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Eastern Europe-best time to travel

I am planning a trip to Eastern Europe-Prague,Krakow,Budapest,Lake Bled and would like to get travelers opinions on what the best time of year to travel would be.

Posted by
1840 posts

From the first week of September to the second week of October. Its a wonderful time of the year to be there.

Posted by
127 posts

"Best time of year" is like "best food," "best book"...purely subjective. If you like snow and ice, go in the depths of winter. If you like crowds, long lines and heat, go in summer. Europe is north of the U.S., so the temperatures may vary from the U.S. I prefer mid autumn, because Europe is less crowded and one does not need to take bulky outer garments. Hotel rates are lower in winter (except around Christmas, New Year's Day, and Easter) and fewer people visit, lines for admission are shorter. You may wish to consider your own priorities for traveling, such as cost, means of transportation, whether to visit sites outside of cities, events tied to specific seasons...and rephrase your question. Of course, if you're a Rockefeller, or Buffet, or Gates, what does it matterYou can go when you please, for as long as you please, where ever you please, and be guided, chauffeured, and served, as you please! best wishes

Posted by
15560 posts

Predicting weather in Europe is like predicting weather in Chicago. It can be cold and rainy in August or hot and humid in May. The earlier in spring or later in fall that you go, the smaller the crowds are likely to be.

Posted by
294 posts

Nancy,
My wife and I traveled to the places you list from Nov.9-Nov. 20. We had no rain the entire time. No real crowds to speak of. We went to Auschwitz on Nov. 11, which is Independence Day in Poland and did not feel crowded. It was a beautiful, sunny day. Budapest was smogy or hazy but we still enjoyed the city. Lake Bled was beautiful. Lows in the 20's at night, highs near 50 with total sun. Crowds were not a problem anywhere. If you have time I would work in Berlin for a few days. Enjoy!

Posted by
1878 posts

We were there during late April through the first half of May 2011, and found this to be a great time to visit. We did catch some rain on a couple of days but nothing major. Prague old town was very crowded, but as far as I can tell it always at times of the year when the weather is fairly good.

Posted by
15560 posts

Exactly. I was there in mid- to late May in 2010 and had 5 days of drizzly grey days in Budapest, and 2 more in Vienna, till it finally cleared and was lovely in Prague.

Posted by
516 posts

Weather is hard to predict. First part of September is a good bet.

Posted by
35 posts

Nancy, Joining this conversation a bit late, but thought I would share. My trip started in Lithuania, a northern neighbor of Poland. September, the 10th as I recall. A light jacket was handy on some days, and it got rather cool by evening. Drizzle one afternoon, and frost on the trees one morning. After doing Oktoberfest in Munich, we drove into northern Italy on October 1, greeted with temps up to 80 in Firenze, a bit lower in Venice. Slovenia would be close to that, I should think. Again, little complaint about the weather up to our return flight on Oct 15. If you're free to plan for WHENEVER, I definitely prefer the April-May and Sept-Oct times for most places, even if disappointed by some things closing early or one more than one day a week. I've found facts on weather and much more in WikiPedia and related WikiTravel (http://WikiTravel.org/). Give those a try.
Sounds like a super outing ahead of you. Enjoy!

Posted by
143 posts

Wow, four of my favorite places in Europe. I would recommend the shoulder seasons of May(ish) or September-October. Still good weather but less crowded. Lesser known delights: 1) town of Cesky Krumlov near Prague (great day trip) 2) A dinner in the Jewish Quarter in Krakow, with live Klezmer music 3) The Hungarian State Opera in Budapest opulent, very high standards and very affordable compared to other houses in Europe
4) The bath houses in Budapest (ask where the locals go!) Have a great trip Nancy! Ross in Denver