Europe By Rail - Budapest to Milan

Welcome to Budapest, the first stop on our rail adventure. Check in whenever you arrive; the afternoon is yours to explore the city's grand architecture and deep history. This evening we meet the rest of the group and get the party started in Budapest's famous ruin bars, with the legendary Szimpla Kert top of our list.

This morning we stroll past some of Budapest's big landmarks, including the Parliament building and St. Stephen's Basilica. Then it's swimsuit time at the Széchenyi Thermal Baths: soak, swim or sweat it out in the sauna for as long as you like. This evening, we grab dinner together, then cruise the river as the city lights up.

Pack your bags, crew: we're taking the train to Vienna, the City of Music. Once we arrive, we head out on an orientation walk to get our bearings among the palaces and cafés. Think Schönbrunn Palace and slices of Sachertorte. This evening we try a few Austrian spirits and settle into our new home.

Today we channel our inner Willy Wonka at a chocolate-making class, learning the secrets of silky-smooth chocolate and, best of all, eating our creations. This evening, if you fancy it, we head to a bar for signature cocktails, a dance-off or a laid-back drink while you pinch yourself that you really are hopping around Europe.

This morning we travel to Slovenia. It's a stunning ride, so grab photos between train naps; you're a pro at sleeping on the go by now. Once we arrive in Ljubljana, we set off on an orientation walk around the capital, strolling along the canals and exploring the old town as the city's easy pace sinks in.

We're up early for a scenic bus ride to one of the trip's big highlights: Lake Bled. Take your time to soak it all in, quite literally if we're swimming at our favourite spot, or from the Bled Castle viewpoint, depending on the season. This evening we watch the sun go down with beers by the lake.

Wake up in paradise. This morning we grab bikes and cycle out of Bled through small villages, stopping for photos along the way. This afternoon is your call, with optional adventures including rafting, kayaking and more. Lake Bled is a playground for thrill-seekers, so pick something a little scary in a good way and go for it.

The morning is free for one last Lake Bled moment: a quiet sit by the water, a wander through town or a book in the sun. Then we say goodbye to this Alpine paradise and travel by bus and train to Venice. It's a travel day, but the views on the way are worth staying awake for.

Venice, baby. Today we take a gondola ride through the canals, with gondoliers who could double as stand-up comedians. Afterwards, the city is ours to explore: winding streets, quiet alleys, Aperol spritzes and your Rialto Bridge debut. Finish with a proper Italian dinner in a city that feels like a living work of art.

Grab a coffee and take the train to our final stop, Milan. We arrive in the afternoon, check into our hostel and head straight out to the Piazza del Duomo, then the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II and the canal district. Tonight is our last night together, so we go big with local food and great cocktails.

After breakfast, it's a chilled check-out, and we're not quite ready to say goodbye. Carrying on around Europe? Your Local Legend is on hand with recommendations and help with onward travel. Eleven days railing through Hungary, Austria, Slovenia and Italy, with memories and friends for life. So it's not goodbye, it's see you later.