I'm planning a trip to Prague, Vienna, and Budapest, traveling from the United States.
Does it make a difference if I start in Prague and leave from Budapest? Is one airport better for arrivals or departures? How about train stations—is one better for arriving or departing?
If your plans are tge three with no stops in between, there is a tgird and fourth, faster, options. 3rd: Prague to Budapest by discount airline then train to Vienna. 4th: same as 3rd in reverse.
Prague wiĺ be the most intense in crowds, Vienna in cost and Budapest in enjoyment (I get to have my opinion). So I would do Prague first to get it out of the way, then slow down.
The Budapest airport every year gets awards and it's simple to navigate. I went thru Vienna a few weeks ago and it was pretty okay as well. It's been too many years since Prague for me to comment, but I suspect they have found an efficient way to deal with the tourist crush.
We, a few years ago, traveled Prague, Cesky Krumlov, Salzburg, Hallstatt, Vienna and then Budapest…..great trip. Rented a car in Pardue and drove to Budapest where we turned it in.
Love flying into Budapest. Easy getting into the city center. Watch the YouTube video. Then train to Vienna about a two and a half hour ride. Then off to Prague. About 4 hours. You got to watch the taxis at the train station in Prague. Go out the front door of the station walk across the street to your left is a hotel on the corner. Go to the front desk and they will call a taxi for you. We were there for Christmas and last summer. Going back in August.
jane, what was the cost of that car? Rental, gas, tolls, parkiing, drop off fee? Just curious as some day I might give it a try. My gut is maybe $2.000 to $3.000 for 16 days?
When we did this, we started in Budapest, mainly because it was early July, and we thought travelling north as the weather presumably got warmer made sense. Otherwise, I don't think it makes that much difference. If you find a better deal on flights for one option vs the other, take it.
