The Ultimate cheap European itinerary for 2 to 4 weeks

Whether you’ve been to Europe before or not, sometimes you might find yourself with plenty of time but not plenty of money. If you’ve got at least two weeks and hopefully closer to four weeks, you can still have an amazing experience in some of Europe’s greatest cities on a small budget. If you’ve visited London, Paris, or Rome before, you’ll be happy to know that you can visit many other cities while spending half or even less per day.

The itinerary suggestions below are perfect for two quick weeks. If you have more time this is still a great itinerary to use as a starting place, and you’ll find other places you’ll want to add along the way if you have more time. We use our Europe Backpacker Index to show the price comparisons of the cities suggested. Each of those prices is a typical day’s expenses for someone on a ‘backpacker’ budget. If you prefer 3-star hotels you’ll spend at least a bit more per day, but if you are sharing a cheaper hotel room it can still be shockingly inexpensive. By the way, for your first trip to Europe you probably want to choose England, France, or Italy, and save the cheap ones for your next trip.

Note: This article was last updated in August, 2022.

Best four cheap European cities to visit together

  • Berlin, Germany
  • Prague, Czech Republic
  • Budapest, Hungary
  • Krakow, Poland

Each of the cities listed above is strong enough to be the highlight of almost any trip, and fortunately they are relatively close together so they work really well as a group. On the map they sort of form a box, so skipping one is easy, and there are plenty of side stops and trips possible in between for shorter or longer stays.

A version of this itinerary can also be found on my new best Europe itineraries for first-time visitors article.

Best cheap and gorgeous small town to add to your trip

  • Český Krumlov, Czech Republic

You may not yet have heard of Český Krumlov, but either way you are in for a treat if you can add 2 or 3 nights to your trip. It’s located just 3 hours south of Prague by bus or train, and it’s an excellent contrast to the large cities on the list. Better still, it’s incredibly cheap, and a favorite of almost all who visit.

Getting there and back

While none of these cities is among the cheapest in Europe to fly into, at least 3 of them have cheap enough flights that it’s worth flying directly into one of them.

Of the four cities, Berlin will have the cheapest inbound flights from almost anywhere, and Krakow usually only has cheap flights from within Europe. Check flights from your city into each of these cities to see which one will be your cheapest option.

In many cases you can save the most money by buying a one-way ticket into one of them and a one-way ticket back out of another of them, but you have to price them out to see. Keep in mind that if you buy a round-trip ticket it means most of a day and about US$50 to $70 to get back to that first city, so an “open jaw” ticket might still be a better deal even if it’s US$100 more.

Getting between the cities

There’s little doubt that the most enjoyable way to get between these cities (and most European cities) is by train, but you do have two other main options to consider, namely, flights and buses.

Trains

With the exception of Berlin and Prague, which are about 5 hours apart, these cities are about 7 to 10 hours apart by train, and therefore perfect for overnight journeys. If you are the type who sleeps well enough on trains, this method is ideal because you save a night in a hotel or hostel, and you still have all day to see the sights. Taking daytime trains obviously means more scenery, but some of them are quite a bit more expensive than the night trains.

Flights

Europe is loaded with low-cost airlines and even though trains are more enjoyable and obviously infinitely more scenic, these cities are all far enough apart that flying between them probably makes sense for most people. With the exception of between Berlin and Prague, it will save time to fly. When calculating the amount of time it takes to fly from one city to another it’s important to add in the time it takes to get to the airport (including the time it takes to get to the airport bus or train) as well as the time you have to arrive in advance to safely get through security. In other words, a one-hour flight usually takes around 5 to 6 hours from one hotel to the one in the next city.

Buses
Rarely discussed in most circles, many don’t even know that most European cities have comfortable and cheap long-distance bus service between them. They aren’t as comfortable as trains, but often they are astonishingly cheap, especially if you find a promotional price. There is a system in Europe called Eurolines that coordinates international bus service between major cities all over the continent. Sometimes they have amazing specials, but not always. It’s worth checking them and then also Googling ‘bus from Berlin to Krakow’ to see any other options. If you’ve got more time than money, buses will be your cheapest option and most of them have wi-fi these days as well.

