If you haven’t been to Vienna, I would go there. It is very easy train ride and easy to cover in a few days.

If Prague isn’t on your trip already I’d probably do that. It’s a long train ride but so is Zagreb, and Prague is much prettier (Sarajevo is so far out of the way as to be impractical).

If you wanted to drive you could do Slovenia— Ljubljana maybe with Lake Bled or Piran or something.

OP here. Doesn’t need to be a hidden gem! Haven’t booked flights yet - will be either Munich or Frankfurt just because we typically fly Star Alliance. Lufthansa connects pretty much everywhere in region. The cruise does go to Vienna.

Is a few days enough for Croatia?

Thanks!

Anonymous wrote:Sarajevo then croatia, esp some of the islands

This.

Sarajevo then croatia, esp some of the islands

Budapest to Vienna is so easy by train

Assuming you're spending some time in Budapest, just outside the city there is Memento Park, where they collected a bunch of old communist statues/public art. It was fascinating.

Prague

PP. I would pick something directionally between your Budapest location and exit airport.

Maybe Salzburg for Alps hiking?

Why do you want hidden gems/off the beaten path?

I would go to Vienna if they haven't been.

Are you visiting Vienna on the cruise?

Is your return flight leaving from Munich or Frankfurt?

maybe a spin-off of hidden gems in Eastern Europe… we’re ending a Danube cruise in Budapest and have 4 days before we have to fly home. Where would you go? I’d prefer to go by train and wherever we end up needs an airport where we can get to Munich or Frankfurt (to get home) but that doesn’t limit it much!