London to Budapest by Train (Winter)

Hello and welcome, train travellers! Our journey begins in the buzzing city of London. Exchange hellos with your crew before we head out to a local pub for a traditional British dinner. Cheers to our new adventure! (D) Stay: Royal National Hotel (or similar)

Morning! London is all yours today. First, we'll head out for a tour of the city on foot. Then, London is yours to explore. How about posing with your fave celebs at the Madame Tussauds wax museum? Or seeing the Big Ben IRL? Or even checking out the skyline from the London Eye? There's no getting bored here.

This evening, you have the chance to join an East End food walking tour. Expect lip-smacking samples of the best international cuisine out there. What a night... (B)

Ta-ra, Thames. Time to hop on the Eurostar to Paris – after our buffet breakfast of course! An iconic train journey later, and we're in Paris. With no time to waste, you'll visit a Perfumery, where you'll take a look around and even have the chance to craft a signature scent of your own. We'll then get acquainted with the city's 'ooh la la' worthy sites with a free afternoon to see the icons and maybe check out some of Paris's coolest neighbourhoods, think, Montmartre or Le Marais! (B) Stay: Ibis Styles Gare de l'Est Château Landon (or similar)

Cuisine and cabaret day. We'll start this morning with an optional patisserie walking tour, winding our way around the cutest cafes in Paris, sampling dreamy pastries as we go.

Afterwards, you've got all day to explore (and check out everything you missed yesterday). Tonight, it's off to a Parisian Cabaret Show, with a 3-course dinner and champagne to really switch on the sophistication. (B)

Another day, another incredible European city... Dam That's Preddy. Welcome to Amsterdam! This evening, we'll head to a local pancake house to try a soft and savoury Dutch delicacy. Then? You've got some free time. The night is still young. And the inky canals are just waiting to be explored! (B/D) Stay: Holiday Inn Express Amsterdam North Riverside (or similar)

Rise and shine! First up, we'll take to the canals for a truly unique boat tour. We'll see Amsterdam through the eyes of refugees – hearing their stories as we gawk at the splendid views, you're guaranteed to step off the boat with a whole new perspective on life. The rest of the day is all about exploration – from Rijksmuseum to the Heineken Factory.

This evening, opt to get an exclusive entry pass to the A'Dam Tower and Swing, skipping the queues to enjoy epic views over the sprawling city below. Afterwards the night is yours to explore this vibrant city and experience its legendary nightlife. (B)

You've been a blast, Amsterdam, but today we're making tracks for our next adventure. Hello Berlin! After an included dinner underneath the famous TV Tower, the evening is yours to explore the city's world-famous nightlife. The buzzing scene here is a joyous tribute to German reunification, and since the fall of the Berlin Wall the city has staked its claim as the techno capital of the world. (B/D) Stay: B&B Berlin City Ost (or similar)

2 walking tours today. This morning, take a historical walking tour, including a visit to the site of Hitler's bunker. This evening, you'll have the chance to explore Berlin's oh-so-historical (and oh-so-hipster) Kreuzberg district and finish off with dinner. (B)

Berlin you've been a blast, but we're making tracks for new adventures today, jumping on the train to Prague. Arriving in Prague, we'll explore the cobblestones, cathedrals and castles on a walking tour, before refuelling with a traditional Czech dinner. Believe us when we say that the beer here is the best in Europe. (B/D) Stay: Ibis Praha Old Town (or similar)

Time to explore more of Prague - catch the tram to one of Prague's outer neighbourhoods like hipster Vršovice, boasting art nouveau buildings, offbeat coffee haunts and streets lined with communal pianos. Prague is a paradise for beer lovers too, so don't forget to check out some of the city's coolest bars (of which there are many to choose from!). Or better yet, join a food tour where you'll be shown some of the very best spots to eat. (B)

We're jumping on another train today and making our way to Austria. Ah Vienna! We'll kick things off in this grand capital with a walking tour and explore the opulent classical architecture and wide streets. Evenings can be spent like a local, watching the sun set over the Donaukanal at a gorgeous beach bar or a classic Viennese coffee house. (B) Stay: A&O Vienna Hauptbahnhof (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 before ending the day (if you choose) at Habibi & Hawara for a wholesome Make Travel Matter® dinner. (B)

Today we're making our way to Hungary! Another scenic train ride will take us into the grandeur of Budapest. Tonight, something a bit different, as we have the option to escape the masses and cook dinner with the locals. This immersive, fully interactive experience will bring us closer than ever before to Hungary's rich history and culinary culture. (B) Stay: Ibis Budapest City South Hotel (or similar)

This morning choose to learn about the past & present of Hungarian history and culture culminating at Budapest's most famous thermal baths - Széchenyi - enjoying the most traditional spa experience in the world. The water here is supplied by 2 thermal springs to make up the largest medicinal baths in Europe.

Tonight we'll enjoy the best way to experience the city's flamboyant architecture, as we take a dreamy night time cruise down the Danube, getting to see all of Budapest's historical buildings from the water as we enjoy a drink. (B)

Today we say farewell to our Contiki family and our European adventure, but we'll stay in touch, and we'll no doubt be back soon enough. (B)