Suggestions for 7-day trip in October for solo traveller
 

I like architecture, cruises, and walking around a city. I've been to Switzerland (Lucerne), France (Paris), and Italy (Milan) so ideally I would like to visit a new country.
Some things I'm looking for:
-Not expensive (500 euro maximum trip budget for food, souvenirs, attractions, and trips)
-Not too cold (the warmer the better!)
-Must have enough activities for 7 days or have a possibility for day trips from there

Some of the options I've looked at are Prague, Vienna, and Barcelona but feel free to suggest others and tell me things to do there.

Thank you!

Well further south is likely to be warmer... in October Barcelona average daytime temps 70 F; Prague 60 F; Vienna 57 F
Any major city can easily occupy 1-week's time.

+/- 70 euros a day? Does that include lodging?

I'd look for the city you can fly into directly that offers the best value for your limited budget. Perhaps Lisbon...?

Look outside of the box for great vfm.. Places that aren't in €uro la-la-Land.....

- Sarajevo, with a side-trip to Mostar by train.

- Skopje, with a side-trip to beautiful Lake Ohrid.

- Romania, Transylvania is easy to reach from Bucharest. Sinaia, Sighisoara, Sibiu, Brasov.....all quality at 2* prices.

I was about to suggest Barcelona or Madrid. You might also want to consider Lisbon or Porto, or Athens.

Barcelona and Granada if you choose Spain. Lisbon is another good choice, can also include a beach city in Portugal. Vienna and Salzburg, Austria. Munich and Dresden were great in Germany. I actually really like Rome and Venice. Krakow is another option, could also visit Prague on the same trip. I wrote a bunch of trip reports, maybe they'll help you get some ideas...

Spain: http://fanofblank.blogspot.com/2014/...-in-spain.html
Portugal: http://fanofblank.blogspot.com/2017/...nd-sintra.html
Germany: http://fanofblank.blogspot.com/2017/...nd-berlin.html
Poland: http://fanofblank.blogspot.com/2017/...-birkenau.html
Austria: http://fanofblank.blogspot.com/2017/...nd-vienna.html
Hungary: http://fanofblank.blogspot.com/2017/...d-amusing.html
Czech Republic: http://fanofblank.blogspot.com/2017/...utna-hora.html

Thank you everyone!

lindygirl, these are great.

My friend just said that she will be joining me in half the trip and she has chosen either Salzburg or Budapest. So I have 2 options:

1- I can go to Vienna then meet her in Salzburg
2- Go somewhere close to Budapest and then meet her in Budapest.

My only concern about Austria is that I heard it is more expensive than other neighboring countries.

Which option do you think is better? And is Austria more expensive (in terms of excursions, food, transportation)? Hotel prices are pretty close so that's not an issue.

Thanks!

Rana25, glad they're helpful! I was going to say that in general I found Austria more expensive than Czech Republic, Poland, or Budapest. I didn't take many excursions beyond that salt mine tour in Salzburg and didn't take any in Vienna.

For the time you have, I think Vienna and Salzburg would be perfect -- but only if you are interested in what Vienna offers.

Do you still have only seven days? If so, you could easily spend all of them in Budapest. It takes almost exactly the same time by train from Vienna to Salzburg as for Vienna to Budapest.

I loved Vienna but a lot of the things we did there cost money (theater, palace tours, museums). You can ride the trams on the Ring Road for cheap (in fact I don't actually remember buying a ticket??), and see what interests you to go back and see up close. Many beautiful churches and other buildings, and lovely coffee or sweet shops. One day we chanced upon a free projection on the side of the opera house, of the opera (Wagner) which was going on inside. One thing we didn't do but sounds low-cost is hiking through some of the vineyards just out from the city and sampling the wine. Salzburg is a great destination for your interests too.

Having said that, we found Prague cheaper than Vienna for food and entertainment, and I have just been reading up on Budapest as a possible lower-cost option for our next adventure.

That doesn't mean that tickets aren't required, and the fine for riding without a ticket can be high.
Vienna?s public transport system

Oh wow, thank you all!

Do you have an estimate of what I can expect to spend per day in Vienna vs Budapest or Prague?

thursdaysd, yes I only have 7 days.

kja, I like the idea of Vienna and Salzburg but I worry it'll be expensive.

lindygirl, how long did you stay in Vienna and Salzburg?

Many guidebooks have a section on what things cost -- get a good one, or go to your local library -- to see what you are likely to be charged for various things. But IME, costs depend much more on travelers' requirements than on averages -- if you want a room with AC in the heart of town you'll pay more than if a hostel or small hotel on a metro line is acceptable; if you want a sit down dinner in the heart of the city, you'll pay more than if you buy some bread, fruit, and cheese and find a park where you can picnic.

