Minimum time needed in Budapest, Prague and Berlin
 

We (husband and I) are considering an eastern Europe trip. Neither of us have been to any of these cities. We are pretty efficient travelers, as far as hotel transfers, etc. and have done trips where we moved around some (also have done trips where we spent a week in a major city). We can probably just squeeze in 10 full days worth of tourist time (not including travel days). We will transfer between cities in quickest way (fly vs rail).

We are walkers and used to cities. We tend to pound the pavement and explore neighborhoods in between the usual site-seeing. We may spend an hour or 2 in a museum, but not all day. We like a good city walking tour, and maybe guided tour of significant sites.

We tend to gravitate to small, charming guest house type accommodations (if they exist) as opposed to big chain hotels (I go for the good "bang for the buck" type accommodations when researching), and aim for convenient locations where we can walk to many of the major sites and areas.

I can't tell you the "minimum" time for any of those cities because I don't know what you'd be interested in (despite your description of your travel style). Your interests may be different than mine.

What I do when deciding how much time I want to see in these cities is to study guidebooks and web guides and make notes for what interests me, then ask questions. If I find I have a long list of things that interest me in one city, then I'll plan more time. If not maybe less time.

Prague and Berlin a very different. Prague is a fairly compact walking city. There are museums, but the biggest attraction is probably the city itself - so beautiful, just walk around and take it all in. Berlin is not a beautiful city and it is huge. I did a lot of walking there, but it's so spread out that it's generally better to use public transportation to get around. I am interested in World War II and Cold War history, so I spent a lot of time at not just museums but at outdoor sites and memorials. I took a day trip up to Potsdam mostly to see the site of the famous Potsdam Conference - people who aren't interested in this would find it a waste of time, but I found it essential.

Budapest is pretty big and spread out too. Again, you should read up on it and see what interests you.

If you are very interested in World War II and/or the Cold War, you might do 4 nights in Berlin and 3 nights each in the other two. If not that interested in the recent history, 3 nights in Berlin is probably plenty. If taking the train, you might consider 3 nights in each and stop in Dresden between Prague and Berlin (you will probably go through Dresden anyway).

Thanks Andrew. I was figuring 3 full days in each (add a 4th to one of them), but were concerned if 3 full days is enough to at least scratch the surface.

From what I've heard about Berlin, it's a 'hip' city with a good art scene. My daughter LOVED it. I hear the others are beautiful. I am a bit shutter happy, so enjoy just walking around and taking in the surroundings.

I don't believe in minimum times in any place, except some village of 500 perhaps. Spend what you want to spend in a big city, someone saying you must spend x days in a place doesn't make any sense to me. It's just a matter of personal taste and travel style. I've seen people on Fodors tell people that you "have" to spend a minimum of x days in a place which I think is ridiculous. The message was if you can't, then you shouldn't go there. I think if you have at least two days on, and want to visit a place to see it, you should. In really big cities, I think only one day may just not be that enjoyable, though.

FOr example, I've been in PRague multiple times as it's one of my favorite cities, usually spend 4-5 days there. But other people would be bored by all that time in Prague. I did spend only one day in Budapest as that was just was fit in my schedule, so I suppose I shouldn't have gone if I didn't have more? I enjoyed it, got an overview and it made me decide if I wanted to go back some day for a longer stay.

So if I had to state a number, minimum 3 days each.

Berlin has much much more major sights that are farther removed from each other - it really demands much more time to see the minimum must sights (to me Sans Soucci park and Palace are awesome and should not be missed) - 4 days minimum IMO not counting arrival day.

Prague is especially compact as andrew says - and two full days there for me was enough (though I spent 3 days there!) but I guess if you like to just spend the day walking round and round and round its relatively few really nice areas go for it. Like Budapest Prague still suffers from the socialist architecture in its outer preceints.

