Vienna in 2 days on a budget Two days is enough to cover Vienna’s free core: St Stephen’s nave, Schonbrunn’s gardens, the Ring tram, plus one paid splurge, standing-room opera or the palace interior. It skips the Belvedere and Grinzing entirely. Want more? See the 3-day version or the full 7-day plan . This stays inside city limits; day trips live in our Vienna as a base guide ....

Vienna in 3 days on a budget Three days adds the MuseumsQuartier’s free courtyards and the Kunsthistorisches Museum to the 2-day free core, still inside city limits. Drop to 2 days if you’re tight on time, or extend to 4 days to fit Klimt’s “The Kiss” at the Belvedere and the Prater. Book these before you go: Schonbrunn Palace skip-the-line ticket , if you want the...

Vienna in 4 days on a budget Four days folds Klimt’s Belvedere and the free Prater into the 3-day core, still without leaving the city. Scale back to 3 days if that’s tight, or extend to 5 days to add Grinzing’s Heurigen wine taverns and a free hilltop view from Kahlenberg. Book these before you go: Schonbrunn Palace skip-the-line ticket , if you want the State Apartments and not...

Vienna in 5 days on a budget Five days adds a half-day in Grinzing’s Heurigen wine taverns and the free Kahlenberg viewpoint to the 4-day plan above. Drop to 4 days without the wine-village detour, or extend to 6 days to add Karmelitermarkt and the Hundertwasserhaus as well. Book these before you go: Schonbrunn Palace skip-the-line ticket , if you want the State Apartments and not just the...

Vienna in 6 days on a budget Six days adds Leopoldstadt’s Karmelitermarkt, the Hundertwasserhaus and the free Donauinsel park to the 5-day plan. Scale back to 5 days if that’s too much, or take the full 7-day version for a slower final day in the Vienna Woods. Book these before you go: Schonbrunn Palace skip-the-line ticket , if you want the State Apartments and not just the free...

Vienna in 7 days on a budget A full week covers everything: the free Innere Stadt core, Schonbrunn, the Belvedere, Grinzing, Karmelitermarkt and a final slow day at Lainzer Tiergarten on the city’s edge, all without leaving Vienna. Prefer day trips instead of a 7th day here? See our Vienna as a base guide for the Wachau, Bratislava and Salzburg options, or scale back to 6 days . Book these...

Vienna on a budget: the free stuff is the good stuff Vienna’s reputation as an expensive imperial capital holds up if you buy every combo ticket in town, but the city’s best-known sights cost nothing to look at: Schonbrunn’s gardens and the Gloriette grounds are free from 6:30am, St Stephen’s nave is a free walk-in, and the Ringstrasse tram loop shows you the whole...

Two days: land, settle, one real day trip Two days pairs one night to land and settle with a single day trip to Bratislava, the cheapest and fastest add-on this base offers. It nests into the 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 and 7-day versions if more time opens up later. Book these before you go Book the Bratislava day trip with a Danube catamaran cruise home if skipping the return train sounds appealing.

Three days: two real trips out of Vienna Three days adds the Wachau Valley and Melk Abbey to a landing day and the Bratislava add-on, still the cheapest option, now with a proper Danube half day too. Drop back to the 2-day version if a day disappears, or extend into the 4 , 5 , 6 and 7-day plans. Book these before you go Book the Bratislava day trip with a Danube catamaran cruise home if skipping...

Four days: three real trips out of Vienna Four days adds the Semmering scenic railway to the Bratislava and Wachau day trips, still entirely doable without a rental car. Nest back into the 2 or 3-day versions if time gets cut, or push on to the 5 , 6 and 7-day plans for Salzburg and Hallstatt. Book these before you go Book the Bratislava day trip with a Danube catamaran cruise home if skipping the...

Five days: four real trips out of Vienna Five days adds a full Salzburg day by Railjet to the Bratislava, Wachau and Semmering day trips already banked in. Cut back to the 2 , 3 or 4-day plans if needed, or extend into the 6 and 7-day versions for the Hallstatt overnight. Book these before you go Book the Bratislava day trip with a Danube catamaran cruise home if skipping the return train sounds...

Six days: four real trips, plus the start of an honest Hallstatt overnight Six days adds a full Salzburg day and an overnight leg toward Hallstatt to the Bratislava, Wachau and Semmering day trips. Shorten into the 2 through 5-day versions if the week is tighter, or add a day with the 7-day plan for a full, unrushed morning in Hallstatt before the return. Book these before you go Book the...

Seven days: all 5 day trips, done honestly Seven days gives Hallstatt a full, unhurried day before the return trip, the payoff for covering Bratislava, the Wachau, the Semmering railway and Salzburg first. Shorten into any of the 2 through 6-day versions if a full week is more than the trip allows. Book these before you go Book the Bratislava day trip with a Danube catamaran cruise home if...

