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[swtrixie]

I'll be traveling through Austria(Vienna), Hungary (Budapest) and Poland (Krakow) during the month of August.

I'm in the process of putting the trip together but I'm wondering if there are some spots that I should not miss. 

We'll be taking a train from Prague through to Vienna, Budapest and Krakow with the possibility of renting a car when necessary.

Any tips or ideas would be helpful.

[euro_trash]

I'll be traveling through Austria(Vienna), Hungary (Budapest) and Poland (Krakow) during the month of August.

I'm in the process of putting the trip together but I'm wondering if there are some spots that I should not miss. 

We'll be taking a train from Prague through to Vienna, Budapest and Krakow with the possibility of renting a car when necessary.

Any tips or ideas would be helpful.

Krakow is a wonderful city, and it is less touristy than Prague (tho in August you will be knee deep in American and Japanese tourists).  Be sure to eat fresh pretzels while you are there.  Take a tour around the old city wall, and of course visit the castle.  There are some amazing artifacts there.  One that sticks out in my mind is an old crown laced in gold and jewels and must be worth 100 million Euro.

If you are going to Krakow then you should also go to visit Auschwitz.  It is a terrible experience, but it is important not to forget.  If you are in the Vienna Budapest area, then you should take a day trip to Bratislava as well.

Be very careful not to get your goods stolen East of Vienna.  If you are stopped by police, make sure they are really police and not someone who wants to rob you in the guise of a uniformed agent. Another thing you should remember is to ignore the beggars.  Most of them are fake.

[prytania3]

I would go to Marienbad. It's a really old European style spa.

http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-city/Czech%20Republic/Marienbad/tpod.html

Also, it's good to have hotels booked in advance for Prague. Probably Budapest and Krakow, too.

[donstefano]

Budapest! Old memories are coming back. If you want a spa, check Gellert, and the Szechenyi baths.
Check some of the coffeehouses: central Kavehaz is nice, and I heard New York is back open (haven't been in the city for a while)
For cheap food: some good restaurants in the student district around Kalvin Ter, Raday Utca more in particular.
For concerts: don't follow the crowds of tourists to the opera. Check the Music Academy (Zeneakademia) nearby instead on Liszt Ferenc ter: fantastic acoustics!

(and for the hungarians: yes, I know I should include the accents. but my keyboard is not very magyar-friendly)

[lenniel]

Budapest is lovely, and try to visit the national cathedral in the Old City if you can.  It is wonderful, and staffed by wizened gypsy women who will show you all the relics.  If you love music, there is an instrument museum and a small, excellent Bartok museum in the Old City, the Liszt Concervatory in the new, if memory serves.  There is also a fun "dungeon tour" under the Old City that is a bit cheezy, but very fun.  

There is a park where they put all the Soviet era statues, and it is really worth seeing.  The park is not very big, and so you'll see tons of Lenins, Stalins and other noble figures all crammed together.  The whole city is great to walk in, good food and interesting architecture.  Keep your eyes peeled for pickpockets, but that is SOP for most big cities.

Enjoy!

[jwormold]

Definitely follow the advice of the other replies and go to spas and coffee houses in Budapest! Mmmm, Dobostorta! (My keyboard also isn't Magyar-friendly). Be sure to take your bathing suit in Hungary because there are lots of public pools, and in August, you'll probably want to cool off. The Statue Park (home of Soviet kitsch) is awesome.

Speaking of which, how much do you like hot and humid weather? If you need a/c, you'll probably have to stay at a larger, international chain (at least in Krakow and Budapest) to get an air-conditioned room. I was last in Budapest during the ridiculously hot summer in 2003 and I had to switch over to big chains (although smaller hotels and b&bs will give you a fan). If you are feeling decadent, the Four Seasons opened a magnificent new hotel in Budapest.

Also, be sure to properly validate your tickets in the Budapest metro: tickets are checked frequently and they WILL make you pay. It's easier, less stressful, and probably cheaper in the end to buy a day/week pass. 

[swtrixie]

Keep 'em coming folks, you're doing great.

I'm staying in an apartment in Prague. I spent two weeks there in the summer of 2006 and let me tell you it was wicked hot. Not only was Prague overrun with tourists (myself included) but the Jehovah Witness (es?) had their International meeting there at the same time. anyone want a copy of the Watch Tower?

I do plan on visiting Auschwitz and also the salt mines.

Thanks all for the other tips. This should be a great trip.

[luibh]

My wife and I were in Budapest last November and loved it. There is a restaurant called Oliva that has really, really good pizza. Its on Lázár utca. Its just a couple of blocks south of the metro station at Arany János utca. The Budapest metro was nice and easy to navigate.

The people were nice and the city was beautiful. I would like to go back.

[swtrixie]

My wife and I were in Budapest last November and loved it. There is a restaurant called Oliva that has really, really good pizza. Its on Lázár utca. Its just a couple of blocks south of the metro station at Arany János utca. The Budapest metro was nice and easy to navigate.

The people were nice and the city was beautiful. I would like to go back.

Thanks. Funny enough I found really good pizza in Prague as well. Pizza that rivaled NY thin crust oly goodness.

[powergarden]

A couple other suggestions for Krakow
Sukiennice--the cloth hall is a pretty building and has an interesting market inside
Wawel Cathedral
Wadowice--the birthplace of Pope John Paul II is a small town outside of Krakow. I'm not Catholic but I really had fun visiting his birthplace. It was a good way to spend an afternoon after spending the morning at Aushwitz/Birkenau. They had fun photos from when he was young and the gift shop was great.
Zakopane--Another place just outside Krakow. Its located in the Tatra mountains and is very beautiful. Its great for skiing in the winter and the shops, restauraunts, and hiking are nice in the summer. In the summer they also have horse and cart rides up the mountain.

[amandajacob]

Krakow

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