Top 5 cities in eastern Europe?

[motion]

Channeling the Pelican brain trust for your experience. Wondering what your ideas of the best 5 cities in Eastern Europe would be? We're looking at a trip in early September.

Looking for cities with the best natural beauty, culture, food, accessibility, etc.

Initial ideas:

Prague
Kiev
Krakow
Budapest
Minsk

Will probably fly into one of them, rent a car and hit up 2-3 cities, then we're off to Russia via airplane.

[not sharp]

Been to Moscow a few times. Big and beutiful!

[motion]

I should mention that I'm not interested in Russian reccos.... already been all around the country. Looking for something new

Preliminary checking on Expedia shows that 4 star hotels in big cities are $40ish a night. Amazing!

[Cajundaddy]

Prague is beautiful with a lot of preserved history but felt culturally edgy to me and was overrun with college kids whooping it up at the time. Budapest was more interesting I thought and Vienna is nearby and still a magnificent stop. Never been to Russia or Poland.

[Sarc]

Don't forget Istanbul. Amazing city.

I suggest staying in the Nişantaşı district. Incredible people watching.
The House Hotel is great place to stay.

The House Hotel Nisantasi

[Rick Lee]

Prague is, IMHO, hands down, the most beautiful city in the world. Yes, it beats Paris. It has an even better beer culture than Germany. If you go, I will give a list of must-see things.

Vienna is great, but not a short drive, probably at least five hrs.

Krakow is like a smaller Prague and it's awesome. Polish women are super hot. You won't believe me now, but you will come back here and say I was right.

I haven't been to Kiev since '92, so it's probably changed a lot. Very cool place, killer food, cheap booze and cool people.

Haven't been to the rest, but was in other parts of Hungary. Super nice people and great food.

[OffCamber00]

We have been eyeing Lake Bled in Slovenia. Its supposed to be gorgeous and its proximity to Italy gives it some Italian feel. Neighbor went and said it was great.

Also jonesing to get to Budapest.

[imcarthur]

Budapest is certainly worthy. Ideally, you want to stay in the Hilton on the Buda Hill because it has the best view in town overlooking the Danube & Pest on the other bank. I shot the photo below through our room's window - looking northeast.



Vienna is about an hour away & there are some other nice Magyar towns that are worth visiting. Carefully research rental cars because a lot of companies won't allow driving in the old Eastern Bloc countries from the west. Do not bother with Warsaw because its small rebuilt old town is the only thing to see in a pretty grim city.

Ian

[Rick Lee]

I thought Warsaw was pretty cool and the Jewish History Museum there was every bit as moving (IMHO) as was Auschwitz, more so if you read German, as so much of the artifacts are original text documents and placards.

If Budapest is only an hour from Vienna these days, that's awesome. When I first went to Vienna in '89, Budapest was many hours of driving on a horrible road with border BS to deal with and then you had to stop to buy vouchers for diesel if your car required that. So we only went as far as Gyoer and Lake Balaton.

BTW, there is a ton to see and do on the drive from Prague to Vienna. It's not that far, but when I did it a year ago, there was a lot of traffic coming out of Prague and not much real hwy. until well inside Austria. The back roads and villages were scenic, but not fast.

[imcarthur]

You are right, Rick. I was thinking of the drive from Gyor - which is a little over an hour from Budapest. The border is a breeze these days but you have to remember to buy a freeway sticker for Austria at the border - although I didn't . . .

Ian

[Skytrooper]

Without a doubt, Prague is a must see ! When I was there last summer beer was less expensive than water. It is a beautiful city with much to see. The monks brewery in the castle is fantastic.

[Captain Ahab Jr]

Eastern Europe is agreat area to explore, I've done family driving holidays through Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro, Bosnia, Serbia, Romania, Slovakia, Hungary and Czech Republic

I would base yourself in Budapest, has a good airport, is very scenic, lots of culture and quite central for driving to explore other cities within easy reach

Ljubljana, Slovenia 4hrs
a small but perfect jewel of a country, very pretty capital city and the Julian Alps and Triglav National park is breath takingly beautiful. I can recommend two very good hotels, one in the city and one in the mountains. Lake Bled area is more like a mini Austria or Switzerland than Italy.

