Help with Trip Plan: Prague, Vienna, Salzburg, Budapest...Plus Lake Como ?

For a 10 day trip, you're trying to take on too much turf and too many stops. Salzburg is a 3 day city. Prague, Budapest and Vienna are worthy of 4 days minimum stays.
If you're wanting to see Lake Como, you'd need to fly into Milan. With only 10 days, I'd suggest you either visit Switzerland or stay on the south side of the mountains in Northern Italy for the balance of your time.
Otherwise, I would suggest picking either Budapest or Prague and visiting Vienna--a great large city with many tourist sights. We've been to Budapest twice recently as it's much cheaper of a city to visit (than Prague.) We also have visited Bratislava--just south of Vienna.

5 spots in 10 days only gives you 1 full day at each place, the rest is spent traveling and checking in and out of hotels.
A night train from Varenna to Salzburg is certainly possible via Milan. You will be missing all that Alpine scenery. You could take a full day and go via Tirano, St Moritz, Chur, and Sargans.

I'd say either make this a 15 day trip so you can have at least 2 full days at each stop, or trim Prague and Budapest. Fly into Milan and out of Vienna, or Budapest or Prague for the longer trip.

Thanks guys, yeah I'm thinking its too much... Seems like the Lake Como region may be another visit, so then Salzburg, Prague, Budapest, Vienna seems the most logical

I think there are plenty of towns that you can enjoy adequately in one day but that wouldn't apply to the big cities on your list. Agree that cutting Lake Como makes sense for this itinerary. I think you might also cut Salzburg, since more flights will be to/from Munich or your other cities. You could fit in a closer small town as a day-trip, e.g., from Budapest to the Danube Bend or a side trip by train from Prague.

Thanks guys, yeah I'm thinking its too much... Seems like the Lake Como region may be another visit, so then Salzburg, Prague, Budapest, Vienna seems the most logical

So you would arrive in Prague on day one. You are pretty shot from the overnight flight so that afternoon you stay close to your Airbnb. That means that the location of the Airbnb is going to be important so you can maximize the time despite the jetlag.

Day two you stay in Prague, the first real tour day.
Day three you stay in Prague as that's pretty much the minimum to do the stop justice.
Day three you have about a five hour train to Vienna. You will have the afternoon to see a portion of the town
Day four is Vienna
Day five is Vienna; again, to do it justice.
Day 6 you head to Budapest. Its only about 2.5 hours on the train so you have 2/3 of a day the first day.
Day 7 is also Budapest
Day 8 is also Budapest.

Now it gets interesting, because you have two more days plus departure day. You could do an overnight to Salzburg out of Vienna before heading to Budapest. Our you could pick one of the three stops, really get your money out of a nice Airbnb and use it for a base to explore some smaller towns. Personally I would spend that time in Budapest, but I am very biased. My second option would be an extra day in Prague and an extra day in Budapest.

But all that is based on what interests me and you will have your own interests. Time to Google and read and Google and read. The answer will come. Also, consider the fact that 2 weeks is 16 days (including the weekend at each end) and stretch your trip. The single most significant cost is the air fare so you want to maximize your time in Europe after paying out the money on tickets.....

Then again...................... From time to time we do bonsai trips. We will fly to a place like Budapest, get a Airbnb for 5 or 6 nights, then in the middle of the stay there hop on a discount flight nonstop to some place exotic for just one night; maybe two at most. Have had a blast doing that. Its best if connected to a celebration or event or some sort.

If we simplify down to Vienna-Prague-Budapest, I'd start in Vienna, on the idea of starting least foreign. I've not been to Budapest, but I wouldn't start in Prague. It's more of a cultural shock, than Vienna.

But even there, I would slow down and pick two of those three. For me, Vienna and Budapest, as I loved Vienna and haven't been to Budapest. But I'd compare all three and think about what you'd do with four or five days in each. And if you can't fill 4-5, then add something else. I think Salzburg is more of a two day stop. Definitely worth researching what you want to do and see and how you want to pace things.

I always say start in Prague because it's the highest energy of the three. Then utilizing the most effective transportation you have to go to Vienna second. I have always been comfortable in Budapest; since the very first day of the very first visit a dozen years ago. So ending in Budapest to relax and put my feet up, eat well, drink well, listen to some laid back good music and just enjoy the atmosphere is a natural for me.

I like the idea of starting in Prague, ending in Budapest...
Salzburg and surrounding areas sound more interesting than Vienna quite honestly; Im thinking Vienna because we will be there, but its not a big draw to me.

The train from Prague to Salzburg is about 5.5 hours. Salzburg to Budapest is about 5 hours. BUT, Salzburg to Vienna is about 2.5 hours and Vienna to Budapest is also about 2.5 hours; so a route for you might be Prague to Salzburg, spend a few days, then on to Vienna for just a night or two, then on to Budapest. Except for the one long haul to Salzburg it isnt terrible.

PLAN A
1. So you would arrive in Prague on day one. You are pretty shot from the overnight flight so that afternoon you stay close to your Airbnb. That means that the location of the Airbnb is going to be important so you can maximize the time despite the jetlag.
2. stay in Prague, the first real tour day.
3. stay in Prague as that's pretty much the minimum to do the stop justice.
4. you have about 5.5 hour train to Salzburg. You will have the afternoon to see a portion of the town
5. Salzburg
6. Salzburg to Vienna
7. Vienna: you are so close, you might as well spend one day and it breaks up a long trip.
8. Vienna to Budapest
9. Budapest
10. Budapest
11. Budapest
12. Head home

PLAN B
1. So you would arrive in Prague on day one. You are pretty shot from the overnight flight so that afternoon you stay close to your Airbnb. That means that the location of the Airbnb is going to be important so you can maximize the time despite the jetlag.
2. stay in Prague, the first real tour day.
3. stay in Prague as that's pretty much the minimum to do the stop justice.
4. Cesky or Bean Shuttle to Cesky Krumlov
5. Cesky or Bean Shuttle to Salzburg (CK is a neat town and it breaks up the long haul trip to Salzburg)
6. Salzburg
7. Salzburg
8. Salzburg to Budapest
9. Budapest
10. Budapest
11. Budapest
12. Head home

"Night train from Italy to Austria" That option is certainly doable. If you leave Rome at 19:04 you'll arrive in Salzburg at 06:27. That train does not go to Vienna. That train dep Rome at 1904 stops at Florence at 2133 hrs if you intend to catch there to Salzburg. The terminus for the train coming from Rome is Munich, ie you can do Rome or Florence to Munich by night train. This is the EN 294 run by OeBB.

Thanks James, I like plan B with a little change...
I think I want one more day in Salzburg, as I want to do day trip to Dachau as well as the country side? Maybe Berchtesgaden?
Ill take the one day from Budapest.