Vienna/Prague/Budapest/Salzburg advice

[Stray Gator]

Thanks all. Likely there for about 10 days, looking like 3 each in Budapest, Vienna and Prague with an extra day trip to Bratislava. Mrs.PK going to Salzburg for a few days (she has visited the area before, this is my first trip) so that may have to wait for another adventure. I am like Stray, I would rather spend longer in fewer places than zip through the max possible and a visit to the Salzburg area for my calendar would be little more than a touch-and-go. I’m still short-changing all of these places as is.

Good places to stay in Budapest or Vienna? B&B in Prague probably settled by a fellow traveler. Restaurants in all three? Can’t miss local foods?

Regarding places to stay, I can tell you that we stayed at the Marriott hotels closest to the city center in Prague, Vienna, and Budapest, partly because we were able to use Rewards Points to get the rooms for free, partly because the locations are excellent for exploring the main attractions, but also because we find the accommodations reliably comfortable for spoiled Americans and my wife loves to end a busy day of adventure with the complimentary wine and desserts in the Executive Lounge. Aside from those hotels, however, I would highly recommend the Hilton Budapest, which is ideally situated on Castle Hill above the Danube, adjacent to Matthias Church and the Fisherman's Bastion; our friends who went a year after us stayed there and thoroughly enjoyed it.

I can't speak for any restaurants in Budapest -- though let me second the suggestion of another poster to visit the Central Market Hall near the east end of the Liberty Bridge, and bring an appetite. But for Prague, I would reiterate my recommendations of Hergetova Cihelna [http://cihelna.com/en/] (on the west bank of the Vltava River, just north of the Charles Bridge -- a perfect setting for a splendid dinner at sunset) and the Cafe Imperial [https://www.cafeimperial.cz/en/homepage/] (which offers fabulous decor and ambience of local character along with fine cuisine at reasonable prices). In Vienna, we enjoyed dining at one small contemporary restaurant, Paul Restaurant Brasserie [https://www.paul.wien/] (located on Johannesgasse just one block off the Ring from the southwest corner of Stadtpark near the Kursalon), and at one of the larger traditional Vienna eateries featuring local cuisine, Plachutta Wollzeile [https://www.plachutta-wollzeile.at/en] (located on Wollzeile just one block off the Ring from the northwest corner of Stadtpark).

Wherever you choose to stay, and wherever you choose to dine, I'm confident that you will have a delightful experience! Be sure to take lots of photos.

[OldPhiKap]

Regarding places to stay, I can tell you that we stayed at the Marriott hotels closest to the city center in Prague, Vienna, and Budapest, partly because we were able to use Rewards Points to get the rooms for free, partly because the locations are excellent for exploring the main attractions, but also because we find the accommodations reliably comfortable for spoiled Americans and my wife loves to end a busy day of adventure with the complimentary wine and desserts in the Executive Lounge. Aside from those hotels, however, I would highly recommend the Hilton Budapest, which is ideally situated on Castle Hill above the Danube, adjacent to Matthias Church and the Fisherman's Bastion; our friends who went a year after us stayed there and thoroughly enjoyed it.

I can't speak for any restaurants in Budapest -- though let me second the suggestion of another poster to visit the Central Market Hall near the east end of the Liberty Bridge, and bring an appetite. But for Prague, I would reiterate my recommendations of Hergetova Cihelna [http://cihelna.com/en/] (on the west bank of the Vltava River, just north of the Charles Bridge -- a perfect setting for a splendid dinner at sunset) and the Cafe Imperial [https://www.cafeimperial.cz/en/homepage/] (which offers fabulous decor and ambience of local character along with fine cuisine at reasonable prices). In Vienna, we enjoyed dining at one small contemporary restaurant, Paul Restaurant Brasserie [https://www.paul.wien/] (located on Johannesgasse just one block off the Ring from the southwest corner of Stadtpark near the Kursalon), and at one of the larger traditional Vienna eateries featuring local cuisine, Plachutta Wollzeile [https://www.plachutta-wollzeile.at/en] (located on Wollzeile just one block off the Ring from the northwest corner of Stadtpark).

Wherever you choose to stay, and wherever you choose to dine, I'm confident that you will have a delightful experience! Be sure to take lots of photos.

Will do, thanks!

[rthomas]

First, you should watch the Bourdain episodes in Vienna and Budapest before you go.

Second, when you get tired of all meat and no veggies, you should go here in Vienna: https://momowien.at

[OldPhiKap]

First, you should watch the Bourdain episodes in Vienna and Budapest before you go.

