Welcome to the second phase of my Europe itinerary blog series. I will be covering the next 3-weeks of my European travel plan. For the first 30 days, check out my blog, Ultimate Europe 30-Day Travel Itinerary – Phase 1. In phase 2, I will take you on a tour of my next 5 stops in Europe, in the order I visited them. We begin in Prague and travel through Vienna, Budapest, Rome and Venice. If you’re planning your European trip, I hope you pick up some helpful tips from my experience. This post contains affiliate links. If you click and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
If you need some tips for your European travel plan, visit my blog, European Train Journey: How to Plan Using a Eurail Pass.
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through one of them, at no additional cost to you.
Stop 1 – Prague, Czech Republic – Iconic Architecture, Great Beer and the Prague Castle
Berlin to Prague by train: 4 hours, 7 minutes. My previous stop on my European travel journey before Prague was Berlin, so that you know where we left off on my last European adventure blog. The Prague train station is an architectural masterpiece that complements the city’s Gothic architecture. You’ll enjoy the 30-minute walk or so to the city center, where you can admire the architecture along the way.
After years of dreaming, I finally arrived in Prague. If there was one European city at the top of my bucket list, it would be Prague. I was most excited to see the Gothic architecture I had fantasized about, and of course, the beer! Every man’s dream—well, at least mine! And Prague lived up to the hype and more! While in Prague, I stayed at Hostel Downtown, which was conveniently located and easy to walk to anywhere in the historic district. Perhaps my favourite perk of staying at Hostel Downtown was the tour desk. I booked three tours at the tour desk, which were instrumental in creating an incredible experience in Prague.
Why do I prefer staying in hostels when I travel? Read my blog, Hostels for Solo Travel at 49
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Walk the historic district and the Jewish Quarter
I always recommend taking a city walking tour when arriving in a new city, and Prague was no exception. This was one of the three tours I booked through my hostel that took me through the historic district. We stopped at the iconic clock (this is an Instagram moment) and explored the old town square and the surrounding area. Afterwards, we visited the Jewish Quarter, which is another architectural masterpiece. At the end of the tour, the guide gave me a referral for an authentic Czech restaurant off the beaten path, which turned out to be an incredible experience.
An Off-The-Beaten-Path Prague Beer Tour
If you follow my blog, you’ve likely noticed that I love authentic beer experiences. The Czech Republic invented the Pilsner beer, and nobody does it better than them. You know I wasn’t going to miss this opportunity. I booked a beer tour through my hostel, which turned out to be one of my best experiences in Prague.
For this tour, we took the Metro to a local neighbourhood. If you haven’t been on the Prague Metro, their escalators are 87 metres long—no joke. They’re the longest escalators in Europe, and it was an experience. On this tour, we visited an authentic beer bar, a beer garden, and finished at a local restaurant for a traditional Czech meal. The beer bar we visited is called Vinohradsky Pivovar; if you’d like to check it out. We also got to see the ugly Zizkov Television Tower up close, regarded as the second ugliest building in the world.
Don’t Miss Out on The Prague Castle
The Prague Castle is a must-visit when in Prague. In its heyday, it was a thriving city – that’s how impressive it is. The 1,500-year-old castle covers an area of 70,000 square meters, measuring 570 metres in length and 130 metres wide. Prague Castle is the largest ancient castle in the world, so don’t miss out on this piece of history. The UNESCO World Heritage site is way too big for pictures, so don’t think for a second you can capture it with your iPhone. The highlight for me was St. Vitus Cathedral, located inside the castle grounds. There are some excellent lookout points with panoramic views of Prague just outside the castle. I booked this tour through Hostel Downtown, where I was staying in Prague. Next stop on my European travel itinerary, Vienna.
Check out my blog, 8 Iconic Churches You Must Visit Around the World, which features St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague.
Stop 2 – Vienna, Austria – Gothic Architecture, Mozart and Local Markets
Traveling from Prague to Vienna by train takes about 4 hours and 43 minutes. After seven months of exploring the world, I decided Vienna would be a great place to recharge. I stayed in the historic old quarter, Innere Stadt, which is the central tourist hub. I didn’t opt for a hidden-away hostel, but instead chose the Graben Hotel, built in the 1800s. Its central location meant I didn’t have to walk far, as many attractions are nearby.
In the Old Quarter area, I would find iconic churches, Gothic architecture, and the famous Mozart statue. Nothing was planned; I was walking the historic centre, seeing what I could discover. I found two iconic churches: St. Stephen’s Cathedral, with its Gothic architecture, and St. Peter’s Church, another beautiful building. The Old Quarter boasts numerous historic landmarks, museums, palaces, and beautiful parks. There is a wealth of history and culture to explore, and the architecture is truly exceptional.
I spent my final night in a local neighbourhood staying at the Wombat City Hostel Naschmarkt, which was near the train station. Naschmarkt is Vienna’s largest outdoor market, making it the perfect spot for a last night in Vienna. It had everything—from local to international cuisine, clothing, and all the things you would expect at a local market. I enjoyed a great meal, a couple of local beers, and then headed off to Budapest the next morning.
Stop 3 – Budapest, Hungary – Ruin Bars, Liberty Bridge, and Goulash
The train from Vienna to Budapest takes about 2 hours and 30 minutes. I enjoyed walking from the train station to my hostel, Central Market Hall Zen Hostel, which is located at the foot of the iconic Liberty Bridge. The hostel had an Eastern European charm, although walking up to the second-floor hostel felt a bit eerie. The Central Market Hall, located next door, is an authentic Hungarian market offering a variety of local meats, cheeses, wines, and an impressive food court. Naturally, being in Budapest, I chose goulash, and it was amazing.
