The Best Trips for Exploring Medieval Europe

The Middle Ages are a long and endlessly fascinating time period which, in many ways, provided the foundation for modern Europe. To this day the continent is covered in gorgeous remnants of medieval history, which you can explore on these small-group adventures with Culture Trip.

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View from a vineyard of the hilltop town of San Gimignano, Italy

Classic Northern Italy by Train

The Middle Ages are widely considered to have started with the fall of Rome, which is exactly where our nine-day Italian Rail Trip begins. That means we start in the Classical Age, but we’ll quickly embrace the Middle Ages as we head into Tuscany. Italy really is a hotspot for beautifully preserved medieval towns, and the first of which we’ll explore is Florence, one of the wealthiest cities of the era. It was also a focal point of the Renaissance era, however, so the purest distillation of medieval Europe will be found in our next two destinations, San Gimignano and Siena. Both towns are full of gorgeous old churches, piazzas and palazzos, set atop luscious Tuscan hilltops and surrounded by incredible vineyards. The medieval theme continues in Emilia-Romagna, first in the culinary capital of Bologna, and later in the smaller towns of Parma and Modena. Finally, we’ll end the trip in Italy’s most forward-thinking city, the ever-fashionable Milan.

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Trip highlights and details

STARTS AT

Rome, Lazio

ENDS AT

Milan, Lombardia

DURATION

9

GROUP SIZE

14

PHYSICAL RATING

Light

STYLE

Discovery

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Sunrise on the Charles Bridge, Prague, Czechia

Berlin to Budapest: The Best of Central Europe by Train

When we think medieval, it’s the fairytale towns of Central Europe that first spring to mind. The streets are cobbled, the churches have funky spires and old stone bridges cross over some of the continent’s most famous rivers. The finest example of medieval architecture among Europe’s capital cities is probably Prague, our first stop after leaving Berlin on this 10-day trip. The route into Czechia will see countless charming old towns and villages fly past your window, but the it’s the Czech capital that really takes the biscuit. From Charles Bridge to Prague Castle and the Old Town Square, this is one of the most beautiful cities on the planet. After exploring Vienna, we’ll take a day trip down the Danube to the picturesque medieval town of Krems, before getting back on track to Bratislava. The Slovakian capital has one of the prettiest old towns in Europe, and you’ll get a locally guided tour of it before we head to our final destination, Budapest. The Hungarian capital has revamped many of its oldest buildings, turning them into trendy ‘ruin bars’, the ideal place to reflect on our medieval adventures over a local craft beer.

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Trip highlights and details

STARTS AT

Berlin, Germany

ENDS AT

Budapest, Hungary

DURATION

10

GROUP SIZE

18

PHYSICAL RATING

Light

STYLE

Discovery

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The Rock of Cashel, also known as Cashel of the Kings and St. Patricks Rock, a historic site located at Cashel, County Tipperary. One of the most famous tourist attractions in Ireland.

Fairytale Ireland

Ireland is a truly ancient land, which has seen countless ages and civilisations come and go, leaving behind a joyously quirky collection of myths, fables and fairytales. Our week-long exploration of the country embraces this ancient heritage, as well as Ireland’s splendid countryside and rich cultural identity. We’ll start in Dublin – a city with more than its fair share of medieval history – where we’ll visit the storied St Audoen’s Church in Dublin . As we head down to the south coast, we’ll stop en route at the Rock of Cashel, a remarkably well-preserved medieval citadel surrounded by glorious green countryside. It’s the perfect historical start that contextualises the rest of our trip along the Wild Atlantic Way’s dramatic landscapes.

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Trip highlights and details

STARTS AT

Dublin, Ireland

ENDS AT

Dublin, Ireland

DURATION

7

GROUP SIZE

16

PHYSICAL RATING

Light

STYLE

Discovery

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View of Dubrovniks stunning cliffside architecture

Coastal Croatia

Croatia’s unique collection of coastal towns, characterised by crumbling city walls and atmospheric old towns, provide the foundation for this dreamy eight-day jaunt along the Dalmatian coast. We’ll start in Split, a lot of which pre-dates the Middle Ages. We’ll go island-hopping in the Adriatic, getting off at the island of Korcula. The island’s city (of the same name) is a stunning fairytale fort town, with towers, ramparts and palaces that wouldn’t look out of place in a Disney film. Back on the mainland we’ll stop in Ston, a small fishing village famous for salt pans, fresh oysters and one of the longest medieval wall fortifications in Europe, which once housed five fortresses and 40 towers. Our final destination simply had to be Dubrovnik, whose incredible medieval defensive walls are among the most well-preserved on the planet. The Old City within is quite rightly a Unesco World Heritage Site, and strolling around those narrow streets will transport you to another time in history – or, if you’re a Game of Thrones fan, another world altogether.

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Trip highlights and details

STARTS AT

Split, Croatia

ENDS AT

Dubrovnik, Croatia

DURATION

8

GROUP SIZE

16

PHYSICAL RATING

Moderate

STYLE

Discovery

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Edinburgh Castle towers above Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland

Edinburgh and the Scottish Highlands by Train

Much like Ireland, Scotland has a long and fabled history, which you can trace through architectural remnants and remains across its rugged landscape. Our week-long Rail Trip includes a visit to Eilean Donan Castle, a spectacular island-loch castle that remains one of the great medieval castles still standing in the UK. We’ll also visit Inverness, a Highland port city that thrived during the Middle Ages, but when it comes to medieval Scotland all roads lead to the capital, Edinburgh. The city is dominated by the imposing Edinburgh Castle, a stunning work of medieval fortification stood atop Castle Rock, which was occupied by humans as far back as the Iron Age. The city’s streets are just as storied, and the Unesco-listed Old Town offers an incredible insight into Scottish history. You’ll get a guided tour, with an expert Local Insider, of the city and the castle on our last full day in Scotland.

From US$1687

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Trip highlights and details

STARTS AT

London, England

ENDS AT

Edinburgh, Scotland

DURATION

7

GROUP SIZE

15

PHYSICAL RATING

Moderate

STYLE

Discovery

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Volcanic Iceland Epic Trip

meet our Local Insider

Hanna

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A GUIDE?

2 years.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB?

It's the personal contact, the personal experiences. I love meeting people from all over the world... I really like getting to know everyone and feeling like I'm traveling with a group of friends.

WHAT DESTINATION IS ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET-LIST?

I have so many places on my list, but I would really lobe to go to Africa. I consider myself an “adventure girl” and Africa feels like the ULTIMATE adventure!

Every CULTURE TRIP Small-group adventure is led by a Local Insider just like Hanna.

map of volcanic iceland trip destination points

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Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.