prague vs. cologne - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

**pinknic38** · 05-06-2008, 06:47 AM

okay I know I've posted about this little itenerary dilemma before but now we're at crunch time (30ish days!!) and I really need to make my decision because there are tickets to be bought and if I opt to do Prague instead, I won't need to get a rail pass because I'll only be taking the train to/from Munich and once in Frankfurt and it would be a waste of money.

So to summarize the issue, I go from Munich to Krakow and I spend like 4 days in Krakow then go to Prague then to Cologne and train it to Munich.

BUT I'm kind of iffy on Prague, and a part of me would rather come back from Krakow straight to Cologne and see Dusseldorf and Bonn too before I fly home to Frankfurt.

My main concern is Prague would probably be less expensive to see (since they don't use the Euro) and a recent money situation will be making my Euro trip VERY budget. I'm on the fence, I would like to see both equally and would have fun no matter where I went I think, but yeah that's the dilemma.

So whoever has been to Prague and then those areas in Germany, if you've got an opinion at all, it would be much appreciated!

**mbo108** · 05-06-2008, 07:15 AM

I've only been to Prague but I loved it there. I really don't think you could go wrong checking it out. But I'm sure there will be some pro-German comments as well. Really, when trying to decide between two great European cities no matter what you decide I think it'll work out...

**worldwidemike** · 05-06-2008, 08:23 AM

Prague is great. Do it...before it gets any overrun by tourists...!

worldwidemike

**pinknic38** · 05-06-2008, 11:26 AM

I know, like I won't NOT have a good time if I choose one over the other. I'm just trying to maximize my money & trip.

**Elizabeth** · 05-06-2008, 11:54 AM

I would say go for more Germany because I think thats what you have been leaning towards. Moneywise, Prague is not much cheaper than Germany. They were supposed to switch over next year (but postponed it) so everything seems to be priced in euros already. Like if you convert the cost of something from crowns to euros it seems reasonable but if you convert it to US dollars its not so reasonable. And we're only talking about a matter of days here so the extra $10 - 20 won't break the bank.

Quote:

Originally Posted by WWM

before it gets any overrun by tourists...!

too late! =[

**MeTurk** · 05-08-2008, 07:10 AM

Prague is waaaaaayy cheaper than Germany and ten times better too.

I loved Prague and Czech as a whole.

Tarzanova · 06-10-2008, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by worldwidemike

Prague is great. Do it...before it gets any overrun by tourists...!

worldwidemike

Prague IS overrun by tourists.
Travel out 50 clicks though and it can be like traveling back in time.
I have lived here since August last year and took my TEFL with ITTP Prague.
Love every minute of teaching in Prague but to come as a tourist you need to have your wits about you coz there are tourist prices and local prices.

**freakypete** · 06-10-2008, 11:34 AM

Well i lived in cologne until a couple of months ago, and I loved it, only left because i got offered a new job. Its a really great city, friendly people

...but i cant really see much appeal for tourists to be honest...i mean the cathedral is incredible, and its really nice along the river. but there isnt that much else to do. theres a chocolate museum on the Rhine, which ive never been to but heard mixed reviews about.

You are close to bonn though, which is really beautiful.

If you do go try and get away from the touristy bits. like the student area in the south of the city, just a street with bars on both sides of the street. you can get great cheap food there as well (under €5 for a big meal in one of the bars).

Ive been to prague as well. i really liked it, but there was something about it that i didnt like...i mean its really beautiful, but i just got the feeling everything was just made to look so perfect and nice just for the tourists. plus there are far too many tourists there in the summer.

I'd go to Cologne, but im biased.

jorgino · 08-05-2008, 07:19 AM

I'm curious to know what you ended up doing? I've been to Bonn and Cologne and even though they were really cute cities there was not a whole lot to do. I'm a musician so of course I checked out Beethoven's house in Bonn, but that also is just a matter of what you are into. Anyway, drop us a line and let us know.

Thanks,
Jorgino

**Delaney** · 08-07-2008, 07:30 AM

Sorry, I haven't been keeping up with TPunk as much as I should. Where did you decide to go?

**pinknic38** · 08-07-2008, 08:39 AM

I ended up spending 2 days in Cologne and while it was a beautiful city, not a lot to do!

I had to cut my trip short by a few days and didn't get to go to Prague unfortunately.

In my opinion, one day in Cologne would be enough. I wished I would have spent 1 in Cologne and 2 in Heidelberg instead of the other way around.

Oh well, I had a great time anyway!