Foodie Cities of Central Europe

Itinerary

3 Nights – Budapest
2 Nights – Vienna
3 Nights – Prague

✈ UK – Budapest (3 Nights): Your first stop is Budapest.  A charming, romantic city with a food and drink scene that mixes old Hungarian favourites with new, modern styles. You’ll find lots of small, family-run cafes serving traditional dishes such as chicken stew and beef goulash with dumplings. At the same time, there are plenty of newer places offering fresh takes on Mediterranean and Middle Eastern flavours. The city’s Great Market Hall is packed with local goodies including the popular chimney cakes –  a sweet, crispy, spiral-shaped cake. Budapest is also famous for its ‘ruin bars’. These quirky, casual bars are set up in old, empty buildings filled with mismatched furniture and cool art. They’ve become very popular in recent years and are a great place to relax and enjoy the fun atmosphere. Hungarian wine is also a hidden gem. Head to a wine bar in the Jewish Quarter to sample a crisp Tokaji, a full-bodied Bikavér (‘Bull’s Blood’) from Eger, or a dry white from the volcanic hills of Somló. Of course, the food and drink is made even more special by the city’s stunning backdrops. On the historic Buda side, take in the views of the mighty Danube, the Buda Castle, or the fairy-tale Fisherman’s Bastion. Across the river in Pest, the younger, lively part of the city, you’ll find key sights such as the grand Parliament building, City Park’s Vajdahunyad Castle, or the museums around Heroes’ Square.

🚂 Budapest – Vienna (2 Nights): On your final day in Budapest, you’ll take the train to Vienna where you’ll stay for the next two nights in this delightful Austrian city. In Vienna, Kaffee und Kuchen (coffee and cake) is an institution.  And so stopping for a hit of caffeine and a slice of Sachertorte (a rich chocolate cake) or Apfelstrudel is an absolute must-do experience.  The city is also known for its excellent wines from nearby regions including the Wachau Valley, especially Grüner Veltliner and Riesling, which go perfectly with traditional dishes such as Wiener Schnitzel and Tafelspitz. Vienna has a wonderful musical heritage, once home to Mozart, Beethoven, Strauss, and Brahms, and today opera and theatre are central to its culture. The city is compact and easy to explore, and so after you’ve eaten your body weight in cake, make sure you head out on foot to explore the main sights including St Stephen’s Cathedral, Schönbrunn Palace, and Hofburg Palace.

🚂 Vienna – Prague (3 Nights): Your final stop on this multi-city break is Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic which is now one of Central Europe’s most exciting foodie cities. Whilst once famous for cheap beer and hearty comfort dishes, Prague’s culinary scene is evolving fast. A new generation of chefs have reinvented Czech classics using fresh, local ingredients and creative techniques.  Explore food hubs such as Holešovice and Letná with their minimalist cafés and bistros plus farmers’ markets and pop-ups featuring wild game and fermented vegetables. Karlín is also growing as a hotspot where fine dining restaurants blend Czech and international flavours. While Nové Město (New Town) and Staré Město (Old Town), once known for tourist traps, now offer a mix of cafés and more elegant places to eat.  Don’t miss trying koláče (soft pastries filled with fruit, poppy seeds, or sweet cheese)  perfect with a coffee at one of the famous cafés such as the grand Café Louvre or the Café Montmartre.

Beyond the food, Prague is full of stunning architecture and must-see sights.  Head to the 15th Century Charles Bridge, the Astronomical Clock on the Old Town Hall, and visit the iconic Prague Castle that dominates the skyline. For something a bit different, visit the John Lennon Wall in Lesser Town, covered in vibrant graffiti and messages of peace inspired by the late musician who became a symbol of hope for many here.

✈ Prague – UK: On the final day of your holiday, you will be picked up from your hotel and taken back to the airport for your flight home to the UK.