Going to Prague, Vienna and Budapest!

[remphish1]

I just booked a trip to Prague, Vienna and Budapest. I can't wait! Was wondering if anyone has been to these cities? If so what did you do? Any must see sights or restaraunts..any day trip recommendations?

 

Thanks!

 

[Guest Speed Racer]

Christ, I'll need to ask my sister, but we had dinner in Vienna at this place where the booths are constructed out of wine barrels - you should be able to find it in Fodor's, which I think is what we used to find it. They mentioned the barrels in the blurb.

 

Best ribs I have EVER had. Two slabs with a dry rub, on top of a huge pile of potatos, and a serving of cabbage salad the size of half a head of cabbage, for about 13 euros. My sister had something else that was basically pork, wine and camembert. She didn't look up until her plate was gone. I would eat there again in a heartbeat.

 

We didn't do much in Vienna except walk around - it was January, but it was 50 and sunny that day, and the whole place was gorgeous. I wouldn't have done anything differently.

[Guest Speed Racer]

Also, you'll be blind drunk by 9am if you take a swig every time you see a placard in Vienna that says, "[Famous composer took a shit HERE!"] or something to that effect.

[Preferred B]

Prague is great! The old town, the Charles Bridge. Buy a marionette. I was in Vienna once, but only for about two hours.

[Winston Legthigh]

I was in Prague for 4 days in 2006. Fantastic City - mostly hung around the old town and the palace area across the river (by way of Charles Bridge). Nothing stands out to me as a MUST SEE - it's just a great city to wander around in. We stayed in a rental apartment which was reasonably cheap, on the palace side of the river. The beer is cheap and very tasty. Check out the communism museum. Read Unbearable Lightness of Being before you go.

[cryptique]

We've been contemplating a European jaunt this summer, and this same trio of cities has come up as one possibility. If you don't mind me asking, where are you flying into? Are you renting a car?

 

I'm pretty intimidated by the whole booking-a-European-vacation thing, so maybe other people's stories will inspire me to sack up and get it done.

[kidsmoke]

Ah, Vienna! Be sure you go inside St. Stephen's Cathedral! The horse drawn carriage rides that originate outside the cathedral and travel through the old city are great for the information (if you can understand the heavily accented english) as well as being a wonderful short break from walking. Eat your fill and a few other people's of the too-pretty-to-eat cakes and pastries. They are as good as they look! I'd also recommend a walk to The Prater (amusement park) and a ride on the huge, venerable old ferris wheel with cabin-sized cars. The view in any direction is breathtaking. The Prater was a lot of fun, with beer for the grownups, money-raking gambling machines (those only for the under-18s) and the best people watching ever. On our walk back to our hotel we stopped at the Danube, peeled off our shoes, and soaked our travel-weary feet for a bit in the deliciously cold water, while small curious fish (2"-3") rushed up to nibble our toes.

 

I loved every minute of Vienna. Now I want to go back and try that restaurant Speed Racer mentioned.

[Ghost of Electricity]

I can help with Prague. Most guidebooks will tell you what you need to know about the historical stuff: old town, Charles bridge, Prague castle. The eats are relatively cheap and tasty but can be heavy. Try the fried cheese. Be careful of restaurants in places heavily-trafficked tourist areas, they are usually a rip off. Places like this one are good to know about-in the heart of the old town and still relatively local. (or at least it was last time I was there 6 yrs ago or so).

 

Also, head to the Globe and ask a resident ex-pat where the latest hotspots are. Pick up a copy of The Prague Post as well.

 

As far as daytrips are concerned, if you get an early start, you might be able to do Karlovy Vary in a day. (This gets my vote as I lived there for two years and it holds a special place in my otherwise poisoned and cynical heart). Karlstejn is a castle in the countryside not far away and easily doable in a day from Prague.

 

Don't stop at Kundera either. (The Czechs largely disdain him) Bohumil Hrabal Ivan Klima, and Josef Skvorecky are all roughly contemporary to Kundera and are good reads. Hrabal's "The Little Town Where Time Stood Still" is truly one of the most beautiful things I have have been privileged to read.

 

The Czechs have a pretty vibrant music scene too. I think Psi Vojaci are still going.

 

If you have any questions, I'll do what I can to help. If you can make it as far as Krakow, the first round is on me.

[remphish1]

We've been contemplating a European jaunt this summer, and this same trio of cities has come up as one possibility. If you don't mind me asking, where are you flying into? Are you renting a car?

 

I'm pretty intimidated by the whole booking-a-European-vacation thing, so maybe other people's stories will inspire me to sack up and get it done.

