Have four additional days to plan for September trip… Netherlands or Budapest? Suggestions please!

Oh, heck, you will be 2.5 hours from the most beautiful and vibrant city in Europe .... do you have to ask?

Weather is good in September. But why not fly Open Jaw? Save a few $$$$

Favorite Tourism Video of Budapest https://youtu.be/1nd5AtZIrTk?feature=shared
Anthony Bourdain describing how visually pleasurable Budapest is https://youtu.be/0nd9DuDGCz0?si=aa0c19KaJHEtabkX
Favorite Guide Book because its small and does the essentials DK Eyewitness Budapest Top 10 https://a.co/d/6JD82mf

If you are here the first week of September there are usually interesting wine or beer festivals in Liberty Park. The big wine festival at the Castle is usually the second week of September.

Hard to disagree with Mr E on this one...though I would personally add another day to Vienna before heading to Budapest.

Since you aren’t staying in Amsterdam, rather in Haarlem, so I recommend Amsterdam. Or consider Leiden. We enjoyed spending a week there.

Jkh, I'm good with spending 3 full days in Vienna, then a morning train out on day 4. That does divide Vienna and Budapest well based on size and time to see things.

I adore Budapest, but I must say I not only agree that you're short on time in Vienna, I think you're also really short on time in Berlin if you're interested in history, especially 20th-century history. If not, I guess 2-1/2 days might be OK.

Since you aren’t staying in Amsterdam, rather in Haarlem, so I recommend Amsterdam. Or consider Leiden. We enjoyed spending a week there. Since you asked, I prefer The Netherlands to Budapest.

Both are great cities, but since you are going to be IN AMSTERDAM, save on travel time and do it.

Also, you need more than 2.5 days each in Berlin, Prague and Vienna.

Thanks to all for the very helpful information! Greatly Appreciated!