4 Best cheap European cities that are easy to travel between

Below you’ll find the four best cities to use as the foundation of a cheap and wonderful trip to Europe. It’s recommended to spend at least 3 nights in each city, even if you think you are in a hurry.

Berlin, Germany

2022 Backpacker Index: US$64.56/day

Berlin isn’t such an obvious tourist city, but it’s absolutely the kind of place where either you love it, or you’ve never been there. Everyone can find something to enjoy about it, partly because it’s especially trendy and dynamic lately as a new hub of European and world culture, picking up where London and Paris left off.

One challenge is that Berlin is a huge and spread-out city, so it’s important to choose where you stay wisely. Most budget travelers will prefer the former East Berlin section around Mitte and Prenzlauer Berg, which is where most hostels are as well as the best and cheapest nightlife and shopping. Check our list of recommended cheap Berlin hotels for a place to start.

What to see and do in Berlin

Start with the Berlin Free Walking Tour on your first morning, and you’ll have enough ideas for what to do for the rest of your stay from that alone. Being honest, the Reichstag (capital building) is a bit disappointing from the inside, although the city does have a handful of great museums clustered together that appeal to many. The Berliner Dom (cathedral) is well worth a visit and you’ll get some great photos from out front.

But mainly Berlin is about exploring the weird and funky neighborhoods for food, shopping, and nightlife. Fortunately, most of it is quite cheap as well. Probably the most famous food to try is currywurst, which is usually a paper tray containing a sliced up hot dog coated in a curry-flavored ketchup. I’m not really a fan, but you should try it, especially after a few beers.

Prague, Czechia

2022 Backpacker Index: US$53.95/day

You may not realize that most large cities in this part of Europe were practically flattened during WWII and then rebuilt just after. Fortunately, Prague is one where the historic center survived mostly intact, and it remains one of the continent’s most beautiful and interesting. The downside is that the city center is almost always packed with other tourists, so you might have to work around them a bit.

Prague is also fairly compact, with most things walking distance from each other. The city is also quite cheap still, at least compared to Western Europe, although hotel prices can seem high if you want to stay in the middle. Check our list of recommended cheap Prague hotels for some really good ones only a quick and cheap tram ride away.

What to see and do in Prague

Aside from the famous clock in the town square, Prague has a few other very worthwhile checklist attractions. The Prague Castle is one of the largest and most incredible in Europe, and the Charles Bridge and its statues feels like you should have to pay to cross it. As with most European cities, it’s wise to start with a “free” (tips-based) walking tour on your first morning in town. The Prague ones are excellent and in a couple hours you will have seen most of the famous landmarks while hearing the interesting stories behind them. Even a US$10 equivalent tip per person is a great bargain, but tip whatever you feel good about.

There is plenty more to fill a few days, plus you can catch a cheap classical concert in one of the many venues offering them, or just indulge in cheap and excellent beer like everyone else.

Budapest, Hungary

2022 Backpacker Index: US$30.45/day

Though it’s in the heart of part of Europe that isn’t known for being well off, Budapest is quite a grand city that makes it feel rather rich. Still, it’s among the cheapest European cities, and it offers very good value. Even if the castle up on the Buda side of the river isn’t a stunner, and that the parliament building on the Pest side is a copy of the one in London, this is an attractive city with a feel of its own.

Budapest is also compact enough that budget travelers can stay in the cheap hotels and hostels a bit inland on the Pest side, and still walk everywhere while sightseeing. The Free Budapest Walking Tour covers highlights on both sides, and is a great introduction.

What to see and do in Budapest

During daylight hours, Budapest has the standard selection of monuments and museums in addition to its castle complex, but separates itself from other big cities with its abundant hot springs and spas. Tourists can easily mix with locals and take a dip at a modest fee in one of the unique facilities spread around town.

