Best Routes, Travel Options-Prague, Salzburg, Vienna, Budapest

Where are you picking up this car? Be aware that hiring a car in one country and returning it in a different one usually incurs a large surcharge.
If you have a car you probably do not want to stay in a hotel in central Salzburg, that is unlikely to have any parking.

4 places in 10 days (is that 10 nights or 9 nights?) you probably don't have enough time to spend a night in Český Krumlov.

We can depart and arrive in any city, we will arrive to London from the US

Why don't you fly direct from the US to Prague, and fly back from Budapest? Or are you also spending time in London.

Yes I'm aware of the possible charges. 10 nights, Im not sure, its just a thought at this point but maybe outside of Prague city center somewhere?
Im flying in and out of London because I have first class tickets with miles on Virgin Atlantic so.... London it is. Dont plan on spending time in London other than the night before flying home, been to London many times

Probably
Prague - Cesky Krumlov - Salzburg - Vienna - Budapest.

As for a car, maybe Salzburg to Vienna to minimize the drop off fee (otherwise could be as much as $500). I also think 10 days is barely enough for Salzburg, Vienna, Budapest with out Prague. Your plan has about 20 hours of travel and travel related time between Prague and Budapest.

apart from the added fees, a Czech car may have other problems. Winter tyres are mandatory on all cars in Austria from November until mid April. Czech law isn't that strict so the car may not have them. This needs to be guaranteed in writing before booking. It also won't have an austrian autobahn toll sticker (google Vignette).

Dachau is more than just outside Salzburg, it's a suburb of Munich and in winter conditions would be about 3 hours each way. Berchtesgaden is a local bus or train ride.

Excluding Budapest and Dachau this is fairly easy. And without a car.

Fly to Prague. Be careful with London airport, does the Virgin flight arrive Heathrow or Gatwick? Beware that Stansted is a long way the other side of London, Luton is a drag from Heathrow, fairly easy from Gatwick. And Heathrow to Gatwick isn't as easy as it should be.

After Prague get the train. You can either go and stay in Český Krumlov or České Budějovice (and visit Český Krumlov from there, about 45 mins). Obvious mix is get up fairly early, go to Český Krumlov, having seen it go to České Budějovice for the overnight. Budějovice in pre 1918 German is Budweis, and it's where the real Budweiser beer comes from!
czech trains are cheap (if slightly worn) https://old.cd.cz/en/default.htm czech spelling of Prague is Praha

Next day to Salzburg. From České Budějovice this is easy, you just get the train at 8AM or 10AM to Linz and a fast train from there to Salzburg. From Český Krumlov it's easier to pay for a car and driver, these people get mentioned a lot in this forum https://www.ckshuttle.cz/transports/transfer-from-cesky-krumlov-to-salzburg/ 1000 Czech Koruna is about $45.

Berchtesgaden. local bus line 840 from outside Salzburg main railway station, takes 45 minutes, once or twice per hour.

On to Vienna. Railjet train, book early at http://www.oebb.at/en/

Fly back to London. either from the real Vienna airport or Bratislava, don't laugh - it may be capital of Slovakia but the airport is reasonably handy for Vienna and this is where some budget airlines go to. Details of airport trasnfer from Vienna will be on the site of any airline that uses Bratislava

"normal" airlines, may be dearer but more convenient

czech airlines http://www.csa.cz

austrian airlines https://www.austrian.com/

the budget airlines can be really cheap but checked bags are paid for as extras when booking, and you usually need to check in online and download your own boarding card (print it or carry it on smartphone). And make sure you understand which airport they are using!

https://www.easyjet.com/en

https://www.ryanair.com/gb/en/

https://wizzair.com

Prague and Salzburg are the outliers on the agenda. If you are going to Vienna then Budapest makes the most sense. For the train times add 1.5 hours for getting to and from and a little time to get lost and worry you are standing at the wrong track. For planes, maybe 3.5 hours for to and from the airport and early check in times. For a rental car, maybe 2 hours for pickup and drop off, etc…. then getting back to where you want to be in the town. The shuttles are pretty much door to door.

