9 days in Vienna & Budapest Itinerary

The cultural, economic, and political center of the country, Vienna has developed from its early Celtic and Roman roots into a medieval and Baroque city, with an old town that was designated a World Heritage Site in 2001.

Your inner history buff will appreciate Schonbrunn Palace and Schonbrunner Gardens. You'll discover tucked-away gems like Rathaus and Natural History Museum (Naturhistorisches Museum). There's still lots to do: admire the masterpieces at Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien, make a trip to Stephansplatz, admire the landmark architecture of Historic Center of Vienna, and see the interesting displays at Hofburg.

To see traveler tips, more things to do, ratings, and tourist information, you can read our Vienna sightseeing planner.

Washington DC, USA to Vienna is an approximately 13-hour flight. Traveling from Washington DC to Vienna, you'll lose 6 hours due to the time zone difference. Traveling from Washington DC in December, things will get slightly colder in Vienna: highs are around 41°F and lows about 31°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 17th (Sat) to allow time to drive to Budapest.

You might consider the city of Budapest, divided by the Danube River into two distinctive cities--Buda and Pest--to be essentially one large World Heritage Site.

Step off the beaten path and head to Buda Castle and Citadel. Visit Fisherman's Bastion and Vajdahunyad Castle (Vajdahunyadvar) for their historical value. Next up on the itinerary: contemplate in the serene atmosphere at St. Stephen's Basilica (Szent Istvan Bazilika), see the interesting displays at House of Terror Museum, make a trip to Shoes on the Danube Bank, and steep yourself in history at Liberty Statue.

Use Inspirock's suggestions to plan your Budapest trip and find the best activities and attractions for your vacation.

Getting from Vienna to Budapest by car takes about 2.5 hours. Other options: fly; or take a train. Expect a daytime high around 40°F in December, and nighttime lows around 29°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 20th (Tue) to allow enough time to fly back home.