Which route would you take

Here it is like I would do it so it would be easiest logistically with direct trains. Some zig zagging is unfortunately unavoidable. I did not skip or add anything so those are just cities you want.

Dresden -> Prague by train. About 2 hours
Prague -> Munich by train
Munich -> Salzburg by train
Salzburg -> Vienna by train
Vienna -> Warsaw by train
Warsaw -> Krakow by train
Krakow -> Budapest by overnight train or bus during a day. Train during a day would be with at least two changes.
Advantage of this itinerary is that all connections are direct and it minimize zig zagging.

I can't give you a qualified opinion, since of the places you are considering for the middle of your trip, I've only been to Salzburg, Warsaw and Krakow. However, I just want to encourage you to include Krakow -- it's fun and vibrant city. It also offers the opportunity to visit Auschwitz, which is very moving and worthwhile.

Carroll was including Kraków as well thanks forgot to include it on the list but it is definitely part of the plan. Ilja thanks for the suggestions. I know Poland is kind of out of the way but not sure when I will get back to this part of Europe. Have travelled a lot this year, a total of six months by the end of this trip so I think it will be North America for me for the next while

I think the 2nd plan is your best bet.
Why the bus from Prague to Vienna?
Lufthansa in conjunction with LOT Polish offers a number of daily flights from Munich to Warsaw.
Did you mean to include Kraków, and night train to Budapest from here?

Thanks.
I was thinking of the bus between Prague and Vienna as I was going to stop for a few days at Cesky Krumlov and the bus looks like a good option. I am opens to other ideas.

Yes I ment to include Kraków and will take the train for. There to Budapest.

Wendy

For less time spent in transit (and thus less costs, also), I would suggest sicne you are already north to go from Berlin to Poland, for Warsaw and Krakow, and then work your way back south. You then have a lot of possibilities fro which more southern German cites you want to pick up, and Salzburg and especially Vienna are on your way into Budapest. Czesky Krumlov is easily reached from Prague on the way to Vienna if need be. I would also suggest, if you follow along this idea, of looking at a cheap flight from Berlin to Warsaw, it might cost no more than a train and be much quicker. Warsaw is the outlier on your trip.

Larry's suggestion works if you are willing to drop Dresden...
Berlin>Warsaw>Kraków>Budapest>Vienna>Prague>Cesky Krumlov>Salzburg>Munich

Or this routing finishing in Warsaw...
Berlin>Dresden>Prague>Cesky Krumlov>Salzburg>Munich>Vienna>Budapest>Kraków>Warsaw

Hi,

If the main issue is time on the trip, I would suggest dropping Cesky Krumlov and keep Krakow. Pertaining to the original plan, there is also the night train option Munich to Budapest.

I would surely not stay more than 4 days in Amsterdam. It would be better to add these four days to Vienna, Salzburg, or Crakov

Also take time to visit Brussels city centre. It's grand place is wonderful and one of the most beautiful public square inEurope, also go to rue des Bouchers and Galleries St Hubert and the beaux arts museum and Museum of Cinquentenaire. Tee urgent museum nearby features a very interesting African art museum.