The Top 10 Day Trips from Vilnius, Lithuania

The city of Vilnius is the biggest draw in Lithuania for most foreign tourist visitors, and the many charms of its old town centre will keep travellers occupied for at least a few days. However, on a visit to Vilnius be sure to get beyond the capital to see what daily life in rural Lithuania is all about. All of these destinations (except Dieveniškės Appendix) can be reached in less than two hours of travel from Vilnius using public transport (trains and buses).

1. Trakai Castle - An easy day trip from the capital by bus or train, Trakai is a small town with an extremely picturesque Gothic castle on an island in the middle of a lake. Inside the castle you can see the Trakai Historical Museum with displays on the long history of the town and its two castles (the second castle is a ruin). Buses from Vilnius run at least every half an hour and the journey takes between 30 and 45 minutes depending on the bus route. Trains from Vilnius run about every two hours through the day, with the journey taking 35 minutes.

2. Kaunas - Lithuania's second city has many 16th-century buildings in the narrow laneways surrounding its spacious central square, while the numerous museums are also worth a peek. For those who like unusual attractions there's the quirky Devil museum, with thousands of different devil statues from around the world, and the Museum for the Blind, where visitors walk through in pitch darkness guiding their way by touch, sound and smell. Buses from Vilnius run very frequently, about every 15 minutes, and the journey to Kaunas takes approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes. Trains also run regularly from Vilnius taking about 1 hour and 15 minutes.

3. Grūto Parkas Soviet Sculpture Park - This outdoor museum near Druskininkai, sometimes informally called Stalin World, boasts a collection of Soviet-era statues and monuments of Lenin, Stalin and other Communist leaders which once stood in public squares throughout the country. Buses from Vilnius run approximately every hour through the day to Druskininkai, with the journey taking 2 hours. The park is actually in the village of Grūta, north-east of Druskininkai on the road to Vilnius, so ask the driver to let you out in Grūta, 1 hour and 55 minutes from Vilnius.

4. Aukštaitija National Park and Palūšė village - This national park in the north-east of the country has many small villages with well-preserved folk culture traditions. The oldest and most beautiful wooden church in Lithuania is in Palūšė, overlooking Lake Lušiai. Palūšė is also the location of the national park headquarters and information centre. Buses from Vilnius run every hour to Ignalina (1 hour and 50 minutes journey time), the main town in the region, which is 4 kilometres from Palūšė. A few buses per day connect from Ignalina to Palūšė, though it is also possible to walk there around the edge of Lake Gavys. Trains from Vilnius also run to Ignalina several times daily, taking approximately 1 hour 40 minutes.

5. Rumšiškės Outdoor Museum - This open-air ethnographic museum near Kaunas displays an extensive collection of historic cottages, farm buildings, churches and windmills gathered from across Lithuania. Buses from Vilnius travel to the village of Rumšiškės about once an hour through the day, with the journey taking 1 hour and 10 minutes.

6. Kernavė - This UNESCO-listed archeological site north-west of Vilnius includes historic castle mounds and the remains of a medieval town from the time when Kernavė was the capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The extensive historical museum displays many of the artifacts uncovered so far. Buses from Vilnius to the village of Kernavė take approximately 1 hour.

7. Paneriai Memorial - This site located in an outer suburb of Vilnius was the location of the Ponary massacre, where up to 100,000 people, mostly Jews, were killed by the Nazis in World War II. There are monuments to the Jewish and Polish victims, as well as a museum. City buses from central Vilnius run frequently to Paneriai, taking about 25 minutes.

8. Dzūkija National Park and Zervynos ethnographic village - This national park in the south of the country is a region of pine forests and marshes, with several historic villages which maintain traditional cultural practices. Zervynos is a protected ethnographic village which is essentially unchanged from its 18th-century appearance and is one of the best places in the country to experience traditional rural ways of life. Trains from Vilnius go directly to Zervynos village several times daily, taking 1 hour and 50 minutes. Buses and trains run to Marcinkonys, the main town in the national park, both taking about 2 hours.

9. Dieveniškės Appendix - This small region south of Vilnius is almost entirely surrounded by Belarus, a frontier which is fenced and carefully guarded as an external border of the European Union. Lithuanians like to jokingly describe why they think the region exists - while deciding where to place the borders between Soviet republics Stalin placed his pipe down on a map; none of his subordinates was brave enough to move it so they carefully drew an improbable border line that went safely around the pipe. For tourists the attraction lies in visiting a region which feels lost in time compared to most other regions in Lithuania, a place where traditional rural life and cultural practices still hold sway. Unfortunately there is no public transport directly to Dieveniškės, the closest place reachable by bus from Vilnius is Šalčininkai, 25 kilometres to the west (approximately 1 hour from Vilnius).

10. Geographic Centre of Europe monument - This large monument north of Vilnius isn't the only Centre of Europe monument (at least seven other European countries claim to have the geographic centre and five have built monuments) but it is one of the largest. Calculating the centre of Europe requires deciding where the external borders of Europe are first, and there is no agreement on exactly which outer islands should be included and just where the line separating Europe from Asia should be drawn, hence the opportunity for multiple countries to claim the title of being the centre. The site includes a "Centre of Europe" outdoor museum including an open-air sculpture park. The nearby village of Purnuškės has capitalized on its geographical significance with a number of local businesses using the "Centre of Europe" name, including a golf course. The monument is 20 kilometres north of Vilnius and the easiest way to get there is to take trolleybus #10 north to the stop called Zalgirio, where you can catch a bus directly to the park (look for a bus displaying "Skirgiškės" as its destination).