At night, however, Budapest really comes into its own, with some of the most interesting nightlife in Europe. Head for what are known as “ruin pubs” on the Pest side in the old Jewish Quarter to quaff cheap drinks in converted courtyards that each has its own weird vibe.

Krakow, Poland

2022 Backpacker Index: US$30.72/day

When you hear that Krakow is among the very cheapest cities in Europe you might not expect much. But in reality, Krakow is also one of Europe’s loveliest and most pleasant cities, with quite a lot to do. At its center you’ll find about 30 square blocks of a historic medieval town, surrounded by a peaceful park, and with an enormous cafe-lined town square at its heart.

For those who like hearty portions of meats and sausages, Krakow is wonderful, but there are also many Italian and other international cuisines, including many vegetarian options, so something for everyone. Hotels just on or near the central square are reasonable, but you can stay for a lot less by going a few blocks away.

What to see and do in Krakow

As in many other cities, taking the Krakow Free Walking Tour is a great way to get oriented on your first day so you’ll know what you want to explore more deeply. You can also cover many of the main central sights on that tour, which leaves time for day trips and hanging out. Sad though it may be, a half-day trip to nearby Auschwitz is something you’ll never forget, and there is a fun salt mine attraction not far away as well.

In the evening you’ll probably find out why Krakow is very popular with the weekend party and stag-do crowds. You can sip affordable wine at one of the cafes on the square, but it might be more fun to do a pub crawl through the varied drinking establishments in the nearby Jewish Quarter. It’s easy to find a .5L beer for around US$1.50, so getting carried away is common.

Český Krumlov, Czech Republic

2022 Backpacker Index: US$40.47/day

With a population of only about 13,000 people, Český Krumlov will be an extremely welcome stop in between Prague and Budapest, or Prague and Vienna or Salzburg. This well preserved town was forgotten and almost abandoned in the later years of Communism, and it wasn’t rediscovered and renovated until well into the 1990s. Since it’s still a relative newcomer to the tourist scene, it isn’t yet “touristy” even though it’s very tourist friendly.

There are almost no chain hotels or restaurants of any kind, so staying here will be a very local experience. Better still, hotels and food here are much cheaper than even in Prague, so the value is outstanding. The historic town center is small enough to walk through in less than 10 minutes, yet you can still get nice hotels in its heart starting at around US$50 per night. As of 2022 the hostels in Český Krumlov are closed so we had to use hotels for the Backpackers Index, which makes the index price artificially higher than it should be. In other words, if you visit this town you’ll find it to be pleasantly affordable.
What to see and do in Český Krumlov

Český Krumlov does have an impressive castle perched above the compact town center, and you’ll definitely want to tour at least part of it. But really the main reason to visit the town is to slow down and appreciate being outside of Europe’s large cities for 2 or 3 days. Those other four cities are always busy and crowded, while this one is gentle and lovely, although you will be surrounded by quite a few other tourists.

As with the other cities on the list, there is a highly recommended free walking tour in Český Krumlov, which is a great place to start. That tour will also show you and explain all of the other worthwhile nearby sights, but I won’t blame you if you just prefer to grab a seat at one of the cheap restaurants with outdoor seating on the main square, and relax over a few delicious and inexpensive beers for a while.

Additional photo credits: Berlin by Philippe AMIOT on Flickr, Prague by POldi♬24 on Flickr

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  1. PeterP says:

    Dear Roger,

    Thanks so much for your input. This is indeed very helpful and I will start to put together an itinerary based on your suggestions.
    I will check the budget hotels but I really must avoid hostels. I stayed in what was most likely a hostel (or just a step above) in Dubrovnik and was absolutely miserable. The only good thing about it was that it was a single room with its own shower. So I will adjust my budget to ~$130 per night, and hope I can find cheaper rates here and there.
    I understand the point about the trains and I will take that under careful consideration. I will also look into the cruise from Barcelona. Seven days, maybe?

    Thanks again for your recommendations.

    PeterP.

