Paris, London or ?????
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Paris, London or ?????
We are going on a river cruise from Budapest to Amsterdam for 15 days. Would love to see London, Paris or Prague before going to Budapest for our cruise. I have heard incredible things about Prague. Have about 7 days prior to cruise. Any suggestions? Would rather see Paris over London. Second trip to Europe so we are really not sure.
Any suggestions would help.
Thank you.
Any suggestions would help.
Thank you.
#2
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
How about both London and Paris - land in London - stay 3 days - take the Eurostar train to Paris - then fly to Budapest or spend 4 days in Paris and fly to Prague for a few days then train to Budapest?
Seven days IME would be about 4 too long for the average tourist in Prague and environs but some could use more time. Be sure to spend some time in Budapest before the cruise leaves.
Seven days IME would be about 4 too long for the average tourist in Prague and environs but some could use more time. Be sure to spend some time in Budapest before the cruise leaves.
#3
No one else can answer that for you. Many would say London. Just as many or more would say Paris. And a lot of people would say Prague/CZ.
All are TOTALLY worthy destinations - No right or wrong answer.
I suggest you pick up a couple of guidebooks and see if one of them looks better to you.
Then come back and maybe ask some more focused questions.
All are TOTALLY worthy destinations - No right or wrong answer.
I suggest you pick up a couple of guidebooks and see if one of them looks better to you.
Then come back and maybe ask some more focused questions.
#4
I personally would not do two cities -- you are going to be moving place to place for the entire two weeks of your cruise (though thankfully not packing and checking out every morning )
So I'd pick one city and explore it is some depth.
So I'd pick one city and explore it is some depth.
#5
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 1,249
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We're all different of course, but for me 7 days is ample for 2 cities - especially if one of them is Prague. Paris or London are maybe different, although (again, this is just me) after 5 days in any big city I'm wanting to climb in a car and head for the rural towns and villages.
If you're flying between each city (saves time, except maybe for Eurostar between London & Paris), then the choice is yours. As you've said you prefer Paris over London, and it seems Prague would be a new destination for you, why not Paris-Prague-Budapest?
If you're flying between each city (saves time, except maybe for Eurostar between London & Paris), then the choice is yours. As you've said you prefer Paris over London, and it seems Prague would be a new destination for you, why not Paris-Prague-Budapest?
#7
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'm like twoflower - I find large tourist cities fatiguing after a while - too many must sights to have to see, long lines everywhere, etc. Maybe consider Paris and a regional French town for a few days - like Amboise in the chateau-ful Loire Valley - just a one-hour train ride from Paris and Orly Airport.
#8
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 34,858
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I have no problem at all with two cities in a week, that's not particularly fast moving for me. 4-5, yes.
Paris and Prague sound great to me, whyever not? End in Prague and you can take the train from there to Budapest (7 hours), or fly. YOu can fly from Paris to Prague in a short time, I've done it numerous times.
Fly into Paris, spend 3 days, fly to Prague. Easyjet has a cheap flight (maybe 50 euro) around 2 pm out of CDG. Air France/Czech Air fly out of there also and are getting pretty competitive nowadays on those short flights, should be 100 euro or less. I'd prefer to fly out of Orly as it's closer to Paris, Transavia flies ORY-PRG, never flown them. They are cheap, also, but thin they only have an evening flight, you'd get there around 9 pm.
Anyway, if fly into Prague in am, you have half a day then and maybe 2 more. That's 6 days, then next day take train to Budapest from Prague, which takes up a day if you like train rides, or just fly again. PRG airport is pretty easy and not far out, so that's good.
You have to know yourself, the start oint is a given (fly into somewhere), do you want to do short flights or spend a day on a train twice in a week? If that's not appealing or too much, there really isn't much one can say as that thus leaves only one city beforehand. Probalby wouldn't make it a week in Prague, though, either Paris or London iof you want to spend a week somewhere.
Paris and Prague sound great to me, whyever not? End in Prague and you can take the train from there to Budapest (7 hours), or fly. YOu can fly from Paris to Prague in a short time, I've done it numerous times.
Fly into Paris, spend 3 days, fly to Prague. Easyjet has a cheap flight (maybe 50 euro) around 2 pm out of CDG. Air France/Czech Air fly out of there also and are getting pretty competitive nowadays on those short flights, should be 100 euro or less. I'd prefer to fly out of Orly as it's closer to Paris, Transavia flies ORY-PRG, never flown them. They are cheap, also, but thin they only have an evening flight, you'd get there around 9 pm.
Anyway, if fly into Prague in am, you have half a day then and maybe 2 more. That's 6 days, then next day take train to Budapest from Prague, which takes up a day if you like train rides, or just fly again. PRG airport is pretty easy and not far out, so that's good.
You have to know yourself, the start oint is a given (fly into somewhere), do you want to do short flights or spend a day on a train twice in a week? If that's not appealing or too much, there really isn't much one can say as that thus leaves only one city beforehand. Probalby wouldn't make it a week in Prague, though, either Paris or London iof you want to spend a week somewhere.
#9
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 57,890
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I do think any of them would work, although a week in Prague I think is more than needed.
Assuming you have never been to any of thee cities before I would do London. A week is just beginning to scrape the surface (although I am a city person and can never have enough of the ones I love) and will give you a soft entry into Europe. And if you want you can easily do a day trip or two from there.
But my assumptions may be wrong - and if you have already been to thee places before - then I might split between any two of the cities.
Assuming you have never been to any of thee cities before I would do London. A week is just beginning to scrape the surface (although I am a city person and can never have enough of the ones I love) and will give you a soft entry into Europe. And if you want you can easily do a day trip or two from there.
But my assumptions may be wrong - and if you have already been to thee places before - then I might split between any two of the cities.
#10
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,445
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
As you want to go to a city before your cruise which departs from Budapest, then Prague would be much better geographically speaking.
If you wanted to do it afterward, then Paris or London. Which of those depends on your own interests.
If you wanted to do it afterward, then Paris or London. Which of those depends on your own interests.
#11
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Geographically closer but still a 7-hour train ride but there is an overnight train that OP can take that arrives in Prague around 8 am - otherwise flying from Prague to Budapest is not all that less than from Paris or London to Budapest perhaps. For lots on trains and night trains check www.seat61.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.
Night trains are not for everyone as there is always a modicum of noise from inside and outside the train but if you are not a light sleeper it can save money on a hotel and daytime travel time.
Night trains are not for everyone as there is always a modicum of noise from inside and outside the train but if you are not a light sleeper it can save money on a hotel and daytime travel time.
#12
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 667
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I went on a similar cruise recently (opposite direction--started in Amsterdam and ended in Budapest). The cruise spent only one day in Amsterdam and one day in Budapest, which was not nearly enough time to see either city. Have you taken that into account in your planning? I spent three additional days in Amsterdam before the cruise started, and three in Budapest afterwards, and was very glad that I did.
#16
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
that she keeps posting though means she must get something out of it and as always many others read these things too. And he/she may come back and look and not feel compelled to comment though I think it may be polite to do so once in a while just to say thanks - or clarify earlier plans for review, etc.