Warsaw to Prague to ???

May 28, 2007 5:27 AM

With a week to spend in Europe this summer, I am going from Warsaw (2 days) to Prague (3 days) to...where? Krakow? Dresden? Berlin? I have two days and have to be back in Warsaw on the 2nd day. I'm traveling by train. What would I be an idiot to miss?

I'm in my early 30s, interested in art, music, design, etc. This isn't my first trip to Europe (or Eastern Europe) and won't be my last, so even if your advice doesn't match the criteria exactly, I'd still like to hear what's interesting and cool in "the neighborhood". Thanks.

posted by B-squared to Travel & Transportation (11 answers total)

Krakow is a beautiful city. There's a gorgeous market square and castle, some great bars/clubs and when I was there everyone was friendly.

Also, if you're interested it's very easy to get to Auschwitz from Krakow.
posted by knapah at 5:42 AM on May 28, 2007

Second knupah in every detail. I was in Kraków only a few hours and it captivated me. And it never sleeps, either. Any hour of the day or night, you can be out on the town.

I could have spent much longer there, but I devoted the day to Auschwitz. Don't take any of the touristy services, just catch an ordinary intercity bus to Oswiecim from the main station in Krakow. It'll be about 40 minutes.

Schedules change, but in 2004 there was a train from Kraków to Warszawa that left between midnight and one, arriving about 7. Assuming you can sleep well enough sitting up, that will let you maximize your Krak-time.
posted by eritain at 6:02 AM on May 28, 2007

Oh, and no matter where you are in Poland make sure you have a few tatanka/szarlotka's (Zubrowka vodka with apple juice). It's an absolutely gorgeous drink. It tastes like apple pie... yum.

(Of course, this recommendation only applies if you drink alcohol)
posted by knapah at 6:10 AM on May 28, 2007

Spend more time wherever it is you're already going. 2-3 days is barely enough to get a vague idea of a place.
posted by pompomtom at 7:04 AM on May 28, 2007

Seconding pompomtom. Spend more time in each location. There's plenty to see in Praha, and I'm sure there's just as much in Warsaw. Don't rush yourself.
posted by vernondalhart at 8:01 AM on May 28, 2007

Krakow is humming right now, it seems to have really found itself. Its tourist population seems to be largely British, so it's probably a comfortable place for an english speaker. Wroclaw, four hours west of Krakow, is another old Polish/German/Bohemian city (it's changed hands many times) that's starting to come into its own. I believe it attracts a more predominantly German tourist crowd.
posted by migurski at 8:51 AM on May 28, 2007

Prague

I'd like to add a few things to that quickly. Don't miss the Charles Bridge. The Petrin Hill & Observation Tower is also a lot of fun. If you can stand the wait or crowds, see Prague Castle as well, it is amazing.
posted by piratebowling at 9:30 AM on May 28, 2007

Well, since nobody else has mentioned it yet, Vienna's always worth a trip, short or long.

Distance-wise it's more or less like Berlin, when traveling from Prague and back to Warsaw. At least according to Google Maps.
posted by richardh at 9:47 AM on May 28, 2007

Krakow ftw.
posted by mdonley at 12:54 PM on May 28, 2007

Berlin is without a doubt the best place. Come to berlin, and forget vapid art. Just go out to some crazy party joint, stay out all night.
posted by markovich at 1:41 PM on May 28, 2007

Krakow. Less travel time, although Wroclaw is close to Prague and has cool architecture, a park, and a nice square.
posted by oneirodynia at 3:25 PM on May 28, 2007