Please sign in to post.

Advice about driving to Prague from Germany and secure multiday parking in Prague near Old Town

Hello,
My family (me, my husband, and our young adult kids aged 19, 21, and 23) will be traveling in Germany and Prague in mid-December. We're going over to meet our daughter as she finishes her study-abroad semester in Marburg, Germany. We're flying into Frankfurt, renting a car, then driving to Marburg for a night, then to Cologne for two nights, Rothenburg for 2 nights, and then to Prague for 2 nights before returning to Germany for our final night before heading back to Frankfurt to fly home (probably going to stay in Wurzburg but haven't made the final reservation yet). We are a little hesitant about driving to Prague as we have learned German-made vehicles won't be rental options (due to car theft concerns) and the extra fees, etc for crossing the border into Eastern Europe. We are exploring possibly parking the car in long-term parking in either Regensburg or Nuremburg and then taking a train or the Flixbus to Prague and back to get the car, but the additional expense to do that is significant on top of the car rental (the car rental agencies we've looked at aren't open on Sundays, so returning the car and then renting another for the final leg doesn't look feasible, and might not even save that much when a weekly vs daily rental is taken into consideration). Any advice or insight on our travel from Germany to Prague would be welcome.

Our apartment in Prague (5 minute walk from the Astronomical Clock) does not have onsite parking. They do recommend a lot about a 15 minute walk away, but according to that website parking reservations aren't accepted and we are worried that with it being Christmas market season we may get there and not find a spot. Any recommendations on secure, multi day parking options in Prague walking distance from the Old Town?

Posted by
100 posts

I suggest not getting a car--just too much cost and hassle. Take a train to Prague, and while there utilize their tram and subway system to get around if needed.

Also, from our experience, citizens of the Czech Republic like to be referred to as belonging to Central Europe, not Eastern Europe......

Posted by
2 posts

We realize we are doing a lot but that is our itinerary and we already have our airfare. For five renting a car is much more affordable than train passes (trust me, we've done the math). I should clarify that once we get to Prague (and all our other destinations) we will park the car and leave it until we move on to the next destination. We will make use of public transportation and/or walk in each city. We will be cognizant that citizens of the Czech Republic identify as residents of Central Europe, The car rental agencies, however, designate that nation as being part of Eastern Europe, and therefore the additional costs and considerations to take a rental car there.

Posted by
8539 posts

For next time, we got a second-segment LH flight to start our vacation in Cologne for no extra fare. DB has a bunch of family tickets that are incredibly cheap, even less than advance purchase discounts. Railpasses are seldom the cheapest for anyone except maybe some backpackers.

Check your car contract at pickup to be certain that it does not prohibit going to Czech Republic, mine did exactly that.

I love Cologne, but you should check the long driving distance. Parking garages have tight spaces and narrow ramps. They’re not cheap, either. I hear you saying you have five travelers, but you may regret the car. Especially a big one and with no place to hide the luggage.

Posted by
1765 posts

You stated that you beieve it's too expensive for the five of you to travel by train - by "passes" do you mean individual tickets? My experience was that train tix from Berlin to Prague weren't that expensive. How much is the surcharge for taking the car across the border to Prague? The cost may be the cost, whether by rail or car. For long-term parking, there is always the Prague airport.