A Night Out At Szimpla Kertmozi Ruin Bar
I was in town for the Formula 1 weekend, and the city was buzzing, ready for me to party. Budapest is famous for its ruin bars, so it was an easy choice. These bars are located in renovated, run-down buildings that keep their historic charm. I visited Szimpla Kertmozi, which was huge with many rooms, each with its own vibe. The bar felt like I was in an Eastern European gang movie, due to its stripped-down architecture. This made for an epic night out in Budapest and an authentic European travel adventure. .
Free Budapest Walking Tour – Historic Landmarks, Hidden Gems, Dark History
Before leaving Budapest, I took the free walking tour, “The Best of Budapest,” Hungary Unfolded, available on Guru Walk. This tour took us to the Hungarian Parliament, St. Stephen’s Basilica, and other historic and cultural landmarks around the city. We also visited sites that serve as reminders of Hungary’s dark past, including their past support for the German Nazi regime. The next stop on my European travel plan is Rome, Italy.
Budapest breakfast tip: For an incredible breakfast off the beaten path, try Kemenes Cukraszda es Bisztro Vamhaz Korut 9. I had a crepe loaded with fruit and syrup, fresh bread with a mountain of cheese, and an incredible coffee, and it was all very affordable.
Stop 4 Rome, Italy – Pizza, Historic Sights and The Vatican
The flight from Budapest is 1 hour and 45 minutes. I flew to Rome from Budapest because my son was meeting me there for 10 days in Europe. I decided to stay in a private room at a hostel off the beaten path called the Funny Palace Rome. There was a fantastic restaurant just around the corner from the hostel called Ristorante Andrea, which I kept going back to. For $18, I enjoyed four courses and a Limoncello, and the house wine was incredible.
Recommended Rome Guru Walk Free Tours
We did two free walking tours with Guru Walk: The Rise of Rome and Ghosts and Mysteries of Rome. The Rise of Rome guided us through ancient Rome, taking us to historic sites and the stories behind them. Some memorable sites included the Mouth of Truth, the Temple of Hercules, and the Roman Forum. Ghosts and Mysteries of Rome was a fantastic night tour. It took us through haunted locations, discussing murders, executions, and urban legends. The meeting point was Castel Sant’Angelo, a fun and scenic starting point at dusk.
Rome is A Perfect City to Get Lost in
Rome is an incredible city to explore on foot. We combined walking with the Big Bus hop-on, hop-off tour. Some of the iconic sights we visited on our own included the Colosseum, the Spanish Steps, the Trevi Fountain, and the Pantheon. After a hot day of sightseeing, we stopped at The Gelatist Via Del Tritone for some fantastic Italian gelato.
A Day at the Vatican
Being a Catholic, I wasn’t going to visit Rome without seeing the Vatican and St. Peter’s Basilica. We bought our tickets online a couple of days in advance and were ready to go. The Vatican museums, which take you through 5000 years of history, was an incredible experience. Of course, the Sistine Chapel and the artwork along the way are jaw-dropping. I spent another day visiting St. Peter’s Basilica, which was another surreal experience. The sheer size, the gold, the artwork, and the courtyard in front where the pope addresses the crowds all felt surreal. Side note: the Vatican counts as a new country! Our next European travel stop, Venice!
Read my blog highlighting my top 8 churches around the world, which includes my experience at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. 8 Iconic Churches You Must Visit Around the Globe
Stop 5 – Venice, Italy: Wander the City
The train from Rome to Venice takes 3 hours and 30 minutes. Venice was a stop on my 3-week European travel plan with “no plan” other than to walk the city and see what we could find. Discover excellent pizza and wine, and enjoy a unique canal experience. The train station in Venice, situated on the Canal Grande, was conveniently located, with ferries departing every few minutes. They were easy to navigate, especially for us as we were staying at Hotel Rialto right beside the famous Rialto Bridge. It was pretty much the busiest spot in Venice, so we were not off the beaten path. I decided to be “a tourist” to ensure an excellent experience for my son.
Pizza, Wine, People Watching and St. Mark’s Square
We spent most of our time walking through the area, which was crowded with people. We managed to find some great pizza and wine while watching the busy crowds. The pizza in Venice isn’t Italy’s best, but the vibe is fun. Then we found some gelato and kept exploring. We headed over to St. Mark’s Square, the main spot for tourists apart from the Rialto Bridge. In the square, there’s a stunning church called Basilica di San Marco, which was a highlight for me.
Visit the Original Harry’s Bar Where the Bellini Was Invented
One thing I had to do in Venice was visit the original Harry’s Bar, where the Bellini was invented. Let’s say this experience did not disappoint. The Bellinis at Harry’s are pink because of the raspberry purée they use. The Bellini is served with a bowl of olives the size of golf balls, which were by far the best olives I’ve ever had. A Bellini at Harry’s will set you back 22 euros, but the experience is worth it.
Getting Off The Beaten Path in Venice
As busy as Venice is, it is possible to get off the beaten path. We ended our stay in Giudecca, which is a small island. We stayed at a hostel, Generator Venice, and we loved it as the area was very quiet and away from the chaos. There was a great outdoor restaurant on the water, just a short walk from the hostel, offering fantastic food, wine, and beer. The best restaurant we tried in Venice. The area also boasted an old church with character, a local bakery, and great Italian coffee. I was in my element in this peaceful area surrounded by water.
This concludes my three-week European travel plan, part of my 90-day adventure across the continent. This is the second blog in my Europe itinerary series, covering my first 7 weeks in Europe. You can read my Europe itinerary blogs in one place here. In the next blog, I will share my experiences from the next three weeks in Europe, which include visits to Lisbon, the Azores Islands, Madrid, Valencia, and Barcelona—good luck planning your dream European vacation!
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How do I plan on the fly when traveling solo long-term? Read my blog: My Long-Term Solo Travel Planning Methodology
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