So there's a chance (I say chance because I don't want to jinx an amazing opportunity) that I may be going on a 10-day trip to Istanbul in the next 6 to 9 months. I had been planning on saving up for an eastern Asia backpacking trip for next year, but since someone's footing my airfare to Europe already, I thought it would be an opportunity to backpack through eastern Europe instead. I've done some reading, looked at the requisite pictures, etc. and have a tentative itinerary, but I'd love some feedback from people who've done some traveling in eastern Europe before (what their impressions were, what I shouldn't bypass, etc.). Also, for anyone who's been, should I purchase airfare/train passes before I go or while I'm there? I've heard it's cheaper to make those arrangements from inside Europe, but I get nervous about not planning ahead a little.

 

So here's the (very) tentative itinerary. I'm probably only going to have 7 or 8 days after Istanbul, so while I'd like to see Prague and Vienna, I'm not sure that's feasible. The plan would be to fly from Istanbul to Budapest and then stay a couple days each in Budapest, Brasov, Bucharest and Plovdiv, traveling by train, before returning to Istanbul to return to the U.S. Any thoughts?

If you hear of an obscure place with lots of hotties, just be careful...

 

Not nice!  :x

 

But now that you have me worried, it's in my Netflix cue. Haha.

While in Budapest, by all means go to the Kerepesi Cemetery.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kerepesi_Cemetery

 

It is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been to. It might be a little morbid, but don't let that dissuade you. The sculpture in there is really stunning and there's something emotionally engrossing about walking through the final resting places of the Communist party faithful (and probably a few dissenters among the ranks as well). It's been seven years since I've been there and it's still left an impression on me.

 

Budapest is a great city to wander around in (either by foot or by train). It reminded me a lot of Prague, but less medieval and more in the footprint of post-WWII cold war reconstruction. Just remember, this is what downtown Cleveland will look like after Bob Stark is done with it. :wink:

 

I'd buy my rail pass here. I don't know of any price difference between buying here or there, but it's one less thing to worry about getting once you're there. I've never flown between cities in Europe, so I can't speak to that, but I understand prices are very reasonable, compared to the US

 

I haven't been to any of the other cities on your list (yet) so I'll leave that to others to advise you.

 

Hope you don't get jinxed and make it over!

one tip c/o they might be giants:

 

 

Istanbul was Constantinople

Now it's Istanbul, not Constantinople

Been a long time gone, Constantinople

Now it's Turkish delight on a moonlit night

 

Every gal in Constantinople

Lives in Istanbul, not Constantinople

So if you've a date in Constantinople

She'll be waiting in Istanbul

 

Even old New York was once New Amsterdam

Why they changed it I can't say

People just liked it better that way

 

So take me back to Constantinople

No, you can't go back to Constantinople

Been a long time gone, Constantinople

Why did Constantinople get the works?

That's nobody's business but the Turks

 

Istanbul (Istanbul)

Istanbul (Istanbul)

 

Even old New York was once New Amsterdam

Why they changed it I can't say

People just liked it better that way

 

Istanbul was Constantinople

Now it's Istanbul, not Constantinople

Been a long time gone, Constantinople

Why did Constantinople get the works?

That's nobody's business but the Turks

 

So take me back to Constantinople

No, you can't go back to Constantinople

Been a long time gone, Constantinople

Why did Constantinople get the works?

That's nobody's business but the Turks

 

Istanbul

 

Istanbul has always intrigued me, and am sure you'll have a great time.  Many of my friends have gone there and all like Turkey a lot.

