{"id":37306,"date":"2025-04-22T16:49:26","date_gmt":"2025-04-22T14:49:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/niet-gecategoriseerd\/city-trips-by-train-a-tour-of-7-cities-in-europe\/"},"modified":"2026-06-25T16:29:02","modified_gmt":"2026-06-25T14:29:02","slug":"city-trips-by-train-a-tour-of-7-cities-in-europe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/en\/train-travel\/city-trips-by-train-a-tour-of-7-cities-in-europe\/","title":{"rendered":"City Trips by Train: A Tour of 7 Cities in Europe"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

City Trips by Train: From Berlin to Krakow and Ljubljana<\/h1>\n\n

City trips by train? Want to explore Europe in a relaxed and sustainable way? Then an Interrail city trip is a great choice. In this article, I\u2019ll share my travel experiences from a 3-week Interrail itinerary I put together myself, visiting 7 European cities. I\u2019ll also include practical tips for your own Interrail adventure. <\/p>\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"View<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n

The Interrail City Break Route <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n

1. By Train to Berlin<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n

The trip from Arnhem to Berlin takes 5.5 hours<\/em> <\/p>\n\n

This city is brimming with history, art, and trendy breakfast spots. I had booked all my accommodations in advance. That way, I could be sure my hotel was near the train station. Of course, you don\u2019t have to do this, but it might save you some stress once you\u2019re there. Read more here about traveling to Berlin by train<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n

Accommodation tip<\/strong>: B&B Hotel Berlin-Mitte. <\/p>\n\n

Breakfast at: Sag mir wo die Blumen sind<\/em>. <\/p>\n\n

\"Berlin<\/figure>\n\n

Sights:<\/strong> Brandenburg Gate, Holocaust Memorial, Berlin Wall, Fotografiska, Checkpoint Charlie, and the Berlin Wall. <\/p>\n\n

2. From Berlin to Warsaw<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n

Travel time from Berlin: approx. 5 hours<\/em><\/p>\n\n

After two days in Berlin, on to Warsaw. A quiet, charming city with a regal air. The city has a pleasant and friendly atmosphere. They don\u2019t use the euro here\u2014it\u2019s the Polish zloty. Fortunately, you can use your debit card just about everywhere. <\/p>\n\n

Accommodation tip: Motel One Warsaw-Chopin<\/strong>. Dining tip: The Botanist<\/em> restaurant (vegetarian). <\/p>\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n

Highlights:<\/strong> Royal Palace, Lazienki Park, Old Town. <\/p>\n\n

3. By Train to Krakow<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n

The trip from Warsaw to Krakow takes 2.5 hours<\/em><\/p>\n\n

Krakow is a charming city full of culture and history. It has lovely squares and streets. You can walk to Wawel Castle (on a hill). It has a beautiful cathedral, a castle, and fantastic views. You can also book a tour from Krak\u00f3w to Auschwitz (by bus with a tour guide). <\/p>\n\n

Accommodation tip<\/strong>: Vinci Apartment, located near the main square. Dining tip: La Grande Mamma<\/em>. <\/p>\n\n

Things to Do:<\/strong> Visit Wawel Castle, book a tour to Auschwitz. <\/p>\n\n

\n
\"Budapest<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Budapest<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n

4. From Krakow to Budapest<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n

Travel time from Krakow: 8.5 hours ( <\/em>be sure to bring plenty of snacks)<\/p>\n\n

On to Budapest. This trip takes a little longer. Be sure to bring plenty of provisions. There are plenty of shops at the Krakow train station where you can pick up some food. They don\u2019t use the euro in Budapest either. But it\u2019s a beautiful city. You\u2019ll cross the Danube River and find yourself in a lovely wooded area (Gell\u00e9rt Hill). It offers a stunning view of Budapest. Other highlights worth visiting include the Great Synagogue, the Fisherman\u2019s Bastion, the Buda Castle, the Old Jewish Quarter, and the bathhouses. You can easily spend a week here. <\/p>\n\n

The shoes lined up along the edge of the quay are a striking sight, commemorating the Jews who were executed in the city. <\/p>\n\n

Note: To continue my journey, I had to go to a different station than the one I had arrived at. Please pay close attention to this. <\/p>\n\n

