Eastern Europe Train & Rail Journeys Tours & Trip Packages

Eastern Europe Train & Rail Journeys Tours & Trips

424 Eastern Europe trips. Tours from 139 tour companies. 798 reviews. 4.7/5 avg rating.

25 trips exactly matchall of the the filters you selected.
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Train & Rail Journeys
Budapest to Istanbul
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5/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Small Group Tour
Why we love them
They’ve partnered with well-known names like National Geographic and the Jane Goodall Institute to offer unique experiences unavailable elsewhere.
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Bucharest, Budapest, Istanbul, Romania, Sofia

Highlights

  • Discover the rich and varied culture of eastern europe
  • Visit 'dracula's castle' and charming slavic villages
  • Explore the spectacular cities of budapest and istanbul

Themes

Cultural, Education / Learning, Train & Rail Journeys, Transformative

What travelers are saying

"We spent two wonderful weeks touring several of the best destinations in Portugal & Spain with a group of 16 people. Our guide (Fredy) was from Spain and intimately familiar with the region, including its rich history, attractions, and food/beverages. The tour was well-paced using a combinations of private vehicles (small buses and cabs), trains, and an airplane ride as well as a fair amount of walking to get around these two beautiful countries. We extended our stay in Lisbon to see more attractions and took a side trip to Fatima, Obidos, and Nazare that was also excellent. Would have liked to have a bit more time in a couple of the cities, but we'll just have to plan another trip!"

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Budapest to Sofia Adventure
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4.8/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Small Group Tour
Why we love them
They’ve partnered with well-known names like National Geographic and the Jane Goodall Institute to offer unique experiences unavailable elsewhere.
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Bath, Brasov, Bucharest, Budapest, Romania, Sofia

Highlights

  • Discover the rich and varied culture of eastern europe
  • Visit dracula's castle and charming slavic villages
  • Explore the spectacular cities of budapest and sofia

Themes

Cultural, Train & Rail Journeys

What travelers are saying

"We spent two wonderful weeks touring several of the best destinations in Portugal & Spain with a group of 16 people. Our guide (Fredy) was from Spain and intimately familiar with the region, including its rich history, attractions, and food/beverages. The tour was well-paced using a combinations of private vehicles (small buses and cabs), trains, and an airplane ride as well as a fair amount of walking to get around these two beautiful countries. We extended our stay in Lisbon to see more attractions and took a side trip to Fatima, Obidos, and Nazare that was also excellent. Would have liked to have a bit more time in a couple of the cities, but we'll just have to plan another trip!"

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Imperial Cities: Berlin, Prague, Budapest, Vienna and Nuremberg by First Class Rail
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4.8/5 Excellent
24 reviews
Self-Guided / Independent Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Visits

Berlin, Budapest, Nuremberg, Prague, Vienna

Highlights

  • Enjoy traveling in First Class Rail
  • Explore Berlin,a fascinating city steeped in European history
  • Experience two full days in Prague
  • Explore ahistoric city, Budapest. See the Budapest parliament or head for the castle district
  • Explore Vienna

Themes

Cultural, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Train & Rail Journeys

What travelers are saying

"My husband and I recently booked a holiday via Planet Rail and what a good call that turned out to be. We gave Guy and the team little time to arrange the holiday as it was a fairly last minute decision by us to travel. Planet Rail found the right balance between being very helpful and friendly but also remaining professional. The customer service offered is personal and you definitely feel that it’s important to Planet Rail that they get your holiday right - and for us they most certainly did. Our holiday exceeded our expectations, and I don’t mind admitting that I am not always easy to please. The travel arrangements went without a hitch; the hotels we stayed in were spot on. Locations - breathtakingly beautiful - attention to detail was second to none. It can sometimes be unwise to recommend something as one persons delight is another’s displeasure - but in this instance I fail to see how anyone would not be impressed by the service offered by Planet Rail - I would book with them again in a heartbeat."

