NaxosTravels

Hello,

We are off on a big 6 week Central European Journey from Aug 27-Oct 10 and though I know its far away now, we are already trying to figure out the budget and thus the itinerary. Our big struggle is trying to balance the following needs:

1. Proper pacing. Not too rushed - time to explore, but not time to feel we've overstayed.
2. Variety. We absolutly churched and museumed oursevles to death on our last trip.
3. Choices, Choices - we are sure everywhere is nice, but what we really need is advice about which is nicer - A or B? Where should we spend our precious time?

So far this is the itinerary that is heading the bunch:

1. Fly
2. Dubrovnik
3. Dubrovnik
4. Dubrovnik: Ston/Mali Ston
5. Dubrovnik: Mostar
6. Dubrovnik: Kotor Montenegro
7. Split
8. Split: Trogir/Primosten
9. Split: Markarska (Brela)
10. Split: Mt. Biokovo
11. Zadar
12. Zadar: Pag Town
13. Plitvice
14. Krk Town
15. Krk Town: Baska
16. Krk Town: Vrbnik
17. Mali Losinj
18. Mali Losinj: Cres Town
19. Mali Losinj: Osor
20. Pula
21. Pula: Rovinj
22. Pula: Motovun/Pazin
23. Pula: Porec
24. Pula: Vodnjan
25. Pula: Buzet/Hum
26. Pula: Labin/Rabac
27. Ljubljana
28. Ljubljana
29. Ljubljana: Bled
30. Ljubljana: Skocjan Caves/Piran
31. Ljubljana: Bohinj Valley
32. Ljubljana: Skofja Loka
33. Salzburg
34. Salzburg
35. Salzburg
36. Salzburg: Hallstatt
37. Cesky Krumlov
38. Cesky Krumlov
39. Prague
40. Prague
41. Prague
42. Prague
43. Prague: Kunta Hora
44. Prague: Karlovy Vary
45. Fly Home

That is the front runner. We would love every bit of advice we can get. We originally planned to go to Budapest not Salzburg, but it seems to make more sense to see something in Austria then rush over to Hungary from Prague (or Ljubljana).

We cut out two - 2 night stays in Korcula and Hvar to flesh out time in Krk and Cres - any thoughts on this choice?

Thanks!
Naxos

NaxosTravels

I should mention....the runner up itinerary we are considering has us staying in Montenegro for 3 nights (to see Kotor, Bar, Budva etc) - to accomplish this we cut Cres + one night in Dubrovnik and added a day in Krk where we plan on light sight-seeing and beaching.

The best plane tickets we see right now are Austrian Airlines $1952 EACH into Podgorica Montenegro - Ouch! we will have to keep working on that.

Naxos

Momof5

Hi


Smart you plan ahead, i planned most of my overseas trips 10 months in advance I get so burnt out from planning I like having time off to just get excited for it.

I cannot wait to read your trip report as I have only been to one place on your list, Salzburg, one word enchanting! We did it in 3 days 2 nights and that was plenty. Otherwise you will ove it, stay in the historic section. We did and the walks were great and you are right there while others have to get to it daily. It feels like you are in a different world compared to other parts of Salzburg.

Have a blast and again remember trip report.

bilboburgler

Well, much as i've enjoyed stays in the Balkans over the years you seem yo want to see every sheep herders hut. So you really want to visit yet another sun drenched harbour then carry on. If I had this much time I might book onto a sailing boat and see it all that way.

If you ever manage to drag yourself away from here then what about Trieste (never really part of Italy until after WW2). Equally while reconstrucing the Austro-hungarian empire then Budapest is a must.

So I suggest a bit of sharp cutting at the begining (Pula for how many days will you be watching icecream juggling?) then drop in Budapest for 3 nights and Vienna about the same dropping salzburg off the list

bratsandbeer

Budapest would be my choice rather than Prague.

Think you have too many days in Prague and 3 or 4 days in Budapest would be better than so many days in some of the cities you have listed.

We really liked the salt mine tour in Berchtesgaden. We had a rental car and drove there from Salzburg. http://www.berchtesgaden.de/en/65203...3b1b196f6.html

NaxosTravels

Thanks for your comments! biloburgler...every sheep hearders hut - lol! Not enough variety? Any places your would find too sleepy to be of interest?

Hmmm. I was afraid you'd all tell me to get Budapest back in there. Logistically it is far away and we are not willing to cut Prague. If we don't stop in Austria at all that means we will have a 10hr train ride from Ljubljana to Cesky Krumlov...than another 10hrs from Prauge to Budapest. We lose pretty much two full days in transit. We want to travel only by public transportation so that is a factor to keep in mind and will have a big effect on our pace (which we are ok with).

How about this....some of the longer stays represent places we are using as a base - for multiple day trips

Kotor: arrival
Kotor: Stari Bar
Kotor: Budva/Stevi Stefan
Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik: Mostar
Dubrovnik: Ston/Mali Ston
Split
Split: Trogir/Primosten
Split: Markarska/Brela
Split: Hiking Mt. Biokovo
Zadar
Zadar: Pag Town
Plitvice
Krk Town
Krk Town: Vrbnik
Krk Town: Baska/Kosljun Monastery
Istria: Pula
Istria: Rovinj
Istria: Pazin/Motovun
Istria: Porec/Beach
Istria: Buzet/Hum
Istria: Vodnjan/Labin
Slovenia: Ljubljana
Slovenia: Ljubljana
Slovenia: Bled
Slovenia: Bohinj Valley
Slovenia: Skocjan Caves/Postojna
Slovenia: Skofja Loka/Kranj
Salzburg
Salzburg
Salzburg
Cesky Krumlov
Cesky Krumlov
Prague
Prague
Prague
Prague
Prague: Kunta Hora
Budapest: (travel)
Budapest
Budapest
Budapest
Fly Home

We took out all of Cres, a day from Salzburg (Hallstatt), a day from Prague (Karlovy Vary) and a day from Istria ... this allows us 4 nights in Budapest - one day eaten up by travel. Part of me hates to travel all the way to Hungary only to see the capital and not anything else.

Any other ideas on how to best shift around our time? What to keep and where specifically to cut? Our interests are photography, hiking, architecture with a relaxed (but not comatose) pace.

Keep it coming! Thanks,

Naxos

irishface

In my opinion, I would skip Budva/Sveti stefani day. Budva did not have, in my opinion, anything Kotor did not have. Either spend that time in Kotor unwinding from the flight or add it to Salzburg and put Halstatt back in. I love Salzburg and was enchanted with Halstatt.

PalenQ

Are you doing it all by rail or are you also renting a car somewhere?

irishface

Also I am glad to see that you have put Budapest into the itinerary. I am in the minority but I liked it better than Prague. I have only been to each once (5 days each same trip).

NaxosTravels

Thanks guys,

PalenQ we are travelling by bus, train and ferry - no car.

Good feedback on Budva irishface - we wondered about this as well. We are also interested in Herceg Novi and the Ostrog Monastery so perhaps we'll turn our attention there.

Naxos