Zagreb, Croatia 3hrs

Bratislava 2hrs
you could do a twin city trip with Vienna

Prague 4hrs
Cesky Krumlov is on the way and is like stepping back into medievil times with a stunning castle overlooking the river and city, Bratislava is also on the way

Krakow 5hrs
make time to visit the Dobsinska ice caves in Slovakia on your way up, absolutely spectacular

Timisoara, Romania 3hrs
is pleasant and very eastern European

For me the most scenic parts of Europe cover the area Hungary, Slovenia, Austria and southern Czech, south eastern Germany, look at any UNESCO World Heritage site as you won't be disappointed

[Erakad]

+1 On Prague, great city...forget Paris; Budapest; Krakow; Zagreb....try something different, Chisnyev (Moldova)

[nzporsche944s2]

One vote here for Budapest.

I would try to get slightly off the beaten track though if you are in Budapest. Try Ezstergom 2 hours NW of Budapest or even better Eger which is in Heves Province 120km NE of Budapest.
Eger has beautiful fort (built to defend against the Turks), and a place called Pretty Womans Valley where wine is made in cellars dug into the valley wall and you can virtually drink straight from the oak casks (Google Szépasszony-völgy)

Yes I'm a little biased because I have a family connection there but I wouldn't keep going back if it wasn't worth it. In fact I'm back there next month....

[Captain Ahab Jr]

Originally Posted by nzporsche944s2

One vote here for Budapest.
Eger has beautiful fort (built to defend against the Turks), and a place called Pretty Womans Valley where wine is made in cellars dug into the valley wall and you can virtually drink straight from the oak casks (Google Szépasszony-völgy)

Yes I'm a little biased because I have a family connection there but I wouldn't keep going back if it wasn't worth it. In fact I'm back there next month....

We spent 2 nights there, great place and you are right about the wine

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by Sarc

Don't forget Istanbul. Amazing city.

I suggest staying in the Nişantaşı district. Incredible people watching.
The House Hotel is great place to stay.

The House Hotel Nisantasi

This is gouge (which means good).

I stayed with locals so I can't vouch for the hotel (I am sure it great) but what a great city.

In the picture below, taken in 1990 in the Persian Gulf, my Air Department Chief and I were talking when the Chief Engineer of the boat, LCDR Ozcasar attacked me.

Oz was Turkish from Istanbul. I spent a few days with him there on my way home. I almost didn't survive. Incredibly fine and fun people.

[imcarthur]

Istanbul + numerous places in Anatolia makes Turkey a visit unto itself imho. We spent 2+ weeks there 2 years ago & it deserved the time. Spectacular.

Don't make it a Blur Tour & try to see too much.

Ian

[motion]

Thanks, everyone! Keep it coming! I'm not squeamish about driving anywhere... is Turkey, Serbia, Montenegra, etc. drivable?

[Captain Ahab Jr]

Nothing to see in Serbia, drove through it in a day.

Montenegro is very interesting country and not too far a drive, its a great country with enough to keep you busy for a week.

Dubrovnik is well worth a visit and not far, in fact the whole Dalmation coast road is pretty spectacular drive down.

Mostar in Bosnia is a lovely city, still lots of war scars but a very safe country to travel in, also the women are beautiful and out number the men folk

Driving is easy, biggest problems you will have are pot holes

[Sarc]

Originally Posted by motion

Thanks, everyone! Keep it coming! I'm not squeamish about driving anywhere... is Turkey, Serbia, Montenegra, etc. drivable?

Outside of Istanbul, yes. In the city proper not so much. When I'm in town, we frequently schedule meetings with a +/- hour (hour!) window depending on the severity of traffic.

Agree with Seahawk 100%. Very fun, jovial people. My visits to Istanbul completely erased my preconceived notions about the city.