 

I never drive when I am in Europe..I rather take in the scenery. I booked with Gate1travel.com Flying from JFK airport in NY non stop to Budapest then taking the Train to Vienna then the Train to Prague. Their webpage is pretty helpful and the trips are pretty reasonable. If you are at all nervous you can always call they have been helpful.

 

Europe is great and the people are super friendly. I wouldn't be too intimadated. If you stick to major tourist cities travel will be easy and mostly relaxing and not much to stress about! Once you visit Europe you will ask yourself as soon as you leave when is the next trip to Europe!!!

 

PS...thanks everyone for the pointers...keep them coming!

[Ghost of Electricity]

When are you going? There's a fantastic international film festival in Karlovy Vary every year in early July.

[Guest Speed Racer]

I'm pretty intimidated by the whole booking-a-European-vacation thing, so maybe other people's stories will inspire me to sack up and get it done.

 

Europe is fantastic, and chances are good that the places you're planning on going are not only easily connected by rail, but also have awesome transit systems within the cities. Honestly, I would just go ahead and book a flight, then ask VCers for recommendations.

 

Full disclosure: my only trips abroad were to visit my sister, who is fluent in German, awesome at French and has lived abroad for a few years. For each trip, though, I did land in a city other than where she was, and take a train to her all by myself (!) not speaking a word of the language. ETA: Completely full disclosure - on my trip to Austria, my train was rerouted in a German-only announcement midway to Linz from Munich, and I got dumped in a field full of sheep with a slab of cement that constituted the "station."

 

Everyone speaks English, almost everyone will help you, and only a few people who help you will mock you later, and one or two will mock you while you're still there.

[Winston Legthigh]

Europe is fantastic, and chances are good that the places you're planning on going are not only easily connected by rail, but also have awesome transit systems within the cities. Honestly, I would just go ahead and book a flight, then ask VCers for recommendations.

 

Yes. It's very very easy. I went to Madrid by myself 6 years ago, with just a smidge of spanish.

 

You can book hotels through hotels.com, and can read reviews of them on tripadvisors.com.

[Ghost of Electricity]

Just noticed an open thread in Just a fan about a show in Prague which seems to have been started by a current resident- surely he could help.

[Doug C]

Rempish1 and anyone going to Prague, as others have said, it is a beautiful city. Very easy to navigate, the architecture, culture, etc. are 'European'. In the Old Town the Charles Bridge (as mentioned), the Old Town Square (we watched the 2006 World Cup quarter and semi finals there on a huge screen with loads of people. A memorable experience), the Jewish Quarter, and the Havelska market are musts. In the New Town Wenceslas Square and the Mucha Museum and in the Castle Quarter St. Vitus Cathedral and Prague Castle are more must sees.

 

We stayed in Hostel Tyn http://www.hosteltyn.com/ 2 blocks from the Old Square. I highly recommend it. Cheap, friendly, clean and perfectly located. A true find. Our favorite place for drinking was U Cerneho Vola, 'By he black ox', in the Castle Quarter. It is a locals spot. No English menu. The beer is quality but cheap. They serve Kozel Brewery beers on draught. The dark is excellent. The menu is tasty also. Great non-tourist atmosphere.

 

If you have the time for a day trip, take an hour train ride to Kutna Hora. An old silver mine town. Small, authentic Czech town with a beautiful cathedral and square. If you go to Kutna Hora, you MUST take a bus, taxi or walk (we took the easy bus) a mile to the village of Sedlec. Why? To visit The Bone Church. The bones of 40,000 people decorate the walls. Originally, simply an ossuary to remind people of mortality but later the monks became creative. Chandeliers and other designs of bones. Weird, macabre and cool all at once.

 

We are green with envy. If you have an extra night, consider Cesky Krumlov, 3 and a half hours by bus. Beautiful medieval town. Very well preserved. Like Rothenburg, Germany or Brugge, Belgium. Gorgeous castle (bear pits) and buildings. If you go you MUST canoe the Vltava River (the same river that divides Prague.

 

I'll shut up now. Wait. My amber-loving with says, mention the cheap amber. Enjoy and feel free to PM me.

 

 

Cryptique!! Go to Europe! It is easy. I have been not everywhere in Europe (yet) but sine 1987, I have been all over and have never had trouble navigating etc. Be confident and don't shy from asking folks for help. Do some research first. I highly recommend Rick Steves books and dvds. There is nothing better. Live, travel and enjoy!

[cryptique]

I think I gave a mistaken impression ... I spent considerable time in Europe when I was 20, so I'm well-acquainted with the trains, etc. Now at 41, for some reason I'm intimidated, but mostly because there are so many places I want to see that I can't decide where to go in the limited time that I'll have. My companion and I both want to get back to places we've been before, but we also want to blaze new trails.