Day Trips From Lviv, Ukraine - The Top 30 Destinations

Lviv is a gorgeous city of cobbled squares and laneways to wander in for a few days. Its crumbling buildings from the days of Austro-Hungary wouldn't look out of place in Krakow or Prague, but the absence of tourists in the old Galician capital lends it an authenticity which neither of those cities can offer nowadays. Beyond the historic centre there are two more worthwhile sights in the outskirts, the Lviv Outdoor Folk Architecture Museum and the highly atmospheric Lychakiv cemetery. There are also many attractive historic towns, monasteries, castles and wooden churches within range of a day trip by public transport. Natural attractions with potential for hiking lie to the south in the forested foothills of the Carpathian mountains. This list includes the top thirty day trips to make in the surrounding countryside of Lviv region, ranked in order of their general tourist appeal. The so-called "Golden Horseshoe" route, with a name which is reminiscent of Moscow's "Golden Ring" of historic towns, includes Olesko castle, Pidhirtsi castle and Zolochiv castle, which are among the most popular day trip destinations for tour groups. All of these destinations can be reached by train, bus or marshrutka with a little effort, so go ahead and try exploring a bit further afield.

1. Pochayiv Monastery - One of the finest monasteries in Ukraine, and the most important monastery of the Orthodox church in the western part of the country. It rivals the Pechersk monastery in Kyiv in size and historical significance. Since the monastery lies more than 100 kilometres east of Lviv this is a fairly long day trip by bus or marshrutka, but is certainly worth the effort to see one of the region's best attractions.

2. Zhovkva - This historic town to the north of Lviv boasts a castle, a historic central square and town centre packed with centuries-old churches, and a UNESCO-listed wooden church at the edge of town. There is also another impressive wooden church to see in the neighbouring village of Stara Skvaryana. This is one of the easiest day trips from Lviv and among the most enjoyable. Arriving by marshrutka is the fastest and easiest method.

3. Olesko Castle - This 14th-century hilltop castle east of Lviv forms part of the "Golden Horseshoe" sightseeing route and is one of the most visited castles in Lviv region.

4. Zolochiv Castle - This 17th-century castle (though it looks more like a palace) lies 60 kilometres east of Lviv. The Chinese Palace within the castle grounds is particularly impressive.

5. Ivano-Frankivsk - This city to the south of Lviv features a collection of architectural gems from its long history, including many buildings from the Austro-Hungarian period. The city's cathedral, Armenian church and unusual town hall are among the most impressive sights.

6. Lutsk - This historic city to the north-east of Lviv has an old town centre with many impressive churches and cathedrals and a large castle complex.

7. Pidhirtsi Castle - This 17th-century castle (though like Zolochiv castle it looks more like a palace) lies to the east of Lviv not far from Olesko castle.

8. Kremenets - A hilltop castle ruin and historic centre with many Orthodox churches and a monastery are the main draws in this town to the north-east of Lviv. Many people try to combine a visit here with Pochayiv monastery, though it would be ambitious to try to see both in a day by public transport.

9. Drohobych - This town south of Lviv features a clutch of Austro-Hungarian buildings, but its main attractions are its two outstanding wooden churches, including one with UNESCO heritage listing.

10. Tustan Rock Fortress - A castle stronghold which was carved out of towering sandstone rock outcrops near the village of Urych, to the south of Lviv near the town of Boryslav. This is one of the best natural attractions near Lviv and offers good hiking in the surrounding forested hills.

11. Univ Monastery - The only Lavra monastery of the Greek Catholic church in Ukraine. Its large white defensive walls surround a church, bell tower and ecclesiastical buildings. It lies in the village of Univ, which is 40 kilometres east of Lviv.

12. Svirzh Castle - A 15th-century fortified residence which is surrounded by a series of lakes which once helped to defend it from attack. This is a relatively easy day trip since the castle lies just 35 kilometres south-east of Lviv near the town of Bibrka.

13. Krekhiv Monastery - A 16th-century fortified Basilian monastery found to the north of Lviv near the town of Zhovkva.

14. Stare Selo castle - The sprawling ruins of this 17th-century castle lie in Stare Selo village, less than 20 kilometres south-east of Lviv. There is also a wooden church to see in the neighbouring village of Cherepyn.

15. Dovbush Rock Fortress - A fortress carved out of the tall sandstone rock outcrops near the village of Bubnyshche, lying to the south of the city of Stryi, near the town of Bolekhiv. Legends claim that this was once the hideout of the Carpathian outlaw Oleksa Dovbush.

16. Rozhirche Cave Monastery - A monastery in caves carved out of the rock of a hillside. Monks dug the series of tunnels and rooms between the 13th and 16th centuries. The village of Rozhirche is south of Lviv close to the Dovbush Rock Fortress, and both can be combined into a single day trip (if travelling by car).

17. Halych - This small town to the south-east of Lviv features a ruined castle, and the neighbouring village of Krylos contains an Outdoor Folk Architecture museum which includes a reconstructed wooden church among other historic farm buildings and cottages.

18. Sambir - A historic small town to the south-west of Lviv near the Polish border, with several beautiful old churches.

19. Rohatyn - This small town to the south-east of Lviv contains a very impressive UNESCO-listed wooden church.

20. Mount Parashka - This is the highest point in the Skole Beskids National Park at 1268 metres. The trail to the top makes for a very scenic day hike through mountain meadows full of wild flowers in the summer.

21. Truskavets - This picturesque spa town to the south of Lviv contains many 19th-century Austro-Hungarian buildings. The many wooden villas surround the source of fourteen mineral water springs.

22. Zymne Monastery - This is a 13th-century fortified Orthodox monastery to the north of Lviv. The thick walls, battlements and towers which surround the complex once provided formidable defensive capabilities.

23. Potelych - A small village with a UNESCO-listed wooden church near the Polish border to the north-west of Lviv.

24. Kuty - One of the finest wooden churches in Lviv region can be seen in the small village of Kuty, just north of Olesko Castle. It was constructed in 1697.