    1. Roger Wade says:

      PeterP,

      I’m glad I was able to help. Most Mediterranean cruises seem to be one-way, where you get on in, say, Barcelona and finish in, say, Rome. I think 7 days is great, but there are longer and shorter ones so it’s up to you. -Roger

  2. PeterP says:

    Dear Roger, I have been reading your recommendations to others and have learned a lot. I am planning a four to five week vacation in Europe and I already saw that you stated that September is the best time to do Europe. I am female traveling alone.

    Last year, I did Budapest, Zagreb, Dubrovnik, Athens and finished with a 7 day cruise of the Greek Islands. I planned it by myself (very stressful) and I think I spent more money than I needed to. I did flights from Zagreb to Dubrovnik, then to Bulgaria, then to Athens.

    I found your site and after reading what others planned to do, I have some ideas for my itinerary. I am open to your suggestions. I will be traveling FROM Bangkok and BACK TO Bangkok at the end of the trip.
    I would like to visit England (maybe) France, Germany, Austria, Holland (Amsterdam), Prague. If possible, and depending on availability and cost a cruise at the end the trip would be great.?
    a) What would you suggest as an itinerary based on the above??
    b) I do have a painful knee so very long bus rides are not my preference. I prefer to fly if it will be over 3 hours. However, if there is a trip that you recommend because of the scenes, please advise.?
    c) Is there one airline that covers all these countries, and is it possible to arrange one itinerary with one airline, all at one, to reduce costs? I understand this is possible but have not been able to find anything on this so far.

    d) Potential budget in USD, excluding airfare from and Bangkok? No hostels; 3-star hotels are ok if centrally located. <=$80 USD per night is ideal. It may be difficult in some cities but one can dream. 🙂

    Thanks in advance for your assistance.

    PeterP

    1. Roger Wade says:

      PeterP,

      September is a great month in Europe because the weather is still nice and the crowds are much smaller so I’m sure you’ll have a great time. As for an itinerary, it’s hard to make recommendations with countries rather than cities. My normal recommendation is to spend three nights in almost any place you visit, or a bit longer if you aren’t in a hurry. You mention four to five weeks so if we say it’s 30 days then I’d recommend choosing 10 total cities and it’s ideal if they are easy to reach from each other.

      Your list should include Paris, London (if you choose), Amsterdam, Prague for sure. If you want to do a cruise at the end probably the best port to depart from is Barcelona, so you could visit Barcelona for 2 or 3 nights and then board a cruise that can include ports in southern France and Italy as well as some islands in that area.

      If you want to visit Germany the top places are Berlin and Munich, but there are many more options of places to go in Germany.

      I’ve also had knee pain in the past and I agree that long bus rides are not good, but I strongly prefer trains to planes with that in mind. The areas you visited last time have old trains and slow service so the bus service is better. But on this trip you’ll be going through areas that have newer and more comfortable trains that travel 2 or 3 times faster than those other ones. Not only are second-class train seats larger and more comfortable than airline seats, but you can always get up and walk around a bit, unlike on flights. Personally, I love train rides in Europe and if two places are 7 or fewer hours apart by train I take the train. If you fly between any two European cities it takes about 5 or more hours from city center to city center when you factor in airport transportation on both ends and getting there early enough to check in. However, after 7 hours on a train it feels too long so I’ll usually fly instead.

      For flights within Europe you’ll usually get the best deals on the so-called low-cost airlines like Easyjet, Ryanair, and Vueling. I prefer Easyjet and Vueling of those three and I avoid Ryanair if possible, but there are other good cheap airlines as well. There really isn’t anything to gain by staying with the same airline for all of your flights in Europe. I almost always take Air Asia for flights in and out of Bangkok in that area, but in Europe I search for the cheapest flights with the best departure times on any airline.

      For budget estimates you might have a look at our Europe Backpacker Index, which includes a daily total for 56 different cities. You’d be spending probably about 20% or 30% more each day if you stay alone in 3-star hotels instead of the hostel dorm beds that are factored in. We also have a 3-star traveler index for Europe, but it’s based on two people traveling together.

