Vienna, Budapest, and……

Posted by tay (Idaho) on 02/05/26 06:41 AM

Hi there,

I just booked round trip tickets out of Vienna for 13 nights at the end of November & into early December.

It will be my partner and I traveling & the only 2 places that we absolutely must go to are Vienna and Budapest! I’m planning to stay in 1-2 other places, I am just not sure where yet! I’m curious if anyone has any ideas or recommendations!

Here is my criteria/ wants -

I want it to make sense to go to, I don’t want to travel too far out of the way.

We’ll fly into Vienna & then ideally, leave immediately and come back for our last days.

We won’t be renting a car, but be accessible by train & walkable.

I’d love to go somewhere a little under the radar, a bit smaller.

We like the outdoors, art, food, Christmas Markets, little shops, etc!

I’d rather not go to Prague as I have already been!

Thanks in advance!

Posted by steven

white plains, ny, usa

02/05/26 07:19 AM

4215 posts

" Smaller and under the radar " charming as well ! Thirty minutes from the tram stop at the Vienna State Opera, the Badner Bahn ( blue and white tram ) will take you to Baden bei Wien

Posted by OliviaHoughton

Somerset, UK

02/05/26 07:42 AM

5 posts

Durnstein is easily accessible from Vienna and is beautiful. Plenty of other little towns in the Wachau like that.

Posted by Lin C

Surrey, UK

02/05/26 12:02 PM

792 posts

How about charming and quirky Bratislava short trin ride from Vienna.

Posted by Mr É 🇺🇸 🇺🇦 🇭🇺

Republic of Texas / U.S.A. / Magyarország / Budapest

02/05/26 01:19 PM

25254 posts

I always do better with actual dates as some days of the work can be better suited for certain things than others and then there are the special events you might want to see.

I wouldn't land in Vienna and immediately run unless it were to Bratislava. That would be my only excuse to spend time in Bratislava and in this case 1 night.

Then a direct late afternoon train to Budapest. Yes, for my opinion of Bratislava arrival afternoon and the next morning is enough.

Plan Budapest for 5 nights (remember the first night you arrive sort of late). Do a daytrip to Szentendre or Székesfehérvár for the markets.

Then the train to Gyor and the Archabby in Pannonhalma. With luck there is something special at the Archabby. I need dates to look. Spend the night in a converted old convent in Gyor and enjoy a small town Christmas market.

Then the morning train to Vienna. Four nights in Vienna.

I think you have one night left. Read, watch videos, check actual dates and events, then add that day to Budapest or Vienna. I think its a no-brainer, Budapest, as the tourism area is several times larger in Budapest and Budapest is 4.7342 times more beautiful than Vienna. But I might be biased.

Posted by wmt1

02/05/26 10:37 PM

2686 posts

Budapest is 4.7342 times more beautiful than Vienna

You failed the math exam. :-)

Posted by Mr É 🇺🇸 🇺🇦 🇭🇺

Republic of Texas / U.S.A. / Magyarország / Budapest

02/06/26 12:23 AM

25254 posts

You are correct. I checked my math and the correct answer is 6.847 times more beautiful. I read that the among the resasons are: Budapest has a rare combo—imperial grandeur and grit, romance and edge, beauty that feels lived-in, not staged. A lot of “prettier” cities can feel like museums. Budapest feels like a love affair.