We are driving from Berlin to Vienna. I was going to stop in Bratislava for a quick look at the old town but then saw we'd go through Brno as well. Should we do both, just one? Neither and use that time in Vienna? We are obviously not looking to do anything major - just get a small taste of the places, stretch our legs, enjoy the view, etc. No museums, etc. Just strolling. What would you? Thanks!
Posted by
Huntsville, AL, USA
8154 posts
We used Bratislava as a place to rest up after a long and active week in Budapest.
It's a beautiful small city that's just 39 miles from Vienna. But it's a world apart as we didn't hear one word of German spoken while we were there. It's a high tech/high income place come to find out.
They've got a beautiful waterfront lined with restaurants and outdoor dining places--by a great modern mall.
Then we took a bus into Vienna.
Posted by
Bay Area, California
1441 posts
Brno's old town center is small. However, it's a yuppie/tech hub and therefore has a lot of third-wave coffee shops. If you are into specialty coffee, give it a try. Check parking restrictions though. I stayed in Brno for 3 nights and did not feel bored as I love specialty coffee.
Also, between Brno and Vienna is a historical town called Mikulov. It's small but super cute.
Posted by
San Francisco
14527 posts
Both places are worthy of seeing for historical reasons. Culturally, along with the history aspect, I would pick Brno. I've been there only to see a bit of the center before transferring trains to Slavkov, known by its famous name, Austerlitz. In the Zentrum is the Schloss Austerlitz given in 3 languages, Czech, English and German.
Posted by
Washington DC
27155 posts
Neither of those cities is tiny, so I'd wonder how much time you'd have to spend driving into the city, finding parking and then walking to the historic center. I'd want to be sure I had time actually to enjoy each place.
Whether the time would be better spent in Vienna really depends on how much time you already have allotted to that city and how much you want to see there.
Posted by
Barcelona ☀️ Sweden ❄️
3907 posts
I like Olomouc, smaller and more manageable than Bratislava and Brno, but still packs plenty of Baroque charm.
A little further afield is the perfectly preserved medieval town Štramberk, that I quite enjoyed a few hours at. Complete with a Gothic castle and half-timbered houses, one feels like in a brothers' Grimm fairytale.
Posted by
OP
43 posts
Great tip for Mikulov - I'm excited to stop there! It's right on the way and it does look adorable! Olumouc is probably a bit out of hte way but we'll see!
Thank you for all of your input and advice! I am probably going to do e-Vignettes for all but Austria (since there is an 18 day waiting period!) I am still torn about Bratislava... it's so close. As for our time in Vienna, I just have one night. It's more of a reconnaissance mission. Maybe we'll go back or maybe we won't. Our main trip in the specific region will be Budapest. I think we will have to play it by ear of course. If it was purely up to me we'd leave at 5am from Wrocław so we could do it all. My family would have something to say about that though! I looked at parking outside the red zone of Brno and it doesn't seem too bad.
Affordable and not a bad walk to the historic center. As for Bratislava, we'd probably park at the Eurovea mall (free) and just walk (going past the blue church to historic center) and then Uber back to the lot. I don't really care about the castle that much. If it is helpful for anyone, Uber runs in Bratislava, Vienna, and Wroclaw. (Side note: in Budapest, the tip is to use Bolt vs. a plain old taxi if you aren't using public transportation - to avoid getting routed the long way)
I'm sure some of you are just crazed that I want to zip through places like Brno and Vienna. The fact of the matter is, if I was independently wealthy I would stay much longer! However, I have limited time and limited funds and want to see as much and experience as much as I can. My dream is to stay longer as I continue to get older and less mobile. Right now, it's okay with me that we're just 3 nights in each place! I love the adventure and I love to see if it is a place I'd go back to.
One example that might help make my point of this not being a crazy itinerary though? I drive through NYC when I visit relatives. Often, we will stop and do just one or two things. Sometimes just an afternoon, sometimes over night, sometimes just 2 hours. Same with D.C. If I was visiting America and going between Boston and Philadelphia I would most certainly take the time to stop and see NYC. :)