OT: Berlin, Prague, Budapest Trip

[Sonofbigblockr]

It looks like it is that time of year for travel posts.

I'm planning an early August trip for family of 5 that will go Copenhagen -> Berlin -> Prague -> Budapest and taking advice while doing my research.

I have Copenhagen pretty planned out. Any must sees for a family (girl 10; boy 7; Adults 40 & 67) in the other cities?

Things to do?

Things to know?

Best areas to stay?

Any accommodations to recommend? We plan on vrbo's.

 

[gmay8]

I can only comment on Prague because I've been there....
Old Town Square is really cool, and would be cool for kids. Tons of shops set up and things or sale, and people entertaining. Charles Bridge is cool, nice to walk over. I also took a river tour on the Charles River, which docked up to an outside restaurant for lunch, that was neat and worthwhile.
Finally, the Castle tours are cool... forget all the names, it was 5 years ago, but definitely tour the main/large castles.

We added a day trip to Nuremburg in Germany to learn about the Nuremburg trials and explore that town. It was about a 2 hour drive, but a cool day trip if you have the time.

 

[hoquat63]

Did a river cruise from Budapest to the Black Sea a few years back. It’s actually two cites Buda and Pest (pronounced pesht by the locals) on opposite sides of the river. Parliament building is open for tours, need to have local currency to buy tickets. We also walked across bridge to other side where old palace is now a museum.

 

[ManasquanMike]

Take the bicycle tours. Prague had Praha bike and in Budapest you arrange for private tour (it's near St. Stephens church). Be sure to visit the Jewish quarters in both cities.
In Prague the town square has an astrological clock and tower worth climbing, as said the Charles Bridge is a must see/do, go early to avoid the crowds. Go to the Fisherman's Bastion (it's a steep walk uphill but they also have a funicular), there's also a beautiful church next to the Bastion and a museum opposite, there's a great food market, visit the Parliament all in Budapest.

 

[RUnTeX]

Looks like quite an itinerary. Hope it's at least 10 days or more in duration with four countries/cities planned and travel time between each. I assume mode of travel within the continent will be rail. Eurail is a great, fun way to see the changing landscapes and countrysides between each city (or save time and hotel nights if any of them are scheduled overnight/red-eye journeys).

There's very good Czech beer in Prague and surrounding areas. It's ingrained in the culture there unlike almost any other country in the world.

Don't have specific recommendations to offer beside what's already been posted above as it's been 12+ years since I visited any of those cities.

 

[RUSK97]

Budapest - go to the thermal baths! Fun for the kids, nice way to unwind for the adults. I went to one that starts with a S.

 

[ManasquanMike]

Budapest - go to the thermal baths! Fun for the kids, nice way to unwind for the adults. I went to one that starts with a S.

You're right, forgot this one. It's across from the zoo.

 

[Scarlet1984]

Did a river cruise from Budapest to the Black Sea a few years back. It’s actually ONE CITY THAT WAS ONCE TWO CITIES AND IS NOW TWO SECTIONS Buda and Pest (pronounced pesht by the locals) on opposite sides of the river. Parliament building is open for tours, need to have local currency to buy tickets. We also walked across bridge to other side where old palace is now a museum.

fify

#fakenews

 

[pawildcat_rivals209725]

Good shopping in both cities and they're relatively cheap. Transit is also good with easy-to-use subway systems and plenty of trams. You can get a 24-hour transit pass for the equivalent of about $5. Currency is the crown in Prague and the forint in Hungary (you get around 17,000 of those for 85 bucks), but many merchants will also take euros or U.S. dollars. I enjoyed the Staropramen beer in Prague although there are plenty of other good choices. The taverns are unusual in that they generally serve one or two beers and don't have several on tap as in the U.S.

 

[czxqa]

Budapest - go to the thermal baths! Fun for the kids, nice way to unwind for the adults. I went to one that starts with a S.

It's either St. Gellért, part of the St. Gellért hotel (but you don't have to stay at the hotel to use the thermal spa) or the Széchenyi thermal baths, which are the largest in Europe. Definitely a must do. If you go to the Széchenyi spa, it's in a park area which also contains Vajdahunyadvár, an amazing castle surrounded by water, and just outside the park is Heroes Square. Definitely stop there on the way in, won't take long and it's an amazing sight. Also, on the Buda side of the Danube, you definitely want to go to the Fisherman's Bastion, right on the riverfront across from the Parliament building, and the Mátyás Church right next door. St. Stephens Basilica and the Parliament for sightseeing on the Pest side, and definitely set some time aside to wander around on Váci Street and the surrounding area. It's the main shopping district of the city, and at the one end of the street is the great market hall (Nagyvásárcsarnok), a huge indoor market with butchers, charcuterie, a fish market, a mind boggling array of pickled veggies and things, eateries and such, shops galore, and so forth.

