Travelling South From Poland

[difbear]

As my first 'real' trip I'm trying to arrange a trip to Eastern Europe.

Is it unrealistic to expect to take in the following countries(destinations within the countries undecided until I've done some more research) in just over a month?

Poland, Czech Rep. Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia & Bosnia.

What do you guys think? Not viable to extend my stay but willing to cut some corners to spend time in the 'best' places.

[mowark]

When are you going? Those are the exact countries (plus Greece) that I will be headed to in September.

[tumblezweedz]

It is a bit crowded to take in 7 countries in one month, but it's definitely doable. Travel distances, with the exception of within Poland, are not that great, so you won't lose too much time that way. We made a slightly different circuit in that region two summers ago - 6 countries in 5 weeks - and it was a good trip. Could have used more time, but that's always the case!

4 days in each city will give you a good sense of them, some you can spend less time in, of course. We had 10 days in Poland, split between Gdansk, Szczecin, Wroclaw, Boleslawiec and Krakow (been to most of them before, and don't care much for Warsaw, personally), 5 in Budapest, about 6 in Prague...fewer in Vienna, Bratislava etc. You can balance things out as your interests dictate.

I haven't been to Croatia or Slovenia, but both sound wonderful - just didn't work out last time round.

A lot of people on these boards know and love eastern Europe, so when you've figured out where you think you might want to go, or if you need some ideas, feel free to ask away - you'll get plenty of suggestions! It does help if you give an idea of what you like to do, see etc, because the region offers so many different experiences, and we all have our own ideas about what's "best"!

[difbear]

@mowark - It's looking like October but if I can save quick enough then September is also doable, just before the cold winter sets in too.

@tumbleweedz - I'm always open to suggestions on places to see & things to do. There's two of us going and we're both interested in major historical events so obviously Auschwitz will be one of our first stops as we'll be flying Prestwick to Krakow. Sarajevo really catches my eye. not sure why, probably because it was a no go area for so long. I'd like to see how the area was affected with my own eyes rather than through the 10 o'clock news.

[beergal]

Personally i could spend a month in Hungary and still not see everything! If your after major historical events in Budapest please dont let me start...i studied Hungarian History for a semester. Auschwitz definately takes a whole day and make sure you start early to have a look at all the exhibits and then its just over a mile walk to Birkenau...you can get the free bus but to be honest the walk is much more humbing.

[difbear]

Thanks Beergal.

If you have the time please tell me some more about Budapest. I'm waiting on a delivery of LP books to start my research but personal views & opinions are always more valuable.

[mowark]

I will still be in the region in October as well. I'm leaving in September and staying thru January (at least). Maybe I'll see you there.

[difbear]

Originally posted by mowark@Apr 10 2006, 06:34 PM
I will still be in the region in October as well.* I'm leaving in September and staying thru January (at least).* Maybe I'll see you there.

[snapback]111543[/snapback]

I don't see why not.

[beergal]

ok well in three days things in Budapest (which is not nearly enough!) i would visit:

St Stephen's (where you can see st stephen's mumified hand)
Houses of Parliament (where you can see st stephen's crown)
Hosok Tere (Heroes square) where i would definately visit szechenyi baths
National Museum
Andrassay Ut (where there was the revolution of 1956)
House of Terror Museum on Andrassay Ut
Opera House
Buda hills where you can go on one of those train things up the hill and then on to the castle and the fisherman's bastilion


day trips that you could do from Budapest Godollo and Szetendre

if you need any more specifics let me know

[difbear]

Thanks. Thinking of cutting the trip to Poland, Czech & Hungary only. Possibly one more.

We'll see where we end up, the best way.