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Trans-Siberian Rail Journey
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3.5/5 Great
30 reviews
Group Tour
Lodging level
Luxury - 5 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Moscow

Highlights

  • Discover the evocative choral music and unique culture of Buryat’s Old Believers.
  • Trace the shores of Lake Baikal, and stop for tea in a family home.
  • Attend musical performances, including a concert at the Decembrist House Museum in Irkutsk.
  • In Moscow, take an in-depth tour of the Kremlin, and meet a Russian cosmonaut.

Themes

50 plus, Education / Learning, Train & Rail Journeys

What travelers are saying

"We booked a National Geographic expedition Holland and Belgium by River. The promotional literature promised a 14-day deposit refund window. The “invoice” was marked “non-refundable” deposit. We completed the National Geographic Traveler Information. About 8 days later we received the “Travel Agreement” to be signed. We both approved and signed the National Geographic documents. A Cruise Line Travel agreement was enclosed but had no signature line. This document contained language which was unacceptable. We submitted the signed NatGeo documents. The following day we canceled the trip due to the unacceptable Cruise Line language. Cancellation was made 12 days after booking and no deposit was returned. We were told on the phone that the refund deadline was triggered by the 14 day window OR signatures on the Travel Agreement which ever came first. This was NEW information. To date, we have received NO refund of our $1000. We cancelled our trip within the advertised 14 day window."

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Moscow Ulan-Bator and Beijing Trans-Siberian Railway Tour
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4.8/5 Excellent
24 reviews
Private Guided
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Very Easy
Trip pace
Full schedule

Visits

Beijing, Moscow, Ulaanbaatar

Highlights

  • The ultimate train journey that covers 2 continents, 7 time zones and countless views of mountain, lake and steppe scenery.
  • For travelers seeking for luxurious experience, there is option of the outstanding Golden Eagles services of the train.
  • Meet people of different cultures and countries in a train can be the most interesting things ever in a journey.
  • Visit Moscow for the Kremlin, St. Basil's Cathedral, Red Square, extraordinary metro system and Bolshoi Ballet.
  • Visit Irkutsk and Lake Baikal, the oldest, deepest and one of the largest lakes in the world.
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Themes

Climbing & Mountaineering, Culinary & Wine, Cultural, Cycling & Biking, Family Friendly, Local Immersion & Homestays, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Train & Rail Journeys, Transformative, Photography

What travelers are saying

"DO NOT BOOK WITH THIS COMPANY!!!! They SCAMMED ME AND MY FAMILY OUT OF 5,000 US Dollars!!!"

Trip dates & details
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Mongolia’s Naadam Festival and Lake Baikal
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4.8/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Group Tour
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Lake Baikal

Highlights

  • Gain insight into the nomadic life and culture of the Gobi’s dauntless residents when you meet with camel breeders and stay in a traditional canvas and felt ger.
  • Witness thrilling tests of courage and strength at the Naadam Festival as spirited contestants including young boys and girls gather from distant corners of Mongolia to compete in wrestling, archery and horse racing.
  • Follow in the footsteps of the original Indiana Jones as you discover the Flaming Cliffs where adventurer Roy Chapman Andrews discovered the first-known nest of dinosaur eggs.
  • Spend a day exploring the shores of the world’s deepest lake; this historic 50-mile stretch of the original Trans-Siberian Railway traverses 200 bridges along magnificent Lake Baikal.
  • Immerse in the culture, history and daily life of a remote and picturesque island; Olkhon, the largest island in Lake Baikal, is home to just 1,500 residents and is revered as a sacred site by the indigenous Buryat people.

Themes

Cultural, Family Friendly, High Adventure, Local Immersion & Homestays, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Train & Rail Journeys, Festivals & Special Events

What travelers are saying

"Delighted by the experience."

