Looking for a private driver to take us to Vienna from Budapest. Any interesting stops on the way ? If the scenery or towns are not that great, maybe we should just take the train. How long would it take by train ? If we did not make any stops by car, how long would it take ?
Thanks

2 hours by car. There are a few interesting towns along the way but not a great deal. I must point out that even though you're on a divided freeway all the way driving in Hungary is considered pretty dangerous as opposed to taking the train. Simply bc drivers there are pretty aggressive. The train may take you a bit longer 2.5 hrs, but would be much safer and you would still see the countryside form tech windows. If you still want to do it by car let me know I have people I can refer you to in Budapest who are travel business professionals.

miklos - born and bred in Budapest

I've driven it. I-80 around Chicago, I-5 around LA, I-95 anywhere, are far less safe.

It's very unremarkable country. Industrial, from Vienna for maybe 40 miles, then .........

Maybe if you like music, you'd like Eisenstadt, where Joseph Haydn was the palace composer for one of the Austrian kings wh0se palace is also there.

If that doesn't light your candle, I'd take the train or the hovercraft boat on the Danube

tomboy ... Thank you

Miklos, what is your opinion on taking the hovercraft boat ? Thank you

I did it in the opposite direction (Vienna -> Budapest) by a day tour. I took my luggage with me and it was put into the back of the 8-passenger van. When we arrived in Budapest, we did a tour of the city, getting out for photo ops, and periods of time in various areas. When the tour was over, the tour guide/van driver dropped me at my hotel in Budapest. The rest of the folks had time to have lunch/shop before returning to Vienna. I stayed in Budapest.

It cost about the same as taking the train from Vienna to Budapest and the taxis to/from the hotels to/from the train stations. Worked great for me. And, the way I look at it, I got a free tour thrown in!

Oh yes the hovercraft. That's another great option. I did it once from Vienna to Budapest myself and I would highly recommend it. It's a great way to do the trip and one certainly sees a lot more! You'll get a lot more pleasure out of it than by car or train. I completely forgot about it.. My Gfriend and I had a great time doing it, the service is great, very comfortable, like flying 1st class with plush seats. Wasn't that expensive either. Excellent option!

OK. So it's a "Hydrofoil." My memory is getting a tad rusty I checked around a bit. It costs €90 one way adult. See pics get tix here: http://vienna-hydrofoil.hotels-in-budapest-hungary.com/

Again, a great way to go.

Miklos ... Thanks again. I think we will take the train ( 2.5 hours) as opposed to 6 hours on the boat. Is the scenery from the boat really pretty ? Sitting in an enclosed boat for 6 hours is a bit long. We will be in Budapest on May 3 so we have time to decide. If I thought the drive would take us through quaint towns & scenery, I would hire a driver. Not interested in industrial scenery for 40 miles as tomboy said. Best Regards

Miklos ... Two more things What is the best way to get the train schedules & tickets ? Do you know anything about the drive from Vienna to Prague ? Thanks again

Train schedules - bahn.de. Buy the tickets at the station when you get there. (Lots of train info - seat6.com.)

thursdaysd ... Thank you for the info ... very helpful

There used to be tickets for 19E.. hopefully there is still something like that. OUr hotel got ours for us.

Sorry - that should have been seat61.com - hope you worked that out.

Please do not use the boat to make your transfer Budapest - Vienna.

Not just a boring 61/2 hour journey that costs 89 euro, but no remarkable scenery either.

These hydrofoils are soviet era boats with some modernization done but not really comfortable for this length journey.

Train is mmuch better, comforatble 3 hour journey and much cheaper too.

Purchased in advance tickets are relatively cheap too. 19-39 wueo I think.

Also bus service exiats - less than 3 hours - 29 euro.

www.eurolines.at

For Vienna - Prague - check the Sparscheine train tickets . inexpensive - must be purchased in advance and are for specific trains.
Check the Austrian Rail website for tinming and prices

www.oebb.at

we took the boat [hydrofoil] from Bratislava to Vienna - the last hour or so of the Budapest to Vienna stretch.

it was quite interesting, and compared reasonably well with the train journey time, especially as you go directly from the middle of Bratislava to the middle of Vienna, but i wouldn't have wanted to be on it for longer than a couple of hours.

vienna is a very busy place so far as traffic is concerned and parking is very difficult. I can't see any point in having a car there as public transport is so good, and I'd definitely take the train to get there from budapest.

i would very much appreciate a driver referral for budapest, and one for vienna if you have it. thanx!

Why do you want a driver? Public transport is good and cheap in both cities. This is an old thread, you might do better to start a new one.

my traveling companion uses a rather cumbersome walker at a slow pace. i thought it might be easier than trying to get her on and off the u-line quickly.

That makes sense, although you should be OK with buses and trams. Bing turns up some possibilities.