25. Pidkamin Monastery - This 17th-century fortified monastery lies east of Lviv in the village of Pidkamin. The village takes its name ('Pidkamin' means 'Below the Rock') from the huge boulder on the hilltop at the edge of the settlement.

26. Komarno - An 18th-century wooden church in the Boyko style lies in this small town south of Lviv. There is also another impressive wooden church in the neighbouring village of Klitsko, 2 kilometres away from Komarno.

27. Belz - A 17th-century wooden church can be seen in this town to the north-west of Lviv near the Polish border.

28. Cherche - This village to the south-east of Lviv on the road towards Rohatyn contains one of the oldest wooden churches in the region.

29. Berestechko - A collection of historic churches dominate this small town to the north-east from Lviv.

30. Kuhaiv - A very old wooden church stands in this small village 15 kilometres south of Lviv.

Day Trips from Lublin, Poland - The Top 5 Destinations

Lublin is a rare thing in Poland these days, an attractive historical city which has yet to be fully discovered by foreign tourists. The hilly cobbled streets of the old town are full of colourful building facades and outdoor cafes, while medieval gate towers and an unusual castle complex add to the picturesque skyline. On the outskirts of the city are two more tourist draws, the Majdanek WW2 concentration camp to the south and the outdoor folk architecture museum to the west. Both can be easily reached using local city buses. Beyond the city limits lie a number of worthwhile day trip destinations, and with many enjoyable restaurants and pubs Lublin makes a nice place to settle into as a base for several days. These are five of the best options for exploring outside Lublin, featuring a star rating out of five stars. The photos shown here feature, from top to bottom, Lublin, Zamość and Kazimierz Dolny.

**** Zamość - This UNESCO heritage-listed town is a perfect renaissance planned settlement, with walls and fortifications surrounding narrow streets and the showpiece old town square. Buses and minibuses depart from Lublin's main bus station and take 1 hour 30 minutes to 1 hour 45 minutes. Only a few trains per day go to and from Zamość so it isn't a very convenient way to get there, and they also take longer, 2 hours 10 minutes on average.

**** Kazimierz Dolny - This is one of the prettiest small towns in all of Poland, with a postcard-perfect central square of stone and wood buildings. Castles and churches are placed very picturesquely on the surrounding hilltops, and there are plenty of places to get a proper Polish meal after a lengthy stroll. If you decide to stay overnight here (many people do) don't miss crossing the river to see the castle in the neighbouring village of Janowiec, it makes a nice cycling trip. Bicycles are available for rent from several different businesses in the town. Buses and minibuses run regularly from Lublin's main bus station, taking 1 hour 10 minutes.

*** Kozłówka Palace and Socialist-Realist Art Gallery - The baroque palace is impressive enough, but the real reason to visit is for the gallery of socialist-realist art in the former horse stables. Buses and minibuses depart from Lublin's main bus station and take between 1 hour and 1 hour 15 minutes. Some buses are direct, others will require a change of buses in the small town of Lubartów.

** Chełm - This town near the Ukrainian border has a hilltop basilica and a few other historical buildings of note, but the real attraction is the city's underground chalk tunnels from the middle ages. Guides will lead you through the shafts and chambers by candlelight, and you can expect some chills when the resident ghost makes an appearance. Buses and minibuses depart regularly from Lublin's main bus station and take 1 hour and 15 minutes. Trains depart Lublin main station several times daily and take 1 hour 25 minutes.

** Pułavy Palace - This baroque palace complex to the north-west of Lublin features rooms packed with grand furniture and fittings, and outside there are impressive landscaped gardens. Buses and minibuses from Lublin main bus station take between 50 minutes and 1 hour, and several trains go directly to Puławy daily taking 35 minutes.

Day Trips from Wrocław, Poland - The Top 15 Destinations

Wrocław remains one of the most underrated tourist destinations in Central Europe, despite the arrival of the budget airlines such as Ryanair. An old town square that rivals Kraków's and a series of strollable islands dotted with churches and parks in the middle of the river Odra make the city a relaxing place to unwind for a couple of days. The fact that the city's name is pronounced "vrots-wav" (difficult for foreign visitors to comprehend given its spelling) is part of the challenge Wrocław has in building its international tourist brand. Many tourists call the city "Row-claw", as it would be pronounced in English, but asking for a train ticket to "Row-claw" will be met with uncomprehending stares across the country. The city of Łódż (pronounced "Woodge", not "Lodz") in central Poland has a similar name recognition problem with foreign visitors. South of Wrocław lies a cluster of ideal day trip destinations, particularly the wooden UNESCO Churches of Peace in Swidnica and Jawor, and the impressive sight of colourful Książ castle perched above a wooded valley. The pictures used in this article show, from top to bottom, Wrocław, Swidnica, Książ castle, Częstochowa, Kłodzko, Opole, Paczków, Brzeg and Nysa.



***** Swidnica wooden church (UNESCO) - (55 minutes to 1 hour) By bus from Wrocław main bus station to the town of Swidnica

**** Książ Castle - (1 hour 40 minutes) By train from Wrocław main station to Swiebodzice, then walk 2km south on the trail through the forest or take a local bus heading in the direction of Wałbrzych

**** Jawor wooden church (UNESCO) - (1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours) By train from Wrocław main station to Legnica, then change to a second train to reach the town of Jawor



**** Częstochowa - (2 hours 50 minutes to 3 hours 10 minutes) By train from Wroclaw main station

*** Kłodzko - (1 hour 35 minutes) By train from Wroclaw main station

*** Karpacz - (3 hours 15 minutes) By bus from Wrocław main bus station


*** Kudowa-Zdrój - (2 hours 45 minutes) By bus from Wrocław main bus station


*** Project Riese World War II underground complex (the section called Osówka) - (2 hours 25 minutes to 3 hours) By train from Wrocław main station to Wałbrzych, then change to a second train to the town of Głuszyca. From there the entrance to the complex is a 3km walk through the forest


