Central Europe is beautiful in the autumn. The parks in the cities and the forests around them are dressed in bright orange, yellow and red while the temperatures are still on the warm side. So you can really enjoy being outside. In the summer, it can be too hot for a lot of people. Especially for city breaks where cultural sightseeing and walking the town are parts of the program. But the mild autumn is perfect – for relaxing with coffee in the cafés and for taking in the city.
Visit the thermal baths in Budapest
Budapest in Hungary and Prague in the Czech Republic are Central European hidden gems for some travelers. In Budapest it is possible to rent a car and see both sides of the city – Buda and Pest on each side of the river Donau. Budapest is also where you find hot springs that make it possible to take a swim in a thermal bath in the middle of the city. For an outside option go for the Széchenyi Baths and Pool. If you prefer an indoor thermal bath you can go to St. Gellért Thermal Bath and Swimming Pool. Both are beautiful traditional baths where you will meet both tourist and locals enjoying the naturally warm water (about 38 degrees Celsius).
Let's get it straight from the start: Prague in the Czech Republic is a fantastic destination for a city mini vacation. You can wander the charming streets or book a trip on one of the boats that sail the Vltava River and see the city from another angle. Stop by a local tavern and enjoy a pint of the world-renowned C
Car rental in Prague opens for experiences beyond the city like the medieval town of Kutna Hora. This is where you find the famous Sedlec Ossuary – The Church of Bones, which is a Roman Catholic chapel decorated with human bones from about 40-70.000 people. It is a very special experience and you should not miss it when in Czech Republic. Kutna Hora also houses the UNESCO-listed St. Barbaras Cathedral.
If you have already have a rental car, you can plan your own itinerary. And you should definitely go to Cesky Krumlow. A fairy-tale town placed along the Vltava River. The charming village is built around the castle from about 1240 where you will find a large rococo garden and the best-preserved baroque theater in the world. Both the castle and the town are on the UNESCO world heritage list.
Another great autumn destination in Europe is Austria. An idea is to go by plane to either Graz, Innsbruck, Salzburg or Vienna and book a rental car in advance and pick it up at the airport. Then you can for instance enjoy a day or two hiking in the mountains before hitting Vienna. The late summer air feels particularly good in the mountains. And if you add the autumn-color-covered mountain sides you can hardly ask for more.
After a couple of hiking days you could go to Vienna and spend the last days of the break in the beautiful capital. It is well known for its cafés serving the traditional Sachertorte or Apfelstrudel. You could also book tickets for the Vienna State Opera that is widely considered one of the world’s best opera houses.
If you plan on going to Vienna in late September, you could choose the last weekend of September and join the Weinwandertag. This is a two day wine festival where hiking trails leads you to the vineyards surrounding Vienna. Local wine makers and producers of other local delicacies set up booths with taste tests and you can buy the goods as well.
AddCar Rental is conveniently located in the airports and if you book in advance you will have the best options to choose from. The fleet include both compact budget cars and SUVs and luxury vehicles so depending on budget, number of people in the travel group. With addCar Rental you can rent a car that you pick it up in one country and return it in another. So if the itinerary allows for a Central European in several countries road trip – that is no problem.