2 days for me were about enough

by flying between Berlin and Prague you will save only a few hours and you will miss a lot of fantastic scenery south of Dresden when the train tracks right thru the heart of Saxon Switzerland, one of Europe's most comely river valleys with sandstone cliffs soaring up on the east flank and castles and fortresses topping them.

consider doing rail that day and also conisder stopping off in Dresden for 3-4 hours or even an overnight - really amazing place this 'Florence on the Elbe".

Flying you see airports and tarmacs and nothing of the scenery in between - sad IMO, especially with Saxon Switzerland.

https://www.google.com/search?q=saxo...=1600&bih=1075

You obviously have dismissed trains but IMO you should not off hand - fares as low as 29 euros I've seen on www.bahn.de/en (German Railways web site) for Berlin to Prague and all told the time is not much more than flying - for lots about trains check www.bahn.de/en for schedules and fares to Prague and these sites for general info on trains: www.seat61.com (excellent info on discounted train tickets); www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

I haven't dismissed trains. I was just trying to maximize time at destination. Honestly I prefer trains as a means of travel, but if I can save 4-5 hours by flying, I have 2nd thoughts. I did notice that flights from Budapest to Prague are not cheap (~$400). Train is about 7 hours which seems really long, compared to 1.5 hr flight.

I have to keep researching to see what makes the most sense. I'd like to visit these 3 places, but maybe have to consider a different order. By looking at map, I was thinking Budapest>Prague>Berlin but now reconsidering other possibilities given transportation between the cities.

Well Berlin to Prague at about 4.5 hours will be about as quick as flying all told and a whole lot easier - no schlepping around with bags getting to the airport and back in waiting for planes which are more likely to be late than trains.

Yes Budapest and Prague are over 8 hours but there is a direct overnight train that takes no daylight hours and saves on the cost of a hotel. Fares as low as 29 euros according to www.bahn.de/en.

I was just thinking about the possibility of sleeper train. That would be a new adventure, never have done it.

we have [so far] spent 3 days in each, and of the three, Berlin is the one where I know that I could spend a lot more time than those 3 days, so that's where I would put any extra time I had.

it also has day trip possibilities e.g. Potsdam as Andrew mentioned about.

Thanks for all the advice. It's just what I needed!

Now I'm thinking 3 nights Budapest, 1 night on sleeper train to Prague, 2 nights Prague and 4 nights Berlin. It's looking like we'd take the train from Prague to Berlin.

This would be for (most likely) early September.

sounds like a good plan, MFNYC. It's a shame to bypass Dresden, but you can't do everything as you know.

Prague was by far my favorite of all of these cities, but paradoxically it's probably go the least to do/see, the most "quaint" and picturesque. With a castle on the hill it looks like something out of a fairy tale (but be prepared for mobs of tourists in September). There is far more to see in Berlin especially. While I didn't need a lot of time in Prague, it's the place I wanted to spend the most time.

Some of the history in Berlin is so heavy (e.g. the Nazi stuff) that I found more time there helped me absorb it more than needing more time to see everything.

We have friends we will meet up with in both Berlin and Budapest, so that also makes me lean to more time in those cities.

There's never enough time for everything, and I'd love to stop in Dresdon, but I don;t want to go too overboard with destinations.

Pretty much agree with Andrew and others. Although with a tour group we've really liked Prague and Budapest, sometimes just walking around. As for Berlin, it is indeed a metropolitan city and though I became ill while there I did like the WWII related sights and certainly Pergamon Museum. With time constraints we didn't see much else though there is lots to see and do. But part of the fun is planning such as you are doing.

I recommend sleeper train. Both more pleasant and more efficient than air travel - city center to city center is very civilized.

If you are a shutterbug, you will LOVE being in Prague. Very rich in architecture (many styles) and atmosphere. Really, almost every block has at least some detail of interest. Touristy in parts but what can you do. Don't miss the Art Nouveau area, river views etc.

Berlin is fabulous for arts: museums, concerts etc. but is not so much a walking city. It is on an imperial scale. I have never been to Budapest.

If you're asking if you can see those three cities in ten days, I think the answer is yes. I wouldn't add any more though.

Thanks everyone! When I zero in on dates and purchase my airfare, I'll be back for hotel advice.