I am studying abroad this coming semester and traveling for 3 weeks after classes end. I hope to go to Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic, and I am flying home from Budapest. Does anybody have some suggestions of interesting places to go other that the main cities? Or, little known places within the larger cities that don't attract many tourists? I am pretty flexible when it comes to where I am traveling, as nothing has been set in stone yet. My friend and I are not planning on having a very rigid itinerary. Any suggestions would be great!

Jill,

I suggest that you narrow down your request a bit. Within the countries you mention, there are lots and lots of great places to see and visit away from the bigger cities, so it's hard to know where to begin.

Will you have a car at your disposal? It's not essential for these countries, as train travel is rather good - but it helps. Do you have particular interests, and, if so, what? I recommend that you peruse some good guide books and/or online national tourist sites to give you some initial ideas. After that, look through the various threads on this forum, where I'm certain you'll find some very good suggestions. By then, you should probably have more specific questions that folks here would be glad to try to answer.

Also, where will you be studying? Keep in mind that your fellow students will have loads of ideas and experiences that they'll gladly share, I'm sure. Will this be your first trip to Europe?

In any case, have a great time! I'm confident you will.

Ann

P.S. Here are some good places to begin:
1). Germany - http://www.cometogermany.com/
2). Austria - http://www.austria.info/
3). Czech Republic - http://www.czechtourism.com

Thanks for the advice Ann! I will not have a car at my disposal, so I will be counting on trains and buses. As of right now I know that I would like to go places where there is good hiking and outdoor activities, such as kayaking, rafting, etc... However, I would also like to strike a nice balance and visit a few larger cities, such as Prague, Budapest, Vienna, Salzburg (those are the 4 that I would like to visit for sure). Do you happen to have any suggestions for a good guide book on these locations?
I am studying in Aix-en-Provence, France. I have visited Europe once before for 2 weeks, but I spent most of my time in Slovenia and Paris. Thanks again for your help Ann!

Hi, Jill, and Happy New Year!

I bought a new guidebook for Prague this year from National Geographic Books. I liked it (and also got it on sale at the time!) because it provides a lot of historical background and many pretty pictures, as well as useful travel information. Here is a Website where you could order it.

I don't have recent guidebooks for the other cities, but I'm sure others could recommend some. Also, there are a number of hikers who post here, so you should get some good suggestions from them. I know that kaydee (Kathy) has hiked in the Austrian mountains.

Ann

Thanks so much for your help Ann! I have already ordered that guide book and have been reading through all of the other threads coming up with fun places to visit! I did a little research on Hallstatt, and I think that I will spend a day or so there. It seems like there are a lot of outdoor activities to do there, as well as in Cesky Krumlov. Thanks again for your tips!

I would say to to northern Germany. From the Dutch border and coast of the North Sea to the German Polish Border at Frankfurt Oder you will be amazed at the diversity and culture you can experience in between. Some highlights to research for yourself:

Fischerhude (near Bremen) artist's community
Warpswede (ner Bremen) artist's community
St. Peter Ording (coastal town on the north sea)
Sylt (coastal island on the north sea)
Lübeck (city on the Baltic Sea)
Schwerin (city on the Baltic Sea)
Wismar (city on the Baltic Sea)
Pottsdam
Schleswig (city and the capital of the state of Schleswig Holstein)
Timmendorfer Strand ( beach community on the Baltic)
Rügen (island on the Baltic Sea)
Glückstadt (small seaman's town on the way to the North Sea from Hamburg

and of course:
Berlin
Hamburg
Bremen

You would need to research each of these with a map in hand. I could spend quite a bit of time in the Bremen area, with all of the outlying artist communities. I lived in Hamburg for a long time, and know the area well.

Happy planning.

Austria has a dreamy infrastructure for hiking, and the mountain huts (accessible on foot) are great for meeting others, sharing food and conversation, and spending the night up there in the high Alps. We have nothing like that in this country. You could reach a city like Innsbruck by train, and easily get into the mountains from there. There is also kajaking, hang gliding, and more.
A Lonely Planet guide would probably guide you to these activities, and of course there are specialty guides for hikers.
I'm sure you can find fabulous outdoor activities in Germany and Czech Republic as well.
The high mountains of course aren't very hikeable until June, because of the snow. If your time off is before then, then I guess there's winter sports!
Have a great time, and I agree that you will get many ideas from the people you meet there.
Linda

Thanks to everybody for all your help!

Hi,

as a native Czech I could spend a month recommending places in my beloved country So i will try to keep it short and just present my three favourite outdoor sights, as that's closest to my heart. As I did not quite understand, when does your trip take place, I try to preffer those that are accessible all-year round.

1. The sandstone formations

Our sandstone rocks are known among the climbers all around the world but they also offer unusuial sights to anyone who is willing to hike for several ours in a moderate terrain. There are two main areas: the "Czech Suiss" near Decin in the north, including Europe's largest natural bridge ("Pravcicka brana") is more popular among the turist, mainly due to its overlap into Germany. It also offers some romantic boat sailing in deep water-filled gorges.

The other area ("Teplicke steny" and "Adrspasske steny") is situated far more to the east, near Nachod, the city on the borders with Poland. There you find many deep rocky gorges, only two or three meters wide, with the snow staying almost year-round in their cold climate, but also steep lone rock towers. Both areas are located in the lowlands, so there is usually very few snow in the winter.

2. The limestone caves.

There are several dozens of publicly accesible limestone caves with guided tours in Czech republic, with the largest number being concentrared in "Moravsky kras", north from Brno, the capital of the historical land of Moravia, at the southeast of our country.

You can either choose a "generaly open" cave, with lightning, stairs and very easy access, or you can book a "speleo-tour" with experienced cave guides that will take into deep and dark places. They will give you all the necessary safety equipment and instructions. Some caves are open year-round, some only in the high season.

3. The "vulcanoes" of Ceske stredohori

Last but not least, let me mention the vulcanic cones between Litomerice and Usti nad Labem. They do not show any remains of their ancient activity, but thei form an unusual landscape, unseen anywhere else in Europe. They reach between 500 and 800 meters above the sea level and are all easily hikeable from the viliges beneath them, offering stunning views and (with an apropriate guide, who probably can be arranged) intruiging geological insights.

During the summer, many of them are used for paragliding (their steep but grassy slopes are just ideal). Seek for a lector on the Rana hill to get a one-week training finished with your ouwn flight!

Jan