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 Stephansplatz. There's lots more to do: get a new perspective on nature at Natural History Museum (Naturhistorisches Museum), get to know the resident critters at Schönbrunn Zoo, admire the striking features of Historic Center of Vienna, and examine the collection at Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien.

To find more things to do, maps, traveler tips, and tourist information, use the Vienna holiday planning website.

Washington DC, USA to Vienna is an approximately 13-hour flight. The time zone difference when traveling from Washington DC to Vienna is 6 hours. Prepare for little chillier weather when traveling from Washington DC in December: high temperatures in Vienna hover around 41°F and lows are around 31°F. Cap off your sightseeing on the 17th (Sat) early enough to go by car 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 Vajdahunyad Castle (Vajdahunyadvar). Visit Fisherman's Bastion and Matthias Church for their historical value. Next up on the itinerary: take in the architecture and atmosphere at St. Stephen's Basilica (Szent Istvan Bazilika), see the interesting displays at House of Terror Museum, admire the landmark architecture of Dohány Street Synagogue, and steep yourself in history at Citadel.

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.