May, 2026 - Berlin-Dresden-Prague-Vienna-Bratislava-Budapest

I recommend to split this question into the relevant country forums.

You will find some feedback on Adina Apartment Hotel Hackescher Markt in Germany forum. You shall know that the area is very touristy.

Tip: when booking train to Dresden on https://int.bahn.de/en use "Hackescher Markt (S), Berlin" as start, so the S-Bahn part is already paid without surcharge.

Tip 2: Have a look into Berlin's May events: https://www.berlin.de/en/events/may/

Without concrete dates it is nearly impossible to do any comment on a price (weekends, holidays, events, ...).

Generally speaking, looks like a nice itinerary. And you've found some pretty good pricing on lodging.

Bratislava not being one of my favorite places, 3 suggestions.
1. Do what you have planned. Different people like different stuff. Looks like a great trip.
2. Do it as a day trip out of Vienna so you dont have to pack and repack. Its only a 30 minute trip.
3. Scrap it and use the day to explore Gyor and the Pannonhalma Arch Abbey on the way to Budaprst from Vienna. Gyor is a stop on the main line and the archabbey is a taxi or a bus.

Mark

I am a big picture kind of guy. I am looking at how all 20 nights fit together for pacing. Originally, I was only going to visit four cities in 20 nights. Then I saw how pretty Dresden was and inserted a 2 night stay. I figured it would also break up the long train ride between Berlin and Prague. I also read and posted in the Adina Hackescher Markt thread.

Thanks for the tips. I am only now starting to research attractions in each city. I never have a problem finding something interesting to do in any city. There's never enough time, so I do not try to see everything.

Mr. É
Before I added the 2 nights in Dresden, I originally added 2 nights in Bratislava! Then I read your comments about Bratislava in other threads and many on Reddit also advised me to only to do a day trip from Vienna. I decided to find out for myself if Bratislava is worth visiting. I am usually not a fan of one night stays. However, I figured Bratislava is on the way to Budapest and I did not want to back track to Vienna. Plus a night in Bratislava is so cheaper than another night in Vienna!

I am sure Gyor is great, but I can't see everything, so I am going to pass. The nice thing about ignorance is that I won't have any regrets if I don't know what I am missing. Besides, I already allotted the most days to Budapest mainly because of reading your threads over the years! The info in your profile is very helpful. Maybe we'll bump into you in Budapest.

jphbucks

Thanks. It always nice to get some reassurance that I am not overpaying.

Prague is our most expensive city for hotels. The U Kapra apartment cost as much as a really nice hotel, but I am hoping that this 753 s.f. loft apartment in the Old Town may end up being our best stay of the trip.

Budapest was the toughest city to decide on accomodations. We are visiting in the 5 days before the UEFA Champions League Final. Also, prices are higher and vacancies are lower with the short-term rental ban in District 6. Even now, I still have some doubt as to whether our apartment is truly "legal". Fingers crossed.

However, I figured Bratislava is on the way to Budapest and I did not
want to back track to Vienna. Plus a night in Bratislava is so cheaper
than another night in Vienna!

Good logic.

Not many places cost as much to say in as Vienna. It gotten crazy. Even if you look at this trip you are taking. Vienna $122 a night, and it’s well-connected but it’s sort of out there in relationship to most of the sightseeing. On the other hand, your Budapest apartment is pretty prime and $90.

You are taking a train from Bratislava to Budapest-Nyugati pályaudvar (say it) which is a different station than the Vienna trains arrive at. That’s sort of a good thing because getting from Nyugati to your hotel is a snap. Keleti pályaudvar to your hotel was two snaps.

Now, where to get your ticket. I checked and to my surprise for the morning trains OBB and CD (the Czech company) are about the same cost. OBB wants 41.60€ plus 3€ for the seat reservation, so 44.60€. CD wants 46.50€ and MAV wants 25€ plus 2€ for the seat assignment or 27€ for the same train; but right now, at least, MAV won’t sell you a ticket unless you have VPN and can pretend to be in the EU. The two trains I think work well are departing at 8:05 (too early for me) and 10:05 (I wish it were an hour earlier). The trip is 2:23 hours.

