Advice on itinerary please!

Little too much moving around.
I've not driven in that region, but I would think you would want to be a little more conservative on your routes and times from point A to point B.

It sounds beyond crazy to me. Assuming you already have flights into Prague and out of Budapest, I'd do Prague and Budapest, period. Have you taken overnight flights to Europe before? Many (most?) of us are basically brain-dead on our arrival day. I'd want an additional night in Prague in order to have 3 full days there, and Budapest is certainly worth the rest of your time.

You seem to have gotten hold of a rather optimistic driving-time resource. ViaMichelin estimates the fastest route to Auschwitz (I checked the town rather than the camp) at 5 hr. 5 min., and that's with no stops, no getting lost, etc. Krakow to Kosice is listed at 3 hr. 49 min. (again by the fastest route). By comparison the direct drive from Prague to Budapest is only about 5 hours. So you're spending an extra 8 hours (at least) in a car in order to have inadequate time in four cities rather than nice visits to two cities.

If you pick up a car in Czechia and drop it in Hungary, there will be a very large cross-border drop fee. For my proposed itinerary of just Prague and Budapest, I'd simply take the train, which takes 6-1/2 hours. If you actually have a round-trip flight to Prague, renting a car won't be so costly, except that you'll have to pay to park it at least part of the time, and you won't be using it in the cities.

Michaeline, I am assuming from your post you are flying back to wherever from Budapest and keeping a car from Prague to Budapest as well. I have never driven the route to Krakow, but I know from other driving experiences, you will need to add an extra hour minimum. Based on those assumptions, here is what I would consider.

9-27 Arrive Prague and spend some time around the city center. (Night in Prague)

9-28 Explore sites you choose in Prague. (Night in Prague)

9-29 Explore more chosen sites in Prague. (Night in Prague)

9-30 Drive to Krakow and explore Krakow city (It is a great, compact city to explore.) Night in Krakow

10-01 Tour Auschwitz either by a tour or on your own. ( I recommend a tour) (Explore more of Krakow) Night in Krakow

10-02 Drive to Budapest (Through Kosice if you want although it will add more time to your drive) Night in Budapest

10-03 Explore Budapest (Night in Budapest)

10-04 Explore Budapest (Night in Budapest)

10-05 Depart Budapest

I highly recommend not cutting your time in Krakow short. I think it is a highly underrated city. Keep in mind the drives you have planned are long, so enjoy the drive and take your time along the way. Perhaps someone has taking these drives and can offer some suggestions for a lunch stop etc. I am sure you will enjoy these 3 great cities.

We were thinking of leaving in the wee hours on sunday at like 5am and driving to aushwitz (says about 4hrs and 40 min but that's assuming all is well w the world). Getting there by 10/1030. Doing museum which takes about 3 to 4hrs. Then driving an hr to Krakow and just walking around city center. Spending whatever time there and driving to Slovakia (Kosice) (which is about 3 hr drive).

I see 9+ hours of driving , plus 4-6 hours of touring ( meals?) It is most likely survivable but is this a vacation or an endurance test?

Yes we are flying into Prague and out of Budapest. Cost not an issue due to the fact we booked flights and hotels with points so we are basically paying for food, tours. Etc. I'm glad I asked others opinions! I do not want to waste my vacation driving but Aushwitz has been on our bucket list. Perhaps we will make a sideline through Vienna then on our way to Budapest. I did find a concentration camp near Prague that others thought were worth touring. Thanks so much for your input!!! I knew this would be the best place to get real advice!

Ring-Ring-Ring: Hello, reality calling. You are in Europe for *seven** days.* You fly in to one city (Prague) and out of another (Budapest).

Given the time you have, I agree with acraven that you should just do those two cities, period. If you must, pick one more location - one. That's all you have time for!