Vienna, Prague, and Budapest

I don't think 10 days is too many to see Vienna and either Prague or Budapest in a little depth. Especially if you go to Melk for a day while in Vienna.

As to which one? I'm a beer guy and I would pick Prague. You should get lots of thoughts with more depth about why one over the other.

Is your 10 days on the ground or does that include your travel days?

I like both Prague and Budapest, but my choice would be Budapest. Five full days there is not too much. And if you want to, there are easy day trips. Five days might be a touch too long (just for me) in Prague. But there is no wrong choice. Both are fascinating to me.

And I’m a wine drinker, not a beer drinker. Budapest definitely wins there.

It does come down to what you like most, but 10 days is an okay trip to two of the three. Even if two of the days are travel days.

If it were Vienna and Prague, I would do a third the time in Prague and two thirds in Vienna. Just about size of the must see zone and the must see things to do.

If it were Vienna and Budapest, I would do 50/50 which shorts Budapest a bit, but your primary goal is Vienna so maybe this time its worth shorting it a bit. Otherwise 40/60 in favor of Budapest. Again, based on size of the must see sone and must see things to do. Exception to that is if you are a museum hound, then Vienna wins the additional time.

Vienna to Budapest is 2.5 hours. Vienna to Prague is 4 hours so that may help your decision making. And you havent got the time for stops along the way. If the ten days includes travel days, then Budapest, cause every hour will count.

Austria is a bit pricy, Budapest is cheaper and Prague falls in the middle if that helps.

Then it comes down to what interests you when you travel. Rather than do an endless list, what does interest you when your travel? Post that and I suspect you get a lot more suggestions.

And the regulars here will note that I am rarely this objective. And yes, it is killing me. So for my personal bias here is my RS Profile link where there is additional information on Budapest. https://community.ricksteves.com/users/50322

And as TTM knows, the wine is excellent. But the local beer is pretty good and in a bar about 2 euro a pint. Czech beer in a pub here is maybe a tad less than Czech beer in a pub in Prague.

Here are some other opinions. You can find a lot if you google Prague or Budapest. These do pretty good at explaining the differences, similarities, and who might be attracted to which.

https://www.reddit.com/r/TravelHacks/comments/tx5y9e/budapest_or_prague/
https://www.nomadepicureans.com/europe/prague-vs-budapest/
https://bbqboy.net/prague-or-budapest-which-to-visit/
https://elizabetheverywhere.com/prague-or-budapest/

Eliminate Prague because it’s the outlier. You can travel from Vienna to Budapest on arrival day in 2h 45m. A train between Vienna and Prague takes 4h. The longer you’re sitting on a train after a night of no sleep will cause you to doze off so make this segment as short as possible.
You need a minimum of four nights in Budapest and five nights in Vienna if you include a day trip to Bratislava’s old town by direct train (1h). From the Bratislava-Petrzalka train station take a taxi to the old town.

I have flight benefits and can fly direct to Vienna, but not Budapest
or Prague

Does this mean you will arrive and depart from Vienna? If it does, then Prague becomes a bit more problematic as its a bit longer a trip back an forth. The arverage direct train to Prague is 4:05. The Average direct train to Budapest is 2:27. 90 minutes extra one way becomes 3 hours on a round trip. But still doable if thats your desire. If you choose Budapest and if you buy the ticket from MAV about 30 to 90 days prior you can probably get a ticket for 13 to 24 euro.

So, round trip to Vienna like this maybe?
1 Arrive Vienna
2 Vienna
3 Vienna
4 Morning or After lunch train to Budapest
5 Budapest
6 Budapest
7 Budapest
8 Morning train to Vienna
9 Vienna
10 Flight home

If you have another day, spend it in Vienna at the end (how is that for objective?)
If this is one day longer than you have, take it from Vienna at the end.

For Prague, just replace "Budapest" with "Prague". Still works.

I wouldnt do any day trips from Vienna or Budapest. Save that for your return.

I would give one day more to Vienna. If you opt for Prague, then another day.

So, now the debate might be how much time in each city. That depends on what you are interested in. I will try and fight my personal bias a bit longer.

I’ve been to all of them. If you are a museum hound, then more time is Vienna is appropriate. If you are more into living cultures and the ambiance of the then more time in Budapest would be appropriate. https://humbo.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com/place-photo/6582d64468e99690b75967dc/sAhdrsWKdS.jpeg and https://assets.micontenthub.com/traveloffers/travel-tips/hungarian-parliament-and-yellow-tram-in-budapest-hungary_y8sMg8V_m.jpg and https://1drv.ms/i/s!Ai7Zk-szxfTJjI8ns8gCBSZcO7kw8Q?e=MAHcco

If you love Paris, you will most likely love Budapest. If you love Berlin, you will most likely love Vienna.