** Opole - (1 hour) By train from Wrocław main station

** Jelenia Góra - (2 hours 40 minutes) By train from Wrocław main station, or by bus from Wrocław main bus station


** Paczków - (3 hours) By bus from Wrocław main bus station to Strzelin, then change to a second bus to reach Paczków

** Wojnowice Castle - (1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 45 minutes) By bus from Wrocław main station to Krępice, then change to a bus to Łąkoszyce, then change to a third bus to reach the village of Wojnowice


** Brzeg - (35 minutes to 40 minutes) By train from Wrocław main station

** Bolesławiec - (1 hour 25 minutes to 2 hours) By train from Wrocław main station


* Nysa - (1 hour 30 minutes to 1 hour 45 minutes) By bus from Wrocław main bus station

Day Trips and Overnight Excursions from Moscow, Russia - The Top 25 Destinations

The region surrounding Moscow contains many of Russia's greatest historical monuments, from the architectural splendour of the Golden Ring towns to the numerous sites connected to literary and political heavyweights such as Chekhov, Tolstoy and Lenin. The main attractions of the Golden Ring, especially Suzdal, should be on everyone's visit list, though for a more authentic experience there are plenty of less-visited historic towns such as Alexandrov or Yurev-Polsky within day trip distance of the capital. Some of these attractions are far enough from Moscow that an overnight trip is advisable (such as Suzdal or Yaroslavl), while others such as Plyos or Kostroma are far enough to warrant a stay of at least one or two nights. The photographs in this article show, from top to bottom, Moscow, Suzdal, Rostov-Veliky, Sergiev Posad, Pereslavl-Zalessky, Vladimir, Bogolyubovo, Uglich and Khotkovo.


***** SUZDAL - (4 hours 30 minutes) By bus directly from Shchyolkovsky bus station in Moscow, or by bus from outside Kurskaya train station in Moscow to Vladimir, then change to a bus or marshrutka to Suzdal

**** ROSTOV-VELIKY - (3 hours) By train from Yaroslavsky station in Moscow

**** SERGIEV POSAD - (1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes) By train from Yaroslavl station in Moscow

**** PERESLAVL-ZALESSKY - (2 hours 30 minutes) By bus from Shchyolkovsky bus station

*** VLADIMIR - (2 hours 30 minutes to 3 hours 30 minutes) - By train from Kurskaya station in Moscow, or by bus from outside Kurskaya station

*** BOGOLYUBOVO - (4 hours) By bus or train to Vladimir from Kurskaya station in Moscow, then take a marshrutka to Bogolyubovo

*** UGLICH - (4 hours 30 minutes) By train to Rostov-Veliky from Yaroslavsky station in Moscow, then catch a bus to Uglich

*** YAROSLAVL - (4 hours) By train from Yaroslavsky station in Moscow

*** KOSTROMA -(6 hours to six hours 30 minutes) By train from Yaroslavsky station in Moscow, or by train to Yaroslavl and then by bus to Kostroma

*** PLYOS - (7 hours to 9 hours) By train to Ivanovo from Yaroslavsky station in Moscow, then by bus to Plyos, or by bus/train to Vladimir, change to a bus to Ivanovo, and change again to a bus to Plyos

*** MUROM - (4 hours 15 minutes to 4 hours 40 minutes) By train from Kazansky station in Moscow

** TVER - (1 hour 50 minutes to 2 hours 30 minutes) By train from Kurskaya or Oktyabrskaya stations in Moscow

** YUREV-POLSKY - (2 hours 30 minutes to 3 hours) By train to Alexandrov from Yaroslavsky station in Moscow, then change to another train to Yurev-Polsky

** YASNAYA POLYANA (Tolstoy's estate) - (3 hours to 4 hours) By train from Kurskaya station in Moscow

** KIDEKSHA - (4 hours 40 minutes) By bus from Shchyolkovsky station in Moscow to Suzdal, then catch a local marshrutka to Kideksha. The town makes a nice short side trip from Suzdal since Kideksha is just 4km away

** PALEKH - (8 hours to 9 hours) By train to Ivanovo from Yaroslavsky station in Moscow, then by bus to Palekh

** KLIN - (1 hour 30 minutes) By train from Leningradsky station in Moscow

** ISTRA - (1 hour 30 minutes) By train from Rizhsky station in Moscow

** ABRAMTSEVO - (1 hour 10 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes) By train from Yaroslavsky station in Moscow

** ALEXANDROV - (1 hour 35 minutes to 1 hour 50 minutes) By train from Yaroslavsky station in Moscow

** MELIKHOVO (Chekhov's estate) - (2 hours) By train from Kurskaya station in Moscow to the town of Chekhov, then take a bus to Melikhovo

** GORKI LENINSKIE (Lenin's estate) - (30 minutes) By bus from Domodedovskaya metro station in Moscow

** PEREDELKINO (Boris Pasternak's estate) - (20 minutes) By train from Kievskaya station in Moscow

** BORODINO Battlefield Museum - (2 hours) By train from Belorussky station in Moscow

* KHOTKOVO - (1 hour 15 minutes) By train from Yaroslavsky station in Moscow

Day Trips from Košice, Slovakia - The Top 25 Destinations

Eastern Slovakia has an astonishing number of attractions packed into a very small geographical area, with towering mountains, rustic red-roofed towns, castles, caves and wooden churches all waiting to be explored. Košice is by far the largest city in the eastern half of Slovakia and it has a range of impressive sights to see in and around its well-preserved central square and the Cathedral of Saint Elisabeth. For those visitors who would like to base themselves in the city for a few days to use it as a base for day trips into the surrounding countryside, I have put together a list of the best places that can be visited in a single day. I have given each destination a star rating out of five to provide an idea of how worthwhile they are to visit, and the destinations are organized by distance into three categories - within one hour of travel from Košice by public transport, within two hours, and within three hours. The pictures in this article show, from top to bottom, The High Tatra Mountains, Betliar Chateau, Bardejov old town square, Markušovce Chateau, and Spiš Castle.

