Taylort771

I previously posted asking for advice but then figured out our plan entailed to much traveling. We have decided to check out Eastern Europe.
We want to visit
Krakow
Prague
Vienna
Slovenia
Croatia
Budapest
Bratislava
Mostar
We have 32 full days. Can you help me figure out the best way to travel between places and the best route to take? Is this enough places for that amount of time? Or to much?

xyz99

Will you drive? Or take trains?

Slovenia and Croatia - you can easily spend your 32 days there. What do you have in mind?

What are your interests? Nature, museums, beaches, party scene?
When are you going?
Who/how many is "we"? Does your party include a baby/stroller? People with mobility issues? We need some more details here...

BigRuss

Not of bit of this is Eastern Europe, it's all Central. Why'd you tag Estonia?

Basic choices are north to south or south to north. Where are you flying from? If it's from the US, you're better off going to Croatia or B-H first because those are harder to get to and you might as well get the worst part of the trip out of the way on day 1.

Where in Croatia? Where in Slovenia?

The best bet is probably to go Mostar to the Dalmatian coast to Zagreb to Ljubljana to Maribor to Budapest to Vienna (Bratislava is thisclose so an easy day trip) to Prague to Krakow. The how . . . trains from Budapest north and Zagreb to Ljubljana. I don't know the connections for the other legs.

Renting a car will mean HUGE drop charges once you cross any border. And the car will be useless in major cities.

PalenQ

In your 'Eastern European' countries (yes technically part of central Europe) - Poland, Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary to go to mainly cities take the train - in Croatia and Slovenia maybe go by car as the rail system there is not nearly as comprehensive and the attractions are not mainly cities - like driving the gorgeous coast from Rijeka via Split to Dubrovnik (the latter an amazingly gorgeous old city) - maybe pick up car in Zagreb, bop around Slovenia and drive down coast and return car in Dubrovnik.

anyway in Eastern Europe if taking trains to that many places by all means check out the Eastern European Railpass valid in all five countries you are going to - just hop on and hop off at will. If driving be cognizant of steep drop-off charges BigRuss talks about.

Great sources of info for Eastern European trains: www.seat61.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

Taylort771

We will not be using cars. So trains probably. We is My brother and I (18 &20) We like the beach, nature, history a little of the party scene

nytraveler

When are you planning on going - time of year and weather may affect if you go south to north or vice versa. Eight places is a lot for the time you have - since traveling between any two places will take at least half a day and sometimes a whole day (esp if by train).

I would go to bahn.de now (German rail site but it has schedules for all of europe) to see how long some of these trips are. And some checking around may help you figure out the most sensible order of cities - as would a good map. Yes, a real paper map - Michelin are good - excellent even if you're not driving - to help you figure out what day trips or stops you might be interested in - and if they are doable.

Taylort771

We will be there in June 2015

PalenQ

June should be a perfect time of year - July and August crwods from all over Europe have not yet materialized in tourist meccas like Prague.

nytraveler

In June I would start in the south and head north to get cooler in the south and possibly warmer in the north.

Strongly encourage you to do

1) a lot of itinerary planning

2) build a zero base bidget now so there are no surprises next next (and expect plane fares to be higher than this year) but in most of your countries expenses shouldn't be too high - not much more than in the US

3) If you are planning on using hostels reserve far in advance to get the better ones (there can be huge differences in amenities, cleanliness and safety - theft happens often in some)

kja

I think you've got about twice as many destinations than your time allows. I recommend that you get some good guidebooks (or spend some time with a few in your local library), identify the things you most want to see in each location, note their opening/closing times, and mark them on a calendar. Then pencil in your transportation, including AT LEAST two or three hours on either side (for getting to/from the airport or whatever, checking in/out, packing/unpacking, obtaining currency, and getting oriented). Then see how things fit together. (BTW, good guidebooks will also outline your transportation options.) The good news is that these are all worth destinations, so you'll have a great time even if you cut your wish list in half.

adrienne

This is not an improvement on your previous itinerary. Have you looked at how long it will take you to get from one place to another?

Ljubljana to Split is 11 hours on the train and then you have another half day on a bus to Dubrovnik.

Remove Slovenia, Croatia, and Mostar. Add Berlin & Dresden. That will give you 6 interesting locations in 32 days. You'll have travel time in between locations. Fly into Berlin and home from Budapest (or something similar).

PalenQ

In summer a good way to go up and down the Dalmatian Coast is by boat - the famous boats that ply the coast from Rijeka to Dubrovnik, stopping at islands like Hvar (Marco Polo;s home I believe) - you can sleep on the boats too - they no longer run daily however and buses are a viable way to go up and down the coast too - the Dalmatian Coast is a highlight of Croatia IME.