8-Day Adventure Itinerary for Vienna and Budapest

1. Day 1: Schönbrunn Palace (Vienna)
   From Vienna International Airport: 30 minutes (18 km)

   Discover the stunning imperial architecture and massive gardens of the Baroque-style former summer residence of the Habsburg monarchs.

2. Day 2: Prater (Vienna)
   From Schönbrunn Palace: 20 minutes (7.5 km)

   Experience some excitement at one of the world's oldest amusement parks. Get your adrenaline fix with a ride on the Giant Ferris Wheel.

3. Day 3: Fisherman's Bastion (Budapest)
   From Prater: 2.5 hours by train or 3 hours by car (257 km)

   Admire the city's skyline on the Buda Castle hill, with unique neo-Gothic and neo-Romanesque architecture and the glorious Danube Panorama.

4. Day 4: Hungarian State Opera House (Budapest)
   From Fisherman's Bastion: 30 minutes (3 km)

   Take a behind-the-scenes tour of this elegant Opera House with stunning Renaissance-style interiors hosted by the Hungarian State Opera.

5. Day 5: Széchenyi Thermal Baths (Budapest)
   From Hungarian State Opera House: 15 minutes (4 km)

   Relax and unwind in the healing mineral waters of Europe's largest medicinal bath, surrounded by a Neo-Baroque palace design.

6. Day 6: St. Stephen's Basilica (Vienna)
   From Széchenyi Thermal Baths: 2.5 hours by train or 3 hours by car (241 km)

   Visit the largest church in Vienna with its grand dome, stunning mosaic designs, and 18th-century silver altar. Climb up for panoramic city views.

7. Day 7: Parliament Building (Budapest)
   From St. Stephen's Basilica: 2 hours by train or 2.5 hours by car (241 km)

   Marvel at the exquisite facade and interiors inspired by Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque styles found in Hungary's largest building. Best viewed from the Danube River.

8. Day 8: Danube Bend (Budapest)
   From Parliament Building: 1 hour (20 km)

   Travel north of Budapest for a day trip to the splendid Danube Bend, where the river separates two mountain ranges, See the small towns like Szentendre and stunning views.

Time and Costs Estimate

• Schönbrunn Palace (3 hours, €16)
• Prater (4 hours, €30 for ride tickets)
• Fisherman's Bastion (2 hours, free to visit)
• Hungarian State Opera House (1.5 hours, €13)
• Széchenyi Thermal Baths (3 hours, €22)
• St. Stephen's Basilica (2 hours, free to visit but €6 to climb to the top)
• Parliament Building (2 hours, €15)
• Danube Bend Day Trip (7 hours, €40)
• Total Estimated Costs: €132

Useful Tips

If you have extra time, add a Segway tour in Vienna or a bike tour in Budapest. For those with less time, skip the Danube Bend and instead explore the Jewish Quarter in Budapest for its ruin bars and lively atmosphere. Consider visiting during shoulder season to avoid large crowds and high prices.