I'm planning a trip for three adults this fall. We have 4 nights in Berlin, then 3 nights to travel, and 3 nights in Munich. We unfortunately don't have any flexibility with the Berlin and Munich schedule. We would like to travel through Prague and Cesky Krumlov to get to Munich. I've seen many posts about taking the train from Berlin to Prague instead of driving. However, Prague to Cesky Krumlov to Munich seems like it might be a longer and more indirect trip with trains and buses versus driving. I was originally thinking of renting a car in Prague for that part of the trip and dropping off in Munich but that would be more expensive for international drop off. Now I'm wondering if we should rent a car in Berlin and do the whole Czech Republic part driving and drop off in Munich. Although cost is a factor, I think with the limited amount of time we have in the Czech Republic, convenience, travel time, and flexibility are more important for us. Thoughts?
Posted by
Duluth 🛶
6312 posts
I did this trip in reverse about 10 years ago. We traveled from Prague to Cesky Krumlov and then on to Munich. We took a bus from Prague to CK, because it was the same amount of time, was cheaper and it allowed us to look at the scenery as we drove through the countryside. We spent one night in CK and then took a bus to Linz (about 1.5 hours). From there we caught the train to Munich, which was a little under 3 hours.
I don't think you will get from Prague to CK any faster if you drive. You might save time by driving to Munich from CK, but is it worth it, considering the extra costs of driving? It definitely would not be to me. But it may to you.
Posted by
Wyckoff, NJ, USA
7299 posts
While I am sorry I did not go to Prague earlier in my traveling life, your itinerary is ambitious. We had no trouble with the train between Prague and Berlin, and even chose a nice hotel walkable from Zoologische Garten station. It would help to understand whether you all have Euro travel experience, and have ever taken trains in Europe? BTW, I personally find Munich over-rated, but there are perfectly good reasons to go there. Would you consider Dresden, Leipzig, and Nuremburg by train on the way south instead, and leave Prague for another trip? (Our particular trip was Berlin-Budapest (plane)-Prague (plane)-Berlin (train).)
https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/transportation/trains
Have you used the Search box for this newsboard? It seems like you don't recognize yet the special character of CK travel. Although a few posters here find it hopelessly over-touristed, I agree with many more that it's worth a special effort to get to. The train is considered one of the slower ways to get there, and I think there are plenty of busses from Prague. But going one-way is different. Would you spend one night in CK? There are plenty of hotels.
We chose a different project, which is unsuitable for you: A one day runout from Prague, by a car service recommended by our host's books. Now, in this geographical area, there are more car service options than there are in more highly traffic'ed places. People ask about Uber and Lyft (in general) as if they can take a 2.5 hour trip and not "pay" for the driver to return empty. But that same car service we used offers menu-item one-way transfers covering places like CK and Budapest and Munich.
I'm not saying you should spend the money, but it's an option. If I had a car at CK, I'd want to visit some of the "Three T's" as well. But I have no interest in such a long drive, in a foreign country. Are you confident that all your luggage will fit in one sedan's trunk? Is it safe to leave everything in a car in a huge, perimeter parking lot while you see CK and other places?
Speaking of CK and special character, we prefer book-research to hiring guides. But I was glad we let the car service talk us into booking a 90 minute tour guide for CK. (I told myself that our few hours in CK justified the expense and time usage!) I told the guide that I had been unable to communicate with the Babushka (wrong language) selling municipal entry tickets, trying to get the one, single daily, English tour of the historic Baroque Theater-seen by tour ONLY. (Perhaps, a special interest location ... but quite famous.) The guide went and bought our tickets without difficulty, for after he completed our street-tour.
Posted by
192 posts
We took a car service from Salzburg to CK and the same car service from CK to Linz to catch the train to Budapest. I think that I got the name of the service from Rick’s books or this forum. They have service from Prague to CK. I recall that the train service to CK is not that great. When I say car service I mean a 6 Passenger or so mini van type vehicle. As I recall it was very reasonably priced.
Posted by
Irving
2948 posts
I’m looking at https://www.cd.cz/en/ and see that there is a direct train from Prague (Praha hl.n.) to Český Krumlov (3h) so I would definitely hop on that. I also see a train from Český Krumlov to Munich that requires two transfers that will take an entire day. I also see a direct bus from Český Krumlov to Salzburg (3h). Do you have time to sleep in Salzburg for two nights before taking a direct train to Munich (2h)?