 

Also, the cost is pretty intimidating, but that holds true anytime I'm looking at airfares.

[GtrPlyr]

If you have the time for a day trip, take an hour train ride to Kutna Hora. An old silver mine town. Small, authentic Czech town with a beautiful cathedral and square. If you go to Kutna Hora, you MUST take a bus, taxi or walk (we took the easy bus) a mile to the village of Sedlec. Why? To visit The Bone Church. The bones of 40,000 people decorate the walls. Originally, simply an ossuary to remind people of mortality but later the monks became creative. Chandeliers and other designs of bones. Weird, macabre and cool all at once.

 

We are green with envy. If you have an extra night, consider Cesky Krumlov, 3 and a half hours by bus. Beautiful medieval town. Very well preserved. Like Rothenburg, Germany or Brugge, Belgium. Gorgeous castle (bear pits) and buildings. If you go you MUST canoe the Vltava River (the same river that divides Prague.

I second these picks, especially Cesky Krumlov, such a beautiful town, really must be seen.

 

Here's a few photos from my trip a few years ago:

 

Cesky Krumlov

 

Sedlec, just outside Kutna Hora

 

And if you feel like a brewery tour, the Pilsner Urquell one in the town of Plzen is worth a visit:

 

 

As for Prague, I think you probably already have this covered. I will suggest a cool bar we went to a few times that had good and cheap beer--I really liked the dark beer they had on draught--with a nice ambience. I believe it's called U Vejvodů. It's set in a 400-500 year old building. I recall having to walk through a street level restaurant then going down some stairs to get to it. Though it was below street level it had a really high ceiling with skylight windows at the top.

[SeattleC]

I just booked a trip to Prague, Vienna and Budapest. I can't wait! Was wondering if anyone has been to these cities? If so what did you do? Any must see sights or restaraunts..any day trip recommendations?

 

Thanks!

 

 

 

That list of cities hit the nostalgia vein for me….

 

I went to all three in 1990, and also Berlin when you could still bust pieces of the wall off, which I still have. I’m sure things have changed, but these stood out at the time:

 

Prague: Charles Bridge and the Prague Castle, and the clock tower view from above Old Town square. And also a pub that I wish I could remember the name of, down a few stairs toward the river from the clock tower. In that pub someone told me that they finally, as of that year, could legally read the Lord of the Rings books because they were no longer banned and everyone was excited about their newfound freedom from Soviet oppression. Oh, and pilsners were 15 cents. I’m sure that’s no longer the case.

 

Vienna: The Parliament Building blows away anything in Washington DC, as far as Greek revival architecture, and St Stephen’s Cathedral’s roof is amazing.

 

Budapest: The only place that has longer escalators than the metro in DC to the subway, or maybe they weren’t but they seemed like it.

 

 

Have fun!

[kidsmoke]

GtrPlyr, your photos are brilliant!

[GtrPlyr]

GtrPlyr, your photos are brilliant!

Aw shucks, thanks .

 

 

And here's a few from Prague:

 

1. view from above (can't recall where I took it at the moment)

2. Wenceslas Square (our first hotel was right by this sculpture)

3. Charles Bridge at sunrise (best time for photos, and there's hardly anyone around)

4. The "Fred and Ginger" building. Worth a trek to the outskirts of town to view.

 

[Gobias Industries]

Also, the cost is pretty intimidating, but that holds true anytime I'm looking at airfares.

 

While there won't be a way around the redonkulously expensive ticket TO Europe, if you book from European country to European country via one of the many cheap airlines like EasyJet or RyanAir, you will definitely save some money. Just watch out for fees, RyanAir especially, as they like to charge you a WHOLE lot for random stuff. I managed to get away with £40 with return to Dublin, which I consider pretty damn stellar.

[kidsmoke]

Also watch out with Ryan Air's baggage weight limits, which are much lower than your overseas flight limits are likely to be. Just be sure to pack light.

 

GtrPlyr, again I must rave over your photos! I need a trip to Europe, and I wonder if I could talk someone into letting me go out onto that swoopy observation deck on the Fred and Ginger building? Is that open to the public? Such an inspired bit of architecture!

[remphish1]

The pictures and tips are great!!! I will take along some notes and try and hit up a bunch of these spots!

 

Thanks everyone!

[Doug C]

I just reread my post and must clarify that I do not have an amber loving 'with'. I do however have an amber-loving wife. She said to mention the amber.

[Hummingbird7]

Hi guys, late to the thread but just wanted to say if anyone needs any help or info about Vienna, or just wants to meet up...let me know!! I'm an Austrian living in Dublin but I'm going home for the gig of course !