Should I visit Berlin > Vienna > Budapest?

You should add Dresden to the list. Guaranteed bomb free.

Prague… Go to Prague.

You might want to watch ‘The Sound of Music’ and add Salzburg (Austria) to your list.

If short on time… the list you have offers three beautiful cities. Have fun and enjoy…

Just my thought… better go to three or two cities and have enough time, than trying to rush your way through too many places.

And do indeed consider Prague ^^. (Personally, I would swap Berlin for Prague.)

I have never been to Budapest, but those that I spoke with all tell me it is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe.

Salzburg was really weird and awesome. We stayed at a hostel that played The Sound of Music on a loop in the common area. When we went east in the city it was totally idyllic and lovely pastel buildings. We walked west it was very different. Strip clubs and McDonalds. There is totally a wrong side of the tracks thing going on there. I would suggest going there, but maybe make it a day trip.

I think all three cities you’ve chosen are awesome but I would go with @johnpowell‘s recommendation and add Prague too, if you can possibly manage it. Prague is a wonderful city (but the language is a bitch to learn). Thankfully most Czech people understand either English or German, or both. You need about 3–4 days to see it all.

All three cities are highly interesting. I’d fly from Berlin to Vienna and then take the train to Budapest.

I can’t speak for Austria – never been there.

But Berlin (and surrounding areas, including Potsdam) were fascinating from a historical and cultural point of view. I’d go back in a heartbeat.

Plan to spend a day in downtown Berlin – the Reichstag (new and old), Brandenberg gate, Holocaust memorial, walking on the line of the old Berlin Wall, etc.

Thanks, everyone! I’ve actually been to Prague before and loved it too. Riding the metro in Prague was so confusing! But it had lots of helpful people who speak English. I’d like to come back some day, but I want to visit new cities this time.
@mattbrowne I was thinking of taking an overnight train to Vienna from Berlin since I’ve never done that before. The train would take 11 hours and I figured I’d save a night in accommodations by doing that. Do you think it’s better to just fly since I’m only going for a few days?

I was going to say Prague instead of Budapest but I see what you said. I personally was not enamored of Budapest but others love it.

You might want to go to the Jewish Museum in Berlin for interesting architecture and perspective. In many parts of Berlin you will see how Germany is trying to deal with the legacy of the Holocaust and also the partition and reunification.

Berlin and and Vienna are nice. I think youth hostels should generally be easy to find in all three cities.

Mind the train schedules. Keep an eye out for pick pockets at train stations. Otherwise, I’d say you’ll mostly be fine.

I haven’t been to Budapest.

I would take the night train. Relatively cheap since you save one hotel night and in my mind the best way to travel. The trip offers some great views.

Yes, of course, the night train is an alternative. My brother lives in Berlin and my son lives in Vienna. Both are great cities. So is Budapest, where meals and drinks are cheaper.