Traveling from Vienna to Barcelona.

If you want to get there as fast as possible: Fly. But maybe not on Ryanair, especially if you have the usual cruising luggage with you.

If you want to do this overland there are quite a few interesting places you could lay in a stopover.

Barcelona has direct trains from Paris. Lyon and Marseilles.

You could for example travel Vienna - Zurich - Geneva - Lyon - Barcelona or Vienna - Munich - Paris - Barcelona or Vienna - Milan - Nice - Marseilles - Barcelona.... There are a lot of possibilities there.

www.seat61.com is the site to go to if you have never been to Europe and are new to train travel.

We flew Vueling from Barcelona to Vienna. I was happy with the airline and the flight.

This is my first trip to Europe.

Definitely fly. Train would require multiple connections and would waste too much time. Use those three days to see Barcelona.

14 October
2 cabin bags, one chrcked bag, seat: cheapest flight of the day:

Vueling 127€
Ryan 96€

But you should be flying out of Budapest. (not really).

Fly. No one travels those distances by train. Use Google flights to search the best option.

Thanks for all the recommendations. Flying to Barcelona would be the best option since I am inexperienced
with the train system. I was considering the train because of the scenic views. The route through
Switzerland would be a good option. Stop over in Zurich the first night. Then take the train through Geneva and spend
the night in Lyon, France. Finally, Lyon to Barcelona which would get me there the day before the ship disembarks back
to the States.

Once you have traveled to the same location a dozen times you become an "experienced" tourist ... for that one location. Otherwise we are all inexpeienced tourists. If you want the experience of the train and if you are good at rolling with the punches when things go wrong, then do take the train. It will be an experience you will always remember. Go for it.

The train would be, in most areas, the better scenic option. Flying is the safer option.

Those of us having experience with the trains also know what happens with delays and cancelations. You miss trains, you miss connections, and you don't want to miss the boat.