memejs

I've been reading through various threads and websites to try and figure out how to arrange transportation from Vienna to Prague to Salzburg as cheaply and efficiently as possible. After my time researching I'm still left with a couple of questions:

From what I've read, I can save money if I wait to buy train tickets until I am in-country. I plan on doing this; however, I want to look at the train schedules on the websites now so that I can plan out my itineraries and estimate costs.

1. Are there night trains with couchettes from Vienna to Prague? I've used the City Night Train page on Bahn, but from what I can tell, it doesn't look like there are overnight trains to Prague.

2. To Cesky Krumlov or not? I'd like to spend a day or so in Cesky Krumlov on the way from Prague to Salzburg. What is the best (best = most cost effective + time efficient) way to get from Prague to Cesky Krumlov and from there to Salzburg? I don't want to rent a car, as one way rentals are quite expensive. I've seen mention on these forums of private transports (too expensive, I imagine) and Shuttle Lobo (seems unreliable). Is there a way to use public transport that wouldn't be too inefficient or are there other shuttle companies that are budget friendly and reliable?

That's all for now!

Palenque

Are there night trains with couchettes from Vienna to Prague? I've used the City Night Train page on Bahn, but from what I can tell, it doesn't look like there are overnight trains to Prague.

EuroNight (EN) trains leave Vienna nightly at 10pm - arrive in Prague 6:15am but only, according to my info, have sleeper cars - singles, doubles and triples but no couchettes nor regular seats

molker

The journey Vienna - Prague can take less than 5 hours -
Buying in advance - a sparschiene ticket is 29 euro these tickets are limited and are fixed to a certsain train.
You can buy a ticket in Vienna - more costly but any train.

Night train- some exist but not really convenient especially as a regular journey is the 5 hour time. - check the oebb website -

for schedules info

www.oebb.at

You also have a good bus connection- 16 euro

Student Ageny Bus - do not let the name confuse you - anyone can use this bus - various pick up pointsd in Vienna

www.studentagencybus.com

Nothing wrong with Lobos to my knowledge - they go Vieena Prague and offer service
Prague C K and to Salzburg

their service on this route more convenient than the train / bus combination

Palenque

Buses are quickest Praha to Cesky Krumlov and probably cheapest thought the Czech Railways offers an incredibly cheap day pass (or did as of last year - about $15 or so!

From C Krumlov to Salzburg is pretty straight forward by train - take shuttle train to Ceske Budejovice, on the mainline to Linz, Austria and Linz is on a mainline to Salzburg. Some direct trains C Bude to Linz but often have to change at border - have a Budweiser beer at the station in C Budejovice - home to the original Budweiser beer.

blh

I am also trying to arrange transportation between Prague and Salzburg with a stopover in Cesky Krumlov. I have researched it to death, and you seem to have come up with the same information that I have found. The shuttle companies that I have found are:

http://www.shuttlelobo.cz/shuttle/in...tid=10&lang=en
http://www.mike-chauffeur.cz/bohemian-countryside-trips
http://www.expedicion.cz/en/shuttle.html
http://www.discoverczech.com/prague/...y-krumlov.php4
http://www.ckrumlov.info/docs/en/kpr859.xml

Mike's Chauffeur service gets good reviews. I agree that Shuttle Lobo seems unreliable.

One other option from Cesky Krumlov to Salzburg is the daily shuttle to Linz and then the train to Salzburg. This looks to be cheaper than getting a driver all the way from CK to Salzburg.

The train and bus website is
http://jizdnirady.idnes.cz/vlakyautobusy/spojeni/

The problem is there is no direct train. You must change trains in České Budějovice. There is a direct bus - the Student Agency Bus is the best one. You need reservations.
These options are certainly cheaper, but have problems as well.

If anyone can recommend a better way - or one of these shuttle companies, I would appreciate it too.

joannyc

C. Krumlov is a must see in my opinion!

I didn't have any issues with Lobo Shuttle from C. Krumlov to Linz.

I took the bus from Prague to C. Krumlov. There is a train but you must transfer at C. Budejovice.

memejs

Thanks for the help everyone. I think I've figured out HOW to get from place to place, now I need to decide if we SHOULD go to Cesky Krumlov.

Here are two itinerary options. Tell me what you think:

Option 1
Day 1: Arrive in Vienna
Day 2: Vienna
Day 3: Vienna
Day 4: Vienna, evening train to Prague
Day 5: Prague
Day 6: Prague
Day 7: Bus to Cesky Krumlov (13:00-15:55 or 15:00 to 17:55)
Day 8: Cesky Krumlov; train to Salzburg (14:17-17:59)
Day 9: Salzburg
Day 10: Salzburg/Hallstatt
Day 11: Fly home

Option 2
Day 1: Arrive in Vienna
Day 2: Vienna
Day 3: Vienna
Day 4: Vienna, evening train to Prague
Day 5: Prague
Day 6: Prague
Day 7: Prague
Day 8: Morning train to Salzburg (7:00-14:00)
Day 9: Salzburg
Day 10: Salzburg/Hallstatt
Day 11: Fly home

Option 1 seems like a lot, but then again, it breaks up the long trip between Prague and Salzburg and we'd get to see C. Krumlov in the process.

Also, why is it that a train between Salzburg and Vienna is so much more expensive than Vienna/Prague? The only fare I can find for Salzburg/Vienna is 47,5 euro. (This may be a moot point since I'm considering an open jaw ticket to fly into Vienna and out of Salzburg.)

altamiro

>Also, why is it that a train between Salzburg and Vienna is so much more expensive than Vienna/Prague? The only fare I can find for Salzburg/Vienna is 47,5 euro.

Because the other prices you can see are advance discoutn fares that you can only get for cross-border routes, and Salzburg-Vienna price is full price (full flexibility etc.) Also, full price tickets in the Czech Republic are much less expensive for the same distance than in Austria.
If you buy your tickets when you arrive, yu will pay the full price for the other conenctions as well.
If you buy a

jgg

We did a similar trip in June of 2008 only we did Munich instead of Vienna and we did rent a car once we left Munich. But to answer your question I would definitely go to Cesky Krumlov. We drove from Prague and arrived early afternoon had a nice lunch, walked around the town had an excellent dinner and then went on a night tour - which was fabulous. Leisurely got up the next morning and drove to Salzburg. Even more time in CK would have been nice and relaxing, but we were all glad we made the stop.

eluckhardt

I enjoyed my very brief time in Cesky Krumlov as well. Essentially it was on overnighter...we drove from Vienna, stopped in Cesky Krumlov for dinner and stayed the night. The next morning we walked around the town and left after lunch or so for Prague. I know we didn't get to see all we could have, but it was worth it to us, as we don't know when/if we will ever get back to the area again.