Berlin , Prague and Budapest
Aug 26th, 2012, 05:53 AM
#1
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Berlin , Prague and Budapest
Hello,
Me and my 2 mates are taking a trip to Europe from 21st Dec - 2nd Jan and our itinerary is as follow-
Arrive at Budapest on 21st Dec
Leave for Prague on 25th Dec
Leave for Berlin on 29th Dec
Return home on 2nd Jan from Berlin
All three of us are in mid 20s and love to party and drink all night and visit nice cafes , restaurants, museums and historical sites during later afternoons and evening hours. Based on my research , three cities we have picked should offer a lot in terms of nightlife , food , culture and history. However , i was wondering if nightlife scene will still be buzzing because it will be holiday season . Also read at various places that many cafes , restaurants and touristy places shut down because of the holiday season and cold weather . Is that true? I understand it will be really cold during that time but would we be able to have a good time given our interests? One last question , is it worth stopping over at Bratislava for a day on our way from Budapest to Prague?
Thank you for your responses in advance
Alex
Me and my 2 mates are taking a trip to Europe from 21st Dec - 2nd Jan and our itinerary is as follow-
Arrive at Budapest on 21st Dec
Leave for Prague on 25th Dec
Leave for Berlin on 29th Dec
Return home on 2nd Jan from Berlin
All three of us are in mid 20s and love to party and drink all night and visit nice cafes , restaurants, museums and historical sites during later afternoons and evening hours. Based on my research , three cities we have picked should offer a lot in terms of nightlife , food , culture and history. However , i was wondering if nightlife scene will still be buzzing because it will be holiday season . Also read at various places that many cafes , restaurants and touristy places shut down because of the holiday season and cold weather . Is that true? I understand it will be really cold during that time but would we be able to have a good time given our interests? One last question , is it worth stopping over at Bratislava for a day on our way from Budapest to Prague?
Thank you for your responses in advance
Alex
Aug 26th, 2012, 10:35 AM
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All of those places have a lot of nightlife. But - any place you go on Christmas even and Christmas day many many (almost all?) places will be closed. New Year's Eve will have tons of nightlife but usually for big $$$. New Year's Day - many things will be closed.
Suggest you check now of major sights to see what will be open on holidays. Also - museums re usually not open in the evening - so it you're thinking of staying up til 4 or 5 am and then starting to tour at 4 pm - I think you options will be pretty limited. But again, you need to check major sights websites to see.
Suggest you check now of major sights to see what will be open on holidays. Also - museums re usually not open in the evening - so it you're thinking of staying up til 4 or 5 am and then starting to tour at 4 pm - I think you options will be pretty limited. But again, you need to check major sights websites to see.
Aug 26th, 2012, 11:09 AM
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Traveling on Christmas day might be a problem, every thing will be closed down so you won't be doing much partying on your first night in Prague. It may be difficult to find a restaurant that is open. I'd start googling now for places that are open.
Aug 26th, 2012, 12:17 PM
#4
Hi alex,
i can't help you with the travelling on 25th December, but based on our experiences in both Prague and Budapest between Christmas and New Year, you'll find plenty going on, and I can't think why Berlin would be any different.
i can't help you with the travelling on 25th December, but based on our experiences in both Prague and Budapest between Christmas and New Year, you'll find plenty going on, and I can't think why Berlin would be any different.
Aug 26th, 2012, 09:47 PM
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Appreciate all your responses . I guess we will change our travel plan so we leave for Prague on 26th. You guys have mentioned about mostly all restaurants and cafes being closed on 24th and 25th . What about the Christmas market? . Would`nt we be able to find food at Christmas market or will that also be closed on 24th and 25th? . Also i was wondering is its a good idea to spend xmas in Budapest.
Alex
Alex
Aug 26th, 2012, 11:22 PM
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Christmas in Berlin is "over" on Dec 26. You will still see the light decorations in the streets, but no more Christmas markets or stuff in the department stores etc.
But anyway, Berlin is not such a "christmassy" city.. either Prague or Budapest are better, I'd probably lean a bit towards Prague.
