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budapest, krakow, cesky krumlov, prague, and ?

hi! i'm finalizing my eastern europe itinerary for the end of september, and i have 3 extra days to fill. i've got 4 days in budapest, 4 in krakow (1 being an auschwitz day), 2 days in cesky krumlov, and 4 in prague. does anyone have any suggestions on what i should do with my 3 days? warsaw? gdansk? side trips? i'd like to go to vienna, but i think i'm going to save it for another trip so i can go to salzburg too. thanks,
kim

Posted by
17639 posts

My definition of an ideal trip to Budapest is four full days. A full day is where you wake up and go to bed in Budapest. Maybe that will give you some use for one of the three days. From Budapest, which is what I am best at; an overnight trip to Eger would be a good use of a couple of days http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/destinations/east/eger.htm http://www.privateguidebudapest.com/images/Eger.jpg . You can do this pretty easily on the train. Check out of your hotel, ask them to hold your bags and just take enough for an overnight stay. Early train out and late train back. If you have a car or the money to hire a car or car and driver then there are the Banska towns about 2.5 hours away in Slovakia. Banska Bystrica: http://www.visitslovakia.com/data/USR_044_BANSKA_BYSTRICA/Banska_Bystrica_6.jpg and Banska Štiavnica http://www.theodora.com/wfb/photos/slovakia/banska_stiavnica_slovakia_photo_gov.jpg for a car and driver you might look up a Budapest company called First Class Limo Service. Closer to Budapest is the Pannonhalma Archabby http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pannonhalma_Archabbey and http://bences.hu/en which most people agree rivals anything at Melk. You can rent a car or hire a guide in Budapest. A good guide is a gentleman named Andrew ILLES. Tihany on Lake Balaton is another place I really enjoy for an overnight trip. http://www.hungaromax.com/balaton/tihany.jpg and http://www.hungary-tourist-guide.com/tihany.html Finally, you can even do an overnight trip to Vienna. The train ride is about 3 hours. But I'm not a big fan of Vienna.

Posted by
3696 posts

I would probably add Warsaw or the suggestions above for more in Hungary rather than add Vienna. I went to Krakow and regret not having enough time to travel to Warsaw as I will probably not return to Poland, so I would have felt I saw a bit more than just Krakow & Auschwitz. Eger, or a river boat trip from Budapest is also fun. We took a hydrofoil to Vienna from Budapest, and I also liked Vienna and I am glad I went, but I do not need to return and I did not love it, although Melk Abbey was beautiful.

Posted by
6431 posts

Three extra days to fill -- good problem to have! Most posters have the opposite problem. I agree with James that Budapest would merit four full (dawn to bedtime) days, and I think Prague would too. I think you have enough time in Krakow (including Auschwitz). I think Vienna is worth more than three days, though like Terry Kathryn we didn't fall in love with the place. We weren't that thrilled with Salzburg either for that matter. You're right to save those places for another trip. How about a day or two in Bratislava? We really liked the place. I don't know how it would work re train connections or whatever but it's between Prague and Budapest.

Posted by
14482 posts

KIm, I would suggest unless you can arrange your itinerary so you're leaving from Budapest to Vienna, which basically gives you 2.5 days there, (still not enough), it's better to save Vienna for another trip when you can devote a week to it. I like the city. Going to Warsaw and Gdansk (Danzig) is not feasble...the trains are slow and the distance. Spend the three days visiting Bratislava (Preßburg) and Brno (Brünn) or give Prague and Budapest an extra day.

Posted by
17639 posts

This might be more helpful if you shared your schedule a little more. Four days in Prague? Including the day you arrive from the state and the day you depart the city? What have you got worked out so far?

Posted by
811 posts

I second the suggestion to look into Brno (Czech Republic), although to be fair, I haven't been to Warsaw or Gdansk.

