I would like some advice on traveling to Normandy, Poland and Prague in a two-week period. We have relatives in Prague so we'll be well toured there, and would like 5 days in that area. In Poland, we would be interested in visiting Krakow and Warsaw (or anywhere suggested) as well as one or two concentration camps. We would like to visit Normandy and the area around it. We have so much personal history in these areas, as many people do. So I'm thinking 3 days in Poland and 3 days in the Normandy area, and 5 in Prague. Maybe not enough time?
Thanks for your input!!
Posted by
Charleston & Birmingham
4663 posts
I think you need to increase the time in Poland since it's two different cities. And Normandy is a significant distance from your other two destinations. I assume you are planning to fly from the US to Paris and go to Normandy first.
Posted by
OP
14 posts
Thank you for your input. I’m just starting to think/plan. So the order of our visits will be what makes the most sense!
Posted by
Twin Cities of MN
6676 posts
If you are in Poland 3 days (nights?) and plan to visit one or two concentration camps, that would be all you do. Can you clarify if you are talking about days or nights and is travel time included in those days?
Posted by
Los Angeles
1244 posts
If it were me, I would concentrate on Prague and Poland, and leave Normandy for a separate trip - you don't have time for the travel to Normandy if you want to do the area justice.
If you want to see both Warsaw and Krakow - and assume Auschwitz there - I would fly into Warsaw, train to Krakow then train to Prague. Or start in Prague and go in reverse order. To include Auschwitz - which takes the entire day when you include travel, you really need a minimum of three nights for Krakow, although four would be better.
Take some tome to investigate the travel options between the various cities - once you see what's involved, that may influence your planning. Good luck - you have the basis for a great trip.
Posted by
Wyckoff, NJ, USA
8022 posts
Month of year? Home city or area? Number of visitors and ages?
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/four-cities-in-poland-2019
How did your trip to London go? I ask because it's hard to tell how much travel experience you have. Normandy is not exactly a transit terminus, and really does not belong on a trip to Poland. (I have the right to say that because we were unable, year after year, to include Poland on one of many trips to Germany or Scandinavia. It's just "too far". We made a trip direct to Poland from NYC, but did stop to see friends in London on the way home.)
What camp would you go to besides Auschwitz-Birkenau? That destination is widely discussed here; have you use the Search box top left to read up on the technical details of visiting there?
I wish I had gone to Prague earlier in my travel career, because it is such an attractive destination. Start thinking about whether (distant) Cesky Krumlov is a must-see for you. Prague is also a bit out of the way, but not a bad train ride from Germany. I might suggest that if (a guess on my part) you view Normandy as a World War II visit (not, say, a Bayeux tapestry, cider route, Mont St. Michel, rural public garden trip), you might consider starting in Berlin, and training to Prague. Or ending in Berlin - I think we had an easy time stopping in London because the flight home from Poland would have been more expensive than the flight in - don't ask me why!