Budapest to Rome
Trip Code: ZMRRC
Why we love it
Admire the restored architecture of UNESCO World Heritage-listed Kotor in Montenegro on a climb along the ancient city fortifications. Then, discover the glittering Bay of Kotor in your free time. , Stroll through Plitvice Lakes National Park – a stunning UNESCO World Heritage Site – marvelling at luminous lakes and azure waterfalls that look like they’ve been sketched by an artist. , Hit the historic hotspot of Dubrovnik (otherwise known as King’s Landing of Game of Thrones fame) along Croatia’s Dalmatian coastline, then explore the white sands of the Elafiti Islands on a day trip with loads of free time to swim, relax or wander., Journey to romantic Venice – like no other city in the world. Fall in love with its labyrinth of alleyways, canals, lagoon islands, and endless historic attractions and maybe hop on a gondola if you want to explore the city from a different perspective. , Explore Cinque Terre's rocky coastal pathways, calling into the sleepy pastel villages of Manarola, Riomaggiore or Vernazza. Enjoy a full day to explore this picturesque spot at your own pace.
Is this trip right for me?
This trip is made for travellers who value their independence but also want the benefit of a local leader and a group of like-minded travellers. The itinerary has a mix of included activities and free time when your leader will offer suggestions. Please budget spending money for optional activities you want to partake in.
Accommodation on this trip is basic. Hotels in Europe often don't have double beds, but rather two single beds that can be pushed together/apart. Rooms can be small, especially compared to American or Australian standards, and in some cases bathroom facilities will be shared rather than ensuite. Some hotels contain stairs only, with no elevators.
Summer temperatures can be very high in many regions visited (over 40°C), which can be uncomfortable. It’s essential to use sun protection, wear layers to combat the heat and drink plenty of water. Many European hotel rooms are not equipped with air-conditioning. Please carefully consider the time of the year you wish to travel and your suitability for that season.
You'll have to carry your own luggage on this trip, including some short distances between your hotel and public transport (no longer than 30 minutes). Make sure your bag doesn’t exceed our weight and size recommendations. You can find details in the 'Packing' section of the Essential Trip Information.
Important information
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT
A single supplement is not available on this trip.
What to bring/pack
PACKING
On this trip you must pack as lightly as possible because you will be expected to carry your own bag and although you won't be required to walk long distances with your luggage (max 30 minutes), we strongly recommend keeping the weight under 15kg / 33lb. Most travellers carry their luggage in a backpack, although an overnight bag with a shoulder strap would suffice if you travel lightly. Smaller bags or backpacks with wheels are convenient although we recommend your bag has carry straps to accommodate the cobbled streets, uneven surfaces, stairs and steps you are likely to encounter while carrying your luggage. You'll also need a day pack/bag to carry water and a camera etc for day trips. You can find Intrepid's Ultimate Packing List on our website. It should be used as a guide only and isn't intended to be a complete packing list., https://www.intrepidtravel.com/packing-list, TRAVELLING ON LOCAL TRANSPORT
It's important that your bags can be locked, as on local transport it may be necessary that your luggage gets stowed separately (and unattended). The smaller your bag the better for you and other passengers. To ensure maximum comfort, try to pack small and light., WATER BOTTLE
Please bring your own water bottle to refill along the way. Although it can be difficult to avoid bottled water when travelling, please use the water dispensers which are provided on some of our vehicles and at some of our accommodation. Your group leader or local representative will advise whether tap water is safe to drink in your destination, and if it is, you can simply refill it with tap water. When unable to avoid bottled water, it is better to buy the largest available and distribute it into your smaller bottle for the day. If you are walking or trekking as part of your trip you will need to carry at least 2L of water with you.
Physical rating
This trip can be enjoyed by just about anyone with a reasonable level of fitness. Some trips may have individual inclusions that may be of a higher physical rating compared to the overall rating of the trip. Please read the day-to-day itinerary carefully to find out more details on each day's activities, and whether they are suitable for you. Activities can be opted out of if you don't want to participate.
Joining your group
Baross City Hotel, Baross ter 15, Budapest, HUNGARY, Phone: +36 14613010
Alternate Joining Point
For trips departing on the following dates
use this joining point.
08 Jul 2025 (ZMRRC250708)
15 Jul 2025 (ZMRRC250715)
12 Aug 2025 (ZMRRC250812)
Star City Hotel
István street 14
Budapest
1078
HUNGARY
Joining instructions
If arriving by train: Keleti train station is just one minute walk to the hotel.
If arriving by plane: Take the bus number 100E to Kálvin tér (it takes about 35-40 minutes). At Kálvin tér change to Metro number 4 (green line) towards Keleti pályaudvar (Eastern Railway Station) and ride it until the last stop. From there it is just a minute walk to the hotel.
Total travel time is approximately 1 hour. You will need two separate tickets, one for the bus and one for the metro. Make sure you validate your ticket as ticket checks on the metro are common.
If in doubt about which ticket type to choose at the vending machine you can also buy your ticket at the tourist info in the airport's arrival hall.
