Marvel at the opulence of Vienna, explore off the beaten path Slovakia, and finish your trip cramming in so many amazing sights in Budapest. This 10 day Central Europe itinerary has a little bit of everything. Of course we’ll see the big cities of Vienna and Budapest, but we’ll also day trip to some small towns in Slovakia to get a little break from all of the hustle and bustle.
If you’re looking for itinerary that includes lots of great sightseeing, but also a bit of freedom to customize it to your own taste, this may be the itinerary for you. We’ll spend ten days visiting Vienna, Bratislava, and Budapest.
Let’s start planning your trip.
10 Day Central Europe Itinerary
In the interest of transparency, I haven’t done this exact trip. I’ve visited every city on this itinerary, but I visited as part of a longer trip to Europe. Still, I took what I learned from that trip, shortened it, and made what I think is a pretty great 10 day Central Europe itinerary.
As a note, this itinerary starts in Vienna, Austria and finishes in Budapest, Hungary to make the most efficient use of your time. I think it’s important to spend your time exploring rather than backtracking to your starting destination. Therefore you will need a multi city ticket for this itinerary.
That said, don’t think that this itinerary has to be done west to east. If you find better flights for an itinerary that starts in Budapest and ends in Vienna, you should absolutely take advantage and reverse this itinerary.
Enough logistics. Let’s actually talk about this 10 day Central Europe itinerary.
Day 1 – Hello, Vienna
This 10 day Central Europe itinerary starts in Vienna, Austria. If you’re flying in, you’ll need to get from the airport to the city center. You can of course take a taxi, but for a more budget option, look into public transportation. You can take the CAT airport train to the Wien Mitte station where you can then transfer to Vienna’s Metro (lines U3 and U4) to connect to your final destination. There are also airport buses that make stops around the city if you find that more convenient for you.
I never plan too much for my first day in any city. Delays happen and they just become so much more stressful if you have reservations for a museum or activity. Instead leave your first day open. If you arrive in the evening, no worries. We won’t start our proper explore of Vienna until tomorrow. However, if you arrive in the morning and have some time to go out, I recommend heading toward Vienna’s Old Town and starting your exploration there. We will return tomorrow for major sight seeing, but it doesn’t hurt to get a start today.
Sleep: Vienna, Austria
Day 2 – Exploring Vienna
It’s our first full day of this Central Europe itinerary, so let’s make your day in Vienna count. We’ll have more time to explore Vienna on day 4, but for now, we’re going to focus on some of Vienna’s top sights.
Start your day at the Sisi Museum and Imperial Apartments at the Hofburg Palace. The Sisi Museum tells the story of the famed Empress Elisabeth, also known as “Sisi”, who became famous for her distaste of royal life. From the Sisi Museum, you’ll flow straight into the Imperial Apartments which show where the Hapsburgs, including Sisi and her husband Franz Josef, lived.
One ticket covers both the Sisi Museum and Imperial Apartments and I strongly encourage you to buy your ticket in advance. The tickets come with timed entrances and by purchasing in advance, you can guarantee that you can enter right when the museum opens, which helps to set you up for an efficient sightseeing day.
There is more to see near the Hofburg Palace, but we’ll be back later. For now, head to the nearby Kunsthistoriches Museum. This art museum was built to show off the Hapsburg’s art collection and the building itself is a work of art. Tour Renaissance paints, Remembrant self portraits, the largest collection of Pieter Bruegel in the world, and a large collection of antiquities from Greece and Egypt. I’m not a huge fan of art museums, but the interior alone was so impressive (and I found the antiquities collections more interesting than the art).
Purchase your ticket online to skip the line and save a few Euros. Note that the Kunsthistoriches Museum’s ticket does NOT come with a timed entry.
Now we head to Vienna’s Old Town. Your exact plans may change slightly based on what you managed to see yesterday, but I’m going to assume you didn’t get much official sight seeing done. As you explore the Old Town, keep an eye out for a few sights.
St. Stephen’s Cathedral is a symbol of Vienna. You can enter for free, but will need to pay a fee to enter certain areas of the cathedral. I think it’s totally sufficient to just visit the free areas, but it’s your choice. The Column of Pest is Vienna’s plague monument that was built as thank you to God for saving Vienna during the Black Plague. Vienna is famous for its classical music and opera and Vienna’s Opera House offers tours for those who don’t want to commit to an expensive ticket. This area of Vienna is full of pedestrian streets and is fun to wander and see what you find.
