Prague, Krakow or ???

toadfly

Hoping to take a long weekend in Eastern Europe early next year. Looking for somewhere cheap basically. Interested in history so thinking Krakow would be a good option. Any thoughts?

hdowney

Well I am taking the mother to Prague in Feb for her birthday. Looking forward to it. Good bit of history/buildings etc, some lovely food and good prices. Going for 4 nights over Valentine's (her birthday!).

Krakow I think is a good choice too though

Not much help am I!

Columbia

I'd lean towards Krakow personally, it's got a bit more to see than Prague, and most stuff is cheap. I visited Prague for the third time this summer and the cost of most stuff is gone far beyond the value of it.

If you go to Krakow don't miss the Wieliczka Salt Mines! Also Auschwitz, Schindler's factory, and under the main square they've discovered the foundations of the medieval market place. It's open as a very well-presented museum under the main square now. I'd also recommend a city tour, to see the castle/WW2/communist stuff you'd probably miss otherwise.

Comhrá

Columbia wrote: »

I'd lean towards Krakow personally, it's got a bit more to see than Prague, and most stuff is cheap. I visited Prague for the third time this summer and the cost of most stuff is gone far beyond the value of it.

If you go to Krakow don't miss the Wieliczka Salt Mines! Also Auschwitz, Schindler's factory, and under the main square they've discovered the foundations of the medieval market place. It's open as a very well-presented museum under the main square now. I'd also recommend a city tour, to see the castle/WW2/communist stuff you'd probably miss otherwise.

I was there a few years back and loved Krakow. The Salt mines alone was worth the visit. Fantastic. Beautiful city too.

rtw

Would definitely say krakow- much more to do and cheaper!

pjproby

krakow!

Paulownia

Budapest and go AirBnB, wonderful city and very good value, I have been twice.
Prague is over touristy and a bit ripoff at this stage.
Tourists are seen as fair game there.

cardwizzard

Gdansk is beautiful also. Lovely squares with bars restaurants, Sopot is close and great for niteclubs and beaches. Pretty cheap.

Berlin is brilliant if you've never been. Just a couple of alternatives to muddy the waters :-)

kindalen

Krakow above prague for me too.

Aglomerado

tippman1 wrote: »

I was there a few years back and loved Krakow. The Salt mines alone was worth the visit. Fantastic. Beautiful city too.

The salt mines are incredible. Unmissable. And if you go outside of peak season more sections are open to the public - smaller numbers mean that some of the carvings / chapels down there are less likely to suffer damage.

skallywag

Was in both Poznan and Gdansk myself a couple of years back, both are cracking towns, very pleasant place & people with lots to see.

Abracastabya

Have been to Krakow and Prague, and now live in Prague. Loved Krakow, beautiful city but Prague trumps it for me hence my move here. Still very cheap if you avoid the tourist traps which to be fair Krakow has it's fair share of too.

ghogie91

Im just back from Amsterdam where I met two American guys going to college in Prague... They said that the place is not to be missed. It's very cheap and the nightlife is good with a lovely city to see during the day. After talking to these guys I will definately be going to Prague as they really sold it to me

Abracastabya

i can confirm (even without knowing what they said) that it is all true!! It's an amazing place with crazy nightlife and a great sight seeing city during the day. It's amazing

Woodbrook80

Could I ask for recommendations for a hotel in either Prague or krakow as thinking of an Xmas present for my hubby thanks

spurious

Great value in Krakow is the Hotel Kazimierz.
I would say it might be booked out already for Christmas.

Hotel Wentzl is also good, though more expensive, or there is the Radisson which is well located.

Others for a special occasion (I have not stayed in these ones but they have a good reputation)
Hotel Pod Roza
Hotel Copernicus
Hotel Senacki
Grand Hotel

If you go, no matter where you stay, try a special meal in the restaurant of the Hotel Pod Roza - the classic restaurant, not the Italian one - out of this world fine dining for relatively cheap prices (compared to Dublin).

sebphoto

Defo Kraków, but keep in mind that if you're planning your trip in winter then you have to be prepared as otherwise temp might be quite low over there (say circa minus 20 C) ha
In terms of accommodation - there are plenty cheap places, it's up to you whether you'd go for hostel (€10 per night) or rather fancy hotel (say €80 per night)

See this:
http://www.nocowanie.eu/accommodation/cracow/

toadfly

Thanks everyone, think we are parking this trip until early summer but will keep the recommendations in mind when the time comes to book.

Phoebas

+1 on Budapest.

Great city and great value.

Paulownia

Phoebas wrote: »

+1 on Budapest.

Great city and great value.

Ell
Can't understand why there have not been more people suggesting Budapest, is it that it is not well known here, definitely it has a lot to offer and is extremely good value, and most people in tourist jobs speak excellent bearla

Ardennes1944

I was in Krakow last Jan and we loved it. Definitely going to go back again next year. We stayed in the Queen Boutique hotel which was one of the best hotels Ive ever stayed in.

Had planned to go to Prague in 3weeks but chose Copenhagen instead. Hopefully I can go to Budapest and get the train to Prague next year also.

Julabo

+1 Krk

Smaointeach

Just back from Krakow this very evening. Stayed in the Hotel Wyspianski about 5 mins walk from the old town square. Fine hotel, very reasonable (€67 per night b&b for 2), good breakfast, warm, clean, friendly, couldn't fault it.

MadsL

Here's my very extensive 10 year old post on Prague. I think most of it still holds true..

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=1798269&postcount=6

However, for the feel of where Prague was 10 years ago in terms of romance and cost I would now recommend Zagreb, not quite as picturesque, but way more interesting than the very renovated and over touristed Prague.

And just to nitpick Prague and Krakow are in CENTRAL europe. Don't believe me, have a look at a map Prague is practically slap bang in the centre of Europe.

podgemonster

I was in Krakow last July. It was a beautiful city with a rich history.

Here's a video of my trip
http://vimeo.com/104095163

I went to Budapest 2 years ago in March. It was -4 while we were there. This was nice when we went to the Baths but other than that we spent most of our time indoors in the ruin bars.