2-3 weeks Eastern/Southeastern Europe
I'm looking to travel to Eastern Europe for 2 to 3 weeks. This is my first time traveling to this area and my particular interest lies in Romania. I would like to visit Bucharest as well as Transylvania. I am trying to figure out what other countries I can visit that would be nearby and would be worthwhile seeing in that time span. I was considering landing in Bucharest and then making my way to Berlin through Budapest, Vienna, Prague and maybe Bratislava. I'm just not sure how much I will actually be able to see in that time span. Some people have advised I pick a few cities or make a loop around Romania. Another option I was considering was visitin Kiev and making my way to Budapest via Romania. Any advice or tips would be greatly appreciated!!!
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landing in Bucharest and then making my way to Berlin through Budapest, Vienna, Prague and maybe Bratislava.>
Going by train? If so check the Eastern European Railpass that lets you hop on most trains in Poland, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary and the Czech Republic - the more days of travel the cheaper per day and gives you total flexibility - for lots of great info on trains in that area check www.seat61.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com. |
Another option would be Bulgaria - we had 3 brilliant days in Sofia a few months ago and we'd like to go back to see more of the countryside which looked very interesting; there are also the Black Sea resorts, and you could end up in Istanbul.
Otherwise, you could of course head north-west, but beware spreading yourself too thin - there's a lot to see between Budapest and Prague. |
I was considering landing in Bucharest and then making my way to Berlin through Budapest, Vienna, Prague and maybe Bratislava>
IMO and my mode of travel plenty of time in 3 weeks but 2 weeks maybe land a bit further north like Berlin and work you way down to Vienna and Budapest. again are you going by train or car or hitching? Makes a difference on how much you can cover I'd do Berlin - Prague - Budapest - Vienna (day trip from there to Bratislava is what I did and felt that was enough for me - though of course and large city can occupy days) Fly home from Vienna - if going to Bucharest I'd go Prague-Vienna-Budapest-Bucharest or of course in the other direction the whole thing. And weather can be fickle at times even during summer - you may want to start in Berlin in the hottest weather but if in coolish spring you may want to start in the south and make your way north. |
I'm sure you can have a wonderful trip no matter what you choose, but I think you are wise to consider whether you really have time to visit all the places you might want to see in the time you have. And the ONLY way I know to actually figure that out is to decide what YOU want to see and plot it out on a calendar.
I recommend that you get some good guidebooks (or spend some time with a few in your local library), identify the things you most want to see in each location, check their opening/closing times on the internet, and mark them on a calendar. Then pencil in your transportation, add some time on either side (for getting to/from your lodging, checking in/out, packing/unpacking, getting oriented, etc.). Only then can your see how things fit together, and begin the (painful) process of deciding what to skip. Good luck! |
Plot out you itinerary with travel times factored in - you may not have as much time as you think but again this is all a subjective thing - to me in 3 weeks you have time to do that all but in 2 weeks cut something.
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