Do you think, I can do Prague, Vienna & Budapest in 6 days? I am leaving in few days and it was a last minute decision. I fly into Vienna.

My thoughts were:
Day 1 - Vienna,
Day 2 - Take train to Budapest
Day 3 - Budapest
Day 4 - Take train to Prague
Day 5 - Prague
Day 6 - Take train to Vienna or Munich (I have a friend in Munich, so I might end up there and fly from either Munich or Vienna on 8th day)

What would you do? I have never been to either of the cities. My goal is to walk and explore the city. I will not be doing the museum tours. May be a palace tour, if I feel like it. I like to relax, hangout at cafes, shop, and immerse myself into the experience. I would like to go to the thermal spa in Budapest (any suggestions)? Also, is train the best option to go between cities, since it's 6 hours from one city to another? Are there fast trains? How is the climate like - take a jacket?

I greatly appreciate any help....

Forget Prague. Why fly into Vienna and then spend no time there? Split your time between Vienna and Budapest, either of which could easily take six days on its own. You can't relax if you're traveling all the time. The train from Vienna to Budapest is only three hours.

I also agree that two places work better than three for such a short trip. It's likely to be chilly at night and cool during hte day (it's 55 in Prague today, 57 in Vienna, 57 in Budapest ... and will get down into the 40s at night). I'd certainly take a medium-weight jacket for the night (or something more if you get cold easily), but you could get away with perhaps just a sweater and light jacket during the day (or even nothing depending on the weather).

3 cities are too much. I would also cut out Prague. IIRC, train was 2 or 3 hours between Vienna & Budapest. We did thermal baths, it was fun.

Since you're flying into Vienna I would combine Vienna and one of the other three cities. Three or four cities in 6 days is a bit crazy since you won't have time to explore. You say you want to immerse yourself but that takes more than a day.

<< How is the climate like - take a jacket? >>

It's almost October. How could you not take a jacket. Plus an umbrella and a scarf for your neck and I would consider a sweater as well. It will be quite chilly in the evenings.

Use this site for train schedules and duration.

http://www.bahn.de/i/view/USA/en/index.shtml

For lots of great info on Eastern European trains check out these fine sites - www.seat61.com; www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com - if doing three train trips you may want to investigate the European east Railpass valid on all trains in Austria, Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic and Slovakia - fully flexible just hop any train anytime - check national railway sites of respective countries for discounted tickets which however often must be booked weeks in advance as they are sold in limited numbers and often cannot be changed nor refunded - so if flexibility to hop any train anytime ain't important try the locked in stone discounted route if you know your travel days and time and won't need to change them.

NO!!! Just returned from 10 day trip to Prague and Budapest and we flew between the cities to save time ($140 R/T) and also spent time outside Prague and it was barely enough time. Weather very pleasant although it rained a lot in Prague.

Did all three cities last year. Enjoyed them all. Liked Budapest the best. Would highly recommend it. as far as walking and exploring the cities, Prague and Budapest are better suited for that. Vienna is a bit more spread out, but doable if you are comfortable using the trams.

I'd probably agree with the others that 2 cities is probably more practical with such a short trip. The train between Vienna and Budapest is easy - maybe 2.5 hours or so. Pretty convenient. Budapest to Prague as you know is longer than that.

In Budapest we went to the Szechenyi baths and enjoyed it. I'd recommend bringing your own towel so you don't have to pay for one.

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With so few days I would do Vienna and Munich (if you want to vist your friend). 3 or 4 cities is just silly.

Frankly I prefer Prague and Budaepest in that order - butyuo've already bought plane tickets so have limited options if you actually want to see/do anything.

(You can't soak up a city in one day)

Since it has cooled off, I would do a bath in Budapest. Rudas would be my choice for an authentic Turkish experience.

I love the old Jewish neighborhood - and while there, I would stop into a ruin pub (we like Szimpla Kert) for a drink and Kadar for lunch. I would end the walk up at Liszt Ference Ter and hop the metro to Hero Square.

The castle never thrills me - but I would go up just before dinner to experience the lights from up high - though for me, I would return to Pest for dinner.

Walk around Parliament (make sure you see shoews on the danube) cut thru Liberty square (Szabadsag ter) to Szent Istvan Cathedral and on over to Vorosmarty ter and down the Vaci Utca. I'd stop for a coffee along the way. Or have lunch at Cafe Kor.

You really need 3 full days to scratch the surface of Budapest.

Personally, I'd rather stay home than rush thru the 3 cities in such a very short time... (of course, if I stayed home, I'd be in Budapest - which is also my favorite of the 3).

I agree with those who recommend a maximum of 2 cities. I enjoyed each of these cities for their unique attributes.

I enjoy all of these cities. However, I recommend a maximum of two cities for this trip. You could fly to Vienna and out of Budapest. My recent train ride between those cities was very pleasant. The Szechenyi Baths in Budapest are very nice. Yes, take a jacket and dress in layers.

Thanks for the suggestions. I might do 3 days in Budapest, 3 days in Vienna and then go to Munich for another 3 days. Are there any towns outside Vienna or Budapest that I should look into?

Did you add extra time to your trip? It's now 10 or 11 days?

> Are there any towns outside Vienna or Budapest that I should look into?

Not in the limited time you have (even with what sounds like extra time)! But of course any decent guidebook would cover day trip options.

Do you mean three nights/two days, or four nights/ three days? Either way you don't really have time for day trips, but if it's the latter I suppose you could go to Melk from Vienna. Or you could count Schonbrunn and the wine gardens as a day trip.

I enjoyed my day trip to Melk from Vienna. However, with your limited time, I recommend that you stay in Vienna.

Melk is nice with its old abbey or monastery or whatever it is called but I'd come here only if I were also catching boats for a few-hour cruise over one of the most scenic streetches of Danube - the Wachau Valley - vineyard-clad Wachau Valley - take boats from Krem to Durnstein - a cutish wine town with a neat old ruined castle above it - then either take the boat downstream to Krems and return by train from there to Vienna or go by bus/train right from Durnstein.

But yes with only a few days I'd stay in Vienna with the most day trip being waltzing out to Grinzing's heuringen (wine tavers on the edge of the Vienna Woods where they make their own wines from nearby vineyards.

Thank you for the suggestions. I just got back from my trip. It was a blast. I ended up spending 3 days in Budapest, 3 days in Vienna, 2 days in Munich and 2 days in Denklingen. It was enough time to explore and get a feel for the cities. Budapest is beautiful at night and their bathhouses are the best way to get relaxed after long flight. Vienna has so much to offer and I enjoyed every moment and Stephanplatz is the epi center of excitement. Nearby Dumel and Hotel Sacher is a mecca for chocolate lovers. Let the beauty of the architecture and the narrow streets take you to hidden gems and hop on a tram is another best way to explore more in a short time. Munich on the other hand felt more welcoming and cozy. May be I was there at the tailing end of Octoberfest and all the tourist had left the city. I enjoyed spending time with friends and learning German. An hour away is Denklingen. A beautiful country side and we enjoyed staying at Benefizium bed and breakfast. Beautiful view of the church from my bedroom and it is such a treat waking up to the Moo and birds chirping. I took the buses and trains which is super easy when navigating different parts of Europe.

Thank you Fodorers for helping me prepare for the trip.