Seven Cities, Three Countries, One Brave Mama (and a 3-Year-Old)
This entire trip started with Sari, my bff from university.
Two years before we actually boarded a plane, she had already been designing this Europe-by-train adventure in her head. The idea was born sometime in late 2017 — hopping across cities by rail, slow travel style, soaking in old towns, cathedrals and café stops in between.
And me? You know I never say no to Europe.
We initially aimed for August, but peak summer heat in Europe didn’t sound very appealing — especially not while chasing trains and pushing a stroller around cobblestone streets. So we shifted gears and settled on early November. Autumn colors, cooler air, fewer crowds. Perfect.
This time it would be a girls trip only: just me, Sari and little Alyssa.
After I clicked “purchase” on the flight tickets for Alyssa and myself, the nervousness kicked in.
Can I really pull this off?
Long-haul flight. Just me. And a three-year-old.
Sari lives in Singapore, so we were flying separately and would only meet in Berlin. That meant I had to survive the long-haul on my own first. (If you missed it, I wrote about how I survived flying long-haul with a toddler here — and yes, there were snacks involved. Lots of snacks.)
But once we landed? It was adventure mode on.
Our Itinerary: 3 Countries, 7 Cities, 16 Days — All by Train
We covered Germany, Czech Republic and Austria in just over two weeks — moving entirely by train. Slow enough to enjoy, fast enough to see a lot.
Day 0
Fly out with Turkish Airlines at 9pm.
Day 1 – Berlin
Landing at 9:45am and straight into history mode:
Berlin Wall Memorial, Checkpoint Charlie, Topography of Terror, and Gendarmenmarkt.
Day 2 – Berlin
Brandenburg Gate, Holocaust Memorial, Reichstag, Alexanderplatz, Berliner Dom, and the colorful East Side Gallery.
Day 3 – Train to Prague
Old Town Square and our first proper Czech evening stroll.
Day 4 – Prague
Charles Bridge at sunrise, Kampa Island, Strahov Monastery, Loreto, Prague Castle & St. Vitus Cathedral, and a quick stop at Palladium Mall (because balance).
Day 5 – Day Trip to Český Krumlov
A fairytale town that looks like it was built for postcards.
Day 6 – Train to Vienna
Sari and Alyssa were under the weather, so we slowed down. Napped. Only went out in the evening to see St. Stephen’s Cathedral and have dinner nearby. Sometimes the best travel decision is simply… rest.
Day 7 – Vienna
Breakfast at Naschmarkt, then Albertina, Hofburg Palace, Parliament, State Opera, Musikverein, and The Prater.
We ended the night with a Mozart & Strauss mini concert by Wiener Royal Orchester. Very “when in Vienna”.
Day 8 – Vienna
We had planned a day trip to Bratislava but cancelled as Sari still wasn’t feeling well.
Alyssa and I visited Schönbrunn Palace and Stadtpark while Sari rested.
In the evening, we watched The Magic Flute by Mozart at the Marionette Theatre — and honestly, it was magical.
Day 9 – Train to Hallstatt
Strolling around Lake Hallstatt and the charming market square.
Day 10 – Hallstatt
Panorama funicular, Hallstatt Skywalk, coffee at Rudolfsturm, endless lake views, and a ridiculous number of photos. No regrets.
Day 11 – Train to Salzburg
Schloss Mirabell, Mozart’s birthplace, Residenzplatz, and Makartsteg.
Day 12 – Salzburg
Original Sound of Music Tour (because obviously), St. Peter’s Abbey, and Hohensalzburg Fortress towering above the city.
Day 13 – Train to Munich
Marienplatz, Asamkirche, Peterskirche, Neues Rathaus, Michaelskirche — and some serious shopping therapy.
Day 14 – Day Trip to Neuschwanstein Castle
The castle that inspired Disney dreams.
Day 15 – Munich
Morning stroll in the English Garden, more shopping (last chance!), and evening flight back to Jakarta.
We told ourselves we were “taking it easy” because we were traveling with a three-year-old.
Reality?
We clocked 20,000+ steps almost every single day.
I even managed to lose 2kg during the trip — only to gain it back a week later in Bangkok. Balance in life must be maintained, right? 😆
Looking back, this trip wasn’t just about ticking cities off a list. It was about proving to myself that I could do it — long-haul flights, train connections, unpredictable weather, toddler moods and all.
And somewhere between Berlin’s history, Prague’s bridges, Vienna’s music halls and Hallstatt’s dreamy lake views… we made memories that still feel warm years later.
Would I do it again?
In a heartbeat. 💛
