On a trip, is one city per week enough? While an increasing number of people opt to explore a single destination in greater depth, there are still others who embrace a trend nicknamed city-maxxing. What does it mean exactly? Instead of staying in a single destination, you traverse multiple cities, often in different countries, taking advantage of short hops and modest budgets.
A study by FlixBus has captured the phenomenon, analyzing European destinations served by its network to identify itineraries with four stops and moves always under five hours.
Building on this idea, we created five itineraries, spanning classic European routes and lesser-trodden paths.
Ljubljana → Zagreb → Budapest → Bratislava
A dive into Central Europe’s most authentic character. It starts in Ljubljana, with its castle and scenographic canals, then drops down to Zagreb, home to historic cafés and lively markets. Budapest offers thermal baths, nightlife in ruin bars, and architectural treasures to photograph at every turn. The circle closes in Bratislava, small but surprising, an ideal place for a slow final day before heading home.
Venice → Ljubljana → Zagreb → Budapest
A route that starts in Italy and crosses the border almost without you noticing. From Venice, with its canals and crowded calli, you move to the green calm of Ljubljana, then to the vibrancy of Zagreb, up to the energy of Budapest. A perfect blend of Italian art and Balkan atmosphere, with travel segments that are always doable in a day.
Marseille → Montpellier → Barcelona → Valencia
The Mediterranean serves as the guiding thread. Marseille opens the sequence with its historic port and multicultural neighborhoods, Montpellier adds a youthful, university vibe. Then you literally take off to Spain: Barcelona with Gaudí and the nightlife, Valencia with the City of Arts and Sciences and beaches just a stone’s throw from the center. An itinerary where culture, the sea, and nightlife go hand in hand.
Berlin → Prague → Wrocław → Kraków
One of the fastest itineraries of all, with a little more than twelve hours of total travel. After Berlin and Prague, the journey continues about three hours toward Wrocław (Breslau), the third city in Poland, spread across an island-like network connected by more than a hundred bridges. Its market square rivals Prague’s, but with far fewer crowds.
The trip ends in Kraków (Krakow), roughly three hours further east: the former royal capital of Poland preserves one of Europe’s best-preserved medieval centers, with the expansive Rynek Główny square surrounded by Gothic churches, colorful houses, and lively cafés.
Venice → Innsbruck → Munich → Zurich
Finally, the last itinerary crosses the Alps,changing landscapes at each stop. It begins in Venice, climbing toward Innsbruck, ringed by mountains and with a compact historic center perfect for a half-day stroll. It continues toward Munich, with historic breweries, the expansive Englischer Garten, and a culturally vibrant scene. The journey ends in Zurich, perched by the lake, in a compact old town and with an elegant yet relaxed atmosphere, ideal for a final day of shopping and riverside walks along the Limmat.
