going to stay in dresden from July 4-6 we were planning to take a day trip to prague on the 5th. should we use the public transport or rent a car. Also we will be heading to strazburg austria to stay there from the 6th to either the 10th or 11th. any thoughts.
bahn
Taking a car from another country into the Czech Republic can be a problem, and the train is easy, fast, and affordable. Train it. 4 nights is a lot for Salzburg, IMO, even if you're going to be going to Berchtesgaden and the like. I'd stay 3.
A day trip from Dresden to Prague will require about 5 hours or more on the train. Strazburg? Probably Salzburg. That's too many days for Salzburg itself, but there are some great outings from Salzburg that would fill 4-5 days easily. It takes most of one day to get there from Dresden in the first place. Outings might include Hallstatt, Berchtesgaden and the Königssee area, Werfen (Hohenwerfen Castle and Falconry show.) Huge tip for your trip to Salzburg: there's a 7:01 connection or a 11:01 connection that is faster than any of the alternatives, even the ones using the "faster" IC, EC, RJ and ICE trains, but will cost you (and up to 4 others) only 40€ total instead of the 75-130€ EACH you would pay for those connections - just travel on Sat or Sun with a "Happy Weekend" ticket (daypass, 40€.) On weekdays you can take advantage of the 9:01 and 11:01 connections - again just under 8 hours but faster than any of the others - for 48€ on a "Quer Durchs Land" ticket (daypass for 2-5 people on weekdays after 9 am.) Buy one or the other from a ticket machine in Dresden. No need for advance purchase.
thank you everyone, and yes I did mean salzburg. I'm thinking maybe july 6-9, after reading replies. I'm searching for a budget place to stay. Has anyone ever stayed in a Hostel or should I just cross that off the list. I have done hours of research on hotels and would like to be close to all the sights in the old town however, perhaps I should look slightly outside of the old town, for better pricing. Ugh, I'm getting dizzy.
If you can plan and book in advance on the Bahn website, you can get Europa-Spezial tickets from Dresden to Prague in 2 hrs by EuroCity train for €38 for 2p. These tickets are train and date specific and non-refundable from the day of travel. The tickets must be purchased online at least 3 days and as much as 92 days in advance. If you are willing to spend twice as long for a purchase-that-day ticket, buy a Sachsen-Böhmen-Ticket in Dresden for €33 (for up to 5p). It's like a Bayern-Ticket but valid for regional trains in Sachsen and a part of the Czech Republic. That will take you by regional train to Usti nad Labem. From there to Prague is about €6/p (142 Kc) with a Czech Rail ticket. For the trip back to Dresden that day, the Sachsen-Böhmen-Ticket is valid for the entire day; you just need Czech Rail tickets back to Usti nad Labem. For Dresden to Salzburg, Austria, on July 6 , you can get advance purchase Savings Fare tickets as low as €49 for 2p. That connection uses an ICE, but might be a few minutes slower than the regional trains with the Schönes-Wochende- or Quer-durchs-Land-Ticket. Where is it you are having trouble finding an economical room? (There is an Altstadt in both Dresden and Salzburg.) If you are looking at Salzburg, I know of a place in Freilassing, Germany, right across the Salzach River from Salzburg. It's a restaurant with some rooms in the back, but a nice enough place, 20 min by bus from the Salzburg Altstadt, and only €55 for a double room with breakfast. Send me a PM if you are interested.