Budapest is located just a stone’s throw from a heap of other interesting European cities. In just 2 or 3 hours, you can visit Vienna and Bratislava, while a 6-hour drive will land you in Prague. All of these cities share a lot of history but are distinct in their own right. Seeing them will broaden your horizons, and can give you a view of this part of the world. Plus, these cities are extremely important and enchantingly beautiful, so they are well worth a visit while you are here in Europe.
Vienna in a day
You cannot do justice to the old Capital of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy in just 24 hours. If you are only staying for a short while, then here is an absolutely mandatory list of the best things to do if you are in Vienna for a day.
What to see there:
Museums
Luckily, most of the most important Museums in Vienna are located in one place, so they can be seen in just a few hours. The Natural History Museum, Ethnography Museum, and Viennese Art Museum are all in the same, enormous, and jaw-dropping premises. You can see just one or buy a discounted ticket to see 7 (!) museums at once, for a vastly reduced price. They have a completely unique collection that cannot be seen in any other part of the world, so we highly recommend it.
Schönbrunn Castle
The old town and the Castle are collectively known as Der Burg. This area is home to one of the most famous Christmas markets in the world, and the royal stables with the world-renowned Spanish Riding School as well. A wonderful area of the city to walk around in, with lots of historic things to see, and a lot of shops, restaurants, artisan souvenirs and gifts, and general tourist attractions. A trip to Vienna is not complete without seeing this part of the city.
Source: bogitw at Pixabay
What to eat
Vienna is a metropolitan city with absolutely every kind of food imaginable on practically every corner. Traditional Viennese food is Wiener schnitzel, a flat piece of juicy, breaded pork fillet. Eaten with potato or cabbage salad, and a mug of beer!
How to get there
Take a Flixbus from Népliget or Kelenföld railway station in Buda. It takes around 3 hours, and only stops a few times on the way. If you wish, you can also take the slightly more expensive InterCity railway from Nyugati, and this will have you in the Hauptbanhoff in just over 2 hours.
Bratislava in a day
The capital of Slovakia is a less-visited hidden gem. We hope to popularize it as a tourist destination to more people, and let everyone know about the places and sights that await those who venture into the Little Carpathians to this quaint and lovely city.
What to see there:
Bratislava Old Town
The cobblestoned streets of Bratislava’s Old Town hold many secrets and breathtakingly beautiful adventures. The Bratislava Castle, home to many historic battles and amazing museums is the perfect size for a day trip: it can be seen in a few hours but is memorable and beautiful nonetheless. The Bratislava riverfront, a Corzo on the Danube with easy access to the river, is also a part of the Castle District. Grassalkovich Palace is located here too and is an interesting place to visit. Bratislava Old Town is pedestrian-only, and cannot be visited by a car!
Devin Castle
Devin has a beautiful castle that can be reached in under an hour from Bratislava. This castle is historic because it was the watch tower of the Amber Road trade route, and because it has been a fortress for centuries. Before the current construction, Romans and even the Celts had a castle here. Strongly recommended for history buffs and those interested in Ancient European culture, as it is one of the rare places where you can learn about Europe before Christianity.
What to eat
The Old Town will have plenty of places where you can try strappachka, a wonderful Slovak dish that involves potato dumplings with sheep cheese and bacon. Many hearty soups can be eaten at Slovak eateries, but for those who wish to have something else, Bratislava train station and the inner city have food from every nation on Earth.
How to get there
There are several buses by Flixbus that go there. The Bratislava train station is only 2 hours by train, and the station is located in the center of the city, so you won’t need to travel a lot once you disembark.
Prague in a day
Prague is very lucky. It is extremely rare that you can see the Medieval parts of Eastern Block countries, as they were very frequently bombed to dust during the Second World War. Prague is the rare exception, where the Medieval legacy and Astro-Hungarian times are well preserved. This is complemented by an intense modern musical and art world that the Czechs have always been known for.
Where you should go:
Karlsbridge and the Old Town
The Center of Prague has the Karlsbridge, an old and beautiful tourist attraction that always has a huge crowd on it. The Old town includes several squares, churches, bishoprics, the Powder Tower, and the Castle. It is hard to go through all of these in just one day, there is so much history here. Luckily, these are all located near each other and are all within walking distance, but it will still take most of your day. There are plenty of souvenir shops and interesting locally produced gifts to see and buy.
Zizkov
Zizkov is the art district of Prague. It is a bohemian world of pubs, bars, art galleries, and historic monuments. It is also one of the most international areas of Prague and has some amazing street art. The many parks and quaint little cobblestone streets give off a Bohemian vibe that is sure to inspire anyone who loves art, and we highly recommend going here if you do.
What to eat
Czech cuisine is a mixture of Slavic elements and German food. While in Czechia, make sure you try the beer. It is arguably the best in the world, and the foods here go extremely well with it. Heavy, breaded foods, meat in lots of sauce, with vegetables usually pickled or smothered in cream. Sausages here are also world-class, but if you wish to eat lightly, Prague has perhaps the most vegan and vegetarian restaurants out of any Central European capital.
How to get there
We recommend taking the train. It is a long ride but goes through Bratislava, all of Slovakia, Breclav, and Brno, so it allows you to get a feel for the land and its majestic topography. Buses that go there sometimes take up to 8 hours, and since the motorways of Czechia are notoriously bad and constantly under construction, we recommend taking the train.
