A Guide to Your Budapest to Vienna Day Trip
Taking a short holiday to two of the finest capital cities in Europe is a great way to broaden your horizons without breaking the bank. After spending two nights in Hungary’s capital, a relaxing Budapest to Vienna day trip by train will set you up for another memorable mini-break in Austria.
Combining a Vienna and Budapest trip gives you a duo of beautiful places to explore, double the selection of sumptuous cuisine to try and the opportunity to appreciate their differences and similarities. Whether you’re jetting off for a last-minute long weekend or booking a romantic break for a special occasion, keep reading to discover the many highlights.
Stunning city sights
Budapest and Vienna are renowned for their beautiful architecture across many building types. For example, in Budapest, St. Stephen’s Basilica is the largest church in the city, standing at 96 metres, and was named after the first King of Hungary. Vienna has its own St. Stephen’s Cathedral, completed in 1578 and 136 metres tall. They’re both striking buildings and are well worth visiting on your twin-city break to this stylish and cultured part of Europe.
In addition to cathedrals, you can also explore impressive palaces in each city. Buda Castle (also known as the Royal Palace) overlooks the city and the River Danube from its lofty location on Castle Hill. It’s an incredible place, and the views from the grounds are worth making the trip for in their own right. The original castle dates to 1265, but most of what remains today was built in the mid-18th century.
In Vienna, Belvedere, Hofburg, and Schönbrunn Palaces are well-known sights that thousands of holidaymakers flock to every year. It’s difficult to do their beauty and elegance justice in a blog post, so we highly recommend visiting to appreciate them with your own eyes. If you only have time to include one of these, we’d recommend Schönbrunn Palace because of its sheer scale and awe-inspiring surroundings.
Life through a lens in Budapest and Vienna
Whether you’re a keen photographer or just want to make your friends and family envious by posting holiday snaps on Instagram, these two cities won’t disappoint.
With lovely river views of the Danube, which runs through Budapest and Vienna, incredible architecture and picturesque parks, there are so many great spots to capture those precious holiday moments.
From the manicured grounds of Vienna’s palaces to the hilltop sunsets in Budapest, there’s so much to photograph; just make sure you fully enjoy the moment and cherish things through your own eyes too.
We wrote another blog recently about some of Budapest’s best photography spots if you’d like to learn more.
Finger-licking street food
One of the best parts about going on holiday is trying new foods. Forget all about meal deals from your local supermarket and tuck into an array of tasty dishes you’ve never had the chance to try.
There are some similarities between Hungarian and Austrian cuisine, but the real delight lies in their differences. When you’re looking to pack in as many activities and special sights as possible, grabbing a bite to eat on the go might be tempting.
A trip to Budapest and Vienna serves up an abundance of aromas and amazing flavours from the various street food options. In Budapest, we’d urge you to try lángos, a deep-fried dough with many savoury and sweet toppings, including cheese and sour cream, jam, and sausage. If you’re in the city when it’s cold, there’s no substitute for a warm and spicy bowl of beef goulash.
Viennese sausage is a fantastic snack that warms you up when exploring the city on two feet. This comes in many varieties, including bratwurst and curry wurst. If you’re looking for a quick snack to tide you over until dinner, you’ll find stands selling piping hot Maroni (roasted chestnuts) in all the main tourist spots. There’s a vast selection of treats from outside Austria, too. For example, you can grab delicious and affordable bites that showcase the best international cuisine from places such as Turkey, Iraq, Italy, and Asia.
Enjoy a wonderful winter escape
Another thing these two delightful destinations have in common is their Christmas markets. While many people flock to Germany or Eastern Europe for the festivities, a December trip to Vienna and Budapest is every bit as magical.
Why just experience one Christmas market when you can visit two on the same trip? Budapest and Vienna have all the right ingredients for a memorable short break in the run-up to the festive period. You’re assured of a warm welcome and plenty of fantastic food and drink.
By going somewhere different this year, you’ll also get the opportunity to buy gifts and souvenirs that your loved ones may never have seen before.
Hassle-free from A to B
After two terrific nights taking in the best of Budapest, you’ll embark on a short train journey to Austria’s capital. It only takes around two and a half hours, so you can sit back, admire the scenery, and finalise your itinerary on your Budapest to Vienna day trip.
You’ll arrive at your second destination feeling refreshed and ready to make the most of it. While there are many synergies between these two majestic cities as described above, each has its own distinct atmosphere, culture and history. You’ll definitely leave Vienna feeling like you've had two brilliant breaks during your four nights away.
Read this recent blog post if you’re considering a Vienna and Budapest trip with Viva Holidays. It has more details on what to see and do in these two charming Central European capital cities.
Ready to book your next break? Get in touch with us now.
