The Retirement Trip · September 2027

Gotovo!

Munich → Prague → Budapest → Split

“Gotovo” is Croatian for “done.” Work is done, so now we go. Three weeks, four home bases, no rushing.

🧳 Me 🧳 My husband ➕ Family welcome to join along the way

The Sketch

The current plan (Option A): four home bases, 21 nights. Unpack, settle in, and do day trips from each. Vienna, from the original route, is still on the table as an option.

1 ✅ In the plan Munich
Sept 1 – 6 · 5 nights · Germany

Munich

Beer gardens, palaces and the Alps on the horizon. Day trips to Neuschwanstein, Salzburg, the Zugspitze, Nuremberg and the Königssee.

Plan Munich →
2 ✅ In the plan Prague
Sept 6 – 11 · 5 nights · Czech Republic

Prague

A fairy-tale skyline of spires and bridges over the Vltava. The castle, Charles Bridge, and cozy pubs. (Page coming next.)

Plan Prague →
3 ✅ In the plan Budapest
Sept 11 – 16 · 5 nights · Hungary

Budapest

Thermal baths, the Danube lit up at night, and big-city grandeur at friendly prices. Day trips to Szentendre, the Danube Bend and Eger wine country.

Plan Budapest →
4 ✅ In the plan Split
Sept 16 – 22 · 6 nights · Croatia

Split

Life inside a Roman palace on the Adriatic. Island hops to Hvar and Brač, Trogir, Krka's waterfalls, and long seaside dinners.

Plan Split →
B 🤔 Considering Vienna
Option B (original route) · Austria

Vienna

Coffee houses, palaces and music. Could be a stopover between Prague and Budapest, which breaks up the long train ride. Fully researched already.

See Vienna →
✈️ Fly in to Munich 🚆 Munich → Prague (~4.5–6 hr train or bus) 🚆 Prague → Budapest (~7 hr train, or 1 hr flight) ✈️ Budapest → Split (~1 hr 15) ✈️ Fly home from Split

The Journey: Route Options

Both routes are on the map. Terracotta is the current plan (Option A); soft blue is the original route (Option B). Solid lines are trains and dashed lines are flights. Tick the boxes under the map to show A, B or both. Click a number to open that city.

Key Things to Do

The few things in each city we'd be sorry to miss. Everything else is optional.

1 · Munich

  • 🍺
    A beer garden eveningLong tables under chestnut trees, pretzels and a liter mug.
  • 🌳
    The English GardenRiver surfers, the Monopteros view, the Chinese Tower.
  • 🏰
    Neuschwanstein CastleThe fairy-tale castle. Book timed tickets early.
  • 🕰️
    Marienplatz & ViktualienmarktThe Glockenspiel at 11, then lunch at the market.

2 · Prague

  • 🌉
    Charles Bridge earlyStatues and spires in the morning light, before the crowds.
  • 🏰
    Prague Castle & St. VitusThe huge castle complex, Golden Lane and the cathedral.
  • ⏰
    Old Town SquareThe Astronomical Clock and the Týn Church towers.
  • 🍻
    A Czech pub supperRoast pork, dumplings and the world's best pilsner.

3 · Budapest

  • ♨️
    Soak in a thermal bathSzéchenyi (grand, outdoor) or Gellért (Art Nouveau). Maybe both.
  • 🛳️
    The Danube at nightAn evening river cruise past the lit-up Parliament.
  • 🏯
    Castle Hill & Fisherman's BastionTake the funicular up and stroll the old Buda streets.
  • 🌶️
    Great Market HallPaprika, lángos and pastries. Go hungry.

4 · Split

  • 🏛️
    Diocletian's PalaceA 1,700-year-old Roman palace that people still live in. Get lost in it.
  • 🌅
    Sunset on the RivaThe seafront promenade at golden hour, with a glass of something local.
  • ⛴️
    At least one island dayHvar or Brač by catamaran. The sea is still warm in September.
  • 🌲
    Marjan HillA pine-forest park right above town. Easy walk, big views.

Vienna 🤔 Considering

  • 🏰
    Schönbrunn Palace & gardensThe Habsburg summer palace. Walk up to the Gloriette for the view.
  • ☕
    A long coffee-house afternoonCafé Central or Café Sperl, with Sachertorte.
  • 🎻
    An evening of musicThe opera, the Musikverein, or a palace concert.

Things to Think Through

What the trip involves, at a high level. Gold cards are open decisions; green cards are good to know.

Decide

One-way flights: in to Munich, home from Split

An "open-jaw" or multi-city ticket means no backtracking. Munich is a big hub. Split is smaller, so the flight home will probably connect.

Decide

Prague → Budapest: the long leg

~7 hours by direct train, ~1 hour by plane (plus airports), or stop in Vienna for a night or two: Prague → Vienna ~4 hr, Vienna → Budapest ~2 hr 40.

Decide

Munich → Prague: train or bus?

The train is ~5.5–6 hr and relaxing. The express bus is often quicker at ~4.5–5 hr. A Regensburg lunch stop can break it up.

Decide

Budapest → Split: fly or go overland?

Direct flights are limited and seasonal, so we may need a connection. Check schedules about 6 months out.

Decide

Where family could join

Munich and Budapest have big airports and lots of flights. Split is the beach week, so it's probably the most tempting part for others to join.

Decide

Apartment or hotel?

For 5–6 nights at a time, a hotel near the train station is easy. An apartment with a washer helps for packing light.

Good to know

Oktoberfest timing

Expected Sept 18 – Oct 3, 2027. Our Munich dates (Sept 1–6) miss it: normal hotel prices and a calmer city. If dates shift later, book early.

Good to know

Four currencies

Germany and Croatia use the euro. Czech Republic uses the koruna and Hungary the forint. Cards work almost everywhere.

Good to know

Entry paperwork for 2027

The EU's new ETIAS travel authorization for US passport holders is expected to be in place by then. Check the official rules a few months before the trip.

Good to know

September weather

Munich and Prague: mild, about 60s–70s °F, with cool evenings. Budapest: a little warmer. Split: warm, about 70s–low 80s, and the sea is still good for swimming.

Good to know

Ferries thin out late in the month

The island catamarans from Split run fewer trips as September goes on. Plan the Hvar/Brač days early in the Split stay.

Good to know

Pace: two day trips per city, tops

With 5 nights each, two big outings is plenty. Leave the other days for wandering, cafés and naps.