Big City Circular Tours from Frankfurt — 10 days

Freiburg

Germany

Lucerne

Switzerland

• Chapel Bridge (Kapellbrücke)

  Europe's oldest covered wooden bridge with 17th-century painted panels

• Lion Monument

  Mark Twain called it 'the most mournful and moving piece of stone in the world'

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More about Lucerne

Lucerne is one of Switzerland's most picturesque cities, spectacularly set on the shores of Lake Lucerne (Vierwaldstättersee) with the Alps rising dramatically behind it. Lucerne station — rebuilt in a striking modern design by Santiago Calatrava after a 1971 fire — is a key central Swiss hub with direct trains to Zurich (45 min), Bern (1h), Interlaken (1h50), and connections via the Gotthard route to Ticino and Italy. The Golden Pass and Glacier Express scenic routes are accessible from here.

Florence

Italy

• Uffizi Gallery

  World's greatest collection of Italian Renaissance art including Botticelli and Leonardo

• Florence Cathedral (Duomo)

  Brunelleschi's revolutionary dome with city panoramas from the top

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More about Florence

Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance, is a living museum of art and architecture. Firenze Santa Maria Novella station, designed by Giovanni Michelucci, sits minutes from the Duomo and connects to Rome (1.5 hours by Frecciarossa), Milan, Venice, Bologna, and other Italian cities via the high-speed network.

Rome

Italy

• Colosseum

  Iconic amphitheater and symbol of Imperial Rome

• Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel

  Michelangelo's ceiling and vast papal art collections

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More about Rome

Rome, the Eternal City and capital of Italy, stands as one of Europe's most magnificent rail destinations. Arriving at Roma Termini—Italy's largest and busiest railway station—you step directly into the heart of ancient history, with the Baths of Diocletian just across the square and the Colosseum a short walk away. The city's compact historic center makes it ideal for exploring on foot, while an efficient metro system connects major sites.

Verona

Italy

• Arena di Verona

  Roman amphitheatre hosting world-famous summer opera performances under the stars

• Piazza delle Erbe

  Former Roman forum now a vibrant market square ringed by frescoed palaces

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More about Verona

Verona, immortalised by Shakespeare as the city of Romeo and Juliet, is a breathtakingly beautiful city on the Adige River. Verona Porta Nuova station is a major junction on the Milan–Venice corridor with Frecciarossa services to Milan (1h10), Venice (1h05), Bologna (55 min), Rome (3h30), and Brenner Pass trains connecting to Austria and Germany (Innsbruck 2h30, Munich 4h).

Salzburg

Austria

• Hohensalzburg Fortress

  Imposing hilltop castle with panoramic views, reached by funicular

• Mozart's Birthplace

  Museum in the house where Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born on Getreidegasse

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More about Salzburg

Salzburg, Mozart's birthplace, is a baroque jewel set against a dramatic Alpine backdrop. Salzburg Hauptbahnhof connects to Munich (1.5 hours), Vienna (2.5 hours by Railjet), Innsbruck, and Zürich, making it a natural stop on trans-Alpine rail routes.

Vienna

Austria

• Schönbrunn Palace

  Habsburg imperial summer residence with stunning gardens

• St. Stephen's Cathedral

  Gothic masterpiece in the heart of Vienna

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More about Vienna

Vienna, the imperial capital of Austria, welcomes rail travelers at Wien Hauptbahnhof, a modern architectural landmark that opened in 2014 and serves as the city's central hub for international and domestic trains. From here, you're just a short metro or tram ride from the historic Innere Stadt, where the magnificent St. Stephen's Cathedral and the Hofburg Palace anchor a UNESCO World Heritage-listed old town.

Prague

Czech Republic

• Prague Castle

  Vast hilltop complex with St. Vitus Cathedral and panoramic views over the city

• Charles Bridge

  Iconic 14th-century stone bridge adorned with baroque statues, connecting Old Town and Lesser Town

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More about Prague

Prague, the 'City of a Hundred Spires,' is one of Europe's most enchanting capitals, renowned for stunning Gothic, Baroque, and Art Nouveau architecture. Praha hlavní nádraží, the city's magnificent Art Nouveau main station, serves as a Central European rail hub with direct connections to Vienna (4 hours), Berlin (4.5 hours), Munich (6 hours), Budapest, Warsaw, and Dresden, making it an ideal base for exploring the region by train.

Berlin

Germany

• Brandenburg Gate

  Iconic neoclassical monument and symbol of German reunification

• Museum Island

  UNESCO World Heritage site with five world-class museums including the Pergamon Museum

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More about Berlin

Berlin, Germany's capital, is a city shaped by history and reinvention. Berlin Hauptbahnhof, Europe's largest crossing station, opened in 2006 and serves as a major hub for ICE high-speed trains connecting to Hamburg, Munich, Frankfurt, Cologne, and beyond, as well as international services to Prague, Warsaw, Amsterdam, and Vienna. The station's dramatic glass-and-steel architecture sets the tone for a city that constantly reimagines itself.