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The Silk Road Aboard the Golden Eagle & Shangri-La Express
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By GeoEx
preferred
5/5 Excellent
19 reviews
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Luxury - 5 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Beijing, Moscow, Samarkand, Terra Cotta Warriors, Xian

Highlights

  • 4,000 miles along the Silk Road between Moscow and Beijing, with Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan
  • Ride camels in the Gobi Desert, marvel at the Terracotta Warriors, and soak up Islamic architecture in Khiva
  • Opt for an abridged 13-day trip aboard the Golden Eagle from Moscow to Almaty (or reverse)

Themes

50 plus, Cultural, Train & Rail Journeys

What travelers are saying

"I have had a couple great travel experiences through GeoEx. My first trip, she helped book my travels to Ireland for my brothers wedding. She did a great job coordinating hotels with other family members and planning my entire trip including events, dinners, transportation, etc."

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Around the World
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4.2/5 Great
55 reviews
Group Tour
Lodging level
Luxury - 5 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Beijing, Canyonlands National Park, Chicago, Denver, Great Wall of China, Guilin, Lake Baikal, Los Angeles, Monument Valley, New York, San Francisco, Shanghai, Venice

Highlights

  • New York, Washington DC and Chicago
  • America's Golden West, Monument Valley and the Grand Canyon
  • Los Angeles and San Francisco
  • Shanghai, Beijing and the Great Wall of China
  • Xian and the Terracotta Warriors
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Themes

50 plus, Around the World, Cultural, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Train & Rail Journeys, Religious

What travelers are saying

"This was their July 22 Cruise “Delights if the Danube” Absolutely awful company, great at taking your bookings and money but it then ends there. We paid a premium rate for what they listed as “Delights of The Danube” river cruise. They changed our ship, so we did not get what we paid for, and no pool as we originally specified. The drinks in the drinks package had very little choice. One draft beer is all that is available, and that is pretty poor as it is, you can’t even buy bottled beers or any other draught beer as that one is your only choice. Wines at meal times are either red, white or Rosa, no choice, just those three.The ship they put us on “boasted” a new wine bar, it didn’t serve any wines or beers at all the entire week, it wasn’t even stocked or manned, but it did have a kettle and tea or coffee !!!. The trips ashore are advertised to deceive you, this is appalling. Some of the trips are over two and a half hours each way on a coach, and the shorter ones are rushed, don’t be fooled by their misleading advertising. The train journeys are an absolute nightmare, even though we booked first class there and back. You have to rush between connecting trains while dragging your luggage with you, and the connecting times are tight, we felt so sorry for those less able who were severely stressed. On part of the journey we were told that 1st class was not available, we were put in filthy overcrowded carriages, with our luggage carriages away, and professional thieves operate on these trains. Some of our fellow passengers, on our cruise, were robbed on the way to the cruise and the way home. Great Rail offered us the paltry sum of £30 compensation for this. Once we got on the cruise we were excited, but that quickly changed, we spent the first two days moored up overlooking an industrial estate, yes an industrial estate, that’s what Great Rail advertise as a “Delight of the Danube”. When we complained and asked why are we on an industrial estate,we were told “because it’s cheaper than mooring up in a city or town”. We complained to the reps on the cruise, as did numerous others, only to be told that they don’t actually work for Great Rail, they are sub contracted free lancers, and that we would have to take it up with Great Rail upon our return. After numerous phone calls and e-mails we have been offered a derisory amount on one of their vouchers, which only benefits Great Rail, why would we want to go back with such an incompetent company? The communication with Great Rail is appalling once they have your money, be warned. Overall I have to say that Great Rail are appalling, amateurs playing in a market they simply don’t understand, their advertising is very misleading, that’s putting it politely!! The tone of their responses are arrogant, they simply ignore many of the points raised, and they honestly don’t seem to care, they are all image and no substance."

