Eastern Europe in 10 days needs careful planning. Here's the honest plan.
Best 10-day Eastern Europe (4 cities)
- Day 1-3: Prague (3 nights — Stare Mesto, Mala Strana, Vinohrady)
- Day 4-5: Train to Vienna (2 nights — Innere Stadt + Schönbrunn)
- Day 6-7: Train to Budapest (2 nights — Pest + thermal baths)
- Day 8-10: Train to Kraków (3 nights — Stare Miasto + Auschwitz day-trip)
Alternative — Capital Cities Plus
- Day 1-3: Vienna
- Day 4-5: Bratislava day-trip from Vienna
- Day 6-8: Budapest
- Day 9-10: Brașov via flight
Alternative — Balkans Focus
What to skip on 10 days
- 5+ cities in 10 days. Half is travel.
- Major Russian/Ukrainian destinations (politics).
- Trying to add Greece on Eastern European trip.
Cost reality
€100-€180/day comfortable. Eastern Europe is among Europe's best values.
Travel logistics
- Prague-Vienna: 4h train.
- Vienna-Budapest: 2h 30min train.
- Budapest-Kraków: 8h train (or fly 1h).
- Vienna-Kraków: 6h via Budapest or fly.
For longer Eastern European trips see Eastern Europe by country.