ledhead

Hi everyone. My daughter and I will be traveling end of May to Hungary and then Vienna for a few days each until we move on to Venice. We are partly Hungarian and Slovakian so this part of Europe has us interested in our heritage. We have traveled once before to Europe to France and Germany. My question is that Hungary looks very interesting and although it would only be a day trip, Bratislava doesn’t look like anything much to see. Would anyone recommend another surrounding country such as Slovenia or Croatia over Slovakia to fill the day or two extra we have before heading to Italy? We really aren’t museum/history buffs. We like the water, different ethnic dining and shopping and maybe an open air folk museum would be fun. Would really appreciate help as we aren’t able to travel to Europe all that often!

PalenQ

Bratislava is a great day trip - city center all spruced up - awesome fort on hill overlooking it and just an hour by train about from Vienna. I enjoyed it at least. Can also take hydrofoils there on Danube from Vienna.

Croatia and Slovenia too far for any day trip.

The Wachau Valley is a nice day trip from Vienna - train to Melk, check out famous Melk Abbey - hop boats down one of prettiest stretches of Danube to say Durnstein - thru wonderful vineyard-clad hills and by cute wine towns - then bus/train back to Vienna.

https://www.google.com/search?q=wach...w=1536&bih=759

Andrew

If you can route yourself through Ljubljana, Slovenia on the way to Venice, do so - it's a lovely city, perhaps my favorite in Europe.

There are no direct trains from Ljubljana to Venice, but you can get a direct transfer (shuttle van) with several companies such as GoOpti.

StCirq

We LOVED Bratislava last fall, much more than we liked Budapest. Even if it's only for a day, I wouldn't miss it. I'm talking about the old city center, not the new part of the city. I can't wait to go back and spend more time there - beautiful architecture, fabulous old cofee houses and wine bars and restaurants, unique stores, musical history dripping from every portal.

PalenQ

Yes great idea from andrew - take train to Ljubljana from Vienna or Budapest(or fly) then bop over by train/bus/train or whatever has replaced the previous direct L-Venice trains to Venice (or fly). For lots on trains check www.seat61.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

kja

It depends on your interests, but from what you say, I would think Bratislava an excellent fit. Truth in advertising -- I haven't visited it yet, but it is high on the list of places I want to see.

Ljubljiana is lovely, and well worth a day or more – but only if the time you lose to transportation gives you enough time to actually see it. (Or you might want to defer Ljubljana until it better fits a future itinerary.) I don’t see any part of Croatia meeting your criteria particularly well, but maybe you or others do?

fourfortravel

Over our five years now in Vienna we have found the love for Bratislava, with the caveat that we drop in for partial day trips; only on rare occasions do we stay the night (Long Night of the Museum and a Bastille Day party with friends at the French Embassy are the most recent).

The highlights of the city can be seen in a good day, especially if you're relying on public transportation (which is included if you take the train from Vienna as a day trip). The culinary scene is on the upswing, too; and the city's Gorilla Cafe is my go-to for English-language cookbooks, funny enough. The new Fresh Market would be worth visiting for its local specialties and varied restaurants, too, though it's in an outer district but with public access.

For something different, we've taken the Communist Tour in an old Skoda and loved it; our guide was able to tailor the tour to account for our having visited the city several times.

Since dining is an interest, the two days in Ljubljana would be ideal if one of them is on Friday, when the city hosts its Open Kitchen, a fun (and very crowded) outdoor street food scene. The Saturday Farmer's Market the following day is expansive and offers fresh prepared seafood.

I hope you find this helpful.

PalenQ

Yes yes yes to Bratislava! Especially for Slovak heritage folks.

tianere

I do disagree that Bratislava is less interesting than other cities in Slovenia or Croatia, I would recommend you a boat trip from Vienna-Bratislava-Budapest
www.twincityliner.com

chicago2europe

Slovenia has the advantage of having its capital city just a short drive (less than one hour) or train ride (a bit more) from the country's highest mountains. This gives you an option of spending one day in Ljubljana and then going up to Lake Bled or the Triglav National Park the following day. There may be European capitals with more beautiful mountainous landscapes surrounding them, but I can't think of any.

bilboburgler

Ljubljana and Lake Bled beats Bratislava hands down. Bled is amazing, the first time I saw the lake I stopped breathing. Ljubljana has about 8 hours of solid visits easily walkable before you think about lunch or sit outside with a beer along the small river. Bratislava is ok, but just ok and is a nice comparison to the glory that is Vienna, a country town against a city.

chicago2europe

Lake Bohinj is also easily accessible from Ljubljana. Not far from Bled, it has a less touristy feel (with no hotels or other buildings on its shore), more typical Alpine villages nearby, and you can take a cable car ride to Vogel, from where you'll have a spectacular view of Triglav and most of the Julian Alps.

Here's an interesting article about Bohinj from the BBC:

BBC - Travel - The lake at the end of the world



Image: BBC and Bohinj Tourism

deladeb

Great tips thanks.

isabel

I was just in Bratislava last month for three days and loved it. I would think if your are Slovakian and going from Vienna to Budapest stopping for at least one night would be a no brainer.


I do love Ljubljana as well but would want more time if going to include that. How much time overall do you have for Vienna, Budapest and wherever else you go?