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Prague to Thuringia- Car? Train?

What is the best way to travel between Prague and the Thuringia Province of Germany? Are there lots of trains or is renting a car easiest?

Posted by
15020 posts

Hi Erin,

If you are already in Thuringia and want to go to Prague, I would suggest first going to Dresden...that way you cut the distance by train at least by half or more. Most of the trains going from Thuringia require transfering in Dresden, which is only a little over 2 hrs from Prague...very doable. Using Dresden as a base puts you much more in a central position relative to Prague and cities in Thuringen, such as Erfurt. Both Erfurt and Dresden are must-sees in that area of Germany.

I have visited Dresden as day trips from Berlin, and Erfurt was heartily recommended to me as a day trip from Dresden but didn't have the flexible time to do that.

Posted by
180 posts

Thank you! I think we will use Dresden as our "transit" point-- and we're going to make sure to go to Erfurt. Anything specific you reccommend?

Posted by
15020 posts

Hi Erin,

Good, I just found Dresden stunning, just absolutely marvelous, saw it first in 1992 when most of the beautiful sites were still black and the Frauenkirche was still rubble. The most recent time seeing Dresden again was in the summer of 2009...when you are there, walking from the train station towards the Elbe to the Altstadt(25-30 mins), you'll see Dresden is Germany's most beautiful city. It's certainly not a place to be rushed.

Erfurt is only a short distance way...the Domplatz and the Alstadt is what I have been told to see, just didn't have the time last summer while I was in Dresden to make this day trip. Erfurt is also a famous university city. If you are focusing on Thuringen, there are some real cultural sites to visit pertaining to German literature and history.

Are you adverse to staying at the Dresden DJH hostel, (the HI hostel), even with private rooms and facilities? It's located about 10 mins. (walking) from the train station...one of hideous looking building style's (Mietskaserne) from the pre-1989 days, look beyond that...it's a great hostel, clean and secure, with your private facilities and a dinner buffet for under 6 Euro, that is, if you want to keep expenses down.

What is good about staying in Dresden is that the train ride to Prague is just a bit over 2hrs. and, above all, direct!! (I'm not too keen anymore on transfering trains)

Posted by
15020 posts

Hi,

In the last posting what I meant about Erfurt being a short distance from Dresden is a bit over 2 hrs, the same as Prague is from Dresden...that's why Dresden is a good central point, even to Berlin, also 2 plus hrs.