Requesting help with my Austria/Czech Itinerary
 

Okay, here is the deal. My husband and I are flying into Vienna on April 26th and out of Prague just a very short week later. Right now we would like to spend 3 nights in Vienna and 3 nights in Prague, which leaves us with 2 nights. We are having trouble trying to do with those extra two nights. Here are the options that we are considering right now:

1. We are already planning on a (long) daytrip to Budapest from Vienna, (we had been to Vienna once before) but we could take a night off of Vienna and spend a few nights in Budapest and then take an overnight train to Prague. However, I think we would both prefer to have some countryside built into our trip.

2. Get up early and drive to the Salzkammergut for 2 nights (we had already been there and love it) before training to Prague.The trains from Salzburg to Prague are really long but we could take an overnight train from Munich.

3. Train to a border town in Czech (perhaps Brno) and then rent a car and spend a few days/nights in the Czech countryside. We have been to Czech before, but only Cezky Krumlov so we have never been to Prague or other parts of the countryside. Any recommendations for nice towns to base ourselves for a few nights that are within 2-3 hours of Prague?

Ideally I would take a night off of Vienna and spend 3 nights in Krakow, as its high on my list, but I don't want to spend two half days getting to/from Krakow. We also looked in Slovakia/the Tatras but I think they may be too far away.

I know this is very long. I'm just looking for a little advice because I'm a little overwhelmed on our options and the logistics of car rental (trying to avoid the ridiculous drop-off fees) and trains. If anyone has done a similar trip or has advice to share I would absolutely love to hear it.

Thanks much!
Tracy

Budapest is also a bit out of the way I think. Also, consider that end of April is too early/too late for mountains - this would be the reason to avoid the Tatras for me.

What about Wachau in Austria? Very beautiful in spring!

No rural region between Prague and Vienna really comes to mind that is a top place at this time of year. I only know of beautiful scenery north of Prague, sorry.

Ingo, thanks for your thoughts.

I agree that the timing isn't perfect. We were trying to make the most use of the last of our FF miles, and by flying home before May 15th we saved 40,000 miles between us.

We have been to the Wachau, although only as a daytrip, but loved it. We could consider spending more time there.

Rick Steves' metnions Trebic in the Czech Republic. Is anyone familiar with this town?

Thanks!
Tracy

Ingo, can you tell me more about northern Czech Republic? I would love to visit Dresden and could perhaps look more into this region, as I never really gave it much thought. You've definitely given me something to consider!

Maybe it would be better to do a Vienna - Prague - northern Czech Republic/Dresden trip, returning to Prague to catch our flight home?

Thanks!
Tracy

Hi,

If your visiting Vienna make sure you visit Bratislava too.
It's just a short boattrip away and totally different from Vienna.

Bert

Tracy,

I understand saving by using FF miles. Seems you have no other option for timing.

Ok, the region north of Prague and south of Dresden, right to both sides of the border is very scenic. It's a National Park. End of April/early May spring is in full swing - if the weather co-operates it would be gorgeous.

Towns worth to look into are Litomerice, the old spa town Teplice and Decin on the Czech side. Especially north of Decin you have options for fantastic hiking - the Pravcicka brana is the largest sandstone arch to find in Central Europe, easily accessible by bus and a short hike. I am not sure if the gorges above Hrensko are already open that early in the year - but they are really beautiful, accessible by small boat (guide) and hiking.

It would definitely make sense to pay a short visit to the German side of the border. The National Park there is IMO even more scenic than on the Czech side and the towns/villages are more beautiful (I am biased :) ).

If you're looking for accommodation on the German side - a new five star hotel opened last month in Bad Schandau that has a fantastic spa and still really inexpensive 'special opening rates'.
www.elbresidenz-bad-schandau.de

Dresden is only an hour from Bad Schandau, the train runs every 30 minutes. I don't need to tell you more on that city, eh?

More later if you're interested.

Ingo

Ingo, you are wonderful! Thank you so much. I am starting to get excited because that region sounds beautiful and would fit nicely with our current itinerary. I forwarded the info to my husband and we will research the towns and regions together. If we did this we would probably just rent a car after we spend some time in Prague, spend maybe 2-3 nights and then head back to Prague for our flight home.

Dresden looks wonderful, but if you have some more info to part with I wouldn't complain! ;) We have been to Germany but only the Alps region in southern Germany, but we love the country and are interested in this region. And I was unaware of the national park so I will definitely look into that.

Thanks!!
Tracy

Tracy,

I am glad you like the idea. I'd say 3 days are perfect.

Here are some pages that I have on Virtualtourist.com which might be interesting for you:

Teplice:
http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/4166c/61097/

For the German side of the National Park:
Bad Schandau:
http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/4166c/12ca7/
Kurort Rathen:
http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/4166c/ab24/
Königstein:
http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/4166c/b0ff/
Pirna:
http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/4166c/6ed7/

A beautiful castle south of Dresden:
http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/4166c/2457/

And finally Dresden:
http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/4166c/1091e/
(not updated for a long time, sorry)
plus the highly recommended Palace Pillnitz in the southeast corner of Dresden:
http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/4166c/6f2e/

I think staying in Bad Schandau would be perfect since your original plan is to explore some countryside as well. The train connections to Dresden are excellent and Bad Schandau is also a stop for international trains between Dresden and Prague.

Renting a car is not really necessary - trains and buses go everywhere. Or relax on a scenic steamboat ride on the river ;-)

One or two hints for Dresden: If you're visiting, plan to see the Historic Green Vault - unparalleled collection of jewelleries, especially in combination with the New Green Vault. Tickets for the Historic Green Vault must be booked NOW, it might even be too late. You can book them on www.dresden.de

Also, if you like classical music try to get tickets for the opera house. Gorgeous architecture and (mostly) world class performances (though modern staging mostly). I highly recommend DORNRÖSCHEN (ballet, music by Tchaikovsky) on 4 May and the concert-like performance of LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR with Edita Gruberova, Franco Vasallo, Giuseppe Sabbatini, Wokyung Kim on 5 May (too late for you?).

More later!

Ingo

Ingo, thank you so much! We've spent the weekend researching the information you gave me, both online and at the bookstore, and I think that this area is where we are going to base ourselves for 3 nights in between Vienna and Prague. The towns look lovely and charming and it looks like there is a lot to do in the area. I'm assuming that any of these towns would make a good base?

Thank you!
Tracy

Yes, Tracy, any of these towns would make a good base - but as I said before I think that Bad Schandau would probably be your best choice. Litomerice is maybe a little too far south, Teplice is a great spa town but not right on the railway route Prague - Dresden and thus a little inconvenient.

Let me know if you have more questions.

Ingo