If you are planning on Central Europe/Eastern Europe, Budapest is definitely worth the trip.  Lots to see without overwhelming the senses.  Take a tour of the Parliament building if you get a chance and go up to the Fisherman's Bastion.  Quite touristy, but still the view is incredible.  Budapest is undergoing a renaissance lately, so lots of reconstruction and infrastructure building going on, as well as a new subway line.  The metro will get you around easily.  Buy a transit pass, good for travel by any mode within the city limits.  Be very careful if taking a taxi; there are only 4 or 5 reputable firms operating.  Ask your hotel to give you a card for one of them.  There are also really good restaurants on the Boulevard and in Buda.  Some can be $$$.  Also worth a visit, if history interests you, is the Doheny Synagogue--second largest in the world and beautiful.  St. Stephen's basilica is also very nice, although it is not very old.  Do try out one of the many public baths.  Gorgeous and (for us) relatively cheap.  St Gellard's is the most famous.  And, not to be forgotten is the Central Market.  Again touristy, but still worth a look. They haven't switched yet to the Euro, and the Florint is used.  Be prepared for lots of math in converting.  When I saw my hotel bill last autumn, it looked like I was buying the place--hundreds of thousands of Florints. 

Vienna is quite grand and has lots of oversized Hapsburg monstrosities, wide boulevards and spectacular churches.  The food is also excellent, particularly the  pastries.  It is really expensive there, but again, if you are a history buff, well worth the trip. The architecture is stunning, especially the secessionist, the Viennese version of Art Nouveau.  The population is very eclectic as well--people from everywhere--definately not homogeneous.

Although I haven't been to Bucharest, I hear that it is not a bad destination, although still recovering from years of Soviet occupation, and the abuses of Ceausescu.  They call it the "petit Paris". My niece goes there yearly and loves Romania.  Says it and Bulgaria are the last unspoiled countries in Europe.

Hope this hasn't been too long winded.  Last year I went to Prague, Krakow, Vienna and Budapest.  All worth seeing.  Of the 4, I personally liked Budapest the best. Prague was just too touristy; although incredibly beautiful, seemed very artificial.  Pretty good night life though.  :-D Krakow needs a few years to mature for foreign visitors...beautiful only in the center city.  The rest is commie block heaven.  They are trying very hard to make it more friendly and inviting. Vienna was just too damn expensive.

You may have an entirely different take on Budapest, but if you have the chance, why not?  It is exotic yet familiar.  Maybe that is its greatest strength.

Sorry for being so wordy.

 

Istanbul is a great city as are Capadocia and Efes if you feel like sticking in Turkey. Might want to try a Greek island tour while you're in the neighborhood. You can find them relatively cheap if, as you say, you wait to book one once you're in the country. I understand your hesitance to do that though, I have similar pre-planning anxieties.

Thanks everyone for the advice. Really appreciate your thoughts on this matter ... I'll keep everyone posted and may be asking some more detailed questions as this comes closer to reality!

A forumer at skyscraperpage.com took some great photos of Santorini (Greek island) - definitely looks worth the effort: http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=137955

If you are trying to plan a rail itinerary anywhere in Europe, then use the German Railway's website http://bahn.hafas.de/bin/query.exe/en. Even if you aren't traveling in Germany, their website is the best for planning. All European railways, including local or limited train services are in their system. It will help you get a feel for timetables, trip durations, connections, cost, etc.

I spent over a month in Vienna, and made it to Krakow and Prague. Eastern Europe is definately worth a trip. The cities are amazing, less touristy than Western Europe, and you never worry about the price of things. 

 

I'm a big fan of short trips. You could do something like Budapest, Vienna and Prague in 8 days.

Thanks for the info, Vulpster. I definitely am all about short, fast trips as well ... my main limitation is spacing the train ride from wherever my northernmost locale is and Istanbul so that I'm not stuck on a train for 18 hours. If I do Vienna, Prague and Budapest, then I either have a super long train ride from Budapest to Istanbul, or I have to fly round-trip, which ups the price a little for me. If I wasn't worried about timing the travel appropriately, I think my preferred itinerary would be Prague, Ljubljana, Budapest and Brasov. If anyone has any recommendations on how that trip would be feasible in 8 days, factoring in a flight to Prague and some way to get from Brasov to Istanbul, I'd greatly appreciate any advice.  :-)