11 days in Eastern Europe Itinerary

One of Poland's oldest cities, Krakow sits at the foot of the Carpathian Mountains, its historical town center nestled on the left bank of the Vistula River.

Start off your visit on the 8th (Mon): get the lay of the land with Walking tours, then admire the landmark architecture of St. Mary's Basilica, then take in the spiritual surroundings of Wawel Cathedral, and finally appreciate the extensive heritage of Krakow's Rynek Glowny Central Square. Here are some ideas for day two: appreciate the extensive heritage of Wawel Royal Castle and then take a stroll through Stare Miasto.

To find where to stay, maps, traveler tips, and tourist information, read our Krakow route planner .

Sydney, Australia to Krakow is an approximately 23-hour flight. You can also do a combination of flight and train; or do a combination of train and flight. You'll gain 9 hours traveling from Sydney to Krakow due to the time zone difference. Traveling from Sydney in February, expect Krakow to be much colder, temps between 5°C and -3°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 9th (Tue) to allow enough time to travel to Budapest.

You might consider the city of Budapest, divided by the Danube River into two distinctive cities--Buda and Pest--to be essentially one large World Heritage Site.

Budapest is known for historic sites, spas, nightlife, museums, and nature. Your plan includes some of its best attractions: get a sense of history and politics at Hungarian Parliament Building, steep yourself in history at Halaszbastya, take in the views from Szechenyi Chain Bridge, and admire the masterpieces at Hungarian National Gallery (Magyar Nemzeti Galeria).

To see reviews, traveler tips, maps, and other tourist information, go to the Budapest driving holiday planning tool .

Traveling by flight from Krakow to Budapest takes 4.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a bus. In February, plan for daily highs up to 7°C, and evening lows to -1°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 12th (Fri) to allow time to travel to Prague.

Prague lures millions of tourists each year with its World Heritage-listed medieval city center--a labyrinth of narrow lanes, bridges, cathedrals, and palaces overlooked by a thousand-year-old castle.

Prague is known for historic sites, nightlife, museums, fun & games, and zoos & aquariums. Your plan includes some of its best attractions: don't miss a visit to StaromEstske namEsti, take a stroll through Lesser Town, admire the landmark architecture of Prague Astronomical Clock, and test your problem-solving skills at popular escape rooms.

For reviews, other places to visit, traveler tips, and tourist information, use the Prague attractions planner.

You can fly from Budapest to Prague in 5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a bus. In February, daily temperatures in Prague can reach 5°C, while at night they dip to -1°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 15th (Mon) to allow time to travel back home.