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Big City Circular Tours from Frankfurt — 10 days

10 days · From Frankfurt · Round trip

Strasbourg
Strasbourg

Our photograph — Simon Harper

Lucerne
Lucerne

Our photograph — Simon Harper

Innsbruck
Innsbruck

Photo by @anna-rosar

Small dots mark connecting stations. Map lines connect the stops, rather than the exact railway.

Your journey, at a glance

Strasbourg → Lucerne → Innsbruck → Vienna → Budapest → Krakow → Prague → Berlin → Amsterdam → Frankfurt

Save a copy, then choose dates and travellers. Nothing is booked until you decide.

Places along the way

A starting point for your own journey.

Frankfurt

Your starting point

Journey details
Arriving in Frankfurt
Strasbourg

Our own photograph — Simon Harper, co-founder of Conductor Sam

1 day Explore

Strasbourg

France

  • Strasbourg Cathedral

    Magnificent Gothic cathedral with astronomical clock and panoramic platform

  • Petite France

    Picturesque quarter with half-timbered houses, canals, and covered bridges

alsacearchitecturefood

More about Strasbourg

Strasbourg, the capital of Alsace, uniquely blends French and German cultures on the Rhine border. Gare de Strasbourg, behind a stunning glass canopy, is a TGV hub reaching Paris in 1 hour 46 minutes, with connections to Basel, Stuttgart, Frankfurt, and Luxembourg. The city's position makes it a natural crossroads for French and German rail networks.

Find places to stay in StrasbourgOpen accommodation map ↗
Arriving in Strasbourg

Day 2 · Basel

Along the way

Journey details
Arriving in Basel
Lucerne

Our own photograph — Simon Harper, co-founder of Conductor Sam

2 day Explore

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'

lakesidemountainshistoric

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.

Find places to stay in LucerneOpen accommodation map ↗
Arriving in Lucerne

Day 3 · Zürich

Along the way

Journey details
Arriving in Zürich
Innsbruck

Photo by @anna-rosar

3 day Explore

Innsbruck

Austria

  • Nordkette Cable Car

    From city centre to 2,300m Alpine panoramas in 20 minutes

  • Golden Roof (Goldenes Dachl)

    Ornate Gothic balcony in the old town, symbol of Innsbruck

alpsskiingmountains

More about Innsbruck

Innsbruck, the capital of Tyrol, is uniquely situated where city meets mountains—Alpine peaks rise directly from the edge of the medieval old town. Innsbruck Hauptbahnhof is a key junction on the trans-Alpine rail corridor, with Railjet services to Vienna, Salzburg, and Munich, EC trains to Italy via the Brenner Pass, and connections to Zürich and southern Germany.

Find places to stay in InnsbruckOpen accommodation map ↗
Arriving in Innsbruck
Vienna

Photo by @getty-images

4 day Explore

Vienna

Austria

  • Schönbrunn Palace

    Habsburg imperial summer residence with stunning gardens

  • St. Stephen's Cathedral

    Gothic masterpiece in the heart of Vienna

architectureartclassical music

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.

Find places to stay in ViennaOpen accommodation map ↗
Arriving in Vienna
Budapest

Photo by @andreas-m

5 day Explore

Budapest

Hungary

  • Hungarian Parliament

    Stunning neo-Gothic building on the Danube, one of Europe's most photogenic landmarks

  • Széchenyi Thermal Bath

    Europe's largest medicinal bath complex in a magnificent neo-Baroque palace

thermal bathsarchitecturenightlife

More about Budapest

Budapest, Hungary's stunning capital, straddles the Danube with hilly Buda on the west bank and flat, bustling Pest on the east. Budapest Keleti pályaudvar is the main international station, with direct Railjet services to Vienna (2.5 hours), connections to Prague, Berlin, Munich, Zagreb, and night trains to several European cities. Budapest Déli and Nyugati stations serve additional domestic and international routes.

Find places to stay in BudapestOpen accommodation map ↗
Arriving in Budapest

Krakow

Poland

Find places to stay in KrakowOpen accommodation map ↗
Arriving in Krakow
Prague

Photo by @alice

7 day Explore

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

architecturehistoryculture

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.

Find places to stay in PragueOpen accommodation map ↗
Arriving in Prague
Berlin

Our own photograph — Simon Harper, co-founder of Conductor Sam

8 day Explore

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

historyartnightlife

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.

Find places to stay in BerlinOpen accommodation map ↗
Arriving in Berlin
Amsterdam

Our own photograph — Simon Harper, co-founder of Conductor Sam

9 day Explore

Amsterdam

Netherlands

  • Rijksmuseum

    Dutch Golden Age masterpieces including Rembrandt's Night Watch

  • Van Gogh Museum

    World's largest collection of Van Gogh's works

canalsmuseumscycling

More about Amsterdam

Amsterdam, the vibrant capital of the Netherlands, welcomes rail travelers at its stunning Centraal Station—a grand 19th-century architectural masterpiece that serves as the city's gateway. From here, the entire compact city center unfolds within walking distance or a short tram ride. The iconic canal ring (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), world-class museums, and charming neighborhoods are all easily accessible without a car, making Amsterdam one of Europe's most rewarding destinations for train travelers.

Find places to stay in AmsterdamOpen accommodation map ↗
Arriving in Amsterdam

Day 10 · Frankfurt

Journey’s end

Journey details
Arriving in Frankfurt

Tickets for your journey

Choose a section to search. Add your dates and travellers to compare fares, changes and booking conditions.

JourneySamTrainlineOmio
Frankfurt StrasbourgSearch—Search ↗
Strasbourg BaselSearch—Search ↗
Basel LucerneSearch—Search ↗
Lucerne ZürichSearchSearch ↗Search ↗
Zürich InnsbruckSearchSearch ↗Search ↗
Innsbruck ViennaSearch—Search ↗
Vienna BudapestSearch—Search ↗
Prague BerlinSearch—Search ↗
Berlin AmsterdamSearchSearch ↗Search ↗
Amsterdam FrankfurtSearch—Search ↗

Links use each city’s main station where matched. Check the stations and any connections before booking. Unmatched sections are omitted; these are route searches, not confirmed direct trains. Partner links may earn us a commission.

Before you book: stations, trains and food

How a rail pass fits this trip

This outline has 10 days with travel or an excursion: day 1, day 2, day 3, day 4, day 5, day 6, day 7, day 8, day 9, day 10. That is a planning count, not a confirmed number of pass days. Optional excursions, uncovered transport and night-train departure times can change it.

A pass travel day can cover several participating trains. Compare the pass plus reservation fees with individual tickets for the dates you actually travel.

When to compare a Global Pass

A multi-country route is a useful starting point for comparing an Interrail or Eurail Global Pass. Check participating operators and your country of residence; Interrail’s home-country use is limited to an outbound and an inbound journey.

When individual tickets can help

Price the shorter hops separately. A cheap ticket can let you save a flexible pass day for a longer journey. Compare Sam’s tickets with Trainline and Omio, including their fees and refund conditions.

Pass guidance checked 19 October 2026. Travel-day rules · Reservation guidance

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