Destinations Within One Hour of Travel from Košice:

** Jasov Monastery and cave - (40 minutes) By bus from Košice main station to the town of Jasov; the cave is at the base of the hillside near the southern end of the town

** Herľany Geyser - (45 minutes) By bus from Košice to the village of Herľany

** Prešov - (35 minutes) By train from Košice main station

** Veľký Šariš castle and Šariš brewery - (50 minutes to 1 hour) By train or bus from Košice main station, sometimes changing to another bus or train in Prešov is required

* Slanec Castle - (35 minutes) By bus or train from Košice main station

Destinations Within Two Hours of Travel from Košice:

***** Spiš Castle - (1 hour 30 minutes to 1 hour 45 minutes) By bus from Košice main station to Prešov, then change to a second bus to the town of Spišské Podhradie. You can't miss the castle on the hill, it dominates the landscape for miles around

***** The High Tatra Mountains - (1 hour 50 minutes) By train from Košice main station to Poprad, then change to the mountain railway to reach Starý Smokovec. From there you can take the funicular up to Hrebienok which is the starting point for many possible day hikes in the Tatras. Start early if you are going to travel to and from Košice in a day

**** Levoča - (1 hour 45 minutes) By bus from Košice main station to Prešov, then change to a second bus to reach Levoča

**** Bardejov - (1 hour 50 minutes) By bus from Košice main station

**** Krásna Hôrka Castle - (1 hour 15 minutes) By bus from Košice main station to the village of Krásnohorské Podhradie, the castle is clearly visible on the hill above the town

**** Slovak Paradise National Park - (1 hour 25 minutes to 1 hour 50 minutes) By train from Košice main station to Spišská Nová Ves, then by bus to the village of Čingov which is the starting point for many hikes into the park

*** Kežmarok - (1 hour 40 minutes to 2 hours) By train from Košice main station to Poprad, then change to a bus or train to reach Kežmarok. The bus and train stations are next to each other in Poprad

*** Gombasek Cave in the Slovak Karst National Park - (1 hour 40 minutes to 2 hours) By bus from Košice main station to Rožňava, then change to a second bus to the village of Slavec and get out at the stop along the highway after the village at the turning point for the road to Silica village. From the bus stop take the trail to Gombasecka cave, it's about 1 kilometre

*** Betliar Chateau - (1 hour 20 minutes to 1 hour 40 minutes) By bus from Košice main station to Rožňava, then change to a second bus to reach Betliar village

*** Spišská Sobota - (1 hour 15 minutes) By train from Košice main station to Poprad; Spišská Sobota is a historic village on the edge of Poprad, about a 20-minute walk east from the train station

** Markušovce Chateau - (1 hour 15 minutes) By regional train from Košice main station to the village of Markušovce

** Tročany wooden church (1 hour 20 minutes) By bus from Košice main station to the village of Janovce, then it's a 1.5 kilometre walk along the local road to reach Tročany village

** Brežany wooden church - (1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 40 minutes) By bus or train from Košice main station to Prešov, then change to a bus to reach Brežany

Destinations Within Three Hours of Travel from Košice:

**** Dobšinská Ice Cave - (2 hours 30 minutes) By train from Košice main station, changing to a second train in Margecany

*** Bardejovské Kúpele spa and outdoor folk architecture museum - (2 hours 5 minutes) By bus from Košice main station

*** Stará Ľubovňa Castle and outdoor architecture museum - (2 hours 15 minutes) By bus from Košice main station; the castle and outdoor museum are 1.5 kilometres north of the bus station in Stará Ľubovňa

*** Domica Cave in the Slovak Karst National Park - (2 hours 15 minutes to 2 hours 40 minutes) - By bus from Košice main station to the village of Plešivec, then change to a second bus to the village of Kečovo and get out at the stop next to the cave (before the village) called Kečovo Domica. From the Domica cave it's a 2 kilometre walk across the border into Hungary to Aggtelek village and the Aggtelek Karst caves, which are equally impressive

*** Ochtinská Argonite Cave - (2 hours 5 minutes to 2 hours 20 minutes) By bus from Košice main station to the village of Gočaltovo and get off past the village at the stop called Gočaltovo Hradok. From there it's a two-kilometre walk up into the hills to the cave entrance

** Svidník folk architecture museum - (2 hours 10 minutes) By bus from Košice main station

** Humenné folk architecture museum - (2 hours to 2 hours 15 minutes) By bus from Košice main station

Day Trips from Brno, Czech Republic - The Top 25 Destinations

Brno is an increasingly popular city break destination and starting point for travel in Central Europe due to the budget airlines which now frequent its airport. While it lacks the world-class sights and attractions of the Czech capital Prague, Brno has enough to amuse the average visitor for a day or two, and the surrounding region of South Moravia contains a veritable smorgasbord of tasty attractions to sample. Gothic castles, folk architecture, limestone caves and UNESCO heritage sites are all within reach and still receive far fewer international visitors than they deserve. I have listed some of the best of these destinations here and given them a star rating out of five to suggest how worthwhile they are to visit. The destinations are also organized into three categories - destinations which are less than one hour by public transport from Brno, less than two hours, and less than three hours. Three hours is quite a long distance for a day trip, but if time is short, it can be worth making a longer excursion to see one of the region's best attractions such as Telč. It is also possible to visit destinations across the border in Slovakia and Austria, including the capitals Bratislava and Vienna. The photos included in this article show, from top to bottom, Telč, Mikulov, Kromeříž, Lednice, and Pernštejn castle.

