Sziget Festival Road Trip

Ah, only on Contiki would the festivities of a Hungarian music festival commence in Germany. Settle in to your new digs in Berlin, where we'll be getting acquainted with this eclectic city and our new posse for two nights. We'll shower you in iconic sites, none more interesting than the remains of the Berlin Wall. (D) Stay: Generator Alexanderplatz (or similar)

Get into the mood of exploration with a historical walking tour where you'll discover 20th century Berlin (including Hitler's underground bunker & the Holocaust Memorial) with our local guide. Berlin has so much to offer the hungry traveller, from the obvious icons like Checkpoint Charlie to all the obscurities tucked away in the side streets.

This evening we'll embark on an Alternative Berlin walking tour, taking us to all the city's hipster haunts. (B)

It's time to begin dipping south. Though we could kick it in Berlin for months without getting bored, we have a pretty important schedule ahead of us ... #Sziget A drive from Berlin to Prague would not be complete without stopping in Dresden. Destroyed by World War II, the rebuilt town is now a symbol of resilience, soaked in the rebirthed beauty of an Opera house, the domed Frauenkirche, & the Royal Residence.

By the afternoon we'll be Czech side, heading to the buzzing capital city of Prague. Always down to explore, we'll waste no time getting acquainted with castles, bridges, gothic cathedrals & general prettiness galore. (B/D) Stay: Plus Prague (or similar)

With a full day to loiter, expect an entire photo album of Gothic architecture, market antiques & you cheers-ing beer; not to mention life! Tonight, you could see yourself spending the evening indulging in traditional Czech cuisine while admiring the local folklore dancers as the sun goes down on the 'City of a Hundred Spires'. (B)

Just remember, with every great city we leave behind we get a little bit closer to the dream scene that is Sziget. Leaving fine lands has never felt so good!   Out of Prague, our first stop is the World Heritage-listed Kutná Hora. Make the local Sedlec Ossuary chapel high priority, it's decked out and furnished in the bones of over 40,000 ... humans. True! Two nights in Vienna will see us getting into a slightly different musical mood than Sziget has in store for us. 

As promised, tonight you have the chance to get into the mood of this trip - just with a slightly different melody - by experiencing Vienna's musical legacy with a Mozart and Strauss concert in one of the city's imperial palaces. (B/D) Stay: JO&JOE Vienna (or similar)

Waking up in the stunning capital of Vienna, a city known for its coffee culture and baroque architecture, we'll have plenty of adventures to pursue today. Including one of the world's most historic theme parks: Prater. But first, we have a bit of heritage to tap into with the grandeur palace of Schönbrunn, the uber elegant State Opera House and the gothic masterpiece of St. Stephen's Cathedral. (B)

Alright folks, we've well and truly warmed you up. Now the moment we've all been waiting for - our journey to Budapest.  Kicking things off in Budapest, you have the option to take a relaxing river cruise across the Danube (lunch included! ) and see the city's main sights. From there, we'll head to Sziget for an afternoon & evening of utterly iconic festival vibes. (B) Stay: A&O Budapest (or similar)

Wake up and get stuck into your included breakfast. Fun fact #1: Buda and Pest are two different cities separated by a river, together they make Budapest. Fun fact #2: You're going to be head over heels with both of them by the time we scoot outta here. Today, we'll step back into the Sziget vibes. (B)

They always save the best 'til last! Jump into 5th gear and give the final festival day everything you've got. You can sleep all day tomorrow if your schedule permits. (B)

We've bonded, we've bounced, and we've done Budapest's finest music festival in spectacular fashion. Some might even call us legends. Exchange details and say your teary goodbyes, this 10-day music extravaganza has come to an end. (B)