56 days in Central Europe Itinerary

You might consider the city of Budapest, divided by the Danube River into two distinctive cities--Buda and Pest--to be essentially one large World Heritage Site.

Head to Central Market Hall and Herend Porcelain - Hadik Shopfor some retail therapy. Step out of the city life by going to City Park Városliget and Danube River. The adventure continues: boost your wellbeing at a local thermal spa, make a trip to Heroes' Square, see the interesting displays at House of Terror Museum, and contemplate the long history of Fisherman's Bastion.

To find maps, reviews, ratings, and other tourist information, refer to the Budapest online trip itinerary builder.

Dunedin, New Zealand to Budapest is an approximately 34-hour flight. You'll gain 11 hours traveling from Dunedin to Budapest due to the time zone difference. In December in Budapest, expect temperatures between 5°C during the day and -1°C at night. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 14th (Sat) early enough to drive to Vienna.

The cultural, economic, and political center of the country, Vienna has developed from its early Celtic and Roman roots into a medieval and Baroque city, with an old town that was designated a World Heritage Site in 2001.

Head to Vienna Naschmarkt and Graben and Kohlmarktfor plenty of shopping. Visiting Hohe Wand Wiese and Kahlenberg will get you outdoors. There's much more to do: explore the historical opulence of Schonbrunn Palace, explore the world behind art at Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien, view the masterpieces at Dorotheum, and stop by Altmann & Kühne.

To find reviews, other places to visit, traveler tips, and other tourist information, refer to the Vienna visit planner.

You can drive from Budapest to Vienna in 2.5 hours. Other options are to fly; or take a train. In December, daily temperatures in Vienna can reach 5°C, while at night they dip to 0°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 20th (Fri) to allow time to drive to Salzburg.

Surrounded by mountain ranges and boasting a well-preserved city center, Salzburg melds culture and history.

Get outdoors at Obertauern Ski Resort and Grossglockner. Do your shopping at Getreidegasse and EUROPARK. Venture out of the city with trips to Sommerrodelbahn Walchsee (in Walchsee), Buchensteinwand Ski Area (in St. Ulrich am Pillersee) and Gollinger Wasserfall (in Golling an der Salzach). There's lots more to do: get engrossed in the history at Fortress Hohensalzburg Castle, take your sightseeing to a higher altitude at Untersberg, view the masterpieces at The Selinger, and shop like a local with Residenzgalerie Salzburg.

To see photos, traveler tips, reviews, and tourist information, read Salzburg online journey maker.

Getting from Vienna to Salzburg by car takes about 3 hours. Other options: take a train; or fly. In December, daytime highs in Salzburg are 6°C, while nighttime lows are -1°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 24th (Tue) to allow time to drive to Munich.

Often described as the city of laptops and lederhosen, Munich is an international center of business, engineering, research, and medicine that still maintains a rich cultural heritage and age-old traditions.

Step out of the city life by going to English Garden and Nature & Wildlife Tours. Head to Viktualienmarkt and Lodenfrey Muenchen am Domfor plenty of shopping. There's lots more to do: don't miss a visit to Marienplatz, get into the urban bustle at MOC Veranstaltungscenter, tour or see a show at Cultural Center (Kulturzentrum Gasteig), and look for gifts at Ingo Maurer Showroom.

Quickly create a custom-made itinerary for Munich using our trip planner.

Traveling by car from Salzburg to Munich takes 1.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a train; or take a bus. Expect a daytime high around 5°C in December, and nighttime lows around -1°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 29th (Sun) so you can drive to Innsbruck.

Nestled in a valley between snowcapped peaks, Innsbruck evokes visions of a winter wonderland.

Step out of the city life by going to Rodelbahn Krinnenalpe and Skischaukel Bergwang. Venture out of the city with trips to Skischule Pertisau (in Pertisau), Hintertuxer Glecier (in Hintertux) and Skigebiet Kappl (in Kappl). There's more to do: get engrossed in the history at The Golden Roof (Goldenes Dachl) and stop by BierWelt.Tirol.

To see traveler tips, more things to do, reviews, and more tourist information, refer to the Innsbruck trip itinerary builder tool.

Traveling by car from Munich to Innsbruck takes 2 hours. Alternatively, you can take a train; or take a bus. In December, daytime highs in Innsbruck are 6°C, while nighttime lows are -3°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 2nd (Thu) to allow enough time to drive to Zurich.

The financial hub of Switzerland, Zurich is most often associated with money and banks.

