for the bits you'd miss alone. In the evening, book a traditional Czech evening with folk music and dinner (~£35) or just eat goulash and dumplings at a local pivnice for £10.
🚌Prague 24h transit pass ~£4
🛏Plus Prague (dorm) — ~£15-22/night
- →Prague Castle District walk
- →Old Town Square and Astronomical Clock
- →Hidden Prague local guide tour
- →Traditional Czech dinner
Prague to Munich
Munich, Germany
Take the Alex or RegioJet train/coach Prague-Munich (~5h, ~£20-35). Check into Wombat's Hostel Munich (Contiki's choice) — dorm ~£25-32/night. Afternoon: stop into a traditional Bavarian Bier Halle (Hofbräuhaus or Augustiner) for a Maß and pretzel. Optional: book Mike's Bike Tour (~£28) — the same operator Contiki uses — for a 4-hour city ride including the English Garden.
🚌RegioJet/Alex train Prague to Munich, ~£20-35
🛏Wombat's Hostel Munich (dorm) — ~£25-32/night
- →Bavarian Bier Halle visit
- →Mike's Bike Tour Munich
- →Marienplatz and Viktualienmarkt
Munich to Austrian Tyrol
Hopfgarten, Austria
Take the train Munich-Wörgl (~1h 15m, ~£18-25), then a short local bus/taxi to Hopfgarten (~£5). Book an independent room at Haus Schöneck-equivalent family guesthouses (Hopfgarten has several, ~£28-40/night B&B). En route, visit Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial — it's on the Munich S-Bahn (S2 to Dachau, free entry, ~£4 each way). Evening: welcome-style dinner at a Tyrolean gasthof — schnitzel and a beer for ~£15.
🚌Train Munich-Wörgl + local bus, ~£25-30
🛏Hopfgarten guesthouse (private/dorm) — ~£28-40/night
- →Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial (free entry)
- →Munich S-Bahn to Dachau
- →Tyrolean gasthof dinner in Hopfgarten
Austrian Tyrol
Hopfgarten, Austria
Active day in the Alpine valleys. Rent a bike locally (~£15/day) and ride the valley paths with a picnic lunch (the Contiki bike ride + BBQ, minus the group). Optional: book paragliding over the Alpine valleys through a local operator like Fly Tirol (~£110-140) — same experience Contiki offers as an add-on. Evening: chill in the village or book white-water rafting on the nearby rivers for the next morning (~£55).
🚌Local bike rental ~£15
🛏Hopfgarten guesthouse — ~£28-40/night
- →Valley bike ride with picnic
- →Paragliding over Alpine valleys
- →Optional white-water rafting
Austrian Tyrol to Venice
Venice, Italy
Scenic route through the Central Austrian Alps and Brenner Pass. Take the train Wörgl-Innsbruck-Brenner-Verona-Venice (~6-7h, ~£35-50) or a Flixbus Innsbruck-Venice (~6h, ~£22-30). Check into Anda Venice Hostel in Mestre (Contiki's pick) — dorm ~£25-35/night. Evening: vaporetto into Venice (day pass ~£18, single ~£8) for a first wander of the canals.
🚌Train Innsbruck-Venice via Brenner, ~£35-50
🛏Anda Venice Hostel, Mestre (dorm) — ~£25-35/night
- →Brenner Pass scenic train ride
- →Vaporetto into Venice
- →First canal-side wander and cicchetti
Venice to Rome
Rome, Italy
Book a Venice-Rome train (Frecciarossa or Italo, 3h 45m, book 2-4 weeks ahead for ~£25-40) or a night Flixbus (~£18-25). If you stay overnight, hit St Mark's Square and the Rialto at dawn before leaving. Check into Hostel Trustever in Rome (Contiki's choice) — dorm ~£25-35/night. Evening: free 'Rome by night' self-guided walk — Colosseum lit up, Trevi Fountain, Piazza Navona.
🚌Italo/Frecciarossa Venice to Rome, ~£25-40
🛏Hostel Trustever, Rome (dorm) — ~£25-35/night
- →St Mark's Square and Rialto at dawn
- →Rome highlights night walk
- →Trevi Fountain and Piazza Navona
Rome
Rome, Italy
Book a Colosseum + Roman Forum + Palatine Hill skip-the-line tour on GetYourGuide (~£35-45) or a Colosseum underground gladiator tour (~£60). Optional add-ons: Vatican Museums + Sistine Chapel tour (~£45) or a pasta-making class in Trastevere (~£45). Get around on the metro and buses (24h ticket ~£6). Dinner in Trastevere — cacio e pepe and a glass of wine for ~£15.
🚌Rome 24h transit ticket ~£6
🛏Hostel Trustever, Rome (dorm) — ~£25-35/night
- →Colosseum and Roman Forum tour (GetYourGuide)
- →Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel
- →Pasta-making class
- →Trastevere dinner
Rome to Florence
Florence, Italy
Stop in Pisa en route: take the Rome-Florence train and hop off at Pisa Centrale, then the LAM Rossa bus to the Leaning Tower (~£2). Leave bags at Pisa Centrale's luggage storage (~£5). Continue to Florence (Pisa-Florence regional train ~£8, 1h). Check into A&O Florence (Contiki's pick) — dorm ~£25-35/night. Evening: free leather-market wander and a gelato crawl (Grom, Perché No!, Vivoli — £3 each).
