Hello ,
I arrive into paris for 4 nights ,take a flight to budapest for 3 nights , then goto prague for 3 nights , i have 4 more days to spend in europe i have to decide between going to vienna for 2 nights from prague and then to salzburg for 2 nights or option 2 would be to go to berlin for 4 nights from prague. please suggest which option is better.
Berlin for me, as Vienna has never wowed me apart from sachertorte. Berlin is vibrant with so much to see and also close to Potsdam. Others will give differing perspectives. A good problem.
No comparison - Berlin is much bigger and has more to do.
I would pick Berlin as well but for different reasons. Less moving around with a 4 day stay and Vienna really needs more than 2 days. Berlin is an awesome city with lots to do and see. It is a very vibrant and youthful city with great history & art - both old & new.
The choice should be: four days Berlin or four days Vienna. I love them both. Totally different cities. Vienna has more old, but also surprising more modern architecture (such as the famous Karl-Marx-Hof and the Hundertwasserhaus). Berlin has more recent history (Second World War, Cold War), wonderful museums on the Museuminsel, and Potsdam as a nice (half-)day trip.
You're spreading yourself out geographically on your planned itinerary. Prague and Budapest are somewhat alike river cities that are great for young bohemians. Vienna is a great old, conservative city in the continental style--the music city. Berlin is a big important city that's been rebuilt somewhat recently.
I like to travel between cities that compliment each other and that are easy to travel between. I'd suggest visiting Budapest before taking a 3 hour train to Vienna. Then it's a straight shot into Salzburg by train. You could also take in Munich if time permitted--another great European city easily reached from Salzburg with a great international airport.
All your options are good. It depends what you prefer. You are deciding between Vienna plus Salzburg or Berlin. Vienna is classical grandiose capital of a former great empire. Salzburg has a beautiful setting in the Alps with a small downtown and fortress on the hill overlooking it all. If you decide for V+S I would put 3 nights to Vienna and 1 night to Salzburg. Berlin is huge. Very exciting, full of stuff to do, many museums, very spread out, no real center, architectonically mishmash of old and new (more of new) and nobody can accuse it of being pretty. It's the most different from your other cities (Paris, Budapest, Prague - all eye candies), that's why I would choose Berlin instead of Vienna plus Salzburg.
I agree that it's either 4 days Berlin or 4 days Vienna. I could stay longer in either - have done so in Vienna and just haven't had enough time in Berlin. Obviously, Vienna's a short train ride while Berlin would probably be another budget flight.
Definitely Berlin. Vienna was pleasant but I wouldn't return. But Berlin was fabulous and I'd definitely go again. And also, I'd rather stay 4 days in one place than split it between 2 places.
Enjoy!
Thanks a lot guys , Berlin it is!
Hi,
With your time frame I'll choose Berlin given the choices.. Much as I like Vienna, go back for repeat visits, etc, Berlin is vibrant whereas Vienna is not. Very doable itinerary going to Paris, Berlin, Budapest, Prague (not in any order here). Berlin can also be done by night train from Budapest.
@ Ilja..."no one can accuse it of being pretty." I like your eloquence. In the 1970s I saw postcards in Berlin asserting "Berlin - die durfte Stadt." Seriously, there are numerous "pretty" spots in Berlin.
You will love Berlin - a bike tour is a great intro to the city. We are returning to both this year - a week in each!
You are making the right call. Enjoy Berlin!
