nbjani
Traveller
3 comments
Posted 13 years ago
Hi!
My name's Nik, 19, and I'm hoping to go on my first ever interrail trip (or backpacking of any sort) this summer, perhaps July/August, maybe even creeping into August/September depending on work etc.
Basically I'm going on my own (also for the first time), and I have a basic plan, which took ages to narrow down, of a core circle(ish) of..
Amsterdam (from the UK, before my card starts),
Berlin,
Prague,
(Budapest, perhaps, if I can find a way to fit it in)
Vienna,
Munich,
and then either home from Munich or off to Paris and/or Brussels first.
I have a few other places that I think I could fit around these, I'm planning on doing the 22 day pass (continuous or 10 days travel, i'm unsure...)
So basically my issues are these,
Firstly, Poland: Could I fit in Krakow and Aushwitz, and how long would I need to give myself?
Secondly, I want to do...
Slovenia (Ljubljana and Lake Bled), and,
Croatia: I really want to be by the beach at some point to relax.
Could I fit these in? I thought of maybe fitting it in by going after Budapest, although I wouldn't know which order to do them in. Any ideas? Also, I'd probably go to Munich via Salzberg?
A smaller issue is Graz, probably after Vienna? Is it worth it?
I'd appreciate if you guys could help me figure this out?
I'm also unsure as to whether fully plan and book everything, or, as I'm travelling alone, just do a vague plan (obvs with a lot of research of trains) and just book Amsterdam hostels, incase I attach myself to a group for part of it? Is that quite common or will I be left to my own devices a lot? I tried to choose popular places so as to meet a lot fo people.
Sorry for the question overload, I feel like the Riddler!
Thanks :)
Nik.
Peter
Traveller
9339 comments
Hi Nik. :)
Don't book too much in advance. As you probably know your arrival date in Amsterdam, I recommend to make to bookings there for your hostel. As you are traveling alone, you should always find even in high seasons a bed in a hostel in the big cities. :)
Dorms are better to get into contact to other travelers. Or do a pub crawl in the evening. :)
Your route - it is only an idea... think about it...
[b]Amsterdam[/b] - [b]Berlin[/b] - [b]Prague[/b] - [b]Krakow[/b] (Auschwitz is just close beside, if you want, leave the night train coming from Prague in Auschwitz early in the morning and in the afternoon continue to Krakow) - [b]Budapest[/b] - [b]Belgrade[/b] - [b]Sarajevo[/b] - [b]Ploce[/b] - [b]Croatia[/b] (Dubrovnik - here you have frequent inexpensive buses up to Split) - [b]Slovenia[/b] (Lake Bled) - [b]Munich[/b] - [b]Paris[/b]
And back home to the UK by a special fare offer of Eurostar (don't use it with your Interrail pass as the supplement is EUR 75!).
Schedules are listed here (with details about extra fees if required):
[u]https://rail.cc/en/search-interrail-route[/u]
I hope this answer will help you planing your trip. :)
And if you like the railcc project, support it and buy your official Interrail pass here on railcc.
Thank you, Peter :)
nbjani
Traveller
3 comments
Hey!
Thanks for the help :)
Tracing your route on the map, it makes so much sense :D
Although, I really want to go to Austria, even if just Vienna; could that fit in here in 22 days or is that pushing it? I wouldn't mind skipping out Belgrade and Sarajevo (although now I'm all for them), perhaps doing the north of Croatia, if there's any good backpacker-y beaches there?
Also, I was thinking of maybe starting from Paris, and flying home from Munich, I'd rather have more to spend in Western Europe (mainly Paris) and skimp in the east.
Thanks,
Nik.
Peter
Traveller
9339 comments
Hi Nik.
If you end in Munich, you could add as well Salzburg or Fussen (Castle Neuschwanstein), both close to Munich.
I am not the expert for Croatia. :|
But close to Rijeka is the island of Krk...
Peter :)
Flo
Traveller
10725 comments
Hi Nik,
if you decide to go with the 10in22 you might not fit in all stops Peter suggested in your first route. You would need the 22continuous for that, in that case you will travel a lot, remember that you would be travelling more than 11 days then.
If you want to go to Graz, I could guide you, it is worth visiting for a day or so. What you could do is to go to Vienna, then in the morning via the Semmering route (UNESCO world heritage) to Graz, spend the day there and go in the evening to Zagreb. Then either stay there overnight or take a night train to either Belgrade or Split.
Your overall route could then look like Amsterdam - Berlin - Praha - Budapest - Vienna - Graz - Zagreb - ...
Belgrade is a great city for going out and also quite interesting historically. From Belgrade you could go down through the mountains to Montenegro with its nice beaches.
Maybe you could start in Paris, then Amsterdam - ... - Belgrade - Montenegro and look for flights home from this area (Montenegro or Split/Zadar in Croatia).
Flo 8)
nbjani
Traveller
3 comments
Thanks!
Although I'm now considering Italy, I've always wanted to go and if i were to make a list of where I want to go in Europe the most, Florence and Rome would be the very top. I thought I couldn't fit it in, but I think maybe I could go from Slovenia, and end my trip in Rome?
(Paris) - (Brussels and Bruges) - Amsterdam - Berlin - Praha - (Krakow/Aushwitz) - Budapest - Vienna - (Graz) - Lake Bled -
...and so possibly...
Venice - Florence - Rome ?
Obviously all of the above are a lot to do in 22 days, but which parts are best to take out to make it doable? Also, if I'm on a budget, is Italy difficult to do on the cheap? Evidently, it's looking as if I'll be happy with anything built around a core trip of Amsterdam, Berlin, Praha, Budapest and Vienna.
Flo
Traveller
10725 comments
Well, it might be a lot for 22 days but if you want to go to all places, why not? To see the most important things, one or two days are usually enough and you can always come back another time if you like some place in particular.
If you go with the 10in22 you will be a little more restricted and might not fit in all places you mentioned in your last post so maybe the 22continuous is the way to go.
Take in mind that there are currently no trains at the SI <> IT border so you would have to cross the border either on foot or by bus.
Flo 8)