2-week Central/Eastern Europe itinerary questions
 

Hi everyone

We (65-yr mom, cousins, and 40-yr daughter) are planning a trip to central Europe around the end of September to early October.

We will be using public transportation. We are slow-paced travelers; we prefer beautiful towns and architecture, and due to limited time we know we don’t have time for everything.

Our questions are: 1) Please comments on our itinerary, and 2) Would you prefer going via Cesky Krumlov (option 1) or Nuremberg (option 2)? In terms of convenience and overall impression.

BUDAPEST (3 nights)
Day 1: Arrival in Budapest
Day 2: Hero Square, Vajdahunyad Castle, Hungarian Parliament, Chain Bridge
Day 3: Castle Hill, Fisherman’s Bastion, Nagycsarnok (Great Market Hall)

PRAGUE (3 nights)
Day 4: Train to Prague, may stop for lunch in Bratislava, dinner in Josefov
Day 5: Prague Castle
Day 6: Old Town Square, Astronomic Clock, Charles Bridge

----------------------------------------
OPTION 1
CESKY KRUMLOV (1 night)
Day 7: Shuttle to Cesky Krumlov. Tour the town.

SALZBURG (3 nights)
Day 8: Shuttle to Salzburg. Visit the old town.
Day 9: The Sound of Music tour
Day 10: Probably a day trip to Hallstatt

MUNICH (4 nights)
Day 11: Train to Munich. Visit the old town.
Day 12: Day trip to Fussen
Day 13: Day trip to Rothenburg Ob der Tauber
Day 14: Viktualienmarkt, Munich Residence
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
OPTION 2
NUREMBERG (3 nights)
Day 7: Train to Nuremberg
Day 8: Day trip to Rothenburg Ob der Tauber

MUNICH (3 nights)
Day 9: Train to Munich. Visit the old town.
Day 10: Day trip to Fussen
Day 11: Viktualienmarkt, Munich Residence

SALZBURG (3 nights)
Day 12: Shuttle to Salzburg. Visit the old town.
Day 13: The Sound of Music tour
Day 14: Probably a day trip to Hallstatt

All inputs are more than welcome. Many thanks in advance!

A slow paced traveler would spend longer in Budapest. And possibly Prague. I found Prague too crowded and have not been back, but I spent three full days/four nights with no day trips. But I have now been to Budapest four times and would be happy to go back.

>>>>>"A slow paced traveler would spend longer in Budapest. And possibly Prague"

Not unless they were particularly interested in those two cities versus the other ones mentioned. I could spend 5 days lazing in and around Salzburg while I would not return to Budapest.

Prague? Weeks.

yellow - I am not sure how Option 2 works if you end Day 14 on a daytrip to Hallstatt from Salzburg. Do you still have to get back to Munich that evening for a return flight the following (Day 15) day? If so, have you considered going to Salzburg from Nuremberg and then finishing in Munich?

The answer here is probably whether you want to see CK more than Nurnberg and are willing to stop for just one night to do it, presuming you that you have compared the shuttle convenience (trains would have been a nightmare) of getting to and from CK to the shorter rail trip to Nurnberg and are comfortable with that. the more people the more it probably skews from a cost perspective to the shuttle, too.

Hallstatt is a longish day trip from Salzburg - probably 5 hours total travel time at best - be sure the weather is nice before going or your few hours there will be a wash out - Hallstatt is a cute town on a cute lake but folks go there to take excursions into the high Alps in view from town and fun things like Salt Mine tours - if going to Salzburg from Czech Republic you could stop over night in Hallstatt and spend the next day there - then go via the Sound of Music country on your own - via train to Bad ischl and buses to St Wolfgang and a boat ride and bus to Salzburg easily all in one day.

Anyway for great train info check these superb IMO sites: www.seat61.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

Nurnberg is an easy day trip from Munich and Rothenburg is too though longer - relocating takes time - try to base in Munich for those too IMO. A trip out to Dachau in suburban Munich is easy by S-Bahn train + short walk or bus.

None of these options seem to me like they are at a slow-traveler's pace. Doesn't mean they might not be enjoyable....

Appreciate your inputs!

Aramis – We will stay for more night and fly back on day 15. Thanks for asking and also for the idea on doing Salzburg day trip from Nuremberg. We had no idea it was doable.

We may choose to go via Nuremberg and look into doing CK as a day trip from Prague.

PalenQ – Will look into that too!


Thursdaysd and Kja – Would love to spend more time like you suggested. Sadly our holidays are limited and living in California and Bangkok, we don’t get to visit Europe often.

We may choose to go via Nuremberg and look into doing CK as a day trip from Prague.>

Well if going to Salzburg from Czech Republic C-K is smack on the way so it would be more efficient to either stay in C-K or leave Prague early spend a few hours in C-K and go onto Hallstatt or Salzburg.

We did choose Nuremberg, thanks to your suggestion! Will also do CK as a day trip.

All best to you and all Fodorites!

CK is a tough day trip from Prague because the round trip travel is about 5.5 to 6 hours by bus.

CK also gets less than rave reviews from more than a few past Fodor posts - not that it's not neat but is it worth the long day trip from Prague when there are some sweet nearby day trips to be done as well.

I rather liked CK, but I did it as a day trip from Ceske Budejovice. CB was a great place to stay- a lot less touristy than CK with a fine central square - plus I was able to visit another castle nearby. I don't think I would bother with CK as a long day trip from Prague.

I also found C B to be a more plesurable overall place because it is less overrun by tourists - why not stay in one of the C's a day - explore both and then mosey onto Austria via buses or trains via Linz to Hallstatt or Salzburg?

In Nurnberg don't miss the largest intact collectionof Third Reich edifices and hubris - the Nazi Parade Ground south of town - now with museum and original balcony Hitler famously or infamously reviewed so many goose-stepping troops - the parade avenue has beenrestored to all its glory (or gory?)?

PalenQ, I do hope it's never too late to thank you for your further recs. I just realized I have wanted to but hadn't.

wow - yellow lug - thanks for that!