Destinations Within One Hour of Travel from Brno:

**** Moravian Karst - (45 minutes) By train from Brno main station to Blansko, then change to a bus from Blansko main bus station to the stop called Skalní Mlyn which is the access point for the caves and hikes in the surrounding region

**** Lednice - (50 minutes to 1 hour) By train from Brno main station to Břeclav, than change to a bus from Břeclav main bus station to reach Lednice

*** Pernštejn Castle - (1 hour) By train from Brno main station to Tišnov, change to a local train to reach Nedvědice, then follow the yellow-marked trail through the forest for 2 kilomtres to reach the castle

*** Moravský Krumlov - (50 minutes) By train from Brno main station

** Boskovice - (40 minutes to 50 minutes) By train from Brno main station

** Veveří Castle - (40 to 50 minutes) Take tram #1 from outside Brno main train station to the stop called Přístaviště, then change to a bus to reach the castle

** Slavkov u Brna (Battle of Austerlitz site) - (25 minutes) By train from Brno main station, or by bus from Brno Zvonařka station

* Dolní Kounice - (40 minutes to 55 minutes) By bus from Brno Zvonařka station, change to a second bus in Modřice to reach Dolní Kounice

Destinations Within Two Hours of Travel from Brno:

***** Vienna, Austria - (2 hours) By train from Brno main station

**** Bratislava, Slovakia - (1 hour 30 minutes) By EC train from Brno main station

**** Olomouc - (1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours) By train from Brno main station

**** Mikulov - (1 hour 5 minutes to 1 hour 40 minutes) By direct bus from Zvonařka station, or by train from Brno main station to Břeclav and then change to a local train to Mikulov

*** Litomyšl - (1 hour 40 minutes to 2 hours) By bus from Brno Zvonařka station

*** Kroměříž - (1 hour 30 minutes) By train from Brno main station to Kojetín, then change to a local train to Kroměříž

*** Valtice - (1 hour 10 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes) By train to Břeclav, then change to a local train to reach Valtice

*** Znojmo - (1 hour 10 minutes) By bus from Zvonařka station

** Ždar nad Sazavou - (1 hour 10 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes) By train from Brno main station

** Stražnice - (1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours) By train from Brno main station, change trains in Hodonín or Veselí nad Moravou to reach Stražnice

** Třebič - (1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 35 minutes) By train from Brno main station

Destinations Within Three Hours of Travel from Brno:

**** Telč - (2 hours to 2 hours 25 minutes) By bus from Brno Zvonařka station

*** Vranov nad Dyjí Castle - (2 hours to 2 hours 15 minutes) By bus from Brno Zvonařka station to Znojmo, then change to another bus to reach Vranov nad Dyjí village

** Velké Losiny - (2 hours 45 minutes) By train from Brno main station to Šumperk, then change to a local train to reach Velké Losiny

** Skalica, Slovakia - (2 hours to 2 hours 10 minutes) By train from Brno main station to Kúty, then change to a local train to reach Skalica

** Jaroměřice nad Rokytnou - (2 hours 20 minutes) By train from Brno main station to Okříšky, then change to a local train to reach Jaroměřice nad Rokytnou

* Zlín - (2 hours 5 minutes) By bus from Brno Zvonařka station

Day Trips from Budapest, Hungary - The Top 25 Destinations

In Hungary all roads lead to the capital like the spokes of a wheel, so Budapest makes a convenient base for day trips to most parts of the country and even to a few destinations across the border in Slovakia and Austria. Many different types of landscapes are within reach by train or bus, from the forested hills of the Danube Bend to the flat vistas of the Great Plain. I have compiled some of the most worthwhile day trips within three hours by public transport from Budapest, and organized them by distance into three categories - destinations within one hour of travel, two hours of travel and three hours of travel. Up to three hours is quite a long distance to cover for a day trip, but some of the best sights in the country fall within this range, such as Pecs, Tihany and Tokaj. I have also given each destination a star rating out of five to represent how worthwhile it is to make the effort to get there. The photos in this article show, from top to bottom, Budapest, Esztergom, Visegrad, Eger and Gyor.

Destinations Within One Hour of Travel from Budapest:

**** Szentendre - (40 minutes) By HEV train from Batthyany Ter station

**** Visegrad - (1 hour) By bus from Arpad Hid station

** Vac - (30 to 40 minutes) By train from Keleti or Nyugati stations

** Tata - (55 minutes to 1 hour) By train from Deli or Keleti stations

Destinations Within Two Hours of Travel from Budapest:

**** Eger - (1 hour 50 minutes to 2 hours) By train from Keleti Station

*** Esztergom - (1 hour 25 minutes) By train from Nyugati station

*** Kecskemet - (1 hour 20 minutes) By IC train from Nyugati station

*** Matra Hills Hiking Trails - (1 hour 30 minutes to Gyongyos where the trails begin) By train from Keleti Station to Vamosgyork, then change to a local train to reach Gyongyos

** Gyor - (1 hour 20 minutes to 1 hour 45 minutes) By train from Keleti Station

** Szekesfehervar - (1 hour to 1 hour 20 minutes) By train from Deli Station, or by bus from Nepliget station

** Veszprem - (1 hour 40 minutes) By train from Deli station

Destinations Within Three Hours of Travel from Budapest:

***** Vienna, Austria - (2 hours 40 minutes) By RailJet train from Keleti station

**** Bratislava, Slovakia - (2 hours 40 minutes) By EC train from Keleti station

**** Pecs - (2 hours 45 minutes) By IC train from Deli station

**** Holloko - (2 hours 30 minutes to 3 hours) By bus from Budapest Stadion Terminal (one per day), or by bus to Szecseny and then change to a local bus to Holloko

