NationStates Jolt Archive

Ok, in a few weeks, I'll be on holiday...starting in Warsaw, and taking in Wroclaw, Krakow, Prague, Pilsen, Bratislava, Kosice, Zagreb, Belgrade, Sofia, Plovdiv, Bucharest, Brasov, Cluj-Napoca, Debrecen, and Budapest. All in 3 weeks. Well, 23 days.
So, anyone who lives in any of these places, or has been to any of them - any suggestions on what there is to do in any of them?
Bear in mind the longest I'll be in any city is 3 days - that's Warsaw, Prague, Bucharest and Budapest - so there is a limit as to the amount of things I can see/do.

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Sorry, can't really help you there. I've only been to Kosice. From what I remember it was... quaint. They have a neat 'old' street with a cathedral in the middle and a park with water fountains.
Oh and incredibly cheap drinks. But that applies to most of Eastern Europe ;)

Having never been to any of these places, I would have to go with "drink like a sailor" that ensures a good time anywhere, especially eastern europe...

(soley a guess as i have never been to eastern europe, although i have dranken like a sailor and can vouch for its excitement)

also, if there is any chance of gambling, go for it...

just the idea of gambling alone makes this bump worthy.

Ok, in a few weeks, I'll be on holiday...starting in Warsaw, and taking in Wroclaw, Krakow, Prague, Pilsen, Bratislava, Kosice, Zagreb, Belgrade, Sofia, Plovdiv, Bucharest, Brasov, Cluj-Napoca, Debrecen, and Budapest. All in 3 weeks. Well, 23 days.

Hmmm... I've only visited 3 of the places (Warsaw, Wroclaw and Prague). I'm sure every town has tons of sites worth a visit but I'd recommend that skip few museums and other tourist attractions and try to find out how locals live and spend their free time.

One thing you got to do is to watch sunrise from Charles Bridge (Prague). I did it 9 years ago and still remember it very clearly. It's just amazing.

I don't know where you from but I hope that you speak e.g. German. English was pretty useless in smaller eastern European towns. But there are always some who speak maybe-English and bisschen-Deutch.

Well, since I'm from Sofia, I could first give you a link to an article of LA Times about it: http://www.latimes.com/travel/la-tr-sofia12jun12,1,1016309.story

Also, the usual tourist route is the St. Alexander (http://community.webshots.com/photo/162883247/162890877LbbRpX) Nevski Cathedral (http://www.destinationbulgaria.bg/msalnevski.htm) (the biggest cathedral on the Balkans), there is also an open market for antiques (coins, swords etc.) nearby, then the St. Sophia church (a very old Byzantine church), the "yellow cobbles" - the Parliament, then the Presidency, the Council of the Ministers and the goldened statue of Sofia... Also, visiting the national theatre "Ivan Vazov" is nice - there is a big outside cafe in front of it, with nice fountains and, usually, lots of people to meet. You could walk along the Vitosha boulevard with it's casinos and boutiques. Also there are lots of night clubs, pubs, cafes etc. There's a beer-fest in front of the National Palace of Culture... Phew, Sofia's a big city - I don't know what exactly to propose you. It depends on what you'd like to do... And I don't think you'll need German, English is much more popular here. Oh, the most important thing - it's cheap. And I mean it (atleast it should be cheap for your standarts)! You could see this in the article. For example - one 2l bottle of beer is around 1,60 levs, which is 0,80 Euro or somewhere around 1,10 dollars. But be careful with the local drinks, they're usually strong. And never ever drink the local "rakia" to the bottom on one gulp!

For Plovdiv - I haven't been there lately, so I can suggest only what I know. Visiting the old town, with it's cosy little cobble streets, the Amphitheatre... I don't know...

I was also to Bucharest a few years ago - nice city, although some of the suburbs are a little unclean. The Chaushesku palace (the second largest administrative building in the world, after the Pentagon, afaik), the Triumphal arch, there was also a nice ethnic village nearby. Still, it's nice to have a guide!

I think that a little search in Google might help you for every city in your list. Atleast to give you an idea...

Ok, in a few weeks, I'll be on holiday...starting in Warsaw, and taking in Wroclaw, Krakow, Prague, Pilsen, Bratislava, Kosice, Zagreb, Belgrade, Sofia, Plovdiv, Bucharest, Brasov, Cluj-Napoca, Debrecen, and Budapest. All in 3 weeks. Well, 23 days.
So, anyone who lives in any of these places, or has been to any of them - any suggestions on what there is to do in any of them?
Bear in mind the longest I'll be in any city is 3 days - that's Warsaw, Prague, Bucharest and Budapest - so there is a limit as to the amount of things I can see/do.

I haven't been to Krakow in far too long, but as as I remember, there'a a middle-ages castle there... I think its called Wawel or something (now its Polands biggest chocolate company, if I'm not mistaken or crazy)

When you're in Romania, make sure to not bump into old Vlad... oh, and by the way, thanks for making me feel envious of you going to Europe when I'm stuck in Adelaide... have fun on your trip...

Having never been to any of these places, I would have to go with "drink like a sailor" that ensures a good time anywhere, especially eastern europe...

(soley a guess as i have never been to eastern europe, although i have dranken like a sailor and can vouch for its excitement)

also, if there is any chance of gambling, go for it...
Not sure I needed to be told this...six students, on holiday in Eastern Europe. Why do you think we're going? :p

-snip-Thanks for all that, much appreciated!
I think that a little search in Google might help you for every city in your list. Atleast to give you an idea... I would, but I'm far too lazy...

oh, and by the way, thanks for making me feel envious of you going to Europe when I'm stuck in Adelaide... have fun on your trip...No problem, I aim to please :D