If you are tech-happy then download a 15-day pass on the BudapestGO App on your phone. If you are not tech-happy then buy a paper pass from one of the machines at the station. Myself, I do paper. Why a 15 day pass?

• 24 hour 2.750 forints
• 72 hour 5.750 forints
• 15 day 5.950 forints (~$18)
• Unless you are 65 or older in which case you need nothing. Just show a picture ID when / if asked.

Okay, you got your pass, now you walk out the front of the 1877 station designed by Auguste de Serres and built by the Paris-based Eiffel Company (yea that guy, and some of the buildings across the street as well) … where was I? I said out the front. Okay that works. See the big yellow trams? That is either the 4 or the 6 tram as they both run on the same track in this part of town. So we call it the 4/6 Tram. Facing it you want to travel Right to Left. You want to go one stop. Welcome to the Oktogon. Your hotel is less than 150m from the tram stop. https://maps.app.goo.gl/KVM2QbStuHfRApXD7

funpig, did you look at their website? All the furniture in every apartment is the same. Even the linnens are the same. This is about the allowable building use (title) and corporate structure. Big corporate structures that take entire apartment blocks off the market are okay. We just hate Zoltan that is renting out the 300 square foot apartment he inherited from dead aunt Boglárka. More than 90% of all Hungarians live in an home that is owned by one of the occupants. I think the same number in Germany is 15%, so Hungary has issues but they arent the same as Spain and Germany or even Austria. But people can become pawns and less than desirable outcomes arise.

Mr. É

I knew we would arrive in Nyugati pályaudvar and might even just walk to the Budapest Holidays Downtown ("BHD"). It is always nice to stretch legs after long ride and feet on the ground is always best to look at stuff and maybe buy some funnel cake on the way. I did not know that a train from Vienna would have taken us to the farther Keleti, so that is a bonus.

[Edit: oops. I just had a senior moment. I will still be 64 for thus trip.]

Everybody can read about my dealings with the short-term rental issue. I am fairly sure that BHD is legitimate, so much so that I have cancelled my reservation at the Medos Hotel next door (and saved CAD$450 for the 5 days). The Medos room was snapped up right away and now there is no more availability at the Medos for my dates.

I view the short-term rental ban from my Canadian perspective. Individual rental units with a NTAK licence prefix MA will probably be targeted by the ban. "Hotels" like the Medos with a NTAK licence prefix SZ are clearly not affected.

On the other hand, I still have a tiny doubt about those properties like BHD which has a NTAK licence prefix PA. In the jurisdiction where I live, some short-term rental properties similar to BHD are set up to look like a hotel, but legally they are not. Each unit is a condominium which may be owned by individual owners or collectively by one company. The units are all decorated the same, managed and rented out through a single property management company. But each unit has its separate legal title and separate property tax bill. For example, the resort city of Whistler now requires that each individual rental unit acquire their own business license. IMO, if such a property was located in District 6, it could probably be affected by the short-term rental ban.

I already messaged BHD to ask if they are affected by the ban and their reply was an ambiguous: Don't worry your room will be ready to use when you'll arrive. LOL.

I stayed in the Adina Hackescher Markt and for the most part enjoyed it. You are incredibly close to all the different public transportation, museums, and if you are a walker like me, I was able to walk from the Bradenburg gate back to the hotel. There is a farmers market nearby-can’t remember what day it opened and a Rewe, DM, and Kaufland. And a decent Vietnamese Restaurant Com Nam. Yes it’s touristy but for a first timer it’s the perfect neighborhood to stay.

Heather
I joined Adina's eClub membership for the best pricing, plus a freebie (wine, chocolate, early check-in or late checkout). I have also booked the Adena in Vienna. When the price dropped, it was easy to log into my eClub account and modify the booking to take advantage of the new lower price. Looking forward to staying at both.