Demon22

Very early planning for trip in September and October 2018. After spending some time in France and Germany, we would then like do visit some of Eastern Europe and fly home to Oz from Budapest. So looking at the following options - we will have about 24 days to do this part of the trip. Starting in Berlin
Warsaw
Krakow
Prague
Vienna
Bratislava
Budapest
OR
Prague
Warsaw
Krakow
Bratislava
Vienna
Budapest.
Will be travelling by train or other public transport (ferry maybe btwn Bratislavia and Vienna)
All suggestions gratefully received.

lavandula

You could stay in Vienna and travel to Bratislava for a day trip. It's only 45 minutes by train and will save you packing and unpacking.

I think your first plan is better; you are working your way from north to south. There are good train connections between Prague and Vienna.

Lavandula

fourfortravel

I agree, the first is the more logistically practical order:

Berlin
Warsaw
Krakow
Prague
Vienna
Bratislava
Budapest

With 24 days, there will be two full days of travel (Berlin to Warsaw, Krakow to Prague); and several half-days (Warsaw to Krakow, Prague to Vienna, Vienna to Budapest) that effectively cuts the sightseeing time by another couple of days when factoring in hotel logistics and transportation to/from train stations. So, you're left with roughly 20 days of sightseeing.

The key now is to prioritize the days depending on interests, and whether you want to include day trips (Auschwitz, Salt Mines from Krakow; Karlovy Vary, Kutna Hora, Terezin from Prague; Melk, Bratislava from Vienna; and perhaps Szetendre, Ezstergom, Vysehrad from Budapest.)

So, you might have as many as 10 day trips (or possibly more, depending on what you want to do) to include in the 20 full days of sightseeing.

I hope this is helpful. Happy Planning!

Demon22

Thanks - this is exactly the sort of feedback I was wanting. We are flexible on the number of days but do want to fly out from Budapest (although that too is still flexible given no flights have been booked).

PalenQ

For booking your own train tickets online and at a discount if you book early enough check www.seat61.com for all relevant details on easily doing so. Other good sources of central Europe train info- www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

And check out the European East Railpass that lets you hop on most trains in those countries anytime- total felxibility as to which trains to take once there and when - first class is an especially good deal with that pass and first class always has significant benefits -especially for folks traveling with 'too much' luggage.

Yes I agree with 44travel about the first being the most logical order and I may suggest doing Bratislava as a day trip from Vienna- one day was about enough for me and one less base from which to relocate from.

Yes as 44travel says use those places as bases - lots of easy short sweeet day trips - but budget time - Auschwitz-Birkenau takes a full day from Krakow and back.

Demon22

Thanks Pal

Know about maninseat61 but didn't know about the East Europe pass. Had a quick look on the internet and it looks like it can only be bought via rail europe or can you buy it at a station overthere? Don't like too many short hops so will look at day trips to Bratislavia from Vienna

PalenQ

that pass can only to my knowledge be bought thru RailEurope and its agents - one agent I deal with a lot is Byron at www.budgeteuropetravel.com - have questions - have bught various passes from him foryears and IME he is one to talk to even if not buying. I like the total flexibility of the pass and first class where always it seems lots of empty seats.

http://www.budgeteuropetravel.com/id6.html

about $60/day 1st cl $40/d 2nd for total flexibility or 50 euros and about 30 euros unlimited day travel. But compare fares in Europe and see -if not much difference go for the pass.

day-trip Bratislava both going and returning covered on one day on pass.

fourfortravel

The European East Pass is good for Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia; and, at $230 per person second class, might not be all that economical.

Prague to Vienna on Ceske Drahy (the CZ national railway) is 50USD. An ÖBB (Austrian State Railway) RT ticket from Vienna to Bratislava that includes Bratislava local transport is approximately 16USD. A Vienna to Budapest one-way ticket is approximately 50USD, as well. So, unless I am missing something, your total cost would be ~120USD, about half the cost of the European East Pass.

PalenQ

Well they also have Warsaw to Krakow and Krakow to Prague so add those to the total for three train trips you gave.

But again first class is probably a better deal.

But yes do the maths - and compare.