One of our most popular routes, a Prague, Vienna, and Budapest tour is great way to visit three neighboring yet unique countries in a single trip. You’ll be seeing some of the brightest gems of the Austro-Hungarian empire, learn about the history of each country and try their connected but varied cuisines.
Also called the Golden City and for good reason, Prague will have you step back in time on cobbled streets with many tales to tell. Grand, imperial Vienna, once the seat of power still impresses, but we’ll show you its softer side, too. Energetic Budapest is the gastronomic leader of the three, and possibly the most fun too, with its thermal baths and informal wine bars.
Popular Itineraries for Prague, Vienna & Budapest Tours
Although every single itinerary we create is unique and tailored to your exact dates, accommodation, and activity preferences, we have a number of itineraries that combine these three cities, based on different themes.
Our suggested itineraries provide some ideas for you to consider as a basis for your own private tour combining Austria, Czechia, and Hungary, and not just the capitals. For each of these itineraries, you can get a rough idea of the price using the Price Guide function.
We cover many more destinations in these three countries than those listed here, and our expert trip planners will work with you to create a completely customized Central Europe itinerary incorporating any other places in the region or other nearby countries you want to see.
* Starting price is per person, in US Dollars, based on double occupancy in 3 star accommodation, in the most affordable month an itinerary is offered. Airfare to Europe is not included.
Click on your choice of itinerary, select number of travelers in your party, month of travel, and desired star level of accommodation to get an approximate price. Submit the enquiry form with any additional details and we can start planning your customized trip.
Prague, Vienna, Budapest Vacation Reviews
Our Central Europe tour packages provide a hassle-free way to see these captivating countries. We take care of all the details. All you have to worry about is enjoying the unique experiences that will make this the vacation of a lifetime.
Below you’ll find the most recent three reviews and testimonials from guests who have visited Prague, Vienna, and Budapest with our help.
Our JayWay Travel tour exceeded our expectations. We felt “well taken care of” in every city we visited. Everything was outstanding, as we not only enjoyed, but also learned a lot.
Visited : Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary
Itinerary : Prague, Vienna, Budapest
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Exceptional service, people and technology. Easy to work with.
Visited : Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary
Itinerary : Prague, Vienna, Budapest
Rating :
Adam was readily accessible via email prior to our arrival and made some itinerary adjustments due to a marathon occurring in Prague. He provided a good overview upon our arrival in Prague and was easily accessible when we had any questions throughout our trip. If you are looking for a curated, high-quality travel experience but like flexibility in your itinerary to explore on your own, check with JayWay first!
Visited : Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary
Itinerary : Prague, Vienna, Budapest
Rating :
The Varied Delights of Prague, Vienna and Budapest
The classic Prague, Vienna, Budapest route lies right at the heart of the Central Europe region and offers a variety of delights. A cultural treasure trove of grandiose architecture, museums, and opera houses awaits.
Central Europe’s three most beautiful cities share a lot of history, but there’s enough diversity in each for everyone to find their favorite.
The historic center of all three cities is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You’ll feel like you’re walking around an open-air museum. In each city, we suggest joining a guided tour with a knowledgeable local guide to check out the main sights and get your bearings.
Food, Beer & Wine Experiences Abound
You’re unlikely to find many Austrian, Czech, or Hungarian restaurants outside their home countries, but your tastebuds won’t be disappointed on your travels here.
Things have come a long way in the past couple of decades and each country has reinvented its local cuisine. From delicious street food to no-frills local restaurants to Michelin-starred restaurants, food in Central Europe showcases seasonal local produce
Feast like a Czech king in Prague
You can’t leave Prague without trying roast duck with dumplings. Other Czech staples include Kulajda soup, potato salad, and of course, delicious fried cheese, a favorite among vegetarians, too.
Beer lovers will undoubtedly fall in love with Prague, where not only can you taste the best Pilsner of your life, but you can also bathe in beer extracts.
