joanw

Hello, We will be spending 3 nights in each of these cities. Can you please share your opinions on the best area to stay in each and any must do's while we are there? Are there any day trips you would recommend? We don't know much about the areas and have just started planning. I always like to start with your advice. Thank you Joan

MmePerdu

With 3 nights you get 2 full days. I suggest skipping 1 city (I'd skip Budapest) and use the days in the 2 remaining. Three days in major cities is, to my way of thinking, not enough, let alone just 2.

KarenWoo

Even though I haven't been to Budapest or Vienna, I agree with MmePerdu that you should probably delete one city from your trip. It sounds like too much traveling, packing/unpacking, etc., and you won't have much time in each city.

I've been to Prague twice and love it! It is crowded and touristy, but that didn't detract from our enjoyment of Prague. It is beautiful! Both times we stayed at the Pension Dientzenhofer in Mala Strana, which is on the Castle side of the bridge. Mala Strana is quieter than Old Town side. However, I might not stay at Dientzenhofer if I was a solo traveler because it is very quiet at night and I might be a little nervous walking back alone late at night. Not that it ever felt unsafe, but late at night there are very few people around, at least when we were there.

Must do's for us: visit the Castle, Old Town, Jewish cemetery & synagogues, Astronomical clock, Mucha Museum, and Communist Musuem. Another favorite for us is the Vysehrad area, high up on a hill overlooking the river. Less crowded than Old Town area, has a lovely church and beautiful, interesting cemetery. Prague is great for walking around, admiring the architecture, etc.

Hope this helps.

Andrew

We all have different travel styles. Just because three nights in a city is not enough for you doesn't mean it wouldn't be enough for someone else. There is no practical reason not to travel that way - just a personal preference.

When I visited these three cities the first time (well, I've been to Prague twice), I stayed four nights in Prague, two in Vienna, and three in Budapest, all by train. That was a good amount of time for me. I had a flexible schedule; I arrived in Prague and loved it which is why I stayed four nights, though I didn't really "need" four nights. Vienna didn't seem like it would be that interesting to me, and two nights there was plenty. Budapest is a more complicated place to navigate and pretty large, so three nights there seems like a good minimum. I didn't really fall in love with Budapest so didn't mind leaving after three nights, but with more time I could have seen more.

If I were doing it over again that way, I'd probably have spent three nights in Prague, taken a bus to Cesky Krumlov and spent a night there, then a shuttle to Vienna and then a train to Budapest. I've since been back to Prague and visited Cesky Krumlov though I had a car the second time.

We have a recent thread about Prague hotels, so I won't repeat here much of what I wrote there:

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...l-583591-2.cfm

It's a small, compact walking city, so it doesn't matter that much where you stay as long as you stay close to the center. I liked Mala Strana just on the west side of the river, but staying in the old town is convenient too.

I stayed too far from the center in Budapest and Vienna so won't recommend the places I stayed.

PalenQ

Yes you have but two full days in each city after factoring travel time in but I agree with andrew's first paragraph above- OK if that is your style- take trains between the cities = book early on national rail sites for nice discounts - www.seat61.com has sage advice on discounted tickets - for general info www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com.

What are you other travel plans on this trip -just these or more?

MmePerdu

Andrew has stated the obvious regarding personal preference and I think that we made that clear in the 2 opinions before his. I am going to disagree with him regarding there being "...no practical reason not to travel that way". Maybe, if "practical" means that one is able to physically cover that much ground, then it has some validity. But if practical implies enough time to get a sense of a place and enjoy what a city has to offer, then I'd have to say 2 days isn't enough. In my opinion.

Andrew

I didn't try to urge my personal opinion or travel style on anyone. I merely stated that it can be done because I did those three cities in the same amount of time, so there's nothing wrong with doing it that way if you wish to. If someone said they wanted six nights in Prague and five in Budapest, I wouldn't try to talk them out of it just because I like to travel faster than that.

If before my first trip you had tried to talk me into staying more time in Budapest especially, you would have been giving me bad advice, not helpful advice.

The OP asked for advice on areas, sights, and day trips, not on travel preference slow vs. fast.

BigRuss

<<Can you please share your opinions on the best area to stay in each and any must do's while we are there? Are there any day trips you would recommend? >>

Prague 1 - Old Town, Mala Strana, Josefov
Pest side, close to the river.