Posted by
3696 posts

That is so funny about the Hard Rock Cafe in Budapest... when I was there a number of years ago there was a street vendor selling t-shirts for a non-existant Hard Rock Cafe in Budapest. My brother in law (who really doesn't travel much) loves HR t-shirts and his patients bring them back for him from trips.... so of course, I had to purchase one from this innovative/scam street vendor.

Posted by
1878 posts

Consider a couple of nights in Olomouc, or at least an overnight in Telc. Both are in Rick's book. Also! I agree with the idea of and extra day in Budapest.

Posted by
2876 posts

I'd put in another vote for Warsaw. We found it surprisingly interesting and attractive, and there's more than enough to do and see to fill 3 days' time. If you decide to go, I strongly recommend the "Adventure Tour." http://www.adventurewarsaw.com/ It was the highlight of our visit.

Posted by
294 posts

Go to Vienna! You're in the neighborhood. Salzburg is not hat far away either. Chop a day off somewhere else and get the most of your trip. To me, 3 days in Prague and Krakow is plenty.

Posted by
17639 posts

Everyone's interests are different but i sort of agree that 3 days in Prague is sufficient as long as two of those days are full wake up and go to bed in Prague days. Krakow I have never been to. Its on the list but I have issues on a couple of fronts with Krakow so I am not quite ready yet. Still, the impression i get is its a two full day trip, three if you go out to the camps. As for Vienna, i personally didnt care for it beyond the usual check list. Some towns are great to experience as a whole, others are great to go to and check the sights off the list. Vienna for me falls into the latter. With moderately broad interests you can check all the boxes in 3 full days or i think it makes a pretty outstanding overnight destination from Budapest. Take the morning train up, have a great dinner, maybe the opera, more drinks, off to bed. The next moring spend about 8 hours sight seeing (a guide would be great here) and then catch an evening train back to Budapest. I woudl recommend anyone with the time to try that. If you love it, go back some day.

Posted by
3 posts

thanks for all the suggestions! i've done a little rearranging, and i've added time in budapest for side trips and a few days in warsaw. i don't want my trip to be too hectic because i'm on medication that occasionally makes me tired. i don't want to miss anything that i really want to see if i have to have a slow day. i'd like to go to the dalmatian coast and back to venice someday, so i think an austria trip would go well with those. i can't wait for my trip! thanks again,
kim

Posted by
18 posts

We loved Cesky Krumlov - hike the hills around the town (1/2 day, 5-6 miles) and take a raft trip (1/2 day plus in a 4 person raft $45 and includes transportation!)and don't forget to stop at Mr. Milan's Pub at the side of the Vltava about half-way through your trip. See our adventures in these video blogs at www.youtube.com/wilsonfamilyfilms - click on the "Discovering Central Europe" playlist for three short videos with Cesky Krumlov in the first one. Have fun! jeff

Posted by
13 posts

We spent 5 days in Budapest and it wasn't enough. My favorite euro capital. We also went to Eger and loved it. Well worth two days. Senator Haz hotel is the best in town. As for Salzburg, I agree with Rick Steves - "Second rate sights" only I would add "at first rate prices," which in Austria, is really saying something. It's a lot like going to LA. You have to see Hollywood, but once you've seen it, you wonder why you bothered. I'd skip Salzburg go to Vienna. Bratislava (Capital of Slovakia) is less than 1 hour east of Vienna. Good luck !!

Posted by
3 posts

Tom, you're right - Warsaw is very interesting. In a guide book we found information, that this is "Phoenix City" but it doesn't describe Warsaw. The city is vibrant, romentic, calm and mad, clean and dirty - this city is totally eclectic. You cant find any square which was built in one style. But this is also a place which has beautiful old town and great history. I didnt know to much about Warsaw when I was here for the first time, but I contacted www.warsaw4u.com and it was cool - very flexible tour guide with good sense of humour. Perhaps this is not no.1 place to visit in the region, but i must admit - after first tour to this city I decided to move here. The language is extremely difficult (try to say Krakowskie Przedmiescie), but most of locals speak English. Best,
Gregory

Posted by
850 posts

Jeff, excellent videos of your trip. Thanks for sharing.