Prague and Budapest--what about Vienna?
 

We are spending 11 nights in Sept flying into Prague and out of Budapest. Probably going by train in between. Would love opinions: should we spend 6 nights in Prague and 5 nights in Budapest, or 5 nights Prague 2 nights Vienna 4 nights Budapest? I realize we could do 4-3-4, but we've never been to Prague and Budapest and think they (esp Prague) deserve a little more time. ( We've been to Vienna for 2 nights previously.) Would 6 nights be to much in Prague??

Yes

I'm going to Vienna/Prague and Budapest in Aug. I've only visited Vienna before but was only there for a day. Based on some research,and talking to others who have visited these countries, it seems that the least amount of time spent was in Budapest.

Having spent time in all three cities, I am of the opinion that many people here under-rate Budapest. You can easily fill a week. If you are in a hurry, it's still worth 4 or 5 days.

Prague is high-impact, but there are not that many things to see. Good place for music, though. I'd suggest 3 or 4 days there.

6 nights in Prague is too long really, I would cut it down to 4 at the max I would do 4-3-4. Prague - Vienna - Budapest

Also having visited all three cities, I, too, think Budapest is underrated on this forum. I respectfully disagreee, however, that there is not much to see in Prague. As previously suggested, I would do 4-3-4 Prague, Vienna, Budapest. Have a wonderful trip!

Have beeen to all 3 cities several times - Vienna 7 I think - and to me the ranking should be Prague, Budapest and Vienna.

Prague is the most intersting, has a broader variety of things to do, an incredibly active music scene and tons of good dining - as well as a couple of day trips.

Budapest is a little more exotic than Vienna - and to me has more life.

Vienna is fine, nothing against it - but it is a little triste - and to me you can easily see the main sights in 3 days - even if you've never been before.

If you want to add a small town to your trip, Cesky Krumlov (Czech Republic, 3 hours from Prague by train, about the same from Vienna) is a beautiful medieval town. The Vltava meanders through it, it has a castle (with bears), and it is a UNESCO site. You probably wouldn't want to spend more than a day there (there is a lot of outdoors activity if you are looking for it and it is very relaxing but very quiet) but it is unique, well-preserved, absolutely lovely and quite charming. I highly recommend seeing it since you have so much time in the area. You could also take a day trip there from Prague but it would make for a lot of travel in one (very long) day.

All your ideas really help! Cesky Krumlov has always sounded interesting, and I see how to get there from Prague (train or bus not bad) but I can't find info on how to get from Cesky Krumlov to Vienna--is it really 7 hours by train???

Use this site for bus and train times.
www.idos.cz

I would agree with the 4-3-4
Vienna is a beautiful city. We saw most things we needed to see in 3 days.

We just came back from all 3 cities and I would do 4 Prague, 3 Vienna and 4 Budapest. If you enjoy fine dining, try Tom George in Budapest, right behind the 4 Seasons hotel. We had one of the most amazing meals there.

Cesky Krumlov is not even on a train line, and not in the direction of Vienna, so if you found some train schedule that took 7 hours, it wouldn't surprise me but that's not typical. You'd have to get to the nearby town with a train station first by bus or taxi (add that time in, also), which is Ceske Budejovice. All runs during the day are 5-6 hours total and involve 2-3 changes (one of which is to get from CK by bus to CB).

You can't get to Cesky Krumlov by train in 3 hours from Prague, either, I believe the quickest time is 4-5 hours. That's because there is no train station, although it is about 3 hrs by train to Ceske Budejovice. The bus is faster overall as it goes there because they do have a bus station. Personally, I would never add on Cesky Krumlov to your already too-busy schedule.

I've spent a week in Prague a couple times and had plenty to do, but I have some special interests there that don't appeal to a lot of people, and don't just visit the tourist sites in the center. For typical first-time tourist, I think 3-4 days suits a lot of people. Hard to say if you'd find 6 days too much or not.

I prefer Prague to Budapest, but I've spent more time there, so maybe I just missed all the things to do in Budapest and will have to get back there. Partly is was the feeling of the city, though. I enjoyed seeing Vienna for its history and important, but didn't really like it very well.

Personally, I'd replace Vienna with Cesky Krumlov. I liked it better and always enjoy mixing small towns with big cities on a European itinerary - even though the connections will be a bit inconvenient.