Amsterdam to Budapest Drive - Christmas

The really isn't an answer. If the weather is good and the roads clear then there really is no problems. But if weather is bad, ice storm comes in, then it is a dice roll. When we have traveled at that time of year with trains it has been fine except for one day with an ice storm and even the trains do not handle the icing on the overhead wires and tracks. That day took most of the day to go what should have been a two hour train ride. I think you have to be prepared for worse and hope for the best. The Christmas period is a peak travel time so it doesn't surprise me that airline tickets are expensive. Good luck.

Why drive? Why not take the train and make a couple of stops in Germany and Austria along the way. Would be less issue about weather and road conditions and may even be less expensive. Maybe even check out one-way flights from Budapest back to Amsterdam, those may be affordable and save the time of taking the train back. I'd at least check into other options before choosing to drive at this time of year.

https://www.viamichelin.com
https://www.bahn.com/en/view/index.shtml

According to Via Michelin it is a 14 hour drive.... with two logical routes. The weather will be the major factor. I would take the trains myself, which would also be about 14 hours. There will be at most 8 hours of daylight so splitting up the trip into 4 hour segments that can be done during daylight (even in iffy weather) would be ideal. Stopping in major cities may be an issue with a car since most have pedestrian zones in their centers.

Note: in Germany everything will be closed after noon on Saturdays (21st, 28th) and on Sundays (22nd, 29th) and Christmas Eve and Christmas Day so you will probably want to find a base for the 24th-26th along the route, although that will be in the middle of your journey (can you get to Budapest by the 24th?) And make several stops on the way back).

On the other hand, this could be a great way to visit some of the lesser visited cities (and Christmas Markets) along your route like Bamberg, Regensburg, Linz, etc.

Good luck planning a route and finding accommodations.

Thanks for the input and voices my thoughts exactly. Trains does seem like an option and i will definitely check it out too. It is definitely better in terms of weather n not needing to worry about being stuck; but it losses the flexibility and ease, since then we will need to carry our baggage everywhere and be restricted to cities that have a good connection at that time of the year.

We don't intend to stay in major cities - visit them during the day but stay-wise B&B along the way should also be OK, with 3-4 nights in Budapest.

It may not be as easy as you imagine to figure out what to do with your car when you visit a major city in transit. Often you cannot drive into the historic core. If you arrive by train, you'll virtually always find a taxi rank right outside the station if you need one. That's not necessarily going to be the case near some random parking lot where you ditch the car.

//We have been around Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg quite a few times//
A map glace suggests that just over half of the drive is in Germany, passing several big cities. I don't see why you want to spend half the trip passing places you have already seen. (I love Germany, and I'm sure it's inexhaustible, but your OP has the air of a jaded traveler who wants us to confirm your good idea.)

Austria is also attractive in holiday season. Why not go to Salzburg or Innsbruck (train or plane) and rent a car there? Wouldn't that concentrate on territory you haven't trodden yet?

I suppose you understand that Americans (the majority of this newsboard) will recognize themselves in your dedication to the open road, a clean windshield, and a full tank of gas. (That's a literary reference ... ) It's not my idea of good time, even in summer weather.

Define expensive? EasyJet is 142 euro non stop, departing on Sunday and 119 euro non stop returning on Friday Christmas week. Or split the cost and train down and fly back.

Thanks for the inputs. I know its long and there could be better options to go or better ways to get somewhere. And that's exactly why i thought of posting on this forum.

When i say we have been to Germany, i meant we have seen the Rhine region, Blackforest region, Bavaria (including Salzburg) region, Berlin too.
So, if we were to not go all the way to Budapest, what else could we do? That was the context of "been to Germany". We like visiting quaint towns or nature or local activity.

The plan that i have in my head is: (also updating the main post with it ... )

1. Pickup a car from Dusseldorf (since the rentals there have winter tires included in the rental price amd is much cheaper than to pick it up in Amsterdam). This is around 10 in the morning. We might reach Dusseldorf a day before or the same morning is yet to be decided.

