salzburg to prague OR budapest ?
 

we ( wife and me) are trying to decide between prague or Budapest by train from Salzburg. our intention is to spend 4 nights and then proceed to Vienna for 4 nights before returning home. please advise! thank you for your help

If I had to chose after being in all those cities multiple times I'd chose Prague over Budapest - close call but I think Prague is a bit more more than Budapest for the average tourist.

Salzburg to Prague by train is a bit tricky as I believe there are no direct trains but rail links that require a few changes of train like at Linz and perhaps the Czech border - no big deal.

for train info check out these IMO superb sites: www.seat61.com; www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com. There is a Eastern European Railpass valid on trains in Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Poland but with only two train trips or three not worth it - unless you are traveling around Austria on trains not mentioned.

Prague to Vienna is straight forward - direct trains.

Budapest would be easier for travel from Salzburg and to Vienna (I would do Vienna on the way to Budapest, but whatever), less crowded, and at least as interesting as Prague. I've been three times and it's still on my revisit list, whereas once was enough for Prague. But it is very much a YMMV issue, that you need to settle yourself by looking at guidebooks to see what interests you.

Flip a coin... I prefer Budapest ( which just received a major facelift )... Others prefer Prague. Whatever you pick, enjoy.... But Thursday is spot on. .... Go to Vienna on the way.

If going to Budapest there are also hydrofoils on the Danube that take you there as well as trains.