As mentioned, Vienna is famous for its opera and classical music, so try to catch a performance while you’re in town. There are venues all over Vienna offering tickets, but for those on a budget (or not sure that they will like a performance), consider taking in the free concert at St. Peter’s Church. Every day at 3:00, this church offers a free (by donation) organ concert. Plus, the inside of the church is beautiful too.
The rest of the afternoon and evening is yours to explore.
Sleep: Vienna, Austria
Day 3 – Vienna Day Trip
Day three deviates from what I did in Vienna. I didn’t have time on my trip to central Europe, but you do. While Vienna is great, I recommend taking a day trip and exploring a bit more of Austria. You have a couple options and it’s up to you which you choose.
Before I get into the options, I have a pretty big caveat. One of the most popular day trips from Vienna is Bratislava, Slovakia. We’ll be visiting Slovakia later on this itinerary, so I really recommend looking at one of the other great day trips from Vienna.
Salzburg, Austria is two hours away by train and is a delightful city to visit with history, music, and The Sound of Music.
Graz, Austria is just over two hours away from Vienna and is an artsy town that also has great museums, a unique clock tower, and castles.
If you want to leave Austria, you could head two hours north for Brno. This is the second largest city in the Czech Republic and while still full of sights, is not as mobbed with tourists as the capital city of Prague.
Or you could go a different route and visit a different city entirely. The choice is yours so pick something that feels the most interesting to you.
Sleep: Vienna, Austria
Day 4 – Vienna to Bratislava
Today we say goodbye to Vienna and move on to the second destination of this 10 day Central Europe itinerary. However, we won’t leave Vienna until late in the afternoon, so you have most of the day to continue your exploration of Vienna.
Start your day with a visit to Schönbrunn Palace. This was the summer residence of the Hapsburgs and I think it’s even more beautiful than the Hofburg Palace. Some say it’s second only the Palace of Versailles, just outside Paris. At Schönbrunn Palace, tour the interior of the palace before taking some time to explore the grounds. There’s loads of additional add on activities you can do at Schönbrunn Palace, but at minimum, I recommend touring the interior and spending an hour strolling the gardens.
Like with the Hofburg Palace, you’ll want to pick up your ticket in advance so you can enter the palace right when it opens. Unlike the Hofburg Palace, Schönbrunn Palace sits outside of central Vienna so you’ll need to catch the metro to reach the palace. Luckily, there’s a convenient metro stop right outside the palace.
Back in central Vienna, you’ll have a bit of time before you need to catch a bus to your next destination and its travelers choice for how you spend that time. Here’s my top recommendations:
Spanish Riding School – Part of the Hofburg Palace, the Spanish Riding School is the place to go to see horse performances.
Belvedere Palace – Originally built by Prince Eugene of Savoy, this former palace became Vienna’s first public art gallery after his death. It continues to function as an art gallery and is home to Gustav Klimt’s The Kiss.
Austrian National Library – If you haven’t gotten your fill of gorgeous Viennese interiors, set your sights on the Austrian National Library.
St. Charles’ Church – If you aren’t burnt out from churches yet, St. Charles’ Church is another great one. While you can tour it during the day, consider enhancing your visit by taking in a chamber music performance at night.
Around 4:00, you’ll want to head to the bus station to catch a bus from Vienna to Bratislava. The journey takes just over an hour, which is why we’re leaving so late in the day. Maximize your time in Vienna before moving on to Bratislava.
When you arrive in Bratislava, check into your hotel, grab some dinner, and relax after a busy day.
Sleep: Bratislava, Slovakia
Day 5 – Exploring Bratislava
We’ll spend halfway point of the 10 day Central Europe itinerary in Slovakia. Today we’ll see the capital city of Bratislava and tomorrow we’ll venture out to some other towns.
Compared to the other capitals on this itinerary, Bratislava isn’t as exciting. That’s not to say that it’s not worth exploring, but rather we’re not going to tour outlandish palaces and over the top interiors. Sightseeing in Bratislava is more low-key and much of it will be focused on the Old Town. Like with Vienna, I don’t have a dedicated route, but I do have some recommendations to keep a look out for.
