Please comment on my Central Eastern Christmas Itinerary
 

I need some advice again and know I can always count on Fodors for that! We (husband, 17 yo, 20 yo, husband and myself) and are traveling to to Czech, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary over Christmas/New Years. Does this itinerary make sense or is it too many places in too few days? We've decided to rent a car and stop at things that interest us along the way. I had originally posted for Munich, Salzburg, Austria but the young ones thought this sounded more interesting!

12/24 Prague 2 nights
Christmas eve dinner, Christmas markets, classical music or theatre Christmas day, some site seeing

12/26 Czesky Krumlov 1 night

12/27 Vienna 2 nights
The Palace, shopping, maybe the opera or Mozart

12/29 Bratislava 1 night
tour Bratislava buy some folk art

12/30 Budapest 2 nights
Tour, shop and some New Year's activity.

I have one more evening to spend someplace. Should we spend 3 nights in any of these cities? (and which one?) or is there another stop we should make?

I'm thinking it's not too much of an undertaking, but then again, I've been wrong before! I'd appreciate any input.

I believe we can drive a car into all countries and we are aware that it will be dark early, but with driving on the same side of the road and having snowy or rainy weather where we live, I don't see that being a problem.

Thanks again!

You are already packing a whole bunch of places in very few days. You should think about scaling back - I would do 2 cities - no more. fly into one and out of another. For choice I would do Prague and Budapest, but then I've already been to Vienna a bunch of times, and find it rather triste - compared to the other 2 (which I've only been to a couple of times).

Kudos for trying. BUT a major impediment for a first timer will be navigating in Slovak and Czech Republics. Their expressways are every bit as good as ours (much better than I-90 in Minnesota), but once off the expressway, the signage is relatively quite poor (understatement!!!). It's bad enough with the 7-consonants-for-every-vowel unfamiliar town names, but the signs are small, as well. So squinting at them after dark may lead to severe dislocations. Make SURE you FINISH driving BEFORE dark falls. The expressway from Prague to Cesky Budejoice is OK, but then it's surface from there to C. Krumlov, and surface from there to Vienna. Good expressway from Vienna to Bratislava, but Brat's signage is horrible even for an expressway. I suspect there's an expressway from Brat. to Budapest, but once there, again you've EXTREMELY unfamiliar street names.

Thanks to both.
nytraveler, we have a friend in Brataslava, hence the stop there. I figured since we were so close to Vienna, we might as well see that, also.

tomboy, thanks so much for the driving advice. Since there are four of us, I thought it would be more economical to drive (plus I can pack more) over traveling by train, but this is one of the things I'm not certain if I'm correct! If we still do drive, we will most definately make sure we are at our destination by nightfall.

Is it just as doable to stop at Czesky Krumlov for a bit on our way to Vienna and add another night in Prague and stop by Bratislava on the way to Budapest and add another night in Budapest? Should we skip Krumlov? The pictures I've seen of it are so pretty.

Have you checked the driving times at viamichelin.com? Do you realize that two nights in a place is just one day? Seems to me you'll spend most of your time in the car. I agree that cutting back to two places (possibly including an extra stop in Bratislava) and taking the train will be a lot less stress and allow you to appreciate where you are.

Also, have you checked to see what is actually open on Christmas Eve and Day? Seems highly unlikely that the Christmas markets or theatre will be operating on Christmas Day.

Using viamichelin.com, I get 5 hours Prague straight to Budapest.
3 hours one way Brno to Cesky Krumlov. While CK is small (but very pretty). I can't imagine spending at a bare minimum 1.5 hours on the castle tour and 2 hours strolling thru the town.

If it weren't for having a friend there, I'd personally skip Bratislava.

Seems I was wrong about Prague at Christmas - I was thinking it would be like London. See http://www.pragueexperience.com/even...ning_times.asp - tourist attractions (and some restaurants) close Christmas Eve not Christmas Day.

thursdaysd,

Thanks for the input. I had already checked the pragueexerience site. That is exactly why we are flying into Prague! We can take a short nap after our flight, stroll the town and have a nice Xmas eve dinner. On Christmas, we can stroll, go to Christmas markets, dinner and a show.

I'm going to check viamichelin.com for driving times from Prague to Vienna. I seem to recall someone on this site saying CK was a good stopping point along the way. I think I'm missing something. As I see it, from Prague to Vienna (with possible stop at CK) and from Vienna to Budapest (with stop in Brataslava for the morning) is only 2 days out of 10 traveling in a car. Wouldn't it be the same if we took a train?

I am in the early planning stages, so nothing is set in stone yet, but did see a GREAT deal at the Millenium Court Budapest for a 2 bedroom apt over New Year's, so I did book that.

