Solo Adventures in Budapest, Vienna & Prague
Hotels I stayed In
The Adventure Began in Budapest
Arriving in Budapest was as easy as you could ever hope for – After reports of possible flight cancellations coming from Sydney through Dubai, and the threat of extensive delays on arrival caused by the roll out of the new Entry/Exit System for the EU, everything went remarkably well.
As you exit Budapest Airport turn left and you will see the 100E bus just outside. This bus goes every 10 minutes from the airport to the centre of Budapest, easy to get luggage on and off, you can buy tickets onboard – or, over 65s travel free on all Budapest public transport (just have your passport ready to show the ticket inspectors to prove you are old enough!) The bus makes 3 stops as it comes into Budapest, so get off at the one closest to where you are staying. I was going to the end of the line, Deák Ferenc tér.
The hotel I chose in Budapest was an easy, flat walking distance from the bus stop. Using St Stephens Basilica as a land mark to make sure I was heading in the right direction, then just a bit further up the road I arrived at Hotel President.
One of the main reasons I chose Hotel President was because of the restaurant and roof top bar, both handy for solo travellers who might not want to eat out every night – both were closed for renovations for the duration of my stay. I found that out when I said to the receptionist that I would wait for my room to be ready, up in the roof top bar…..
I waited in the reception area as it would only be 30 minutes or so. I went up to my room, opened the door and found it was exactly the type of room I had specifically asked not to have! It opened on to a closed internal courtyard, so no fresh air. I was then given another room at the front of the hotel, it cost a little bit extra, but at least I could open the window, and it was still nice and peaceful.
I set off to explore my new neighbourhood….
Breakfasts at Hotel President were very nice, plenty of choice, so I quickly settled into my usual travel routine of eating a big breakfast, then having a late lunch/early dinner as my daily meals. Although I often returned after dark, I always felt comfortable walking back to the hotel after a long day exploring, as everything was well lit. The area around St Stephen’s Basilica was lively without feeling overwhelming.
All in all, this hotel was very nice, despite the closed restaurant issue, and it was in a great location. I did find the reception staff a little unhelpful, as you approach them they would tend to adopt a facial expression suggesting you were interrupting their day…..one day I asked if they could pass a message on the housekeeper, I was told she didn’t speak English, or Hungarian, so that was not possible, which surprised me as I had been chatting with her the previous day in English!! I went and found her myself to give her the message.
So, if you only need to deal with reception to check in and out, don’t ask them any directions, or restaurant recommendations, then everything will be fine!
Would I stay here again? Yes, mainly because of its excellent location, although I’d check that the rooftop bar would be open before booking.
Next stop, Vienna….
After a week in Budapest, a short taxi ride to Budapest-Keleti Station and I was on the train to Vienna. The main station in Vienna is Wein Hauptbahnof, once you get off the train, follow the signs to Sudtiroler Paltz U-Bahn underground railway station, from here you can get to anywhere in Vienna, the stations all have escalators and lifts so it’s easy to get around with luggage.
The hotel I chose for my 10 days in Vienna was Hotel Pension Suzanne, a family run guest house in a great location just near Vienna Opera House, so very close to everything, it was perfect! Once I was on the U1 red line U-Bahn train it was just a couple of stops to Karlsplatz Station, I got off the train and followed signs saying ‘Oper’ as I knew that would take me through the underground walkway to the Opera House, I emerged up an escalator just around the corner from my hotel.
I had read that Pension Suzanne was not very attractive from the outside, but it is really not very attractive from the outside!! I caught the lift up to the reception, checked in and was taken up to my beautiful room – all decorated with Imperial style velvet covered furnishings. Sadly, they no longer serve breakfast there, but the very helpful young man in reception gave me a map and drew circles on it to mark nearby places I could indulge in Viennese café culture and sites to see. There was no shortage of restaurants close by, not to mention the famous Sacher Hotel just around the corner where I ate more Sacher Torte during my stay in Vienna than any human should in one life time!!
