Day Trips to Budapest from Vienna

Budapest is a beautiful city to explore, considered one of the most beautiful capitals in Central Europe; it's no wonder that a getaway to this magical destination is one of the most popular day trips from Vienna for tourists and locals alike.

If you have time to explore beyond the Austrian capital, don't hesitate for a second! The proximity between the two cities makes a day trip entirely possible, not to mention the experience itself is one of the best thingsto do on a trip to Vienna, itinerary permitting.

The best option

Budapest Day Trip from Vienna

A day in the Paris of the East with guide and transport

Discover the most iconic sights of the Hungarian capital on a guided tour of Buda and Pest. Includes transfer from your hotel in Vienna and free time to explore on your own.

From AED 595 at Hellotickets

During your stay in Vienna, don't miss the opportunity to escape to Budapest, one of Europe's most fascinating cities. From the imposing Parliament to Heroes' Square, the Fisherman's Bastion to the Citadel, this tour of Budapest from Vienna will take you to the city's key sights with an expert guide.

You'll have a return transfer from your hotel in Vienna, a bus tour of Buda and a walking tour of Pest, plus free time to explore, shop for souvenirs or relax on the banks of the Danube. An ideal opportunity to get to know this European jewel, former capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and UNESCO World Heritage Site, in one day.

Recommended if... you want to make the most of your trip to Vienna to discover another European capital with history, architecture and charm.

The best way to book this type of tour is to make your reservation online; this will allow you to have your trip fully organised without setting foot outside your residence. On the day of your scheduled adventure, all you need to do is enjoy and relax.

Finding and booking your excursion to Budapest from Vienna can be really simple if you use the services of an excursion provider search engine such as Hellotickets, as the website gathers in a single space some of the best service providers on the web. If you find several alternatives for the same excursion it is necessary that you explore carefully the details related to price, duration and facilities...

Once you find the excursion you want to book the HelloTickets server guides you through the steps to be followed: you must enter the number of participants, your contact details, your accommodation in the city (in case you have booked it) and finally the payment confirmation information to secure the booking.

For organised excursions departing from Vienna, the tour operators available in the city offer travellers different options with different facilities and of course different price categories.

Group tours to Budapest

In Vienna the most popular option is the group excursions to Budapest available in a price range from approximately 130 € to 160 € per traveller. Round-trip transportation from Vienna to Budapest and an expert historian guide are included, however both resources are shared for the group of travellers participating in the tour.

Although it may vary greatly depending on the company you choose, these tours are usually managed in groups of approximately 8 to 10 people. They are usually available in several languages including English, German, Spanish and Italian.

Private Tours to Budapest

Private tours range in price from as little as 280 euros per participant up to accommodating prices for groups of several people, such as a tour for 8 travellers which costs around 1000 euros.

Day tours to Budapest usually depart from the centre of Vienna early in the morning; the intention is to arrive in the city in the morning and be able to enjoy as many of the sights as possible.

Keep in mind that this is mainly dependent on the company you hire for the tour and their travel plan. Group tours usually leave Vienna between 07h and 08h. If your tour does not include hotel pick-up, you will need to calculate the time it will take you to get to the meeting point.

Private tours allow you to arrange your departure time directly with the tour provider. Whichever method you choose, remember that an early departure will allow you to make the most of your day.

For a tour to Budapest from Vienna you will need to book at least one full day of your travel itinerary. Allowing for travel time and city sightseeing, the adventure will take about 12 hours on average; you will leave Vienna early in the morning and return after sunset.

This is due to the distance between the two destinations. The Hungarian capital is located 243 km southeast of Vienna on a road trip that will take at least 2.5 hours. Due to the length of the tour it is recommended mainly for travellers who will be in Vienna for three days or a little longer.

Budapest is a destination rich in architecture and history; you'll find that there is so much to see and do in a quick tour of the city, which is why tour companies try to prioritise what is most important for you to absorb as much as possible in a day trip.

Departing from your location in Vienna to the city of Budapest, you will have the opportunity to admire the Hungarian plains and countryside during your private vehicle tour. Once in the city you will visit the highlights of the capital, with breathtaking views and beautiful scenery from the top of Gellert Hill.

While the itinerary may be modified depending on the company you choose for the experience, most will include visiting the following highlights of Budapest: Buda Quarter and Castle, Matias Church, Fisherman's Bastion (with amazing panoramic views of the entire city).

In addition, you will have free time to explore the historic centre of Budapest on your own; you can use this time to visit markets and do some shopping on your own.

From my experience a guided tour to Budapest is totally worthwhile, especially if it is your first time visiting this beautiful destination. However, in a more complete answer you should analyse the ideal circumstances in which it is or is not worth paying for a tour, especially since goingto Budapest from Vienna is really easy and transfer options abound.

• I recommend a guided tour if... your travel itinerary to Vienna is limited to two or three days and you don't want to spend time organising the details of a tour with the hassle and time involved in planning.
• I recommend going to Budapest on your own if... you are looking for a fully personalised tour at your own pace, ideal for travellers who wish to visit other destinations for example.

While you can choose to visit Central Europe at any time of the year, there are better times, but these will depend mainly on your particular tastes and what you want to get out of your trip.

• Vienna in Spring: I personally consider spring to be the best time to visit Vienna and the surrounding area, mainly because of the pleasant temperatures and the lush vegetation.
• Vienna in Summer: The main advantage of summer is the long days that allow you to enjoy the city for longer hours; however, summer is usually the busiest time of the year for tourists.
• Vienna in Autumn: Autumn is a great time to visit Vienna, although it starts to get chilly the temperatures are pleasant enough to walk the streets without any problems; the same will be true for your day trip to Budapest.
• Vienna in winter: When it comes to outdoor activities, winter is often the least convenient time in Central European cities. However, a visit to Budapest for Christmas can be truly unique as a result of the festive atmosphere that permeates the city.

The main advantage of the private tour is that you can coordinate directly with the tour operator if you want to include a destination or attraction that is not in the original tour plan. If you are visiting Vienna with a group of friends or family, the price per individual may well outweigh the price of a private tour due to the accommodating prices offered by most tour operators.

When you have a tight travel itinerary and not much time to explore a destination in depth, the accompaniment of an expert guide is the best option to really get to know the city you are about to explore and to make the most of your experience.

You can combine the Budapest tour experience with the best things to do in Vienna and have a truly unique holiday. Tours to Budapest from Vienna are available in several languages with the most popular options being German, English and Spanish.

Getting to know the city of Budapest is sure to be an extraordinary experience, but if you want to get the most out of your trip to this fantastic city, take the following tips into consideration.

• Take cash with you, as many restaurants and small shops do not accept credit cards. Before your trip take the time to understand the local currency; €1 is equivalent to approximately 370 Hungarian guilders.
• Whether you are travelling on your own or on a guided tour, try to make the most of your trip to see both the Buda and Pest areas of Budapest. It may help to read the itinerary for getting to know Budapest in one day.
• Budapest is a somewhat spread out city but the Budapest Metro works perfectly; I recommend it especially if you are on a day trip and want to move quickly between destinations. The 4 lines of the Budapest Metro will take you to virtually any destination you want to see.
• Hungarian food is really delicious and Budapest is the best place to try it because of the variety of options available.
• Many restaurants and shops are closed on Sundays, so try to avoid sightseeing on that day of the week. Fine dining restaurants are usually closed on Mondays.
• Budapest's Parliament building, located on the banks of the Danube, is possibly the most beautiful building in the city. Even if you don't take aguided tour of the Parliament, you can still take beautiful pictures from the famous Chain Bridge.