Savor Vienna’s signature dishes
In Vienna, Wiener Schnitzel takes center stage and so does Sachertorte, the Austrian capital’s typical dessert known not only for its decadence but also its rich history.
Visitors to Vienna rave about Heurigen. A Heuriger is a wine tavern, usually on the outer edges of the city, the best place to mingle with locals over a hearty meal.
Get spicy in Budapest
In Budapest, you must definitely sample a Chicken Paprikash dish or the iconic Goulash. Hungary is a wine country through and through. Hungary’s capital is packed with welcoming and informal wine bars where you can taste the country’s very best local wines.
Sightseeing in Central Europe’s Charming Capitals
Despite their many similarities, Prague, Vienna, and Budapest are also captivatingly different. A trip across all three of Central Europe’s delightful capital cities is an eye-opening experience, a journey that allows you to take in their sightseeing wonders but also dive into their authentic vibes.
In Prague, you’ll explore the Old Town and Jewish Quarter, marveling at the city’s unparalleled beauty and fairytale-like ambiance at every turn. You’ll admire the Astronomical Clock on Old Town Square before you make your way across Charles Bridge, probably the most-photographed landmark in the Czech capital.
Offering a different vibe but equally emblematic is the colorful John Lennon Wall. Last but not least, you won’t get enough of the views of Prague Castle and St. Vitus Cathedral from every possible angle.
In Vienna, you’ll spend much of your time in the Innere Stadt, the city’s historic Old Town and resplendent with grand baroque architecture, encircled by the Ringstrasse. Within this UNESCO-listed area, the Opera House and Hofburg Palace are just some of the city’s iconic sights, along with St. Stephen’s Cathedral. For a closer look into the Habsburg legacy, a visit to the Imperial Treasury is also a must.
Classical music lovers might want to take in a performance at the Vienna State Opera or in the glorious gardens of Schönbrunn Palace in early June. Vienna is also known for the Spanish Riding School, and the Vienna Boys Choir, and we can help secure tickets for either of these.
Budapest’s most important sights are more spread out so we suggest exploring each side of the river separately, on two distinct walking tours. As its name suggests, the Hungarian capital consists of two parts: Buda and Pest.
The Pest side is on the right bank of the Danube and forms the younger part of the city. Strolling through Pest will bring you to the vast Hungarian Parliament Building, St Stephen’s Basilica, and the Great Market Hall, all of which define the city’s skyline and unequaled character. Along the elegant Andrassy Boulevard lie the Opera House and Heroes’ Square. Just beyond Heroes’ Square is the expansive City Park, home to Budapest Zoo and the emblematic Széchenyi Thermal Baths complex featuring multiple indoor and outdoor pools, an absolute must when in Budapest.
Budapest’s iconic Chain Bridge has just been renovated and it’s the best way to reach Buda, the historic part of the city, home to the oldest thermal baths, the emblematic Fisherman’s Bastion, St. Matthias Church, and of course the Royal Palace of Buda Castle.
Of course, it’s not the only bridge as there are several other eye-catching constructions that facilitate your strolls between Buda and Pest. Crossing Elizabeth Bridge will afford you the best close up views of its iconic neighbor.
See some of Europe’s loveliest small towns and cities on the way
Our expertise and experience in the whole Central Europe region extends far beyond the big cities, though. If you’ve got plenty of time to spare, we can easily add stops and overnight stays in some of Europe’s most delightful small towns and cities.
A night or two in medieval Cesky Krumlov between Prague and Vienna will give you a great experience that the many day-trippers will never have. Wandering the cobble-stoned streets of an evening as you make your back from a hearty Bohemian feast is a memory that will stay with you for ever.
Salzburg is another appealing possibility. This city of music shows a different aspect of Austria. Whether you’re there for Mozart, the Sound of Music or just to enjoy this gem of a city, you’re in for a treat.
For less of a detour, Brno, the Czech Republic’s second city and packed with functionalist architecture including a UNESCO-listed 1920s Mies va der Rohe home, is worth several hours or a night, to break the journey between Prague or Vienna.
