The Best of Budapest, Vienna, and Prague

This year's vacation was to a troika of central European cities: Budapest, Vienna, and Prague.  They're a few hours apart by train, share some common history, and each is worth a few days, but none is really worth an entire vacation by itself.  In a nutshell, Budapest is cool and cheap, Vienna is refined and historic, and Prague is photogenic and romantic.

Here are some basics on what to do in each city:

Budapest
Must visit: a ruin pub for an only-in-Budapest moment and Castle Hill for the stunning views
If you have time: an authentic Hungarian spa
Pleasant surprise: great subway system; low, low prices
Feel free to avoid: Great Market Hall was a bit "meh" for us

From Buda, looking at Pest.

Vienna
Must visit: Schonbrunn Palace for the gardens; Hofburg Palace for the history; walk along Karntner Strasse
If you have time: go to the opera or a classical concert -- it's OK, you're in Vienna
Pleasant surprise: relaxing at a cafe with a dessert and a newspaper
Feel free to avoid: unless you're a devotee, the Sigmund Freud Museum

Try the maze in the Schonbrunn gardens, but budget 20 minutes to find the exit!

Prague
Must visit: Prague Castle; Old Town Square (beware the crowds)
If you have time: a day trip to Kutna Hora or Cesky Krumlov
Pleasant surprise: St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague Castle won the prize for "best church on this trip"
Feel free to avoid: We got to the "famous" astronomical clock in Old Town Square a few seconds after the top of the hour and we had already missed whatever there was to see.

The view from Prague Castle.