Budapest lies within day-trip distance of Vienna, but going it alone means arranging train journeys or a car, and navigating Hungary’s capital by yourself. This full-day Budapest tour from Vienna makes it easy, so you can relax and enjoy the scenic journey and cover all of Budapest’s must-sees. Admire the UNESCO-listed Danube riverbanks, tour Pest and the cobbled Buda district, and finish with free time to stroll, shop, and eat.

Depart your central Vienna hotel by air-conditioned minivan or coach, and venture through picturesque countryside into Hungary.

Pass the national Turul monument at Tatabanya, and once in Budapest, begin admiring the city. Straddling the River Danube with the medieval quarter of Buda on one side and commercial Pest on the other, Hungary’s capital is dubbed the “Paris of the East” for its handsome architecture and boulevards.

View Danube-side landmarks such as the Hungarian parliament building and Chain Bridge, and enjoy a panoramic tour of the Buda Castle district—a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its cobbled lanes—Matthias Church, and Fisherman’s Bastion. Then, cross into Pest to view St. Stephen’s Basilica, Andrassy Avenue, and Heroes’ Square (Hősök tere), and other sights.

Finish with free time to stroll independently, perhaps shopping, having lunch (own expense), or taking in other attractions. Afterward, return to Vienna, where a hotel drop-off concludes your trip.