Austria - Hungary 10 Day Itinerary Help

I would not recommend flying into Innsbruck. Fly into Munich instead and take the train - much simpler given the limited flights to Innsbruck.

I wouldn't describe Bratislava as amazing, especially when compared to Budapest and Vienna.

If you think you are interested in Bratislavia, but not sure, add a day to Vienna and when you are there, if you decide you have the time for Bratislavia, do a day trip. It's only an hour by train.

In Vienna, I've stayed at Hotel Austria, twice. LOVE IT. Best hotel breakfast we've every had.

Agree with Emily on Munich. Salzburg is a bit over an hour on the inexpensive Bayern ticket from Munich.

10 days?
Then, innsbruck, Salzburg & Vienna at the most. But any rumor that Prague and Budapest have anything in common is pretty far off base. Actually, none on your list have much in common.

Want Budapest? Then Vienna, Budapest and Bratislava, and that's pushing it.

Wait one more week and see tge start of tge Christmas markets at your last stop. Two weeks and see them all I think.

I agree that the itinerary, as the OP has described. is a lot for 10 days, especially when it includes arrival and departure days. I think OP should look at what you want to see in each city. I love both Budapest and Vienna. I've been to each a couple times. I see no reason to not try an itinerary of 3 cities, Salzburg, Vienna and Budapest to get a flavor of those cities. I also would argue that in terms of history, Budapest, Prague and Vienna have a lot in common as a part of the Hapsburg empire.

I'm interested in where Innsbruck came from. From Seattle, it would seem like an expensive destination city. Did you look at flying into and out of Vienna? Or into Budapest and out of Vienna?

Yes, I have checked out all options for flights :) We are flying United and stuck with dates. Squeezed another day in so have 11 days now. Shockingly, flying into Innsbruck, Salzburg and Vienna are all the same price and all go thru Frankfurt on arrival & Munich on departure for least expensive options. It is no more expensive to depart out of Vienna on departure. Roundtrip to/from Vienna is the same price as flying into Salzburg/Innsbruck. I actually wish we could add another European city because with multi-city tickets it would be free for the middle leg! ahh, no time :( Budapest is not an option for arrival or departure because there are no flight options.

I've always wanted to go to Salzburg. Read a lot about it and watched videos. It looks so charming. We've traveled a lot to major cities in Europe, especially Italy, Spain and France. I guess I was looking for more of the charming village atmosphere. I realize Budapest is not that. I don't have to go to Innsbruck. That's why I asked, so if it's not a must visit right now, it goes off the list. It got ON the list from a travel magazine article "don"t miss" charming towns issue and then watching youtube videos of, of course.

I appreciate all of your comments! I've spend months in Rome and am always amazed at the travelers that spend a day or two there and hate it and I know it's because they were rushed. So I get it. I also only spent 3 days there my first time and got a feel for it and have been lucky enough to go back so I guess I just need to know how long is enough to get a feel. I spent 3 days in San Gimignano and that was 2 days too many!

I also would argue that in terms of history, Budapest, Prague and
Vienna have a lot in common as a part of the Hapsburg empire.

Those things that are in common between Prague, Vienna and Budapest; or any two of the three, makes up about 2% of what there is to understand.

The Austrian and Austro-Hungarian Empires combined lasted less than 150 years. Prague, Vienna, Budapest are 1000 to 1200 years old

One is Slavic, one Germanic, one ..... well, Hungarian as nothing else falls into the same category.

One is repleat with medeavil architecture, one with Empire Architecture, one is well .... sort of a working c.1900 city with hints of imperalism sprinkled in.

Two were occupied by the Soviets for 50 years and the evidence remains, one not.

One has tightly defined tourist zones; one the city as a whole (nearly) is the tourist zone and one falls in the middle.

All three are spectacular destinations and all three, most often, attract signficantly different levels of appreciation depending on who is talking. Thats they way it should be, life is most interesting with diversity and variety.