I quickly realised Pension Suzanne was in the very best location in Vienna, close to the U-Bahn and trams, but more importantly walking distance from most places, sometimes a long walk, but as Vienna is such a beautiful city, walking is the perfect way to get around. Often it was quite late by the time I got ‘home’ in the evening, so being in a very safe location made it very comfortable returning to my lovely quite room.
Would I stay here again? Without hesitation, yes. The location alone makes it one of the best places I’ve stayed in Europe.
Then North to Prague
I was very sad to be leaving Vienna, but the time came for me to continue my adventure, catching the train to Prague.
I picked a hotel near Prague main station, Praha Hlavni Nadrazi (Praha hl n) so I could walk there easily with my luggage. The Grandium Hotel ticked all the boxes, just near the top of Wenceslas Square and a short walk further into Prague to everything else! I had visited Prague 8 years ago, so it was lovely to re-visit those memories.
I was starving when I arrived in Prague after my long train trip, so I checked into my room, then went downstairs to the bar to have a quick bite to eat before heading out to explore. I ordered what I thought was a snack sized burger – turned out it was the biggest burger I have ever seen, with a family sized serving of chips!!! It was delicious, but every time I thought I was making progress, it somehow seemed to get even bigger.
Grandium Hotel was the only modern hotel chosen on this adventure, the breakfast was amazing, and always started with a glass of bubbles! Served in a huge dining room, with various buffets and coffee stations. It was generally lovely and peaceful apart from one guest who felt it was OK to have loud conversations on his phone, on speaker…… everyone around him would gradually get up and move to another location!! He was totally unaware of how offensive it was, or maybe he just didn’t care – even carrying his phone with him to the buffet tables and propping it up there while he refilled his plate as he shouted into the phone and the person on the other end shouted back – I’ve never seen anything like it in a quiet restaurant environment!!
My room was very nice, plenty of space, a big desk to catch up on some work, nice and peaceful, and I found the area around the hotel to be very safe and comfortable. All in all, it was a very nice hotel, plenty of restaurants nearby, trams just down the street so it was easy to get up to the Castle or over to Letna Park. Again, public transport is free for over 65s so have your proof of age ready!!
Would I stay here again? Definitely. It was comfortable, modern and an easy base for exploring Prague.
All too quickly it was time to catch a taxi to the airport for my return to Sydney. My flight from Dubai to Sydney had been cancelled so I had a 10 hour lay over in Dubai before the flight I was re-booked on to departed……I made a reservation at Hotel DXB at Dubai Airport, just so I had somewhere to get some sleep and take a shower. It was a lovely room, when I got there, I remember thinking, ‘if I need a break I could just fly to Dubai, stay at Hotel DXB and not even leave the airport!’
I’m not one for having a day or two stopover en route when travelling to Europe, I’ve always had good connection times and I’d rather press on and just get to my destination, but if I ever need to stay longer in Dubai for another connection, Hotel DXB is the way to go.
Final Thoughts
Looking back, I honestly don’t think I could have chosen better places to stay. Each hotel suited a different part of the journey, but they all had one thing in common—they made travelling alone feel easy. As a solo traveller, location becomes just as important as the room itself. Being able to walk to restaurants, easily reach public transport, and feel comfortable returning after dark makes such a difference to the overall experience.
None of these hotels were perfect. There were closed rooftop bars, occasionally frosty reception staff, and one unforgettable oversized burger! But none of those things took away from what became an amazing Central European adventure. If you’re considering Budapest, Vienna and Prague as a solo trip, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend all three cities. Each has its own personality, excellent public transport and plenty to see at a relaxed pace. With a little planning and accommodation in the right location, they’re wonderfully rewarding destinations for solo female travellers of any age.
If I had to choose one favourite, it would be Pension Suzanne in Vienna. It had everything I look for when travelling alone—a wonderful location, a comfortable room, friendly staff and the reassurance of feeling completely safe walking back after an evening at the opera or dinner. My biggest piece of advice? Choose your hotel for its location rather than its luxury. A comfortable room is lovely, but being able to step outside and immediately feel confident exploring is worth far more. Before long you’ll be navigating metro stations, lingering over coffee in grand cafés and discovering that travelling solo isn’t something to be nervous about—it’s something to savour.
