Central Europe advice

[Alanslegal]

I like 5 day / 4 night visits to cities because the first day can be treated as a write off however you can still explore and get your bearings set, then you have three whole days to enjoy the city. The final day, depending what time you leave, can also be treated as a write off.

That said, I would spend 4d/3n in Budapest, Prague and Vienna, anymore would be too much As others have said, Helsinki for 6 days is a stretch but you can easily split that up by doing a ferry ride to Tallinn and spending a night there, and tick another country off your box. I spent two nights in Tallinn and found this really really nice restaurant, I'll try and dig up my photos and suggest it to you.

Also a tip in Vienna. If you want to see a concert at the Opera House and on a budget, they sell standing only tickets on the upper tiers for 3EUR You get them at the ticket office in the Opera House an hour or so before the concert starts. Our concert back in March 2014 was for 3 hours, that's like 1 EUR per hour, definitely bang for you buck.

 

[Mattg]

want to see a concert at the Opera House and on a budget, they sell standing only tickets on the upper tiers for 3EUR You get them at the ticket office in the Opera House an hour or so before the concert starts. Our concert back in March 2014 was for 3 hours, that's like 1 EUR per hour, definitely bang for you buck.

I saw a Wagner opera in Vienna doing exactly that. Best €3 I spent in Austria!

 

[burmans]

I saw a Wagner opera in Vienna doing exactly that. Best €3 I spent in Austria!

Yes I bet nothing else was that cheap for a start!

 

[Isochronous]

I like 5 day / 4 night visits to cities because the first day can be treated as a write off however you can still explore and get your bearings set, then you have three whole days to enjoy the city. The final day, depending what time you leave, can also be treated as a write off.

That said, I would spend 4d/3n in Budapest, Prague and Vienna, anymore would be too much As others have said, Helsinki for 6 days is a stretch but you can easily split that up by doing a ferry ride to Tallinn and spending a night there, and tick another country off your box. I spent two nights in Tallinn and found this really really nice restaurant, I'll try and dig up my photos and suggest it to you.

Also a tip in Vienna. If you want to see a concert at the Opera House and on a budget, they sell standing only tickets on the upper tiers for 3EUR You get them at the ticket office in the Opera House an hour or so before the concert starts. Our concert back in March 2014 was for 3 hours, that's like 1 EUR per hour, definitely bang for you buck.

Would appreciate the Talinn restaurant suggestion!

 

[dajop]

HAnd yes there can be some beautiful, spectacular scenery between Switzerland, Austria and Hungary as you climb through some of those mountains so day time trips can be the way to go....

I agree, with the scenery comment. I'd suggest 9 days in Vienna and Zurich is too much. They're nice, but the highlights of that part of the world are outside the big cities, maybe worth taking a few days to get from Vienna to Zurich, stopping at Salzburg and Innsbruck enroute, and in Switzerland spend the time either day-tripping (to Lucerne, the Alps, etc) or staying elsewhere. Also I'm another supporter of more time in Krakow and less in Warsaw (may be 3+3). We had frenetic afternoon/evening in Warsaw before flying back home the next morning and whilst another day or two would have been nice, I think 4 days would be too much, and spend more time in/around Krakow.

 

[Alanslegal]

Yes I bet nothing else was that cheap for a start!

Bicycle hire is first hour is free

 

[Alanslegal]

Would appreciate the Talinn restaurant suggestion!

Von Krahli, it's about 5mins walk from the town square. I personally avoided anything in the square, tourist traps but have a drink or three at the square and people watch. I think the restaurant was #1 on TA when we were there a couple of years back Excellent value, it won't break the budget that's for sure.

Von Krahli Aed Restaurant Reviews, Tallinn, Estonia - TripAdvisor

 

[marki]

I agree, with the scenery comment. I'd suggest 9 days in Vienna and Zurich is too much. They're nice, but the highlights of that part of the world are outside the big cities, maybe worth taking a few days to get from Vienna to Zurich, stopping at Salzburg and Innsbruck enroute, and in Switzerland spend the time either day-tripping (to Lucerne, the Alps, etc) or staying elsewhere. Also I'm another supporter of more time in Krakow and less in Warsaw (may be 3+3). We had frenetic afternoon/evening in Warsaw before flying back home the next morning and whilst another day or two would have been nice, I think 4 days would be too much, and spend more time in/around Krakow.

In Cracow you have the Vistula river and the dragons cave under Wawel Castle oh and the castle is a must see from historic point of view. Cracow ( Krakow) was not destroyed after WWII as Warsaw (Warszawa) was.



