Prague & where else

Don't spend more than 4 nights in Prague. there is a lot to see, but that is more than enough. With 13 days, actually only 11 since two are travel days in and out of Europe, then you could conceivably do Prague, Vienna, and BUdapest:

Day 1- Leave Canada

Day 2- Arrive Prague

Day 3- Prague

Day 4- Prague

Day 5- Train to Cesky Krumlov, spend day there

Day 6- Train to Vienna, see Vienna

Day 7- Vienna

Day 8- Train to Budapest

Day 9- Budapest

Day 10- Day trip from Budapest

Day 11- Budapest

Day 12- Leave for Canada

That's an idea anyways. They are all very different cities, plus a break at Cesky would be a nice change of pace.

Thanks Mike, I appreciate your suggestions.

Hi Gail,

If I were you, I'd give Berlin serious consideration. A couple of years ago we spend 3 nights in Prague, stopped over in Dresden on the way to Berlin, and then spent 5 nights in Berlin. It was a really nice trip!

Thank you for the suggestion Sharon. Did you just stop in Dresden for the day? I ask, because someone else I know suggested Dresden. What did you think of Dresden & would you just spend the day, or a couple ngts?
Thanks again.

Hi Gail,

We just stopped for an afternoon--it was very cold the day we were there (in March) so we didn't get to see very much. I think that it would be worth a night or two. A smaller city between Prague and Berlin would be a nice contrast. The city center is an easy walk from the train station.

Gail.

I most definitely agree with Sharon's suggestion. go to BERLIN this time, but if you can't fit it into your schedule, then take a day trip from Prague to Dresden. It's a little over 2 hrs by train. Or, better still, spend at least full days here.

Skip Cesky Krumlov. Because Dresden is Germany's most beautiful city, it is called "Florence on the Elbe."
You'll see why. The sites are about a 20 min. easy walk from the train staion.

Dresden was pulverized at the end of WWII. I was there in 1965 and 1982 and you could still see the damage. It was on Elbe but certainly not Florence. And it certainly had a far way to be the most beautiful city in Germany. Well it seems something has changed. A lot of people on this board are now praising the beauty of Dresden so I think I have to go again and see it.

I'm not sure if you can still play with your flights.

The logical swath through the area is Berlin, Dresden, Prague, Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest (in either direction).

Of the group Berlin, Prague and Vienna can fill more time than Dresden, Bratislava or Budapest. I think you have time for only two of the big ones, Prague to Budapest or Prague to Berlin.

Yes, Dresden's Innenstadt was reduced to rubble by bombing using high explosives and incendaries in Feb. 1945. I was there for the first time in 1992 and the rubble was still there. A lot of reconstruction and refurbishing still had to be done. HISTORICALLY, Dresden is known as "Florence on the Elbe." In Germany it was known as such.

Now that the Frauenkirche and surrounding area have been completely rebuilt in the last few years, Dresden is again Germany's most beautiful city, which is exactly my impression when I visited it again this past summer.

Depending upon your time constaint, Berlin is twice the distance from Prague than is Dresden, which you should set aside one or two full days.

Hi everyone: Thanks for all the wonderful suggestions. I think we have lots to mull over now!
Gail

I flew in and out of Prague in August. We bought an Eastern Europe pass ($200 for 5 days of travel) a did a loop: Prague 3 nights, Bratislava 1 night, Budapest 4 nights, Vienna 2 nights, and back to Prague for 1 night.

I have to say that Prague is beautiful, but if you are going in February, a lot of its best experiences will be abbreviated or foregone due to the weather (i.e. no boat cruises, you won't want to linger on the Charles bridge or in the parks and garden). Even in the summer, I felt like we could have lopped off 1 or 2 nights from Prague and spent that time in Budapest instead as there was a surprising amount to see in Budapest (which earns every bit of its moniker as "Paris of the East") and that was the highlight of the trip for us (and I am now going back to Budapest for 8 days in September). Honestly I didn't care for Vienna at all, but that is just me. Prague to Bratislava is 4.5 hours, Bratislava to Budapest is 3 hours, Budapest to Vienna is 3 hours, and Vienna to Prague is 4.5 hours, and the country side in all directions is really beautiful and enjoyable, not a drag. We met all kinds of interesting people on the train, too.

If you have 10 nights, you could do a route similar to mine, or you could even do Krakow AND Budapest. You would need to buy a sleeper berth and take overnight trains but that cost is the same as a hotel. Personally I sleep well on the train, although some people don't. Travel time on the train is about 10 hours from Prague to Krakow, the same from Krakow to Budapest and 7 hours from Budapest to Prague (which can be broken up nicely with a layover in Bratislava).

I have been to Germany but its just a totally different flavor than the rest of Europe, so I'd suggest saving that for another trip. Have fun!

Thanks to all that replied with such great suggestions. I have now decided to put this trip on hold. I think too many things would be missed due to weather conditions and also that it will just be too cold for my liking. I don't need hot weather, but don't feel like freezing either. I need to leave this trip for when the weather is more temperate. Thanks everyone!