St. Michael’s Gate (Michalaská Brána) was a watchtower and the last remanent of the original city walls. The Main Square (Hlavné Námestie) is full of colorful buildings, though you can also check out Primate’s Square (Primaciálne Námestie) and Promenade Square (Hviezdoslavovo Námestie). For churches, don’t miss St. Martin’s Cathedral. It’s not as over the top as many other cathedrals in Europe, but I think it’s worth a quick stop.
Take a break from the Old Town and hike up to the Bratislava Castle. While you can pay to enter the castle, it’s also worth visiting just for the views of the Old Town. While you’re at the castle, also look out to Most SNP, the UFO shaped bridge along the river.
After lunch, head to the Blue Church, which is a beautiful small church. It’s unlikely to be open, but it’s worth stopping by just to appreciate the building exterior. Then for the rest of the afternoon, stroll along the river or head back to the Old Town. The choice is yours.
Sleep: Bratislava, Slovakia
Day 6 – Day Trip from Bratislava
You probably noticed yesterday that there isn’t a lot to keep you in the capital. By all means, spend another day in Bratislava if you found more that you want to do, but I recommend taking time to venture beyond the capital. Sure the big cities are nice, but they only tell so much about a country, so that’s why I try to make it a point to visit at least one other place besides the famous capital.
For this itinerary, I’ll give you two options (though you could visit both in one day). These cities are Trenčín and Trnava which are a reasonable train ride away from Bratislava.
In Trenčín, you can enjoy a little bit of the Old Town. Visit some churches and stroll along the buildings. The Old Town is smaller than Bratislava, so it doesn’t take a lot of time to see everything. Beyond the Old Town, you can visit the Trenčín Castle. The castle towers over the town, but note that you have to pay to enter the Castle to get the best views. It’s up to you if you choose to pay to enter the Trenčín Castle. The views from Matthais Tower are fantastic, but the rest of the castle is just average.
In Trnava, you’ll visit a lot of churches. It’s a fun little town to walk around, but unless you like checking out various churches, you may not find Trnava as exciting as I did. My favorite was the Church of the Holy Trinity, but St. Anne’s Church was also nice.
If you’re visiting both cities, you’ll need three train tickets: Bratislava to Trenčín (which takes about an hour), Trenčín to Trnava (about 30 minutes), and Trnava to Trenčín (about 30 minutes). I purchased my tickets online, but you can also use the IDeme vlakom app. Ticket inspectors will be checking your tickets on the train, so make sure you pick up your tickets and have them ready to be checked.
Sleep: Bratislava, Slovakia
Day 7 – Bratislava to Budapest
Today we move to the last stop on this 10 day Central Europe itinerary. Head to the Bratislava train station and catch a train to Budapest, Hungary. If everything is on time, it should take about two and a half hours (my train was delayed so it took closer to three and a half hours). When you arrive in Budapest, you’ll have enough time to drop your bags at your hotel and still have half a day to start exploring.
I recommend starting at Andrássy Út. While Paris has the Champs Elleys, Budapest has Andrássy Út. This large street goes all the way from Deák Ferenc Tér to Hero’s Square. Along the way, you’ll pass fancy shops, the Hungarian Opera House (whose exterior is just as impressive as Vienna’s in my opinion), and even more.
As you walk along, you’ll eventually pass the House of Terror Museum, which is the first major sight we’ll visit in Budapest. This museum tells the story of Nazi Occupation in Hungary and how it transitioned into Soviet Occupation. It’s not a light sightseeing stop but it gives a lot of insight into the history of Hungary. Note that in order to get the most out of the museum, you’ll need some kind of guide. The museum offers an audioguide, but I saved the money and used on in my guidebook. Without a guide, I think the museum lacks context, so take that into account while budgeting your trip.
After the House of Terror Museum, continue working your way up Andrássy Út until you reach Hero’s Square. This square is flanked on both sides by museums (the Hall of Art and the Museum of Fine Art) but also surrounded by statues of 12 historical figures of Hungary. We’re just going to focus on the square and skip the museums for now. Don’t worry if one of the museums sounds interesting. There’s some time for traveler’s choice on the last day of our trip and you can return then.
