South East

Start your day with a delicious breakfast at Steamhouse Café before setting off for one of the many interesting museums scattered across the city. For example, how about the Ludwig Museum with its contemporary art, the Millenium Underground Museum, which tells the story of the Budapest Metro, the Museum of Applied Arts, which is worth a visit for its architecture alone, or the Pinball Museum, where you can also play a game of pinball? If you get thirsty along the way, look out for fire hydrants that have had drinking fountains added to them as part of the Ivócsap Project. If that is not enough art and culture for you, why not visit the Mai Manó Ház Gallery, which frequently hosts photography exhibitions, or see some contemporary Hungarian art at Várfok Galléria. If you are interested in architecture you can take a Bauhaus in Budapest or »Forgotten Pearls of Architecture« tour. If you still have enough space in your suitcase, why not take a look at Paloma, Mono Art & Design, Magma or Printa and discover the latest in Hungarian design. Enjoy dinner at the vegetarian restaurant Macska, at Fecske Presszóo, a favourite among students, or at Karavan Streetfood Market, before catching a concert on a decommissioned ship or discovering one of the ruin bars (Szimpla Kert, Pagony Kert). Or watch a film at Átrium Filmszínház and enjoy the accompanying Bauhaus flair.

There is a train every hour from Budapest-Keleti station to the next stop on your journey: Bratislava (fastest travel time: 2 hours, 27 minutes)!

The Slovakian capital has a lot to offer, so don’t waste any time and dive straight into its culture! For example, you could start with a visit to Gáleria Nedbalka or the Central European House of Photography. Two other museums that are well worth a visit are located just outside Bratislava: the Danubiana Meulensteen Art Museum in Čunovo, which focusses on modern art, and Zoya Museum in Modra, which houses, among other things, an Andy Warhol collection. Back in Bratislava, don’t miss Multium Gallery. Medium Gallery is also certainly worth a visit– you can also find pieces by students from the Academy of Fine Arts and Design here. If you’re interested in design, you’ll find what you are looking for at Slovak Design Centre and unique Slovak designed souvenirs can be bought at Place Store or Slávica. Once you’ve taken all this in, spend some quiet time at  ARCHbooks at the Slovakian Technical University’s Faculty of Architecture building or at Café Berlinka. For dinner, choose between Bistro Kubista, the restaurant Parlament with its view over the city, or Kontajner Riviéra, which is made of converted shipping containers. After that head to Kollarko or Blind Big for a Slovakian beer, an event at A4 or to enjoy true cinema at Kino Lumière.

Use the direct connections that leave once or twice an hour for the next leg of your journey to Vienna (fastest travel time: 1 hour).

Treat yourself to regional and seasonal specialities for breakfast at Landkind before exploring the third European capital on your tour. An absolute must for all visitors to Vienna: a trip to the Hundertwasser House. After that why not head for the MAK museum for applied arts, admire the photography and cameras exhibited at WestLicht or marvel at the advertising signs saved by the Stadtschrift association on various building walls. Have you always wanted to get an insight into the everyday world of deaf people? Then make your way to the fascinating exhibition Hands Up! Fans of street art can also find what they are looking for in Vienna – this Street Art Guide will help you in your search. If you are interested in architecture or urban development, join one of the tours offered by space and place and explore the Smart City or check out the ugly side of Vienna. The Architekturzentrum Wien (Architecture Center Vienna) is definitely worth a visit; and don’t forget to enjoy coffee and cake under the Turkish ceiling tiles at the centre’s own Café Corbaci. Climb up inside Flak Tower for a view over the city – or you climb up the façade to get to the top! And be sure to take a look at the University of Music and Performing Arts programme for its regular student concerts, which are free for the public. There is even more art and culture in the evenings after dinner at WerkzeugH or Neni, at  WUK Cultural Centre. If you prefer something more relaxing, head for Strandbar Herrmann or Tel Aviv Beach.

There is a direct train every one or two hours from Vienna main station to the next stop on your journey: Nuremberg (travel time: 4 hours, 12 minutes).

Set yourself up for the day with a tasty breakfast at Café Mainheim. And for a taste of medieval flair, head over to Handwerkerhof Nuremberg or Weissgerbergasse, where you can admire historic half-timbered houses nestled between small shops. While you’re there, enjoy some ice cream at Die kleine Eismanufaktur. Discover more relics of medieval times on a guided tour of the historical rock-cut cellars. Inform yourself on a different aspect of history at the Documentation Center Nazi Party Rally Grounds, the Memorium Nuremberg Trials exhibit or at the WW II Art Bunker, where the art treasures from Nuremberg were deposited during the Second World War. If you’re more interested in art, you’ll find what you’re looking for at Neues Museum, the Albrecht-Dürer House, Kunsthalle Nürnberg or Kunstvilla, and the Museum for Communication is also well worth a visit. Following that, go on a tour of discovery through the creative and artistic district of Gostenhof and enjoy a cup of coffee at Machhörndl while you’re there. Or you might want to check out St. John‘s Cemetery, which was selected in 2013 as the most beautiful cemetery in Germany. Be sure to visit the grave of Alfred Dürer and then take a break at Hesperidengarten coffee shop. Take a 50-minute train out of Nuremberg to see the Glass Cathedral in Amberg, which is the last work of Walter Gropius, founder of the Bauhaus movement. If you have another day, then take a trip to Amberg! Once back in Nuremberg, you just have to try a few Nuremberg Rostbratwurst sausages; vegans and vegetarians will probably prefer to go to Mischbar or The Green. In summer, sip a cocktail on the sandy beach on the island of Schütt or attend a concert at the ruin of St. Catherine’s church.

The train from Nuremberg to Weimar runs every hour (fastest travel time: 1 hour and 31 minutes). You have now reached the end of your journey – and are about to start experiencing the next exciting highlights!