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Two Night in Vienna and beyond

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We are going to be in Vienna for 2 nights and are trying to decide which, if any, Tourist Card makes sense to buy and if we need one. This is a first time visit and we want to maximize our time and things to do. Is the Big Bus (apparently hop on/hop off) a good investment since it would save us some time and energy getting around town, especially at the end of the day when we will be tired and want to get back to our hotel for a rest. Any specific places recommended for nights? safe to walk around? We are 3 seniors and this will be the midway point of a Switzerland thru Vienna ending in Budapest rail trip that we have planned ourselves so we can spend time where and how we like.

Any tips/suggestions anyone can provide for Vienna or for Budapest would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks to all and have a blessed day

Posted by
25629 posts

I am no expert on Vienna, but I have been a few times. Stay near the Ringstraße and you wont need transportation at the end of the day. As for the tourist card. You have to see what it gives you and sit down and do the math. I havent met many people who did better using the card. I know in Budapest its near impossible to make the card profitable. But do be sure you get a card for public transportation. That wlll be useful.

Budapest I know a little better

HOHO Bus, no. It just follows the tram tracks and the trams are more enjoyable, more often and a heck of a lot less expensive.

Suggestions for hotels; https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/hungary/budapest-updated-hotel-list
Whats Going on in the city: https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/hungary/updated-budapest-events-for-january-june-2026
Maybe a show?: https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/hungary/updated-budapest-performance-venue-list
Restaurants: There is this one, but I like my list better. I will send it to you: https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/hungary/restaurants-in-budapest-revisited

With out knowing the date that you are coming, and the time of day, and the date that you are leaving (different things going on different times of the year and some things are closed on some days of the week), where you are staying (to suggest things to do without a lot of back tracking), what you are interessted in and how you are departing (walk vs taxi vs metro vs bus vs ??); its difficult to be much more helpful than lists.

Posted by
30312 posts

Vienna has really excellent public transportation, so I wouldn't recommend a HO/HO bus, which would be less flexible and costlier.

Vienna felt very safe to me. I spent over two weeks there in 2024 and walked around a great deal by myself. I'm a senior female.

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