markland

Hi all,
I'm having a difficult time for some reason deciding on what to do.

I'll be going with my DH and 2 DD's in their 20's for a week or 8 days in late September, early October.

My DH and I were in Prague in 2005 for business, and loved it. So this is going to be a family trip. We found a trip for 7 nights, air and hotel, for Prague (3 nights) Vienna (4), so that's one choice, or I've been thinking about maybe spending the whole time in Krakow.

A Prague "feeling" is what we're after, beautiful old square, lots of history, walkable, safe and clean, beatiful buildings, interesting day trips.

Could you spend a week in Krakow with lots to do? Neither daughter has been to any of these places, so they're thrilled just to be going (and not paying, of course!!!)

Budget? I'll happily spend hours trying to find the most charming accommodation in the best location for the least cost. In other words, a nice 3* or an apartment.

I think I'm starting to ramble - I'm hoping somebody will say something to help me decide.

Thanks in advance.

adrienne

You could easily spend a week in Krakow and area. I'm going back for the second time this fall and find there's still lots to do.

Krakow is like Prague used to be - wonderful square, no (or few) tacky tourist shops. The people are wonderful and so is the food. Here's a link to my trip report from last year. Scroll down to find Krakow (it's near the end).

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-report.cfm?95

In addition to Wawel and the Salt Mine which I saw last year we're getting a private guide for a day to see the Jewish Quarter (churches, synagogues, cemeteries, market square, ghetto, Schindler factory), etc. Then another day I'm doing a day trip to see the Wooden Churches (on the Unesco list). There's the Cloth Hall, lots of beautiful churches, Aviation Museum. You can do an overnight or day trip to Zakopane in the Tatras mountains (we're going there before Krakow).

I think if you start reading about Krakow you'll find there is lots to see and do.

Here's my photos. There would have been more of Krakow except it rained for 36 hours during my time there.

http://modigliani.shutterfly.com/cze...kowfrankfurtpa

nytraveler

IMHO Prague and Vienna have way more to do than does Krackow.

Also, Prague's Old Town is real - it's probably the only sizeable city in central europe that wasn;t destroyed in WWII - and then rebuilt afterward (since Chanberlain handed over Czech to try to appease Hitler).

Krackow is certainly worthwhile - but IMHO not as much must sees.

iris1745

Krakow or Prague, difficult decision. We can only give you our own personal opinion. Krakow was also not destroyed in WW11. We have been to both a few times and there is enought to do in each city for a week. So a little information on each city. You can download from this site for each city. www.inyourpocket.com/poland/krakow www.inyourpocket.com/czech-republic/prague Plus a little history. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/krakow and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/prague

adrienne

nytraveler - during my research I have not come across any references (either in guide books or internet) to Krakow being bombed during WWII. In fact, one guide book says that Krakow is one of the few Polish cities that remained intact.

kja

I thought each of these places was wonderful, but I think I'd find a week in Krakow a bit much. It is certainly worth seeing, though, and of course I don't know what I missed by not staying there for a full week!

Depending on what you hope to see and experience, I think splitting your time between Prague and Vienna is a great idea and I think your projected split of time is better suited with that plan.

But we all travel for different reasons....

BigRuss

Krakow was NOT wiped out in WWII; nytraveler's implications to the contrary are historically incorrect.

Liked Prague way better. Thinking the Charles Bridge in early autumn would be nice.

Kwoo

What about combining Prague with Krakow, not Vienna. That's what we did in 2003, (partly because I'm of Polish descent & wanted to see Krakow), but anyways, it was a combination that worked well for us. Krakow is smaller than Prague, so you have a nice combination of a large city & a smaller city, and both cities are beautiful.

Kwoo

One more thing, if you decide to do Prague & Krakow, you could take the overnight train in both directions.

maitaitom

Personally, I would do Prague and Kraków. I think your daughters would enjoy Kraków. We commented on how young the population seemed to be (we joked that they must have killed all the old people) in Kraków.

Here is my trip report on both cities with photos. Check out Chapters One through Five on Prague and Kraków (includes Kutna Hora, Český Krumlov and Olomouc, too). Have a great time.

http://www.travelswithmaitaitom.com/...nice_2008.html

Toucan

Loved Krakow but can't imagine spending a week there. Maybe 3 days then 4 in Prague. The people are wonderful indeed but we found DOZENS of tacky touristy shops in the big building in the middle of the town square (forget the name).

I would highly suggest perogies at Pod Aniolami just of the square. A fantastic place to eat!

adrienne

<< we found DOZENS of tacky touristy shops in the big building in the middle of the town square (forget the name) >>

It's the Cloth Hall which was not open when I was there. At least the tacky tourist shops are concentrated in one place so you don't have to dodge those annoying people while walking down the street.