We don't even have plane tickets, yet. I want to wait a week and see if the price goes down. Right now, it's a $1200 trip into Prague out of Budapest.

I'm still looking for ideas of what to do in Budapest with the family if anyone wants to bite at that topic!!

What do you guys think of 3 nights Prague, 3 Vienna and 3 Budapest?

Again, my thanks,

Suse

Okay, I just checked viamichelen. It is 2.5 hrs Prague to Ck. 3.5 from CK to Wien. Rats, I so wanted to see CK.

It is 3.5 from Prague to Wien, 1 hr Wien to Brataslava, 2.5 Brataslava to Budapest and 2.5 Wien to Budapest.

I forget from Prague to Brataslava (2.5-3 maybe) and 5 Prague to Budapest.

If you are wondering, yes, I drive myself completely crazy looking at so many alternatives. I'm really having a difficult time deciding what to do. I'm trying to cram in all I can because I know I will not ever be returning to the area. There are just too many places in the world to see!

SOOOOOO

1. Prague, Vienna, afternoon in Brat, Budapest?
2. Prague, Bratislava, Budapest (but Vienna is so pretty, ugh)
3. Stick to my original plan?

I'm sorry, but so thankful for your input!!!!!

Then, when I'm all done choosing a location, my next post will be....train or car!!!!!!

Again, SORRY!!!!!

Hi suse,

I would drop B'pest from the trip. we went to Prague one year at xmas, and Budapest the next and though they are quite similar [new town one side of river, old town on the other, lots of art galeries and museums] we liked Prague much more. you will have plenty to do there in three days.

then I suggest 2 nights in CK, [gives you time to see stuff on the way] followed by 3 nights in vienna, whence you can do a day trip to you friend in Bratislava.

regards, ann

PS - the opera in Prague or budapest is much cheaper than that in vienna and you have much more chance of getting tickets if you book NOW. also there are very nice concerts in the municipal hall in Prague.

I just returned from a very similar trip (Budapest, Prague, Cesky Krumlov, Slovenia and Croatia). Renting a car was a great idea (although driving thru Bud and Prg was a bit dicey), in general the main roads are excellent and well marked. As far as cities go, I would spend 3 nights in Prague (which is one of my favorite cities), definitly doing a PM concert one night, one or two nights in Cesky Krumlov, would skip Bratislava, and would do 2-3 nights in Budapest (definitely try the Szechenyi baths and go to the museum of Terror! also fun was the castle, mathias church, st istivan's cathedral, and the marketplace in pest)
I personally enjoyed Prague much more than Budapest, but that was my feeling. Cesky Krumlov was one of my favorite places--a small town, beautiful, good pubs and food.
We drove thru Austria en route to Slovenia and Salzburg looked lovely.
Good luck!

I'm a vote for Budapest over Prague, but that's because Prague was just so packed with tourists when I was there - December may be better. Plus I find that the more I travel, the slower I travel, so I really try to minimize one or two night stops.

I didn't much like Bratislava, but if you have a friend there, that's different. If Prague is a definite, I think I'd drop Budapest and do Bratislava as a day trip from Vienna.

I've been to all the places you mention, plus Krakow (with Intrepid). I agree with cutting Bratislava and trying to incorporate Cesky Kumlov - you're right it's worth it. I'd drop Vienna - not as exciting as the other spots. Agree with the recommendation to see the Terror museum in Budapest. I'm working on getting my pictures online from that trip. Will post the link when I do.

Ugghhh!

Okay, I'm thinking Prague, CK, Vienna.
My 17 yo just mentioned that he'd love to see Dresden. What about just Prague and Dresden? Is there enough to see in between?

I wish I had two weeks!

Thanks to all esp ann and katie for your input. I'm taking Budapest out of the picture since it's much like Prague. I'm picking Prague because there are things to do Xmas Eve and Christmas day, plus the Christmas Markets will still be open there.

I've seen Vienna before, don't feel the need to see it again, but it's close to Prague and we have 10 days....unless Dresden keeps calling!!!!!

I believe I'll have this figured out in a day or two!!

PS Those interested in Budapest...The Milennium Court, Marriott Apts. have a 2 bedroom apartment for 175 euros a night. Unbelievable, isn't it? THAT's why we were going to go to Budapest!!!!!

How about Prague, Dresden, and Krakow?

Thanks for the idea, Dutch.
I'm feeling a little better! We're either going to Prague, CK, Vienna or Prague, and Dresden, possibly a side visit to Liepzig.

I really appreciate all the input I've gotten here. I'm getting great info from all the other threads out there, also!