3abkrino

Hello everybody,

I am visiting Vienna in early March for a meeting, I will spent 5 full days (2 days for work and 3 days for Vienna ), Afterwards I was planning to spend another 4 nights/ 3days in Prague but due to unfortunate circumstances I have to come back earlier and had to cancel the Prague part. Now I am very disappointed, I always wanted to visit Prague !!!

Anyway, a friend of mine had done a day trip to Prague from Vienna and recommended that for me but it takes 4 hours at least each way, It will be a long trip with little time to enjoy Prague.

I also consider Budapest and Britislava as they are nearer but Budapest is much spread out than Prague and it's PRague that I wanted to visit in the first place. Britislava is the most convenient as a day trip but not much to see and I will also miss Prague.

Salzburg seems to be a good option, nearly the same travel time as Budapest, has the charme and small in size for a day trip.

Now I have 2 full days for Vienna, 2 work days and 1 day for day trip or add it to Vienna.

I appreciate your suggestions?

kja

"Now I have 2 full days for Vienna"

Depending on your interests, that is very little time for Vienna. I spent 4.5 days there, busy from awakening to crashing at night, and still could have used more time.

"Britislava is the most convenient as a day trip but not much to see"

Exactly. That's why it makes sense for those who choose to visit it as a day trip.

"Salzburg seems to be a good option... for a day trip."

Not IMO -- I thought Salzburg held enough sites of interest to warrant more than a day trip. YMMV.


I recommend that you get some good guidebooks (or spend some time with a few in your local library), identify the things you most want to see in each location, note their opening/closing times, and mark them on a calendar. Then pencil in your transportation, add some time on either side (for getting to/from your lodging, checking in/out, packing/unpacking, getting oriented, etc.) and see how things fit together. That's really the only way to decide what will work for you and your interests.

Good luck!

danon

Agree with pp.

Vienna is a city with much to offer especialy if you like art ,museums, history.
( and cakes! )

fourfortravel

I live in Vienna, and have taken multiple day trips to all of the cities on your itinerary. A few thoughts come to mind.

1. Early March can offer unpredictable weather across Central Europe, which can make sightseeing less than ideal. Many museums across Central Europe are closed on Mondays, as well. Manage your expectations accordingly.

2. Day trips to all of the cities are possible, but what are your goals? A day in any of the cities will only yield a sample of what the city has to offer; in Prague and Budapest, for example, a long day could be spent exploring the respective castle districts and enjoying a lunch. A bit more of Salzburg could be covered in one full day. Bratislava is convenient at just 75 minutes from Vienna, but unless you have a specific reason to visit, I wouldn't use a day of your short itinerary to see the city. Also keep in mind that as a first time day-tripper to any of the cities, more time than you might think could be lost to the simple logistics of navigating the city, obtaining relevant currency (Prague, Budapest), etc.

3. Believe it or not, you may become bored witless after two full days of Imperial Vienna if museums, Historicist architectural overkill and sitting idly in coffeeshops isn't for you. Aimless wandering may provide fresh air to breathe, especially on Sundays in Vienna, when pretty much everything but restaurants are closed.

As kja suggested, with your short itinerary it really is imperative to identify the most important "must sees" of your visit, be they in Vienna or elsewhere.

Happy Planning!

unclegus

Brno is only about 2 hours drive away and is a lovely small city to visit.

3abkrino

Thanks everybody on your infomrative answers.

Thinkg of it over the night, I am dropping Budapest.

Actually I am not the museum or sightseeing guy, I am more intrested in the local culture, food, Coffee and I like to walk around alot and may be do a quick visit to the top sites. And I will be definitly coming again to Vienna, The meeting I am attending is held there annually.

Anyway, I think that the logic is to stick to Vienna and may be add Britislava as the time allows.