Happy travels, and may your next adventure include more memorable views than mishaps… and a much smaller burger!
And yes, I paid for all my stays myself – so these reviews are as honest as they come. (I did become a Booking.com affiliate, so if you book using the links on this page, I will earn a small commission, and it won’t cost you anything extra!!)
Hotel President Budapest, Hotel Pension Suzanne Vienna, Hotel Grandium Prague
See my Trip Planning tips.
To read about The Art of Train Travel in Italy The Art of Train Travel in Italy between Venice, Florence, Siena, Pisa, La Spezia and Cinque Terre – all possible on your own, with luggage!
For ideas on places to visit in Florence and Venice, and more to come!!
Itinerary for my Trip Over to Central Europe
Flew from Sydney to Budapest via Dubai, and return from Prague to Sydney via Dubai with Emirates.
Travelled by train from Budapest to Vienna, then on to Prague.
Public transport in all three cities is very good and easy to navigate.
Solo Traveller Notes
⭐ Location: 10/10
🚶 Walkability: Excellent
🚉 Public transport: Excellent
🧳 Easy with luggage: Yes
🌙 Returning after dark: Comfortable
🍽 Restaurants nearby: Plenty
😊 Would I stay again? Yes
Sydney`s Royal Botanic Gardens on the edge of the CBD and Sydney Harbour all sparkling on an unseasonably hot day for June ✨️ Who would have thought hats and sunscreen would still be the order of the day, I would expect hats and coats at this time of year!!!
#royalbotanicgardens #urbanoasis #walkinthepark #sydney #sydneyharbourwalks
The gardens at the Governor Generals house in Sydney`s Royal Botanic Gardens are open to walk around most weekends.
✨️ Feels weird to go and sit on the balcony of someone else`s house and look out at the harbour, but it`s a very relaxing way to spend a bit of time!!
#royalbotanicgarden #fountains #beautifulgardensoftheworld #seeeverythingdoeverything
The gardens at Sydney`s Government House and into the Royal Botanic Gardens on the edge of Sydney Harbour.
#royalbotanicgarden #sydneylocal #sydneyharbour #sydneylife #walkinthepark
Having mastered the very efficient bus system in Malta, after visiting Lower Barraka Gardens and the War Rooms in the tunnels under Valletta, I headed off out to Tarxien to the pre-historic temples, then out to the east coast to the beautiful fishing village of Marsaxlokk to see the traditional fishing boats.
To read about my 10 day solo adventure in Malta, click the link to my website in the bio.
#solotravelinmalta #solotravelwoman #malta #traveltheworldwithme #tripovertomalta
Aimlessly wandering around the streets of Prague - beautiful💖
#prague #praguelife #solotrip #praguearchitecture
Just a short hop from Palermo, the markets in Monreale were getting ready for the day, filled with traditional Sicilian Moor`s Heads, or Testa di Moro.
#moorsheads #testadimoro #monreale #solotravelinsicily
Leaving Budapest from Keleti station, I found my ticket gave me access to the Business Lounge waiting room!!
Next stop on my solo adventure - Vienna🥂!!
#solotravel #budapest #keletistation #travelbytrain #traveltheworldwithme
Explored the stunning Belvedere Palace in Vienna, a former imperial residence that`s truly breathtaking. The gardens were gorgeous, especially with the ponds and fountains coming to life now that winter`s loosening its grip, slightly....!!
#belvedere #schlossbelvedere #vienna #solotrip #traveltheworldwithme
Cesky Krumlov, a quaint medieval town in the south of the Czech Republic, a simple day trip by train from Prague....then lots and lots of walking on cobble stone paths!!
#ceskykrumlov #daytripfromprague #solotrip #seetheworldthroughmyeyes
I spent 10 fantastic days exploring Malta 💖 A great place for solo travellers who love history and endless exploring.
✨️ Read about the places I visited by clicking the link to my website in the bio.
