Would really appreciate some feedback on my itinerary to date and any advice re. transport, slowing things down, anything obvious I'm missing, etc. The trip is for an early-30s couple with interests in history, relaxation, food, and general sightseeing. I like nature, and my wife loves cultural experiences and art.
I also have a single day to fill - I'm leaning towards an extra day in Cesky Krumlov for the St. Wenceslas Festival or doing two nights in the Wachau valley, or even an extra day in Budapest or Prague for day trips. Any advice on those or alternate ideas would be welcome.
Athens — Sat 29 Aug to Tue 01 Sep
- Sat 29 Aug — Arrive Athens (middayish), relax
- Sun 30 Aug — Acropolis, Acropolis Museum, Ancient Agora (8 hrs)
- Mon 31 Aug — National Archaeological Museum, City walk (3 hrs)
Santorini — Tue 01 Sep to Sat 05 Sep
- Tue 01 Sep — Fly to Santorini, relax
- Wed 02 Sep — Akrotiri, Museum of Prehistoric Thera and small towns (7–8 hrs)
- Thu 03 Sep — Caldera walk to Oia (4–5 hrs)
- Fri 04 Sep — Private small-boat caldera outing with swim stops (7–8 hrs)
Naxos — Sat 05 Sep to Thu 10 Sep
- Sat 05 Sep — Ferry Santorini → Naxos (4 hrs)
- Sun 06 Sep — Naxos Town / Chora old town, Portara (5 hrs)
- Mon 07 Sep — Agios Prokopios and Plaka Beach (4–5 hrs)
- Tue 08 Sep — Halki, Vallindras kitron distillery, Filoti, Temple of Demeter, Apeiranthos (6–7 hrs)
- Wed 09 Sep — Koronos, Komiaki, Apollonas, Kouros of Apollonas / ancient quarry (6 hrs)
Budapest — Thu 10 Sep to Tue 15 Sep
- Thu 10 Sep — Fly Naxos → Budapest
- Fri 11 Sep — Buda: Castle Hill, Matthias Church, Fisherman’s Bastion (7–8 hrs)
- Sat 12 Sep — Pest: Parliament, Danube Promenade, Shoes memorial, Jewish Quarter dinner (6 hrs)
- Sun 13 Sep — Rudas Thermal Bath, free afternoon (4–5 hrs)
- Mon 14 Sep — Dohány Synagogue, Andrássy út, Heroes’ Square, Museum of Fine Arts (7 hrs)
Vienna — Tue 15 Sep to Tue 22 Sep
- Tue 15 Sep — Train Budapest → Vienna
- Wed 16 Sep — Stephansdom, Stephansplatz, Ringstrasse (6 hrs)
- Thu 17 Sep — Hofburg, Imperial Treasury, Kunsthistorisches Museum (8 hrs)
- Fri 18 Sep — Bratislava day trip
- Sat 19 Sep — Schönbrunn Palace and gardens, Third Man tour (6 hrs)
- Sun 20 Sep — Upper Belvedere, Albertina or Leopold, optional Secession (6–7 hrs)
- Mon 21 Sep — Day trip - Melk Abbey and Wachau. Or make this overnight ?
Free day
- Tue 22 Sep - 2n in Wachau? 2n in CK? Add to Buda/Prague? Salzkammergut?
Salzburg — Wed 23 Sep to Sun 27 Sep
- Wed 23 Sep — Train to Salzburg
- Thu 24 Sep — Hohensalzburg Fortress, Residenzplatz, St Peter’s area (7 hrs)
- Fri 25 Sep — Hellbrunn, Untersberg if clear (6 hrs)
- Sat 26 Sep — Day trip: Königssee (? ideal with car) Note also: Rupertikirtag carnival
Český Krumlov — Sun 27 Sep to Mon 28 Sep
- Sun 27 Sep — Shuttle/Train Salzburg (09 or 1230) → Český Krumlov, castle (4 hrs) St. Wenceslas Celebrations & International Folklore Festival (better Fri / Sat)
Prague — Mon 28 Sep to Sat 03 Oct
- Mon 28 Sep — Train to Prague (14:08-16:39)
- Tue 29 Sep — Prague Castle, St Vitus, Lobkowicz Palace, Malá Strana (8 hrs)
- Wed 30 Sep — Kutná Hora day trip, with St Barbara’s and Sedlec Ossuary / historic core (8 hrs)
- Thu 01 Oct — Charles Bridge early, Old Town Square, Josefov, Wenceslas Square, Lucerna Passage, café time (7–8 hrs)
- Fri 02 Oct — Vyšehrad, long lunch, Strahov Library or flex / couples afternoon (5 hrs)
- Sat 03 Oct — Fly home (travel)