I split it sort of even above, because I have no idea what you enjoy. It your interests were totally universal, because the difference in size between the two cities, Budapest will take more time to visit the same number of attractions. But it has to be about what you enjoy, not what anyone here, including me, thinks is best.

Some May events in Budpaest are here: https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/hungary/dec-thru-june-25 I am sure you can find something similar on the Czech and Austria forum.

Ten days is plenty for two cities! Skip Budapest. Prague is easier to get to from Vienna and offers a completely different vibe. You'll have a great time.

First of all, none of the three citeis is similar, so there is a different vibe frome each. Which to choose on that account is only about what interests a person. Cant do wrong as long as you identify what you will most enjoy out of three different cultures and atmospheres. I cant tell the OP what they will or will not like, cause I dont know them.

Then there is the Prague is easier to get to. I am interested in how you came to that conclusion?

Train station to train station Vienna to Prague is just over 4 hours and Vienna to Budapest just under 2.5 hours. One train, direct in both cases. Throw in travel time from the station to the center tourism in each city and the difference is still about 90 minutes using one additional form of transportation in each case (taxi or public transportation).

If easier somehow means cheaper it still doesnt work. A Vienna to Prague direct train at a bit more than 4 hours travel time at a decent hour of the morning is 88 euro on OBB. Vienna to Budapest on MAV, same date, same time of day, same "fastest train" would be 33 euro. (I checked next Wednesday).

Skip Budapest. Prague is easier to get to from Vienna and offers a completely different vibe.

Easier? I just took RegioJet train from Budapest to Vienna - 2 hr 45 mins for USD 24.00.

Budapest also offers a very different vibe from Vienna - a bit grittier, hipper, and spectacular setting on the Danube. Budapest has excellent mass transit and is more spread out, so you don't see the tourist crush that exists in Prague's main square.

Thank you so much for all of these replies!
It sounds like Prague is the outlier, with the longer train ride. Will we be sad, missing Cesky Krumlov, which is between Prague and Vienna? I am not really sure if it is possible to stop there on the way and spend one night there, to break up the train ride?

The 10 days is a little flexible; could be 11 or 12 if needed. I will also look into day trips from Budapest and Vienna.

We may try to fly into Vienna and out of Budapest. Basically it just makes it more complicated as there are not direct flights form Budapst to LAX, and flying standby using flight benefits, we get nearly free flights, but each time we have to get on a new flight, we might not be able to get on the plane, and have ot plan for that. So may just need to plan for an extra day of flexibility, or can return to Vienna or anyplace else that has direct flights.

What is meant by Budapest being "gritty"?

For more about what interests us: We are in our 30s. I loved Salzburg, Venice, Amalfi, Rome, Oxford, Halstat, Paris, London. But, tire quickly of museums, unless it is something like a museum in a palace or I have a guide really giving context to things. Did not go to see David when in Florence as the line was long and it was just a museum! Did enjoy all of the palaces in Germany and Austria--felt less like museums at that point. Not into night life. We're foodies--love trying all kinds of good food, and will go out of our way to get good food, especially specialties of the area. Love walking old streets and exploring historical landmarks. Love being outdoors.

Thanks for all of your suggestions!

Will we be sad, missing Cesky Krumlov, which is between Prague and
Vienna? I am not really sure if it is possible to stop there on the
way and spend one night there, to break up the train ride?

It is not on the way via train.

You enjoyed Salzburg and London, and there is maybe a little more of the same feel in Budapest than there is in Vienna or Prague.

Vienna is one of the great museum (dead things under glass) cities of the world, but don’t fret there are a few other things to do too.

"Not in to nightlife", then Budapest has the edge over the central European party capital: Prague. To be fair, Budapest does have District VII which has a bit of parting in it, but easy to avoid and not essential to any tourism.

"Love walking old streets": You can walk old streets till you shoes wear out and you will only it 5% of Budapest. So that works for you. You know, even Prague and Vienna have more than they get credit for, its just that in each, the major tourism is in such a small zone that few explore further out. In Budapest the size of the “historic district” is so large that you are sort of forced to take it all in and its beautiful, fascinating, and very, very “Hungarian”.