 

[hoquat63]

fify

#fakenews

If you want to be picky I believe it actually is the combination of three: Buda, Pest and Obuda.

 

[Armor and Sword]

If you are driving from Copenhagen south, you might want to check out this battlefield museum in Jutland (Sondenborg/Dybbol), the site of Denmark's Gettysburg.

http://1864.dk/historiecenter-dybboel-banke/

 

[NotInRHouse_anon]

Prague- the castle, Museum of Communism, be sure to eat a fried cheese and a traditional roast pork and dumplings

Berlin- The wall, Jewish museum, Checkpoint Charlie, Bundestag (great view from the top), try a currywurst

I also visited a concentration camp outside of Berlin. That may be difficult with kids, 7 is young for that I think but there were definitely some families there when I visited. It is a tough but worth it experience.

 

[hoquat63]

If you pass thru Munich on the trip you could also hit Dachau - again maybe too sober for young kids.

 

[ch414]

Budapest- Museum of Terror. Hungary was subjected to Nazi and Communist rule. This museum covers both. There is a pretty good zoo. Outside of town is a "park" that has remnants of Communist era statues. The main synagogue on Doheny Street is beautiful. River cruise on the Danube at night is beautiful.

Prague- In Wenceslas Square (and I'm sure all over) there are little kiosks that sell a pastry- dough rolled in the shape of a hollowed log and dusted in cinnamon. Delicious. Theresienstadt concentration camp (as others have said, might not be good for kids) is about an hours ride.

Berlin- Unter der LInden is a beautiful street with good shopping. Wansee House- where the Final Solution was developed by Nazi higher ups (located on a beautiful lake, which provides an ironic contrast). 1936 Olympics Stadium- good tour.

 

[RUSK97]

Umm...what's with the concentration camps? I mean, I would be interested, but with two pre-teen kids in tow? No thanks unless you want them bawling ten minutes into the tour.

 

[ManasquanMike]

Umm...what's with the concentration camps? I mean, I would be interested, but with two pre-teen kids in tow? No thanks unless you want them bawling ten minutes into the tour.

Agree with you again. Plenty of Jewish history (& atrocity) to see. The Jewish quarter in Prague waa left alone by the Nazis as some sort of time capsule as to how the “Jews” lived. It’s why the Nazis didn’t destroy if. The largest synagogue is there, the clock telling time differently & the cemetery are all part of the history without getting kids too depressed.
Budapest has a Jewish “memorial” that the locals aren’t proud of bc the Hungarians aligned themselves with the Nazis. There’s also the “shoe memorial” on the Danube.
All ways to teach how barbaric man can be to other man. (I am not of the Jewish faith, the history of their plight is something everyone should be aware of).
There’s also an eclectic pub I’ll try to get the name (you can bring kids, just like here) in Budapests Jewish quarter.

 

[hoquat63]

There was a recent study done that claims 4+% of Americans and 60+% of millennial didn’t know what Auschwitz was. I agree that concentration camp is probably too intense for preteens. Had forgotten about shoe memorial on the Danube. That too might be a little intense. If you do Nuremberg the stadium and court room might be a good visit.
Also on the lighter side there’s an interesting toy museum in Nuremberg

 

[MH55_rivals149943]

Terezin is a completely intact and unaltered prisoner camp about an hour outside Prague. Its haunting. I would recommend it for any individual as a study in the study of hatred, intolerance and brutality. Pre-teens are old enough to understand this concept particularly since more American school children have died this year in combat vs American military personnel.

 

[wisr01]

Terezin is a completely intact and unaltered prisoner camp about an hour outside Prague. Its haunting. I would recommend it for any individual as a study in the study of hatred, intolerance and brutality. Pre-teens are old enough to understand this concept particularly since more American school children have died this year in combat vs American military personnel.

Both of my kids spent a few weeks in Europe after their HS graduation (they are 4 years apart) and both really enjoyed Prague. Both also loved Munich too.

FWIW, both visited Terezin and said it left an impact on them for the reasons you suggest.