      That said, in September you should be able to get 3-star hotels in most of the cities you’ll be visiting for around €80 if you are willing to stay outside of the main tourist zones. In some cases it’s really not worth it because it might add two hours of commuting to each day so you are better off finding a place in a central neighborhood for €100 or €120 per night. Amsterdam and London are examples where spending a bit more for a central location is worthwhile. I hope this helps. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger

      For France you’ll obviously go to Paris and you could also visit Nice in order to experience the French Riviera including Cannes and Monaco. However, it might even be better to visit that area while on a cruise.

      For Austria the main options are Vienna and Salzburg. Vienna is a “grand” city with impressive architecture and palaces and museums and high culture, but I find the nightlife a bit dull there so I prefer Salzburg, which is at the foot of the Alps and is really gorgeous with a lovely old town at its core.

  3. Nabila says:

    Hi Roger,

    Thank you for your recommendation.

    After discussed with my sister about your suggestion, as her birthday trip she requested
    1) coastal/seaside area & nature type
    2) minimize the city
    3) as low/cheap budget as possible

    I really hope you can help me as I’m stuck right now.

    Thank you very much in advance for your help.

    1. Roger Wade says:

      Nabila,

      If you are still going between London and Istanbul in about 16 days and you want to also follow these new guidelines your best options will be to go back to Croatia and explore new places there and possibly combine it with Montenegro, Albania, and Greece. That whole area has very nice scenery and smaller cities to go along with low prices. The beaches there are mostly rocky rather than sandy, but they are quite inexpensive compared to the rest of Europe. And of course you can also look into Turkey itself, which is cheap as well. -Roger

  4. Nabila says:

    Hi Roger,

    I had an amazing trips based on your advise last year! Thank you!
    This year I can’t decide the travel route and need your help. Its a bit tricky for me.

    I purchased a multi-city flight which is from Malaysia – London and Istanbul – Malaysia.

    Can you suggest me any cheap routes that can connect above countries for 16-17 days? Been wanting to add Slovenia if possible.

    I’ve been to Bosnia, Croatia, Greece, Hungary, Austria, Germany & Czech Republic, Turkey.

    1. Roger Wade says:

      Nabila,

      I’m glad to hear that my advice has been helpful in the past. This is an interesting challenge and I think there are some really good options for you.

      I’d definitely spend 3 or 4 nights in London and then take the Eurostar train to Paris for 3 or 4 nights. Those two cities definitely live up to the hype. The best and most efficient way to finish out will be to fly from Rome to Istanbul. That flight will be short and fairly cheap if you buy well in advance. I’ve done the train all the way to Istanbul and even when it’s in service it’s very slow and there isn’t much to see in that part of Europe.

      So you could either fly from Paris to Venice and then take buses or trains to Slovenia, or fly from Paris to Ljubljana (probably the best option if you can get a cheap flight) and then explore Slovenia before taking a train to Trieste and then to Venice. Spend a day or two in Venice and then a train down to Florence for 3 nights, and then a train to Rome for your final three nights. Since you mention you’ve already been to Turkey I assume you’ve explored Istanbul and can just go to the airport this time. This should be an excellent and highlight-filled itinerary with quite a few short train rides and a couple cheap flights. Whatever you decide to do, buy those train tickets at least a month or two in advance, and buy the flights as soon as you are sure of your plans. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger

  5. Renee says:

    Loved reading thru all of these thoughtful European travel questions. So what itinerary/cities would you recommend for two or 3 just graduated college buddies in June, before embarking on the real world 9-5 careers? Mostly backpacking/hostels, for 3-4 weeks? Ideas/interests are Barcelona, (Nice?), Rome, Venice, Switzerland(Inerlakken), Salzberg, Prague, Budapest, Berlin, Amsterdam, Paris, London. And the order you think would be most efficient and any suggestions appreciated. Thanks so Much!

    1. Roger Wade says:

      Renee,

      That sounds like it’s going to be an amazing trip. As I mention so often, I strongly recommend that you plan on 3 nights in almost any city you visit, assuming you want to see a lot in a short time. So for 21 to 28 days it’s best to try to narrow a list down to 7 to 10 total cities. Small cities like Venice can be visited in 1 or 2 days, and for the largest and most attraction-packed cities like London and Paris, 4 nights is probably ideal.