Beyond the square is City Park where you’ll find nice walking paths, games of chess, and the picturesque Vajdahunyad Castle. Keep walking beyond and visit Széchenyi Baths. You’ll find several thermal baths all over Budapest, but these are the most famous. Enjoy a soak in the hot water after a busy day.
Sleep: Budapest, Hungary
Day 8 – Exploring Budapest
It’s a big sightseeing day and we’re going to try to cover some of the most iconic sights of Budapest. Get started early so you can make the most of your day.
Start at St. Stephen’s Basilica. The exterior of the basilica is nice, but the interior is one of Budapest’s best. Buy your ticket and step inside for the gold and marble interior. Then, start making your way to Hungarian Parliament. This is one of most, if not the most iconic, buildings of Budapest.
You can just take in the Hungarian Parliament from the exterior (though note that the view from the other side of the river is better), you can also take a tour to visit the interior. The only way to see inside is on a guided tour, and I recommend booking a tour in advance (at least more than two weeks in advance) to learn more.
After the Hungarian Parliament, walk along the river toward the Chain Bridge, which will take us to the other side. The Promenade offers nice views of Castle Hill, plus you’ll pass the Shoes on the River Memorial. Stop at the memorial (there will be plenty of other tourists crowded around so it’s not hard to miss, even though it’s small) and then continue on to Chain Bridge and across the Danube River.
On the other side of the river, near the castle gardens (Várkert Bazár) look for some stairs heading up to the castle. From the top of the stairs, head right and look for an escalator that will take you up most of the way. Then at the top of the escalator, continue straight toward a rust covered canopy and take the elevator the rest of the way up.
We’ll spend the next few hours exploring Buda Castle Complex. This area houses several museums, but we’re going to skip most of them (though you’re free to rearrange this itinerary if one of the museums really catches your eye). Instead, we’re going to focus on Matthias Church.
Matthias Church is one of the most important churches here in Budapest. While I think that St. Stephen’s Basilica had a more impressive interior, Matthias Church has a more fascinating history. Here’s where Franz Josef was crowned King of the then Austrian-Hungarian Empire. The banners hanging in the church are still from his coronation.
Nearby is Fisherman’s Bastian which has a great view, including a great view of the Hungarian Parliament, but I don’t think it’s worth it. You can pay to go up the steps, but why pay when you could go just a bit to the side and get a near identical view for free? I think the fee for Fisherman’s Bastian exists just to make extra money for the city. Sure you might get a few less tourists in your photos, but is that alone really worth it? I think no, but you might feel differently.
Before you leave Buda, head down to the river for a great view of the Hungarian Parliament. The rest of our itinerary will focus on the Pest side of the river, so make sure to take any views before we say goodbye.
We still have a little bit of time to explore this evening so head over to the Great Market Hall. This is a one stop shop for fresh produce, meats, and so many other goodies. While many locals still come here for their fruits and vegetables, it’s now also a big tourist attraction, so stop over and get a glimpse of local life (and plenty of tourists also shopping for souvenirs).
Sleep: Budapest, Hungary
Day 9 – Exploring Budapest
It’s the last day on this 10 day Central Europe itinerary and you have two options and it’s your choice how you want to spend your day.
The first option is to spend the day in Budapest visiting more museums and any sights you didn’t get to over the last two days. The second option is to take a day trip. With both of my day trip options, you really only need a half day (though its ever so slightly longer once you account for transportation), so you’ll still have some time in Budapest to visit a few more sights. First, I’ll talk about the day trips and then we’ll get into what else you could see and do in Budapest.
The first day trip is the most popular. You can spend one hour on the suburban HEV train to reach Szentendre which is a small, artsy town. There’s a few churches, but much of the town is about shopping and dining. Despite having a lot of tourists, it’s still a fun way to spend a half day. Consider visiting in midmorning when it’s calmer, enjoying lunch, and then heading back to Budapest for any additional sightseeing.
For those who haven’t got their fill of the Hapsburgs, you can take a train to tour Gödöllő Palace. This was the Hungarian Palace for the Austrian-Hungarian empire and it’s the palace that Sisi preferred. So, if you haven’t gotten your fill of palaces, take the suburban HEV train to visit this palace. I’d try to time your visit with opening time so you can maximize your time in the afternoon finishing up sightseeing in Budapest.
