Hi everyone,
I will take a holidays starting from Apr 12 to Apr 25 Bangkok-Munich-Bangkok with my partner. Here is my roughly plan.
Germany: Munich, Neuschwanstein, Mittenwald
Austria: Vienna, Salzburg, Hallstatt
Czech: Prague, Cesky rumlov
Hungary: Budapest
I have tried to plan many route in my mind, but travelling to 4 countries is not quite easy especially with many complicated train route in Central Europe.
I just want this trip to be a very pleasant trip, not to hurry just enjoy the scenary. Travel in and from Munich to Austria is quite simple. But from Autria to Czech and Hungary is more complicated. Any expert here can help me plan the tirp.
Thanks a lot,
buddy
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elvira.mav-start.hu/elvira.dll/xslms/uf
Very easy to get from Vienna to Budapest, have a look the the above Hungarian railways website. quite a few direct daily trains.
To get from Austria to Cesky Krumlov is not that complicated. You will most probably need to get to Ceske Budejovice (either from Salzburg directly (2 trains a day) or via Linz. From Ceske Budejovice your options are either by another train or by bus.
jizdnirady.idnes.cz/vlakyautobusy/spojeni/
If you are perhaps thinking of hiring a car in Salzburg,that%26#39;s what I would do, you can get to Cesky Krumlov quite easy. Not a problem of taking the car across the border, although obviously you would have to check with the provider.
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Austrian car rental companies are a bit sniffy about taking their cars into the Czech Republic - double check it if that is what you are intending.
But I would do a route like this:
Munich (Neuschwannstein, etc) - Salzburg/Hallstatt - Vienna - Budapest - Prague (I would do Cesky Krumlov as an overnight trip from Prague and back) then to Munich from Prague.
That way you won%26#39;t be going backwards and forwards on yourself, and it will be more relaxing.
Buying tickets is easy - most can be bought on the day from the stations, or at www.db.de or www.oebb.at - bear in mind that most people don%26#39;t buy tickets on-line in this part of the world so the process is not always so straightforward or user-friendly. Don%26#39;t use Raileurope or you will pay a lot more than you should.
All of this is quite straightforward and not complicated at all by train, the only complicated bit is Cesky Krumlov which is is best by bus from Prague. Look for posts by TimKeane1 about this - he describes the booking process in detail. Alternatively consider Kutna Hora which is a lot closer to Prague and easier to get to. It is also a UNESCO world heritage site (there are plenty more of them in the Czech Republic, mostly ignored by tourists, but they are more difficult to get to).
Hope this helps!
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Thanks a lot PennyLaneSusex and GCEK. You guys gave me more clear picture for this trip. Now I come up with a revised route by remove Budapest from the trip. Here is my new route (based on GCEK%26#39;s suggestion)
Munich(Neuschwanstein)-Mittenwal-Salzburg-Hallstatt-Vienna-Prague-Cesky Krumlov-Munich
To remove Budapest out, I think this trip can be more relax, not to hurry.
Now I%26#39;m considering about travelling by train-bus-driving. If you guys can suggest me more about which route is perfect for bus, train and driving. Plus recommend for Park and Ride rental car company is very appreciate.
Thanks again,
buddy
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If you want relaxing, then train all the way! And I presume you are intending to do Cesky Krumlov as an overnight stay and then back to Prague to get back to Munich. For that bit there is a bus - very nice with movies/comfortable seats.
If you really want to do some driving, then this is the bit I would hire a car for - only for a couple of days - as there is a lot to see and do on the route, such as Holašovice, Hluboká Castle, Tábor, and many other places off the beaten track. However, you will not need a car in Prague - indeed it will be an (expensive) disadvantage, so return it when you have finished your journey to CK and surroundings. And make sure you have a good GPS that has central and eastern Europe installed on it.
Although Cesky Krumlov to Munich is possible by train/bus, it involves a few changes, and if you are not familiar with the system then it can be complicated.
It%26#39;s a pity to miss out Budapest, but obviously if you want to get more out of the places you intend to visit then the longer you stay in each, the better.
Glad to have been of help!
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Reading back it looks a bit confusing :) The Prague to Cesky Krumlov section and back would be best to hire a car for, if you hired one at all.
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This is superb. Thank you so much GCEK, you help me a lot.
Can I ask one more question about rental car? Any rental car company recommended for starting at Munich (or Mittenwald) via Salzburg and drop off at Hallstatt. Cause I think I will take train from Hallstatt to Vienna and Prague.
Then, do you think I can find any rental car from Prague and drop off at Munich?
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Not to be recommended as you will pay extremely high drop-off fees on both transactions as they are international drop-offs. The German rental company will not want to be stuck with Czech cars on its forecourt, neither will the Austian one appreciate having a German car and therefore they will charge you accordingly (several hundred dollars). The train is much easier and cheaper!
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I would pick up and drop off in Munich. Do the whole trip by car. It is actually quicker by car to Munich from Prague than by train. Motorway all the way.
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Got it! I will check the train route then. Thanks a lot
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Driving may on some days be marginally quicker, but it is much less relaxing than the train - unless you like driving at 160 km/h and being flashed at close quarters at regular intervals by impatient German drivers :)) And that%26#39;s just the bit in Germany...
Some people enjoy it, but it doesn%26#39;t make for a relaxing journey. And you are not in a hurry anyway.
You%26#39;ve made the right choice :-)
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