From Venice to Vienna
Two countries in one long weekend is not for the weak, but this is how we managed to visit both Vienna and Budapest in just four days, and a few recommendations from the short but memorable time we spent in each city.
Our group of nine set off from Venice on a Friday afternoon. However, two friends and I had alate class, so while the rest of the group caught a flight, we took an overnight train from Venice to Vienna. The train left around 9 p.m. and arrived at 7 a.m. the next morning. The sleeping cabins hold six people, but we were lucky enough to have only the three of us, so we were able to stretch out and get some sleep.
Even though Vienna was still quiet when we arrived, the city immediately drew us in. On the tram ride to our Airbnb we passed Parliament, and the architecture alone made the early wake-up worthwhile.
Exploring Vienna
We spent most of the day sightseeing. One of my favorite stops was the Austrian National Library’s State Hall, the oldest library in Austria. The room is breathtaking: painted ceilings, towering shelves of books that stretch to the top of the walls, and a warm golden glow that makes you pause and reflect on the centuries of history it holds. We also visited St. Stephen’s Cathedral, where an art installation wrapped a glowing infinity symbol around the structure. For about eight euros, you can climb to the top for a great view of the city.
Food was another highlight of Vienna. We stopped at a city market for lunch and tried traditional Viennese sausages, and later ended the evening at a pub where I finally ordered the chicken schnitzel I had been craving.
Budapest Highlights
After staying out late, we woke up early again to catch a bus to Budapest. The ride was about three hours—nothing compared to the overnight train—and offered beautiful views of the Hungarian countryside.
We arrived around 11 a.m. and headed straight to the thermal baths, which ended up being my favorite part of the trip. The main pool felt like a giant outdoor hot tub surrounded by bright yellow walls. Travelers and locals alike relaxed in the warm water, especially welcome after so much travel. One pool even had a whirlpool in the center where people floated around together. Later we visited another market for food, where I tried Hungarian lángos—still the best thing I’ve eaten in Europe so far. The fried dough was slightly thicker than usual, and the cream cheese and ham toppings worked surprisingly well together. The next day I also tried chicken paprikash, another dish I would definitely recommend.
On our final night we took a river cruise along the Danube. Seeing the Hungarian Parliament building glowing at night was one of the most spectacular views of the trip.
The Journey Home
The next morning we woke up early again for the long journey home—a ten-hour bus ride back to Venice. While the travel schedule was intense, I would absolutely do it again. The entire trip cost me about 90 euros round trip, compared to roughly 260 euros others spent flying. On the ride back we even passed through Slovenia and saw incredible mountain views along the way.
In just four days we experienced two very different cities, from Vienna’s historic elegance to Budapest’s vibrant energy. It was a packed weekend, but it proved that with a little planning, and a willingness to travel overnight, you can see much more of Europe than you might expect.