Hi. We are traveling in mid May from Krakow to Bratislava then fly out from Vienna. Can someone recommend places to visit on our 1 week journey. We are traveling with 3 adults and a dog. We will be driving. We are traveling 1 week before from Warsaw to Krakow and we have all that I need in Poland. So, now, we are looking for places to stop and visit and maybe stay for a day or 2 on our second leg.
Thank you.
Olomouc and Brno in the Czech Republic.
I'm confused, in your previous post you said you were flying out of Krakow back home?
Only 1 of my daughters is flying out of Krakow. We are continuing on.
Olomouc and Brno look very nice. So you suggest to go through Czechia instead? We haven't been in Czechia besides Prague - which we loved.
Hello, I'm not sure about your specific route, but between Krakow and Bratislava there are quite a few interesting/scenic towns and villages:
In Poland:
Kłodzko - a sort of “Little Prague”, definitely the architecture of the town reflected that. By far the most interesting site in the town is the old Prussian Fortress that dominates the center of the town. It was apparently one of the largest star fortifications in the Prussian Empire and is in remarkably well preserved.
Polanica - old German spa town located in the Sudeten mountain range. Really relaxing place with restorative mineral waters, I had the best pierogi I've ever had in Poland at Villa Polanica.
Ustroń - larger spa town, quite popular with local Poles. Nestled in the mountains where Slovakia, Czechia, and Poland meet. The President of Poland has his Presidential Castle nearby, that he uses for winter/summer retreats, it's possible to visit the castle when he's not in.
Wisła - mountain resort town, the smaller sister to Ustroń. They have great hikes here that run all the way to Slovakia and Czechia.
Pszczyna - old baroque town, former capital of the Duchy of Pless. It's dominated by a large Baroque style chateau, which used to be owned by the von Pless family. The interior is very well preserved and many of the original furnishings are all still there. It is also historically important as this is the place where Kaiser Wilhelm II had his HQ for the eastern front during WW1.
In Czechia:
Štramberk - quaint medieval hill town, with a small castle at the top, very relaxing. located in Moravia, close to the Polish border. Close by is a cave with Neanderthal remains.
Hope these give a few ideas :)
Thank you for this. What about continuing on to the Vienna destination after Poland? I mean what else we can do in Slovakia OR should we travel through Olomouc and Brno in Czechia as was suggested previously?
I have not traveled extensively in Slovakia, only the area around the Tatra Mountains, and have yet to visit Olomouc and Brno, so I can't speak to that. I know that Slovakia is more expensive than Poland and Czechia as they use the Euro.
I've only ever taken the train from Krakow to Vienna, never done it driving
Understood. Well... we have 8 more days after Poland so I am trying to figure out if we go to Vienna via Slovakia or Czechia. Perhaps we would spend 2 days in Vienna, but the trip from Krakow to Vienna is quite long so I prefer to see few things along the way to break it up.
If it were my holiday, I'd probably just drop the Bratislava/Vienna idea and just add the second week to Poland, to do the country some justice, there's so much you are missing outside of the week you already have for Krakow and Warsaw. Since you will already be in Poland and have a car at your disposal it makes all the more sense to me.
From Krakow you could head west to Wrocław (my favorite city in Poland) and explore the historic Silesia region, or head east to follow the trail of Royal Renaissance Towns like Zamość, Sandomierz, and Przemyśl, or drive up north to the Medieval Hanseatic city of Gdansk and road trip through the Masurian Lakes District. Then you could loop back to Krakow or Warsaw, drop off your car (saving $$$ on a foreign drop off fee) and fly out.
I dont have that choice. I need to fly out of Vienna - for many reasons.
I haven't yet been to Slovakia but liked both Olomouc and Brno in 2018.
I haven’t been to Olomouc or Brno but I loved Bratislava. Driving this route is a shorter distance. You have the Tatra Mountains in the way in Slovakia and I don't know if you can drive through the Carpatian range.
Thank you all. I think I am going to go via the Olomouc -> Brno way, staying 2 nights in Brno. Then will go to Vienna. Trying to see what other gems to pick up on the way.
Slovakia is one of the best kept secrets in Europe so take advantage of it.
I am not at my computer so I need to be a bit vague because I have a terrible memory for names.
But Google Slovakia Castles for a start, then look for the two towns that begin with Banska and for Kosice.
And Lake Strbske is worth the effort if you love nature and spectacular views; the Kempensky hotel on the lake is probably the most memorable stays I have had and there is a very nice castle hotel not far as well.
You might consider dipping into Hungary from Kisice and seeing Lillafuerd then it's a straight shot to Vienna thru Budapest with maybe stops in Eger, Gyor and the Archabbey at Panonhalma.
How are you traveling because that will impact a lot, as Slovakia only has a fair train network (PM if you are interested in a guide with a car).
Wow. Now I am totally confused.
Krakaw -> Banská Bystrica -> Štrbské Pleso -> Košice -> Lillafüred - > Eger -> Budapest -> Győr ->
Pannonhalma Archabbey -> Vienna
This is what you are proposing? Where do I land for a few days and do day trips? Where is nicer to stay? WE are traveling by car but dont want to hop from hotel to hotel every day.
Driving from Kraków to Zakopane, Poland takes 1h 45m.
Driving from Zakopane to Banksa Stiavnica takes 3h 30m.
Driving from Banksa Stiavnica to Bratislava takes 2h 45m.
You're picking up a car in one country and dropping it off in another? That's expensive!
Well, Michael, I wasn't trying to plan your trip just suggesting some places you might be interested in.
But, tell me what day of the week you are leaving Krakow and what day of the week you want to be in Vienna and I can tell you what I would do .... tomorrow, it's 01:25 here right now.
MIster E. I really appreciate your suggestions. I definitely spent a good amount of time looking into this option after your suggestion. I feel its a little too much movement for our family though. I think we will stick with Kraków - > Olomouc -> Sternberk -> Brno.
Stay in Brno for 3 nights (2 days). 1 day to visit Brno. Second day Brno -> Lednice -> Valtice -> Mikulov -> Brno
3rd day go to Vienna. There we will spend few nights till 22nd. We will also have a day trip to Bratislava from Vienna.
I will be there may 14-22nd
