easytraveler

Two side trips that you mentioned out of Vienna: yes, definitely do Bratislava from Vienna one trip by train and the other by hydrofoil.

Melk is definitely worth it, again, abandon the car. Take the train up to Melk, be sure to arrive before 10am, tour the abbey, then take the boat trip down the Danube (Donau) to Krems and train back to Vienna. The boat ride is through the scenic wine region of the Wachau Valley. Do check on the times for the boat departure, because my recollection is that there is only one departure from Melk and that's at 1:30pm (which is why you need to get to Melk Abbey before 10am). You could, of course, also overnight in any one of the stops along the river, like at Durrstein, which I found even more charming than Melk itself (apart from the Abbey, of course).

On the Czech Republic: as someone has mentioned there are many castles in that part of Europe and some of the most charming are in the CR. This part is definitely do by car region.

Here's one list:
http://www.czechcastles.com/

Just google "Czech castles" - there are also websites with maps siting the various castles which maps can help you plan your trip. Distances are not that great.

My favorite castle so far is Zvikov while my friend's was Hluboka.

The countryside of Hungary is also great for a driving trip. Consider driving up and around the great bend of the Danube - to places like Szentendre and Esztergom.

Have a great trip! Nice not to have to worry about Schengen!

PalenQ

The Melk by train - abbey - boat down the wondrous Wachau valley and Durnstein, Krems is fantastic - and you can buy an all-inclusive ticket in Vienna at train station that iancludes train to Melk, abbey entrance, boat fare and train fare back to Vienna from Krems - a friend told me she did just that!

Kwoo

We loved Hluboka, too! We spent at least half a day there on our way from Prague to Cesky Krumlov. Had a huge, delicious lunch in the town before we toured the castle.

PalenQ

In Cesky Budovijice (sp?) near C Krumlov you can also tour one of the original Budweiser breweries - the town gave its name to this type of beer - Anhauser-Busch has been trying to buy the brand name but to no avail and still cannot I believe market their Budweiser beer in Europe.

easytraveler

Several years ago, I ordered a "Budejovicky Budvar"" in the main square in Cesky Budovijice and got

a bottle of American Budweiser!

What a disappointment! As against wanting a genuine Budvar from tap.

Believe Anheuser-Busch in more recent years has lost its lawsuit to claim exclusive use of the name "Budweiser" throughout Europe. Not sure how American Budweiser is now marketed in Europe.

easytraveler

Kwoo: Hluboka IS a more impressive castle, but I loved Zvikov because it stirred up my imagination of King Arthur days.

I have a picture somewhere of the handle to the Hluboka castle main gate showing the Austrian eagle pecking out the eyes of a Turk. War and hatred of the enemy can't get more graphic than that!

Kwoo

Easytraveler,
I know exactly which handle you are talking about! We took the same photo! We loved Hluboka & that's one reason I advocate renting a car whenever possible. Without our car, we wouldn't have had the freedom to stop there, & if it weren't for the owner of the pension we stayed at in Prague, I wouldn't have known about Hluboka because my guidebook didn't mention it.

Where in the CR is Zvikov located? We didn't have time to go there, so all the more reason for another trip to the CR

easytraveler

kwoo: on the following castles map, if you draw a straight line between Prague and Cesky Krumlov, Zhikov would be the second blue marker above Hluboka.

http://www.czechtourism.com/CMSPages...IsCastlePalace


Here's the writeup in wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zv%C3%ADkov_Castle


There are so many castles in the Czech Republic that I would like to spend several weeks or even months just driving from one to another - maybe, some day...

Burke30

Thanks everyone for all of the tips! I'm thinking about skipping Bratislava, maybe daytripping it from Vienna. The toughest part I'm having right now is deciding where to go in Slovakia (for 2 or 3 nights en route from Budapest -> Krakow). Any suggestions on this?

Adding Telc per suggestions (thanks!) for 2 nights. Also adding Bled, Slovenia 2 nights and taking one off Ljubljana.

Updated looks like this:

4 nights Budapest
2 nights SLOVENIA (Bratislava? Other suggestions??)
3 nights Krakow (daytrip to Auschwitz)
3 nights Prague
2 nights Telc
1 night Cesky Krumlov
3 nights Vienna
2 nights Bled
2 nights Ljubljana
1 night Budapest before return flight

Still need to fill one night...any suggestions on route from Slovenia to Budapest?

kja

I'd add it to Vienna - there is SO much to see and do there! But that's a personal preference.

PalenQ

well 5 nights in Budapest unless you have family there is way too much for the average tourist - two days more than enough.

Kwoo

Because you are staying 2 nights in Telc, you would have time to visit Znojomo (wine-making region) & tour a wine cellar. There is also a well-known wine festival there, sometime during the fall (not sure exactly when).