I'm guiding a group of 54 students and parents through Europe in March 2010. Though I'm an experienced guide, the Czech Republic and Hungary are new destinations for me, and I am wondering if you have any suggestions for a stop on the road between Prague and Budapest? It's a 6.5 hour drive in our coach, and I would love to stop for lunch and maybe some attractions in a village or town along the route. We are leaving Prague at 7:30 AM, and taking the most direct route to Budapest.
Craig, Bratislava would be a great place to stop for a couple of hours, have lunch and explore the old town. If you leave Prague at 7:30, you should be there around noon.
I second Bratislava. Fun town, small enough that if your group is only there for a few hours they will still get a good feeling for the city. Explore the old town, meander along the river, maybe go up to the castle (great views even if you don't pay to go in).
If you need just one stop Bratislava makes sense. It is the capital of Slovakia and they use Euro.
Bratislava is a very good stop. If your group has a music interest, there is a very good concert hall there.
Thanks for your responses so far!
I had thought of Bratislava, but was more interested in a smaller place for our stop - a little village with something interesting as an attraction. We are travelling from one major city to another - I would like to break it up.
If you are interested in some smaller town or a village I suggest Lednice. It's almost on Slovakian border (still in the Czech Republic), few kilometres from freeway. It has a nice chateau, chateau gardens, tropical green house, minaret.