As a Seattleite who just started her first real job, saving up PTO for this trip was a journey in itself, but I finally made it to Europe! I wanted to see as much as possible in a week, so I put together a pretty fast-paced itinerary covering Germany, Prague, Vienna, Budapest, and Switzerland.
Since I love planning, I spent weeks researching the food scene and logistics. Here is my honest breakdown of how it actually went, including the weather, the crowds, and (most importantly) the best old-school food spots I found.
### The Vibe & Logistics
First, the weather: I went in August, and it was a bit of a shock. Coming from Seattle, I’m used to mild summers, but Central Europe was hot during the day (easily mid-80s) and cooled down quite a bit at night. Definitely pack a light windbreaker and a portable umbrella.
For getting around, trains are super convenient between places like Vienna and Budapest, but the popular spots like Hallstatt and Charles Bridge in Prague get incredibly crowded by 10 AM. If you want photos without a hundred strangers in them, you have to wake up early.
### Prague & Budapest (Days 1-4)
Prague is beautiful but packed. I walked the Charles Bridge at 7:30 AM, and even then, there were already people out. After hiking up to Prague Castle, I bypassed the touristy trdelník stands and went straight to U Parlamentu, a traditional Czech pub in the Old Town. I got the beef goulash with bread dumplings—it was incredibly rich, comforting, and surprisingly cheap.
In Budapest, the Parliament building at night is absolutely jaw-dropping. For food, you have to visit the Central Market Hall. I queued at a tiny stall on the second floor for Lángos (fried flatbread topped with garlic water, sour cream, and cheese). It’s greasy and heavy, but so worth the calories.
### Vienna & Hallstatt (Days 5-6)
Vienna feels very grand and classical. I did the grand tour of Schönbrunn Palace, which was gorgeous but had almost no shade in the gardens, so wear sunscreen! For my food pilgrimage, I went to Figlmüller, which has been serving schnitzel since 1905. I highly recommend booking a table weeks in advance. The pork schnitzel is literally bigger than the plate, thin, and perfectly crispy.
Hallstatt is just as picture-perfect as the postcards, but honestly, the crowd level was overwhelming. I took the classic photo at the viewpoint and then found a quiet spot by the lake to just breathe.
### Mount Titlis, Switzerland (Day 7)
We wrapped up the trip heading into Switzerland to see Mount Titlis. Going from hot summer weather in the valleys to freezing temperatures in the glacier caves was wild. I wore my heaviest layers and was still shivering, so don't underestimate the mountain altitude!
### Quick tips for first-timers:
1. **Passports & Visas:** Keep physical photocopies of your passport in a separate bag just in case.
2. **Outlets:** Don't just bring one European adapter. Bring a multi-port USB block so you can charge your phone, portable charger, and camera all at once at night.
3. **Shoes:** Leave the cute heels at home. The cobblestones in Prague and Vienna will absolutely ruin your feet if you aren't wearing supportive sneakers.
It was a whirlwind of a week and my feet are still sore, but getting to experience all these historic spots (and historic meals) made every bit of planning worth it!