Itinerary Help, Please (Budepest to Vienna/Prague to Munich)--which order?

You might consider the easiest route--Budapest--Vienna--Prague--Munich.

You could leave Prague and take a detour down to the popular town of Cesky Krumlov and then over to Salzburg by minivan if you want to see the countryside. Then take the train on into Munich. There are a number of minivan companies operating out of Cesky Krumlov that carry people to/from Cesky Krumlov, Prague, Vienna and Salzburg for fair prices.

Metro Budapest has 3.3 million people, Vienna metro has 2.4 million, Prague area has almost 2 million people and the Munich area has 2.6 million people. These are all great large European cities worthy of equal time.

I think Budapest has more to offer than Prague and suggest you add at least one more night there. There are wonderful museums. For me it would be easy to take a day from Vienna - I think you can see all the sights in 3 full days there. One tip - visit the rooms at the Schonbrunn Palace and skip the ones at the Hofburg. I was in Munich only briefly, but I'd take a day from there too. One of the most interesting things I did was a day trip from Prague to Terezin. The best wines will be in Hungary - indulge, they aren't expensive.

I was in Banff about 4 months ago - don't expect to be wowed by scenery on your trip.

Thanks for the ideas.

I have heard about Czesky Krumlov, but had also read that it's better to go for overnight there, and I'm not sure if we want to be checking in and out of places more than four times on our trip. I was thinking of a day trip to Posazavi, instead, perhaps.

So many decisions! :)

You will have lots of fun. I have ridden those routes in last couple of years. You have 20 nights but you also need to consider each leg of you trip is about 8 hours -/+ of train time. You will also be traveling at a high season. I lived in Budapest in 2011 for 4 months. You don't need anymore than 5 nights - longer and should do day trips outside. I actually like Prague better than Budapest. Can do it in 3 days easy. In 2009 I took the train from Prague to Munich but my memory is foggy on the scenery. You will have a good and have chosen a good route. Just pack light and take bags with wheels can easily get on and off the train with. Chances are will be crowded on board. And don't forget Munich at the end it is a large city and has much to do and see. I was in Augsburg very near Munich when in the US Army and visited often.

Tip be ready for rain. You can never tell if you are going to have a sunny summer or a wet one. Be ready for both. In the big cities like Budapest they can get very hot inside and don't have a/c generally. In Budapest the Danube has flooded a couple of times since 2011 so have a backup plan.

Good luck!

Great info! Thanks!

If you look through these pages you will see that I enjoy Budapest a lot. It's become a second home of sorts. I have also been to Vienna and Prague and they have a lot to offer as well. It all depends on your interests and maybe a little on your age. The direct route is Munich, Prague, Vienna, Budapest or the opposite direction and I think that maximizes your time to see the towns. I would tend to favor a trip to Cesky Krumlov over Munich but if Munich interests you, that's great. I would also think about ending the trip in Budapest as I think it can be the lowest energy of Prague/Vienna/Budapest if you want it to be and still have a fantastic time; and you can use the slower pace to wind down and share the experiences that got you that far. Budapest for a good visit generally requires 3 full days excluding travel days, Vienna 2 or 3 days and Prague at least 3. Of course this is just my opinion and everyone is going to see it differently. If you need help with Budapest feel free to write.

Hi,

If you have five nights for each of these cities, that's great. You should have ample time to visit each place.

I would do the sequence this way: fly into Vienna, then take the train to Budapest , from Budapest to Prague, then Prague to Munich. I put Munich last because I know of numerous places to stay in the train station area, depending on your budget, anywhere from 42 Euro to 152 Euro, along with places to eat, etc. all within a half hour's walk from the Munich Hbf. And, MUC lives up to its reputation as one of the very best airports.

I put Vienna first and Munich last mainly I feel completely comfortable with those cities to arrive in after a ten plus hour flight, presumably, and from which to depart because of knowing the system. You may or may not be jetlagged, not everyone gets jet lag (I don't). In Vienna I would say most likely based on my experience on arriving at the hotel prior to the official check-in time, you are allowed to check in if you get there early.

If you do open jaw, how many times will you have to change planes on the way back prior to arriving in Calgary?

Try to go in as direct a route as possible, to cut down on travel time. So either Budapest, Vienna Munich Prague OR Budapest Vienna, Prague Munich. Of course you could reverse the order, ending in Budapest. Vienna is going to be in the middle no matter where you start/end, so going there first or last would entail back-tracking.

