thereyet

Does this make sense? Never been to either place, but am intrigued by both. Would you go to Prague first or the other way around, if it was your trip?

For some reason it seems to me best to fly into Prague, then train to Vienna, then train to say Munich to fly home. Does that make sense or would it be better in the reverse?

Am I incorrect thinking that Prague is less expensive then Vienna? If so, maybe Prague last would be best as the money would go farther there.and could end on a high note.

Any thoughts?

Thank you in advance for your very valued input.

thereyet

iris1745

What are you flight arrangements?? Vienna to Munich by train is probably four + hours. If possible, just fly into one city and out of the other. Or are you also staying in Munich? What is your budget? For Vienna, this is a good hotel with a great location. www.kvu.at For Prague, www.hotel-pariz.cz So, to start here is a little information on Prague for download. Richard www.inyourpocket.com [click on the city and then instant for a download]

bobthenavigator

Let the flight logistics dictate.

thereyet

Hi Richard,

Flying in one and out the other would be fine too. Roughly five nights in each, $1,000-2,000 for five nights in each destination. Like Boutique small hotels.

Was looking at The Golden Well Hotel in Prague.

http://www.goldenwell.cz/

Would you go from Vienna to Prague? How long is the train trip between the two cities?

Thanks,

thereyet

iris1745

The train ride will probably take you 5 to 6 hours. Both great cities, but both very different. Vienna had much of the old city bombed in WW2, while Prague had practially no damage. So you will be seeing a very old city in Prague as it was hundreds of years ago. A little more general information on both cities. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/prague http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vienna

fritzrl

The train ride from Prague to Vienna, if a bit long, is pleasant -- goes through rolling hills, small vilages. It's a long enough journey to enjoy a little lunch enroute.

Even if it were longer, it'd likely still take less time than going by plane, if one includes transit time to and from airports, waiting for security checks, etc.

Do get seat reservations, though -- it's typically a crowded train, and you wouldn't want to stand for the entire trip.

thereyet

Are there different types of trains on this route? Or a standard train with various types of reservations.

nytraveler

There is no reason to go to one or the other first - except the logistics of flights. Not sure why you're trekking to Munich to fly out - or are you visiting their too. If visiting just Prague and Vienna then just fly into one amount of the other - based on convenience of flights.

Prague is somewhat cheaper than Vienna - but not a whole lot. We found dining to be the major difference - really upscale places in prague are less than those in Vienna.

thereyet

Yeah, I got that. Munich is out.

basingstoke2

We did just that. We started in Prague for 4 nights, took a bus to Vienna for another 4 and then returned by train for 3 more nights in Prague. The bus and the train were both around 3 1/2 hours. The bus a little longer, but made up for in that the stop in Vienna is near the city hall - it is also CHEAP and ours was quite comfortable, better than a Greyhound. In Prague we stayed at the Kampa Garden hotel that can best be describe as upscale budget. We loved it our first stay and returned there. IMO, Kampa Island is a perfect location in Prague - it is close enough to easily walk to most things (the Charles Bridge goes over Kampa Island) yet it is peaceful with fine views of old town Prague. In Vienna, we stayed out first night at a B&B that was memorable for all of the wrong reasons and then moved to the Best Western Tigra that was memorable for all of the right reasons. It occupies the building where young Mozart and his dad Leopold lived when he made his Vienna debut and to where he later returned to live for awhile. I very much recommend the hotel (but not its annex). If you click my name, you will find a more detailed trip report that includes restaurants and such. Have a wonderful time.

thereyet

As I am the travel planner in this house, I am already getting excited about the trip at the end of July/beginning of August. My wife, for some odd reason, hates to talk about trips in the planning stages. And I am always tip toeing around the subject, as I feel a need to include her in some of the decisions. Today I asked her point blank....Prague/Vienna or Tahiti? Again, she didn't want to talk about it, so I just said "so you will be fine with my decision?" She said yes.

So its Prague/Vienna. This is done.

Dukey1

You'll get perhaps 18-19 Czech Crowns per Dollar and the Euro costs about $1.30 these days. We found prices in Vienna to be a bit higher than Prague but a lot may depend on where you stay.

The old part of Prague looks positively medieval once you remove cars/trams and trams/Metro are an easy way to get around in that city, too.

Itasoftware.com is a great aggregator site for checking airfares including mulicity itineraries.
Both cities wonderful with totally different looks and sounds like a great trip.

iris1745

Our last time to Prague, we stayed at this hotel that has a few mixed reviews on tripadvisor, but we enjoyed very much. We had an upper cornor room, so that we could see the 14 century bridge. Richard www.utripstrosu.cz [The Three Ostriches]

thereyet

I think I am pretty much sold on The Golden Well Hotel in Prague from the reviews on TA. I am only unsure of the location...which is near the Government sector and below the castle? It appears to at least be safe, but unsure of the proximity to areas of interest.

iris1745

Hi; You are on the outter edge of old Prague. But that's OK. If you are below the castle, you will be most likely be walking downhill to the Charles bridge and not far to the bridge. Then perhaps it's another five or ten minutes to Old Town Square on flat ground. So, you are OK. You are in a very nice, old area. The hotel you selected looks lovely. This a a beautiful city. One important visit is the Jewish Synagogue. Eighty thousand names and dates inscribed on the walls, of Jews sent to the death camps.

thereyet

http://www.goldenwell.cz/default-en.html

http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en...wloc=addr&om=0

thereyet

Eighty Thousand....how sad. Will definitely visit that memorial.

DAX

I have done your planned trip twice ending up in Munich both times. The cheapest deal is to take the EC train from Prague to Vienna, it's nothing exciting and a bit boring but getting to Vienna is the reward. Prague is a beautiful medieval city however I didn't enjoy it as much because of the mediocrity of the restaurant food and the wall to wall tourists invasion especially in the summer season. It's hard to enjoy the architecture and atmosphere when you're walking among thousands of tourists through the narrow alleys, all you see is a sea of heads and way too many tacky tourist trap stores everywhere. However you can walk in the off/late hours or escape the tourist routes to appreciate the architecture without the crowd. We even enjoy strolling the Charles bridge around midnite. I think staying in Mala Strana (the Golden Well ) is better than in the old town plus you are off the main tourist route where throngs of tourists are marching to the castle complex.

Just a thought, 5 days in each city is a lot of days which I often do when I truly enjoy the culture and speak the local language. However if I am just visiting as a curious tourist, 4 day stay is plenty. Since you are taking the train to Munich, you may want to consider adding 2-3 days in Salzburg which is enroute. There area lot to see in Salzburg plus you can enjoy the beautiful Salzkammergut lake region by local train from Salzburg.

thereyet

Salzberg is an idea...I love beautiful scenery. Besides the usual tourist sightseeing, I am just looking forward to relaxation, hence the longer stay. I am hoping the Golden Well will be that sort of place. Being slightly off the beaten path will help with that, yet still have a city to enjoy.

I am also hoping to catch a professional soccer match, and Prague offers that as well, if the timing is right.

LoveItaly

Merry Christmas, thereyet! I am so happy to read that your trip will be to Europe as I know of course that was your first wish. You two will have a beautiful trip I am sure! Having a trip planned is certainly a lovely way to start the new year.