Varsovians Review: The Imperial Cities (Prague- Vienna- Budapest)

Taking advantage that we had about 10 days of Easter holiday, we decided to do a tour of Prague, Vienna and Budapest, the imperial cities. This is the typical trip you cannot miss if you are in a nearby country or you are an Erasmus student in one of them. Each city has something different, without a doubt I'd stay in Prague.

Prague

How To Go

We went by bus, which takes 12 hours... (yes, 12 hours) and cost about 34 euros for being students. I recommend buying it directly at the bus station. The bus was OK, nothing great, acceptable. The only noteworthy thing would be that the driver will guard the luggage and give you a sheet with the number of your suitcase, which they do not do in Spain.

Where To Stay

The first night we stayed in the Marabou hostel http://www.hostelmarabou.com/, I recommend it 100%, you get a welcome beer at check-in, the price 11, 60 euro per night in a room of zillions... but it's no problem, the atmosphere of the hostel is great, and they provide a very complete breakfast... great.

The second night we stayed in a smaller hostel for 8, 90 euros per night without breakfast, it was passable at that price.

http://www.hostelsclub.com/hostel-es-3312.html

What To See

I recommend the free basic tour (http://www.newpraguetours.com/). There are also tours of the Prague Castle, a tour of the beer, etc.

If you catch a good time it would be highly recommended to take a boat trip along the Moldava.

Lennon wall... Golden Alley, Museum of Communism (what history these Czechs have! ) Monument to students who were burned alive after the Prague Spring. Prague Castle (reduced price 125 CZK), the Jewish Cemetery.... Monte Petřín (the cable-way is free if you have a transportation card).

And to end the day I recommend this restaurant for Czech food, great price for how good the food was.

Www.usvejku.cz

Yes, very typical but... it's what you're supposed to do.

Transportation

The subscription costs 100 CZK approximately 4, €10 per day, and it applies to all types of transport. There is not much control, the routes are regular and quite normal. There is no two day subscription.

Vienna

How To Go

Prague-Vienna: with the bus, and this with a luxury bus, about 16 euros if you are a student, they give you a hot drink upon arrival, you have newspapers, magazines (although you will not learn much) free wifi, a girl who accompanies you at all times, leather seats and two movies. Here is all the information http://www.czech-transport.com/ we bought the tickets online as well.

Where To Stay

Do-step Inn hostel, we paid about 16 euros per person per night, the hostel could be better, the check-in started at 3 which was very late, the kitchen was well, but we stole food.

http://www.spanish.hostelworld.com/hosteldetails.php/do-step-inn/viena/5513

What To See

This time there was no free tour so we had to find the beans alone... I recommend you do the tour of the Ringstrasse, if you can bike (one euro per hour to rent) www.citybikewien.at, Vienna Opera (here you will find many young Mozarts to buy tickets for you for classical concerts at an outrageously good price), Karlskiche... the Wiener Prater park and in the tourist office they'll give you information on all the sites that you cannot miss: the Cathedral, the Parliament, etc.

You must not leave Vienna without having gone to one of the cafes from the late eighteenth early nineteenth century... they are expensive but worth it, we were at the Cafe Schwarzenberg.

www.cafe-schwarzenberg.at

Don't forget your chocolates!

Transportation

The two-day subscription costs €10, to stay in Vienna is very well priced, there is no control whatsoever.

Budapest

How To Go

Vienna-Budapest: with the bus which was very good, you get a bottle of water upon arrival and besides that, no complaints. It cost about 11 euros. We also bought tickets online.

http://www.volanbusz.hu/

Where To Stay

We stayed in a tiny hostel with a backpacker atmosphere. It cost 12 euros per person I remember... including breakfast(a hearty breakfast) which was very good in relation to the price.

http://www.thumbsuphostel.com

What To See

There is also no free tour with the company which always has one! There are tours organized with other companies. There is a tour of Communist Budapest, another of Jewish Budapest, one for Buda another for Pest and one all together.

If you are considering to take the free tour of Pest I do not recommend it. For one street and a half I toured and was told four things. I could have done better by myself, thanks. Not at all like the other organization. We did not have time to do the Communist and Jewish because we learned later. Buda was on our own...

I don't know, maybe we booked a bad guide, no idea, the thing is to try and see the positive side (at least I took the name of an interesting book to read).

The Hot Springs

You cannot miss... new sales. The price... about 13 euros or so, it has indoor and outdoor pools. Now, the bathrooms are a bit shabby, so do not forget to bring your own flip flops. If you go in good weather, on Sunday we caught a flea market with typical food of Budapest, it's worth checking out, reminding me of the typical neighborhood parties.

We visited this http://www.disfrutabudapest.com/balneario-szechenyi you cannot miss it because there's a bus stop with your name.

Transportation

We spent about 1550 florines per day, and there is a lot of control! 

I hope this helps you!

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