Please first look up on a map all the destinations you want to go to. Try to find a reasonable route to avoid going back and forth, calculating the time needed to go from one place to another. So you will see what will fit into your overall time budget.

The Cadillac trip.

Land in Prague (3N)
2.5 hour direct Train Prague to Cesky Krumlov (2N)
3.25 hour Bean Shuttle Cesky Krumlov to Vienna (4N) + nights for your bike tours, Melk, etc.
1.3 hour direct Train Vienna to Gyor / Pannonhalma Archabbey (1N)
1.3 hour direct Train Gyor to Budapest (4N)
5 hour direct Train Budapest to Graz (2N)
3 hour (one change) Train Graz to Hallstatt (2N): or rent a car and drive to Hallstatt and Salzburg. Or use Daytrip and let them drive.
2.5 hour train (one change) Train Hallstatt to Salzburg (3N)
2 hour Train Salzburg to Munich (2N)
Fly home

Thank you both. The Cadillac trip does sound wonderful but may be a bit much for us this time around - I am going to look into it though - have not had the chance quite yet.

For now, I have come up with an itinerary I think may work - still needs to be filled in but think enough for me to book my flights. I realize we could visit Salzburg without staying there, but we fly from the US to Frankfurt, three-hour layover, then on to Salzburg, arriving in the evening. So I think a couple days to visit there and recover from our travels will be good.

3 of 9 • Okay. Have spent a bit more time on this. We will get in to Salzburg by air on Sept 5 evening, spend 3 nites Salzburg so have two full days there.

On Sept 8 travel by car to St Wolfgang and stay 3 nites, with a day trip to Hallstatt from there.
Sept 11 drive to Wachau Valley, stay 2 nites somewhere there, and spend the one full day there on bike ride, see Melk Abbey either on arrival or departure day from Wachau Valley.
Sept 13 drive to Vienna and return the car (drop off fee about $50). Stay 4 nites Vienna.
Sept 17 train to Budapest, Budapest 5 nites.
Sept 22 travel by train to Prague, stay 4 nites.
Sept 26 fly home.
Doable? We really like the idea of exploring those areas by car with the freedom to see things along the way, stop when we like. Open to suggestions for thing not to miss, etc.
Thank you!

First, you wrote "number" 3 of 9, but you used a hash tag for "number" which is why the giant text.

Sure, doable and fun.

Check that drop off fee, just sounds too good. But maybe. What do I know.

Trains Vienna to Budapest check Regiojet and MAV; usually cheaper than OBB. Trains to Prague check Regiojet, CD and MAV. AND check Ryanair.

Too bad you cant be in Budapest a week sooner. The Buda wine festival is a wonderful event. But I will keep an eye open for your dates. September is a great time here. Buy any tickets ASAP as things sell out here.

I would stay 5 nights in Vienna and 4 nights in Budapest.

Edited: sounded a bit crass.

Thats germanic exceptionalism gone wild OR, to be fair, we are all different which is why the world is so different. I do know quite a few people who would agree with you. Part of the challenge of planning a trip.

Thank you all again!!! Sorry for the giant text issue.

I will jump on the rest of my reservations asap and I will consider adding a night to Vienna and taking a night from Budapest - have to do more in-depth research. And thank you for the train recommendations also! Getting excited!

Thats german exceptionalism gone wild.

May I kindly remind you that Vienna is in Austria.