Travel in Czech Republic, Eastern Germany, Slovakia and Hungary (best, life, cost)
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
We're doing research for a trip next Summer and would like input from those of you that have been to these towns. It's easy to get information about the big cities (Prague, Vienna, Budapest, etc), but we also like to spend some time in small historic towns. We plan to rent a car and spend one or two nights in several towns such as;
Cesky Krumlov
Kromeriz
Bratislava
Bamberg
Regensburg
Zakopane
We like to experience their local restaurants and bars, and do some shopping. We enjoy historic buildings, but spend very little time at museums.
Any suggestions? Will we be able to get by speaking English? Are there other small towns in this area that you recommend?
I've been to Cesky Krumlov, Bratislava, and Kromeriz. Of the three, I know Kromeriz best, but things change rapidly, so I hope my advice is still timely.
Cesky Krumlov is the most striking of the three, as pictures will attest. The river snaking around the historical center is lovely. Bratislava is a great "big town", but the communists destroyed a large part of the Jewish quarter to build the SNP Bridge, and the remaining center, while charming, struck me as rather small (certainly when compared to Prague, Vienna, or Budapest.) But the people are generally welcoming, and I've heard the nightlife is decent.
Kromeriz is certainly worth a visit if you just like wandering around for a few hours: there are two pleasant parks (a rambling English style one, and a manicured French "Flower Garden"), a picturesque chateau, interesting churches (baroque and neo-Gothic), and other architectural gems.
Most areas of interest are found near the main square. The restaurant in the Cerny Orel Hotel and the one in the Octarna Hotel are supposed to be quite good (I've only had coffee in the second), but the restaurant in the Boucek Hotel is awful. Check out the Hana restaurant on the main square for a trip to the pre-McDonald's pub/cafeteria days (it's actually not half bad)! If you're adventurous foodies, you should also try the regional stinky cheese ("Tvaruzky") with your beer.
Shopping choices are limited, but there are some pottery shops around town, and the tourist center on the main square also sells postcards, mugs, and little souvenirs.
Insider tip: a few blocks out of the center, the Orthodox Church of Cyril and Methodius on Sokolovska Street has a cool wine bar/wine merchant in the basement. Hours vary.
When I refer to Eastern Germany I'm talking about the eastern part, not the former state. So what is the correct term for the eastern part of Germany?
Our plans are still developing but we are focusing on the area roughly bounded by Frankfurt, Prague, Budapest and Vienna. Frankfurt is included since we might take a train from there to Amsterdam before returning home to Texas. So we are open to visiting any of the towns in this general area. We will be driving a car and plan to spend more time in smaller towns than the big cities.
So why do you recommend Dresden? Can you comment on Dresden, Bamberg and Regensburg?
So why do you recommend Dresden? Can you comment on Dresden, Bamberg and Regensburg?
I know all 3 cities, but lived and studied in Dresden. It's a wonderful combination of Baroque, 19th century and modern influences/architecture. Very rich history but young vibrating "flair". Every US-American I know is totally amazed by Dresden, they even prefer it over Munich. But you should do your own researches. I'm sure you will find more than enough informations on the net.
I would skip Bratislava - it's a big, dirty, ugly city with a very small "center" - and you can spend more time elsewhere and see some better sights.
I would check out Brno and even the smallish town of Jihlava (Czech Republic). Jihlava is picturesque. There are the usual historic religious sites, but I liked it because the town center was pleasant and it is sort of a center for the garnet and semi precious stone jewelry business.
Brno - from Wiki:
Quote:
The city spends about 30 million euro every year on culture.[65][66] There are many museums, theatres and other cultural institutions. Brno is also a vibrant university city with about ninety thousand students, a number of festivals and other cultural events.
Since the 1990s Brno has experienced a great cultural "rebirth", façades of historical monuments are being repaired and various exhibitions, shows, etc., are being established or extended. In 2007 a summit of 15 presidents of the EU Member States was held in Brno.[67]
Despite its urban character, some of the city districts still preserve traditional Moravian folklore, including folk festivals with traditional Moravian costumes (cz: kroje), Moravian wines, folk music and dances. Unlike smaller municipalities, in Brno the traditional folk festivals are held locally by city districts, among the city district where annually the traditional Moravian festivals takes place are Židenice,[68] LÚeň,[69] or Ivanovice.[70]
I found all this to be true. You should check the Brno calendar (I am sure they have one online) for folk festivals because they have a LOT of them, and the insight into Czech folk customs is very interesting. Also, pick up some Czech folk music while you are there - it has a unique and often haunting quality.
East from Frankfurt you will drive right through Aschaffenburg and Wurzburg. Both these BEAUTIFUL towns are often overlooked but they are well worth exploring. Aschaffenburg has a beautiful shopping "Fussganger" district with lots and lots of interesting shops, as well as a beautiful city park with some ancient ruins scattered about between the Fussganger district and one of the few malls you will find in Germany (worth checking out as well). There is a very interesting museum located in the big pink Schloss (castle) overlooking the Main river. If I were you I would fly into Frankfurt but DO NOT SPEND THE NIGHT THERE. Frankfurt is a huge, ugly city. Drive east 45 minutes to Aschaffenburg and stay at the Wildermann Hotel across from the Schloss. Very friendly and helpful staff, comfortable, quaint rooms, and an EXCELLENT restaurant.
