bike tour prague vs krakow
Jul 24th, 2012, 05:04 AM
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bike tour prague vs krakow
I am planning a last minute trip to Eastern Europe with my two teenagers (14 and 15). we want to do a bike tour and are torn between two options. One week from Krakow - the salt mines, Zankopane, Dunajec Gorge. then a day for Auschwitz. or one week from Vienna to Prague vis Cesky Krumlov.
both trips seem good. My impression is that the Poland trip will be a little less touristy and a little more restful. but also that the sights might not be quite as amazing as Czechoslovakia and the hotels a little dingier.
Feels like Vienna - Prague will be more fantastic, more chance of meeting fellow travelers, and more crowded.
we can get a guide to come with us in Poland - she is from there but is english speaking. it would be nice to have someone explain history to us etc.
we won't have a guide in Czechoslovakia, although we will have maps etc.
recommendations?
the trip is next week so we need to make up our minds!
both trips seem good. My impression is that the Poland trip will be a little less touristy and a little more restful. but also that the sights might not be quite as amazing as Czechoslovakia and the hotels a little dingier.
Feels like Vienna - Prague will be more fantastic, more chance of meeting fellow travelers, and more crowded.
we can get a guide to come with us in Poland - she is from there but is english speaking. it would be nice to have someone explain history to us etc.
we won't have a guide in Czechoslovakia, although we will have maps etc.
recommendations?
the trip is next week so we need to make up our minds!
Jul 24th, 2012, 05:26 AM
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My concern would be finding rooms if you don't speak Polish and Czech, but maybe you do.
You won't be able to do the Poland trip in a week as it's 7 hours from Krakow to Zakopane but it's uphill the whole way so it might take you 2 days to get there, a day to see the area, and a day to come back to Krakow. You'd never fit in the gorge as a side trip plus Auschwitz and the Salt Mine and see something of Krakow.
I thought the scenery in southern Czech Rep was much prettier than in Poland although I loved Krakow much more than Prague. There seemed to be quite a few good bike trails in Moravia.
I don't think you'll see that much activity on the road between Vienna and Prague but I went in the spring; perhaps there are more tourists/cyclists in the summer.
The sights in Poland were amazing - the Salt Mine and Krakow were wonderful. I don't do concentration camps so I can't speak for Auschwitz and was not impressed with Zakopane at all.
You won't be able to do the Poland trip in a week as it's 7 hours from Krakow to Zakopane but it's uphill the whole way so it might take you 2 days to get there, a day to see the area, and a day to come back to Krakow. You'd never fit in the gorge as a side trip plus Auschwitz and the Salt Mine and see something of Krakow.
I thought the scenery in southern Czech Rep was much prettier than in Poland although I loved Krakow much more than Prague. There seemed to be quite a few good bike trails in Moravia.
I don't think you'll see that much activity on the road between Vienna and Prague but I went in the spring; perhaps there are more tourists/cyclists in the summer.
The sights in Poland were amazing - the Salt Mine and Krakow were wonderful. I don't do concentration camps so I can't speak for Auschwitz and was not impressed with Zakopane at all.
Jul 24th, 2012, 05:31 AM
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<< does that impact whether we should see Prague/Vienna or Krakow first? >>
Yes it does as the train service from Krakow to anywhere except Warsaw is really bad. You could take a night train or the Orangeways bus but you'll have to investigate transporting your bikes.
Yes it does as the train service from Krakow to anywhere except Warsaw is really bad. You could take a night train or the Orangeways bus but you'll have to investigate transporting your bikes.
Jul 24th, 2012, 10:15 AM
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actually in both cases we are planning to go with van support - so we will get transported part way each day as needed
sounds like zacopane is not so great
and we were thinking of taking an overnight train from krakow to prague - but that is not a good line?
sounds like zacopane is not so great
and we were thinking of taking an overnight train from krakow to prague - but that is not a good line?
Jul 24th, 2012, 10:38 AM
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A lot of people like Zakopane but I was underwhelmed. Many many Polish people love it, I think because most of Poland is flat and that area is in the mountains. I guess if you're planning to ski or hike it would be a good place to go but I'd hate to make that type of bike ride and be disappointed. The bus was 2+ hours each way so it's a difficult day trip if you're thinking of doing part of it by bike.
The area is rather pretty but the town is filled with junky souvenir stalls and cheese stalls - smoked sheep cheese and every stall has the same cheese. The wooden architecture is interesting. I thought there were many other areas of Europe that were prettier. The ride there on the bus from Krakow was nothing special.
There's one night train with no changes that takes 9 hours, 41 minutes and makes 16 stops. You're liable to wake up at each stop. A friend took a night train from Krakow to Budapest and there was a lot of train car exchanges that were very loud. Only you can judge how you sleep on night trains. This train does take bikes but you need to reserve. Not a big deal - you can do this when you get to Krakow.
Go to bahn.de and view the train schedules.
The area is rather pretty but the town is filled with junky souvenir stalls and cheese stalls - smoked sheep cheese and every stall has the same cheese. The wooden architecture is interesting. I thought there were many other areas of Europe that were prettier. The ride there on the bus from Krakow was nothing special.
There's one night train with no changes that takes 9 hours, 41 minutes and makes 16 stops. You're liable to wake up at each stop. A friend took a night train from Krakow to Budapest and there was a lot of train car exchanges that were very loud. Only you can judge how you sleep on night trains. This train does take bikes but you need to reserve. Not a big deal - you can do this when you get to Krakow.
Go to bahn.de and view the train schedules.
Jul 24th, 2012, 11:11 AM
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Krakow to Prague requires a change, doesn't it? Not a good night train route. The train route winds around foothills so much that it effectively adds two hours to the equivalent car trip.
Disagree re: Krakow v. Prague - no question Prague > Krakow. Seemed like Krakow needed another coat of paint.
<< I don't do concentration camps>> dunno what this means . . .
Anyway, you can go to Auschwitz and see Auschwitz, which is essentially now a museum of Nazi depravity and Birkenau, which is a monolith and horrendously creepy. Outside Prague is Terezin, which has its own history of horror and tales of willful ignorance (three words: Red Cross inspection).
Disagree re: Krakow v. Prague - no question Prague > Krakow. Seemed like Krakow needed another coat of paint.
<< I don't do concentration camps>> dunno what this means . . .
Anyway, you can go to Auschwitz and see Auschwitz, which is essentially now a museum of Nazi depravity and Birkenau, which is a monolith and horrendously creepy. Outside Prague is Terezin, which has its own history of horror and tales of willful ignorance (three words: Red Cross inspection).
Jul 24th, 2012, 11:23 AM
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<< << I don't do concentration camps>> dunno what this means . . . >>
If you had read the entire sentence you would know what it means...I do not visit concentration camps so I cannot give any input or opinion of Auschwitz.
<< Krakow to Prague requires a change, doesn't it? >>
Not on the train leaving at 22:09 - take a look at the schedule.
If you had read the entire sentence you would know what it means...I do not visit concentration camps so I cannot give any input or opinion of Auschwitz.
<< Krakow to Prague requires a change, doesn't it? >>
Not on the train leaving at 22:09 - take a look at the schedule.
