9 days in Central Europe Itinerary

You might consider the city of Budapest, divided by the Danube River into two distinctive cities--Buda and Pest--to be essentially one large World Heritage Site.

Discover out-of-the-way places like Liberty Statue and Spas & Wellness. Do some cultural sightseeing at Fisherman's Bastion and Shoes on the Danube Bank. There's much more to do: get a sense of history and politics at Hungarian Parliament Building, examine the collection at House of Terror Museum, take in the architecture and atmosphere at University Church, and boost your wellbeing at a local thermal spa.

To find reviews, ratings, more things to do, and other tourist information, use the Budapest attractions planner.

Bournemouth, UK to Budapest is an approximately 8-hour combination of train and flight. You can also do a combination of train and flight; or do a combination of car and train. Traveling from Bournemouth to Budapest, you'll lose 1 hour due to the time zone difference. Traveling from Bournemouth in August, things will get somewhat warmer in Budapest: highs are around 32°C and lows about 18°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 7th (Mon) so you can drive to Gyor.

Győr is the most important city of northwest Hungary, the capital of Győr-Moson-Sopron County and Western Transdanubia region, and—halfway between Budapest and Vienna—situated on one of the important roads of Central Europe. Start off your visit on the 7th (Mon): appreciate the extensive heritage of Gyor Old Town Area, contemplate in the serene atmosphere at Pannonhalma Archabbey, and then browse the different shops at Gyor Plaza.

For traveler tips, ratings, maps, and other tourist information, you can read our Gyor trip planner.

You can drive from Budapest to Gyor in 1.5 hours. Other options are to take a train; or take a bus. In August, daytime highs in Gyor are 32°C, while nighttime lows are 16°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 8th (Tue) so you can travel to Nitra.

Nitra is a city in western Slovakia, situated at the foot of Zobor Mountain in the valley of the river Nitra. Start off your visit on the 8th (Tue): don't miss a visit to Nitra Calvary, explore the historical opulence of Nitra Castle, and then take in the architecture and atmosphere at Church of St. Michael the Archangel.

For photos, maps, where to stay, and other tourist information, you can read our Nitra trip planner.

You can drive from Gyor to Nitra in 2 hours. Finish your sightseeing early on the 9th (Wed) so you can drive to Bratislava.

Slovakia's capital, Bratislava, attracts visitors for its natural beauty and rich culture, offering a plethora of landscapes, outdoor activities, historical monuments, and a stately old town.

Start off your visit on the 9th (Wed): step into the grandiose world of Bratislava Castle, get great views at UFO Observation Deck, then take in the spiritual surroundings of Blue Church of St. Elizabeth, then pause for some photo ops at Cumil, and finally wander the streets of Bratislava Old Town.

For other places to visit, reviews, and tourist information, you can read our Bratislava online vacation planner.

Getting from Nitra to Bratislava by car takes about an hour. Other options: take a bus; or take a train. Expect a daytime high around 32°C in August, and nighttime lows around 18°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 10th (Thu) early enough to drive to Vienna.

The cultural, economic, and political center of the country, Vienna has developed from its early Celtic and Roman roots into a medieval and Baroque city, with an old town that was designated a World Heritage Site in 2001.

Popular historic sites such as Schonbrunn Palace and Belvedere Palace are in your itinerary. Eschew the tourist crowds and head to Ringstrasse and Hundertwasserhaus. And it doesn't end there: pause for some serene contemplation at St. Stephen's Cathedral, explore the world behind art at Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien, see the interesting displays at Hofburg, and don't miss a visit to Historic Center of Vienna.

For reviews, traveler tips, maps, and more tourist information, read our Vienna visit planner.

Getting from Bratislava to Vienna by car takes about an hour. Other options: take a bus; or take a train. In August, plan for daily highs up to 31°C, and evening lows to 18°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 12th (Sat) so you can travel back home.