Two days: the Pamphylia ruins loop, on a budget Two days is enough for one genuinely great combo: Perge, Aspendos and Side in a single long day, then Termessos and a beach afternoon on day two. It skips Olympos, Pamukkale and Kekova entirely; those need more time and show up in the 4-day , 5-day , 6-day and 7-day versions of this same route. For old-town and beach specifics inside Antalya itself,...

Two days in Antalya: the budget version Two days covers one real look at Kaleici’s old town and one full day at a free public beach. It is not enough to add the Duden Waterfalls or any day trip without rushing, and neither day needs a rental car. This plan stays inside the city: Kaleici on day one, Konyaalti beach on day two, with real Turkish lira costs throughout. Want more time?

Three days in Antalya: the budget version Three days is the sweet spot for Antalya’s city side: a full day in Kaleici’s old town, a full day at a free public beach, and a full day at the Duden Waterfalls, all without a rental car. It stretches the 2-day plan by one waterfall day rather than rushing all three into two. Want more? The 6-day and 7-day plans add Lara beach, a hammam, and a...

Four days: ruins, a mountaintop, a beach, and a real rest day Four days extends the same 2-day spine with two more stops: Perge, Aspendos and Side on day one, Termessos and a beach afternoon on day two, then Olympos and the Chimaera flames on day three, and a genuine no-tour recovery day on day four. It nests into the 5 , 6 and 7-day versions if you add Pamukkale or Kekova later.

Five days: the ruins route plus one grinding, worthwhile day Five days keeps the 4-day spine, Perge/Aspendos/Side, Termessos, Olympos and a rest day, and spends the extra day on Pamukkale, a genuine 12-13 hour round trip from Antalya. It’s the shortest itinerary in this family that fits Pamukkale in at all; the 6-day and 7-day versions add Kekova on top of this same route. Book these before...

Six days: ruins, Pamukkale, and the Kekova sunken city Six days keeps the 5-day spine, Perge/Aspendos/Side, Termessos, Olympos, a rest day and Pamukkale, and adds a second long-haul day: the Kekova sunken city and Demre/Myra by boat. That’s two 12-plus hour tour days back to back, so the recovery day sits deliberately before them, not after. The 7-day version adds one more day to actually...

Six days in Antalya: the budget version Six days is enough to slow down inside the city itself: both beaches, both waterfalls, a bazaar and hammam day, and a harbor sunset cruise, no rental car anywhere on the schedule. It extends the 3-day plan with three more days rather than reinventing the first three. Prefer a full week? The 7-day plan adds one slow day at the end. If ancient ruins or the...

Seven days: the full Turquoise Coast base loop, with a real landing pad Seven days keeps the 6-day route intact, Perge/Aspendos/Side, Termessos, Olympos, a rest day, Pamukkale and Kekova, and adds a final recovery day rather than a rushed departure straight off two 12-hour tour days. This is the longest itinerary in the family; if a week feels like too much, the 4 and 5-day versions cut Kekova and...

Seven days in Antalya: the budget version Seven days is a full week inside the city and its beaches: both beaches, both waterfalls, a bazaar and hammam day, a harbor sunset cruise, and one slow day before you fly out, no rental car anywhere on the schedule. It extends the 6-day plan by a single rest day rather than adding a rushed extra activity. If ancient ruins, Side, Aspendos, or Pamukkale are...

Antalya is the base camp, not the beach Antalya’s own old town and coastline earn a couple of days on their own (the Antalya city guide covers that side), but the real budget value of basing here is everything within reach: Perge, Aspendos, Termessos and Side cluster east of the city for well under 20 euros a site, Olympos and the Chimaera flames sit south past Kemer, and Pamukkale and the...

Two days: one Cologne night, one Rhineland day trip Two days is the smallest version of a Cologne-as-a-base trip: one night to land and settle, one full day trip to Brühl’s UNESCO palace. It nests into the 3-day version by adding Bonn, and the longer plans layer on Düsseldorf, Aachen, the Rhine and the Ruhr on top of that. If you’d rather spend both days on the Dom and the Altstadt...

Three days: Cologne, then two real Rhineland trips Three days doubles the day-trip half of a Cologne-as-a-base plan: a landing day, then Brühl’s palace and Bonn’s old capital back to back. It nests directly into the 2-day version by dropping Bonn, or the 4 , 5 , 6 and 7-day plans by adding Düsseldorf, Aachen, the Rhine and the Ruhr on top. For a Cologne-only 3 days, the in-city...