Or take thursdaysd's recommendation to combine Budapest and Salzburg -- and again, think about what you are willing to pay for what in return.

Rana25, I stayed 3 days in Salzburg and 3 days in Vienna. While in Vienna we went to Schönbrunn Palace but only walked around the outside which was free. :)

Rana, honestly I don't think you should let cost be the deciding factor here. Not sure where you are coming from, but Budepest/Czech are farther as far as travel costs from some places. I love Vienna, The coffee houses are awesome, and inexpensive, some fine pastries too. The Spanish Riding School/training sessions are inexpensive and you can get a tour after of stables/museum, get over internet (actual performance is a bit more, but the training session was great, also veryinexpenive standing room area too, one hr usually. The trasit/trams on the Ringstrasse are inexpensive, get a travel book on Vienna/Rick Steves or..... The museums are fine, Gustav Klimpt paintings/Belvedere Palace I beleive or was it Schonbrunn?(movie Woman in Gold) if you are familiar with that. Vienna Opera House tours, etc. i love Vienna.

Sorry, but I’m going to have to quibble with Sue81 a bit. While I can understand describing some costs as inexpensive, that’s always relative – and for someone traveling on a shoestring, even costs that many of us would describe as “inexpensive” can add up to prohibitive sums. I would urge the OP to identify specific sites of interest and then check the internet for current admission prices. (Sorry I didn't think to mention that on my earlier post, and of course, it applies to ANY destination you consider.)

And I would urge against skimping on a guidebook: The Rick Steves guidebooks are generally less expensive than others, and they also typically cover much less. :(

If Gustav Klimt (no p) is a priority, look into Vienna's Belevedere, Secession, and Kunsthistorisches Museum.

It seems to me that I recall the Rick Steves books tend to point out less expensive places to go, stay, eat. Maybe you could get some suggestion for lower cost smaller hotels in Vienna on this site to check out. I agree with kja somewhat, but if you take the time to get the info ahead of time, you can cut down on costs. I know larger cities are usually a bit more costly, but they often have great bargains too....lovely church near the Spanish riding School, that has the tile roof, much damage during WWII, that was free as I recall.

The Lonely Planet and Rough Guide also cover less expensive options -- I know, I've used them! -- and booking.com is the best source I know of for lodging at any price point.

If you're open to it, hostels will really help keep your costs down. I've had some great experiences staying in hostels in various countries and I'll do a mixture of hostels, Airbnb, and hotels if I need to offset lodging costs. I think I once paid US$10 for a bed in a 16-person mixed dorm in Krakow! :) That just meant I could splurge on other things so I was happy to do it.

stayed in a Quaker House hostel in Mexico City for $25 a night for two people, years ago, one of my more interesting stays, but not a great neighborhood.

Thanks for the info. I should have added that I think my hubs may have bought tickets but I couldn't remember for sure.

When I was in Vienna in September last year, it was cold. Be prepare to bring winter/fall clothes for October for Vienna/ Salzburg.

Oh well, if I can't tempt you to Bosnia & Herzegovina or Macedonia or Romania [Transylvania], never mind.

OK this may be obvious, but get tickets ahead of time, google Spanish Riding School and get training session ticket for this ahead, get in less expensive area of Spanish Riding School seating. The building is right next to the Vienna Opera House. (There is a standing room only area too in the SRS, even less expensive) but spring for a seat at training if you can. Get museum ticket ahead, then when you get there these costs will be taken care of. This is really awesome to see, the big white Lippizaners. Stay in hostels. YOu only have 3 days or so in City so stick with free things to do, meditate in lovely church near riding school? Walking tours in most books on Vienna, buy lunch on street. hotel will be big cost and food, get breakfast with room if at all possible.

I live in Europe. I would never go to Austria if I wanted an inexpensive vacation. To me, the prices in Austria and Switzerland are prohibitive, but I'm not fond of those countries anyway, so it doesn't pain me to shun them.

I am not sure where you are flying out of which can be a contributing factor. You might consider southern Spain, flying into say Malaga and exploring some of the neighbouring towns. Granada is fabulous and can be reached by bus. Seville can be reached directly by train. Southern Spain will be glorious in October.
Personally I found the Spanish Riding School in Vienna a bit boring. Budapest is very interesting from an architectural viewpoint and a great walking city, and considerably cheaper than Vienna. I think it is a three hour train ride from one to another. The view of Parliament from the river at night is spectacular. You could as suggested consider Vienna or Salsburg and Budapest- you will notice a big contrast in the cities. I have not been to Salsburg.
We are fortunate to have a great public library system and I load up on guidebooks when planning a trip. I did take lancaster Lads suggestion and ordered Lonely Planet's Malta and Gozo for my most next trip.