If you want to stay in Budapest (or you have more time in the afternoon), there’s still more sights that we haven’t covered. The most notable neighborhood that we haven’t visited is Budapest’s Jewish Quarter, which includes the Great Synagogue. This is the largest synagogue in Europe and the second largest synagogue in the world. Additionally, we skipped several museums along the way. Notably there are additional museums in Castle Hill and the museums along Hero’s Square.
It’s the last day of your trip, so it’s up to you how you spend it. Savor the final day of this itinerary.
Sleep: Budapest, Hungary
Day 10 – Goodbye, Europe
This 10 day Central Europe itinerary is complete. It’s time to head home or on to your next destination.
If your next destination involves a flight, you can catch an airport bus to Budapest’s airport. Look for bus 100E which costs more because it is an express bus and reaches the airport in about 20 minutes. The bus runs 24 hours (though departures are less frequent overnight) and depart conveniently from Deák Ferenc Tér.
Itinerary Recap & What to Book in Advance
Let’s do a quick recap of this 10 day Central Europe itinerary and look at what specifically you’ll need to book in advance for your trip.
Hotels
Days 1 – 3 (3 nights) – Vienna, Austria
Days 4 – 6 (3 nights) – Bratislava, Slovakia
Days 7 – 9 (3 nights) – Budapest, Hungary
Transportation
Day 4 – Vienna, Austria to Bratislava, Slovakia
Day 7 – Bratislava, Slovakia to Budapest, Hungary
Activities
Day 2 – Hofburg Palace – Book the earliest time slot available
Day 4 – Schönbrunn Palace – Book the earliest time slot available
Day 9 – Hungarian Parliament – Book the earliest time slot available
Modifications to This Itinerary
Let’s say that you have don’t have exactly ten days for your Central Europe itinerary. How can you modify this itinerary?
With More Time
If you have more time, you have several options. With one extra day, I’d add it to either Vienna or Budapest. In Vienna, you could take a day trip to somewhere else in Austria. In Budapest, you’ll have time to either go a bit slower or add in a short side trip. If you visited Szentendre on Day 9, why not add in a trip to Gödöllő Palace on Day 10?
With two extra days, you could add in a day in both Vienna and Budapest.
Once you add three or four extra days, I recommend that you take a look at my two week Central Europe itinerary which includes a stop in the wonderful country of Slovenia.
With Less Time
If you have less than ten days, what should you cut? I’d cut either your Vienna day trip or your Bratislava day trip. The choice is yours, but I would not recommend cutting time in Budapest. There is so much to do in Budapest and I think if you drop down to only one and a half days, you’ll leave disappointed.
When to Do This Itinerary
This itinerary can be done all year round, but some seasons are better than others.
Summers can be hot and busy with plenty of tourists wanting to visit the top sights of the big cities of Europe. This is the season I’d avoid if you can. The heat and the crowds and make the experience more miserable.
In the winter months, there can be less tourists, but it is colder. That said, if you visit in December, you’d be able to add stops at the Christmas markets in each city. Be prepared for larger crowds during this month, though it will likely be less than in summer.
Spring and fall can be great shoulder seasons and an ideal time to visit.
I visited in mid October and had a great time. Mornings were a bit chilly, but it eventually warmed up into a comfortable weather for exploring. The leaves were also turning colors which made for great scenery at the Schönbrunn Palace gardens and much of Europe.
Final Thoughts
This 10 day Central Europe itinerary won’t cover everything but I think it provides a great starting point for your trip. It’s a fantastic introduction and takes you through some great cities and incredible sights. So, start planning your Central Europe vacation today!
Continue Your Adventure
Austria: Vienna is full of incredible sights. With one busy day, you’ll see a lot, but two days is even better. My Vienna Travel Budget has a realistic example and budget tips.
Slovakia: Whether you’re visiting on a day trip or spending the night, here’s how I recommend spending one day in Bratislava. Learn my best budget tips in my Bratislava Travel Budget.
Hungary: Two days in Budapest gives you a great overview of the city. If you only have one day, you’ll have to pick and choose. Here’s how I recommend visiting Budapest on a budget.
More Itineraries: Try my 10 day itinerary for Paris, Belgium, and Amsterdam. If you’re heading to Spain, try this ten day itinerary. In the very north of Europe, I have a 10 day Scandinavia itinerary.