Mikulov, in the Moravian wine country, just before the Czech-Austrian border, is a delightful town yet to be discovered by foreign tourists where you can try the best Czech wines from local producers in this sunniest corner of the country
You’re in The Best Hands
Our expert Central Europe travel advisors and trip planners will work with you to create your dream vacation itinerary. You’ll stay at the very best hotels, B&Bs and apartments. You choose how you want to spend your days, either enjoying day trips and city tours with our trusted partners or taking a day off to wander on your own. Before you arrive and during your trip, our on-the-ground staff throughout the region are on hand by phone or email for any help you need. With our years of experience arranging trips in Central Europe, we’re perfectly placed to create the most memorable trip you’ve ever experienced.
Why Travel with JayWay?
You only travel somewhere for the first time once. By taking a custom tailored trip you get a seamless trip, to your choice of destinations and at your own pace, planned by professionals and supported by locals on the ground in Europe.
Save Precious Time
Planning an amazing trip takes time. Our friendly travel advisors and experienced trip planners will listen to your needs and craft your personal dream itinerary. We will maximize your vacation time and enjoyment – we know the best way to get around and how to spend your hard-earned time off.
Have Peace of Mind
You’re in safe hands from the very beginning. Even before you arrive your dedicated tour manager in Europe will be in touch to help you prepare. When you arrive they’ll meet you and be available by phone, email and IM for the rest of your journey with us, for anything you need.
Make Memories Forever
Travel can create memories that last a lifetime. You’ll return home with indelible recollections of beautiful sunsets, magical vistas, fascinating stories, and meals so delicious you’ll want to fly back every time you think of them. This is why we do what we do.
Frequently Asked Questions about Travel to Prague, Vienna, and Budapest
Most of our guests travel to Central Europe from the US by air, unless they are already traveling in a neighboring country. There are direct flights to many Central European capitals, including Berlin, Prague, Budapest, Warsaw, and Vienna as well as Munich in Germany and several Swiss cities. However, direct flights are usually more expensive. We recommend getting an open-jaw ticket, which has you flying into the first city on your trip and out of the last. This will save time and usually costs less when you factor in the cost of returning to the first city on your itinerary. Although we don’t sell airfare, our travel advisors will help you pick the best fare and routing.
Unless you plan on adding destinations before or after, we suggest starting your tour in either Prague or Budapest. This avoids back-tracking on your journey, which would be the case if you were to start and finish in Vienna. Although this may mean changing planes on your way to or from Europe, the overall time saving will be greater.
Spring, early summer, and early fall are the very best times of year to visit Central Europe if you’re visiting for a primarily cultural and historical interest trip. The weather is not dissimilar to that of New York. July and August can be very warm and in summer each of the city’s orchestras and opera companies are on vacation, too. On the other hand, hotel prices are lower in July and August than in June or September. Late fall and January through mid-March are the low season. Hotel and flight prices are lower but there are fewer, or no, direct flights from the US to Prague and Budapest at that time. The cities experience another busy period when their famous Christmas markets are in full swing from late November until New Year’s.
All our tours are custom-made, based on your preferences for accommodation, excursions, and transport methods. That said, as a rough rule of thumb, a ten-day trip in peak season, staying in four-star hotels, and using trains to get between the cities, will cost around $275 per person per day. All our suggested Prague, Vienna, Budapest itineraries have a price guide function so you can get an instant price estimate.
Our most common itinerary for Prague, Vienna, and Budapest is ten days/nine nights, with three nights in each city. If you have limited time, it can be squeezed into a week, at the cost of free time and the ability to take day trips from the cities.
We offer many other destinations in Austria, Czech Republic, and Hungary, as well as the wider Central Europe region. You could very easily add Munich or Berlin to the start of your tour, Slovakia’s capital Bratislava in the middle, or Krakow in Poland after Budapest. Our travel advisors will help you craft the perfect itinerary, wherever you would like to go.