There is no free ride on trams, etc even though no one checks tickets as said above - French friends of mine went to Basel and rode trams and came back saying that 'trams were free' - I asked on Fodors and locals said this was not true though hotels may provide transit passes free but that was not the case with these French folks who naively assumed trams were free.

All, I checked the prices on some of the things I want to see and they're reasonably priced, not as expensive as I expected. So Vienna + Salzburg it is!

jft, that's a good point. I checked flights and the only direct option is Vienna (I'd be wasting a lot of time in transit for the others). So I'll be flying in and out of Vienna then taking the train to Salzburg.

Sue81, thank you for the tips!

lindygirl and Sue 81: I'm not a fan of hostels. Although I think of ways to minimize costs, the place I stay at is very important.

Also, I'm working on extending my stay for another 2-3 days so I may go to Innsbruck for that duration or just add the time to Vienna and Salzburg instead and go to Bratislava for a day. Any thoughts on both places?

For Alopine splendor goe to Hallstatt instead of Innsbruck - a nice enough city but far from high Alps - Hallstatt would fit well in your Salzburg-Vienna trek or v.v.

Nonsense.
From wikipedia: Innsbruck: Located in the broad valley between high mountains, the so-called North Chain in the Karwendel Alps (Hafelekarspitze, 2,334 metres or 7,657 feet) to the north, and the Patscherkofel (2,246 m or 7,369 ft) and Serles (2,718 m or 8,917 ft) to the south.
From wikipedia: Hallstatt: Dachstein massif: peaks over 2,500 m (8,200 ft)

Hallstatt is very cute but there is more to do in and around Innsbruck. If wanting skiing in summer, head for the Stubai Glacier.

Ok - but views from Hallstatt are awesome IME from center of Innsbruck not so and Innsbruck is a large city - very nice but OP with 7 days has little time to venture so far west. Actually I'd do just Vienna and Salzburg and maybe a day trip to Bratislava - just an hour by train.

Oh, I don't know, I think your memory is failing you. See:
https://kwilhelm.smugmug.com/Travel/...ruck/i-NGQscNq

But I agree that Vienna and Salzburg should be plenty for a short trip.

Rana, also near the church that is close to the Spanish Riding School (others, help me here, manyyears ago), just down the street from the church/tile roof/gorgeous/ is the paved walkway where the poor people from the plague (1600's?) are buried, there is a big plaque and monument/fountain? to this, check it out and ponder our life today. Makes you appreciate progress in science, right? Also in Salzburg see the little stone gnomes, free, in fenced garden, in Maribell palace area, I think. Also, check out price to salt mine, just outside Salzburg, with big wooden slide down into the mine, sort of scary ride to me, but fun. enjoy the coffee shops inVienna/awesome.

Yeah you can see distant Alps from Innsbruck from a few visage points in town center but nothing so dreamy as this:

https://www.google.com/search?q=hall...w=1280&bih=629

Like anywhere, I'm sure you can work a lower budget by doing things that are free and staying out of high end restaurants. May not be what someone WANTS to do with their vacation time... but it can make even an expensive destination (Hawaii, Switzerland, etc.) obtainable.

I found Austria relatively expensive but hopefully you can find you way to a nice vacation.

A highlight for us in Salzburg was renting bicycles and riding along the river--easy low cost rentals just outside the old town area along the river.

Walking and hiking around the old town, as well as to the more modern area, was also enjoyable.

You may find a Christmas type market going in the old town plaza area.

In Vienna, if the Opera is on, you can get standing room tickets for a few Euros; also the tours of the opera house weren't expensive.

Walking around Vienna is an experience in itself, along with general sightseeing. We also went to visit Freud's House/museum. One of the highlights was attending a service at the Cathedral with a gorgeous orchestra playing!

In addition to Rick Steves (book and video), consider checking out a Let's Go guide -- IIRC they do have a lot of low cost options covered.

The costs of living in Switzerland are nearly double as high as in Germany. In Austria the price level is about that of Germany. This doesn't apply to typical tourist areas of course.

Everyone, I booked my ticket and will be flying to and from Vienna October 4 to 13. Since I have more time I'm planning on adding one more city. Innsbruck is out now since it will be further west.

The only restriction I have is that I'm meeting my friend in Salzburg October 5-7.

I arrive around 4pm on Oct.4 so I'm thinking of taking the train to Linz (halfway to Salzburg), spending the night there and leaving to Salzburg on the 5th (afternoon).

I'm thinking of one of the following options:
1) Head to Vienna on the 7th and leave for Budapest on the 10th and then come back for my flight on the 13th
1) Head to Budapest on the 7th and leave for Vienna on the 10th and fly from there on the 13th

Note: I've been to Paris, Lucern, and Milan so I'm trying to visit cities with different vibes this time!

why not just go to Salzburg and settle in on first day - why Linz nice town that that is - one extra hotel move?