I am planning a 30th anniv. trip flying into Munich Sept 7 leaving from Budapest on the 19th. We plan to see Prague with day trip to Cesky Krumlov, Vienna on our way to Budapest. I am hoping to spend one night in Karlovy Vary and am having difficulty figuring out how to fit it in. Option 1. Munich- KV. (On the cd.cz website) I am looking at 3:49 with 2 short transfers Nurnberg and Cheb. 8 min in Nurnberg!! Option #2 is transferring trains in Plzen but this trip takes 6:47. Option #3 is Munich- Prague and then travel to KV for the night. Option #4 rent a car and drive Munich to KV for the night and then drive to Prague to drop the car. We are not afraid to drive but the specific country rules have me a little nervous and we are very comfortable when traveling by trains. After writing this I am beginning to think is is too much trouble to squeeze this town in, we really want to have more time in the other locations and don't typically move around for just one night due to wasted time traveling. Please let me know if you have any advice or suggestions.
thank you
Posted by
Green Bay
21089 posts
Don't do option #4 as you will have to pay international drop fee if you rent a car in Munich and drop it in Prague. Car will have to be transported back to Germany before it can be rented again. You pay for that and more.
Posted by
white plains, ny, usa
4160 posts
If you decide on #3 , don't take the train from Prague to Karlovy Vary , use the bus . As much as I dislike buses , the trip is considerably shorter since the train from Prague goes north to the change at Usti Nad Labem before heading Southwest to Karlovy Vary .https://www.google.com/maps/place/Karlovy+Vary,+Czechia/@50.2425428,11.9439256,8.75z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x47a099405da94d43:0x284baf8a43d431d0!8m2!3d50.2318521!4d12.8719616!16zL20vMDF0eThs
Posted by
Wyckoff, NJ, USA
7838 posts
I was once told I could not take a Swiss Hertz into Czech Republic, drop off or not. YMMV
Posted by
OP
Huntersville
65 posts
from what I am seeing the bus options (Zob and flixbus) take 7+ hours- a little too long. Will NOT rent a car, thanks for the info.
Posted by
white plains, ny, usa
4160 posts
I took the bus from Prague to Karlovy Vary a few years ago , it was two hours .https://shop.flixbus.com/search?departureCity=40de1ad1-8646-11e6-9066-549f350fcb0c&arrivalCity=40e093e7-8646-11e6-9066-549f350fcb0c&route=Prague-Karlovy+Vary&rideDate=11.09.2023&adult=1&_locale=en_US&features%5Bfeature.darken_page%5D=1&features%5Bfeature.enable_distribusion%5D=1&features%5Bfeature.train_cities_only%5D=0&features%5Bfeature.webc_search_persistent_explore_map%5D=0&atb_pdid=49bddab7-fe4b-421b-8ff2-cdeba358dda1&_sp=cc6ae4a1-bc63-4ceb-9b4a-fc1895b67227&_spnuid=c2a9e5d6-fe1a-4377-a72c-adfd682c1377
Posted by
white plains, ny, usa
4160 posts
I may have misinterpreted your plan - I assumed you would be going to Prague and staying there , and then going to Karlovy Vary , not doing that in one go . Consider that arrangement
Posted by
Green Bay
21089 posts
I don't know what date you are looking at, but for the morning train, there is an ICE train that leaves just a few minutes earlier than the one with an 8 minute change time. You can see it by using the Deutsche Bahn website and in "further information" you can adjust the transfer time to minimum 10 minutes, then you will see the earlier train with a 15 minute transfer time in Nuremberg.
Posted by
OP
Huntersville
65 posts
thank you all for your advice and handy website links, I have decided to go straight to Prague from Munich and then take the bus from Prague to KV. I already have a million more questions for you experts but will start a new topic
Posted by
Charlotte, NC, USA
386 posts
Hi Erin, I’ll be in KV for 3 nights in early June as part of a Poland/CR trip. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions.