10 days in Eastern Europe Itinerary

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.

Start off your visit on the 18th (Fri): pause for some photo ops at Shoes on the Danube. Keep things going the next day: steep yourself in history at Halaszbastya, contemplate in the serene atmosphere at Matthias Church, then snap pictures at Szechenyi Chain Bridge, then ponder the world of politics at Hungarian Parliament Building, and finally take in the spiritual surroundings of St. Stephen's Basilica (Szent Istvan Bazilika).

Before you visit Budapest, use our trip planner to discover what you can do and see there.

Florence, Italy to Budapest is an approximately 5.5-hour combination of train and flight. You can also fly; or drive. Prepare for a bit cooler weather when traveling from Florence in October: high temperatures in Budapest hover around 19°C and lows are around 7°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 20th (Sun) to allow enough time to travel to Krakow.

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.

On the 21st (Mon), examine the collection at Muzeum Krakowa, oddzial Fabryka Emalia Oskara Schindlera and then take an in-depth tour of Panstwowe Muzeum Auschwitz-Birkenau. Keep things going the next day: contemplate the long history of Wawel Cathedral, then admire the landmark architecture of St. Mary's Basilica, then appreciate the extensive heritage of Wawel Royal Castle, and finally don't miss a visit to Krakow's Rynek Glowny Central Square.

Plan trip to Krakow with our itinerary maker to find out where to go and what to do.

You can fly from Budapest to Krakow in 4.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a bus. When traveling from Budapest in October, plan for little chillier days and about the same nights in Krakow: temperatures range from 15°C by day to 5°C at night. Cap off your sightseeing on the 22nd (Tue) early enough to travel to St. Petersburg.

Built on a desolate swamp as a showcase capital of Imperial Russia, this grand city has certainly lived up to the expectations of its founder, Tsar Peter the Great.

St. Petersburg is known for museums, historic sites, parks, nightlife, and fun & games. Your plan includes some of its best attractions: admire the masterpieces at The State Hermitage Museum, appreciate the history behind Sculpture the Red Crow, examine the collection at The Bath Block, and get your game on at Maze of Fear.

For traveler tips, more things to do, ratings, and other tourist information, read our St. Petersburg travel route builder website .

Traveling by flight from Krakow to St. Petersburg takes 7.5 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of bus and flight; or drive. The time zone changes from Central European Time to Moscow Standard Time, which is usually a 2 hour difference. When traveling from Krakow in October, plan for slightly colder days and about the same nights in St. Petersburg: temperatures range from 9°C by day to 2°C at night. Cap off your sightseeing on the 25th (Fri) early enough 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.

Kick off your visit on the 26th (Sat): snap pictures at Charles Bridge, then take some stellar pictures from Prague Astronomical Clock, then wander the streets of StaromEstske namEsti, and finally take in the local highlights with Walking tours. Here are some ideas for day two: step into the grandiose world of Prague Castle, contemplate in the serene atmosphere at Katedrala Svateho Vita, then get great views at Vyšehrad National Cultural Monument, and finally admire the striking features of Dancing House.

For traveler tips, other places to visit, maps, and other tourist information, read our Prague online trip itinerary planner .

You can fly from St. Petersburg to Prague in 6 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a train. Traveling from St. Petersburg to Prague, you'll gain 2 hours due to the time zone difference. In October, Prague is a bit warmer than St. Petersburg - with highs of 15°C and lows of 7°C. Cap off your sightseeing on the 27th (Sun) early enough to travel back home.