1. St Ursula St, Valletta
2. Victoria Gate, Valletta.
3. Upper Barraka Gardens, Valletta
4. The view from my hotel over The Grand Harbour
5. Victoria Gate, Valletta
6. Valletta street scene
#malta #solotravelinmalta #solotravelwoman #valletta #historylovers neverstopexploring
Hofburg Palace, the Habsburgs` stunning Vienna residence until 1918. Emperor Franz Joseph I and Empress Elisabeth (Sisi) indulged in royal luxury here and spent summers at Schonbrunn Palace. What a life!
#hofburgvienna #sisimuseum #soloadventure #vienna
Went to the stangest market in Vienna at Rathausplatz. Every one of the stalls sold wine, a few sold food, there were people everywhere in national dress, some holding, but no one playing, musical instruments......and Verstappen`s F1 car!!???
#traveltheworldwithme #eastermarkets #vienna #viennaeaster
A day trip from Valletta to Gozo is very easy, taking the fast ferry gives great views all the way up the north coast of Malta. You can then get around on buses, or the hop on, hop off bus, and plenty of walking.....I wish I could have spent more time there, next time I stay for a few days✨️
Click the link to my website to read about my 10 day solo adventure in Malta
#solotravelinmalta #soloadventures #gozo #malta #solitravel
Vienna is magnificent to just wander around aimlessly, the buildings, the parks, everything, just perfect.
#vienna #solotravel #solotrip #traveltheworldwithme
After visiting Monreale Cathedral and marveling at all the gold✨️ I enjoyed a serene walk around town. With most people still attending the service, I had the place almost to myself.
#monreale #monrealecathedral #solotravelinsicily #traveltheworldwithme #neverstopexploring
After visiting the Easter Markets at Schonbrunn Palace , I went for a walk up through the gardens, all the way up to the `Gloriette` at the top of the hill way off in the distance.
The Gloriette was built in 1775 for no other reason than the view - when the Habsburgs were sitting on the balcony of their summer Schloss, they wanted something nice to look at, so they had the Gloriette built along with a few ponds and fountains. The world became a better place!!
#schönbrunnpalace #schönbrunnschloss #solotravel #habsburgfamilyresidence #vienna
The largest synagogue in Europe, built in the 1850s, has been witness to unmentionable horrors during WWII including being bombed. It borders the ghetto where the Jews were left to die. In the garden cemetery there are tens of thousands of nameless bodies and a few that could be identified.
There us a very powerful museum housed here too.
#dohanystreetsynagogue #budapestarchitecture #budapest #soloadventure
Chilly morning in Vienna today, but apparently its going to warm up big time tomorrow! First stop Naschmarkt, then strolling past Karlskirche on my way to Schloss Belvedere.......
#naschmarkt #karlskirche #solotravel #traveltheworldwithme
Had a quick run around Prague after a 4 hour train trip from Vienna. I was last in Prague 9 years ago, all seems familiar except Wenceslas Square....apart from the statue of Good King Wenceslas on his horse, the rest of the square that used to be an elegant collection of historic buildings, hotels, cafes, etc......has now turned into Oxford Street, London...Primark, C&A, Half Price, the list goes on......who thought that was a good idea????
#prague #solotravel #traveltheworldwithme #charlesbridgeprague
Vienna`s Easter markets are in full swing now, with beautifully decorated eggs and plenty of food and drink. Great to amble around in the sun, even though it was a bit chilly!!
#solotravel #vienna #eastermarkets #traveltheworldwithme
On my solo adventure in Palermo, Quattro Canti became a familiar spot I visited almost daily ✨️ This iconic intersection of Via Maqueda and Corso Vittorio Emanuele is the center of the city`s historic quarters - Kalsa, Seralcadi, Albergaria, and Castellammare all meet here.
In the evenings, it`s the perfect spot to soak up the atmosphere and plan a night out at one of the many restaurants on Via Maqueda.
#solotravelinsicily #palermo #traveltheworldwithme #solotrip #quattrocantipalermo
At this time every year Sydney Harbour is filled with light for Vivid Sydney.