Your schedule is short for day trips.

No such thing as a must do - you have reasons for going so find what interests you.

fourfortravel

We live in Vienna, and my "Must Do" list is probably considerably different from that I would suggest to a first time visitor. Ditto for Prague and Budapest, cities that we have visited more than a handful of times. For example, for every suggestion that you "must" try Sacher Torte you will find a hater of that dried chocolate cake with jam. One who suggests you avoid staying in Prague's Stare Mesto will be countered by another who has a favorite hotel on the square where the concierge knows their name. For every person that writes that you "must" go to a ruin pub in Budapest you will find another who doesn't feel the love.

The haters will tell you to skip one of the cities; the slow travelers will tell you that your trip is too rushed. Someone will likely chime in with the way to travel between them all on trains.

All of this said, if you could offer more information about your preferences; when you are traveling; your travel style; and so forth, you may receive more helpful suggestions.

BigRuss

<<The haters will tell you to skip one of the cities; the slow travelers will tell you that your trip is too rushed. Someone will likely chime in with the way to travel between them all on trains.>>

You're late to the party - that already happened. It's not a prediction if the event happened.

fourfortravel

BigRuss, darn, you're right. I scrolled through the responses before I'd had my full cup of coffee.

Christina

People are always subtracting days also and claiming with 3 nights you only get 2 days. Which isn't true unless you don't arrive in a place until evening the first day.

3 days for major cities is fine, you can see the highlights and enjoy it. Many people want to see more places rather than spend endless days in one city seeing every minor museum, I think 3 in each of those is fine. In fact, I've been to them all and 3 in Budapest or Vienna would be about right for me as I'm not crazy about either.

MmePerdu

"...claiming with 3 nights you only get 2 days. Which isn't true unless you don't arrive in a place until evening the first day."

OK, correction, 3 nights is not 2 days, nor is it 3 days when traveling. 3 nights is 2 full days plus travel time and bits of the other 2, which cannot equal 3 unless a finger alongside your nose and spinning to arrive instantly is the mode of travel. But I prefer a train and those hours plus time spent on logistics at each end must be subtracted to arrive at available touring time. Sad, I know, but it is true.

iris1745

A little info.

inyourpocket.com/prague

inyourpocket.com/Vienna

inyourpocket.com/Budapest

PalenQ

"...claiming with 3 nights you only get 2 days. Which isn't true unless you don't arrive in a place until evening the first day."

Relocating takes a half-day at least even say between Budapest and Vienna - packing up, getting to hotel - unpacking- whatever- and may for some take most of a day.

And like Christina says two full days plus a bit of another is enough for many to do the main sites - for others that takes longer.I have traveled both styles and enjoy both for different reasons. First time I'm in Europe I wanted to see many different places rather than one place from many different angles.

BigRuss

<<BigRuss, darn, you're right. I scrolled through the responses before I'd had my full cup of coffee. >>

You acted before you self-caffeinated and therefore became a cautionary tale for all. Your sacrifice is appreciated.

To Joan: I'd prioritize Szoborpark, the Weeping Willow, and the Terror Museum in Budapest.

Andrew

In Budapest, the view down from the Buda (hilly) side on the river, chain bridge, and parliament building at dusk/night is AMAZING - don't miss it! I have a picture from that location on my wall at home, and it's usually the one picture people ooh and ahh over (because of the view, not because of my amazing skill as a photographer).

FYI, the Melissa McCarthy film "Spy" from 2015 was shot mostly in Budapest - parts of the film are set there but even the scenes supposedly in Paris and Rome are mostly in Budapest. (I didn't enjoy the film as much as some, but it was fun to see all of the Budapest scenes.)

kja

For context: I felt rushed with about 5 full days in each of these cities. Do be sure you will have time to see and experience what you want in each of these magnificent cities before committing to a specific plan!

northie

Andrew - isn't Pest the hilly side??

northie

In Viena recommend Pension Suzanne - quite near the Opera house , very central. For me the Art /Kunst galleries are what I went to Vienna for. Look at what each offers and make your choice.
As I love art nouveau all these 3 have lots to look at . Lots of beautiful buildings. !!!