🚌Train Rome-Pisa-Florence, ~£25-35
🛏A&O Florence (dorm) — ~£25-35/night
- →Leaning Tower of Pisa stop
- →Florentine leather market wander
- →Gelato tasting crawl
Florence
Florence, Italy
Do the Renaissance properly. Free tip-based walking tours cover the Medici history daily (~£5-10 tip). Book skip-the-line Uffizi (~£25) or Accademia for David (~£20). Climb Brunelleschi's Dome for the best view (~£25, book ahead). Optional evening: Tuscan dinner of olives, cured meats, crostini and Chianti in the Oltrarno for ~£30.
🚌Walkable city centre
🛏A&O Florence (dorm) — ~£25-35/night
- →Medici and Renaissance walking tour
- →Uffizi Gallery skip-the-line
- →Accademia and Michelangelo's David
- →Tuscan dinner in Oltrarno
Florence to Swiss Alps
Interlaken, Switzerland
Long travel day: train Florence-Milan-Spiez-Interlaken (~6-7h, book on trenitalia.com and sbb.ch for ~£45-65) or a Flixbus to Zurich then train (~£40). Switzerland is pricey — budget accordingly. Check into Youth Hostel Interlaken (Contiki's pick, still one of the best-value beds in town) — dorm ~£35-45/night including breakfast.
🚌Train Florence-Interlaken via Milan/Spiez, ~£45-65
🛏Youth Hostel Interlaken (dorm) — ~£35-45/night
- →Alpine train through the Spiez/Interlaken valley
- →Arrival wander along Lake Thun or Brienz
Swiss Alps
Interlaken, Switzerland
Big day: take the cog train and cable car up to Jungfraujoch, Top of Europe (~£150 return with the Eurail/Interrail discount or a Good Morning Ticket — book on jungfrau.ch). Cheaper alternative: Schilthorn or Harder Kulm (~£30-40). Optional: canyon swing at Grindelwald Glacier Gorge (~£85). Evening: self-catered Swiss fondue from the Coop supermarket (~£15) or a hostel fondue night.
🚌Jungfrau railway return ~£150
🛏Youth Hostel Interlaken (dorm) — ~£35-45/night
- →Jungfraujoch cog train and cable car
- →Harder Kulm or Schilthorn alternative
- →Grindelwald canyon swing
- →Swiss fondue dinner
Swiss Alps to Paris
Paris, France
Take the TGV Lyria Interlaken/Basel-Paris (~6h, book on sbb.ch 2-3 weeks ahead for ~£45-70) or a Flixbus (~9h, ~£30-40). Check into Generator Paris (Contiki's pick) — dorm ~£30-40/night. Evening: free self-guided sightseeing — Eiffel Tower light show on the hour after dark, Champs-Élysées, Arc de Triomphe. Seine river cruise on GetYourGuide from ~£13.
🚌TGV Lyria Interlaken/Basel to Paris, ~£45-70
🛏Generator Paris (dorm) — ~£30-40/night
- →Eiffel Tower light show
- →Champs-Élysées and Arc de Triomphe walk
- →Seine river cruise (GetYourGuide)
Paris
Paris, France
Book a free tip-based Paris walking tour (Discover Walks or Sandemans, ~£5-10 tip) plus a Louvre timed entry (~£20) and Notre-Dame exterior/Marais wander. Visit a perfumery — Fragonard's Paris museum is free-entry (~£0, optionally book a workshop ~£30). Optional evening: cabaret show at Crazy Horse or Moulin Rouge (from ~£90-160) or a Parisian farewell dinner in Le Marais (~£30).
🚌Paris Metro carnet or Navigo Easy ~£8
🛏Generator Paris (dorm) — ~£30-40/night
- →Free walking tour of Paris
- →Louvre timed entry
- →Fragonard perfumery and museum
- →Optional cabaret show
- →Le Marais dinner
Paris to London
London, UK
Return to London on the Eurostar Paris Gare du Nord-London St Pancras (2h 15m, book ahead for ~£45-70) or a Flixbus (~£25-35). No coach transfer to CDG required — you're in charge. Trip ends at St Pancras, or fly out separately if you're heading home from Paris.
🚌Eurostar Paris to London, ~£45-70
🛏None (trip ends)
- →Eurostar Paris to London
- →Optional final breakfast in the Marais
Self-launched vs. Contiki
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Contiki | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,690 | £2,380 |
| Duration | 19 days | 19 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £690 per person (29%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Contiki-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,690
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 European Whirl: Self-Launched Edition (London to London, 19 Days) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,690 per person for 19 days in Western & Central Europe (London, Amsterdam, Berlin, Prague, Munich, Austrian Tyrol, Venice, Rome, Florence, Swiss Alps, Paris). 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 Contiki?+
Yes — Contiki charges around £2,380 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,690 — a saving of roughly £690 (29%) per person.
How long is the Western & Central Europe (London, Amsterdam, Berlin, Prague, Munich, Austrian Tyrol, Venice, Rome, Florence, Swiss Alps, Paris) trip?+
This itinerary runs 19 days, covering 19 day-by-day stops through Western & Central Europe (London, Amsterdam, Berlin, Prague, Munich, Austrian Tyrol, Venice, Rome, Florence, Swiss Alps, Paris).
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 backpacker, culture, city-breaks trip through Western & Central Europe (London, Amsterdam, Berlin, Prague, Munich, Austrian Tyrol, Venice, Rome, Florence, Swiss Alps, Paris), 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.
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