I love taking the train. The route from Budapest will take you through Vienna. I've done it the other way, Florence/Venice to Budapest. Vienna to Venice can be done on an overnight train which I loved in a single compartment. You could get a double, a very nice way to go but book early to get a compartment.

So for you, Budapest to Vienna. A stop for at least a couple of nights in Vienna would be good. On to Venice if it appeals for maybe 3 nights. On to Florence or continue to Rome. My choice would be to make the stops in Vienna and Venice before Rome.

You'll probably get as many opinions on this as posts so be sure and do your homework so you're able to make your decisions on what YOU want.

How much time are you spending in Budapest? How many more days do you have on the ground - not counting the day you depart?

What are you most interested in?

What type of budget do you have?

What a wonderful trip.... I live in Budapest and think it is one of the most spectacular cities in Europe (and currently a great bargain). While staying in Vienna might be tempting, personally I wouldn't. Italy is such a fabulous country, I would spend as much time there as possible. I do think a stopover in Venice would be a nice diversion... And it would give you 3 quite different experiences. If I can help you on Budapest, please let me know... We have only just moved here, but from nearby Bratislava so we know the area quite well.... I have written about this general area in my blog .... Www.worldinbetween.wordpress.com (including places to stay, etc in Budapest).... Enjoy your trip....

I'm just going to disagree a bit at this point with worldinbetween, above. I have friends in Budapest and have made 3 trips in recent years to stay with them. While I like it well enough I think Vienna is the more interesting of the 2. However these things are subjective aren't they. But if you do take the train and if you'll be passing through Vienna I think it would be a shame to not give it a couple of days.

You might look at our trip. Prague, Vienna, Budapest, Venice, Florence, Rome. We should have done it in a different order. But here are our experiences - a bit of a long read but includes where we stayed and how we got around. You must do three nights in Venice the worlds most beautiful and romantic city.

http://www.rimerson.com/

I'll never take another overnight train if I can avoid it, but the day train through the Alps is pretty. If you break your trip in Salzburg (you could see Vienna too) it's 7+ hours by train Salzburg-Venice.

Or you could just fly Ryanair Budapest-Venice for under 30 Euro plus their sundry fees.

Or train it to Vienna and fly Air Berlin from there for as little as 113 Euro. Or see Vienna, Salzburg, and Munich and fly from Munich for as little as 56 Euro (have a look at all airfares from Budapest to Anywhere at as well as Venice to Anywhere at www.skyscanner.net ).

Budapest, Vienna, Venice, Florence, Rome would be too much, I'd travel during the day and not put in Florence. Venice 2 nights, Venice 2 nights, Budapest 4 nights, Rome 4 nights. You need the extra time in Budapest to do the whole thing with daughter and friends. While there, also visit the castle, a couple of spas, take a segway tour, but if you go on the underground get your tickets stamped.

Dfourh, I understand that there are train people and then those that do it just to get from point A to B. I love trains and while I sleep better when my bed isn't moving, having a compartment to myself where I could actually undress and go to bed like a civilized person was a destination in itself for me. I wouldn't otherwise go overnight. But it's a very individul thing and in this case has the added incentive of not using up a day on a trip as short as this one.

I agree that after Budapest, Vienna, Venice & Rome would make a wonderful trip.

Any and all info so appreciated. Thank you!

I'm so appreciative of the feedback. I know it is a short trip but we have to be back for a family wedding. I like the Vienna and Italian cities. Does Croatia make sense at all? Our neighbors will be there same time as us?

How much for food for two adults a day?

I suggest you see your neighbors when you all get home.

"How much for food" is unanswerable. I spend a very modest amount but for some it's the reason for being there. So you see what I mean.

I will second the comments on Croatia. We just left Bratislava after living there for 18 months..... And while Slovaks love to vacation in Croatia, it is a hard place to pop down to by train (we do not own a car and can't drive here... Each time we consider Croatia, it falls off due to the logistics). And between Budapest and Rome there are so many great, and easier, options.

I ca certainly understand the case for Vienna. It is a particularly nice city for museums and classical music. The joke when you live in Bratislava is when friends ask "What is the nicest thing to see in Bratislava".... to respond "Vienna". (Completely not true... But Slovaks have a bit of a chip on their shoulders).

By the way, we seem to have jumped to the conclusion you like train travel... If I were to personally do this trip, I would fly.

>>>>>>>I love trains ... having a compartment to myself where I could actually undress and go to bed like a civilized person was a destination in itself for me.

That is starting to sound pretty romantic. I've/we've never had the private compartment, but it does sound nice. My experiences include: bed too short; temperature poorly regulated; lots of creaking, hissing, jolting all night long at remote stops; everybody getting woken up at the border by nonstop screaming & yelling when the police come and throw illegals off the train.

I think, dfourh, I may have been one compartment over... Sounds like my train!

Okay Crotia is out then. We should be moving West in this case. Roblm, loved your write-up, the pics are fantastic and so informative. Again, thanks for the time you've taken to respond. I am thinking flying may be easier because our time is so limited.

As far as food..hmmm I get that it is a hard question to answer, really depends on many things. If we budgeted 2k for the two of us for food, will that be ample for 13+ days?

thanks again