Greetings!
My husband has a business meeting in Austria in late June and I will be traveling with him. We are so excited to be returning to Europe! Now we face the challenge of how to arrange our free days. For this particular trip we are interested in the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Germany, etc. We don't know if we will have the opportunity to visit this area again anytime soon. We plan to rent a car so that we do not have to carry our luggage everywhere and have the freedom to stop wherever we wish along the way.
We prefer to immerse ourselves in a culture and location for a while so that we really experience it - rather than drive all over trying to see all the big cities. However, we want to enjoy all that we can. Europe is so beautiful and fascinating to us - such deep history and culture.
All suggestions are so very welcome. We wish we could stay all summer! Thank you for any suggestions!
Mary Jo
Suggestions for travelers to Eastern Europe?
Hi Mary Jo, I have traveled to Europe several times on business and always took some time for travel. One thing you need to be aware of is that you may not be able to rent a car and drive to some countries because the rental company will not allow it. The last time I was in Germany there were restrictions regarding where you could drive such as to the Czech rep. You may want to consider the train and a pass. They are always on time and comfortable. Germany and Austria are great and every town has something interesting. The towns along the rivers are easy to get to. The local hotels are inexpensive. You don't say how long you are there, so it is difficult to advise. I would suggest exploring places near your base, it is much more relaxed and you will have time to immerse yourself in your environment. The Rhine river area for example is great. Nuremburg to Salzburg has a lot to offer too. There is always the romantic road which can be done by car. Cyndie
Hi, Cyndie,
Thanks so much for your suggestions! Great to hear from someone with experience.
We are flying to/from Munich , will travel directly to Hangensburg, Austria, and will have about 11 days to do as we please. The Romantic Road, and Austria top our list for this trip. I am quite interested in Salzburg as well.
We prefer the smaller towns, with day trips to the big cities. We really get a good feel for a locale by staying in a bed-and-breakfast rather than a hotel.
I have severe arthritis in my right hand and wrist - and hauling my travel bag, even on wheels might be a concern. I have never used the European rail system, however, so perhaps it will be fine. I'll try to bring as little as possible, always a challenge. Is clothing reasonably priced? I like to shop when I travel!
Thank you!
Mary Jo
Hi Mary Jo, It looks like you will have a great time exploring. You didn't say when you are going so the time may affect how busy the travel is. I have spent some time wandering myself and always stayed at the small local hotels. There are also many signs along the road that say 'zimmer frei' which means they rent rooms to travelers. I rarely made reservations and never had trouble finding a room. Some small hotels have several shared baths available on each floor, but they are spotless. Germany has a strict code rating for rooms and I never stayed at a bad place. Of course, a huge breakfast is always included. If you are going to travel the Romantic Road, there are many options for stopping and visiting. Each town is very interesting. Do not miss Rothenburg ob der Tauber. I recommend you stay in the old town at least for the night. Totally restored after being destroyed during the war. Don't miss the nightwatchman's tour at 8 pm. I stayed at a hotel near the cathedral that was very economical. There are many websites you can find on Google, but one I know is the German embassy http://www.germany.info/relaunch/info/publications/infocus/travelroad/index.html
Also each town has it's own website you can explore by typing in the name of the town followed by .de such as www.neurnberg.de and choosing English.
Fussen is great for the castles and I have been to Freiberg through the Black Forest. Wine country is great as well. Clothes are not cheap, but they are well made. Local establishment sell great sandwiches and the local beer. Try the Balck Forest ham and of course the wine. There are also monasteries that specialize in beer as well. The best buy is german knives, which you will have to carefully pack and check with baggage now. The dollar is not as strong now so you may not find as many bargains as a few years ago. Do some research before and it will be very helpful. I used an old Michelin guide and some of the Rick Steves hotel listings. I would be happy to answer any other questions. Just Dmail me. Your biggest problem will be choosing, there is so much.
cyndiehook, I believe You had a typo with the Nürnberg City link and it should have been http://www.nuernberg.de , correct me if I'm wrong :)
Mary Jo, there is so much to see but so little time for you on this trip. I was looking for Hangensburg in Austria but couldn't find it. Could you check the spelling and/or give some larger city in the proximity to help on giving recommendations on where to go. Also helpful would be to know any particular interests that you have (Architecture, crafts, nature views,....)
Maria take Milan up on his offer........he is German and grew up near Nürnberg. :)
This message was edited May 30, 2007 4:02 PM
Hi, PC,
Hagenberg (corrected spelling) is near Linz, in northern Austria (there is another in the south).
We love experiencing the culture in every way - walking the cities (large or small), visiting churches, bakeries, museums, grocery stores, all art and architecture (nature or created), restaurants, gardens of course, night life.
I've read that Cesky Krumlov in southern Czech Republic is wonderful, not as distant as Prague, not as crowded either.
Thank you for all suggestions!
Mary Jo
Whatever you do, one 'must' is to take a cablecar or chairlift up into the treeline forests of Pinus cembra and Larix decidua . . . beautiful!
Resin
My roaming grounds are more to the West in Austria and don't have too much knowledge about the area you're at.
Linz is a very nice city so there is already some exploring to do. Look for Boat rides on the Danube in either direction from Linz. Vienna is not to be missed and while there go a little further east to Bratislava.
If you don't like the stress of car riding then look for day tours with bus companies.
Here a few ideas/visuals on places:
Yes Českı Krumlov is a nice place http://www.panoramio.com/map/#lt=48.810029&ln=14.314928&z=3&k=2&a=1&tab=1
A little further North:
České Budějovice [Budweis] (waiting on the third frog for the "er" :) http://www.panoramio.com/map/#lt=48.983333&ln=14.466667&z=5&k=2&a=1&tab=1
The "Steiermark" for some nice Scenery South of Linz: http://www.panoramio.com/map/#lt=47.424835&ln=15.337601&z=6&k=2&a=1&tab=1
Even further South Graz http://www.panoramio.com/map/#lt=47.072928&ln=15.446777&z=6&k=2&a=1&tab=1
Now off to the West:
Hallstatt: http://www.panoramio.com/map/#lt=47.550000&ln=13.650000&z=5&k=2&a=1&tab=1
The Lakes East of Salzburg: http://www.panoramio.com/map/#lt=47.835744&ln=13.570175&z=6&k=2&a=1&tab=1
Salzburg: http://www.panoramio.com/map/#lt=47.797705&ln=13.046951&z=5&k=2&a=1&tab=1
Chiemsee: http://www.panoramio.com/map/#lt=47.884118&ln=12.469482&z=6&k=2&a=1&tab=1
Just a few tasty bits, I tried to keep the range limited ;)
Thank you ! Wonderful! The cablecars into the forest are a great idea. In what area are they located?
PC, we are certainly interested in the west of Austria, as well as the east. Vienna and Salzburg are both at the top of my lists for Austria. The Czech Republic is quite interesting, so perhaps we can swing up for a few days after Vienna. We'll spend our last vacation days in or around Munich. Only 11 days, how can it become so short?
I have several books from the library on travel to Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic. Each book I pick up, I want to go THERE. Then I begin reading about another city or country, not too far from the other one, and I have to go THERE. So much to enjoy in Europe.
Many thanks!
Mary Jo
There are cablecars or chairlifts up most of the mountains, as they're important for the winter sports industry (Austria's biggest tourism earner). They'll almost all of them also have a cafe, and often also a hotel, at the top; they operate through the summer for mountain walking tourism. Probably simplest to ask locally on arrival. The treeline is around 2000m altitude.
Resin