Four days: Cologne plus three Rhineland trips Four days rounds out the “close” trips: land in Cologne, then Brühl, Bonn and Düsseldorf back to back, all under 30 minutes out. It nests from the 3-day version by adding Düsseldorf, and into the 5 , 6 and 7-day plans by layering on Aachen, the Rhine and the Ruhr. For a Cologne-only 4 days instead, see the in-city itinerary . Book these...

Five days: Cologne, three close trips and Aachen Five days adds Aachen, Charlemagne’s UNESCO cathedral, on top of the close trio of Brühl, Bonn and Düsseldorf. It nests from the 4-day version by adding this one day, and into the 6 and 7-day plans by layering on the Rhine and the Ruhr. For a Cologne-only 5 days, the in-city itinerary covers the museums and neighbourhoods instead. Book these...

Six days: four close trips, then the Rhine’s long day Six days adds the Romantic Rhine, the hardest and priciest trip on this list, to the four closer stops. It nests from the 5-day version by adding this one long day, and into the 7-day version by adding the Ruhr. For a Cologne-only 6 days, see the in-city itinerary . Book these before you go: Cologne hotel near the Hauptbahnhof for the...

Seven days: a full week using Cologne as a Rhineland base Seven days covers all six day trips this family of itineraries builds toward: Brühl, Bonn, Düsseldorf, Aachen, the Romantic Rhine and the Ruhr’s Zollverein site, one per day after arrival. It nests from the 6-day version by adding the Ruhr; shorter plans at 2 , 3 , 4 and 5 days drop trips from the end of this same order.

Two days is enough to hit Cologne’s best free wins and its cheapest paid ones: the Dom’s south tower, the Altstadt, the Rhine promenade, and two proper Brauhaus sessions, all for roughly EUR 50-70 a day once you skip the Dom’s new EUR 12 sightseeing ticket and climb the tower instead. Longer in Cologne? See the 3-day , 5-day , and 7-day versions of this plan, or the Rhineland...

Three days lets you keep the 2-day route’s free wins, the Dom tower, the Altstadt, the Rhine promenade, and add one real museum day without blowing the budget. Expect roughly EUR 55-80 a day, Brauhaus rounds included. Shorter trip? See the 2-day plan . More time? Jump to 5 , 6 , or 7 days , or add Bonn and Düsseldorf with the Rhineland gateway guide . Book these before you go:

Four days lets you do both museum options from Day 3 instead of choosing one, plus a full day in Ehrenfeld, still roughly EUR 55-85 a day with the EUR 8 Dom tower and Brauhaus rounds included. Shorter trip? See 2 or 3 days . More time? Jump to 5 , 6 , or 7 days , or add Bonn and Düsseldorf with the Rhineland gateway guide . Book these before you go:

Five days adds the right-bank side of the river to the 4-day route, Deutz, the seasonal Seilbahn cable car, and Rheinpark, still averaging EUR 50-80 a day with the EUR 8 Dom tower and nightly Brauhaus rounds included. Shorter trip? See 2 , 3 , or 4 days . Want 6 or 7 days instead, or Bonn and Düsseldorf added on? See the Rhineland gateway guide . Book these before you go:

Six days adds a genuinely slow day to the 5-day route, a market morning, free window shopping, and a second pass through your favorite neighborhood, still averaging EUR 45-75 a day. By now you have used the EUR 8 Dom tower ticket and several Brauhaus rounds already. Shorter trip? See 2 through 5 days . Want 7 days , or Bonn and Düsseldorf added on? See the Rhineland gateway guide .

A full week in Cologne is honestly more city than most travelers need in one visit, the dossier’s own verdict is that Cologne itself is realistically a 1-2 day city, so this plan closes with a genuinely relaxed final day rather than inventing more sights. Expect EUR 40-70 a day by the end, with the EUR 8 Dom tower and nightly Brauhaus rounds already banked earlier in the week. Shorter trip?

Cologne is the Rhineland’s cheapest base, not its whole trip Cologne itself is a 1-2 day city; the in-city guide covers the Dom, the Altstadt and the brauhaus circuit properly. Once that’s done, Köln Hauptbahnhof turns into a hub for six cheap Rhineland day trips: Brühl’s UNESCO palace 15 minutes out, Bonn’s old capital and Beethoven’s birthplace at 20,...

Cologne is still one of the cheaper big cities in Germany to visit, but 2026 changed the math on its most famous freebie. Since 1 July 2026 the Kölner Dom charges EUR 12 (reduced EUR 6) just to sightsee inside during opening hours, ending centuries of free tourist entry. The real budget wins now sit outside the cathedral doors: the Rhine promenade, the Hohenzollern Bridge, the Rheinauhafen Crane...