Prague to Cesky Krumlov 3 hours by shuttle

Cesky Krumlov to Salzburg 4 hours by shuttle

Cesky Krumlov to Vienna 3 hours by car/shuttle, 4 hours by train

Prague to Vienna 4 hours by train

Salzburg to Vienna 2.5 to 3 hours car or train

Salzburg to Budapest 5.5 hours by train

Vienna to Budapest 2.5 hours by train

Prague to Budapest 1.5 hours by plane (Czech Air $125), total trip 5 hours; 7.5 hours by train

The classic Route, almost doable in 10 days:

1. Depart the US

2. US to London to Prague (EasyJet, British A. and Smart Wings all have non-stop from Gatwick and or Heathrow for under $200, some under $100. Departure times vary widely by the day of the week and which airport. Making a connection might be interesting)

3. Prague

4. Prague

5. Prague to Vienna (5 hours)

6. Vienna

7. Vienna

8. Vienna to Budapest (2.5 hours)

9. Budapest

10. Budapest

11. Budapest to London to home. (British Air, Norwegian, EasyJet have non-stop service to Gatwick and or Heathrow for under $200. There are morning flights and it’s conceivable you could go all the way home without staying over in London)

Correction: Prague to Vienna by train is slightly under 4 hours.

Ilja I stand corrected. Most of that was from memory. I looked it up (seat61), its 4 hours flat

Without Budapest this is part of a route I did last year. I personally think you are a city too heavy for 10 days... especially adding CK, then you're probably 2 cities heavy. The train from Prague to Vienna is not a big deal, then wheel east and hit Salzburg. Skip the car. I looked into CK as well for this route, but decided it was a bit too far out of the way as a connector city, IMO.

Munich is right there by Salzburg as well. If your heart is set on Budapest, I'd look at dropping one of the Austrian cities.

With 10 days, I would skip Salzburg. Prague>>>>car service>>>>Cesky Kumlov>>>>car service>>>>Vienna>>>>train>>>>Budapest.

You could also use a car service from CK to Linz and grab a train to Vienna.

I also think 10 days is not nearly enough time to fully enjoy everything.

Thanks all for the opinions, much appreciated. Lots of great things to do and see and not enough time...
The least desirable city to me is Vienna, so that is where I would think to spend the least amount of time or skip altogether.
Thanks for the car service idea, I like that.

Yeah I have seen that the drop off charges are pretty high, I'm rethinking the car (O maybe just in Austria). I'm on the fence about Vienna, Salzburg is high on the list as is Budapest.

So this is what I'm thinking...
1. Arrive Prague...
2. Full Day Prague
3. Full Day Prague
4. Prague>>Cesky >>>Salzburg
5. Full Day Salzburg
6. Full Day Salzburg
7. Early train to Vienna, 1/2 Day Vienna
8. Full Day Vienna
9. Early train to Budapest
10. Full Day Budapest
11. Full Day Budapest-Fly to London (Late Flight)
12. Depart for Home

Then skip Vienna and go from Salzburg direct to Budapest. You are at least 1 day short for Budapest.

Thanks James, I may have to do that

4.Prague>>Cesky>>>Salzburg
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/czech/how-to-get-to-cesky-from-prague-vienna-budapest-krakow-etc-cesky-what

I've traveled by train and bus throughout Europe. It's usually convenient and easy. I'd say it's more like 10-12 hours of travel from Prague to Salzburg to Vienna to Budapest.

I've driven from Frankfurt to Bucharest with many stops in between. The car is handy outside of Salzburg, but not really needed for Vienna or Budapest. I would consider to train from Prague to Cesky Krumlov to Salzburg and then rent the car for Salzburg day trips, such as Lake District or Berchtesgaden. Then, train from Salzburg to Budapest.

We visited the Mauthasen Memorial and a qucik stop in Melk between Salzburg and Vienna and were grateful to have the car.

But otherwise, trains from Salzburg to Vienna to Budapest are great.

Thanks.
Yes around Salzburg area; day trips, and then maybe drop off in Vienna or outside the city somewhere? Did you pick up the car in Salzburg, and drop in Vienna

Perhaps relegate Vienna to a few hours on Day 7 ...
1. Arrive Prague (3)
2. Full Day Prague
3. Full Day Prague
4. Prague >>> Cesky Krumlov (1)
5. Cesky Krumlov >>> Salzburg (2)
6. Full Day Salzburg
7. Early train to Vienna. Late train to Budapest (4)
8. Full Day Budapest
9. Full Day Budapest
10. Full Day Budapest
11. Late Flight to London
12. Depart for Home

djp_syd; can i get you to plan my next trip?

Why not !!
I don't even come with a fee involved.

