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When you imagine a trip across the pond, there’s virtually no chance you haven’t thought of an Old World city.
Whether it’s tourist-filled London or perhaps a hidden gem that locals love and prefer to keep quiet, the point is that a European getaway almost always means immersing yourself in centuries of history, whether intentionally or not.
Exploring Europe by train is a mustespecially if you want to get around Ryanair’s millimeter police baggage rules.
Train travel is always a good option, but sometimes you can encounter a problem if routes do not connect.
Since they are two of my favorite destinations in Europe, I couldn’t resist writing about them one of the continent’s most exciting new train routesconnecting a few affordable medieval towns that will only take your holiday to the next level.
Discover medieval wonders from Prague to Bratislava
Everyone aboard the Leo Express!
This wallet-friendly railway company, a conglomerate of the more popular Renfe brand, will launch Central Europe’s most exciting new train route within days.
Ready to toot his horn for the first time April 30, 2026travelers can do that start an adventure for the books from Prague and Czech discover countless overlooked gems along the way before driving into one of Europe’s most underrated countries, Slovakia.
Here is the full route as reported by Renfe:
- Prague, Czech Republic
- Pardubice, Czech Republic
- Olomouc, Czech Republic
- Otrokovice, Czech Republic
- Staré Město, Czech Republic
- Hodonin, Czech Republic
- Břeclav, Czech Republic
- Bratislava, Slovakia
This Leo Express train is not a high-speed route – you should get a window seat and enjoy the view of the picturesque hinterland of the Czech Republic with lush greenery, extensive vineyards and cozy towns.
If you want to be one of the first to make this journey, score one promotional rate won’t bring you back at all:
- $4.80 for Economy seats
- $31.25 for Company seats
From start to finish the journey is rough 5 and a half hours with twice daily departures at 6:25 AM and 2:23 PM, but if you miss the first stop there are actually 2 starting points in both Prague and Bratislava:
- Prague Central Station
- Prague-Libeň
- Bratislava hl.st.
- Bratislava-Petržalka
There’s a stocked buffet cart, Wi-Fi, and power outlets to bide your time, keep your devices charged, and document your epic journey down to the gram.
Why Prague will become your new favorite city
A city that exudes tangible history is always a challenge to put into words, but my first visit to Prague last year took me right off the bat.
I was there in winter for the city’s world-famous Christmas markets, but even beyond the aromatic squares where I cut up every sausage and served every beer known to man, Prague was truly a dream landscape with red tiled roofs and Gothic spiers on every corner.
With hidden delights along the river, including a slice of ‘Venice’ along the Čertovka Canal, it’s safe to say that Prague is even more fun when the sunshine of spring and summer illuminates the vibrant terracotta cityscape, where spots like Letná Park and Petřín Hill become a must-visit to take in the scenery while sipping a cheap, ice-cold local beer.
Better yet, despite its notoriously wild nightlife, Prague was generally super affordable and felt very safe.
Fellow travelers seem to agree, according to our own safety index below, which gives it a current ranking of 90/100:
Why Bratislava is the perfect end cap for a European escape
No one I knew had heard of Bratislava when I visited on a whim in 2021 it turned out to be the most surprising city I’ve ever been to.
What must be one of the quirkiest destinations in the world, you’ll be welcomed by a towering ‘UFO’ atop the SNP Bridge and random art installations in the timeless cobbled Old Town.
Unlike Prague, where you look up and gaze at Gothic wonders, you will be more entrenched in the maze of narrow streets and beautiful courtyards that will never fail to delight you.
Then there’s the staggering part Bratislava Castlehigh above the Danube River, is still one of the most remarkable places I have been in Europe.
Overall, Bratislava is largely affordable, boasts underrated Slovak cuisine and wine, and is still off-road enough not to feel overly touristy, despite unprecedented growth in recent years.
Plus, it’s super safe to explore. Just pack your hiking boots to be prepared for the jagged slopes.
As you can see, fellow travelers seem to agree that it feels very safe, with a score of 85/100:
The Travel Off Path Strategy:
Fly to Prague, enjoy a spectacular drive through the Czech countryside and end your trip in the whimsical city of Bratislava, where you can easily add Vienna, just an hour away, to fly back home.
