HI, I am new to the forum and did some reading and got some good ideas but just wanted to isolate a bit more.
We are looking at a trip starting from Rome and then heading to Florence, Salzburg, Vienna and then down to Istanbul.
Any recommendations on best way to do this? Likely doing 3 or 4 days in Rome and Istanbul and 2 or 3 in each of the other cities.
We had thought by train might work but are the trains the best option from Vienna to Istanbul?
Thanks in advance.
Shawn
At least 4 days in Rome, at least 4 days in Istanbul, Vienna at least 3, Salzburg and Florence each 2 days. Train is certainly not the best option between Vienna and Istanbul. Too far. You should fly.
Thanks very much for the quick responses.
You might consider flying into Istanbul and then fly to Vienna, your furthest points, and work your way back to Rome.
Bare minimums from my point of view and my interests:
Rome, 3 full days
Florence, 1 full day
Salzburg, naaaa, I wouldn’t give up any time in another location to spend time in Salzburg. Maybe an overnight.
Vienna, 2 full days
Istanbul, 2 full days
Remember I said absolute minimums for my taste. It will provide a good sampling then you can go back some day if something lights your fire. BUT, Italy combined with Central Europe is sort of a stretch and for the type of value I try and get out of a trip it puts too much time in travel vs seeing what I go to Europe to see. I try and tie things together geographically and thematically (is that a word?). I would do (and sort of have done)
Flight to Sofia 2 nights
Car to Plovdiv 2 nights
Car to Veliko Tarnavo 1 night
Car to Varna 2 nights
Car to Istanbul 3 nights
Flight to Budapest 4 nights
Train to Vienna 3 nights
Too long a trip? You could get by with one night in Sofia if you leave late the next day to Plovdiv and you could get by with 2 nights in Vienna if you leave Budapest on an early morning train. So that’s 15 days minimum and two weeks is 16 days (counting the extra weekend). For Salzburg, you could do an overnight trip out of Vienna and then back to Vienna for another day.
And Italy? You can spend two weeks in Italy alone and never scratch the surface.
Hi,
Taking the train Vienna to Istanbul...that sounds historic, very much so. It can be done, only a matter of planning the specific legs, the time factor, and what you are willing to put up with. Of course, you can look into the flying option. But, if you reject the flying option, take the train, I would.
The advice here is usually recommended time for visiting and does not include travel time between points. Be sure to build this into your schedule. A train 2-3 trip will use up close to 1/2 day. A flight or a long train ride can use much more. Remember you have to pack, check out, get to the station/airport in good time, then get to your new digs, check in, drop the luggage. If you are flying on a budget airline chances are you will have to check your bag (very low weight/size limits on carry-on), so allow for waiting at the luggage carousel too.
For flights within Europe, see www.skyscanner.com. Train only makes sense to me if you're stopping to visit other cities along the 39-hour route. The only train from Europe into Istanbul is a night train with a connection and border check between 2 and 3 am at the Turkish border crossing.
I do believe the Orient Express is running Vienna to Istanbul this year. Last time I checked it was $ five digits.
From Vienna to Sofia is pretty straight forward going from capital to capital taking the early morning train with a night train change in Belgrade to Sofia., almost 23 hrs. I've only done that type of ride twice. That was in Sweden, ie going all the way up north and two weeks later the same route back down to Malmö. Best option as you say depends on the time and energy you want to spend/invest going to the final destination.
I would give each city 4 days . They are all full of things you will want to savor. I would recommend using trains in Rome, Florence, Salzburg and Vienna but it is 62 hours by train to Istanbul. You might want to fly there.
Chani, while my idea probably isn't the trip the OP is looking for, I did consider the travel times. But you are correct in that it is often overlooked. And my plan through Bulgaria only works by car. Last year hired car/driver/hotel for about $300/day for a similar trip. Year before was a little cheaper so time to visit before the prices go up!
@ Shawn...What I meant in the above suggestion that this route from capital to capital can be done by train either directly, doing the ca. 22 hrs or so, or breaking it up, starting from Vienna to Budapest, Budapest to Belgrade, Belgrade to Sofia. then for the final stretch Sofia to Istanbul. Until Sofia each of the legs is direct. day or night train.
No definitive suggestions on how much time you should spend in each destination other than "as much as possible." I know, not helpful.
What I would do though, if you've given yourself enough time, is get a copy of Rick Steve's Europe Through the Backdoor Guide and actually read everything pertinent to your trip, which should be most of the book. Then, as suggested, look at flights via skyscanner.com, trains through bahn.com and raileurope.com. And then you should start to get an idea of how much time you will need to hit your goals.
Information is power -- ohmmmmmm.............. ;)
Fantastic advice everyone thanks so much!
I am a traveler by trade (Canadian Navy) but have little knowledge of the Med and Balkans as I have spent 18 years sailing on the Pacific, so all the advice is very helpful. Appreciate your thoughts and personal view points. As a bit of a history buff and a lover of architecture and the arts I, and my wife do have some spots that we want to see but as you are all no doubt aware sometimes it is better to ask of those who have been there that to just guess :)
Again thanks for all the help!
Shawn
Shawn,
That trip should be fairly straight forward. The first step will be booking open-jaw flights, inbound Rome and outbound Istanbul. I may have missed it, but when is this trip taking place?
You could perhaps arrange it something like this.....
You might find it helpful to have a look at the RS Italy 2015 guidebook at your local library or book store, as there's a LOT of good information there to plan your sightseeing efficiently, as well as good hotel, restaurant and transportation information.
From a fellow Canadian, thank you for your service.
