We have 10 nights and would like to see Dresden, Prague, Vienna and Salzburg in mid-late May '05. We decided not to rent a car and attempt to do the trip by trains alone. I would love any feedback on the following schedule:

Fly into Frankfurt, train to Dresden
Dresden, 1 night, train to Prague
Prague 3 nights, train to Vienna
Vienna 3 nights, train to Salzburg
Salzburg 2 nights, train to Frankfurt
Overnight stay in Frankfurt, fly home

Should I add another night to Prague and one less night in Vienna or Salzburg? We would love to take it easy in Salzburg at the end of our trip and enjoy the pictueresque scenery, but is it worth giving up a night in the other two cities or missing Cesky Krumlov?

Is it possible to take short excursions to see the beautiful Alps and scenery in Salzburg (e.g. picnic spots) or is that difficult w/o a car?

Can we catch a train from Cesky Krumlov to Vienna or is the best way to get to CK a round-trip bus from/to Prague?

You certaintly don't need another nite in Prague. I would even consider cutting 1 and adding to Salburg. I haven't been to Salzburg, but have heard it's wonderful. Have fun.

I think your itinerary is fine as it is. I wouldn't cut from Prague to add to Salzburg. If the pace is wearing you down, and you simply want some extra down time in Salzburg, you could perhaps make that decision as late as the morning after the 2nd night in Vienna.

If anything, I wonder about adding a night to Dresden (I have never been there). Your first (overnight) destination after a trans-atlantic flight (especially with train trip after the flight) is the one you will hardly be able to remember "did we see ANYthing there?"

Best wishes

Rex

Overall, I think your plan is great. I wouldn't make any of the changes you are contemplating. 3 nights in Prague and Vienna are totally appropriate.

The only thing I find regrettable (and here I agree with Rex) is your 1 night in Dresden at the beginning of the trip. Picture it:

You will have taken a long, tiring transatlantic flight. Then, you hop in a train first thing in the morning for Dresden. Presumably, you will sleep a lot, but it will be uncomfortable for you - especially since the train ride will be almost 5 hours.

You arrive in Dresden at mid day at best, tired after many hours of non stop travel. You have to get to your hotel and drop the bags off, freshen up. At this point, you may have some jet lag kicking in. If you go to bed early, you get up the next day and only reasonable have a half a day to see anything in Dresden.

In this case, I am not sure it is worth the extra excursion. Adding another day would do it justice, but probably mess the rest of the schedule.

Perhaps you ought to simply head straight to Prague and enjoy the extra day to take in more sights whereever you are down the road (Vienna, Salzburg, or even 4 nights in Prag).

Just a thought for you to keep in mind. The schedule is otherwise flawless. Enjoy the trip!

Hi nov,

Good plan.

I think that I would take a night from Salzburg and add it to Dresden.

We recently spent 4 days in Dresden and have been to Vienna and Salzburg also. Four cities, 3 which are large, are too much unless you simply want to say you passed through. Drop Dresden and concentrate on the 3 left. It cannot be visited in 1 night because Dresden is not to be missed. Actually the whole of Saxony is a facinating place to visit.

Thanks to all. Everyone's advice is so helpful (true to Fodorite form!). We decided to fly to Dresden instead of Frankfurt and added another night. So we'll be spending 2 nights in Dresden, four nights in Prague, two in Vienna, and two in Salzburg, and then will fly out of Salzburg to return home. This will cut out much unnecessary train time to/from Frankfurt and give us more nights in some beautiful cities. Now on to hotel and restaurants. . .you'll see a new post soon! -n.