Central Europe: First 'cabin bags only' trip

✈ CZECH REP · HUNGARY · SLOVENIA · CROATIA
Month
July–September
Cost, two
₹2,10,540
Destinations
Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia

Essentials

  • Umbrellas
  • Beachwear
  • Splitwise app, to track all expenses
  • Local transport apps for each city
  • Sunscreen lotion
  • Carry more hard cash than you think you'll need

Things to remember

  • Free walking tours, recommended everywhere — great for getting familiar with a place and its history
  • Learn a bit of the local language
  • Know the local supermarkets
  • Book stays with Airbnb
Pre-visit: book your Schengen visa appointment as early as possible — no cost or form needed just to book. Croatia requires multiple-entry, so make sure your Schengen visa is issued as multiple-entry too. We had a horrible experience with the Czech Embassy in London — despite specifying multiple-entry everywhere, they issued a single-entry visa for fewer days. That cost us another £50 to reapply for a Croatian visa.

1. Prague, Czech Republic

The capital city, bisected by the Vltava River.

Currency
1 CZK = ₹3.09
Stay
Cosy Apartment
Prague

Our flight was delayed with Lufthansa. On arrival, we took a shuttle to Prague Metro to Národní třída, where we'd booked our Airbnb. Trams are the easiest way to explore — a daily pass is convenient, and the DPP Prague Transport app covers all the routes.

Must try
  • Trdlo ice cream
  • Raclette (potato street food)
  • Lidl for groceries
Areas to cover

Wenceslas Square, Old Town Square, Prague Castle, Charles Bridge, Clementinum, and more — see the photos below.

Things to do: Segway and climb Petřín Tower.

2. Budapest, Hungary

Bisected by the River Danube; the 19th-century Chain Bridge connects the hilly Buda district with flat Pest.

Currency
1 HUF = ₹0.25
Stay
Luxury Design Apartment
Getting there
Flight from Prague
Budapest
Things to do
  • Visit all the sculptures
  • Shopping is comparatively cheaper here

Must try: Greek food from Kerkyra. Good to know: fountain water is safe to drink.

Major sites

Danube Promenade, Municipal Concert Hall, Gresham Palace, Academy of Hungarian Sciences, St. Stephen's Basilica, Chain Bridge, Castle District, Royal Palace, Matthias Church, Fisherman's Bastion.

Other places

Gellért Hill, Liberty Statue, Citadel, Elisabeth Bridge, Margaret Island, Buda Hills, Parliament, Buda Castle, Rudas Bath.

3. Ljubljana, Slovenia

The capital and largest city, known for its university population and green spaces including the expansive Tivoli Park. The curving Ljubljanica River, lined with outdoor cafés, divides the old town from the commercial hub.

Currency
1 EUR = ₹79.36
Getting there
Flixbus from Budapest

In Slovenia, we rented a car through Holiday Autos to get around — convenient for driving within the city too.

Apartment note: cozy and spacious, but I wouldn't recommend it — the dishwasher didn't work, the living room sofa wasn't comfortable to sleep on, and the kitchen was filthy. Supermarket: Lidl. It rained heavily during our visit. You'll need an Urbana travel card to use the local transport.
Ljubljana
Lunch/dinner
  • Abi Falafel restaurant
  • The Wok restaurant
  • Cacao ice creams
  • Slovenian wines
Places to visit
  • Triple Bridge — looks its best at night
  • Preseren Square
  • Lake Bohinj
  • Vintgar Gorge, Bled
  • Škocjan Caves

4. Zagreb, Croatia

Croatia's northwestern capital, distinguished by its 18th- and 19th-century Austro-Hungarian architecture.

Currency
1 Kuna = ₹10.69
Stay
Magnus Central Zagreb
Croatia can get very hot at this time of year. Lunch/dinner: Umami Restaurant. Supermarket: Konzum.

5. Split, Croatia

The second-largest coastal city in Croatia, and the largest city in the region of Dalmatia.

Stay
Modern Apartment

6. Hvar, Croatia

A Croatian island in the Adriatic Sea, off the Dalmatian coast, lying between the islands of Brač, Vis, and Korčula.

Stay
Apartment Huci
Things to do — take a Blue Cave Tour with Atlas.

Final destination: Dubrovnik, Croatia

A Croatian city on the Adriatic Sea. Ferry from Hvar to get there.

Stay
Magical Sunset — genuinely recommended
Public transport frequency here isn't reliable — build in slack.
Must eat
  • Dubrovnik Sandwich
  • 10-Kuna ice creams at Sladoledarna Dubrovnik
Things to do
  • Take the cable car for breathtaking views over the Old Town and the Elaphiti Islands
  • Shop at Subcity, near the airport
It was a nightmare when our flight got delayed again, and this time we missed our connecting flight to London from Frankfurt. Because of Frankfurt's night-time curfews, there were no flights after 11pm — we spent the night sleeping in the airport until 7am.