Central Europe travel tips (Hungary>Slovakia>Poland)
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Just pulled the trigger on airfare to Budapest and back this summer. 12 days to explore and we hope to stay within 250 miles of Budapest.
Anyone been there? Any must see cool places or things?
We are doing public transport the entire time and plan on spending a few days in Budapest and then up to Krakow Poland. So far the only things on the itinerary are Auschwitz outside Krakow and the castle of the Blood Countess Elizabeth Bathory in Cachtice, Slovokia. Pearl Jam is also playing in Krakow one night. Never seen them and they are on my bucket list and it would be a hoot to see them there.
I hear there are ferries that run up and down the Danube, which might be a cool way to get from Budapest up into Slovakia.
Anyway, interested to hear from anyone who has spent time in that neck of the woods. I will be traveling with my 21 year old son (who is spending most of the summer in Europe) and my brother. We are big on budget adventure travel and usually stay in cheap hotels or campgrounds and shy away from fancy restaurants, although it looks like AirB&Bs are an affordable option in many of the towns and cities there.
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Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: skyjunk
https://www.google.com/search
https://www.google.com/search?q=plitvice+croatia&client=safari&sa=X&hl=e...
i would love to visit this part of my homeland
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Bucky Badger
The World Cup is taking place
The World Cup is taking place in Russia from mid-June to mid-July and Poland is playing. You might run into some fun outdoor gatherings if you are there during this time.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Sound and Vision
Looking to hit Budapest and a
Looking to hit Budapest and a different loop. Let's get good info!
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Racketinmyhead
Munich>Salzburg>Vienna
Munich>Salzburg>Vienna>Bratislava>Budapest>Krakow>Prague>Berlin
ride them rails
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Racketinmyhead
Munich>Salzburg>Vienna
Munich>Salzburg>Vienna>Bratislava>Budapest>Krakow>Prague>Berlin
ride them rails
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: DaBreeze
I did Vienna > Prague (as
I did Vienna > Prague (as part of Phish tour in '97), then hit Budapest later that summer.
The farther East you go, the cheaper things get. Vienna is high end compared to Budapest, Prague was pretty cheap too. This was just as Eastern Europe was 'Americanizing'. It was crazy to see western franchises charging the same as in the US, but in countries (like Hungary and Czech) where minimum wage is more than half of the USs'. This was 20 years ago, mind you, but It's probably still proportionately out of whack.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Ken D.
Just dropped "Americanized"
Just dropped "Americanized" coin on Pearl Jam in Krakow tix. They were almost sold out, but got partially obscured for about $300 USD (1000 PL) including fees and international shipping (no print at home option). You also had to give the names of attendees and the names must match up at the door.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Ken D.
Yeah, looking on line, it
Yeah, looking on line, it seems that the further east you go, the cheaper things get. I wanted to hit Romania as well, but with only 12 days, have to keep it in a close in pattern to experience the area.
BTW, the $300 for PJ Tix was for three at $100 a pop (including fees and shipping).
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: James Botluk
I was in Krakow last May.
I was in Krakow last May. Took a train overnight from the Czech Republic, then went on to Warsaw later in the afternoon. I definitely did not spend enough time there. The train station is very modern and located in a shopping mall. You can check your luggage there. It's a short walk to the Old Town area. I walked to Wawel Castle, but did not have time to tour inside it. I had lunch with a friend at a restaurant that features Lemko cuisine. The old square is lovely. The town has a similar feel to Old Town in Prague, but actually feels more out of old Europe.. There lots of tourists but the city appears to lack the tackiness of the tourist areas of Prague. I'm going back in mid-June when King Crimson is playing three shows. It is worth giving Krakow a couple days of your time, certainly not less than the better part of a full day.
Where are you going in Slovakia? I have not visited Slovakia yet, but have a number of Slovak friends and I know a bit about the country.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Ken D.
>>>>worth giving Krakow a
>>>>worth giving Krakow a couple days of your time
Yep. There is a temptation with the good mass transit and relatively short distances between countries to try and cover as much ground as possible, but then you don't have the opportunity to soak up any particular area. We are going to give Krakow at least three nights and two full days, one to check out the Old Town and another to see Auschwitz outside of town.
>>>>Where are you going in Slovakia?
Only place so far on the agenda there are the ruins of Elizabeth Bathory's castle in a small town called Cachtice in the northwest corner of the country. I imagine we will use Bratislava as a jumping off point for that leg of the trip.
How was it talking with the locals? I imagine in the bigger cities, people speak a fair amount of English.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Painted Mandolin
I was there a few decades
I was there a few decades back - but there are some very memorable aspects to Budapest.
If you have the time and bread you definitely should visit the Szechenyi Furdo Spa in the Park near the National Museum - on the Pest Side of town!
http://www.szechenyibath.hu/
Be aware that there are public and private parts to this vast complex - the public areas allow both genders to enjoy the thermal waters.
The more intimate and intense parts of the facility separate the sexes.?
There are Turkish Steam Baths and Saunas here too!
Virtual Tour:
https://www.google.com/maps/@47.5186969,19.0816304,2a,75y,164.11h,89.95t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1svBh7JrVzdqoAAAQvO_T6aw!2e0!3e2!7i13312!8i6656
Als0 - Gellert Spa - it's incredible:
http://gellertspa.com/
There's even a wave pool at this place.
Enjoy!
Budapest has many other Thermal Spa opportunities!
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: (~)};)StealYourFace
Visit the Zappa Cafe in
Visit the Zappa Cafe in Budapest,some cool murals...
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: James Botluk
It was nteresting talking to
It was interesting talking to the locals! I had a couple hour wait in the Czech Republic, waiting for the train to Krakow. There was a Polish gentleman waiting for another train, half in the bag. His English was limited, but better than my Czech and Polish. We talked about politics, his visit to America, eitc. for a couple hours. While waiting for a bus to t he airport in Warsaw, I had a great conversation with a homeless fellow about my age, who was hanging around the bus stop. Again, we covered politics, culture and about everything else. Very friendly people.
Warsaw was interesting. I had lunch at a bar/restaurant where the waitress spoke no English. Ate dinner at similar place literally around the corner and the was fluent in English. I didn't get into any real conversations in my short time in Krakow. It's a tourisntt town and you can get by pretty easy in English. Don't expect the ticket sellers at the railway station to be fluent in English. You might want to write down exactly what you need..
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: James Botluk
Fabes, I always wanted to see
Fabes, I always wanted to see Plitvice! I have never been to Croatia. Visited Bosnia and Serbia twice last year. They are lovely countries.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Scott Schaffer
Climbing and hiking the High
Climbing and hiking the High Tatras, either on the Slovakian or Polish side, is really quite stunning. I went there about 10 years ago, a little known gem in that part of the world. Top notch mountain range , part of the Carpathians...
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Sound and Vision
>>Munich>Salzburg>Vienna
>>Munich>Salzburg>Vienna>Bratislava>Budapest>Krakow>Prague>Berlin
ride them rails
sounds fantastic, not sure I have enough time?!
we were thinking Budapest, Vienna, Prague...