Gretchen1566

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.

PalenQ

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.

janisj

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.

janisj

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.

twoflower

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?

pariswat

Yes, if you like Paris and Prague, do Paris and Prague.
4-5 days in Paris, 2-3 in Prague.

Prague needs imo 2 days min.

PalenQ

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.

Christina

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.

nytraveler

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.

dwdvagamundo

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.

PalenQ

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.

maryanntex

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.

thursdaysd

I agree - pick one of the three cities and spend two or three days in Budapest.

PalenQ

Yes in deed if you only have one day in Budapest on the cruise part spend a couple of days there or you will regret sailing away from such a cool place feeling you did not even see much of it.

janisj

The OP has not responded so who knows what she's thinking.

(But then she has never returned to any thread she has started so either she doesn't like the advice, or can't find her way back)

PalenQ

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.