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Why settle for one city when you could visit four? Introducing ‘trip-maxxing’, a new travel trend which is seeing travellers swapping week-long stays in a single destination for multi-city adventures that squeeze in more sights, cultures and experiences.
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While doing so much might seem unrealistic – and unaffordable – it’s actually entirely possible to do it on a budget. New research from FlixBus has revealed that a number of routes across Europe offer easy connections and affordable stays.
The travel company looked at destinations across the continent served by its network, identifying four-stop routes with journeys under five hours a piece.
Routes were ranked based on the shortest overall travel time, and each stop was scored using a range of travel factors, from average hostel prices and ratings, to the cost of an affordable night out – that’s a low-cost meal and three beers.
The research also looked at the density of attractions and nightlife within 5km of the city centre, as well as the number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites within 100km.
Each city was given a score out of 10, with each route awarded a total out of 40 based on our four key ranking factors – nightlife, culture, budget and accommodation.
Ten routes made the trip-maxxing list – and these are the top five.
Route 1: Berlin – Prague – Vienna – Budapest
This central European route topped the list, with a score of 28.8 out of 40. Flixbus found that each city delivers across all categories, with no destination acting as a gap-filler.
Berlin, the first destination, had the best score overall for nightlife and also boasts rich history and culture, and is an excellent walking city.
Accommodation here is well-priced, and there’s a vast amount of things to see and do per square kilometre – something matched by very few cities in Europe.
Next up is Prague, less than five hours from the German capital by bus. The capital of Czechia is home to a beautiful Gothic old town, an impressive hilltop castle, and Charles Bridge, a medieval stone arch bridge that crosses the Vltava river. It’s also a very affordable city, ideal for budget travellers.
Vienna is also under five hours by bus and is an entirely different experience to Prague. Walk around the famously pretty city, famous for its slower pace of life, relaxing coffee houses, and endless culture. Don’t miss the Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien or a visit to the Vienna State Opera, and wander streets flanked by striking imperial architecture.
This trip comes to a close in Budapest, under four hours from Vienna. Visits to its world-famous thermal baths and ruin bars, built inside crumbling courtyards, are a must do. The city is bisected by the Danube river, crossed by the 19th-century Chain Bridge and the architecturally impressive Fishermen’s Bastion offers sweeping views of the Hungarian capital below.
Route 2: Berlin – Prague – Bratislava – Budapest
This route was awarded the highest budget score of any route in the ranking, scoring 28.1 overall.
While three of the destinations are the same as the first route, it’s Bratislava which stands out as a relatively unexplored destination.
Bratislava, around four hours from Prague, is often overlooked in favour of larger European cities, but Slovakia’s capital has plenty to recommend it.
Wander its charming cobbled Old Town, climb up to Bratislava Castle for sweeping views across the Danube, and stop off at one of the city’s many independent wine bars and restaurants.
It may not be the obvious choice for a standalone city break, but as part of a multi-city trip, it’s well worth adding to your itinerary.
Route 3: Berlin – Prague – Wroclaw – Kraków
This trip, with two of the same stops as the top two on the list, has one of the fastest total travel times in the whole ranking, at just 11.7 hours. It’s also been awarded a budget score of 8.6, which makes up for it offering three countries rather than four.
After Berlin and Prague, it’s a three-hour journey to Wroclaw, Poland’s third-largest city.
Spread across a network of islands linked by more than 100 bridges, Wroclaw is home to a beautiful market square that rivals Prague’s, but with far fewer crowds. Wander through the university quarter, explore the historic Cathedral Island and keep an eye out for the city’s famous bronze gnome statues, hidden throughout the streets.
The journey ends in Kraków, around three hours further east. Poland’s former royal capital is home to one of Europe’s best-preserved medieval centres, with the vast Rynek Główny market square surrounded by Gothic churches, colourful townhouses and lively cafés.
While the city is packed with history, it’s also a great place to experience Poland’s food and nightlife. Around an hour away, the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum is a must visit.
Route 4: Amsterdam – Dortmund – Berlin – Prague
Scoring 27 overall, this route topped the rankings for culture and is ideal for travellers who want to begin in western Europe before making their way east.
Amsterdam kicks things off with some of Europe’s best museums and nightlife. Spend time exploring the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum and Anne Frank House, before wandering the UNESCO-listed canal district and the independent shops, cafés and bars of the Jordaan neighbourhood.
Just over two hours away is Dortmund, one of the route’s biggest surprises. Once known for coal and steel, the German city has reinvented itself as a cultural hub, with attractions including Phoenix Lake, built on the site of a former steelworks, alongside a growing food and bar scene.
Finish the trip with stops in Berlin and Prague, both packed full of culture and fun nightlife.
Route 5: Frankfurt – Berlin – Prague – Vienna
With an overall score of 26.9, and a nightlife score of 7.7, this route is a great option for travellers flying into one of the continent’s best-connected transport hubs before heading east through four of central Europe’s most fascinating cities.
Frankfurt is far more than Germany’s financial capital. The Museum Embankment is home to one of the country’s finest collections of museums, while the restored Römerberg Square offers a glimpse of the city’s medieval past.
Finish the day with a glass of traditional apple wine in the Sachsenhausen district before catching the bus east, to Berlin, then Prague and, finally, Vienna.
Although this route has the longest travel time in the top five, at around 13 hours, the journeys are spread across several days, making it an easy way to experience four very different European capitals.
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