traveling over Christmas & New Years in Europe?

Well, Christmas to New Year is 7 days, so I presume you are spending more time than that visiting 4 or 5 cities? Something like three weeks?

The boys from Germany posted some time back that the markets there close up on the 24th. I guess that’s true, don’t really know. The markets in Vienna and Budapest run until the first of the year. You are correct that NYE isn’t a huge thing in Vienna, but I presume its better than Budapest. We do Christmas in Budapest very, very well, but NYE is smaller venues and private parties and river boat parties more than anything else. Munich might be a better NYE? Ask around.

Prague to Munich is closer to 5 hours by train. I can’t imagine why you would rent a car for any of the cities you mentioned. It will just be in the way. So, the train works well. Munich to Vienna is 4 hours and Vienna to Prague is just a tiny bit over 4 hours. Well, I say that but the last few OBB trains I have been on were all substantially late.

You asked for other suggestions. Then fly to Prague and give it not less than 4 nights. Then take Ryan Air to Budapest (see note below) and give Budapest not less than 4 nights (5 is better), then the train 2.6 hours to Vienna for 4 nights (again 5 is better). Then the train to Munich for NYE during not less than a 4 night stay.

Thank you Mr E, our other party doesn’t want to go to Budapest so we’ll save that for another trip :)
I did add the #of days we plan to spend, thank you for the heads up :)
I say car sometime because we like to visit the smaller towns as cities tend to be overwhelming and crowded but not going to stop us I’m just accustomed to having the freedom but I agree it’s a added expense and not needed if just in the cities. Thank you so much for the suggestions and anyplace close by in Switzerland you like?

EsterP,
10-12 days with 4 cities is 2 1/2 to 3 days each. Figure a good half-day for travel (not the the train time, but check-out getting to station, new place from station to hotel and check-in). Likely more than a half-day, and you have left just 2 full days per city. I would parse out my travel between cities, and count nights, not days, for a more realistic picture of what you can see and do in a place.
That should help with the ininerary planning. Best of luck

Hi Judy, you’re right I think we’ll pick 3 cities and spend 3 days in each and account for travel, I’m looking into Vienna, then Prague or Munich and see what I come up with, thanks for your suggestions :)

Switzerland is way outside my working stiff income. As is car rentals ($7 gas, 30 euro parking, 16 euro a day tolls, 200 euro traffic fines, 500 euro drop off fees, bail to get out of jail, etc). You might be surprised how many towns are served by rail and 12" of snow on the road and ice storms dont affect trains.

Easter,
We've been to all three. Loved Vienna and Munich, enjoyed Prague, but that was the least favorite, although the best bang for the buck.
Have a great time in all of them!

places being closed on Christmas Eve/Day

Here is a link to a page about Christmas or New Years in Vienna https://www.visitingvienna.com/entertainment/christmas-in-vienna/

I would recommend a trip to the north because it's something different from the well-known south. The Christmas market in Lübeck is fantastic, then of course Hamburg, and at the end of the trip, Copenhagen would be on my list.

Lübeck, the Queen of the Hanseatic Cities - not only famous for marzipan: https://www.visit-luebeck.com/culture/christmas-city-of-the-north/christmas-markets

Hamburg, the cool mix of harbor and romantic Christmas markets: https://www.hamburg-travel.com/discover-hamburg/christmas-in-hamburg/

Copenhagen - the beautiful in the north: https://www.visitcopenhagen.com/copenhagen/planning/winter/new-years-copenhagen / https://www.wonderfulcopenhagen.com/wonderful-copenhagen/international-press/international-press/winter-copenhagen

[...Switzerland...] 16 euro a day tolls

How does that work? CHF 40 for 14 months (Dec, Jan-Dec, Jan), the only option as far as I know...

Not sure where you heard that Vienna isn’t festive over New Years. The city throws one heck of a fabulous party with stages and a party path weaving through the city center. (https://wienersilvesterpfad.at/en/)

800,000 people attended last year. If you can get to a rooftop, then you will be treated to epic fireworks.