Itinerary help for Germany, Austria, Hungary

Are you flying home from Budapest or do you need to return to Frankfurt? Why do I ask? This effectively means that 10/3 becomes a travel day, either by train or air with a night at a Frankfurt airport hotel.

Please look at when you need to be in Vienna to see the Lipizzaners @ https://www.concertvienna.com/events/lipizzaner-performance. They don't perform every day.

Some may find this trip one city too many given your timeline and the distance from Frankfurt-Vienna-Budapest. IMO, it really comes down to how many days you want in each city and is that enough. Applogies to Mr E if he thinks I'm suggesting you drop Budapest. Just asking you to plan and prioritize.

Finally, your wife will find that Frankfurt is an OK shopping town on the days you are working. She might also enjoy a spa day, understanding that German spa cuture is coed and fully nude.

Thanks for the quick reply and recommendations. Looking to return from Budapest (or any other possible location) on 10/4. We're fairly flexible. Just don't want to rush too much.

Your comments are much appreciated.

You are welcome. So glad you are making this trip with your wife. I traveled extensively during parts of my career and was not able to include my wife and family in as many trips as we would have liked.

I might suggest:
9/26 Travel to Salzburg (@ 5 hrs), evening & overnight Salzburg
9/27 All day Salzburg, overnight Salzburg
9/28 Morning travel to Vienna (@ 2.5 hrs), afternoon & overnight Vienna
9/29 & 9/30 Vienna
10/1 Morning travel to Budapest (@ 2.5 hrs), afternoon & overnight Budapest
10/2 & 10/3 Budapest
10/4 Travel

Edit: it looks as though there is a Lippizaner event on 9/29 in the morning.

I might suggest:
9/26 Travel to Salzburg (@ 5 hrs), evening & overnight Salzburg
9/27 All day Salzburg, overnight Salzburg
9/28 Morning travel to Vienna (@ 2.5 hrs), afternoon & overnight Vienna
9/29 & 9/30 Vienna
10/1 Morning travel to Budapest (@ 2.5 hrs), afternoon & overnight Budapest
10/2 & 10/3 Budapest
10/4 Travel

TTM, thats certainly a workable solution.

jkh, As for dropping Budapest or any of the stops. It just comes down to what interests you. No offense taken.

Of course, if you want possibly a less fromal introduction to the horses, I can recommend a driver for the day: http://www.menesgazdasag.hu/hu/ and the area around and in the town may appeal to your wanting to be outside: https://szilvasvarad.hu/en/

And wile I know you want the romance of the rails, you might have more time if you:
Fly Frankfrut to Budapest,
Train to Vienna
Train to Salzburg
Depart home out of Salzburg.

i didnt run the number but my gut is you save about 3 hours in travel time and the train legs are shorter which would be more enjoyable for me.