We will be traveling from Vienna to Budapest in mid-September. My wife saw that there was a hydrofoil that makes the trip in about 5 1/2 hours and she is excited about the trip. We will be returning by train to Durnstein where we will spend three days, one taking the ferry to Melk to see the monastery. While perusing the hydrafoil idea on Trip Advisor there were several negative reponses about the hydrofoil, that it was too pricey, it uses communist era hydrafoils that belch diesel, the river is flat and you really can't see anything, and the ride was uncomfortable, Please, anyone who has comments, pro or con, let me know so we can either Hydrfoil or not hydrofoil. Hank , Novato
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16893 posts
Rick's review is not glowing: "High-speed boats connect Vienna to the nearby capitals of Bratislava (Slovakia) and Budapest (Hungary). While it’s generally cheaper and faster to take the train--and the boat is less scenic and romantic than you might imagine--some travelers enjoy (this) Danube riverboat experience."
Posted by
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
8293 posts
Years ago, with great anticipation, we took the hydrofoil to cross the English Channel to France. It was all very exciting to begin with, but after a few minutes the windows were covered with water and we couldn't see a darn thing. It was fast, though.
Posted by
Magyarország / Rep of Texas
17868 posts
Pretty much of the same opinion as the others. Take the train. AND, if you have that extra time that the hydrofoil takes then use it productively. Take the train to Gyor (about 1.5 hours) and take a taxi to the Archabbey at Pannonhalma (about 20 minutes). Then compare Pannonhalma with Melk. Then back to Gyor and back on the train to Budapest (another 1.5 hours or so). Gyor is almost halfway between Vienna and Budapest on the same train track. Better yet, spend a night in Gyor. Great little town with an old baroque center, fantastic old synagogue, decent shopping, couple of interesting rivers, some remnants of medeavil fortification walls still standing and a baroque monastery turned hotel.