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When to go? Krakow/Budapest and Greece

Posted by (Tel Aviv) on

I'm looking at the 2017 calendar. I'd like to take two trips that I'd hoped to do this year, but . . . .

I have a 2.5 week independent trip in the drawer for Warsaw-Krakow-Budapest. I also want very much to visit Greece with an emphasis on the ancient, probably on an RS tour.

I do not do well in hot weather, so summer is out! I'd originally planned the Warsaw trip for late May to mid-June and thought Greece would be nice at the beginning of October. Then I read that [1] Greece is pretty in the spring, wildflowers and greenery and [2] by October the tourist industry is closing up, and workers are worn out. So I'm thinking of switching and taking a spring tour to Greece. Possible tour dates for me: March 20-April 2 or April 24-May 7, or one of the 2 October tours. I'm leery of i being too hot on a later tour. If I do that, when would be the best time, weather-wise, for the Warsaw trip? I could reverse the order and start in Budapest, but since I've been there, I like the idea of starting with places that are new and then having less stress later by returning to somewhere familiar. My calendar is open for September-October except for the 2nd half of Sept.

As always, I appreciate all your suggestions and advice.

Posted by
7049 posts

For Warsaw (and Poland), I would say September. You cannot count on predictability anymore, the weather's been really wacky the past few years, but generally September and early October (even mid October but it's the luck of the draw) are very comfortable and pleasant. That's the time I always try to go back.

My Mom is leaving for a month in just three days (and staying until early October) to see our family, so I can report back on this year if you'd like me to let you know.

Posted by
2838 posts

Chani,
If the 2nd half of September is unavailable then I'd say the first half of October would be your best bet for Krakow/Warsaw.
We spent a month there a few years ago and although it was still around 90 the first week of September, it cooled off nicely for the remainder of our stay after a cold front blew thru the area around the 7th of the month.
By the time we left the area in mid October it was beautiful - really gorgeous Autumn weather.

Posted by
11294 posts

I was in Krakow and Warsaw from September 6 through 16, 2013. The first half of the trip had pretty good weather, but the second half was very rainy. Rainy in September in Poland is very gray. And gray in Warsaw is not nice; it's not a "pretty" city and doesn't look good in the rain. All of the unpleasant history Warsaw has suffered through seemed magnified by the grayness.

Obviously, that was just that one September; I see Robert went in a different year and had very different weather (it was nowhere near 90 degrees when I was there). But based on my experience, of the dates you gave, I'd try to go as early in September as possible.

Posted by
7175 posts

For Kraków and Budapest I would choose September, before May, before October.
For Greece I would choose May, before September, before October.

Of your dates I would lean towards the Greek tour April 24 to May 7. Then follow that with Budapest and Kraków.

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