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Options from Budapest

Hello all! I am a 22 year old on a solo backpacking trip through Europe and I am seeking advice on what to do after seeing Budapest, Hungary.

I've come up with three proposed routes, please let me know if you have done one or more of these routes and comment on your experiences! I am also open to feedback if you believe there is another route or maybe another city that I could fit into one of these itineraries. This regards the dates of August 1st - August 7th. Please note that I have a europass so the train ticket costs should not be taken into consideration.

Option 1:
Budapest -> Vienna (1 night) -> Prague (2 nights) -> Berlin (3 nights)

This route would be ideal from a budget standpoint. With my Europass, I could travel all of these routes without paying for a plane or train ticket. This route is likely the most common route of the three I have proposed. I have heard incredible feedback about Prague, and I have heard Vienna is stunning as well. These cities are ones that I will most likely travel to in my future, so it could be a route that I save for another time.

Option 2:
Budapest -> Krakow (3 nights) -> Berlin (3 nights)

This option certainly regards a road less traveled, especially compared to the first route. From Krakow, I would do a day trip to Auschwitz. Also, I would plan to see the Wieliczka salt mine (an underground city). A flight from Krakow to Berlin is 13 euros, so the price for this route is just about as cheap as the first proposed route.

Option 3:
Budapest -> Zagreb (1 night) -> Zadar/Split (2 nights) -> Berlin (flight) (3 nights)

I have looked into some of the national parks in Croatia and they are absolutely Stunning. Plitvice national park and Krka national park are the two that I am most interested in. If I did this route, there would be some more travelling involved with longer train rides, but it would be absolutely worth it to see the natural beauty of this country. Like the second route, this is also a route among the road less traveled in comparison to the first route. It also must be taken into consideration that, though I could ride the trains throughout Croatia for free/cheap, the flight to Berlin would cost approximately 130 euros, making this the most expensive route by 130 euros.

In short, it seems that I am faced with a decision between seeing popular cities with beautiful architecture, incredibly important historical landmarks, or natural beauty. I love all of these things, so I know I can't go wrong, though I would appreciate some advice from your experiences if you have ever done any of these cities! Thanks

Posted by
8312 posts

We have become lovers of Budapest after two trips in recent years. It is a great city for young adults too. Check out the Ruin Pubs there.
Put me down for Option 1. We also are partial to Vienna. Don't forget to stop over at Dresden and take in the Elbe River area prior to going into Berlin.

Posted by
6113 posts

Three nights in Berlin means 2 days there, so you are really short-changing this vibrant city (which is also great value compared to your other options). Some of your train journeys will be long, so 1 night stops are not ideal. I would be tempted to visit either Vienna or Prague (the latter would be my preference for someone of your age) then add at least another night onto Berlin. There is plenty to keep you occupied in Berlin for a whole week, particularly if you have a day at Sachsenhausen concentration camp nearby.

Posted by
263 posts

Brent, I'll try not to hijack your post! I came to ask advice on the same topic, but with a different context.

I'll be working in Budapest for the month of October. (SO excited to have this unusual opportunity.) I am considering adding a couple of days before I return home, so will be travelling the last week of October. Normally I travel with my husband and kids, but will be travelling alone in this case. Would be looking for somewhere I can feel safe alone though I am not likely to be out in the evening after dinner, and in general I have pretty good travel skills/sense.

Prague and Vienna seem very close. But maybe somewhere more exotic, more 'backdoor'? I am not terribly sporty, but love a good Roman ruin, folklore museum, market, or maybe joining a local walking tour, that kind of thing.

Budget wise the company will pay to get me home from Budapest or one of the major hubs like London, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, etc. Intra-Europe flights are often cheap, and trains are good, so I feel like there are many, many possibilities.

Thoughts?

Posted by
16895 posts

I'd do option 2, to Krakow. At least that gives you two full days each in both cities, even with the longer travel time between. More would always be better, but I really don't consider those three nights enough time to split between Vienna and Prague. To me, Croatia is lovely but the sightseeing you'd fit in there is less "important" or major.

Of course, I don't disagree with Jennifer. There's plenty to see in Berlin and as daytrips from there.

Posted by
2 posts

Thanks for the feedback so far. In response to spending more time in Berlin, I realize Berlin is massive and I could spend as long as a week here. As much as I wish to do so, I unfortunately do not have the time to. Though my time in each place would be rather limited, the purpose of this trip is to see as much as I can as this is both my first time in europe and college graduation trip. By this I mean I can at least get a perspective of where I may want to go back one day, one of those placing will likely be Berlin.
Appreciate the feedback, I look forward to hearing from others as well!

Posted by
27929 posts

To enjoy Plitvice you really need to spend the night before your visit in or near the park so you can get in there right as it opens. It gets blitzed with day-trippers, so if you simply take a morning bus from Zagreb, you'll be marching down the walkways in lockstep with everyone else. Zagreb, incidentally, is a very attractive city with a youthful vibe.