*** Sopron - (2 hours 30 minutes) By IC train from Keleti Station

*** Pannonhalma - (2 hours to 2 hours 20 minutes) By train from Keleti station, then change to a local train in Gyor

*** Tokaj - (2 hours 40 minutes) By IC train from Keleti station

*** Tihany - (3 hours) By train from Deli station to Balatonfured, then change to a local bus to reach Tihany

*** Szeged - (2 hours 25 minutes) By IC train from Nyugati station

*** Bukk Hills National Park - (Accessible from Felsotarkany village north of Eger, 2 hours 30 minutes to 2 hours 45 minutes) By train from Keleti station to Eger, then change to a local train or bus to Felsotarkany. The park is also accessible from Miskolc (2 hours by train from Keleti Station)

*** Hortobagy National Park - (2 hours 45 minutes to the village of Hortobagy) By train from Keleti station, changing to a local train in Fuzesabony

** Debrecen - (2 hours 30 minutes to 3 hours) By IC train from Nyugati station

** Gyula - (2 hours 55 minutes) By train from Keleti station, then change to a local train in Bekescsaba

** Balatonfured - (2 hours 30 minutes) By train from Deli station

Day Trips From Bratislava, Slovakia - The Top 40 Destinations

Bratislava is located near the point where the borders of several different countries meet, which means that it is possible to make day trips not only in Slovakia but also in Austria, Hungary and the Czech Republic. Many of Slovakia's most interesting destinations are in the central and eastern parts of the country and are too far away to reach in a day, but I've included the best places to see in southwestern Slovakia along with a good mix of attractions in each of the three neighbouring countries. Vienna is an obvious day trip in Austria, and Budapest is also reachable in a day from Bratislava but I haven't included it in this list since it doesn't make much sense to travel so far to visit a city with as many attractions as Budapest has just for the day. For the purposes of this list I've included destinations that are reachable within three hours of travel by public transport, and given each place a star rating out of five to give you an idea of how worthwhile it is to make the effort to travel there. Instructions are also included for how to get there by public transport starting from the train and bus stations in Bratislava. I've organised the destinations into three categories, those which are within one hour of travel by public transport, within two hours, and within three hours. For more information about the destinations in Slovakia see this post about the Top 100 Destinations in Slovakia and for those in the Czech Republic see this post about The Czech Republic's Top 100 Destinations. The photos included in this post show, from top to bottom, Mikulov (CZ), Esztergom (HUN), Plavecký Castle (SK), Smolenice Castle (SK), and Kopčany Romanesque Church (SK).

Destinations Less Than One Hour Away From Bratislava:

***** Vienna, Austria - (55 minutes to 1 hour) Train from Bratislava main station or from Bratislava-Petržalka station

*** Devín Castle, Slovakia - (20 minutes to 25 minutes) Take Bratislava city bus #28 or #29 from under Nový Most (New Bridge) to Devín village

** Gyor, Hungary - (1 hour) Take the bus with the company called Student Agency from Bratislava main bus station (daily at 11:15am)

** Trnava, Slovakia - (30 minutes) Train from Bratislava main station

** Hainburg, Austria - (20 minutes) Take Bratislava city bus #901 from under Nový Most (New Bridge) which goes across the border to Hainburg

** Piešťany, Slovakia - (1 hour) Train from Bratislava main station

** Čunovo Art Gallery, Slovakia - (25 minutes) Bus from Bratislava main bus station to the bus stop 'Čunovo Muzeum'

** Modra, Slovakia - (1 hour) Bus from Bratislava main bus station

* Pottenburg Castle, Austria (15 minutes) Take Bratislava city bus #901 from under Nový Most (New Bridge) to the Austrian border village of Wolfsthal, then hike up the red-marked trail to reach the castle ruin

Destinations Less Than Two Hours Away From Bratislava:

**** Mikulov, Czech Republic - (1 hour 50 minutes) Take a train from Bratislava main station to the Czech border town of Břeclav, then change to another local train to reach Mikulov

**** Esztergom, Hungary - (1 hour 25 minutes) Take a train from Bratislava main station to the Slovak border town of Štúrovo, then walk across the bridge over the Danube river to reach Esztergom. The huge dome of the basilica in Esztergom is visible when you get off the train in Štúrovo, so you can use it as a landmark to follow to reach the bridge over the river

*** Trenčín, Slovakia - (1 hour 25 minutes) Take a train from Bratislava main station

*** Čachtice Castle, Slovakia - (1 hour 25 minutes) Take a train from Bratislava main station to Nové Mesto nad Váhom, then change to a local train to reach the village of Višňové which is directly beneath the castle

*** Brno, Czech Republic - (1 hour 30 minutes) Take a train from Bratislava main station

*** Beckov Castle, Slovakia - (1 hour 40 minutes) Train from Bratislava main station to Nové Mesto nad Váhom, then take a bus from outside the train station to the village of Beckov

*** Lednice, Czech Republic - (1 hour 20 minutes) Take a train from Bratislava main station to the Czech border town of Břeclav, then take a bus from outside the train station to reach Lednice

*** Valtice, Czech Republic - (1 hour 35 minutes) Take a train from Bratislava main station to reach the Czech border town of Břeclav, then change to another local train to reach Valtice

** Červený Kameň Castle, Slovakia - (1 hour 10 minutes to 1 hour 20 minutes) Take a bus from Bratislava main station to the village of Častá, then walk up the hill along the road to reach the castle

** Nitra, Slovakia - (1 hour 15 minutes) Take a bus from Bratislava main bus station

** Plavecký Castle, Slovakia - (1 hour 20 minutes) Take a bus from Bratislava main bus station to the village of Plavecké Podhradie, then hike up the hill to the castle ruins

** Smolenice Castle, Slovakia - (1 hour 15 minutes) Take a bus from Bratislava main bus station

** Skalica, Slovakia - (1 hour 20 minutes to 1 hour 50 minutes) Take a train from Bratislava main station to Kúty, then change to a local train to reach Skalica

