February 5, 2005
European travel plan - Poland, Czech Republic, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary
I've been dying to get back to Europe ever since I left Italy. Here's a possible European vacation. Covering 6 cities in semi-Eastern Europe, I would like to find time to spend more time in each, but I've posted my personal minmums here. Travel between cities would be by train as they are rather close.
Three days in Krakow in Poland. Be sure to read the walking tours.
Two days in Wroclaw, which looks so beatiful in pictures.
Four days in Prague. The people I know who have been there call it the most beautiful city in Europe.
Three days in Vienna. I remember seeing some movie about an American man and French woman in Vienna and the setting was so much better than the movie...
Two days in Bratislava. For some reason all the web sites about Bratislava seem to be down at the moment so I can't check any of them.
Two days Budapest. I'm scared to schedule a long term stay here because I hear the pollution is bad. I suppose it would be no worse than Bangcock (I was OK there), but you never know until you get there.
Flights for this one might be tricky. Major cities like London and New York will have direct flights to Krakow. Others might have to fly into Warsaw which has gotten bad reviews from friends who have been there.
You might try reversing it and flying into Budapest or I suppose you could start anywhere in the chain - Prague - Vienna - Bratislava - Budapest - Krakow - Wroclaw would be fine. The train ride from Budapest to Krakow seems like it would be the longest so keep that in mind.
Posted by James Trotta at February 5, 2005 3:29 PM
I just returned from trip to Berlin-Prague-Budapest-Vienna. If I had it to do over again I would fly into Vienna, rent a car and drive to other cities. Prague was our least favorite...lots of traffic and becoming very westernized. Budapest is absolutely gorgeous, as is Vienna...stunning!
Posted by: Jan at February 9, 2005 4:56 AMCan I ask why you suggest driving? Did you have some trouble with the trains?
Posted by: James Trotta at February 9, 2005 6:43 PMI'm from Budapest, and wouldn't say the pollution is much worse there than your average large European city. (Although you definitely want to steer clear of is the tunnel under Castle Hill - driving/taking the bus is fine, but don't try to walk across it).
Posted by: Peter at April 15, 2005 6:33 AM