Travel from Vienna to Prague

Did you consult the website of the Austrian railways (http://fahrplan.oebb.at/bin/query.exe/en?)? It shows a direct connection, taking a little bit over 4 hours.
(It's highly unusual to add the country name to well-known cities like Vienna and Prague.)

I have recently researched that and similar routes (Vienna - Cesky Krumlov, Cesky Krumlov - Prague) and discovered that the best option appears to be private shuttle services. There are 3 or 4 companies with very similar routes and very reasonable prices. They pick you up from your hotel and drop you at your destination. Look on the Trip Advisor forums for any of the cities I've mentioned, or just google.

Train takes about 4 hours, it goes every two hours. Take a jet rail - kind off upscale train. Flights are slower because you have to go to the airport, be there two hours ahead, then from the other airport to the downtown.

We used CK shuttle last month. Great door-to-door service and so much more convenient than using the train.

http://www.ckshuttle.cz/bus-cesky-krumlov-transfer/

I wonder how much that shuttle cost comparing to train? Besides Jabosch is not mentioning Cesky Krumlov so going direct Vienna - Prague is better and cheaper by train.

I don't remember the price for Vienna - Prague, but for the other routes I mentioned, it was around 40 euros/pp. The train might be cheaper, but here are some considerations. To get to the appropriate Vienna station from where we're staying, we would need to take a taxi. Or, we could walk a couple of blocks, dragging our suitcases, to an U-bahn stop and climb down a long flight of stairs. After the train journey, we would still need to get to our hotel in Prague, with whatever that might entail. A door-to-door shuttle for 40 euros sounded like a gift from heaven to me, when I discovered that option.
No sermons, please, about traveling light. Everyone has their own preferences; and even our 20" bags start to feel very heavy when they need to be carried up and down stairs. We're at an age where a few more euros are insignificant compared to the physical stresses inherent in traveling. We are happy when we can reduce those. Since Jabosch didn't hint at his age or travel style, it seemed useful to let him/her and others know about alternatives.

Rosalyn, so Viennna - Cesky Krumlov is 40 Euro and Cesky Krumlov - Prague 40 Euro and all that door to door. I think if somebody wants to see Cesky Krumlov on their way to Prague and save time that's the way to do it.

Thanks for the tip on the shuttle. I was looking into a Danube cruise and couldnt figure out the best way to get to Vienna.

I would not term to/from Czeske Krumlov to be "similar" to the route to/from Prague. Same country, but not the same city size or public transport situation. Vienna-Prague has been a direct train route forever and travel time was reduced again this year when Austrian rail upgraded that route to RailJet service. Regular fare 62 euros in 2nd class, but advance-purchase discounts also available.

Out of curiosity, I just looked at the CK Shuttle website. They quote a price of 80 euros* for their Vienna - Prague journey, and estimate 4.5 to 5 hours for the duration, if anyone wonders.

I'll note, parenthetically, that I've been pleased to see that no one on this thread has seen fit to criticize anyone else's choices, which is not always the case on this forum. While young people may be more concerned about costs, we, though not rich by any means, now have more money than physical endurance. Most of our friends have given up independent travel for letting someone else take care of all the logistics that tours provide. As I said before, a reasonably priced door-to-door shuttle is a heaven-sent gift for us.
*Actually, I think it was $80. The price was 2000 CK.

We are debating whether to: train direct from Vienna to Prague: take a private shuttle from Vienna to Prague with a three hour layover in Cesky Krumlov; or take the shuttle from Vienna to Cesky Krumlov, spent the night and take either the train or the shuttle on to Prague. We are leaning towards spending a night in Cesky Krumlov. We've not been there before and there are many advantages all three ways. Price is one of the big differences. So is leisurely transport versus getting some sight seeing in on the way. A stop over might provide both leisure and an extra sight. But it isn't the cheapest option,

Whatever you do remember the the biggest expense is getting the Europe, and having already paid for the time time, you are a fool if you waste too much of it once there.

I love suggestions from people who've been to Cesky Krumlov recently. Whole trip wise the difference will be seven full days in Prague with three day trips; or six full days with two or three day trips. Either direct travel by train or a stopover in Krumlov looks relaxing. A day trip on the way might be less so.

Jen, my recommendation would be to take shuttle from Vienna to Cesky Krumlov, stay overnight and then take Student Agency bus (so called yellow bus, yes it's yellow) to Prague. If the shuttle costs only 40 Euro p.p. from Vienna to C.K. then it's cheaper than train which costs 50 Euro p.p. (without discounts) and you would have to change trains twice (in Ceske Velenice and Ceske Budejovice). It would take four and half hours from Vienna to Cesky Krumlov. But the bus (or train) price from Cesky Krumlov to Prague is substantially cheaper than shuttle. Bus is direct on this route, train involves one change in Ceske Budejovice.

My friend, who did a day trip to CK from Prague, strongly advised staying over one night. She said she didn't have time to see all she wanted.

I'm the one who started this post and I just wanted to thank you all very much for the help! Thank you for providing the links to the Austrian rail site and the site for the shuttle. I'm going to look more into those and see which works best for me to get from Vienna to Prague. My sister and I are planning a trip to Europe; we're both in our 20s and studied abroad in college, so this time we are going to new places! Thanks!

Thank you all for the input. We've booked a night in Cesky Krumlov on the way to Prague.