We have 2 nights to spend between Prague and Vienna during December. I would like some ideas as to how to best travel this distance and where would be a good place (or places) to stop over. As we are having a week in Prague and a week in Vienna, it seems that it could be a good idea to stay in a smaller place. If you have any ideas of hotels too in any place you suggest this would be so much appreciated. I have trawled the net and haven't really come up with anything at this point.
1
greg28
There are lots of lovely places you could spend a couple of nights including;
Český Krumlov - an old renaissance town of 15,000 people and the most popular tourist destination outside Prague. The castle will be closed until april, but it's nice from the outside. Best to travel by Student Agency bus from Prague, then shuttle bus to Linz or Vienna.
Telč - pretty little town of 7000 people. Trips will involve changing buses or trains.
Znojmo - one of the three old royal Moravian towns; beautiful historic centre, lots of good restaurants and wine cellars. Direct trains to Vienna.
Mikulov - a smaller town surrounded by the country's main wine region; one of the main Jewish towns in Moravia up to WWII; nice synagogue and huge old cemetery. Probably best is bus via Brno and bus also to Vienna.
Olomouc - Moravia's capital until the 1640's and the country's biggest university town by percentage. Lots of churches, palaces, museums and big Christmas markets until the 23rd. 2.5hrs by train from Prague and 3 to Vienna.
When travelling by train, be sure to get one ticket for both (or all) of you, as you will qualify for the small groups discount (on the domestic part of the trip).
2
kirkdonovan
I second Cesky Krumlov or Telc. Olomouc might be a little out of your way, but I hear it's very nice.
3
greg28
Olomouc might look out of the way as the crow flies, but if you're not a crow and are using buses and trains, it and znojmo are actually the quickest and simplest of these five options. Mikulov is also not bad, Telc and Cesky Krumlov are the slowest and most complicated.
4
amazingview
You can do a stop-over at a Czech town on the way from Prague to Vienna, but due to the nature of the train and bus routes, you're probably best off taking a direct train or bus. This site has info on trains from Prague to Vienna and buses as well.
If you do want to stop somewhere, Cesky Krumlov is really beautiful and I would recommend it for a day's visit.
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