2. Day 1 drive to Nuremberg, a place we haven't seen before, for Christmas markets. Looks to be a 400km drive, so 6 hours

3. Day 2 spend half an day in Rothenburg ob der Tauber, rest of the day in Nuremberg

4. Day 3 drive to Cesky Krumlov. Again about 400 to 450 kms, another 6 hours.

5. Day 4 spend in Cesky Krumlov.

6. Day 5 drive to Bratislava

7. Day 6 Bratislava

8. Day 7 Drive to Budapest

9. Day 8 to 10 Budapest

10. Day 11 / 12 drive back to Dusseldorf, and train or bus back to Amsterdam.

Day5 and Day6 could have been Vienna as well, however from what i read Vienna is too big for just a day, so we will do it another trip.

I know its a lot, and if i see the trains i could take trains to Frankfurt (this i can do from Amsterdam itself), and there to Nuremberg, then onward to Vienna and then Budapest, making a day or 2 long stops at each of the cities, and 4 nights in Budapest.

From what I see flights cost me about 270 to 300 per person return, thats 550- 600 Eur for 2. A car is costing me 270 for rental with winter tires, add to that about 300 or 350 for fuel and vignette or tolls, plus cost to get to and from Dusseldorf. Yet to work out the trains - costs wise.

I am actively looking at the trains too, hopefully will find the route that way.

@Tim - you make a fair point! Agreed and thanks for the perspective!

@acraven - agreed, looking at options via train,

Because I like Contemporary Art, and also the fine, world-class (old) art museum in the UNESCO WHS estate above Duesseldorf (easy tram access), I urge you to consider whether you need any time there - not just for the big airport! I haven't seen much of Munster, but you might be interested.

Visiting a scenic old town (like CK) with snow on the ground isn't quite as easy as hitting a single Christmas Market in a snowy week. So I'd suggest that you have some more compact, or mostly indoor attractions on an alternate list, for bad weather decisions. For example, if you like museums, Dresden has a compact center (although the new town and the river are big attractions in summer.)

I wouldn't drive this is summer, never mind winter, but I see from the Google map that the medieval walled town of Iphofen isn't far off your route, I assume less of a detour than Rothenburg od Tauber. I remember that someone has recommended Iphofen on this forum as a much less touristy alternative, and the photos are gorgeous. Of course, in the winter a more touristy (lively) place like Rothenburgh od Tauber might actually be preferable.

We lived in Augsburg, Germany for four years (87-91) and did a lot of driving all over western and central Europe. Amsterdam to Budapest is a long drive. Yes, you have wisely planned to stop on the way and visit some nice places, but you will use a lot of time driving. Fuel is very expensive in Europe. Also, traffic can be heavy, especially near major cities. If it snows, you will wish you had not done the car drive.

If you are not familiar with driving on the German Autobahn, you need to do research and be familiar with the driving rules. You only use the left lane to pass. Someone approaching you at a higher speed from behind, requires you to move to the right. If there is an accident, you are responsible. Also, some cars drive over 200 KPH.

Parking can be a huge problem in Europe, also the cost.

The Romantic Road includes Rothenberg ob der Tauber, but many other great towns and cities, like Dinkelsbuhl, Donauwurth, Augsburg, Oberamergau, Garmisch, Fussen, and more. It deserves about three days.

This isnt meant to be critical at all, each to their own, but I cant imagine making that car trip in the winter.

That car will cost you no less than 25 euro a day to park along the way. You will have no need for it in Budapest. It will actually slow you down if you try to use it. There are no day trips or overnight trips that I would recommend on a first visit that would benefit from a car. For the cost of parking a car for 12 nights, two of you can fly. Six hours in a car in Europe really isnt any more romantic or beautiful than 6 hours in a car in the United States. Heck, I go nuts after 3.5 hours on a train. The only compromise I would make might be to train down and fly back. That return flight can be a little as 120 euro depending on the day.

Thank you all for taking the time to reply on this. After looking at all the suggestions and considerations and our own apprehension, we finally decided to ditch the car, cut short the vacation to 6-7 days and take the train/flight on Christmas day / New years day as those seem reasonable and go ahead that way ...
Appreciate the time.
Happy holidays to all!