Got no time off work, but big dreams?
We traveled to Budapest, Vienna and Prague, Central Europe’s gems, with a bonus stop in Bratislava—and we did it in just eight days on the ground with two travel days.
Did we wish we had another few days or a week? Or that we had just made an impromptu decision to move there? Duh. But in the time we had, we saw so many essential things, while still staying sane, enjoying ourselves and even taking breaks to relax. No joke. Read it and weep, all you people on the Rick Steve’s forum who told me it couldn’t be done, as I present the ultimate guide to Central Europe in under 10 days.
ITINERARY GOOD FOR: History buffs and photographers who love museums, culture and walking really fast 🙂
SKIP TO:
BUDAPEST | VIENNA | PRAGUE | BRATISLAVA
TRAVEL TIPS
- Catch an open-jaw flight if you can, but it’s ok to go back where you started.
It was cheaper to fly in and out of Budapest, working north on our train route first to Vienna, then onto Prague. Doing this allowed us to revisit the city we were the most jet-lagged in at the beginning, and take lunch and tour Bratislava in the middle of a long train ride. - Freshen up on your history.
We devoured podcasts, books, documentaries and Youtube videos about the Hapsburg Empire, wars, Communist history and Vienna’s art movement. It is fantastic to have a base of reference for the historical significance of not only your host country, but every building, statue and gallery you are about to see. - Learn how to say the names of attractions and a few pleasantries.
Everyone here speaks English. Everyone. Maybe not flawlessly, and less so in Budapest, but certainly better than my passable attempts at ordering coffee in Czech. But it will help if you are asking for directions to learn some basics of pronouncing the sites you are trying to see, and a few “please” and “thank you’s” couldn’t hurt. - Go in fall.
Or spring. But fall was absolutely magical. My trip was early October of 2017, when leaves were changing, temperatures were just cooling and rain was almost non-existent. Summers are packed with travelers. Winter seems romantic, but remember you will be walking outside quite a bit.
DAY 1
BUDAPEST: INNER CITY
Budapest is separated by the Danube river into its Buda and Pest sides. We had a hotel on the Pest side for the first two days and one night in Buda when we returned, but Pest is known for being more lively and closer to the action.
Plan your visit to the Buda side and castle on a weekday to beat the crowds. We arrived on a weekend, so we explored Pest first. While in the center of town, Central Market Hall and Vaci Utca are worth a very quick visit, but are touristy.
Fuel up at a cafe—we sat for an espresso and chocolate dobos cake in Cafe Central—then get to know the country’s history at the Hungarian National Museum. End the night with a drink at one of many ruin pubs in the Jewish Quarter (Szimpla Kert is a popular choice).
DAY 2
BUDAPEST: LIPOTVAROS & CITY PARK
Start your day in the Lipotvaros neighborhood with a tour of the landmark Hungarian Parliament Building, glistening inside with gold (grab tickets online well in advance). Stroll through Liberty Park and make your way to St. Stephen’s Basilica to admire the interior and panoramic views from the observation level.
Take the metro up Andrassy Ut to Heroes’ Square for a glimpse of Hungary’s revered leaders in statue form. Enter City Park to relax for a patio lunch before donning your swimsuit inside the thermal Szechenyi Baths.
End the night with a romantic, illuminated Danube night cruise.
DAY 3
BUDAPEST: CASTLE DISTRICT, AQUINCUM, MARGARET ISLAND & GELLERT HILL
This last day in Budapest technically happened at the end of our journey, but I am keeping it here for anyone who is visiting Budapest in consecutive days. Otherwise, if you’re flying out of Budapest at the end of your trip, this day would become your last one.
Spend the morning on the Buda side of town exploring the Castle District. Take the funicular up the hillside and make your way toward Matthias Church (a tour gets you up in the towers for a closer look at the bells and a nice view) and the white-walled Fisherman’s Bastion.
Did you think you’d be in a radius of Roman ruins on this trip? If you were as excited about the prospect as we were, take the commuter tram up north to the ruins of Aquincum, a stronghold of the Roman Empire now visible as foundations of residences and bathhouses.
On the way back toward town, walk onto Margaret Island and rent a red two-seater buggy to explore its perimeter. Don’s miss the dancing fountain at the southernmost end.
To say farewell to Budapest, hike up Gellert Hill toward the Citadella and stop to enjoy the city light from scenic viewpoints along the way.
ALSO READ: 20 Essential Things to Do in Budapest
DAY 4
VIENNA: ARRIVAL, SCHONBRUNN PALACE & CITY CENTER
If you’re traveling by train from Budapest, plan to arrive in the Bahnhof-Miedling station and transfer to tour the Hapsburg’s grand summer residence, Schonbrunn. See the imperial apartments and explore the grounds, including a climb uphill to the Gloriette.
Continue into the city center and walk the scenic Ringstrasse boulevard, entering the Hofburg plaza. The Austrian National Library might be the most beautiful library you’ll ever oggle. If you have time, visit the renowned Kunsthistorisches Museum.