#vividsydney #sydneyoperahouse #sydneyharbour #seetheworldthroughmyeyes
In the London Bridge area on the south side of the Thames, after visiting the Versace exhibition at The Arches, I walked down past The Shipwrights Arms across to Hay`s Galleria....used to be Hay`s Wharf....now shops, restaurants, Christmas stalls, and a giant Christmas Tree.
Exploring Prague with lots of walking and lots of tram rides! Walking across Charles Bridge, up to the castle, through Lesser Town, into New Town, and historic Old Town.
#prague #praguelife #solotravel #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #seeeverythingdoeverything
Just blew the days food budget on Sacher Torte and Coffee at the Sacher Hotel because......why not??? Priorities, priorities!!
#sachertorte #sacherhotel #solotrip #traveltheworldwithme
The Hungarian Parliament Building from across the Danube at night ❄️ It was a freezing cold evening, but a quick trip under the Danube on the Metro to get a few photos is just what needs to he done!
#hungarianparliamentbuilding #budapest #soloteavel #traveltheworldwithme
The house where the Governor General lives in the Royal Botanic Gardens on the edge of Sydney Harbour. I`m thinking of applying for the job!!
You can wander around the gardens and go on free booked tours of inside parts of the house most weekends - I love the way we all look around as if its a property inspection and we`re looking to buy it😂
#governmenthousesydney #sydneyrbg #sydney #sydneyharbourwalks #seetheworldthroughmyeyes
Budapest was an amazing place to begin my solo adventure to Central Europe.
✨️ Hotel President was in a great location for exploring, walking distance to most places, or handy to the metro or buses.
✨️For more info on the hotels I stayed in click the link to my website in the bio.
#hotelpresidentbudapest #solotravel #solotrip #soloadventure #budapest
Another short bus trip from Palermo in Sicily, up the coast to Mondello Beach✨️ lovely to walk along the promenade, but I have never had so many Indian market stall holders trying to sell me a sarong, and this was a quiet day in early spring, peak summer must be horrendous!!! I was hoping to have lunch at Alle Terrazze, a beautiful castle like restaurant just off the beach, but sadly they were closed for a private event, but further along I found a lovely seafood restaurant🥂
#solotravelinsicily #journeywoman #traveltheworldwithme #mondellobeach #sicily
Arriving in Vienna, I found my hotel at set off exploring the neighbourhood, the architecture is all gobsmacking, but hard to get far enough away from to photograph!!
#vienna #traveltheworldwithme #neverstopexploring #solotravel
Caught the train from Vienna to Bratislava for a day trip. Walking up the hill to visit the castle is not for the faint hearted!! And the walk back down 🥴 brutal on the dodgy knee!!! But I made it 😃!!!
#bratislava #daytripfromvienna #daytripfromviennatobratislava #traveltheworldwithme #solotravel
On the south coast of Sicily, near Agrigento, lies Scala dei Turchi, a stunning limestone formation named after Turkish and Arab pirates who took shelter there in the 16th century. We stopped by after exploring the Valley of the Temples on our day trip from Palermo.
#scaladeiturchi #daytripfrompalermo #solotravelinsicily #sicilytravel
The beautiful streets of Valletta, some of the hills and steps are not for the faint hearted!! But it is such an interesting place you just press on regardless.
✨️To read more about my solo adventure to Malta, click the link to my website in the bio - happy travels!
#solotravelinmalta #valletta #malta #soloadventures #sreetsofvalletta
From its lofty position in the hills behind Palermo, Sicily, Monreale boasts stunning views of the Mediterranean. I loved having the town to myself as everyone was at the cathedral service ✨️💖
#monreale #viewfromthetop #blueskyandsunshine #solotravelinsicily #palermo
The crowds were out in force in London on a gloomy Boxing Day so just a quick visit to Trafalgar Square, then back to Piccadilly area, through Princes Arcade, which drew me in with the tailoring/sewing/fashion decorations and up past Fortnums.