      The article above is about the cheaper European cities that are still great, and if budget is a concern that will shape the cities you’ll want to choose. You might also check this list of what I consider the best-value destinations in Europe, which will actually be updated soon. Switzerland is very expensive (and worth it for a few days if you can afford it, while London, Paris, Amsterdam, and Rome are also among the more expensive cities on our annual Backpacker Index. If you can afford all of those places then I’d definitely include them. But if you are looking to stretch your money by visiting some cheaper (and still great) destinations I would focus on Berlin, Prague, Budapest, and Krakow as some wonderful options.

      Barcelona is more in the middle of the pack, price-wise, and it can be really packed in June, but it’s a great city to experience if you can make it. I’ll be happy to help you narrow your list down once you tell me more about your budget and any other preferences. It’s best and most enjoyable if you can get between all of your destinations by train or maybe a bus or two, and keep flights to a minimum. -Roger

  6. Jess says:

    Hi Roger,

    I have been reading most of your amazing advice but for some reason I still cannot figure out the best itinerary.

    Its my 40th beginning July 2019. I am in the UK but South African. I would love to do a European Trip with family and friends as part of my birthday celebration. Initially it was supposed to be a Adult Girly/Friends trip with my friends and sisters. Its now turned out might be whoever wants to join. So I have 4 siblings and possibly 2 friends travelling from South Africa. I have 2 daughters that initially weren’t going to come with but I cannot see myself traveling without them. They will be 11 and 8 and have done several other long haul journeys with me so are easy travellers. I did a Solo trip last June to Rome 4 nights/5 days which was amazing but most family haven’t been and I therefore have no problem going back especially for my 11 year old as well.

    I have done Amsterdam 3 times within a 12 month period. weather was awful all 3 times but I still had an amazing time. Spent New Years Eve 2017/2018 and 2 Hen weekends.

    My best friend is French living in Nuremberg and I have visited her twice last year. She will have a 6 month old baby and depending on our plans she might join whole 2 weeks or part of it only baby dependent. She has travelled all over and only doing it for me.

    My sister did Croatia (Dubrovnik), Albania & Greece last year as part of a Contiki tour but wouldn’t mind doing Croatia again if I want to go and will be joined by my 2 brothers who never travelled before and my other sister and her husband would love to do the Amalfi Coast. They have a 2 year old who might join. I personally want to do it as a week long trip at another time.

    My other friend would love to do Amsterdam and Paris.

    So with all of this and only around 14 days what would you suggest.

    This is my itinerary

    Rome 2 nights 3 days. possibly 3 nights
    Florence 2 nights 2 days with a day trip to Pisa
    Venice 1 nights 1 day
    Then Croatia to do either both Split & Dubrovnik or just Dubrovnik
    Then Prague 3 nights
    Ending in Amsterdam (they can fly back from their or Paris)

    or

    Rome 2 nights 3 days. possibly 3 nights
    Florence 2 nights 2 days with a day trip to Pisa
    Venice 1 nights 1 day
    Then Prague 3 nights
    maybe adding another Eastern Europe city in here.
    Ending in Amsterdam (they can fly back from their or Paris)

    Any help is great appreciated. And of course accommodation recommendations. Best to do hostels or Air BnB
    Many thanks

    1. Roger Wade says:

      Jess,

      So basically you are wondering if I’d recommend including Croatia instead of another eastern European city between Prague and Amsterdam. If you want to travel mostly by train (which is FAR more enjoyable than flying) then the best city to visit after Prague and before Amsterdam is Berlin. Berlin is really a wonderful city and I’m sure you’d enjoy it. As for Croatia, I actually prefer Split to Dubrovnik because it is easier to reach, it’s quite a bit cheaper, and it’s not overrun with cruise passengers. Split is actually a bit older than Dubrovnik and they both have very similar all-marble town centers that are amazing to see at first. Dubrovnik has the intact town walls, which are really cool, but it’s also super touristy because it’s so popular and has the cruise port. Split is very similar, except it’s more like a real historic city with plenty of locals as well as tourists. Split also has nice beach areas close by and some islands just across from it and you can get there by train, so it’s a great transit hub.