Second, when you get tired of all meat and no veggies, you should go here in Vienna: https://momowien.at

Excellent suggestions, thanks.

Anyone been to Bratislava? Is a day trip enough? Sorta on the way but sorta not between Budapest and Vienna.

[JBDuke]

Thanks all. Likely there for about 10 days, looking like 3 each in Budapest, Vienna and Prague with an extra day trip to Bratislava. Mrs.PK going to Salzburg for a few days (she has visited the area before, this is my first trip) so that may have to wait for another adventure. I am like Stray, I would rather spend longer in fewer places than zip through the max possible and a visit to the Salzburg area for my calendar would be little more than a touch-and-go. I’m still short-changing all of these places as is.

Good places to stay in Budapest or Vienna? B&B in Prague probably settled by a fellow traveler. Restaurants in all three? Can’t miss local foods?

I stayed at the Hotel Bristol, right across from the State Opera in Vienna. It's right in the middle of things and convenient to transportation as well as sights. Like Stray, I stayed on points (Sheraton at the time), so I can't speak to its value, but the location is great.

As for food, I like to try some traditional foods when I'm in a place for the first time. In Vienna, I had wiener schnitzel and a sacher torte. (The latter was "invented" at the Hotel Sacher just a couple of blocks from the Bristol.) I also had a sweet riesling from a local vineyard.

Another activity I forgot to mention - the home of the Lipizanner stallions (the Spanish Riding School) is right in downtown Vienna. You can attend either a performance or a practice/exercise session. The former are mostly during the weekend and quite expensive. I did a practice session, which is much cheaper and during the weekdays. The horses are amazing, and it's a level of human and animal performance that is pretty rare. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[OldPhiKap]

As for food, I like to try some traditional foods when I'm in a place for the first time. In Vienna, I had wiener schnitzel and a sacher torte. (The latter was "invented" at the Hotel Sacher just a couple of blocks from the Bristol.) I also had a sweet riesling from a local vineyard.

Thanks. I am a huge fan of eating/drinking what the locals do, and hanging out in the parks/piazzas/cafes/pubs that the locals do. It is the best way to experience a place; my memories of those experiences are much stronger and more rewarding than the tourist check list stuff (although still worth doing). Around the world, most regions within a single country are distinct in these aspects.

It’s part of the experience!

[TomJoad]

For a local dining experience in Budapest, we loved Eat and Meet, a dinner of traditional Hungarian food at the home of a local family. The night we went there were about a dozen guests from all over the world, so not only was the food excellent, the company was very enjoyable and interesting.

http://eatmeet-hungary.com/

Reviews: https://www.tripadvisor.ca/Restauran...l_Hungary.html

[OldPhiKap]

For a local dining experience in Budapest, we loved Eat and Meet, a dinner of traditional Hungarian food at the home of a local family. The night we went there were about a dozen guests from all over the world, so not only was the food excellent, the company was very enjoyable and interesting.

http://eatmeet-hungary.com/

Reviews: https://www.tripadvisor.ca/Restauran...l_Hungary.html

Definitely plan to do this, thanks.

For hotels/airBnB . . . . Buda side, or Pest? Most seem on the East side of the Danube.

[Stray Gator]

Definitely plan to do this, thanks.

For hotels/airBnB . . . . Buda side, or Pest? Most seem on the East side of the Danube.

We stayed at the Marriott, on the east (Pest) side of the river, and enjoyed both the accommodations and the location. But if we go again, and aren't using Rewards Points to pay for our room, I'd book us into the Hilton on Buda Castle Hill, which is ideally situated beside the Fisherman's Bastion and Matthias Church.

[OldPhiKap]

We stayed at the Marriott, on the east (Pest) side of the river, and enjoyed both the accommodations and the location. But if we go again, and aren't using Rewards Points to pay for our room, I'd book us into the Hilton on Buda Castle Hill, which is ideally situated beside the Fisherman's Bastion and Matthias Church.

Thanks, Stray! Your input has been invaluable already in planning.

[OldPhiKap]

Bump for Matty.

[mattman91]

Bump for Matty.

Thanks!

I'll be in Prague May 11th - 19th. Anyone have suggestions for Pilsen? We are going to catch a train or a bus one day (for the Pilsner Urquell Brewery tour) but not sure if it is worth spending an entire day/night there.

Also plan on taking a day trip up to Dresden, Germany to knock off that country. Anything to see there?

Thanks!