Eastern Europe Summer 2017 Itinerary + Mykonos Break
 

After reworking the itinerary many times, I have come up with the following plans and have booked air tickets. We would like to visit Eastern Europe in additional to an annual pilgrimage to Mykonos in Greece. Vienna has direct flights to Mykonos bypassing Athens (M, W and F only) but we have been to Vienna 8 months ago so not looking to spend too much time there. Am I planning enough time in each location?

Sat July 1 - Arrive in Warsaw after trans-atlantic flight. Walk around, relax
July 2 - Warsaw exploring, Chopin concert
July 3 - Train to Krakow, explore city
July 4/5 - Explore Krakow+ Salt Mine
July 6 - Private car transfer to Vienna via Auschwitz, arrive late afternoon in Vienna.
Fri July 7 - Leave half our luggage in Vienna hotel. Take a noon flight to Mykonos
July 8-11 - Relaxing in Mykonos
July 12 - afternoon flight back to Vienna, arriving 4pm
July 13 - Private transfer to Budapest via stop in Bratislava, arrive around 2pm in BDP
July 14-16 - Explore Budapest
July 17 - fly home

IMO, this plan is too rushed -- I would want more time in Krakow and Budapest and perhaps one more day in Warsaw. What I think is irrelevant, though -- what matters is whether you can see and experience what you want in the time you've allotted.

Good luck!

I, too, think the itinerary shortchanges your destinations. On 13 July, for example, you identify a "stop" in Bratislava before arriving in Budapest at 1400. Assuming you leave Vienna at 0900, you'll have about 2 hours in Bratislava before heading to Budapest. Is there a specific reason for the stop; or could you head directly to Budapest?

I figured Bratislava is worth a quick visit? I can also go to Bratislava on July 12 upon landing at the Vienna airport instead of Vienna (30-40mins by car) and then go to Budapest in the morning on July 13 but then I have to carry all my bags to Mykonos. Where as if I stay in the same hotel in Vienna for one night before and after Mykonos, I can leave a large portion of my luggage in Vienna.

My original plan did not include Warsaw and I was just spending the first 4-5 days in Krakow..but its my first time in Poland and I feel like I should visit the capital even for a little bit of time. 3 days in Krakow plus a separate visit to Auschwitz on day 4, is not enough? I unfortunately can not add any more days to this trip :(

We spent 7 nights in Krakow and never visited Warsaw. We were busy every day seeing a different section of the city or going on a day-trip to see something in the area. There's no reason to feel like you "need to go to Warsaw" just because it's the capital.

Krakow is picturesque and a joy to stroll. If you're there on a Sunday there might be a festival behind Saint Mary's church on the main square. Lots of music, dancing, food & shopping.

These are only my thoughts on Bratislava. Over our four years now living in Vienna, we have visited the Slovak capital 18 times, not counting visits on Sundays for idle shopping because Austria is closed or to visit the Danubiana museum outside the city.

Our first visit left us terribly underwhelmed. Like the regular streams of daytrippers from Vienna, we wandered around the Stare Mesto for a couple of hours, had an uninteresting lunch and returned to Vienna. The subsequent visits have been much more enjoyable because they have a defined itinerary, and we also have a nice list of preferred restaurants and favorite shops to round out our visit. My feeling is that with just a couple of hours, a visit to Bratislava won't rank highly in your holiday memories.

Would you suggest we spend the night there? Meaning, once we land at the Vienna airport, we can head to Bratislava since its so close and just enjoy our evening and night there before taking the morning train to Budapest?

Arriving in Vienna at 1600 means you will reach either city after the museums/attractions and stores have closed. All you will really have time to do is wander a bit before dinner. Personally I would either stay overnight in Vienna (a familiar city) or head directly to Budapest from the airport (not sure how connections might work) and get a fresh start the following morning. Ultimately, the decision is yours, however. :)

I mostly just want to walk around old town a little, grab a snack, visit the castle in Bratislava. Figured 2hrs is enough..