Our family will be visiting Budapest between March 15th and 22nd. We are to spend two nights in Vienna mid-week. I thought it would be nice to take a train to Vienna and return by boat. I have read earlier posts about hydrofoils not allowing one to be outside admiring the scenery very well. Any recommendations?
Also, I have not been able to get any updates on the state of construction in Eger. Is the work on Dobo Square completed?
This is not a particularly scenic portion of the Danube. I would take the train roundtrip.
Rick also describes that boat ride as "less scenic and romantic than you might imagine." Our guidebook co-author reports that Eger's Dobo Square is completely back to normal and better than ever.
Well, Rick isn't entirely correct. There are some scenic stretches. But its not a trip I would take to get from point A to point B. I have had a friend take the hydrofoil and he described it as long and bumpy and long and expensive.
But, entering Budapest by boat is a pretty special thing and the train up to Szentendre with the boat back to Budapest is really a worthwhile endeavor. UNFORTUNATELY it doesn't run until 29 April http://www.mahartpassnave.hu/webset32.cgi?MAHART@@EN@@115@@GOOGLEBOT
You might think about breaking up the trip if you have the time. Maybe spend a day in Gyor http://nobility.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Gyor24.jpg and at the Archabbey at Pannonhalma http://www.c2cn.eu/sites/default/files/Pannonhalma%20Monastery_Photo_Akos%20Pottyondy.JPG
pcho,
i did the one way train from Vienna to Budapest.
however, taking a hydrofoil would be an new and interesting experience.
happy trails.
This link has a good review on the ride:
http://www.vienna-unwrapped.com/hydrofoil-vienna-budapest/
I think this confirms what has been said above and, at 100 Euro per person, just seems very expensive when a rail ticket costs about 13 Euro per person.
Here is also a youtube video on the ride:
I love boat rides long or short and will do them whenever I get a chance. If it was summer and I could sit outside on the deck I would probably spring for the cost of this ride. In March there's no way I would even consider it. Most likely you will be confined inside the boat and although there are some scenic parts of the ride, I think it would be long and boring and not worth the money. Just my personal opinion.
Emily,
sometimes its not the cost that makes the difference, but the experience.
I worked for a naval architect one summer and i found out he was one of the principal engineers at Boeing that worked on the hydrofoil. During that summer, I had an opportunity to work on a Shallow Waterplane Area Twin Hull (SWATH) craft for Hawaii which is in use for a tour/restaurant boat.
happy trails.
Thank you all for your insights. I think we will pass on the boat ride until warmer weather or we have more time.