Four days covers Palermo’s historic centre at an easy pace: the Arab-Norman sights, the three street-food markets and the Catacombe dei Cappuccini, for roughly 130-150 EUR total once food and sights are added up. Want a day trip folded in instead? See the 5-day , 6-day or 7-day versions, or the Palermo budget guide for the numbers behind this plan. Book these before you go: Norman Palace and...

Five days buys the full historic centre at an easy pace, plus a proper day out to Monreale rather than a rushed half-visit. This plan runs about 155-175 EUR total across five days of food and sights. Need less time or more? See the 4-day , 6-day or 7-day versions, or the Palermo budget guide behind these numbers. Book these before you go: Norman Palace and Cappella Palatina tickets , so Day...

Six days gives you a relaxed run through the historic centre, a full day at Monreale and a beach afternoon at Mondello, for roughly 170-195 EUR total across the trip. Want a different pace? See the 4-day , 5-day or 7-day versions, or the Palermo budget guide behind these numbers. Book these before you go: Norman Palace and Cappella Palatina tickets , so Day 1’s afternoon isn’t spent...

A week is enough to slow down and cover the historic centre, a full Monreale day, a beach afternoon and one more train ride out to Cefalù, all without stacking two day trips together, for roughly 195-220 EUR total. Need less time? See the 4-day , 5-day or 6-day versions, or the Palermo budget guide behind these numbers. Book these before you go: Norman Palace and Cappella Palatina tickets , so Day...

A taxi from Falcone-Borsellino airport into central Palermo costs a flat 35-45 EUR. The train under the same terminal costs 5.90 EUR and takes about the same door-to-door time once you count traffic. That gap sums up the city: Palermo rewards travelers who do a little homework and quietly overcharges the ones who don’t. Skip the taxi, eat standing up at the markets, and a day in the historic...

Two days in Brussels: the budget version Two days covers the historic core and one paid museum without wasting a single metro ride. Day 1 is Grand-Place, Manneken Pis, and the free sights around them; Day 2 is the Magritte Museum or the Atomium plus a chocolate-and-beer evening. Fritkot lunches instead of sit-down ones keep food under control. Longer in town? The 3-day plan adds the EU Quarter,...

Brussels in 2 Days: The Belgium Trip You Save for Later Two days in Brussels is a city trip, not a Belgium trip. Stay both nights in the capital, spend zero euros on intercity rail, and put the roughly 50 euros a Ghent or Bruges round trip costs toward a better hotel instead. Want the day trips too? Our 3-day , 4-day and 7-day versions add Ghent, Bruges, Antwerp, Leuven and Waterloo one at a time,...

Three days in Brussels: the core plus the EU Quarter Three days keeps the same two-day core, Grand-Place and one paid museum, and adds a third day most short trips skip: the Comic Strip Center, Marolles, and the free EU Quarter. It’s the day that gets left out most often even though half of it costs nothing. Coming for just a weekend? The 2-day plan covers the first two days alone; staying...

Three Days in Brussels: City Base Plus One Belgium Day Trip Three days in Brussels finally buys a Belgium day trip, and the one worth taking is Ghent, not Bruges. Two nights of city sights run the same pattern as a shorter visit, then a 27 to 40 minute train earns a full day of canals and guildhouses with a fraction of Bruges’ crowds. Have a 4th or 5th day free?

Four Days in Brussels: City Base Plus Two Belgium Day Trips Four days in Brussels is where the city stops being the whole trip and turns into the hub. Two nights of Brussels sights, then Ghent and Bruges back to back by rail, each a same-day round trip with time to spare. Only have 3 days? Drop to our 3-day version and keep Ghent alone. Have a 5th or 6th day free?

Five days in Brussels: the core plus two neighbourhoods Five days keeps the same three-day spine, Grand-Place, one paid museum, the EU Quarter, and adds two neighbourhoods most short trips never reach: Art Nouveau Ixelles and a proper Royal Palace and parks day. Real prices are attached throughout so nothing here is a guess. Short on time? The 3-day plan covers Days 1 through 3 alone; want the...

Five Days in Brussels: City Base Plus Three Belgium Day Trips Five days in Brussels adds Antwerp to the Ghent-and-Bruges spine, and Antwerp is the one gateway city that rewards an extra night if the schedule allows it. Two nights of Brussels sights, then three separate rail days out, each back in the capital by dinner unless a longer Antwerp stop changes the math. Only 4 days? Drop to our 4-day...

Six Days in Brussels: City Base Plus Four Belgium Day Trips Six days in Brussels adds Leuven, the cheapest and shortest of the four day trips, easy to run as a half day if the schedule needs slack somewhere. Two nights of Brussels sights, then four separate rail days out, Ghent, Bruges, Antwerp and Leuven in that order, each starting and ending at Brussels-Central or Midi regardless of where you...