** Eisenstadt, Austria - (1 hour 10 minutes) Take a train from Bratislava-Petržalka station to Parndorf, then change to another train to reach Eisenstadt

** Trenčianske Teplice, Slovakia - (1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours) Take a train from Bratislava main station to Trenčín, then take a bus from outside the train station to reach Trenčianske Teplice

* Štefánik Hilltop Monument in Brezová pod Bradlom, Slovakia - (2 hours) Take a bus from Bratislava main station to reach Brezová pod Bradlom, then hike up the red-marked trail to reach the monument

* Tematín Castle, Slovakia - (2 hours) Take a train from Bratislava main station to Nové Mesto nad Váhom, then take a bus from outside the train station to the village of Lúka and walk up the blue-marked trail to reach the castle ruins

* Kopčany Romanesque Church, Slovakia - (1 hour 10 minutes to 1 hour 40 minutes) Take a train from Bratislava main station to Kúty, then change to a local train to reach Kopčany village. Walk from the village across the fields towards the Morava river to reach the church

* Dražovce Romanesque Church, Slovakia - (1 hour 45 minutes) Take a bus from Bratislava main station to Nitra, then change to another bus to reach Dražovce village. The church is on the hill above the village

Destinations Less Than Three Hours Away From Bratislava:

**** Olomouc, Czech Republic - (2 hours 40 minutes) Take a train from Bratislava main station to Břeclav, then change trains to reach Olomouc

**** Visegrád, Hungary - (2 hours 25 minutes) Take a train from Bratislava main station to Szob in Hungary, then change to a local train to reach Nagymaros-Visegrad station. From there walk down to the Danube river and take the passenger ferry across the river to Visegrád on the opposite bank

*** Kroměříž, Czech Republic - (2 hours 25 minutes) Take a train from Bratislava main station to Břeclav, then change to a second train to Hulín, then change to a third train to reach Kroměříž

*** Moravský Krumlov, Czech Republic - (2 hours 30 minutes) Take a train from Bratislava main station to Brno, then change to a local train to reach Moravský Krumlov

*** Znojmo, Czech Republic - (2 hours 45 minutes to 3 hours) Take a train from Bratislava main station to Břeclav, then change to a local train to reach Znojmo

*** Carnuntum Roman Archaeological Site, Austria - (2 hours 15 minutes) Take Bratislava city bus #901 from under Nový Most to Hainburg, then walk southwest along the red-marked trail to reach the town of Petronell-Carnuntum where the Roman site is located

** Gýmeš Castle, Slovakia - (2 hours 10 minutes to 2 hours 25 minutes) Take a bus from Bratislava main bus terminal to Nitra, then change to another bus to the village of Kostoľany pod Tribečom. In the village there is a Romanesque church to see, then hike up the yellow and then green-marked trails to reach the castle on the nearby hilltop

** Sopron, Hungary - (2 hours 20 minutes to 2 hours 45 minutes) Take a bus with the company Student Agency from Bratislava main station to Gyor (daily at 11:15am), then take a train from there to Sopron

** Rust, Austria - (2 hours to 2 hours 15 minutes) Take a train from Bratislava-Petržalka station to Parndorf, change to a second train to reach Eisenstadt, then take a local bus from there to Rust

** Dobrá Voda Castle, Slovakia - (2 hours to 2 hours 20 minutes) Take a train from Bratislava main station to Trnava, then walk out to the bus station outside the train station and take a bus from there to the village of Dobrá Voda. From there hike up the red-marked trail to reach the castle ruins

** Tata, Hungary - (2 hours to 2 hours 20 minutes) Take a bus with the company Student Agency from Bratislava main station to Gyor (daily at 11:15am), then take a train from Gyor to reach Tata

** Komárno, Slovakia - (2 hours 5 minutes) Take a train from Bratislava main station

Day Trips from Český Krumlov, Czech Republic - The Top 10 Destinations

Český Krumlov is an essential stop on anyone's tour of the Czech Republic, and settling in for a few days to fully experience the town's charms and surrounding countryside is highly recommended. There are a number of worthwhile day trips that can be made from Český Krumlov to see more of South Bohemia, such as a hiking trip in the Šumava National Park or a visit to nearby Rožmberk nad Vltavou castle. Here are ten possible destinations that can be reached using public transport, including a star rating out of 5 for each place. All of these options begin from the main train station or bus station in Český Krumlov. For more details on each of these destinations, see the post Top 100 destinations in the Czech Republic. The photos included in this post show, from top to bottom, Tábor, Třeboň and Prachatice.

**** Hluboká nad Vltavou castle - (1hour 15 min to 1 hour 45 min) Bus to České Budějovice, then change to another bus to Hluboká nad Vltavou village

**** Šumava National Park - (1 hour 30 min) For a great one day hike, take the train to Černý Kříž and hike along the yellow-marked trail (five to six hours) past some of the park's finest scenery until finishing at the train depot Ovesná to get the returning train to Český Krumlov

*** Rožmberk nad Vltavou castle - (35 min to 40 min) Bus to Rožmberk nad Vltavou village

*** České Budějovice - (55 min) Take the train for the very scenic journey

*** Jindřichův Hradec - (2 hours to 2 hours 30 min) Bus to České Budějovice, then change to a second bus

*** Tábor - (2 hours 25 min) It's easier to reach as a day trip from Prague, but if you're in Český Krumlov you can get there by train with a change of trains in České Budějovice

** Prachatice - (2 hours to 2 hours 30 min) Bus to České Budějovice, then change to a second bus

** Třeboň - (1 hour 25 min to 2 hours) Bus to České Budějovice, then change to a second bus

** Holašovice folk village - (1 hour 25 min to 1 hour 50 min) Bus to České Budějovice, then change to a second bus

** Kratochvíle chateau - (1 hour 40 min to 2 hours) Bus to České Budějovice, then change to a second bus