Vienna has a reputation as the musical capital of the world. If you’re into operas or classical music, it might be a great time to book a concert. Or, if you’re like me and just wanted a taste of the greats, you might enjoy the Haus der Musik, an interactive museum (they have a half-price deal after 8 p.m.).
DAY 5
VIENNA: HOFBURG PALACE, CHURCHES, KAISERGRUFT & BELVEDERE PALACE
The Hofburg complex contains several museum attractions that are well worth visiting: An incredible Hapsburg family collection of art and jewelry in the Imperial Treasury, the lavish Imperial Apartments and winter residence, and the Sisi Museum dedicated to the life of Empress Elisabeth.
Feel humbled in the hallowed interiors of St. Steven’s Cathedral‘s gothic arches, and be awed by St. Peter’s Cathedral‘s baroque beauty. St. Steven’s has a narrow spiral staircase for a view through tower windows.
Break for a cafe, or a sausage stand lunch. You’ll find both on nearly every corner.
The Kaisergruft (or royal crypt) is the final resting place of many of the Hapsburg royalty. If you’ve been paying attention, you’ll recognize quite a few names in here. Notable is Empress Maria Theresa’s extravagant casket. Continue across the Ringstrasse toward Karlskirche, another ornate church with a platform for viewing the murals.
End the day at Belvedere Palace, where you don’t need to pay to enjoy the beautifully manicured grounds and gardens.
ALSO READ: Vienna in 48 Hours – Top Things to Do
DAY 6
PRAGUE: OLD TOWN, JEWISH QUARTER, CHARLES BRIDGE & MUCHA MUSEUM
From the train station, walk beneath the 15th century city gate called the Powder Tower toward Old Town Square. This inner hub is packed with people and flanked with incredible architecture. The Old Town Hall draws the largest crowds to the Prague Astronomical Clock it bears on its major tower. On the hour, you can catch a mechanical performance. (Note: Old Town Hall is under construction and the clock is dismantled for repair until August 2018).
Prague’s Jewish Quarter is accessed with a combination ticket that allows entrance to several beautiful and historical synagogues. The Moorish Spanish Synagogue, the preserved Old-New Synagogue and Pinkas Synagogue are especially interesting, as well as the hauntingly picturesque Old Jewish Cemetery.
Work your way toward the Charles Bridge and snack on a trdelnik sweet as you go. Pay to ascend the Old Town Bridge Tower for an incredible shot below with the castle in the background. Head into town toward Wenceslas Square to tour the works of Czech-born Alfons Mucha, famous for his Art Nouveau style, in the Mucha Museum.
DAY 7
PRAGUE: PRAGUE CASTLE & MALA STRANA
Rise and shine to be early in line for tickets to the Prague Castle complex, where you’ll encounter the most tourists of any adventure on this trip so far. There are several sites within, and I would recommend Circuit A for the inclusion of the “Story of Prague Castle” exhibit, an informative and enlightening history on the succession of rulers.
Start with St. Vitus Cathedral, the beacon of historical religious and royal functions in Prague, and enjoy the stained glass and chapels. After the morning rush hits, you’ll already be outside to enjoy the gorgeous views from the South Garden and Garden on the Ramparts, and some historical background in the exhibition I mentioned above. Your ticket also gets you into the Old Royal Palace, St. George’s Basilica and the Golden Lane, a row of tiny houses for castle staff.
Phew. Done with the crowds yet? Step onto the walkway in the lush Stag Moat and find yourself blissfully alone. Walk out on the north end to Queen Anne’s Summer Palace for a great view, and exit toward the west via Matthias Gate.
Hike uphill toward the Strahov Monestary for lunch with a view at Bellavista. Walk back down into Mala Strana (“Little Quarter”) via Petrin Park, and stop to see the Lennon Wall, a symbol of defiance to Communism once bearing Lennon’s image and song lyrics.
Cross the Charles Bridge again and make your way south along the east bank of the Vltava toward Frank Gehry’s Dancing House. Find a pub to grab a local beer.
ALSO READ: Best of Prague – A 2 Day Itinerary
DAY 8
BRATISLAVA & A TRAIN RIDE
The train from Prague back to Budapest is over 6 hours, so break it up with a stop in Slovakia’s capital.
Once a ghost town during Communism’s efforts to rid citizens of nostalgia, the Old Town of Bratislava is back in business with tour groups on city walks, red tour cars bustling down alleys and shops selling chocolates and jewelry. Find cute bronze statues, such as a Napolean figure leaning over a park bench and a man climbing up from a manhole cover.
Eat bryndzovĂ© halušky, the national Slovak dish made with dumplings and sheep cheese. This is what mac n’ cheese only dreams it could be.
Then walk uphill to Bratislava Castle. This white-walled fortress on the hillside is a haul, but worth it for the views. Enjoy the garden commissioned by Maria Theresa in back, reminiscent of Vienna, but the showstopper is the SNP Bridge over the Danube. Once the Communist’s pride and joy, the structure is now nicknamed the UFO for its exact resemblance to a prototypical alien spacecraft.
And there you have it. Four cities in four different countries, in one awesome trip.
Do you have plans to travel to any of these places? Let me know in the comments if you have questions or need recommendations!
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