Prague + what else?
 

I'm going on ~7 days of travel after a business trip. I really want to do Prague (about 3 days). But after that I'm not sure. I was thinking Vienna, but I just got back from Paris and the buildings/landscape in Vienna looks too similar compared to what else can be seen (I will hit Vienna on a other trip). I think I will also save Budapest for another trip.

The other problem I'm having is that I want to see too much of the alps to fit in the remaining 3-4 days. I was thinking Rothenburg and Neuschwanstein castle (separate day trips from Munich?), Munich, Halstatt, and Salzburg. I also can't fly to/from Salzburg due to the limited flight options.

I like history and architecture. Art is not too high on my list. Mostly I like wandering around. I am traveling solo.

Any suggestions?

You could go south to Ceske Krumlov (or base in Ceske Budejovice which has a lovely square and is on the train system). And then maybe Salzburg, or Hallstatt if you don't mind changing trains.

I don't think of Vienna as similar to Paris much at all, in terms of architectural style. But if you just don't want another big city, fine.

The OP notes they don't want to go to small towns in Austria like Salzburg as there is no easy way to get home, which I agree.

Munich isn't that easy to get to from Prague, actually--I think the bus is easiest, but it takes up a good chunk of time (quicker than train, though)--it's about a 5 hour trip, not too bad. And they are a major airport, so that's not a bad idea.

YOu could easily go by train to Dresden, if that's any interest to you. YOu can get there in only about 2:30 hrs direct by train. You can get all the way to Berlin from Prague in only 4:30 hrs by train, in fact. But neither of those two cities is really that quaint given much is modern. A lot of people like Dresden, I'm lukewarm about it, although it has a few good museums. But they are certainly different from Prague. You certainly have plenty of history in both those German cities, though.

pay no notice of Christina's recommendation, she has no idea

Christina is pretty knowledgeable, please don't discount her. I am in the same boat as you, can't decide where to go after Prague.

Look at Christina's 'pretty knowledge' about flooding in Prague...she has no idea, shame you take her recommendation at face value...

I loved Prague. Didn't care much for Vienna - not that it's a bad place at all. It's lovely and pleasant, just not the charming old town feel that is Prague. I would never have thought of Vienna and Paris in the same category of architecture; to me, all they really have in common is that they are both huge cities and major world capitals.

Munich is relatively close to Salzburg by train, if you can fly out of Munich, once you get over there.

You could also look east to Krakow, another lovely old city. But to get there from Prague takes about six hours by train + bus connection.

If you really don;t want to stay in Vienna then I would head to Salzburg and from there to Munich. There is a ton to ee between the two.

at the risk of infuriating wobbers [who s/he?] I too was thinking about Dresden. Loads of history, boat trips to many places of interest, cycling along the Elbe, and easy to get to from Prague.

Dresden from me too. Train is very pleasant and if you want you can take the slow train back and stop off at some hick town and enjoy cheap beer/food the odd castle and watch people

Dresden is my favourite city in former eastern Germany.
The historical center is very old, mind you, albeit it has been extensively rebuilt.
(But I've called a troll already...)