By Road
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Munich / Prague / Vienna / Budapest is about 600 miles
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Prague / Munich / Vienna / Budapest is about 660 miles
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Vienna / Budapest / Prague / Munich is about 714 miles
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Of course I am assuming you are taking the train so there might be some anomalies in the train routes and schedules that improves upon one route over another but I bet you spend less time traveling and more time sightseeing if you go Munich/Prague/Vienna/Budapest; and of course on an open jaw ticket so you don’t have to back track.
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Where it is best to start and end, like I suggested earlier is pretty subjective. As for how many nights per town. 4 nights for instance would be arrive on Monday having at best half a day, enjoy Tuesday, enjoy Wednesday, enjoy Thursday and leave on Friday; and that works for me in Prague and Budapest. I think I would get bored with so much time in Vienna, but again that is subjective and is just my taste.

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For my taste and style I would drop a city and spend a little more time in the other three regions. With Vienna you are going to miss seeing Melk and the villages of the Wachau Valley. With Prague you are going to miss seeing Cesky Krumlov and a handful of great castles, for Budapest you are going to miss seeing the towns of the Danube Bend, the Archabbey at Pannonhalma and the wine town of Eger. For Munich you are going to miss ……. Well I’m not a big fan of Germany so someone else will have to help you with that.

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Wow! Lots of good advice here. Thanks!

The flight is already booked, so Budapest first and Munich last it has to be. (Guess I should have asked here, first.) Originally, I wanted to do Istanbul to Prague, but decided (regretfully) to drop Istanbul, because the train trip would be quite long. But, anyway, that's why I had Budapest before the others in my head. Our flight into Budapest and our flight home from Munich have only one stop each (Frankfurt before Budapest and Vancouver before Calgary). When I looked at flights home from other places, it seemed we had to change planes in Germany (typically Frankfurt), anyhow, so I thought we'd just end our trip in Germany, because we've never been there, either. In retrospect, I probably should have made it Frankfurt, and done a Rhine tour, but when I searched for ideas about touring German cities, most people seemed taken with Munich. Anyway, Munich is sort of an add-on to my original idea, so I wouldn't be heartbroken to take a day from Munich in favour of Budapest or Cesky Krumlov.

I was also toying with a couple of days in Krakow, but thought it might be best keep things simpler, with 4 "home bases" along with some day trips. My husband thinks four cities is enough for one trip.

We are planning to travel by train between all the cities, and I am hoping to do a day trip to the Danube Bend from Budapest and another to see castles near Prague. Again, was thinking to skip Cesky Krumlov in favour of, perhaps, a ride on a steam train in the Sazava valley to see Castle Czech Sternberk and a couple of other castles and a monastery in the area. However, if people who've been there really think that Cesky Krumlov is not to be missed, then I will rethink this. In Vienna, I was thinking of taking a trip to a salt mine (although it wouldn't be as spectacular as the one near Krakov, I realize). While in Munich, I thought we could do a day trip to Salzburg (I have the impression that it's closer to Munich than to Vienna?) and possibly another to the Ludwig castles. There's also a village near Munich (forget the name--starts with R, I think), that seems interesting.

I am open, though, to any other suggestions, because I haven't been to the area and don't know anyone who has done a similar trip.

Based on the feedback I've received, I'm considering adding a night to Budapest (since it's at the beginning of our trip, and we may be a little jet lagged, although that has never stopped us from packing in a lot of sightseeing on the first day of a trip), and I would probably take a day from Munich, since that was an "add-on". I'm considering taking a day from Vienna, also, to have time for a night's stay in Cesky Krumlov. And we will go to Vienna before Prague. That seemed to make the most sense to me, anyhow, and the great information you've all given me has confirmed that.

:)

The flight is already booked, so Budapest first and Munich last it has to be. (Guess I should have asked here, first.) Originally …… You will be someplace new seeing new stuff and doing new things; you really can’t do “wrong”.
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I was also toying with a couple of days in Krakow, ….. Those four cities are enough. Krakow is sort of difficult to get to. I still haven’t figured out how to reasonably get it into a trip and I have been going to the region a few times a year for a dozen years now.
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We are planning to travel by train between all the cities, and I am hoping to do a day trip to the Danube Bend from Budapest and another to see castles near Prague. Again…… Cesky Krumlov is best if you spend a night. It can get thick with day trippers so if you spend the night you can have the place to yourself in the morning hours and the evening hours. If you cant then maybe you should just do a castle tour. I’ve see Karlstejn and Zvikov and enjoyed them both very much. We can get you up to Szentendre and then the boat back and that’s a lovely half day trip if time is tight in Budapest, otherwise you can do the entire three town trip in a pretty intense 8 hours with a guide.

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I am open, though, to any other suggestions …. Between Vienna and Budapest is the town of Gyor (on the same train line as the Vienna to Budapest train). Gyor has an interesting Convent turned hotel, a nice Baroque center and is a 20 minute ride to the Archabbey at Panonhalma.

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Based on the feedback I've received, I'm considering adding a night to Budapest (since it's at the beginning of our trip….. I am pretty biased here so I will just not comment and think to myself that you show great wisdom.

