Struggling with Our 6 week Central European Itinerary - We would love some advice!
Hello,
We are off on a big 6 week Central European Journey from Aug 27-Oct 10 and though I know its far away now, we are already trying to figure out the budget and thus the itinerary. Our big struggle is trying to balance the following needs: 1. Proper pacing. Not too rushed - time to explore, but not time to feel we've overstayed. 2. Variety. We absolutly churched and museumed oursevles to death on our last trip. 3. Choices, Choices - we are sure everywhere is nice, but what we really need is advice about which is nicer - A or B? Where should we spend our precious time? So far this is the itinerary that is heading the bunch: 1. Fly 2. Dubrovnik 3. Dubrovnik 4. Dubrovnik: Ston/Mali Ston 5. Dubrovnik: Mostar 6. Dubrovnik: Kotor Montenegro 7. Split 8. Split: Trogir/Primosten 9. Split: Markarska (Brela) 10. Split: Mt. Biokovo 11. Zadar 12. Zadar: Pag Town 13. Plitvice 14. Krk Town 15. Krk Town: Baska 16. Krk Town: Vrbnik 17. Mali Losinj 18. Mali Losinj: Cres Town 19. Mali Losinj: Osor 20. Pula 21. Pula: Rovinj 22. Pula: Motovun/Pazin 23. Pula: Porec 24. Pula: Vodnjan 25. Pula: Buzet/Hum 26. Pula: Labin/Rabac 27. Ljubljana 28. Ljubljana 29. Ljubljana: Bled 30. Ljubljana: Skocjan Caves/Piran 31. Ljubljana: Bohinj Valley 32. Ljubljana: Skofja Loka 33. Salzburg 34. Salzburg 35. Salzburg 36. Salzburg: Hallstatt 37. Cesky Krumlov 38. Cesky Krumlov 39. Prague 40. Prague 41. Prague 42. Prague 43. Prague: Kunta Hora 44. Prague: Karlovy Vary 45. Fly Home That is the front runner. We would love every bit of advice we can get. We originally planned to go to Budapest not Salzburg, but it seems to make more sense to see something in Austria then rush over to Hungary from Prague (or Ljubljana). We cut out two - 2 night stays in Korcula and Hvar to flesh out time in Krk and Cres - any thoughts on this choice? Thanks! Naxos |
I should mention....the runner up itinerary we are considering has us staying in Montenegro for 3 nights (to see Kotor, Bar, Budva etc) - to accomplish this we cut Cres + one night in Dubrovnik and added a day in Krk where we plan on light sight-seeing and beaching.
The best plane tickets we see right now are Austrian Airlines $1952 EACH into Podgorica Montenegro - Ouch! we will have to keep working on that. Naxos |
Hi
Smart you plan ahead, i planned most of my overseas trips 10 months in advance I get so burnt out from planning I like having time off to just get excited for it. I cannot wait to read your trip report as I have only been to one place on your list, Salzburg, one word enchanting! We did it in 3 days 2 nights and that was plenty. Otherwise you will ove it, stay in the historic section. We did and the walks were great and you are right there while others have to get to it daily. It feels like you are in a different world compared to other parts of Salzburg. Have a blast and again remember trip report. |
Well, much as i've enjoyed stays in the Balkans over the years you seem yo want to see every sheep herders hut. So you really want to visit yet another sun drenched harbour then carry on. If I had this much time I might book onto a sailing boat and see it all that way.
If you ever manage to drag yourself away from here then what about Trieste (never really part of Italy until after WW2). Equally while reconstrucing the Austro-hungarian empire then Budapest is a must. So I suggest a bit of sharp cutting at the begining (Pula for how many days will you be watching icecream juggling?) then drop in Budapest for 3 nights and Vienna about the same dropping salzburg off the list |
Budapest would be my choice rather than Prague.
Think you have too many days in Prague and 3 or 4 days in Budapest would be better than so many days in some of the cities you have listed. We really liked the salt mine tour in Berchtesgaden. We had a rental car and drove there from Salzburg. http://www.berchtesgaden.de/en/65203...3b1b196f6.html |
Thanks for your comments! biloburgler...every sheep hearders hut - lol! Not enough variety? Any places your would find too sleepy to be of interest?
Hmmm. I was afraid you'd all tell me to get Budapest back in there. Logistically it is far away and we are not willing to cut Prague. If we don't stop in Austria at all that means we will have a 10hr train ride from Ljubljana to Cesky Krumlov...than another 10hrs from Prauge to Budapest. We lose pretty much two full days in transit. We want to travel only by public transportation so that is a factor to keep in mind and will have a big effect on our pace (which we are ok with). How about this....some of the longer stays represent places we are using as a base - for multiple day trips Kotor: arrival Kotor: Stari Bar Kotor: Budva/Stevi Stefan Dubrovnik Dubrovnik Dubrovnik: Mostar Dubrovnik: Ston/Mali Ston Split Split: Trogir/Primosten Split: Markarska/Brela Split: Hiking Mt. Biokovo Zadar Zadar: Pag Town Plitvice Krk Town Krk Town: Vrbnik Krk Town: Baska/Kosljun Monastery Istria: Pula Istria: Rovinj Istria: Pazin/Motovun Istria: Porec/Beach Istria: Buzet/Hum Istria: Vodnjan/Labin Slovenia: Ljubljana Slovenia: Ljubljana Slovenia: Bled Slovenia: Bohinj Valley Slovenia: Skocjan Caves/Postojna Slovenia: Skofja Loka/Kranj Salzburg Salzburg Salzburg Cesky Krumlov Cesky Krumlov Prague Prague Prague Prague Prague: Kunta Hora Budapest: (travel) Budapest Budapest Budapest Fly Home We took out all of Cres, a day from Salzburg (Hallstatt), a day from Prague (Karlovy Vary) and a day from Istria ... this allows us 4 nights in Budapest - one day eaten up by travel. Part of me hates to travel all the way to Hungary only to see the capital and not anything else. Any other ideas on how to best shift around our time? What to keep and where specifically to cut? Our interests are photography, hiking, architecture with a relaxed (but not comatose) pace. Keep it coming! Thanks, Naxos |
In my opinion, I would skip Budva/Sveti stefani day. Budva did not have, in my opinion, anything Kotor did not have. Either spend that time in Kotor unwinding from the flight or add it to Salzburg and put Halstatt back in. I love Salzburg and was enchanted with Halstatt.
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Are you doing it all by rail or are you also renting a car somewhere?
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Also I am glad to see that you have put Budapest into the itinerary. I am in the minority but I liked it better than Prague. I have only been to each once (5 days each same trip).
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Thanks guys,
PalenQ we are travelling by bus, train and ferry - no car. Good feedback on Budva irishface - we wondered about this as well. We are also interested in Herceg Novi and the Ostrog Monastery so perhaps we'll turn our attention there. Naxos |
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