      One other factor to consider is that Croatia will be quite crowded in July because so many northern Europeans (including Germans) go there for a month at a time in July and August. It’s mostly the places with beach access that get really crowded in those months, so if you stay in the middle of town it will just be a normal summer crowd. Either way, I think you’d want to fly into Prague from either Venice or Split or Dubrovnik, and if you were going next to Amsterdam you’d want to fly again. So saving Croatia and including Berlin would mean one more train ride and one less flight, which would be good. It’s really hard to make the choice and I’m sure you’ll have a great time with whichever one you pick.

      As for accommodation, I definitely think Airbnb will probably be your best choice. As you know from the UK and your other trips within Europe, the rooms at centrally-located hotels there tend to be small, and that includes the 4-star and 5-star places. In most cities you can find hotel rooms with 3 or 4 beds, but they tend to be all single beds that can literally take up almost the entire room. With apartments you should be able to find 2-bedroom and 3-bedroom places with pull-out sofas that can easily handle up to 8 or even 10 people. They should also be quite a bit less expensive than 3 or 4 small rooms in a hotel, and it will also allow you to cook some meals yourself, which is helpful for the kids in particular. I hope this helps and feel free to ask other questions if you have them. -Roger

  7. Mireya says:

    Hello Roger,
    Thank you so much for your advise.

    Now, we will consider to spend more time in Berlin and/or Munich than Frankfurt.
    As you suggested, we will plan to buy the Eurail for getting from city to city.
    For our plan, which is the best Eurail pass to buy? I was thinking about the 4 countries version.
    Does this pass cover the local trains and buses?

    Checking the Eurail website, they offer 5 days within 2 months, I’m a little confused. If we have to use the train more than once in one day, does this count for one day only?

    Do you think the order of the cities in my list are the best as far as transportation is concerned?
    Franfurt-Berlin-Prague-Cesky Krumlow-Budapest-Salzburg and Vienna

    Thanks again!
    Mireya

    1. Roger Wade says:

      Mireya,

      The first thing I’d do is check the train prices if you buy very soon. The train fares in Europe are fairly cheap if you buy well in advance, and rail passes are the best value when you want to make your plans as you go. The per-day cost of those shorter passes is quite high, and in some cases you also have to pay €5 to €10 for a seat reservation. Also, train fares in Czechia are pretty cheap, and buses are cheaper with more frequent departures and similar travel times. I think you’ll save more by buying individual tickets online as soon as possible.

      Rail passes DO cover suburban and commuter trains, but not metro systems or local buses. The good news is that you can get an all-day metro pass for around €6 in any city you’ll visit.

      With those Flexi-passes you can ride all you want in a given day. So you could take a train from Munich to Berlin in the morning, and then take a train from Berlin to Dresden and back in the evening, and it would all count as one day. Your order of cities looks quite good except it would be better to go Budapest > Vienna > Salzburg, unless you are flying out of Vienna. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger

  8. Mireya says:

    Hi Roger,

    Thank you for your information throughout this website.

    This is our first trip to East Europe and we have to arrive in Vienna in Sept 18 for a convention. My husband and I want to plan to visit countries and cities close to Vienna before the convention.

    We will arrive from Miami to Frankfurt in Sept. 5/ 2018 and we will return from Vienna in Sept. 29/2018

    I was thinking in the following cities:

    Frankfurt – 2 days
    Prague – 3 days
    Cesky Krumlow – 2 days
    Budapest – 3 days
    Salzburg – 3 days
    Vienna – 6 days – We will spend 3 days before and 3 days after the convention.

    What is the best way to visit these cities?

    Knowing that we will arrive in Frankfurt, what other cities do you recommended?

    How many days is the ideal to spend in each place?

    Thank you very much in advance for your help.