#trafalgarsquare #princesarcadepiccadilly #fortnums #londonatchristmastime #londoncalling
Everywhere you look in Budapest the buildings are amazing ✨️ so ornate, full of character, luckily the city is very walkable!!
#budapestarchitecture #budapest #solotravel #walkingthestreets
As usual, when it cones to museums, I usually find the building more interesting than the exhibits!! Vienna Natural History Museum was no exception!!
#viennanaturalhistorymuseum #vienna #solotrip #seetheworldthroughmyeyes
It was a lovely sunny London day to walk through Kensington Gardens from South Kensington to Baystwater Rd. Kensington Palace was all locked up for the Christmas break.
#kensingtonpalace #kensingtongardenslondon #london #solotravelinlondon #traveltheworldwithme
London at Christmas time goes over the top with decorations ✨️ if it can be decorated it is ☃️
🎄 Leadenhall Market
🎄 Covent Garden
🎄 Liberty of London
🎄 Burlington Arcade
🎄 The Ritz
Discovering Segesta`s Doric Temple, built in 420BC ✨️, and the adjacent Greek Theatre on a hillside. On this Palermo daytrip, we covered Segesta, Trapani, and Erice (previous posts have more). Apparently, some believe the temple remained unfinished, evident from the unfluted columns and remaining construction blocks.
#segestatemple #daytripfrompalermo #sicily #solotravelinsicily #sicilianhistory
St Paul`s Cathedral dome as seen from the top of 1 New Change, the shopping centre across the road. I walked down Ludgate Hill, Fleet St and The Strand, coming across the Royal Exchange, Australia House, the dragon marking the boundary of London City. Every building along this street has incredible history.
#stpaulscathedral #royalexchange #australiahouse #londondragon #historiclondon
The fairytale world of Castle District, perched high above the Danube on the Buda side. Hours of leisurely strolling are a must!!
My solo adventures in Budapest continue...
#budapestcastledistrict #budapest #solotrip
A day trip from Palermo to Sicily`s south coast took me to Agrigento, to visit the Valley of the Temples, an ancient Greek archeological park ✨️The Temple of Concordia is the most complete of these ancient ruins, with it`s very own Fallen Angel!!
#agrigento #valleyofthetemples #templeofconcordia #solotravelinsicily #daytripfrompalermo
Strolling around Sydney`s Royal Botanic Gardens and Government House✨️ looking out across Sydney Harbour on a sunny mid winters day☀️
#rbg #sydneylocal #sydneyharbour #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #sydneyharbourwalks
Finally a sunny day in Budapest, strolling on Margrit Island, great weather, no complaints, perfect!
#margritisland #budapest #soloadventure #seetheworldthroughmyeyes
After visiting the Design Museum I strolled up Kensington High St doing a bit of window shopping, and came across St Mary Abbots Church and Kensington War Memorial on the corner of Kensington Church St. There has been a church on this site since 1262, but this one is quite modern - dating back to 1872.
#stmaryabbotschurch #kensingtonwarmemorial #kensingtonhighstreetlondon #london #solotravelinlondon
Dinner at the Parisi Passage, a historic gem from the 1800s inspired by Parisian arcades, it withstood bombing raids but faced neglect post-war, now revived as a stunning hotel with an incredible restaurant and bar.
#solotravel #parisipassage #parisipassagebudapest #párisipassagecaféandbrasserie
It`s a museum kind of day in Vienna, 2 to 5 degrees, we`ve had a bit of snow, a bit of sleet, a bit of rain and a lot of cold ❄️❄️❄️
The Furniture Museum is a collection of furnture and other items from the Imperial Palaces, including a display of the toilets from the day.
The museum holds huge stores of furniture that they lend out for movies, plays and other events needing furnishings from that era.
#viennafurnituremuseum #coldday❄️ #solotravel #traveltheworldwithme
Panoramic views from the medieval city of Erice, gazing out towards Palermo, far away and over the hills, across the north coast of Sicily. ✨️ My thoughts are with those in Sicily, Malta, and southern Italy who have lost so much due to Cyclone Harry.
#ericesicily #solotravelinsicily #viewfromthetop #medievalsicily
