This 2 week European itinerary from Berlin to Vienna gives you a mixture of both city & nature – the best of both worlds and an unforgettable and unique trip! 2 weeks can be a tight fit for exploring Europe, but sometimes 2 weeks is all we have!
When I visit Europe, I like to see the major cities and everything they have to offer, but I also love to get out of the cities and explore some of the smaller European towns to see what nature has in store for me. Keep reading for an awesome 2 week itinerary through Europe!
Stop 1: Berlin, Germany
Berlin is an amazing city to kick your journey off in. Because Berlin is very flat, it’s a great place to take a bike tour in, and with a ton of history behind the city, you’ll never be bored. Berlin is one of my all time favourite cities to visit in Europe – I’ve been twice and I can’t wait to get back! Find your Berlin Bucketlist here.
Minimum time recommended for Berlin: 3 days
Stop 2: Dresden, Germany
Dresden is another German history hotspot, but is frequented a bit less by tourists. This city is around 2 hours and 45 minutes by bus to get to from Berlin, and has some incredible architecture and is just overall beautiful. Dresden is well worth a stop on your trip from Berlin to Vienna!
Find out the 12 Best Things to see in Dresden, Germany Here
Minimum time recommended for Dresden: 1.5 days
Time from Berlin to Dresden by bus: ~2.5 hours
Bus booking site I used: Student Agency
Stop 3: Kurort Rathen & the Bastei Bridge (Germany)
Kurort Rathen is a charming little town in Saxony Switzerland, Germany, and was one of my favourite stops on the trip. It is so cute and lovely, and is also the starting point for an amazing hike – the Bastei Bridge. There are stunning and unique mountain landscapes surrounding the town, and as you hike up you’ll find a bridge nestled within this incredible landscape for an almost unbelievable view. It is the reason I planned my trip with this route – it was a view I could not miss!
Minimum time recommended for Kurort Rathen: 2 days
Time from Dresden to Kurort Rathen: ~ 30 minutes by train, plus a 2 minute ferry to cross the river upon arrival
Train booking site for Germany (can use it for Prague & Vienna routes too): Bahn.com
Stop 4: Mezni Louka & Pravčická brána (Czechia)
Another beautiful place to stop at for an incredible hike to a natural bridge formation nestled in the forest is Mezni Louka and the Pravčická brána bridge. To get here, you have to take the train to a small town called Schöna, take a mini ferry across the river to another small town named Hrensko, and then catch a shuttle bus to take you up to the last little village of Mezni Louka. This is the starting place for the hike.
I loved the opportunity to escape the cities and spend some time in nature, enjoying the natural beauty that these countries have to offer and few actually take the journey to see. If you are visiting though, make sure you have enough cash before leaving the bigger cities, as ATMs are few and far between in these little towns!
Read more: Hiking to the Pravčická brána Archway
Minimum time recommended for Mezni Louka: 2 days
Time from Kurort Rathen to Schöna: ~25 minutes by train, a 2 minute ferry, and around a 15 minute shuttle ride up to Mezni Louka
Stop 5: Prague, Czechia
Prague – an underrated gem of Europe. I seriously love Prague so much. It is beautiful, affordable, and just all-around amazing. Like Berlin, I cannot wait to return to Prague! Make sure to check out the incredible rooftop views around the city, walk along the Vltava river, check out the Prague Zoo (it has a chair lift to get to some of the exhibits!), and visit Charles Bridge at sunrise or sunset. It’s incredible!
Minimum time recommended for Prague: 2 days at least
Time from Schöna to Prague: ~ 2.5 hours by train
Stop 6: Vienna, Austria
And finally the last stop of the journey – Vienna. Vienna has SO MUCH to offer. 3 days is the minimum recommended amount of time to spend, but you could spend so much more time here (but you could spend more time in all of the places mentioned in this itinerary!).
While in Vienna, don’t miss Schönbrunn Palace (even if you just visit the gardens – which are free!!), Hundertwasser House, the Riesenrad, and the ice cream at Zanoni & Zanoni (yum!!).
Read more: 15 Things to do in Vienna on Your First Visit
Minimum time recommended for Vienna: 2.5 days
I didn’t include travel days, because the travel time is typically pretty short between each stop. I factored in a half day for Dresden and Vienna, because there are longer travel times between these two locations, and so the half day accounts for time!
Time from Prague to Vienna: ~ 4 to 5 hours by train
If you have more time to spend and are looking to lengthen your trip, check out Hallstatt, Salzburg, or Innsbruck in Vienna, or continue on to Budapest, Zagreb, or Lake Bled!
If you have more time and want to loop back to Berlin, continue on to the Western side of Germany (Neuschwanstein Castle, Munich, Nuremburg, and Leipzig!)
Hopefully, this 2 week European itinerary from Berlin to Vienna was helpful in planning your trip or inspired you for future travels! If you have any questions, send me a message on Instagram!
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Read More:
- Bratislava Photo Diary
- How to Spend 2 Days in Budapest
- Costs to Consider in Your Travel Budget
- Hiking to the Pravčická brána Archway
- Berlin Bucket List: 20 of the Best Things to do in Berlin
Hey! I’m Kat. Based in Alberta, Canada I love to travel to the Rockies and explore new places around the world. Follow along on my adventures and find inspiration and tips for your own travels.