    Mireya

    1. Roger Wade says:

      Mireya,

      This trip sounds very nice. September is a great time of year for Europe and it looks like you’ll have plenty of time. My recommendation is to spend 3 nights in almost any city you visit, but Cesky Krumlov is quite small and two nights there should be enough.

      You might want to have a scan of my article on where to go in Germany. Frankfurt is famous for its airport and its banks, and it’s a pleasant city, but there are more interesting options nearby that you might consider instead.

      Getting from city to city on trains is pleasant and generally affordable, especially if you buy your tickets a month or two in advance. Between Prague and Cesky Krumlov you should probably take the bus instead because it takes the same amount of time as the train but the bus has more departures and it drops you close to the town center instead of the train station, which is a bit remote. I’m happy to help more if you have any other questions. -Roger

  9. Laurel says:

    Hi Roger,

    My daughter has some soccer games this summer in Serbia and Hungary ( Budapest ). We are from Canada and hoping to spend some extra time around there. This trip is a bit of short notice, and we were looking to at extending our time in Europe, but we are also looking at what might be the most economical. Do you have any suggestions that be around those areas. ( We have been interested in Croatia, Greece and Amsterdam). We have already spent time around Hungary and Austria, and France ( Paris ) in the past. What do you suggest is the best way to travel around? Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.

    Thanks so much,
    Laurel

    1. Roger Wade says:

      Laurel,

      I actually lived in a town called Nis, Serbia for almost 5 months, but I wouldn’t recommend a visit there. Belgrade is a pretty nice, big city, but there aren’t many memorable sights there. For Serbia most people agree that Novi Sad is the most interesting city there. Most of my knowledge of Hungary is in Budapest itself, so you probably know more about it than I do. However, Croatia is the real star of the show in that area. Zagreb is kind of like Belgrade in that it’s mostly quite forgettable, so you really want to head to the coast. You might also look at a stop in the Plitvice Falls National Park, which is one of Europe’s best natural areas.

      In Croatia I would head to Split, which is easier to reach than Dubrovnik and much cheaper because it’s not a popular cruise port, and it’s way less over-touristed. The area around Split and the nearby islands are also interesting. You might even consider a stop in Sarajevo if you are in the area because it’s a very interesting town with a lovely setting between two mountains. As for getting around, it’s not as easy as most of Europe. The train service is slow and there aren’t many departures, but bus service is pretty good and fairly cheap. There are frequent bus departures between all of these cities, and most buses have wi-fi. You typically get cheaper tickets if you buy further in advance.

      However, you might instead choose to rent a car and drive. I really don’t recommend driving between most big European cities, but Croatia and that area are pretty easy by car and it can be the best option for a small group. If you rent a car and return it in the same country you can get a pretty good price, and the roads in that part of Europe are pretty good with no tolls. The main disadvantage of driving around Europe is that parking is almost always expensive and hard to find in larger cities and even in many smaller towns if they are near the coast or get a lot of tourists. It’s still something to be aware of, but parking in this part of Europe isn’t as expensive as in some other places. And if you go to Plitvice Falls a car is the best way and parking is free at any hotel in the area. I hope this helps. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger

  10. Jennifer Onv says:

    Hi Roger,

    Your article truly giving me many insights of a place with details. You have taken time to reply each of the request with details and advices. May I ask, if I have only 3d or 4d to visit, which are the cities that you will suggest for me to focus on? My first time to Europe.

    Those places really impressed me wanted to go and wish I have actually extended my stay in London. However, please give me advice for it.

    Thank you very much.

    Best regards,
    Jennifer Ong

    1. Roger Wade says:

      Jennifer,

      I’m not sure if you are asking about 3 or 4 days in addition to London, or including London. If you only have 3 or 4 total days I would just stick to London and maybe spend one day in Bath or York. If you are wondering where else to go from London I would say Paris for sure. It really does live up to the hype, and it’s a 2-hour train ride on the Eurostar from London. If I misunderstood your question please try again and I’ll be happy to give it another go. -Roger