Summer 2026 Trip Help

My first thought is that this is very late in the game to be planning a trip for this summer (or did you mean 2027?). Probably what I would do is start working on accommodations before you book anything. Check for hotels and all the places you want to stay in and see what you can find. You will especially find it difficult in areas along the NIN route. From other posts that have appeared here on the forum, it looks like Flam is already booked solid for this summer. Of course you could always do it in one day.

For what it's worth, I did enjoy Vienna and Prague, but they are not two of my favorite cities. One visit was enough for me. I loved Budapest, though, and really hope to get back there in the near future, and I loved Salzburg. Really, both selections would be worth a visit, but I'd be very concerned about finding accommodations at this late date.

So you are not going on the trips you asked about previously (Switzerland, Paris, Spain)? If you're going this summer you may well be out of luck in the Norway itinerary just because many of the things like the ferries/historic trains sell out way ahead of time. I don't know your budget but you may not find affordable hotel options either at this late date.

Your stated interests (city vibes and scenery) are covered by both options, but you'll have to decide for yourself what itinerary ticks the boxes for you and your travel companion.

@cl - thanks for pointing out the track record for asking for help for an assortment of trips & reasons, but no feedback from the OP for replies and no indication prior questions about trips were for trips ever taken or "planned" beyond a quick post here.

https://community.ricksteves.com/users/936992/posts

@ruka could really help by spending time following up on prior posts and explaining if any past advice has been used or helpful, and if any trips have been taken related to earlier posts.

Just did what you listed in Itinerary #1, have done #2 previously. I think, being young and loving nature, Itinerary #1` might be best. I would definitely add time for the Norway in a Nutshell - I did one night in Aurland and two nights in Flam and loved it. Also, I met travelers who were excited about kayaking in the fjords. BUT agreed, probably very late to try to get reservations for this year.
The two trips are very different.

Hi everyone,

First, I want to apologize for not responding to everyone individually. The feedback I've received on my previous posts has been incredibly helpful, and I truly appreciate the time people take to share their advice and experiences.

Originally, I was excited about planning a trip to Spain and Portugal, but after reading many of the comments here and doing more research, I realized that August may not be the best time for us to visit because of the extreme heat.

As for Switzerland and Paris, my family of nine had been planning a trip there, but unfortunately we had to cancel due to some unexpected expenses. Because of that, I'm now re-planning a more modest trip for just my sister and me. She recently graduated, and I'd really love to treat her to a memorable trip within the budget we can comfortably manage right now.

I genuinely enjoy this forum and have used it to help plan previous trips, including visits to London and Interlaken. I've learned so much from the collective knowledge here, and I always enjoy reading the discussions, even when I'm not actively posting.

Thank you again for all of your advice, patience, and willingness to help. It is greatly appreciated.

Thank you all for the feedback and suggestions. After looking at the logistics a bit more, I think Option 2 may be the better fit for us given the time constraints.

That said, I still love the idea of Option 1, especially for the scenery and fjords, so I'm hoping to save that itinerary for next summer when we can give it the time it deserves. Thank you all!

Thanks for the follow up on your evolving plans. Before you buy your plane tickets for your option #2, be sure to check accommodation availability in your chosen cities. Summer is peak travel season and you'll want reservations that suit your budget. If you have specific questions about destinations, you might want to post those separately under the corresponding country subforum as we have experts on all of those locations that may not read this general post. Best of luck on your planning.

For 'Option 2", be sure the lodgings have A/C.

The Wachau Valley is on my list, so I vote for that. Also, Bratislava is only an hour or so by train from Vienna, on the way to Budapest. A friend recently stopped off there for 1 or 2 nights and really enjoyed it. I don't want to add more to your already busy itinerary, but maybe a day trip there instead of Salzburg.
Vienna is one of the most expensive cities in Europe, BTW, so staying in Bratislava would almost certainly be less expensive. In any case, accommodation is going to be your biggest challenge at this late date. I would set the map wide on your favored accommodation site and see what is available that fits your needs and budget.