Accommodation<\/strong> Tip: Paulay Downtown Apartments <\/p>\n\n

Breakfast<\/strong>: Blueberry Brunch<\/p>\n\n

Discover:<\/strong> the Chain Bridge, Gell\u00e9rt Hill, the Fisherman’s Bastion, the synagogue, the bathhouses, and the shoes on the Danube embankment. <\/p>\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n

5. By train to Zagreb, Croatia <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n

The trip from Budapest to Zagreb takes about 6 hours<\/em><\/p>\n\n

This compact capital city is ideal for a more leisurely pace. It\u2019s smaller than Budapest but just as pleasant if you\u2019ve been traveling for a while. Be sure to visit the National Theater, the Ilica Funicular (the world\u2019s shortest funicular), Zagreb Cathedral, Dolac Market, and St. Mark\u2019s Church. The city isn\u2019t very big, so you can easily book a hotel that\u2019s a little further from the center. <\/p>\n\n

The “Botanical Garden” is really nice: for a \u20ac2 admission fee, you can spend a whole day here enjoying a beautiful piece of nature with many different plants, trees, and flowers. <\/p>\n\n

Accommodation tip: Stay outside the city center for a more affordable stay. <\/p>\n\n

Breakfast\/lunch at Melt<\/em>. <\/p>\n\n

Must-sees:<\/strong> Botanical Garden, Zagreb Cathedral, Dolac Market. <\/p>\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n

6. From Zagreb to Ljubljana by train<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n

It takes less than 2.5 hours to get from Zagreb to Ljubljana<\/em><\/p>\n\n

A short train ride (2h 20m) takes you to this surprisingly charming capital of Slovenia. The journey itself is beautiful, by the way. You\u2019ll pass by stunning lakes and breathtaking natural scenery. Ljubljana is also a lot of fun; you can explore the entire city on foot. It\u2019s full of beautiful buildings and squares. Highlights of the city include the Dragon Bridge and Ljubljanski grad, a medieval castle on Castle Hill. You can climb one of its towers for a great view and visit a few museums there. <\/p>\n\n

I also took a guided bus tour from Ljubljana to Lake Bled. My guide told me a lot about Slovenia and its history. It was very interesting and definitely worth doing. We took a small boat to a little island in the middle of the lake. It\u2019s a beautiful Nature reserve and makes you curious about the rest of the country. <\/p>\n\n

Restaurant recommendation: Parenzana Ljubljana. I really enjoyed sitting outside here. A very nice man helped me with the menu and the drink list. By the way, they brew their own beer here! <\/p>\n\n

Accommodation<\/strong> Tip: Penzion Pod Lipo <\/strong> <\/p>\n\n

Dining tip<\/strong>: Stazione Parenzana Ljubljana<\/em>. <\/p>\n\n

Highlights:<\/strong> Dragon Bridge, Ljubljana Castle, day trip to Lake Bled. <\/p>\n\n

\n
\"Vienna<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n

7. From Ljubljana to Vienna<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n

The trip from Ljubljana to Vienna takes about 6 hours<\/em><\/p>\n\n

The last stop on my trip. I stayed close to the station, which was convenient for the return trip. I was able to leave my luggage at the hotel all day. The city is quite large and has a lot to offer. Public transportation works very well here. I had a delicious lunch at Caf\u00e9 Meierei Volksgarten, right in the middle of a park. Near this park, you\u2019ll also find the Kunsthistorisches Museum. Be sure to check out the Hundertwasserhaus, Belvedere Palace (which houses Gustav Klimt\u2019s *The Kiss*, among other works), the State Opera, and St. Stephen\u2019s Cathedral. <\/p>\n\n

Tips:<\/strong> Museum of Art History, Belvedere Palace, St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Hundertwasser House, State Opera. <\/p>\n\n

Outdoor seating<\/strong>: Caf\u00e9-Meierei Volksgarten<\/em>. <\/p>\n\n

I traveled back to the Netherlands from Vienna. City trips by train are definitely worth considering. In just three weeks, I visited seven beautiful European cities at a great price. Of course, you can also choose to go away for much longer and plan your own itinerary. Click here for all our train travel tips<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n

\n

What is Interrail, and how does it work?<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Interrail is a pass that lets you travel flexibly by train throughout (almost) all of Europe. For this trip, Merel purchased a 10-day pass valid for 2 months. You can choose from various options, such as: <\/p>\n\n\n\n