Vienna, Prague or Budapest?

[Becomingolder]

Which would you recommend?

I went to Copenhagen for my first silo trip a week before Christmas and it's made me want to travel more.

I'd be going at a similar time this year. I would have a wander round the Christmas markets but it wouldn't be the reason for the trip, I'd mostly be wanting to visit museums and castles. I would also want somewhere mostly walkable and safe for a solo female traveller.

Thanks in advance

I love Prague, its much quieter in the winter. DH and I were the only people on Charles Bridge at 1 am and it started snowing.

There's so much to see so you can mainly keep inside.

Also hotel prices drop considerably compared to the summer

I've been to all three - all are beautiful and well worth visiting. Doesn't help but I'm sure you'll enjoy any of them! I used the underground in all cases and that made travel easy but they were walkable too.

They're all lovely but seriously cold at this time of year. Saying that, I'm off to Budapest in February after an amazing holiday there in October. Solo travel rocks.

I love all three but would probably choose Vienna for markets and palaces, and pastries. Try to stay close to the centre so you can easily walk and access public transportation.

I have been to all 3 - we did Prague and Vienna then Vienna and Budapest in one trip, as they are only about 3 hours on the train. Vienna is also within spitting distance of Bratislava which is wonderful and very much overlooked. Some carriers will fly you to Bratislava rather than Vienna anyway.

From what you have said, Vienna would probably make the most sense but it is also likely to be the most costly. There are a lot of castles along the Danube, but that is more of a summer activity whereas I went to Vienna and Prague directly after Christmas one year. As long as you have the correct gear (warm layers!) then you will be fine. In all cases we used public transport (metro, trams, buses) exclusively and the cities are also very walkable.