8 Days in Central Europe: Prague, Vienna and Budapest

Arrive and settle into your accommodations. I recommend Andaz Prague. Visit Prague Castle, one of the largest ancient castles in the world, and take in the incredible view.

For dinner, try Cafe Imperial.

You can either take a self-guided tour or sign up for a walking tour of The Golden City. Walk the Royal Route through the center of Old Town. Cross the Charles Bridge and finish at Lesser Town. Snag a Smažený sýr for lunch, a local street food in Prague that is a deep fried cheese and is served with fries, salad or a bread roll.

Tour Prague Castle

Highlights of the tour include the Basilica of St. George, the Golden Lane, Daliborka Tower, the Royal Gardens and the Old Royal Palace, to name just a few.

Try Pinkasu for dinner.

Explore Bohemia on a day trip. One of my favorite trips is to Karlovy Vary, one of Europe’s most famous spa towns. For a more medieval experience, we can also provide a day trip to Kutna Hora, a UNESCO-listed town. If you like wine, you could also enjoy a private wine tasting at the royal Melnik Chateau.

Today, you'll have a lovely train ride from Prague to Vienna. As there are a lot of trains running throughout the day, you can depart either in the morning or the afternoon for the roughly 5-hour trip. Train cost is approx. $32 per passenger

Check into DO & CO Hotel Vienna.

For dinner, I suggest the Schönbrunn Palace Dinner and Concert package.

If you want to get a taste of art and culture in Vienna, the Museumquartier should be your destination of choice. With more than a dozen museums ranging from the old and dusty to the young and avant-garde, this is the neighborhood that packs a lifetime of local culture into a few compact streets. It’s worth heading over to wander and window shop. You’re certain to find a museum or specific exhibition that suits you. I recommend Apron for dinner.

Travel to Budapest by train. Check into Corinthia Hotel Budapest. I suggest a panoramic night boat ride to view the city. Goulash, or as locals call it, Gulyás, is one of the must-taste dishes in Hungary. Be sure to try it at some point in your stay.

I suggest a private walking tour around Pest before visiting the Budapest Market, which is a foodie's dream. Nothing is more quintessentially Budapest than a visit to one of the baths. For dinner, try Onyx.

If you can book a later flight, I highly recommend doing some final exploring around Budapest.