I have a trip planned to Europe this September with mandatory stops first in Frankfurt 2 nights and Kracow/Katowice Poland for 6 nights at the end.

Where would you pick for the in-between 4 nights?

List includes Prague, Amsterdam or Berlin but open to other ideas. Travel between cities is by train on modest budget. I am early 40s, like the arts nightlife and good exploring (basically like everyone else on Fodor's).

Amsterdam. We loved it there.

Obviously Amsterdam is out if you want to travel by train with only four nights, unless you want to spend one of the days just on the train. Amsterdam and Krakow are not that close to each other. However, you might consider taking a train to Amsterdam and then flying to Krakow from there. Check Kayak.com for flights; I know Eurolot has direct flights (may be prop planes) a few days a week between them. I flew Eurolot from Amsterdam to Gdansk a few years ago and it wasn't that expensive.

Even a train from Frankfurt to Berlin or Prague on to Katowice/Krakow might not be that cheap unless you book in advance (but trains in Poland are pretty cheap). Check www.bahn.com/en .

I'm a 40-something, as well, and have been to all three cities (and Krakow). I love Prague, but I would choose Amsterdam or Berlin. Both have a vibe that is different from Prague and Krakow.

Which off these cities actually have enough to see for 4 days? I've heard I'll get sick of Amsterdam within 2 days.

There is plenty to see and do in Amsterdam. Don't beleive everything you hear. I had one coworker complain that they hated Venice because there were no taxis to take them from one place to another. (They were able bodied but just would not walk more than 2 or 3 blocks. Some people are just nuts!)

But - I would do Berlin since I think you would waste less time in transit - and it's a great city. But do check the connections.

<< Kracow/Katowice Poland for 6 nights at the end >>

Krakow and Katowice are not the same place. Katowice is about 2 hours from Krakow. If you're visiting both towns you need to plan your time differently.

For 4 nights (which is 3 days) I'd choose either Prague or Amsterdam. Berlin has way to much to see to spend only 3 days there.

First you said 4 nights and then you said 4 days. It's not too much time in either Prague or Amsterdam.

Have you accounted for travel time between cities?

You do know that Amsterdam to Krakow is 21 hours on the train and most trains have many changes - from 2 to 6 changes.

I don't think you would waste much time in transit going to Amsterdam if you can fly to Krakow from there; I'd check into the flight option for sure.

We all have our personal preferences. I have been to Amsterdam twice and just didn't care for it. Berlin I liked better because of I'm a history buff especially for 20th century WWII and Cold War history, and Berlin is loaded with it. Prague is by far my favorite of the three cities you mention, even though it's smaller than the other two and probably less to do over four nights than in Amsterdam or Berlin. Plus Prague has gotten pretty over-touristed in the last few years - kind of a mob scene now, a little like Venice.

I think I'd look at the logistics of visiting each city from Frankfurt first and rule out Amsterdam unless you can get a good flight to Krakow. Try the website Rome2Rio.com to check out practical ways to get from one city to another. If Berlin and Prague turn out to be both about the same as stop-over points between Frankfurt and Krakow, then you can decide based on your travel interests and preferences.

I haven't been to Berlin -- primarily because from what I've read, I'd want at least six nights there and I haven't had the time on recent trips -- but I really enjoyed both Amsterdam and Prague. I love art museums, history and hanging out. I'm (barely, by a thread) early 40s, not so interested in nightlife, though Prague appeared to have buckets of that.

We went to Prague from Krakow on an overnight train. Easy and fun.

Your choices all sound good to me. I'd look at logistics and costs.

If you choose Amsterdam, check flights from Eindhoven to KRK. Might be cheaper than AMS. Look at Skyscanner.com

Had you thought about Dresden instead of your other destinations? There is quite a bit to do for 3 days and it's in a line, from Frankfurt - Dresden - Katowice and thence to Krakow. But you would have to check transport options. Train seems like an obvious means of transport - it takes about 5 1/2 hours from Frankfurt to Dresden by train.

Lavandula

I didn't see all I wanted to see in a week in Amsterdam.

We decided to go to Berlin. The flights were cheaper and we added a last minute stopover in Cologne and to get from there to Krakow was easiest with Berlin as the connection.

Thank you!