20th-century remade cities
Vienna, Prague, Berlin
Trace the tracks through the 20th-century history of Central Europe. Explore Vienna’s Secession Building and Hundertwasser House, Prague’s functionalist architecture, and Berlin’s Bauhaus archive.
When The Observer was launched in 1791, it promised to share “all species of knowledge that may conduce to the happiness of society". More than two centuries later, that mission still guides them, placing arts and culture at the heart of The Observer.
The newly launched Observer Culture Club offers subscribers exclusive access to the best of arts, culture and ideas - with premium events, carefully curated offers, priority booking and unique experiences designed to enrich your cultural life.
As part of this, The Observer are proudly partnering with Byway to bring subscribers premium, slow travel holidays by rail designed to highlight the richness of European arts and culture, curated with The Observer team.
We've partnered with The Observer to offer discounted curated holidays by rail. You can sign up here to become an Observer subscriber today and receive £100 off these trips (valid for trips booked before 31 Dec 2026).
Vienna, Prague, Berlin
Strasbourg, Colmar, Basel, Dijon, Beaune, Amboise
Turin, Naples, Bari, Athens, Rome, Basel
Paris, Barcelona, Marseille, Genoa, Florence, Rome, Venice, Vienna, Munich, Berlin, Copenhagen, Osnabrück, Amsterdam, Brussels
Amsterdam, Hamburg, Berlin
Turin, Rome, Venice, Florence, Zürich
Customisable, beautiful routes across Europe by land and sea
Chosen by you, booked by us, favouring local stays
Personalised trip guide, 24/7 in-trip support, free disruption replanning
A world in which flight-free holidays are the norm, and a vibrant sustainable travel ecosystem flourishes away from the beaten path.
1. Reduce the climate impact of travel by making flight-free trips mainstream
2. Boost local economies and facilitate environmental recovery by drawing tourists away from hubs suffering overtourism to the wonderful places in between
3. Increase the proportion of tourist spend on sustainable products and services by prioritising partnerships with sustainable businesses
1. Love the journey: Making slow travel mainstream is a journey we approach with the optimism and openness needed to learn and grow.
2. Trust and be trusted: Trust in each other is the foundation of our team. We share insights widely and are grounded in openness.
3. Mainstream means everyone: We listen to, respect, amplify and support all stakeholders.
