Itinerary Help - Budapest, Vienna, Krakow and Warsaw
 

Hi everyone - we've booked a flight into Budapest and out of Warsaw for this coming September. We have one day out of a 12 day trip where we don't know where to stay.

Budapest: 3.5 days (flight arrives early afternoon)
Train to Vienna: 2 or 3 days
Overnight train to Krakow: 3 or 4 days
Train to Warsaw: 2 days

The confusion is between Vienna and Krakow - we visited Vienna for 4 days about 2 years ago, but wanted to visit again because it poured rain the entire time we were there. We did see most of the "must-see" sights. We have never been to Krakow. Choosing the 2 days in Vienna over 3 would have us only spending one night there, since we'll need to take the overnight train to Krakow.

Where would you spend your extra day? Is Krakow worth 3 days, or 4? As far as our "likes" for vacation - we like museums with baroque art, WWII history, taking long and relaxed meals, viewing nice architecture, and window shopping.

Krakow is worth at least 4 days. There's lots to do there, particularly if you're interested in WWII history. There's the new Krakow Under the Occupation Museum which is fascinating. Not far outside Krakow is the Salt Museum (so glad I went there) and Auschwitz. I'm a complete Krakow fan.

ttt

I think that if you already been in Viena maybe you should try to use just a little bit of your time to visit other places... maybe get out of there like in the middle of the day and use it to go to Krakow and Varsow.

If it means taking one day off Vienna to add to 3 days already in Krakow then I'd opt for Vienna - Krakow is much more compact and limited in its individual sites - even if you day trip to Auschwitz-Birkenau - taking most of a day you still have time to wander the lovely streets of Krakow in early evening and the Salt Mines - yes I absolutely loved them and they are a UNESCO World Heritage site - that is at most a half-day trip.

Vienna however presents many many more things right in the city that would interest the average tourist and if time do not neglect doing the fantastic Melk Abbey and boat ride down the Wachau Valley to Durnstein and Krems - fantastic day trip - and if you do have a European East railpass it would cover the trains each way and perhaps give a discount on the boats - did when I went but may have changed. For info on the fabulous Wachau Valley boats check out www.ricksteves.com and http://www.budgeteuropetravel.com/id33.html. Sans pass buy a combo ticket for admission to the historic and opulent Melk Abbey and boat ride and trains each way at a Vienna train station.

If you've never been to Melk, then PQ's suggestion is a great one for your extra day. Talk about Baroque art!