Germany/Czech Republic Questions
 

Hello,
I'm leaving in less than 3 weeks and am having second thoughts about my 2 week itinerary - help! I was planning to visit(with at least one daytrip from each city):
Berlin: Wed.- Sun.
Dresden: Sun. to Tues.
Munich: Tues. to Fri.
Prague: Fri. to Wed. (then home)

I'm considering passing up Dresden in favor of adding time to Munich/Bavaria and to Czech Republic, so it would be something like this:
Berlin: Wed. - Sun.
Munich: Sun. - Thurs. (leaving just before Oktoberfest)
Cezky Krumlov: Thurs. - Fri.
Prague: Fri. to Wed. (then home)

Is this even feasible? Is it advisable (timing and availability-wise) to take a train from Munich directly to Cezky Krumlov? I'm travelling solo and do not plan to rent a car. Thanks for any advice you may be able to provide!

Somebody probably has better up to date train info, but here is my thought.

Although I ended up doing something quite different, I did look at this possibility last year. I believe it is difficult (lots of train changing) for a Munich to CK train trip. There was about a 6 hour direct (no changes) for Munich to Prague.

If that is still true, I would do that, and then take a bus from Prague to CK for a couple of days during your Czech Republic stay.

We loved both Prague and CK. I have a trip report going right now (Maitai's Central European...), and the first seven days are devoted to Prague, CK and Olomouc.

Have a great time.

((H))

Skipping Dresden is nothing you'll ever hear that I suggest. :-)

Taking a train from Munich to Cesky Krumlov is extremely inconvenient and long.

I would leave Dresden in your itinerary. It's like the Phoenix rising from the ashes. Great artwork, music, architecture, and culture.

(I should disclose that I haven't been to CK yet. But I loved my time in Saxony.)

Hmmm...lots to think about. I'm considering, then to cut Dresden to a one night stay, and then one night in CK. Does anyone know if CK is a doable daytrip from Prague, or if it should be a full overnight?

I think CK really only needs one night. We stopped there in between visiting Bavaria and Prague to break up the drive. It is a neat town and worth an overnight but anything more than that may be too much IMO.

I'm sure you could do it as a day trip, but you would miss out on seeing the town in the evening when the castle is all lit up and the town is much quieter.

Would you consider renting a car? As another poster mentioned, the train ride from Munich would be quite long.

Another consideration (to further muddy your waters) would be to go to Vienna in lieu of Munich from which you can also visit Bratislava. CK is a short train ride from Prague but a commuter line from Ceske Budovice. From Ceske Budovice, take a taxi the rest of the way & have them drop you in the main square. The tourist office is right there. I would also allow a couple of days there as well.

I love all the ideas! I'm renting a small apartment in Prague, and need to figure out whether I would be able to leave and come back without paying for rooms in both Prague and CK if I do an overnight in CK...I guess I should find out the earliest train to CK and the latest train back to Prague to see if I would be able to get a really full day in and see the evening lights.

As for Vienna, I was looking to avoid Austria at this time for reasons I won't go into right now (though I do hear it's beautiful!)

I wasn't planning to rent a car as I'm travelling solo and feel hesitant to do so - solo and in another country - for some reason I don't feel safe about it...

I've done a day trip to and from CK from Prague, it's not difficult, and I did not regret it. People who say you can't do it really mean they like to stay overnight there, not that you can't do a day trip. It's only about a 3 hour drive each way, as I recall, so you easily can have about 6 hours there (which was enough for me). Most of the bus day tour companies in PRague do that trip, and do a good job at a reasonable rate. Becuase of the drive to/from, you have a chance to relax and see the countryside. I think on the one I took, we left Prague at 9, got there around 11:30, and then left to go back to Prague in very late afternoon. There was plenty of time to see the castle and some other things with the guide, and then we were given several hours on our own. There's not much to do there, so that was enough.

Robin - I don't think I could ever recommend anyone taking Dresden or CK off an itinerary. We visited both 2 years ago and think they're both amazing and worthwhile places to visit. Both unique IMO. We also visited Prague (really enjoyable) and went back to Munich - one of our favorite cities.

I'd also do the day trip to CK from Prague. Very doable as suggested in above post. We did that and it worked fine. Having said that, a 1 night stay would certainly be preferable - and I wished we had planned to do that. Could really enjoy the town after the crowds leave.

I think your first itinerary works fine with a little tweaking.

I really enjoyed staying overnight in CK, but I agree with Christina that it can easily be done as a day trip. It took us less than 2 1/2 hours to drive, but I'm sure the bus drivers are more cautious than I was.

If you get a chance, have lunch at a picnic table down by the river at U Dwau Marii. Interesting, unique, affordable and good Bohemian food.


Tom

Thank you! I hadn't thought about a guided day tour but that sounds like a great option that I think I'll take. I've done that in in the past elsewhere and that sounds like something that fits here as well. So, for those who are at all interested, I think I've settled on:
Berlin: Wed. - Sun.
Dresden: Sun. - Mon.
Munich: Mon. - Thurs.
Prague: Thurs. to Wed. (then home)
Now all I have to do is get moving on fixing all of my accommodation plans!!! Thanks to all; as usual this board has been of priceless help!

I really like your final itinerary! I did a similar trip earlier this summer (Berlin- Dresden-Prague), and know you will enjoy your trip. It sounds like oyu have planned for just he right amount of time in each location. Enjoy!

Thanks! If in my back to work madness I have time to put in a trip report, I will. :)