Hi y'all! Looking to head to Europe for 3-4 weeks in beginning September 9. I know it's short timing, but I've traveled a lot and can swing it :) Just seeing if anyone has suggestions for me, I'm 37 and love culture, food and a bit of adventure. The list of where I've already been is Croatia, Montenegro, Mostar, Paris, Seville, Frankfurt, Venice, Munich, Bucharest. I definitely want to hit London for 3-4 days, the rest is up in the air! Perhaps Berlin-Krakow-Budapest-Vienna?
Thanks!
Jennifer
Rome? We had a great week in Rome in October! Happy travels!
Have you already purchased flights? If so, that will help people determine some itinerary possibilities.
Your ideas of Berlin, Krakow, Budapest, and Vienna are all good ones.
Berlin-Krakow-Budapest-Vienna is probably the ticket if you enjoyed Bucharest, Croatia, Montenegro, Mostar. Come to think of it, if you enjoyed Bucharest that puts you in a very small club (with me). Hope you saw more in Romania as its a stunning country. I would suggest you look in Hungary at Pecs, Gyor, Eger, Pannonhalma, Sopron, and in Slovakia in Koscie, Banska Bystrica, Banska Stiavnica, Strbske Pleso. Starting in Vienna then to Krakow and then you can do a pretty nice trip through Slovakia to Budapest. When you see the photos of those Slovak towns you will know why this is a good trip. After Budapest or as overnight trips out of Budapest the Hungarian towns are outstanding. My favorite this week is Pecs.
Based on where you have enjoyed you might also like a trip we did in June. We flew into Sofia, Bulgaria and then crossed Bulgaria by car to Istanbul then took a cheap flight back to Budapest. This was our second trip to Bulgaria. The first trip was the typical see the sights trip and it was fantastic, this was a fishing trip where we drove from stream to river in the mountains as we worked our way to Istanbul. Incredible trip.
Was that any help?
When I can, I plan trips around events and festivals. Here is what is going on in Budapest in September
10 – 14: Budapest International Wine Festival. We went last year and it was a lot of fun. Set up around the Castle in Buda. Not a drunken orgy as a is often the case where the booze is free or cheap. This was very well done and just an enjoyable way to spend a few hours. Very nice. http://www.aborfesztival.hu/index.php
19 – 21: The National Gallop (Nemzeti Vágta): They close off the streets that circle Hero’s Square then they lay down dirt and they race the circuit. The uniforms and the horses are amazing. Great fun. They also close Andrassy ut from Hero’s Square to the Oktogon and they turn it into a mile long expanse of tent like booths selling food, crafts and stages with music. I had wanted to go for years and finally made it last year. It was a blast. http://vagta.hu/menu/180/2013
To continue the sales pitch. I will put the quantity and selection of good and diverse quality food in Budapest up against any other city of its size in Europe. You can do neighborhood bistro or Michelin Star. The culture is still authentic and not staged for the tourists (a few exceptions). You can go to a concert or an opera or a musical operetta and be surrounded not by tourists but by Hungarians. Same on the streets. Like the food? I know a lady that teaches cooking classes in her typical Hungarian apartment kitchen. First she takes you to the majestic old market to shop for the ingredients then you sip a little palinka, stir a little, chop a little, sip a little more palina, on and on and in a few hours you have a three course meal at her kitchen table. Its fun.
Adventure? My wife got a kick out of driving the cold war era Russian Tank. Tired? Great spas and bath houses. (yes, I enjoy Budapest)
Hi,
Good choices for 3-4 weeks, I would do the same....Berlin-Krakow-Budapest-Vienna. In that order? If not, you can
do Berlin-Vienna by night train, adds an extra day to your destination. Two options for the night train, I strongly suggest Berlin-Munich on the CNL, change to the RailJet (RJ) to Vienna, a little longer than the direct Berlin-Vienna but more comfortable.
If it´s just about cities I´m thinking a bit like this: Budget flight London Stansted to Krakow, then the following by train: Budapest, Vienna, Prague, Dresden, Berlin.
Between Vienna and Prague you can consider also: Salzburg, Munich, Regensburg, Nürnberg and Karlovy Vary in the Czech Republic
I know you are interested in Berlin-Krakow-Budapest-Vienna, but what about Florence and Rome. They are easy to get to each other by train, have tons of wonderful food and culture. September into October will be good weather and each city is easy to get around. Plus you can take some day trips from Florence. Florence is full of wonderful churches, museums, outdoor cafes, easy to walk every where and excellent shopping. Rome is also easy to walk, has a good metro and bus service and has wonderful museums, churches, cafes, shopping and just walking the streets, every street you will want to photograph. If you want more information, just pm me and I will be happy to give you more ideas. I have been on the RS Rome and Florence (when he had the Florence tours) twice and still want to go back to each city! And I would consider more than just 3-4 days in London as that too is a great city and would buy tickets to see some plays along with the wonderful sites and museums there is to see. I have been to London more than once and took the London week long tour.
Hello Jennifer. Three weeks ? I recommend : London > Budapest > Vienna. And ride in a train from Vienna to Melk in Austria, ride on a big boat on the Danube river from Melk to Krem, and train from Krem to Vienna.
If you're booking airline tickets, try for a "multi-city" itinerary, such as into London and out from Vienna or Budapest. Between London and Berlin, look into a budget flight using www.skyscanner.com.
Single woman mid-thirties... hmm...Italy?