In addition to the big and crowded Berlin NYE party (usually around 1 million people at Brandenburg Gate between the Gate and Grosser Stern roundabout with many live acts on several stages - all for free, by the way), nightlife will be buzzing each night as much as any other of the 365 nights of the year.
NYE is one of the biggest party nights of the city with probably decent crowds at clubs, bars, pubs and streetlife busy (and loud) till the morning hours. You can stock up on firecrackers anywhere - but don't buy that stuff outside of regular stores from street vendors or such. The latter sell illegal fireworks and esp. more powerful firecrackers that can cause lots of harm (and do each year).
You don't have to rely on pricey dedicated NYE parties, though. Each and every place will be open and even when some clubs charge at the door, the fee is usually more nominal (€5 or so). The pricey NYE parties are more a thing of pricey establishments like varietés, night clubs, or special venues anyway.
You should check visitberlin.de a few weeks before you go, though. They usually have a section on special events over the holidays.
Subways run all night more frequently (every 5-10mins) than during regular nights so getting around is no problem.
January 1st will be a more quiet day. You can expect many museums and sights to be closed or open late.
Check this list of the major state-run museums:
http://www.smb.museum/smb/service/in...96&n=2&lang=en
Weather can be cold and dry or wet and mild. There is no "normal" weather other than that it will hardly be warmer than plus 5 to plus 10C during the day. Minus 5 to minus 15 would also be normal for Berlin.
But anyway, Berlin is not such a "christmassy" city.. either Prague or Budapest are better, I'd probably lean a bit towards Prague.
In addition to the big and crowded Berlin NYE party (usually around 1 million people at Brandenburg Gate between the Gate and Grosser Stern roundabout with many live acts on several stages - all for free, by the way), nightlife will be buzzing each night as much as any other of the 365 nights of the year.
NYE is one of the biggest party nights of the city with probably decent crowds at clubs, bars, pubs and streetlife busy (and loud) till the morning hours. You can stock up on firecrackers anywhere - but don't buy that stuff outside of regular stores from street vendors or such. The latter sell illegal fireworks and esp. more powerful firecrackers that can cause lots of harm (and do each year).
You don't have to rely on pricey dedicated NYE parties, though. Each and every place will be open and even when some clubs charge at the door, the fee is usually more nominal (€5 or so). The pricey NYE parties are more a thing of pricey establishments like varietés, night clubs, or special venues anyway.
You should check visitberlin.de a few weeks before you go, though. They usually have a section on special events over the holidays.
Subways run all night more frequently (every 5-10mins) than during regular nights so getting around is no problem.
January 1st will be a more quiet day. You can expect many museums and sights to be closed or open late.
Check this list of the major state-run museums:
http://www.smb.museum/smb/service/in...96&n=2&lang=en
Weather can be cold and dry or wet and mild. There is no "normal" weather other than that it will hardly be warmer than plus 5 to plus 10C during the day. Minus 5 to minus 15 would also be normal for Berlin.
Aug 27th, 2012, 01:44 AM
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I love Bratislava in summer because all restaurants and pubs have seatings outside and the atmosphere is great. But if I was you, I probably wouldn't go there in December but rather concentrate on the other three cities.
But I've never been there in winter, so someone else might offer a better opinion.
But I've never been there in winter, so someone else might offer a better opinion.
Aug 27th, 2012, 01:57 AM
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We spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in Prague last year. The markets were still open and were fun, the weather was mild, the city was quite busy and there was more than enough open to keep us busy.
This year we will also be in Berlin for New Years Eve, arriving on 28 December. The Gendarmenmarkt Christmas market, our favorite, will still be open and there is always a lot happening there. Berlin is a favorite of ours as there is so much to do at any time of the year.
This year we will also be in Berlin for New Years Eve, arriving on 28 December. The Gendarmenmarkt Christmas market, our favorite, will still be open and there is always a lot happening there. Berlin is a favorite of ours as there is so much to do at any time of the year.