Sent from my iPhone using AustFreqFly

 

[Limewood]

Just returned from a week in Vienna, what fabulous city so much to see and do, the art museums brilliant, but the on loan from Russia Faberge collection really knocked our socks off, stayed at Hoilday Inn, excellent hotel and well located just one stop from city centre Kalsplatz. Highlight of the trip was 8 days on 40 pax mostly over 50's MV President cruising around the Dalmatian coast islands, fabulous small ship in just its 3 season, departs from Split.

 

[dmitri]

Would appreciate the Talinn restaurant suggestion!

If you love pork, the golden pig is a cracker of a feed. As the name suggests lots of awesome pork dishes, the pork knuckle is amazing. Probably been posted before but getting the ferry from helsinki to tallin is a good ride, only 2-3 hours for memory. Lots of cheap duty free booze on board as well. My wife and I stayed at the Hotel Telegraf in Tallinn, it has a cracker of a restaurant in it, I tihnk 1 or 2 stars. The hotel was in a good location in the old town and very accommodating. cheers,

 

[RooFlyer]

Would appreciate the Talinn restaurant suggestion!

May I add another; you'll be spoiled for choice

We went to Tchaikovsky - its off a pedestrian street off the main square (I agree don't touch the main square places). We walked past this nice outdoor courtyard place, looked in and immediately made a reservation for the evening. It was great (# 2 on TA currently) - but what we didn't realize until when we went to the loos was that the main restaurant is inside and very fancy!! The outside version is much nicer for a meal outside. When it got cooler they turned gas heaters on and offered blankets.

Here it is when we walked by in the afternoon:



We stayed at the Radisson hotel, which is a few minutes walk outside the Old Town. A good hotel to stay at, but best feature was the roof top beer garden. Fantastic views over Old and new Tallinn. Worth dropping by in late afternoon to catch your breath.



There are plenty of great little cafes crammed along the already narrow streets for lunch etc.

Just looking back at my pics of that trip makes me wish I was going back!!

 

[RooFlyer]

If you love pork, the golden pig is a cracker of a feed. As the name suggests lots of awesome pork dishes, the pork knuckle is amazing. Probably been posted before but getting the ferry from helsinki to tallin is a good ride, only 2-3 hours for memory. Lots of cheap duty free booze on board as well. My wife and I stayed at the Hotel Telegraf in Tallinn, it has a cracker of a restaurant in it, I tihnk 1 or 2 stars. The hotel was in a good location in the old town and very accommodating. cheers,

Yes - the restaurant at the Telegraf is the Tchaikovsky - I had forgotten the hotel name

 

[Isochronous]

The best part is that I've only used 12 sectors up of my oneworld award, so I could easily ring up and add Talinn-HEL as a connecting flight when I leave!

 

[dajop]

The best part is that I've only used 12 sectors up of my oneworld award, so I could easily ring up and add Talinn-HEL as a connecting flight when I leave!

Depending on how recent your original booking was. If it was recent you will be Ok, but if it was some time ago you may find they reprice the fuel fines on the whole itinerary and could be out of pocket to the tune of hundreds of dollars!

 

[Isochronous]

Depending on how recent your original booking was. If it was recent you will be Ok, but if it was some time ago you may find they reprice the fuel fines on the whole itinerary and could be out of pocket to the tune of hundreds of dollars!

About 2 weeks ago. Why would the fuel fines change for all the other flights though?

 

[dajop]

About 2 weeks ago. Why would the fuel fines change for all the other flights though?

I recall reading somewhere if they need to re-issue the ticket (i.e involves changing routing not just dates or times) they re-price the taxes and fuel fines on the whole itinerary, which means if fuel fines have increased since original issue, you need to pay more. But I don't think there have been any significant changes in the last two weeks.

 

[RooFlyer]

The best part is that I've only used 12 sectors up of my oneworld award, so I could easily ring up and add Talinn-HEL as a connecting flight when I leave!

I was just about to say that you must take the ferry, rather than fly - but see you are talking about the return journey

But since I prepared these pics anyway ... these are the types of ferries used:



And hard to beat the arrival scene:



And you might get the chance to waive hello to a real Queen

 

[Isochronous]

Would 2 nights in Talinn be worth it?

 

[RB]

Yes well & truly in my opinion, compact but plenty to see & spots to sit & watch

 

[Isochronous]

There are two Radissons in Talinn, apparently. Which is better?