I would definitely take time from Vienna and add to Budapest. Salzburg can be a day trip from Munich, trains take from 1.5 to 1.75 hours. Take an early train, have your breakfast on the train (maybe your hotel can pack something for you) and doze on the way back.

With almost 3 weeks, I think you could do one or two "overnights" in addition to your 4 major stays. It will require vacating a hotel room, but you can leave your luggage with the hotel and just take an overnight bag with you, to say Salzburg or Cesky Krumlov.

Use the German train site bahn.de to find train schedules. It looks to me like the best way from Prague to Munich is by bus, cheaper and faster than the train. It will probably be more scenic too, since the seats are higher on the bus. Going from Vienna to Prague to Munich, rather than Vienna to Munich to Prague, seems to add about half an hour to your total travel time. You have a very good itinerary.

I discussed everyone's ideas with my husband. What we're thinking now is:

Budapest - 6 nights (5 full days)
Vienna - 4 nights (3 full days)
Prague - 5 nights (still thinking to add a day trip to other castles here) (4 full days)
Cesky Krumlov - 1 night
Salzburg - 1 night
Munich - 3 nights (2 full days)

In Budapest, Vienna, Prague, and maybe Munich, we are planning to rent apartments privately, so leaving our luggage there while we travel overnight someplace else would probably not be an option, but the idea of overnighters in Cesky Krumlov and Salzburg makes sense. I'm just debating now whether to take a night from Prague and add it back to Vienna or Munich, but you've all helped a lot in solidifying our plans. :)

If you go for overnight to Cesky Krumlov, don't leave your luggage in Prague and backtrack for it. It is quite closer to Salzburg from Cesky Krumlov than from Prague.

One year in the middle of a 5 day visit to Prague we hired a car (and driver) and went to Cesky Krumlov for the night. We stopped at Karlstejn castle on the way down and took another route by way of Zvikov castle on the way back. So yes, we returned to Prague but every part of the trip had a return on the time investment. For 50 or 60 euro a night for an apartment I have no problem sleeping on the road one night out of five or six.

Thanks. I think we will go Cesky Krumlov to Salzburg, rather than backtracking, but we may take a day from our Prague visit to do a day trip to another castle. At this point we are considering taking a day from Prague and adding it to Salzburg or back onto Munich, because 4 nights in Prague might be enough if it's really as crowded as we keep hearing about.

Budapest is booked for 6 nights, and we've submitted a booking request for Vienna for 4 nights (considering a day trip to Bratislava and Devin Castle from there. I have an online friend in Vienna, too, and we are going to get together for coffee while I'm there.), so now it's Prague and onward that we still need to decide on.

Getting excited! :)

BB revisions 2/15
Budapest 6N-5D
Vienna 4N-3
Prague 5N-4
Cesky Krumlov 1N
Salzburg 1N
Munich 3N

I saw your post & read all comments & tried to reply Saturday. It’s Monday now & I see you’re considering major revisions: Making two (1) nighters & decreasing time in Vienna & Munich to accommodate Cesky Krumlov & Salzburg.

Just observations: You said interests are art, history, culture, architecture. Are you leaving enough time for all these things? Your cities are chock full of wonderful art museums & soaking up the culture, and great bases for day tripping. Historically, what time period(s) do you want to explore?
I have tons of notes (details) from my Rick Steves’ tour last May, and for when I return which will include Budapest. I spent considerable time in both Munich & Berchtesgaden with each being a place to visit and base for day trips.

It’s your trip. My best tip is to do your priorities (your dream list of things), first in each area. Then leave time to soak up the local culture & to do something that may pull your interest while you’re there.

Budapest: Well I haven’t had the pleasure yet.
D1 Arrival day from U.S.
D2-3-4-5-6
-People rave about exploring the many open air markets and just taking in the culture of the side streets.
-Free time to take a Hungarian cooking class & then enjoy eating it!
-Day Trip on the Danube Bend
-Day for Steam Train to see Castle Czech Sternberk & castles & Monastery
-Open day

Prague suggestions: D1-2-3-4-5
D1 Arrival: Introductory walking tour late afternoon to get overview & city layout. Ask hotel or TI to help check out local church concerts during your stay.
They normally were 60-90 minutes in length.

D2 Early morning: Charles Castle & St. Vitus Cathedral tours. Take Tram over to Petrin Tower Hill for lunch & views away from the crowds.
Afternoon: Do Cold War History by a visit to the Communist Museum.
Evening: Attend a Church Classical Concert.

D3 Steam train to Castle Czech Sternberk; Buy tickets for tomorrow’s night
Theatre performance.

D4 Mucha Museum; Jewish Museum & Old Cemetery; Evening “Black White Theatre” performance; Late Evening walk to view the city all lighted up!
D5 Open Day

*Yes, Prague is super busy all the time. Best Tip is visit what you want very early in the morning and late in the day during early dinner hours. There were many free or inexpensive concerts offered in the various places of worship.