Head to Bahnhofstrasse and UNESCO-Altstadt von Bernfor some retail therapy. Get in touch with nature at Rigi and Lake Zurich. Explore Zurich's surroundings by going to Santis der Berg (in Urnaesch), Alpschaukaeserei Schwaegalp (in Schwagalp) and Lucerne (Lake Lucerne, Altstadt Luzern, &more). There's still lots to do: take a tour by water with Boat Tours & Water Sports, view the masterpieces at ARTBOX.GALLERY, buy something for everyone on your list at Hauptbahnhof, and pause for some serene contemplation at Grossmunster.

To see other places to visit, maps, ratings, and more tourist information, read Zurich trip app.

Getting from Innsbruck to Zurich by car takes about 3.5 hours. Other options: take a train; or take a bus. Traveling from Innsbruck in January, Zurich is a bit warmer at night with lows of -1°C. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 8th (Wed) so you can go by car to Grindelwald.

As one of the country's oldest ski resorts, Grindewald serves as a prime example of a cozy Swiss ski town.

Visiting Jungfraujoch and Grindelwald-First will get you outdoors. When in Grindelwald, make a side trip to see Central Sport in Wengen, approximately Wengen away. There's still lots to do: take in the dramatic natural features at Aletsch Glacier and take your sightseeing to a higher altitude at Maennlichen.

For ratings, where to stay, and tourist information, use the Grindelwald route planner.

Drive from Zurich to Grindelwald in 2.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a train. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 11th (Sat) early enough to travel to Ljubljana.

Sitting astride the Ljubljanica River, Ljubljana is marked with picturesque bridges and a marketplace, designed by the famous architect Jože Plečnik.

Visiting Nature & Wildlife Tours and Ljubljanica River will get you outdoors. Head to Extreme Angler - Sportni ribic and Galerija Fotografijafor some retail therapy. Get out of town with these interesting Ljubljana side-trips: Planica Nordic Centre & Zipline (in Rateče) and Vintgar Gorge (in Zgornje Gorje). The adventure continues: view the masterpieces at Galerija Hest and get a taste of the local shopping with Ravnikar Gallery Space.

For where to stay, other places to visit, ratings, and tourist information, use the Ljubljana trip itinerary maker website.

You can do a combination of train and flight from Grindelwald to Ljubljana in 7.5 hours. Other options are to drive; or do a combination of train and bus. Expect a daytime high around 5°C in January, and nighttime lows around -3°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 14th (Tue) to allow time to take a shuttle to Prague.

Prague lures millions of tourists each year with its World Heritage-listed medieval city center--a labyrinth of narrow lanes, bridges, cathedrals, and palaces overlooked by a thousand-year-old castle.

Do your shopping at A|X Praha Palladium and DOX Centre for Contemporary Art. The adventure continues: make a trip to Staromestske namesti, view the masterpieces at GOF+FA/Gallery of Functional and Fine Art, take in the architecture and atmosphere at St. Vitus Cathedral, and steep yourself in history at Prague Astronomical Clock.

Planning Prague trip won't be overwheling when you use's Insprock itinerary maker.

You can take a shuttle from Ljubljana to Prague in 6 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of shuttle and flight; or drive. In January, daily temperatures in Prague can reach 2°C, while at night they dip to -3°C. Cap off your sightseeing on the 20th (Mon) early enough to go by car to Berlin.

The country's capital and largest city, Berlin is a diverse urban center boasting a lively nightlife and countless things to do.

Do your shopping at Korsettmanufaktur TO.mTO Berlin and Kurfurstendamm. Go for a jaunt from Berlin to Dresden to see Kulturpalast Dresden about 1h 55 min away. There's still lots to do: wander the streets of Potsdamer Platz, see a show at KulturBrauerei, appreciate the history behind Brandenburg Gate, and explore the world behind art at Pergamonmuseum.

To plan Berlin vacation without wasting time, ask Inspirock to design an itinerary.

Traveling by car from Prague to Berlin takes 3.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a shuttle; or take a bus. Finish your sightseeing early on the 26th (Sun) to allow enough time to travel to Krakow.

One of Poland's oldest cities, Krakow sits at the foot of the Carpathian Mountains, its historical town center nestled on the left bank of the Vistula River.

For shopping fun, head to Sukiennice (Cloth Hall) or Ulica Florianska. And it doesn't end there: get outside with Outdoor Activities, look for gifts at Maria's Hat Shop, visit Stare Miasto, and get to know the fascinating history of Krakow's Rynek Glowny Central Square.

To find maps, traveler tips, where to stay, and tourist information, refer to the Krakow trip planner.

You can fly from Berlin to Krakow in 4.5 hours. Other options are to drive; or take a train. In January, daily temperatures in Krakow can reach 1°C, while at night they dip to -5°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 29th (Wed) to allow time to travel back home.