Food? I think every city has the best. Budapest is a city the size of Chicago with a population close to that of Houston. As you would expect in a major city there is food, good food, from every corner of the globe. But it is best to try that which is hard to find elsewhere. Hungarian of course and the choices are back street to Michelin Star and basic to fusion, but also Georgian and Bosnian and Transylvanian and Ukrainian for instance. The link on my profile page has a pretty extensive list of restaurants in it.

You are going to miss Cesky Krumlov. That is too bad. I think it’s a great place despite the tourist crowds. I love it . On the rail line halfway between Vienna and Budpaest is the town of Gyor. Gyor has a great old town, very “real” very “Hungarian”. Just outside of Gyor is the village of Pannonhalma and sitting on a hilltop in Pannonhalma is the high holy of Hungarian Catholicism; the ArchAbbey of Pannonhalma with roots to 996AD and a crypt from the 13th century and a working winery with some pretty decent wine. In Gyor is a great hotel for a night, once a 18th century cloister. So, there is a extra night on the way to Budapest.

There are a number of decent day trips out of Budapest. All depends on when you travel and how much time you have as some are a long half day, others a long full day. And of course your interests. A vineyard maybe or a castle or another great great church like the Basilica of Esztergom or a small slavic artist town.

I have already begun collecting things to do in Budapest and Hungary next year: https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/hungary/dec-thru-june-25 and there is a bit more in a file linked on my profile page https://community.ricksteves.com/users/50322

I haven't been to Prague since 2018, but I spent a week each in Budapest and Vienna this summer. Those are all great cities; nearly everyone could have a great time in any of them, though individuals could certainly have different preferences.

I think Budapest gets the nod for foodies, if only because costs are noticeably lower and there are so many interesting options. You can definitely eat well in Prague and Vienna, but it's likely to cost you more.

Vienna is better for folks who want to overdose on art museums.

Budapest is the place for fans of Art Nouveau/Jugenstil architecture.

Prague is better for people interested in beer rather than wine.

A tourist on a short visit probably won't encounter much in the way of grittiness in Budapest; it's not like Naples or Palermo or Marseille. It does have some areas not yet fully renovated, whereas Vienna within the Ring and to some degree beyond is very much polished to perfection.

You really cannot make a bad decision here.

acraven, pretty spot on. I know people in love with Prague and those with Vienna and those with Budapest; and they are all correct. Great cities, all three.

Hard to beat the splendor of so much restored and polished in one small area like in Vienna.

Hard to beat the quantity of architecture all in one small area with medieval roots like in Prague.

Both Prague and Vienna are maybe easier visits because everything that most go to see is located in a very compact zone. Of course that means you are mostly among tourists; the tourism density is fairly high, and you get a bit of a Disney feel from that. Just accept that and it’s they are beautiful cities to visit.

A trip to Budapest sort of forces you to live the city and that can be fascinating if you are into cultures and differences. The tourism density is a lot lower because of the size of the “historic district” (there really isn’t one, it’s the whole city).

Here is a guy that discovered Budapest describing how visually pleasurable Budapest is: https://youtu.be/0nd9DuDGCz0?si=aa0c19KaJHEtabkX watch the whole show, its on Youtube too. And a great travel video for Budapest (the same guy has a good on for Vienna too, but notice the difference in his attitude between the two): https://youtu.be/1nd5AtZIrTk?feature=shared

You should travel for interest, not for price, but the reality of getting the best trip for the dollar is always real. So in very broad terms, if your trip to Vienna costs $10 a day, it would cost you $8 a day in Prague and $7 a day in Budapest. Start with hotel costs to get a feeling.

Size and time to reach everything is also important for how long you stay.

General tourism where you go look at the outside of everything and maybe peek in the door briefly: Prague and Vienna you hit the top sights in 3 full days, Budapest will take you 4 full days.

If you love Museums then add a foruth to a half a day for each .....

A bath house a fourth to a half day extra (sort of a living culture museum)

Organized bulding tours, a fourth to a half a day.

In any of the three do take in a cultural evening in a concert, theater, opera, operett. For the layman its equally as good in any of the three cities. Many of the venues are truly beautiful, some are truly local and you might be one of a very few tourists and thats always fun.

This is great info! I am visiting these 3 cities as part of a tour in December 2025 and will be interested in any tips for things like food, money, temperature and climate. I am sure highlights will be included as part of the tour but for free time I appreciate all the suggestions on things to see.