Travel time between each of the cities is less than five hours by road or rail, so we don’t recommend traveling by plane once you’ve arrived in Europe. Based on your preferences and budget, we can include train station transfers and tickets, or door-to-door private transfers in your trip package. One advantage of a private transfer over taking the train is the ability to make stops at places of interest along the way.
Although they’ve been members of the EU for over two decades, the Czech Republic and Hungary still retain their own currencies. For the Czech Republic, you’ll need Czech Crowns (CZK). In Hungary, the currency is the Hungarian Forint (HUF). Austria has been on the Euro since 2000. You may be able to pay with Euros in some places in Prague or Budapest but the exchange rate will not be favorable. Thankfully, card acceptance is almost universal throughout all three countries.
You don’t have to worry about group sizes as all our itineraries in the region are private, custom tour packages. We like to call this semi-independent travel. We make all the arrangements, from airport transfers, accommodation, excursions, and transport between cities. As part of your package, you can opt for either private or group excursions and activities that will allow you to share your experience with fellow travelers. Or you can choose to have a free day for exploring on your own. Unlike an escorted tour, you aren’t paying to have a tour guide, driver, or tour director the whole time, just when needed, so our packages are more affordable, too.
In each of these three destinations, we usually include a walking tour, which will get you oriented in the city, introduce you to the country’s history and rich culture, and show you some of the key landmarks. That said, you can always venture out of the city center to see more of these three countries on easy day trips.
From Prague, a day trip to Kutna Hora, the old silver mining town that was once the capital of Bohemia and famous for its ossuary (the Bone Church) is a popular excursion. Although technically in Vienna, Schönbrunn Palace, the former imperial summer residence, is a compelling option for a half-day trip. Wine lovers should head to the Wachau Valley, a wine-growing region close to the Austrian capital. Close to Budapest is artsy Szentendre, a quaint town on the river Danube.
In short: no. Although all three cities have a river running through them, in Prague it’s the Vltava river whereas the Danube connects Vienna and Budapest. At no point do these rivers meet, so a pure river cruise including all three cities is a physical impossibility. Some companies may advertise a river cruise including Prague, but the Prague section will involve at least a five-hour bus ride to meet up with the ship somewhere on the Danube River.
We don’t recommend renting a car for this combination of cities. Driving in unfamiliar busy cities can be challenging, parking is expensive and not always available at your hotel, and the one-way fees, if renting in Prague and dropping off in Budapest, or vice-versa, are exorbitant. Also, when you are in the cities, a car is of very little use, as walking and public transportation can get you anywhere you want. Therefore, you’d be paying for a car but not using it. If cost is an issue, we suggest trains. If you have a little more to spend, you’ll find having a driver take you between the cities gives you the advantages of road-tripping without the hassles. Plus you can stop in a winery in Moravia and enjoy a tasting between Prague and Vienna, and in Bratislava on the way to Budapest.
No. As our tours are completely customized to your travel needs and preferences, you choose the travel dates and destinations you want to visit. With us, you don’t have to worry about a tour reaching a minimum number of guests to guarantee departure.
No, they’re in Central Europe. In fact, referring to these three cities as Eastern Europe won’t go down well with locals.
Absolutely. Your itinerary will be customized to your wishes. You don’t have to fill every day and we encourage leaving some free time aside simply to appreciate the destinations you’re visiting. Enjoying an evening stroll along the dimly lit cobblestone streets of Prague, the so-called City of a Hundred Spires, drinking a refreshing beer in the early afternoon or late night among locals at Budapest’s unique ruin bars, or slowly taking in Vienna’s breathtaking architecture are all great ways to get acquainted with Prague, Budapest, and Vienna at your own pace.
From luxury hotels to charming locally owned boutique properties and B&Bs, there are many accommodation options in great locations available for your tailor-made Prague, Vienna, and Budapest tour. If you’re celebrating a special occasion, let our trip planners know at the time of booking and they’ll make sure you stay in a hotel room that will add to your unforgettable experience. You can choose your preferred room type or share with us any specific accommodations you have in mind and we’ll take it from there.