My family (including 3-year old toddler) is planning a two-week trip around Eastern Europe this summer. Ideally, we'd like to hit Prague, Krakow, Budapest, and Vienna. We have a strong preference for getting places efficiently if possible - direct flights preferred - but seem to be having trouble fitting Krakow into the mix.

I know that we're trying to fit a lot in, but not sure when/if we'll ever get back there again and so want to see as much as we can. Also, we tend to get bored if we're in a city for more than 2-3 days.

Looking for advice from travelers who have traveled to and between these cities. Is Krakow worth the trip/hassle? Any suggestions about how to order the cities to make travel most efficient? If you had to leave out one city, which one would it be? And, of course, any "can't miss" items in any of the cities would be greatly appreciated.

If you are planning to travel from Krakow to Budapest you have a couple of choices and they all take 6+ hours.
You can travel by day bus, night bus, train, night train which is just as efficient as flying as there are no direct flights to the best of my knowledge.

Unless you start in Vienna then Prague then Krakow then Budapest. That may work.

This might catch someone else's eye. Good Luck.

> Is Krakow worth the trip/hassle?

IMO, yes. I found it a delightful city and was very glad to visit it. I don't know if it would make any sense to consider flying into Warsaw and taking a train from there. Good luck!

Noting spelling number 32 of itinerary.

Yes, that is a new one.

And, not to be pedantic - but those places are in CENTRAL europe - eastern europe is Russia, the Ukraine etc.

And I defiitely tink Krakow is worth it - but then I'm rarely bored incities - and hardly ever after only 2 or 3 days. Maybe you should do some day trips into the countryside - you might enjoy them more.

Not sure where you're starting your journey but you could fly into Krakow from nine different places (UK, France and Germany)then travel by train to Prague, Prague to Vienna, Vienna to Budapest and then fly out from there. That's probably the most efficient way of doing it. And yes, Krakow is definitely worth it.

Several years ago we flew into Prague and home from Vienna. We traveled to Krakow on an overnight train and did the same from Krakow to Budapest. I agree that Krakow should not be missed and if you have the time Auschwitz-Birkenau is a profoundly moving experience. I assume prices are higher today, but based on what we experienced I would leave out Vienna if I had to give up one city, just because it was nearly double the cost.