European Itinerary - 3 Months

Key point 1: Schengen limits. You say 3 months, and it is 90 days. However, note that even a day over will trigger large fines. So, make sure that you are there for 90 days. The day of arrival and day of leaving count in the 90 days. If you stay Sept 1 - Nov 30, you are staying 91 days, and you would get fined. So, count days, not months.

As to MittelEuropa, consider Vienna (5), Budapest (5), Ljubljana and surround (4), Zagreb (3), Plitvice Lake Park (2), Split (4), Dubrovnik/Kotor/Mostar (5), Sarajevo (4), Beograd (3). I've been also to Romania (Timosuara, Oradea, Brasov, Bucharest). We were in a lot of this to early Nov, and got buy with a decent jacket.

Not been to Albania, so have no opinions.

Just a comment about the 90 day Schengen limit. Your days spent outside the Schengen zone ( like Scotland) won't count. So add up all of the days you will spend inside the zone, including all of your entrance and exit days, just to be sure you won't overstay. Don't cut it too close, in case if any unforseen delays, though. The Passport Control agents will NOT be understanding.

JMO, but I think the earlier you go to Scotland the better, weather wise.

The Schengen limit is very real, but Scotland (and the rest of the UK) is outside the Schengen Zone, so the OP should be fine.

Too bad you can't put Scotland at the beginning or the end, making the Schengen time more clean cut. If at the beginning, you might even be there in time to see a bit of blooming heather.

About the weather in all the places you're going. To check on weather data for past years, not just averages, go to timeanddate.com World Weather. Search for a specific location, click on past weather, choose how far back from the drop down menu and look at what it was like on the days you plan to be there. Be sure to scroll down the page to see the different ways the data is presented. You may like some better than others.

This may be tedious, but looking back in time (it goes back several years) will provide more accurate daily and hourly data. Of course, you can also see the averages and the forecasts are useful before you pack.

We really appreciate all the advice on the Schengen visa. We had not really focused on it so it is good for us to keep it in mind. Our current plan is to be there about a week less than 90 days, so we should be okay.

I also agree that it would make the most sense to start (or end) in Scotland. Unfortunately, weather becomes a potential issue for hiking in Switzerland if we delay going there until the end of September or early October and the same for trekking in Scotland if we wait until the end to go there.

Thank you!

The weather website is great. Thank you, Lo!

There is a handy calculator at the Schengen website for number of days in the area which you might find useful: https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/visa-calculator/

As to Eastern Europe, consider Vienna (3), Gyor/Pannonhalma (2), Budapest (5), Ljubljana and surround (4), Zagreb (3), Plitvice Lake Park (1), Split (3), Dubrovnik (2), Kotor (0) Mostar (2), Sarajevo (2), Bosnia & Herz. rural (2), Beograd (2), Budva (2), Ulcinj (2) Montenegro rural (3), Timosuara (1), Oradea (0), Brasov (2), Bucharest (2), Romania rural (3)

Those are all sort of minimum nights. If you have time add a night to each. Dont forget Bulgaria (7)

Not been to Albania, so have no opinions.

We went to Tirana in Sept 2019, on a tour. We stayed at the Rogner, which was a good hotel even by our standards(we usually stay at Hiltons because we have points.) We would have liked to stay at that hotel another night, as there was a nice outside area that we didn't have a chance to utilize. We also enjoyed Kruje, for which you should try to find an escorted tour from Tirana. The local national museum was interesting and our local guide was very pro-American.

Great that you are going over for 3 months. I would too if it were possible but am working at going and staying for 100 days. If your dates and places are in order, then no problem.

Given the 2 options, I vote for #2 and would absolutely include Poland, not merely Krakow, Warsaw, Gdansk but several other places eg, in the northeast, (Masuria, etc), the lower Vistula, and the southeast.

Thanks to everyone for the great suggestions. The advice has me leaning strongly toward the second option and maximizing our time in eastern Europe and including a number of specific places we had not been thinking about.

"...specific places we had not been thinking about." Such as? In which country?

Fred,
We had not been considering visiting Bosnia & Herzegovina, Serbia or Romania, so the specific city recommendations for those places are helpful and give us more to think about.

Thanks!

I made a quick trip to BiH last summer. One of the beauties of Budapest is the discount connections to Eastern Europe. Sarajevo was fascinating, but the towns and country west of Sarajevo was stunning ... fly fishing was outstanding as well. I suspect that country is on borrowed time so it should be soon on anyone's list.

Been to Romania a few times. Again, fascinating country but not my favorite. I lean more to Bulgaria.

My experience in Serbia is limited to a few days in Belgrade. Didnt really get a warm fuzzy feeling there.