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Eastern Europe Reviews & Ratings

4.7/5  Excellent
798  Reviews
See all Eastern Europe tour reviews
Excellent
748
Great
257
Average
25
Disappointing
1
Terrible
3
A

Anonymous

Oct 2018

Provided byExodus Travels

stunning coastline

Excellent leader Alan. Great balance between towns and countryside. Difficult to find anything I would change, perhaps better hotel coffee. not having been before, D...

A

Anonymous

Oct 2018

Provided byExodus Travels

Wonderful trip

What a fab trip. Great weather, wonderful company, and the gorgeous Dalmatian coast. The ride exceeded our expectations, it was a little tougher than we expected, ...

A

Anonymous

Oct 2018

Provided byExodus Travels

Cycling

The brochure tells you about the scenery etc but until you get there whow! It's a trip you must do the scenery ,roads and great guide will bring you to places you...

A

Anonymous

Oct 2018

Provided byExodus Travels

Just brilliant!

We had a wonderful time cycling the Dalmation Coast. The scenery was amazing, the group were all lovely, our tour leader Marijo was fantastic and the food was grea...

A

Anonymous

Oct 2018

Provided byExodus Travels

Amazing scenery & lots of laughs

We have recently returned from our first cycling holiday with Exodus and whilst I don't usually do reviews this time I felt compelled to write to say how impressed...

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Eastern Europe Tour Selection Trips

  • Plan well in advance to obtain any necessary visas or other travel documents for countries that require them.
  • With more than 20 countries to cover, Eastern Europe can be the focus of numerous tours; it may help to separate them into geographic categories.
  • A number of Eastern European countries, including Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria, can be visited via Danube river cruises.
  • The three Baltic nations (Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania) make for a compact but sight-filled tour destination.
  • Consider a Balkans tour of some of the former Yugoslav states: Croatia, Slovenia, Serbia, and Montenegro.
  • The East Central European nations of Hungary and the Czech Republic are both very popular, but don’t overlook neighboring Poland and Slovakia.
  • Russia, the largest nation of Eastern Europe, is a trip unto itself.

Additional details

Who will enjoy traveling in Eastern Europe?

Each Eastern European country has something to offer every traveler regardless of age or mobility level. A traveler looking forward to lots of physical activity can delight in the abundance of natural wonders present in Eastern Europe’s diverse ecosystem. Go hiking through one of the many national parks, do water sports along the southern coast, or explore ancient underground caves.

For a more relaxed visit, take in the traditional squares central to many major cities, and enjoy the unique culinary landscape of each country. The culturally minded can soak in the ancient history of the dozens of churches and cathedrals across the region. No matter your vision, Eastern Europe has something for you.

When is the best time to visit Eastern Europe?

Eastern Europe’s tourism season is from May through September, with July and August being the peak months. For a summer visit that avoids the largest of the crowds, plan to visit in May or June. Travelers may also want to visit in September or October, although the weather will be cooler and the hours of attractions may be limited.

Be sure to check the hours of your top attractions before planning a trip in the off-season. The winter months are, of course, the best for snow sports, but areas outside of mountain ranges tend to shut down for the season so don’t plan your visit for the winter if you won’t be doing winter sports.

Common Eastern Europe Tour Routes

Eastern European tours range from multi-week tours that travel to most of the countries in the region, to shorter tours that focus on just a couple countries. Spend a month traveling all the way from Greece to Amsterdam along an Eastern European route, spend two weeks exploring Croatia and Slovenia, or spend a week just discovering Albania.

Many travelers choose to cruise down the Danube River in order to visit eight Eastern European countries it travels through without straying from one route. Eastern European tours often stick to one region such as the Balkans or the Baltics, so it is helpful to decide which regions you would like to visit while choosing your tour.

Is Eastern Europe Safe?

Eastern Europe is as safe as most developed countries. If you use good judgement while traveling, you won’t likely find yourself in a dangerous situation. Some common sense tips include keeping your valuables close, don’t pay bribes to government officials, stay on established hiking paths, and only ride in taxis with working meters.

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