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 still lots to do: learn more about the world around you 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 Hofburg.

To see where to stay, ratings, more things to do, and tourist information, read our Vienna trip planner.

Washington DC, USA to Vienna is an approximately 13-hour flight. The time zone changes from Eastern Standard Time to Central European Standard Time, which is usually a 6 hour difference. Traveling from Washington DC in December, expect Vienna to be a bit cooler, temps between 41°F and 31°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 17th (Sat) early enough 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 Vajdahunyad Castle (Vajdahunyadvar). Visit Fisherman's Bastion and St. Stephen's Basilica (Szent Istvan Bazilika) for their historical value. Next up on the itinerary: steep yourself in history at Matthias Church, see the interesting displays at House of Terror Museum, make a trip to Shoes on the Danube Bank, and appreciate the history behind Heroes' Square.

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.