“Black Light Theatre” performance can only be seen in Prague. There are 2 main theaters for this venue. We went to “Ta Fantastic”, address is Palac UNITARIA, Karlova 8; telephone +420 222 221 366-7

Vienna suggestions: D1-2-3-4-5
D1 Arrival day. Visit St. Stephen’s Cathedral in the latter part of the day, go up to the tower. Confirm tickets for tomorrow evening’s event.

D 2 Vienna Ring Strasse Tour DIY. Meet your friend & soak up the Cafe coffee culture; Attend an Evening concert or a Ballet Performance.

D3 Side trip by train to Melk to see the Abbey; lunch in lovely Melk; boat ride along the Danube back to Vienna; Evening stroll or performance back up date.

D4 Morning Guided Opera Tour; Late afternoon Kunsthistorisches museum or Schonbrunn Palace;

D5 Maybe day trip to Bratislava & the Devin Castle

• Salt Mine Tour is Probably best from Munich

You were looking for Munich ideas: Munich offers an extensive menu of guided tours both half and full days. This region is easily DIY covered by buses, trains, or a combo of each mode; or by doing guided tours.

D1 Arrival Day; "Munich Walking Tours" does a thorough job at affordable costs for the city and all types of day tours.

Arrival Afternoon do the “The City Walk” at 245 pm. A loaded two hours of history, introduction to architecture, and culture. Cost 12 euros. Length: 2 hours
Times: 1045 am, 245 pm

WWII history:
“Hitler’s Munich” cost 15 euros, daily at 1015am, Length 2.5 hours

D2-3-4-5-6
-Day trip to Neuschwanstein Castle;
*Use RE train with (0) stops, time average is 2:01 hours.

In Fussen buy Picnic or To Go foods & have it down by the Lake or on a town bench; Afternoon visit to the “Fussen City Museum & Castle”.
*Pre book Castle tickets

-Munich: Pinakothek Museum (14th-18th C); Visit one or two of Munich oldest buildings in the Center; Time or Lunch in a Beer Garden.
Late evening see Munich at night with its fountains & the city center square lighted.

-Salzburg * Use a RJ train which is the high-speed rail & has (0) stops, time average will 1:28 hours. When you arrive go outside the station to the bus platform. Any of these Buses goes directly into the city: #1, #3, #5, #6, #2
Visit Salzburg Cathedral; Fortress Hohensalzburg; Eat at traditional Kaffehaus

WWII
-Side trip to Dachau Memorial

-The Andechs Monastery for beer brewery/food/ Views of the Alps; Remaining time back in Munich maybe in English Gardens

-Romantic Road tour of Dinkelsburg (fortified town) and Harburg Castle

Bavaria area:
WWII
-Eagle’s Nest & the Documentation Center; Salt Mine Berchtesgaden tour; National Park Koenigsee; Boat ride & stops on LakeKoenigsee; Berchtesgaden.
-Day tour of Zugspitze Summit, Garmish, and Ettal (Basilica dated 1330)

Germany:
Towns beginning with the letter R: Regensburg, Rothenburg-0b-der aTuber,
Regensburg has the fascinating architectural history at St. Peters Cathedral.
Rothenburg is a charming medieval fortified busy little town filled with tourists.
There are many fortified towns like Dinkelsburg and others without the crowds.
Reichertshausen, Rosenheim, Rambling? Do these jog your memory.

I did not include Cesky Krumlov. It’s a charming little town with narrow alleyways & streets, but it’s very over crowded with rude tourists. After being to both during May, my tip is to use this day or the Salzburg (1) night revision for Melk.
To keep Cesk Krumlov, drop the Salzburg (1) night you're thinking. Whatever you decide you'll have a wonderful experience.

Melk: Go first thing by train in the morning. It will be busy, too, it's summer. But my notes say Cesky Krumlov is busier....The Art work of both the exterior and interior of the Melk Abbey is magnificent!

I have more detailed notes if you need for transportation & sightseeing attractions. Have fun with your continued planning, you're doing a remarkable job!

All this talk about Prague being terribly crowded is exaggerated. Venice and Rome are certainly more crowded. When I walk so called King's Golden Way from Wenceslas square to Old Town Square- Charles Bridge- Mala Strana (LIttle Quarters), Castle I do it early morning. Uncrowded and pleasant walk. After 10 am I avoid it. That's the most crowded part of Prague. Everywhere else no problem.

One suggestion for efficiency. For your 2 consecutive one-night stays, pack your luggage so that you have everything you both need in one bag and "live out of it," to save time packing and unpacking.

Thanks!

I so appreciate the time you've all taken with your replies. Wow, Diane!

I'll be printing off this thread to refer to; there's so much great info in it.