We will be taking RS Munich-Salzburg-Vienna tour this fall and have scheduled 4 days post-tour before flying home from Vienna. We are thinking either we will stay in Vienna and take some day trips or perhaps travel to Budapest or Prague for a couple of days. I worry that we don't have time to do either place justice. I am more interested in Prague but it may be too far. Would appreciate others' experience here.
Posted by
Magyarország / Rep of Texas
17918 posts
Four days post tour is plenty of time to get a good feeling of Budapest. Day 8 on your trip is no day at all, so get up early and train to Budapest (2.5hrs). I would say go the evening of the 7th night cause day eight is just breakfast, but you will loose a hotel night you have already paid for; but then, a good hotel in Budapest is only $150. Your call.
From Budapest take a morning train back to Vienna a day prior to you departure home so you get another day in Vienna as the 2 days in the tour is a bit light.
Posted by
Nashville, TN, USA
795 posts
Four days in Prague would be plenty of time to do the city justice. Yes, you could get even more out of it with more time but since you are interested in it, even this amount of time would be satisfying. Budapest is fine but Prague is something special.
Posted by
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, USA
13937 posts
I've no opinion on your question but please don't leave your RS tour early as suggested above. If you haven't done a tour before, know that the farewell dinner is usually very good, lots of fun and a nice way to finish out your tour.
Posted by
Seattle
4637 posts
If you are more interested in Prague, it's only about 1 hour farther by train than Budapest. OK, you fly back from Vienna so Prague would cost you two more hours of your time.
Posted by
Magyarország / Rep of Texas
17918 posts
Ilja, it's 2.5 hrs vs 4.0 hrs each way. But you are correct in to go some place that interests you. 6 days in Vienna would be about 4 too many for me.
If there is some great all night party the last day; then do it. But get an early train out to someplace when it's over.
Posted by
1906 posts
6 days in Vienna would be about 4 too many for me.
Three weeks are not sufficient to really explore Vienna, its culture, its museums, the music, etc.
Posted by
Magyarország / Rep of Texas
17918 posts
I agree, but I'm not a museum sorta guy. But everyone is different and everyone's interests are valid. I should have said that for my interests, 6 days would be too much. I wouldn't spend 6 days most places on a first trip. Too much world to experience and you need to hunt down those places that really speak to you ..... Then return
Posted by
alameda, ca, usa
2602 posts
Vienna and Budapest just go together so perfectly, so maybe an extra day in Vienna and the rest in Budapest? In 2014 I spent 6 days in Vienna then 4 in Budapest, loved it so much I returned in 2016 to visit the town my family came from, and on Tuesday I'll be in Vienna again then back to Budapest, just because. It's a short train trip and the perfect peaceful yet also vibrant place to end your trip; Prague is spectacular but utterly exhausting.
Posted by
New York
1203 posts
Not sure what you decided yet, but I stayed on for days after the GAS tour in Vienna and loved it. I can't wait to go back to Vienna as I still did not see everything. I would stay in Vienna as you are there already and go to the museums and cafes and churches and concerts and all that you will not be seeing on the tour. I loved Prague and would like to go to Budapest but if you are alreay in Vienna why not see the rest of the city.