We are taking a trip to Europe with our family of 5 (kids 15, 13, 11) and will be in the ground for 25 days and have an additional 2 days of flying in addition to those. The plan is 4 nights in Budapest, 4 in Vienna, 4 in Prague, 4 in Munich, 4 in Salzburg and 5 in Switzerland. Should I take 1 night off Salzburg? I read that might be too much time there although we are planning to take 1 day trip to Eagle's Nest. Also, considering staying in the Garmish area instead of Munich but that would definitely switch our schedule for Salzburg. Should I just keep the schedule as is? We're planning to take the scenic train ride from Salzburg to Zurich (this is why we were thinking Munich and then Salzburg...thoughts?) and then on to Lucerne. I'd like to stay in the Andermatt region for a few nights, but think I would need another night pilfered from Salzburg. I read that you only need 2 nights in Lucerne and we would have to stay there first bc of the long train ride from Austria. Could I stay 2 nights in Lucerne, 2 in the Andermatt area (I read Jungfrau area is really too far and doesn't make sense for our limited time there) and the last night in Zurich before our flight at 11:30 the next day or would that be too much switching around? Is it better to base in Lucerne for the whole trip? I know that's a lot of questions and I greatly appreciate any advice and first hand experience you have.
Posted by
Green Bay
23258 posts
Re Train from Salzburg. There is a rail reconstruction project between Feldkirch, Austria and Buchs, Switzerland. Your choice is to take a very early train (6:56 am) that includes a train diversion to go direct to Zurich (thus a bit longer train ride) or a later train with a replacement bus between Feldkirch and Buchs.
Posted by
below Canada / above Mexico
358 posts
In Aug/Sep 2025 my wife and I stayed in (for the first time) Budapest (4 nights), Vienna (5), Prague (5), Salzburg (3), Munich (3), and a few other locations. This included a 1 day trip from Salzburg to the Eagle's Nest by bus. Our first hand experiences are in our trip reports:
- Vienna, Salzburg, Munich: https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/trip-report-austria-bavaria-aug-sep-2025
- Budpest: https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/trip-report-hungary-aug-2025
- Prague: https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/trip-report-czechia-aug-2025
Posted by
OP
13 posts
When I look up the train tickets it's routing us through Munich instead of Innsbruck ( assuming bc of the construction you're talking about). Should I change our itinerary to go to Prague, Salzburg and then Munich? It doesn't really seem to make sense to go from Prague to Munich to Salzburg and then get routed back through Munich on our way to Lucerne.
Posted by
OP
13 posts
Thank you so much GeoffB! I'll look through your info. I'm sure that will help very much with our trip planing.
Posted by
Republic of Texas / U.S.A. / Magyarország / Budapest
25941 posts
Everyone is different. So, there isn’t a right or wrong. With my interests and based on the size of the cities involved, well the size of the part of the cities that I am interested in:
Budapest would be 5 nights for me and if it is the first place you land then even that is tight relative to being balanced with the others. But at 5, not unduly so. No, not just because I live here. If Vienna were where you land, I would say 5 there and 4 in Budapest.
Vienna I would say 4 but do get an early train to Vienna so you get the most out of that first day. Very much a ching ching city.
Prague I have trouble going past 3 nights with. If you do a day trip out of town then maybe I could justify 4.
Munich, I just can’t be objective. Never been there. Probably will never go. Wonderful place I am sure but doesn’t light my fire. I would spend a few nights in Cesky Krumlov instead.
Salzburg, yea, I wouldn’t complain about 2 nights but 3 is probably fair. 4 nights? No, that would be testing me too much. I would rather spend 2 nights in Hallstatt and 2 in Salzburg.
Switzerland is another … never been. Depends on your plans in Switzerland (and your budget … ching ching).
Sorry, I didn’t help you any.
Posted by
Green Bay
23258 posts
Should I change our itinerary to go to Prague, Salzburg and then Munich?
You can actually get from Prague to Salzburg in 1/2 hour less time than Prague to Munich, although you do have to do a train change in Linz. And Salzburg to Munich can be done with a Bayern Ticket on the direct regional train.