Eastern Europe itinerary and travel

Three weeks is plenty of time for Krakow, Prague, Vienna and possibly Budapest. I will be honest with you and say that I have never been to Krakow. Just too far off the beaten path right now. BUT, if I were to go to Krakow that is where I would begin. That way you at least don’t have to find your way there and then back out. From Krakow I believe there is an overnight train to Prague. I say that because people here tend to like overnight trains. It takes 8.5 hours which is the same as most of the direct day trains. My question has always been, what do you do at 6:30am in Prague after a lousy night on a train? Personally I want a shower, but the hotel check in is 2pm. You can fly Krakow to Prague in about 3 hours and $200.

So let’s suggest this
1. Arrive Krakow
2. Krakow
3. Krakow
4. Fly Krakow to Prague
5. Prague
6. Prague
7. Prague to Cesky Krumlov by Bean Shuttle or equivalent
8. Cesky Krumlov to Vienna by Bean Shuttle or equivalent
9. Vienna
10. Melk Day trip
11. Vienna
12. Vienna
13. Vienna to Gyor and the Archabbey at Pannonhalma
14. Gyor to Budapest
15. Budapest
16. Budapest
17. Budapest to Pecs or Eger by Train
18. Pecs or Eger back to Budapest
19. Budapest
20. Budapest
21. Budapest to home

You don't need a car. And this tour give you a great cross section of cities and villages and towns in four cultures.

I don't know where you are going to fly from because on your profile the location says just very generally USA. I would decide which city I would start in Europe based on airline connection from my starting point in the US. The least plane changing, the best timing, the best price and fly open jaw again deciding on the last city according which city has the best connection to my airport in the US. My educated guess is that Prague and Vienna have the best connection with the US. There are direct flight to Prague from New York and Atlanta and to Vienna from Washington D.C. and possibly more. You could start in Prague. Leave 3 or possibly 4 days (you will have jet lag) for Prague then as James suggested Cesky Krumlov, Vienna, Budapest, Eger, Kosice (change just trains there if not enough time), Vysoke Tatry (High Tatras), if you want a taste of upscale life stay in hotel Kempinski in Strbske Pleso in the High Tatras. Those mountains are like condensed Alps, very beautiful. From Strbske Pleso you can get easily to Zakopane. On the way stop to see one of the most beautiful mountain lakes Morskie Oko (Sea Eye) right under the highest mountain of Poland - Rysy. From Zakopane it's an easy ride by bus to Krakow. You can do almost all of it by train. Strbske Pleso to Zakopane by bus or private transportation. We did it from Zakopane to Strbske Pleso by taxi. Price was not bad. Between Zakopane and Krakow there are also trains but they take longer than bus besides this last June there was a major reconstruction of the railroad probably not finished yet.

Oh, please delete the word possibly from your post . . . Budapest should not be missed.

I planned a trip (for next year) and discovered that there are 2 good ways to go between Krakow and Budapest. The cheap one is by bus (about 7 hours) and I am told that the drive through Slovakia is very scenic. The expensive one is to hire a guide/driver for the day and do some sightseeing along the way.

If you do that, then Budapest-Vienna-Prague is very easy to do by train. So your gateway options would be Krakow (or Warsaw, which also has a lot to offer) at one end and Prague at the other. From Prague to Vienna, Budapest, Krakow, Warsaw or reverse.

Those 5 cities will fill up 3 weeks, especially with the possible day trips and/or the addition of Český Krumlov between Vienna and Prague.

Chani is right.
Budapest cannot be missed. And if you don't mind going 7 hours by bus, you can find cheap connection between Kraków and Budapest here:
http://www.polskibus.com/en/index.htm
Once in Kraków, don't misss a chance of seeing Auschwitz concentration camps in nearby Oświęcim, easily reachable by train or bus and famous salt mine in Wieliczka, as well easily connected with Kraków.

They are all good ideas. My logic about starting in Krakow is that its just so difficult to get to that its worth it to get it out of the way first. After all from the east coast to Prague or Budapest will take you maybe 12 to 14 hours. So another hour or two for a crummy connection to Krakow is worth if for me. Beats the 7 - 9 hour trip by any land means once in Europe. I put Budapest last based on pure personal bias. Its the most laid back of the destinations and I like to end the trip by relaxing. But you could just as easily start with Budapest after Krakow and move to Vienna, and Prague.

As Ilja points out Slovakia is beautiful and you could swap Gyor for an overnight in Slovakia between Krakow and Budapest. Slovakia is one of my favorite places and we return about every other year for a few days; but we hire a driver to get us there and back from Budapest. Not cheap but the freedom and sightseeing it affords is worth it for us. Bus is an option, but I just don't do busses any more; not if I can avoid it.

My favorite hotel in Slovakia: http://1drv.ms/1NiUgJD

So, I am the outlier.
Love - Krakow and Prague
Really like - Vienna
Been there done that and don't desire a repeat - Budapest (but would use as a transit city, if required, to visit more of the marvelous Hungary).

but would use as a transit city, if required, to visit more of the
marvelous Hungary

What are your favorite places? Or where would you like to visit in Hungary?

Thanks to all for the suggestions! In past flights to Europe we've had to connect in Atlanta or Minneapolis, but we won't limit ourselves to those cities. We had not considered Slovakia, so will have to do some research on that. Can anyone recommend a website to research train travel in these areas? We are not fans of bus rides, but would consider them for short trips. James, do you have a driver that you can recommend? Again, thanks for the ideas and we welcome any new suggestions!

@ James E.: Offhand, Eger (1/30th the population of Budapest) comes to mind plus the lovely countryside. A bike trip in the Balaton Uplands National Park area is on my short list of future trips...with a full report upon completion.

Travelbug79

I will give you three options.

We only met this gentleman earlier this year, but I think he was the best we ever hired. Good enough that we are hiring him again in February: http://www.silverwings.hu/

I’ve hired these guys for trips into Slovakia on two occasions and they did a perfectly acceptable job: http://transferbudapesthungary.com/

If you want to stay in an amazing hotel, they will come and get you in Krakow or Budapest or from where ever you might be. One of the top three hotels I have ever stayed at. Simply love this place: http://www.kempinski.com/en/strba-strbske-pleso/grand-hotel-high-tatras/overview/

Bruce, then try Tihany on Balaton. I think its one of the best kept secrets from foreign travelers. Fits well with the biking too. AND, if you enjoyed Eger and its hard not to, then think about Pecs especially in the cooler months as it tends to be a bit warmer in Pecs. This is pretty much the last of east meets west in Hungary. Finally, Tata might interest you. Lovely lake some nice parks, castle (more of a mansion), and some unique history spanning from pretty ancient to Soviet Era.

The best website for train schedule in Europe is Deutsche Bahn.
I agree with James on hotel Kempinski in Strbske Pleso. Little expensive but you get what you paid for. The view from the balcony of your room over the lake toward the peaks is simply magic. Another magic experience there: swimming in their indoor swimming pool with chandeliers above you and looking out at the peaks through the ceiling to floor window. And the service cannot be called otherwise than excellent.

Thanks so much to everyone for your help and suggestions! This gives us great information that will help in the planning process.