Budapest - Vienna - Prague Itinerary 14 days suggestions

Any reason you're not just taking the train from Budapest to Vienna?

Yes, we would like to see Pannonhalma Abbey and Esztergom as well.

If you go to Pannonhalma, I recommend allowing some time to enjoy the nearby town of Gyor. It has a very pretty historic center an a number of small museums, mostly art-related. If you have any interest in art you can fill more than a half-day there.

For Pannonhalma, I recommend checking the abbey's website for news of special events and avoiding visiting on the weekend if you can. I had a frustrating day when I tried to go there. I was using public transportation, and the bus dropped me off way down at the bottom of the hill because a bike race was scheduled that day. It was quite a hot uphill walk to the abbey. It was annoying but doable for me; some folks would have looked up and bailed. Then when I got to the abbey it turned out much of it was inaccessible until mid-afternoon because of a special ceremony. I don't know whether the ceremony was mentioned on the website; I blame myself for not having checked. I had asked the tourist office how to get to the abbey the day before, and they didn't mention the ceremony.

ewong, great idea for the trip from Budapest to Vienna. If I were going to do it I would hire a guy I know named Laszlo to drive from Budapest to Esztergom and then to Pannonhalma (http://silverwings.hu/price.htm). From Pannonhalma I would call a taxi on to the train station in Gyor and take a train on into Vienna. But you know its going to be a busy has heck day.... Still great stops!!

March in Budapest can be beautiful. Cool, but beautiful; and you are spending enough time there to get them most out of it. Good plan.

For Cesky Krumlov, see if CK Shuttle runs the route. If not, Bean. Ive got no experience with them, but they seem to be the most often used.

Cesky Krumlov

All sites are closed in March so you just can see the bones of the town without being able to pass through any doors except hotels and restaurants and maybe a shop or 2. At least it won’t be crowded.

Thanks everyone for your responses. Regarding Cesky Krumlov, I presume the restaurants will be open? I am aware that the castle will be closed during that time... But we just want to have a wander through the town and have a feel for the atmosphere. Also, regarding visiting the Bohemian Switzerland park, does anyone have good suggestions for tour groups and roughly what level of fitness does it demand to see the main attractions? Thanks