Finishing your trip
B&B Hotel Roma San Lorenzo Termini, Via dei Sabelli, 177, Rome, 00185, ITALY
Alternate Finish Point
To Fiumicino FCO Airport: take the Leonardo Express train from “Roma Termini” or take the Regionale Veloce train from "Roma Tiburtina" or "Roma Termini" to “Fiumicino Aeroporto”.
To Ciampino CIA Airport: take the Regionale Veloce train towards from "Roma Tiburtina" or "Roma Termini" to “Ciampino Aeroporto”.
By Train
To Termini station: take bus no. 71 at the "Tiburtina/Reti" heading in the “Lega Lombarda/Provncie” direction for 5 stops. Get off at the “Turati/Fanti” bus stop on via Filippo Turati
To Tiburtina station: Take bus no 163, 545 or 448 to Tiburtina station (only one direction)
The B&B Hotel Roma San Lorenzo Termini is a 3-star hotel located in the historic San Lorenzo area, equidistant from Rome’s Termini and Tiburtina train stations.
Meals & dietary information
Breakfasts included: 16
Lunches included: 1
Dinners included:
While travelling with us you'll experience the vast array of wonderful food available in the world. Your group leader will be able to suggest restaurants to try during your trip. To give you maximum flexibility in deciding where, what and with whom to eat, generally not all meals are included in the trip price. This also gives you more budgeting flexibility. As a rule our groups tend to eat together to enable you to taste a larger variety of dishes and enjoy each other's company. There's no obligation to do this though.
VEGETARIANS
Vegetarians might find the menu selection in Europe less varied than they would see at home. Vegetarianism is not as common in this region and generally the choices are basic, involving vegetables, soups, salads, bread, cheese, fruit, yoghurt, eggs etc. Vegans and those on gluten-free diets may find this region very challenging and may need to supplement meals with their own supplies from supermarkets and markets. Wherever possible we will cater for dietary needs for any included meals, but there may be times when those with special requirements may need to provide their own.
BREAKFASTS
There are some continental breakfasts included on this trip which may simply include bread/toast or pastries, butter, jam, coffee/tea/juice (or similar).
Climate & seasonal information
SUMMER
Summer temperatures can be extreme in many of the regions visited (over 40°C/104°F), which can be uncomfortable. It’s important to use sun protection and drink plenty of water. Please carefully consider the time of the year you wish to travel and your suitability to that season.
SHOULDER SEASON
In contrast, weather in shoulder season can be unpredictable, and snow is not unheard of at higher altitudes. If you travel at the start or towards the end of the European season please pack accordingly with warm and/or waterproof clothes (preferably layers). The advantage of travelling during this time is that there are less tourists around.
In case of emergency
While we always endeavour to provide the best possible holiday experience, due to the nature of travel and the areas we visit sometimes things can and do go wrong. Should any issue occur while you are on your trip, it is imperative that you discuss this with your group leader or local representative straight away so that they can do their best to rectify the problem and save any potential negative impact on the rest of your trip.
We recognise that there may be times when your group leader or local representative may not be able to resolve a situation to your satisfaction - if this is the case, please ask the group leader or local representative to speak to their direct manager.
You may also choose to provide details in your online feedback, which we ask you to complete within 30 days of the end of your trip. Please do be aware that it is very difficult for us to provide any practical help after the trip is completed, so informing us while still travelling will give us the opportunity to resolve the issue in real-time.
For general contact details please use the following page: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/contact-us
If you have booked an arrival transfer, and you experience severe delays at immigration, baggage collection or customs, or if you are not able to find to the driver, please contact the transfer operator directly on the number listed in the joining point instructions in the section above.
In the case of a genuine crisis or emergency, Intrepid's Europe Operations Team can be reached on the number listed below:
Intrepid's Local Operator: +49 8024 4679 540
Accommodations
OCCASIONAL ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATION
The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline. On rare occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our usual accommodation. A similar standard of accommodation will be used in these instances.
CHECK-IN TIME
Throughout the trip we request that our hotels prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination.
PRE/POST TRIP ACCOMMODATION
If you've purchased pre-trip or post-trip accommodation (if available), you may be required to change rooms from your trip accommodation for these extra nights.
FACILITIES
Your accommodation may not always have private en suite facilities or air-conditioning. European hotels generally don't provide kettles or fridges.
Transportation
TRANSPORT IN EUROPE
Half the fun of travel is the travelling itself, that's why we like to travel the local way – whether that means mingling with commuters on a local train, watching the scenery roll by from the window of a long distance bus, arriving on a high speed train in the city centre of your next destination, or navigating each city's public transport system. In Europe, you are guaranteed to travel by genuine local public transport wherever possible, which puts you right in the centre of the action.
LONG TRAVEL DAYS
As we cover lots of ground on this trip, expect some long travel days on local trains and buses. This is an opportunity to mix with the locals and enjoy the scenery out the window. Travel schedules are known to change with little notice. Not all transport may have air conditioning.