3 days in Prague or 3 days in Budapest

So, 2 days in Munich (I hope that mean two full days or 3 nights), then 3 days (I am guessing 4 nights) in Vienna then 3 days (I am guessing 4 nights) in either Prague or Budapest.

I am tempted to say Prague because 3 days is all you need in Prague.

On the other hand door to door on the train from Vienna to Prague it about 6.5 hours (5.5 hours on the train + to and from the station), while Vienna to Budapest is 3.6 hours (2.6 hours on the train + ...). So Budapest is an easier trip and you can see quite a bit in 3 days.

The real question is what are you interested in? If you are under 30 I would lean to Prague, over 40 towards Budapest.

Here is some poop on Budapest. Someone else can help you on Prague: Favorite Video of Budapest https://youtu.be/1nd5AtZIrTk?feature=shared Bourdain on how visually pleasurable Budapest is https://youtu.be/0nd9DuDGCz0?si=aa0c19KaJHEtabkX

Your question and your title have me confused.

Both Budapest and Prague are very worthwhile and 3 full days would be great in both. I somehow have a feeling you mean 3 nights, though, so less than 3 days. And I also don’t understand if you are trying to choose between them or have 3 days for both.

So maybe Munich, then Vienna, then Budapest, then fly to,Prague? Buy multi-city airfare into Munich and out of Prague.

If you are flying home from Munich and can’t fly multi-city, maybe drop Prague for this trip and add more days to,Vienna and Budapest.

TTM, I ran with the title.

So in October the OP goes to Germany. Then the last two days are spent with her husband in Munich; then three days in Vienna; then the question is what is next? Depends on how much time. Munich is not less than a 3 night city. Then between Munich and Vienna are Salzburg and Hallstatt and a couple of "Bad" towns. You could easily spend 4 nights just reaching Vienna. Vienna is a easily a 4 night city, then 2.6 hours away is Budapest another easy 4 night city. Following Budapest one could fly to Prague for 4 more nights.

If after Munich all the OP has is 6 nights I might be inclined to maybe stop in Salzburg for a night or two and use the rest in Vienna.

If after Munich all the OP has is 8 nights, then maybe 4 in Vienna and 4 in Budapest.

These questions are best done with detail. When exactly are you leaving Munich. The date can matter, the day of the week can matter. When exactly do you have to be on a plane back home and what do you enjoy when you travel?

Good Morning,
I will have already been in Munich three days and have visited there before. My husband is coming from the States on Oct 3. I will meet him on the 4th (after traveling in Germany) and then we will travel to Vienna, Prague and Budapest. Hope this explains things.

Flying out of Prague, hopefully!

Then TexasTravelMom has the best idea. If you dont have the time for 4 nights in Vienna, Budapest, Prague then skip one. If you have never bern to Salzburg or Hallstatt you could do that instead of Budapest or Prague or add 3 more nights to your trip.

That does help. I agree that 4 nights in each will give you a good trip. (As always, if - like me - time is what you have, more is usually better.) Keep in mind that 4 nights gives you 3 days and a little bit. Moving city to city eats up time.

You didn’t specifically ask about order; but if it were me, I would look at flight times for the Budapest-Prague leg to help me determine which to visit after Vienna. If convenient times for your schedule don’t provide a clear winner, then I would train Vienna to Budapest first and fly Budapest to Prague. Edit: also factor in the times/cost of return from either Prague or Budapest as you decide. But it’s great you were already planning multi-city!

The driving force here is you are starting in Munich.

Scenario A
You can train Munich to Prague in about 5.5 hours with arrival times late afternoon; losing you most of the day. And 58€ (DB) for the honor. Then you spend another 4.2 hours getting to from Prague to Vienna for about 48€ (OBB). Followed by 2.6 hours to Budapest for about 19€ (MAV).
So, 12.3 hours on a train for about 125€ (I did that in my head, check me).

Scenario B
You can train to Vienna in 4.1 hours for 38€ (DB), then 2.6 hours to Budapest for about 19€ (MAV) then train to Prague in 6.9 hours for 44€ (MAV).
So, 13.6 hours for about 101€

Scenario C
You can train to Vienna in 4.1 hours for 38€ (DB), then 2.6 hours to Budapest for about 19€ (MAV) then fly to Prague in 1.25 hours for about 80€ with a checked bag.
So, 7.95 hours for about 137€ (I did that in my head, check me).

Wait!! The airport is far away the train isnt! And pre-flight time and and and. Okay, add 2.5 hours to the flight for the difference in going to the BUD airport vs Nyugati Station. So 10.45 hours vs 13.6 with the train. For me the determining factor would be which arrives in Prague earlier so I have more time to play.

You may come up with better or worse depending on your dates and how far in advance you buy. This was all second class and to be honest I might go first to avoid all the folks that might be standing in the aisles (or none are, you never know).

Check the fares from the train companies at both ends. So the Czech company, the Hungarian company the German company and the Austrian company. Generally the Czech and Hungarians will be the cheapest and the Austrians the most expensive; but not always. Same train, same seats, same schedule. So buy on price.

AND I FORGOT, RegioJet goes from Prague to Budapest and Vienna to Budapest for a lot less than MAV or DB or CZ or anyone else.