Fall trip to Vienna, Prague, Ljubljana, Budapest

I like your schedule. Unlike some others you are giving enough nights to each destination. Vienna can easily take 5 nights. If you feel for change you can add day trips. Melk, Bratislava. So called Small Carpathians start in northern suburbs of Bratislava. Those are just nice hills. If you meant jagged mountains those are High Tatras too far away for a feasible day trip. If you want to do a day trip from Prague I would suggest castle Karlstejn or Kutna Hora. Cesky Krumlov is very picturesque but small town. As a day trip from there I would suggest Ceske Budejovice. It is a bigger town with a historical center and a very nice big square. German name of C.B. is Budweis so you guess correctly that is a home of original Budweiser. You can take a tour of brewery (ask for tour in English) and there is a tasting involved, too. Salzburg probably needs just 2 full days but if you take it easy you can fill three days. Ljubljana is a pretty and cozy town, go to the castle, stroll the streets, take a boat ride on the river, if weather cooperates sit in the many coffee houses outdoors. Find some other day trips from there, 6 nights seems too many for just Ljubljana even with a day trip to Bled. Piran is a nice town but small. I would probably steal one night from it (maybe from Ljubljana too) and add it to Prague or if you want to see real Carpathians you can create two nights there in High Tatras. I would recommend Strbske Pleso. James is singing praise about hotel Kempinski. It of course deserves it but it is the most expensive hotel there. Zagreb did not particularly impress me but it has been a long time since I visited it. Plitvice is certainly worth seeing. It is not a real hike there, just an easy walk. With 7 nights in Budapest you can do some day trips. I suggest Eger and Tokaj area nearby with a lot of opportunity to taste some of the best Hungarian wines.

Tihany is beautiful and worth the effort.  Other places to consider in Hungary are Eger, Pecs, Gyor / Pannonhalma Archabbey; all great overnight trips.  In the Czech Rep I think one night is plenty for Cesky Krumlov, although I love the town.  Also some great Castles in the Czech Rep that can be worked into a trip to Cesky K.  In Slovakia the High Tatras are spectacular and as previously alluded to I love the Kempinsky Grand High Tatras Hotel.  One of the finest resorts we have stayed at.  Another great hotel on the same mountain lake is the Hotel Patrina. We travel to Slovakia on occassion to go fishing.  Slovakia also has some great castles.  Connections to Budapest are quick and easy through Kosice.  Post in the Hungary Forum and maybe I can dream up some more on Hungary.

Hotel Patria (no Patrina) used to be the best hotel in Strbske Pleso under communism. Strbske Pleso has many and less expensive hotels.

Thanks, Ilja and James. This is very helpful. I think I will remove a day from Salzburg and from Llubjana ... so now I have 4 nights to fill between Llubjana and Budapest. I will look at all of your suggestions and see what makes sense from a logistics standpoint. Thanks for your help.