susanlyteking

My husband and I are visiting Prague and Budapest for two weeks in May, starting in Prague and ending in Budapest. Any ideas for how to get from A to B, and places to visit along the way? Should we rent a car and drive or get a driver, or perhaps take the train and stay overnight at several towns along the way? Please share your ideas. Thanks!

kja

A good guide book or two should prove invaluable to you.

You've begun with 2 fascinating cities - enjoy!

adrienne

In the Czech Republic I can recommend Cesky Krumlov and Telc plus several other towns along the way. You would need to rent a car for Telc but Cesky Krumlov is on the train line.

Click on my name to see my trip report on the southern Czech Republic.

fourfortravel

We currently live in Vienna, and last summer DH and I drove a "Czech Beer Trail" long weekend through Ceske Budjovice, Cesky Krumlov, Telc and points in between. We also spent a "Three Meals, Three Countries, One Day" drive from Vienna to Sopron to Bratislava that may give you some ideas, as well. Click on my name to see the trip reports.

I would suggest renting a car, because the route can also take you through Brno, Mikulov, and Lednice in the Czech Republic en route to Budapest. Each of those cities can be easily enjoyed in a short amount of time. We've not spent too much time in Slovakia (yet), just in the Bratislava surrounds, so I can not comment on what that country offers, but in general, whatever route you choose will be enjoyable.

Of course, Vienna would also make for a worthwhile stopover.

Happy Planning!

cd

For the OP and for me. Can you drive between the two with no problems if you only know English?

adrienne

<< Can you drive between the two with no problems if you only know English? >>

Yes you can if you have a good map. I've driven in many countries where I did not speak the language. You need to know the international symbols for speed limits, etc. but you should know those if you do any driving in Europe.

thursdaysd

You can also take the train. See bahn.de for schedules.

The obvious city between the two is Vienna, but for smaller places I would go Prague - Ceske Budejovice (two and a half hours) - Brno (four and a half hours) - Budapest (four and a quarter hours).

cd

Thank you adrienne and thursdaysd

fourfortravel

Yes, you can drive between the Czech and Slovak Republics, Hungary and Austria if English is your only language. As Adrienne writes, it is worthwhile to familiarize yourself with road signs, and whether you will need a vignette for highway driving in your countries of interest (these can be purchased at the various borders). You may also need an IDP (International Driving Permit), depending on where you are coming from.

Many drivers love the Michelin maps. We prefer those from Freytag and Berndt, as they offer good detail, seem to fold more easily, and are more colorful to look at.

cd

Thanks fourfortravel.

Bamaman

Most people going from Prague to Budapest would be taking a train. And they'd also be visiting the great city of Vienna in between.

We're going 3/24, visiting Budapest, Bratislava, Vienna and Prague--all great European cities relatively close together. We are going by hydrofoil from Bratislava to Vienna, however.

adrienne

The OP mentioned driving and staying at several towns thus I was not thinking of cities but towns. It all depends on whether you want a mix of cities and smaller destinations and how much time you have to devote to getting between Prague and Budapest.

BigRuss

<Should we rent a car and drive>

Good gosh, no. If you rent in A and drive to B and return the car in B, you will pay a high sum of money ($300-500) to drop outside the country from which you rented. Bad idea.

And most of those countries charge for a vignette, which is not inexpensive but will be a pimple on an elephant's trunk compared to the drop charge.

Look: it's a 7-hour train ride from Prague to Budapest. You can do that in a day, or you can break it up with a stop in Vienna or Bratislava or other town along the route.

adrienne

I picked up a car in Prague and dropped it in Brno and continued on to Krakow by train. There are other options than taking a car across borders.

Monique5

You should think about "Best things to do..." better than best places, because it depends on how much you want to enjoy your stay, also which type of fun interest you the most.

pempem

Absolutely VIENNA. One of my favorite cities. But it does depend on your tastes. It has wonderful cafes, food, history, art, and of course, music!

Very easy train nonstop connections between the 3 cities.