Eight hours in Vienna would be enough to experience the architecture of the Ring, as well as visit St Stephens, and perhaps the Belvedere also.

RJ 265
Dep 08:08 SALZBURG HBF (Austria)
Arr 10:30 WIEN HBF (Austria)

RJ 165
Dep 18:42 WIEN HBF (Austria)
Arr 21:19 BUDAPEST-KELETI (Hungary)

I did the Prague-Salzburg-Vienna-Budapest trip with my family last summer over sixteen days and I offer the following based on our trip:

-Ten days is too short for all four cities. I would consider eliminating Salzburg or Vienna from your itinerary. Salzburg has the least to offer for tourists (although the highlight of our trip was the Sound of Music Bike Tour and a trip to the mountains was a nice contrast to the other cities) and it is the outlier geographically;

-I would not rent a car. The trains are efficient and frequent and cost effective if you order your tickets in advance. A car would be problematic in the large cities and unnecessary and they all have great public transportation;

-I would base the order of the cities on the departing flights available in Prague or Budapest, the most efficient train schedule possible between cities and/or if there are any events (e.g. festivals) you would like to see;

Please feel free to send me a private message as we loved our trip and I am happy to share details with you.

Safe travels

djp_syd...I like the itinerary, thanks

Cheers. You're welcome. Enjoy.

thinking this may be the final decision although I do keep wavering...

Perhaps relegate Vienna to a few hours on Day 7 ...
1. Arrive Prague (3)
2. Full Day Prague
3. Full Day Prague
4. Prague >>> Cesky Krumlov (1)
5. Cesky Krumlov >>> Salzburg (2)
6. Full Day Salzburg (Hallstatt)
7. Early train to Vienna.
8. Full Day Vienna
9. Train to Budapest
10. Full Day Budapest
11. Budapest full day with late flight to London
12. Depart for Home

Final thoughts...??

Thanks as always

is this all by train except private transfer CK-Salzburg? It flows reasonably well and the times are in order.

Pity about the London flight - if you flew in and out of Prague it work be easy, there are regular trains from Budapest.

Thanks, yes by train and private transfer as noted. I have great flights in and out of London that I couldn't pass up on so...London it is

For a departure from SFO in mid-May of 2017, I also had the great flight price to London LHR, r/t and went all the way to Vienna by train, added two days too since in and out of Vienna was by the EN night train.

Give some thought to your energy level. Unless you're very energetic, the constant changes in cities and countries will wear you out-3 countries, 5 cities in 10 days!

I'm going to fly into Prague from London, and out of Budapest back to London before flying home. Energy wont be an issue; and honestly I don't feel that this itinerary is too stressful, also I would hate to miss something that is reasonably tackled while I'm in the basic vicinity of all these great places.
Thank you all!

The more I research the more I may have to agree that less is better, may leave out Salzburg and concentrate on the three cities
If only there was more time this trip.... seems that's always the problem

I would go Salzburg-Prague-CK-Vienna-Budapest. I would get the car in Salzburg, and drop the car in Vienna. That way, you have the same country, for a smaller drop charge. No parking in Vienna, either. I would take the boat to Budapest. Remind me again why you need a car?

The Classic
1. Depart US
2. Arrive Prague
3. Prague
4. Prague
5. Prague >>> Vienna
6. Vienna
7. Vienna
8. Vienna >>> Budapest
9. Budapest
10. Budapest
11. Budapest
12. Budapest >>> Home

Option A
1. Depart US
2. Arrive Prague
3. Full Day Prague
4. Full Day Prague
5. Prague >>> Cesky Krumlov
6. Cesky Krumlov >>> Vienna
7. Vienna
8. Vienna >>> Budapest
9. Budapest
10. Budapest
11. Budapest
12. Budapest >>> Home

Option B
1. Depart US
2. Arrive Prague
3. Full Day Prague
4. Full Day Prague
5. Vienna
6. Vienna
7. Vienna >>> Gyor >>> Pannonhalma Archabbey
8. Gyor >>> Budapest
9. Budapest
10. Budapest
11. Budapest
12. Budapest >>> Home

Ok here we go....I think, lol!
No car first of all,

Arrive London fly to Prague
Prague
Prague
Prague
Prague-Cesky Krumlov Night In CK
CK to Salzburg
Salzburg
Train to Vienna / Day in Vienna continue on to Budapest at end of day
Budapest
Budapest
Budapest
Budapest/Flight to London
Depart London for Home