But, if I had to fly United and if I had to depart from Vienna and I had only 11 days and I wanted to take a friend on a tour, then this is what I would probably do:

IF I HAD TO SEE SO MANY PLACES
Day 1 Depart
Day 2 Arrive Salzburg
Day 3 Salzburg (about a half day too short in Salzburg, but .... )
Day 4 morning train to Vienna
Day 5 Vienna
Day 6 Vienna (a full day too short in Vienna)
Day 7 early train to Budapest
Day 8 Budapest
Day 9 Budapest (a full day too short in Budapest)
Day 10 morning train to Bratislava and night in Bratislava
Day 11 depart from Vienna/Bratislava Airport.

OTHERWISE
Day 1 Depart
Day 2 Arrive Vienna
Day 3 Vienna
Day 4 Vienna/Day trip someplace
Day 5 Vienna
Day 6 mid-day train to Budapest
Day 7 Budapest
Day 8 Budapest/Szentendre Day trip
Day 9 Budapest
Day 10 morning train to Bratislava
Day 11 depart from Vienna/Bratislava Airport

(but I might be inclined to do a bit more research and decide if I wanted to cut a night from Vienna or Budapest to add to Bratislava)

Thank you. We could fly for FREE Salzburg to Budapest but may be a pain vs train but would take same amount of time as train. Thoughts?

Arrive Salzburg Day 1 - 1:40pm
Day 2 Salzburg
Day 3 Salzburg
Day 4 fly to Budapest 6:35 am arrive 12:20pm (thru Frankfurt) or train
Day 5 Budapest
Day 6 Budapest
Day 7 Bratislava overnight on way to Vienna
Day 8 Vienna
Day 9 Vienna
Day 10 Vienna
Day 11 depart Vienna 1pm

Maybe that is too short in each place.

What you have I'd an okay solution. I would trade a day from Salzburg to Budapest and take the train. It's just more interesting use of time and less stress. Also remember there isn't a whole lot of difference in travel time between Vienna and the airport and Bratislava and the airport. And study Vienna and Budapest and maybe for your taste swap a day between Vienna and Budapest.

Arrive Salzburg Day 1 - 1:40pm
Day 2 Salzburg
Day 3 train to Budapest
Day 4 Budapest
Day 5 Budapest
Day 6 Budapest
Day 7 early train to Vienna (cause evenings in Budapest are beautiful)
Day 8 Vienna
Day 9 Vienna
Day 10 morning train to Bratislava
Day 11 depart Vienna airport 1pm

I cannot comment on Innsbruck, but I have visited the other 4 cities on your list, in fewer days then you are proposing, so yes, it is doable. On a 6-country Christmas Market Honeymoon, those 4 cities made up the second half of our two week vacation. You only need one night in Salzburg (we stayed at the Immlauer Hotel Pitter - they gave us a Honeymoon upgrade so of course I'd recommend them!). Two nights in Vienna will allow you a half day in Bratislava - which I highly recommend. Spend 3 nights in Budapest. (The K&K Hotel Opera in Pest was the perfect location and a great value!)

Feel free to message me privately for any tips or information!

I've been to Innsbruck twice and honestly, you're better off spending the time in Budapest or Vienna. (I was in both last month.)

The train between the two is easy and as others have said, Bratislava is only an hour away from Vienna. (But the direct train between Budapest and Vienna doesn't go through Bratislava. It takes a quicker route.)

October is a beautiful time in Central and Eastern Europe. With a continuation of the warmer weather some of the outdoor cafes will be open. Might be a good excuse to run the trip in reverse to grab a little warmer weather chance in Budapest.

I've stayed at the K+K a number of times over 20 years and loved it, but if I were to stay in a hotel now I would try the Hotel Moments. It's getting awards and good press and reviews and is priced well. No budget you say? Then the new Budapest W Hotel is the first choice. Or with 3+ nights, get an apartment and get a little deeper into the feeling at a good price.