I'm programming a circuit in Berlin, Prague and Vienna. In one of them is Budapest but in the other this is the city of Cesky Krumlov which I was told is worth visiting. What do you think is the most beautiful?

Why is this tagged Slovakia?

How many days do you have? I've never been to Cesky Krumlov, but I imagine that it is more manageable for a couple of days than a capital city like Budapest.

Budapest is a vibrant fascinating city, with castle, opera house, markets, famous cakes, decadent beautiful spas. Well worth the visit

CK is a has been spa town with Russian gangsters chilling out amongst the pools while tea dances abound.

CK is so far down my list of places to visit a second time it is hard to see it.

That is a ridiculous choice. One is a small town with a small river and a castle, the other is a major city wih the Danube and multiple sights.

What does it mean exactly to "program a circuit"? Does it mean there's no wiggle room whatever, once the program is in place? When I'm unsure about an itinerary, I like to choose what I feel is the best option with the information I have and, if I'm wrong, change it.

It matters a great deal, as Michael mentions, how long you have for this "circuit" so you've asked us to help you but withheld that most important part. Do tell us the plan in its entirety.

I haven't been to Cesky Krumlov since 1983, so my comments would be useless. It was behind the Iron Curtain then and not a tourist attraction.

I spent 6 nights in Budapest last October and did not find it to be terribly vibrant or attractive. I thought it was glum. Beautiful architectural remnants, lovely opera house, amazing synagogue and old Jewish quarter, but no river culture and a pervasive downtrodden attitude from so many shopkeepers, café owners, etc. We enjoyed the baths and the main market and had a couple of good meals, but I have little desire to go back. On the other hand, we adored Bratislava.

But yes, it's a silly choice. They are completely different experiences.

Thanks for all the comments that were very useful. The doubts were because we are going on circuits programmed by a travel agency and by bus. The tour is from Berlin and then Prague, Budapest and Vienna. 9 days. We may still be encouraged to schedule them ourselves but with 74 yo and 67 my wife we do not really want to carry luggage. Do you think that only with the English language will we be able to arrange these places? We also speak Spanish but I think it will not be of any use to us. Thanks again. And greetings to all. You guys were very gentle.

Since you've determined an arranged tour would be best for your purposes, maybe just stick with it. Make sure you have some down time to relax or walk around on your own.

By the way, StCirq's decription of Budapest pretty much echos my feelings about the city. I visited 3 times because I had close friends there and didn't like it the 3rd time any better than the 1st.

You'll be fine with just English. Most of us here, I believe, are uni-lingual.

Spanish will be virtually useless. English will serve you better, as in all these places the tourist culture demands that people speak English. I'm something of a linguist, but Hungarian slayed me. I learned maybe 15 words and am still not sure I got them right. Slovak was a lot easier for me.

I still don't understand your "circuit." Please explain. I don't do tours, and at 65 have no problem carrying my own luggage, but I've traveled enough to know how to pack really light and hop on and off trains, so perhaps I just have a different travel style. I could never do a bus tour, but that's me.

Cheeky Krumlov is not the spa town. Karlovy Vary is the spa town.

Darn this spell check. I meant to say Cesky Krumlov.

I don't understand what you mean by "programmed by a travel agency". Is this a regular tour sold to the general public? Is it a private tour for you and your wife, and if so, why is it by bus?

Nine days is extremely short for Prague, Vienna and Budapest, you would do better to pick two if that is all the time you have. Unlike the posters above I am a big fan of Budapest, which I have visited several times. If you go here and put budapest in the search box you will find reports on some of my time there:

mytimetotravel.wordpress.com

You can't even compare the two, CK is a very very small town known for its castle. It is all dolled up for tourists and yes, it is attractive and a pleasant day trip, some people stay a day or two but there really isn't much to do there. It is not a spa town. Budapest is a major capital city.

I don't understand what is going on but it will be much easier to arrange a trip to CK on your own than Budapest because it is so limited. I don't understand where you are arranging this visit from, but English wouldn't be a problem in Prague, for example (where you certainly could arrange a trip to/from CK). I did, after all, and I don't speak much Czech. I never learned any Hungarian that I can recall but I was only there a day, I've been in the CR multiple times as I like it. I did go to Budapest on a tour I arranged in Vienna, that was certainly easy enough in English.

Hi P,

4 major venues in 9 days?

Is this one of those things where you have to be on the bus at 08:00, see interesting sights as you drive by on major hiways and stop at a hotel several miles from the city center?

OTOH, if you have found a good TA and you are spending 2 nights in each venue, you might enjoy it very much.

I understand your concerns about schlepping luggage. It can be difficult.

May I suggest an alternative to your land tour?

There are a number of cruise firms that ply the Danube.

I think that you might be very interested in 7-12 day cruises between Prague and Budapest, or maybe Bucharest to Vienna.et

You get on the boat and there is no need to pack and unpack. Your hotel goes with you from place to place.

Check Avalon Waterways, AMAwaterways, Viking, etc. A good place to check prices is at cruise dot com.

Enjoy your visit.

<i>I think that you might be very interested in 7-12 day cruises between Prague and Budapest,</i>???

I am not aware that the river that flows in Prague goes to the Danube. I believe that it joins the Elbe.

yep the rivers don't connect, but there is a coach

'CK is so far down my list of places to visit a second time it is hard to see it.'

Totally echoes my thoughts. I loved visiting it, but I had my own car and I made virtually no detour. Comparing it to Budapest as said by several is not a comparison at all.

Czech now all speak english.

'You'll be fine with just English. Most of us here, I believe, are uni-lingual'.

I am actually very positively surprised by the number of US poeple here who actually speak several languages. A lot of regulars speak at least one other language and OP speaks Spanihs.

No impact on the discussion, just wanted to be nice, for once ;-)

Merci, WoinParis. E grazie und Danke y gracias en dank je.

FWIW, I had the exact opposite impression of Budapest than StC and MmePerdu. That description was how I felt about Prague but I loved Budapest.

Obviously, everyone has different experiences.