While in Vienna this spring, I'd like to make a day trip into Hungary by rail. Either town is about the same time and distance from Vienna. Anybody know what would make one the better choice or should I just flip a coin?
Posted by
Magyarország / Rep of Texas
17998 posts
Between Sopron and Mosonmagyarovar I guess i would choose Sopron all other thing being equal. A third choice you might look at is Gyor and the nearby Archabbey at Pannonhalma. Gyor, like Mosonmagyarovar is on the direct line from Vienna to Budapest. It has a very nice old quarter and the Archabbey is at least as interesting as Melk and I think in someways much more interesting. Travel time from Vienna is about 1.5 hours. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pannonhalma_Archabbey. And as nutty as it sounds a fourth choice might be to leave Vienna about 6 in the morning, arrive Budapest at 9:30, head for the embankment and spend the day there or hire a tourguide for 3 hours then an early dinner/late lunch someplace near the river followed by a 7:30pm train back to Vienna and you will be home in bed about midnight. Cost? I think you should be able to do the train for under $50 a ticket r/t.
Posted by
Magyarország / Rep of Texas
17998 posts
You want to go in and out of Keleti. That will be the quickest journey, easiest to find at the end of the stay and most centrally located. Gary, now that i have you talked into the day trip; why not make it an over night trip? If you have more than three full days in Vienna you may appreciate a couple of days in Budapest. If it is a day trip, or longer, then you might consider a guide. I have known this gentleman for about a decade now and we still hire him from time to time http://www.guideinbudapest.com/ and if you go to this website and download "The Guide.pdf" there might be some info on restaurants, metro system, etc that you can find useful. The trick to a short visit is reading up so you can hit the ground running http://budapestflat.shutterfly.com/fivedaysinbudapest also feel free to poke around the site and the links at the top for other ideas, photos, etc. I'm a visual person. I choose where to go based a lot of the pictures. As always, let me know if i can help.
Posted by
OP
Reeds Spring, Missouri, USA
120 posts
Thanks, everyone for the information, lots of things to consider. I'm sure I'll have more questions as our April departure date approaches.
Posted by
OP
Reeds Spring, Missouri, USA
120 posts
James, Budapest it is. Why didn't I think of that?
Posted by
Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.A.
127 posts
Gary, Budapest offers you an added value...While Vienna does its best to hide or obscure its famous river, Budapest celebrates the Duna (Danube). The river scene is majestic, positively stunning, with the sequence of bridges and Buda Castle gracing one bank and the Orsaghasz (parliament) gracing the other. Great city to walk and to eat.
Posted by
Everywhere
42 posts
If you have never been to Budapest then I would suggest one of the other towns, but if you have not been to Budapest, then I would go there. Great place. Let us know if you need any suggestions.
Posted by
Everywhere
42 posts
I mean, if you have been to Budapest before then by all means check out Sopron, etc.
Posted by
Everywhere
42 posts
Also when you check the train, please note that there are more than one station in Budapest, for example I just looked at a ticket for tomorrow from Vienna to Bud. arriving at Keleti station (main) and departs that night from Deli station back to Vienna. FYI