The Aschaffenburg area is worth spending a couple of days in if you have the time. Aschaffenburg is at the foot of the Spessart mountains. Close by is the absolutely charming little town of Mespelbrunn. In Mespelbrunn is the absolutely fascinating little castle of Mespelbrunn. Built in the 1100s, and owned by the same family for over 500 years, it was never bombed and has been meticulously maintained. Part of it is a private family residence but they've opened the majority of it up for public tours. Even though the tours are in German, there is English literature available and it's easy to keep up with the tour. WELL WORTH THE TIME. We spent 10 days in Germany/France/Belgium a couple of years ago and saw many sights, but my husband still says this was his favorite castle by far.
You can drive along the Main River just south of Aschaffenburg and drive through many charming towns and villages, each with their own interesting town centers, big hulking castle ruins overlooking the gorgeous river, and flanked by steep hillsides blanketed in vineyards. Honestly the drive itself is worth it, because it's NOT a tourist area and it's so timeless and picturesque. These towns are all part of the district of Miltenberg, and this is one of my favorite little corners of Bavaria (upper Bavaria). Be sure to check out Wertheim, with it's beautiful historic district and it's huge castle ruins (some of the best in Germany for simply clamboring about on and dreaming of knights and ladies - there are no tours, so you are free to roam and explore).
While you're in that area, you will be very close to the Odenwald region. There are some very charming small towns you can check out there as well - my favorite is Michelstadt. It has many half timbered houses, some great antique shops (which are interesting because the antiques are so OLD compared to American "antiques). Michelstadt also has a very walkable and interesting medieval town center. But my very favorite sight to see in Michelstadt is the Carolingian basilica, built in the 800s. You can still see traces of ancient mosaics and paintings on the wall. It is hauntingly beautiful and one of the most holy places I've ever stood in. It really brought to life the essence of the phrase "the communion of the saints" to me because it was very poignant to stand in a spot where worshippers have gathered and prayed for over 1200 years - through seasons, wars, plagues, you name it.
Wurzburg is a bigger city than the town of Aschaffenburg but it is LOVELY and has some very interesting sights. My favorite is the huge Marienburg Fortress, which you cannot miss because it is sitting at the very top of a hill overlooking the city and the river. It has an EXCELLENT museum in it, and the views from the summit are gorgeous. Very cool. Wurzburg is about 30 minutes east of Aschaffenburg.
Kathy, thanks for the info. We are considering Bratislava since it appears to have a lot of sidewalk cafes, pubs, interesting historic architecture and two microbreweries. We might stay there and drive into Vienna for a day rather than stay in Vienna. I'm sure we will spend all our time in the Old Town. So I'm interested in your recommendation to skip this town if you have more thoughts.
Kathy, thanks for the info. We are considering Bratislava since it appears to have a lot of sidewalk cafes, pubs, interesting historic architecture and two microbreweries. We might stay there and drive into Vienna for a day rather than stay in Vienna. I'm sure we will spend all our time in the Old Town. So I'm interested in your recommendation to skip this town if you have more thoughts.
Well, to be honest, I didn't much like Vienna either, but it wasn't because of the sights, it was because Vienna had some of the least friendly people I've ever met in one concentration! I'm just not a huge fan of Austria in general, though I do like the Salzburg region (the salt mines are well worth the tour, believe it or not!).
Honestly, if you are going to go into Austria, I'd stay in Brno. I can recommend the Hotel Slavia - IF you want to experience a unique retro feel. Honestly, I found the hotel to be comfortable, though some online reviews are scathing due to the outdated bathrooms and TVs (but I don't go to the Czech Republic to watch TV). The thing is, this hotel has not been renovated since the Cold War - maybe even not significantly renovated since WW2. That makes it very unique in my opinion. You expect Humphrey Bogart or James Bond to walk in at any minute. I liked the restaurant. The rooms are very large and you are truly right in the middle of the town square. When I was there, there was still WW2 damage on the facade of St Jacob's church, which is right across the street. There are often open air markets in that square as well, which is interesting. Anyway, it's not a luxury hotel, but it's a peek into the Cold War era and the Soviet regime, and it's clean and I felt like it was comfortable. Large rooms as well. It's like stepping into a whole other era.
By the way, if you are in Austria, are you going to give yourself some time to hop across the German border and visit Berchtesgaden and Hitler's Eagles Nest? If I had to choose between a day or two in Austria or a day or two in Berchtesgaden and the surrounding area, I'd definitely do the latter. It's FASCINATING. One of the highlights of my many trips to that region. I never skip Berchtesgaden even though I've been there several times.
Then there's also Dachau - the concentration camp near Munich. Very sobering but worth the drive.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Plus The only "East German" city, cause Bamberg and Regensburg are in Bavaria.
