With only 7 days, you should limit yourself to Vienna and
one other. I would visit Vienna for 3 Full(4 nights) days and then take the train to Budapest. As I remember, it is only about a 4 hour train ride to Budapest from Vienna. Another idea is to visit Prague for 3 full days and then travel to Ceske Krumlov,a delightful small town. I seem to remember that there are some other interesting towns between Prague and Ceske Krumlov but I did not visit them.

Pat

You'll only have about 1.5 days in each city. That's not really enough time to acclimate yourselves and absorb what these wonderful cities have to offer.

You don't have time to add any more places to your itinerary.

I would definitely take trains between cities. It will be faster and easier than driving since the train stations are within the cities and it will be easy to get to your hotels via taxi or bus. Driving in unknown cities is not fun.

I recommend choosing only one of these cities and taking some time to explore the surrounding countryside.

I agree - pick 1 or at most 2 of these wonderful destinations, with a day trip or two to round out your experience.

7 days is not nearly enough for this trip. You talk about cities and countryside - and you will have about 1 day in each city to see something.

I would pick one - and do a couple of day trips to see the countryside. Two cities are the most you can squash into your very limited time if you actually want to see anything. And I would just train between the two cities - if that's the way you decide to go. You can easily do a day trip or two by train or bus.

I think I get the drift. Packing 3 cities in 7 days does not seem like a good idea. Since I have some flexibility of planning at this time, I am thinking of extending it to 10 days. Would that be fine for the 3 places? Any ideas on what to see around these places in the country side or somewhere in countryside to stay for 2 days or so?

Ten days, if you are renting a car, is doable. Fly in and out of Vienna. Budapest first, with side trips to Godollo, Szetendre or the Puszta. Then, drive up to Prague, 2 days in the city and visit Kutna Hora, Cesky Krumlov or Karlovy Vary.

It will be jampacked though.

Thanks. Here is my itinerary coming up.

Day 1: Arrive Vienna (morning)
Day 2,3: Vienna
Day 4: Travel Vienna to Budapest
Day 5,6: Budapest
Day 7: Travel Budapest to Prague
Day 8,9,10: Prague
Day 11: Travel to Vienna in evening
Day 12: Depart from Vienna

This gives me 2&1/2 days Vienna, 2&1/2 days Budapest, 4 days ( 3+1/2+1/2) in Prague.
- Does the distribution seem right ?
- Can some one give me ideas for travel between Vienna, Budapest & Prague. I read in the forum that train is good, but would that give me chance to see the country side or some other ways should be looked into?
- Any thoughts on what to try and do in the days in those cities?

Sounds like a lovely trip!
In my opinion, I think the following would work great:

1. Arrive Prague
2. Prague
3. Prague
4. to Vienna (about 4 -6 hours via train)
5. Vienna
6. Vienna
7. to Budapest (Ive not done this route, but I believe its around 3 hours)
8. Budapest
9. Budapest
10. Fly out of Budapest

I am partial to trains, as I find them much more relaxing if traveling with more than one other person! No chance of getting lost

Wondering a little about the comfort factor if you need to travel with 6 people in one car?

I am not sure about the size of vehicle suited to this group - maybe someone else on the forum can help with this.

Our personal preference when travelling to Vienna and Budapest was train.

Book multi-city tickets so you don't have to backtrack. Kosman's plan sounds most logical. With six people and luggage, you might need some kind of mini-van. Train would be my choice.

You can see as much of the countryside from a train as you can see from a car on a highway. You would need a mini van for 6 people with luggage and the car would sit idle for most of the trip as you wouldn't want to drive it within the cities. Parts of these cities have pedestrian only areas so you can't drive there in any case.

For me, 'kosman' has a good suggestion for an itinerary. Much travel time eliminated between cities. www.inyourpocket.com/czech_republic/Prague www.inyourpocket.com/austria/Vienna P.S. We have a friend in Lower Austria [Guptara] that has a B&B.

Thank you folks. I would have loved to do an open jaw, but unfortunately that is not possible. I know it wastes some time backtracking. I will see if there are overnight trains between Budapest and Prague.

I also have been thinking of avoiding the car/van due to the reasons mentioned. In our previous trips to France and Italy, we only hired them when we went out of the main cities into the countryside for few days ( e.g..Tuscany or Bordeaux). I will take your advise and stick to trains.

Does anyone know of apartments or B&B that we can find in the center of the town in all these 3 cities? I like apartments that are centrally located and have easy access to metro/rail.

Iris : you mention lower Austria - I presume that is outside of Vienna?

Six people in one car with luggage is not a good idea - you will end up with some sort of van that may not be comfortable, easy to drive or fun. With that itinerary I would do trains between cities - and then train or bus for day tours - so people can do what they want.

Sorry, my mistake. Upper Austria, near Linz. www.geinberg-suites.com

Thanks Iris - I am looking for places in Vienna.

www.kvu.at This hotel is just off the old square, behind the Cathedral. Loved it.