European City Hopping Tour: London to Istanbul by Train

Today’s all about discovering Vienna’s historical and artistic history on two walking tours. After a hearty Austrian breakfast of bread rolls, cold hams and jam, meet your private guide at your hotel. The day’s first tour is around Vienna’s Ringstrasse, a beautiful boulevard home to some of the city’s most famous sites: the State Opera, Parliament, City Hall, Museum of Fine Arts and many other architectural jewels. You’ll also get to enter St. Stephens Cathedral, Vienna’s main Roman Catholic church and seat of the archbishop.

With the city’s history conquered, set off on your second tour of the day which will see you exploring Vienna’s urban art scene. Listen to stories about the street art and its creators as you stroll around the 6th and 7th districts, with different routes available depending on your interest. As the day comes to a close, ask our local Concierge to secure you a table at one of the city’s famous restaurants – make sure to try out the local wiener schnitzel, a thin breaded veal cutlet that’s pan-fried in butter.

Fill your stomachs with one final Viennese breakfast before boarding your two-and-a-half-hour train to Budapest. Hop off the train, check into your elegant hotel and slip straight into swimsuits, because today you’re off the Széchenyi Baths. Built in 1913, the 15 indoor pools, three outdoor pools and ten saunas make up some of Europe’s largest thermal baths (and are arguably Budapest’s best attraction). After letting off some steam, head back to your hotel to dump your bags before heading into the city. We recommend taking a cruise down the Danube, watching the sunset from the top of Gellért Hill or sipping a cocktail or two while soaking in the panoramic city views in 360 Bar.

Get a close-up look at one of Europe’s most beautiful buildings with a tour of the Parliament of Budapest. Led by a local guide, you’ll explore the neo-Gothic building, uncover its history and discover why it’s one of Hungary’s most important political symbols. After the tour, tick off the rest of Budapest’s hotspots with a visit to Buda Castle, Fisherman’s Bastion and Heroes’ Square.

Swap your hotel room for a train carriage this evening as you chug your way to Bucharest on a night train. Tucked away in a private carriage, you’ll have no problem falling asleep to the gentle sway of the train.

Today, you’ll wake up en route to Bucharest, arriving in the afternoon. Don’t forget to wind your watches forward an hour before heading to your hotel, housed in a beautifully restored 19th-century building. The rest of the day is yours to spend how you please, whether you choose to explore the Old Town (at only a decade old, it’s likely the youngest Old Town in the world) or hop from pub to pub to taste Romania’s famous (and cheap) craft beer scene.

The following day, discover four decades of Bucharest's communist past on a private tour of the city’s famous sites: Revolution Square, home to the Communist Central Committee, where Ceausescu held his last speech and where the revolution started in 1989; and the National History Museum, the largest unfinished communist building in the city.

Wave goodbye to Bucharest as you board today’s train to Istanbul. With a day and night of travelling ahead of you, we suggest checking out our recommended reading list for Istanbul. With a range of novels and non-fiction, there’s plenty to keep you entertained and educated.

This morning, you’ll arrive at Istanbul’s Halkalki station. From here, take a quick half-an-hour train ride towards Sirkeci station in the heart of Istanbul. Head to the happening harbourside district of Karaköy, a vibrant area filled with funky cafes and late-night cocktail bars. After settling into your hotel where you’ll be staying for the next three nights, venture out again for your first Istanbul activity – a soothing hammam ritual within the opulent domed building of Kiliç Ali Pasa Hamam. Soak in the hot water and enjoy a purifying scrub and massage, then – with skin as soft as a baby’s – relax in the resting hall with snacks and beverages of your choice.

The following day, dive into Istanbul’s iconic landmarks with a walking tour around Sultanahmet, the city’s historical centre. Once a church, then a mosque and now a museum, the Hagia Sophia is an architectural triumph and displays Islamic calligraphy and Christian mosaics inside. Directly opposite, the 17th-century Blue Mosque portrays Muslims’ current daily life and reflects the brilliance of Ottoman architecture. There are many other sites to see, and your day will end with tea on a terrace overlooking the Bosphorus Strait, a waterway that bisects the European side of Istanbul from the Asian side.

On your final day in Istanbul, practice your haggling skills at the iconic Grand Bazaar. Wind your way through the 61 streets dotted with over 4,000 shops selling everything from lanterns to handmade pottery. As one of the oldest markets in the world, its historical and architectural grandeur makes it a sought-after destination even for those who don’t fancy putting on their haggling hat.