I will check about Brno (Compare it to Britislava)

nyse

If you do plan on Bratislava, please note the spelling.
I liked it very much for an afternoon's visit.

mljs54

My thoughts:

Budapest - You CAN do it in one day but I would not recommend it. For major sites you can visit the Parliament, Chain Bridge and Palace/Fishersman's Bastion/Citadella area in one day. You won't really have time for the Szechenyi Baths/Heroe's Square area, Central Market hall or hanging out in the ruin bars in the evening (if you plan on going back that night).

Prague - Prague is a lot more compact as you said. You can easily see everything if you go from Old Town - Charles Bridge - St. Vitus. It's a lot of walking, some of which you can avoid via buses/trams/taxis, but that's part of the charm.

I think these are two tough day trips to do consecutively when you factor in the amount of walking and the travel time to/from Vienna. Ideally you would go from Budapest -> Vienna -> Prague, but that won't work with your schedule.

If you want my honest opinion I would cut out some of the time in Vienna and spend an extra day in Budapest. One of my favorite cities in Europe (architecture, night life, vibe, food, etc.). It's also incredibly cheap.

Christina

I did go to Budapest as a day trip from Prague and lots of stuff is in one central area, just as much as Prague. I didn't have time to go into any museums, though. But I certainly enjoyed it. My ideas have nothing to do with, nor do I care much, about night life.

I really disagree that you must spend more than one day in Salzburg, I do think one day there would be a good day trip.

I have a rule for day trips of generally no longer than 2.5 hours one way. I would do 3 hours one way if it were a place I really wanted to see and didn't think I'd have much other chance, and if it were summer when it stays light late.

3abkrino

Thanks everybody on your inputs and insights,

I 'd like to ask you about another option which is leaving vienna for prague in the afternoon, spend the night and the next day and maybe leave in the evening or very early on the day after (around 4 am), any thoughts on that?

fourfortravel

So now you would have 1.5 days in Vienna and 1 day in Prague, or will you skip Vienna entirely? You write that you've always wanted to visit Prague, and that you will return to Vienna anyway, so if that is what you are proposing it sounds like you have a plan.

3abkrino

It will be like 1 full day in Prague after spending the night before there and at least 1 full day for Vienna beside my meeting days which I can make for another half day

fourfortravel

Unless your Vienna work days end early, you're likely to find everything but restaurants closed after 1700-1800. If one day in Vienna is enough for you, take a shorter day trip to Melk, Bratislava, or even Graz, if the weather is nice. Or, take both days for Prague. Splitting the days between the two cities might not be worth the logistics hassles.

BigRuss

It's BrAtislava, the UK has no control over it.

;-).

3abkrino

okay I added another half day in Vienna, actually my working is a meeting with multiple running sessions all day and not all days I have morning sessions.

I know that my schedule is too tight but my intial plan was 9 days/ 8 nights for Vienna and Prague. Now I have to do it in just 5 days and I don't want to miss Prague.

Thanks on your advice.

TJinSOMA

We're going to Vienna this fall and are considering a day trip. It looks like Salzburg, Graz or Budapest look like reasonable options for a day. Any thoughts on which people prefer? We're more about architecture (maybe a castle tour), wandering, food than hitting a museum. Thanks

tomboy

Poster: My recommendation, given YOUR statements, is spend as little time as you can in Vienna, since you'll be returning, and as much time in Budapest as you can. For sure omit Britishslava.

Taltul

I've been to Prague, Budapest and Vienna on separate trips. Prague and Budapest need more than the few hours that you'll have (unless you're willing to stay overnight). We spent 4 days in Prague and a week in Budapest. Why travel so far for so little? I agree with fourfortravel - Melk or Bratislava are real day trips. (I didn't get to Graz.) Easy to do. Type Melk into search on Fodors and you'll get lots of information (that's what I did and we had a wonderful day trip. I also wrote a post about it.) Aside from the glorious abbey, a trip to Melk etc... is about being in the countryside. Bratislava is another city if you want another urban option. We didn't get there but it's supposed to be an interesting place to visit.