- Route it Prague, Vienna, Budapest (or reverse) and fly open-jaw from the UK
- Prague to Vienna takes about four hours, Vienna to Budapest around two and a half
- The direct Prague to Budapest train takes roughly six and a half to seven hours
- Book ahead on the national rail sites for the cheapest fares
- Three currencies: koruna, euro and forint
Few trips in Europe are as easy, or as rewarding, as linking Prague, Vienna and Budapest by train. The three former Habsburg capitals sit on one rail corridor, the trains run from city centre to city centre, and the longest leg on this plan is around four hours. You skip airport security, see the Czech and Hungarian countryside roll past, and arrive right in the heart of each city.
Here's a one-week plan, with typical journey times and how to book.
The route and why it works
The smartest route is Prague, Vienna, Budapest (or the reverse). Vienna sits neatly between the other two, so you break the trip into two short train journeys instead of one long one.
| Leg | Typical journey time | Frequency | Main stations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prague to Vienna | About 4 to 4.5 hours | Roughly every 1 to 2 hours | Praha hlavní nádraží to Wien Hauptbahnhof |
| Vienna to Budapest | About 2 hours 20 minutes to 2 hours 45 minutes | Roughly hourly | Wien Hauptbahnhof to Budapest Keleti (some trains use Kelenföld) |
| Prague to Budapest (direct) | About 6.5 to 7 hours | A few times a day, plus a night train | Praha hlavní nádraží to Budapest Nyugati, Keleti or Déli, depending on the operator |
Times are typical for 2026. Engineering work can add time or change stations, so always check your exact train before you travel.
Fly open-jaw. Book a flight into Prague and home from Budapest (or the reverse) so you never double back. Flights from London take about two hours to each city.
Day 1 to 3: Prague
Arrive in Prague and give it two full days.
- Old Town and Charles Bridge: Watch the astronomical clock strike the hour in Old Town Square, then cross the Charles Bridge early in the morning before the crowds.
- Prague Castle: Spend a morning at Prague Castle and St Vitus Cathedral, then walk down through the Lesser Town (Malá Strana).
- Beyond the centre: Head to Vyšehrad for river views, or Letná Park for a beer garden overlooking the bridges.
Prague uses the Czech koruna (CZK), not the euro. Pay by card or withdraw cash from a bank ATM. Avoid street exchange booths and decline the "conversion" offered by card machines.
Day 3: Prague to Vienna by train
Take a mid-morning Railjet or RegioJet train from Praha hlavní nádraží. The journey takes about four hours, via Brno. Railjets have a restaurant car, free Wi-Fi and plug sockets, so this is a relaxing half-day rather than a lost one. You'll arrive at Wien Hauptbahnhof in time for a late lunch and an afternoon stroll along the Ringstrasse.
Day 3 to 5: Vienna
- Imperial Vienna: Visit the Hofburg and the Habsburg apartments, then spend half a day at Schönbrunn Palace and its gardens.
- Art and coffee: See Klimt's The Kiss at the Belvedere, then sit in a classic coffee house for Sachertorte or apple strudel.
- Evenings: Standing-room tickets at the State Opera are famously cheap. Or head to a Heuriger, a wine tavern in the vineyards on the city's edge.
Vienna uses the euro. Public transport is excellent, and a 24-, 48- or 72-hour ticket covers the U-Bahn, trams and buses.
Day 5: Vienna to Budapest by train
This is the easy leg. Trains leave Wien Hauptbahnhof roughly every hour, and the fastest Railjets reach Budapest in about two hours twenty minutes. Most take closer to two and a half hours, passing Győr on the way. Check which Budapest station your train uses: Keleti is the main terminus, but some services stop at Kelenföld instead, which is on metro line M4.
Day 5 to 7: Budapest
- Buda side: Climb Castle Hill for the Fisherman's Bastion and views over the Danube.
- Pest side: Tour the Hungarian Parliament (book ahead), visit St Stephen's Basilica and walk along Andrássy Avenue.
- Thermal baths: Spend an afternoon at the Széchenyi Baths, with outdoor pools that stay steaming hot even in winter.
- Evening: Try a ruin bar in the Jewish Quarter, or take a Danube cruise to see the Parliament lit up.
Hungary uses the forint (HUF). As in Prague, cards work almost everywhere, but carry a little cash for markets and tips.
Fly home from Budapest on day 7, or add a day trip to the Danube Bend towns of Szentendre or Esztergom.
Booking tickets
- Book direct. The national operators sell tickets online: ČD (Czech Railways), ÖBB (Austrian Railways) and MÁV (Hungarian Railways). The private operator RegioJet also runs on both routes, often with very low fares. Comparison sites such as Omio and Trainline show most options in one place.
- Book early for the best fares. Cheap advance tickets are released a few months ahead and sell out on popular trains. Walk-up fares are still reasonable by UK standards, but can be several times higher.
- Seat reservations are optional on most Railjets but worth adding at weekends and holidays.
- Rail passes: An Interrail pass rarely pays off for just two journeys. It makes sense if you're adding more cities, such as Bratislava, Salzburg or Kraków.
Download your tickets to your phone and keep your passport handy. All three countries are in the Schengen area, so there's normally no passport control on the train, but spot checks do happen.
Can you do it in less time?
Yes. With five days you could spend two nights in Prague, one in Vienna and two in Budapest, though Vienna deserves more. With ten days, give each city three nights and add Bratislava (an hour from Vienna) or Český Krumlov in southern Bohemia.
When to go
Late spring and early autumn are ideal: mild weather and fewer tour groups. Summer can be hot and busy. From mid-November to Christmas, all three cities host atmospheric markets. See our guide to the best Christmas markets in Europe. Winter is cold but cheap outside the festive season, and Budapest's thermal baths come into their own.
Fancy more rail travel? Read our guide to European city breaks by train from London, or explore our Czech Republic, Austria and Hungary guides.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the train from Prague to Vienna?
Direct trains take about four to four and a half hours, centre to centre, with departures roughly every one to two hours.
How long is the train from Vienna to Budapest?
The fastest direct trains take about two hours twenty minutes. Most services take around two and a half hours, with roughly hourly departures.
Is there a direct train from Prague to Budapest?
Yes. Direct daytime trains take roughly six and a half to seven hours, and there's also an overnight train. Most travellers prefer to break the journey in Vienna.
Do I need to book trains in advance?
Not always, as there's usually space on the day. But booking a few weeks ahead gets you much cheaper fares, especially with ÖBB, ČD and RegioJet.
Which currency do I need?
You need three: Czech koruna in Prague, euros in Vienna and Hungarian forint in Budapest. Cards are accepted almost everywhere.
Written by
Emma City breaks & deals editor
Emma plans city breaks the way other people plan the weekly shop: on a budget, with a spreadsheet and a backup plan. She covers city guides and deal-hunting.
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