dabsjad

Good Morning everyone!

I am in the planning stages of a 12 day trip to Prague, Vienna and Budapest end of July 2015. It will be me, husband and 2 boys 13 & 11.
The high level plan is:
Day 1: Fly Chicago to Prague
Day 2rague
Day 3rague
Day 4:Travel in morning to Cesky Krumlov(Bus) & Stay
Day 5:Afternoon travel to Vienna
Day 5:Vienna
Day 7:Vienna
Day 8:Travel in afternoon to Budapest(train)
Day 9udapest
Day 10: Budapest
Day 11udapest
Day 12:Fly home(7 am flight)

Prague: Castle(Palaces within, St Vitus), Old town, Astronomical clock (Plan to stay on Old town area)
Vienna: Hofburg palace(Sisi museum), Markets, City walk, St Stephens cathedral, Prater
Budapest: Parliament building, Buda castle, Night boat on the danube, Fishermans Bastion, Markets

I would like to know if this is a decent itinerary..We like to do a couple of top sights and then like to get lost a little bit too..My boys are well travelled and do a good job with being on the go..Thanks in advance for all the responses..
Looking forward to the trip. Last Europe trip was to Spain(Seville, Granada, Ronda, Cordoba) and cant wait to go back..

dabsjad

Not sure why the emoticons were added Its Prague and Budapest

nytraveler

In Vienna if you have any interest in horses do not miss a performance of the Lippizaners - incredible.

Also a visit to the Schonbrunn Palance and very extensive grounds - easily reachable by U bahn.

Also take a tram around the ringstrasse.

In Prague I would definitely take at least a basic tour of the Ghetto - both fascinating and heartwrenching. We also loved an architectural walking tour of the old town. Led by an architecture student from the university, there were only 7 or us and we got a real appreciating of the organic growth of the city. You cna sign up at the town hall and it;s practically free.

mytravelove

That's a great itinerary..! Very doable. Quite some moving around, but nothing too bad, especially if you're experienced travelers.

You got a good overview of the key sights in each city. If you'll have some time left, you can also do:

Prague: Vysehrad - beautiful old Monastery, with a big park surrounding it.. the views of the city from there are stunning

Budapest: Thermal baths! There are several in the city, two of them are located just by the river (Rudas and Gellert)

Have a great trip!

dabsjad

nytraveler - Yes, I do have Schonbrunn on the list and the tram around the ringstrasse..I will look into walking tours per your suggestion - best way to get to know the place!

mytravelove - Yes, we do have the thermal baths on the list. Having been to CostaRica spring of 2014 we still remember the thermal springs very fondly

I have made a reservation in Budapest at the KapitalInn based on amazing reviews here and trip advisor!
I am planning on adding another day to the beginning of the trip. Having said that, where to add that extra day - Prague or Vienna? Any advice?

mytravelove

I'd say add that extra day to Prague.. Especially after the long flight.

fourfortravel

dabsjad, any chance I could talk you out of wasting money on the Ring Tram? For the €8 charge, all you get is a headset with commentary, and pictures of the buildings you often can not see because the tour buses are usually blocking one's view. (Plus, some of the information is factually incorrect.) 2015 is the 150th anniversary of the Ringstrasse, and there is an easy do-it-yourself guide to enjoying the very best palaces and important buildings via public transportation (much cheaper, you will see more, and you can hop on and off for photos at will). http://www.vienna-unwrapped.com/ringstrasse-vienna/ We've had some beautiful February weather here and I took myself on the tour; in summer everything will be even more beautiful. You can also do the tour by bicycle, as there are bike lanes all around the Ringstrasse--even more fun with children. Following that you could cycle to the Prater and have some fun.

Touring the Hofburg in its entirety includes the apartments, the Sisi museum and the Imperial silver collection, and unless you're really, really, really into dishes, you'll only need a half-day to see everything. I would add the Treasury to see the crown jewels. Buy your ticket online and print it out before you arrive; the ticket is valid for one year so you needn't specify a date, and you'll save time not having to queue.

The Lippizaners will be on summer holiday in July out in Piber, so there will be no performances or morning exercises, per se. However, the new young stallions from the Piber Stud Farm come to Vienna in July and can be seen, for free, in the Emperor's Garden (Burggarten) on pleasant weather afternoons. They are adorable. There are also a few "Piber Meets Vienna" shows at the Spanish Riding School during this time. They are more informal and intended to provide history and to show off the new stallions; even the cheap seats make for good viewing.

The Naschmarkt has more tourists than locals during summer and is ridiculously crowded on Saturdays when the flea market is open. Time and interest permitting, there are two other markets that haven't reached the fame status of Naschmarkt, Karmelitermarkt and Brunnenmarkt. The first is catching up on the chic-chic factor; the latter is still more "local" in character.

Happy Planning!

dabsjad

Thanks fourfortravel for your valuable insight!! I am going to take a look at the do it yourself guide as we do like to see teh tourist sights w/o being tourists if you know what I mean...I like the bike idea as we have done that here in Chicago as well along the Lake shore area..Yes, I think we will only need a 1/2 day at the Hofburg Palace. Thanks for the tip on the online ticket idea - I had not read that anywhere.I am going to have to look into the Spanish ridings school show as the boys will definitely be interested in them..Finally I am going to note down the other 2 markets..they both sound very interesting..

I must have gone through a dozen or so books until now(Fodors, Frommers, Rick Steves) and have taken down a bunch of notes so the plan is shaping up nicely. Have already made a reservation at the Kapital Inn based on the reviews here and tripadvisor...

fourfortravel

dabsjad, your hotel in Budapest is in a great location; we stayed near Oktogon for a short city break between Christmas and New Years. Near to your hotel is the BigFish Seafood Bistro and a restaurant adjacent to it whose card I can not find. If you are in the mood to drop quite a few Forints on seafood, you will not be disappointed dining at the bistro. The restaurant adjacent serves a small but quite good Hungarian menu, at a fixed price that is very easy on the pocketbook.

dabsjad

Thanks fourfortravel - I have exchanged a couple of emails with the owner of Kapital Inn and I just wants to go there now!! Glad to know its in a great location..I have noted down the Seafood bistro on the where to eat spot!! Thanks again for all the insight!

I have zeroed down on the Old town square hotel in Prague however still cannot decide on a hotel in Vienna..We like to stay in Boutique hotels when we go on vacations but have not been able to locate one..I still fondly remember the hotels we stayed in Spain at..specially in Ronda..right next to the gorge..hope to go back there one day.