Vienna & Prague from Karlsruhe, Germany

We're going to Karlsruhe, Germany in March (near the France border) and plan on visiting Heidelberg as well.

But I REALLY want to see Prague and Vienna. I'm thinking we'll have a week - 5 days - is it possible to see BOTH in addition to Germany?

If I had to pick one, which should it be - Prague or Vienna? And why?!

Message edited 2/8/2007 4:17:39 PM.

Re: Vienna & Prague from Karlsruhe, Germany

The one thing that I would say, although I don't know much about the distance, is that if you have 5 days its going to take up 2 days of your trip with travelling time, getting and from the airport! I hate to sound like a negative nelly, but its not really enough time!!!

Re: Vienna & Prague from Karlsruhe, Germany

Damn you, Negative Nelly!

Seriously though, which airport travel are you talking about? Within Germany to get to Karlsruhe? (I think we'd fly into Frankfurt) Because I don't think I'd fly to Vienna or Prague - I figured we'd do a train ride.........but I really haven't had time to research b/c this just came up.

Re: Vienna & Prague from Karlsruhe, Germany

I'm not familiar with the town of Karlsruhe, but if it's on the French border, is it not close to Stuttgart? If so, I think the flight is about one hour from Stuttgart to either Vienna or Prague. It's been a long time since I took a train across Europe, but I think it would probably take 6 hours to either city.

I have to agree that I would just stay put in Germany if you only have 5 days. I'm sure there are more than enough interesting sights to see there.

Re: Vienna & Prague from Karlsruhe, Germany

Hmmm...DH is going on business - if that changes anything - and while I haven't been to Karlsruhe (I've been to Munich) I think it's a town I can do in the afternoon while DH works...and the border of France is only about 10-20 minutes way. We're extending the trip so that we can vacation.

Wah. I just want someone to tell me it's doable. LOL I think if we were going to Munich it would be easier to hop on the train.

Does the map help?

Re: Vienna & Prague from Karlsruhe, Germany

ive been to vienna and our next trip will most likely be prague

but i can tell you if you go to vienna a night at the Opera House seeing a ballet or opera would be awesome followed by dinner at the Hotel Sacher and then finish the night at a wine bar

there are some cool castles and parks in vienna so definitely alot to see

i also heard that prague is amazing but i can only tell you my exerpiences in vienna which were very memorable

eta not sure if you have been to Brussles or Brugge in Belgium but those are both lovely cities

if you or dh likes mussels and 1,000 types of beer belgium is the country for you and you cna do brussels in 2 days if need be

Message edited 2/9/2007 11:43:08 AM.

Re: Vienna & Prague from Karlsruhe, Germany

No, I haven't been to Belguim and we both love mussels. Hmmm, thanks for throwing another country into the mix!

I've wanted to go to Vienna for quite some time now - I am dying to see what inspired Klimt and Mozart. If need be we'll just have to extend the trip. I_must_go.

Re: Vienna & Prague from Karlsruhe, Germany

prague is pretty small - 1 day or 2 could really be fine. But I think it will be a long train ride (Vienna too, but overnights are great for this) If you have 5 days AFTER your DH has his conference - why not?

prague and vienna both have fabulous opera houses, but if it's something you are interested in, you may want to consider Beyruth - where Wagner lived - that is on the Rhine.

Heidelberg could definitely be a day trip - there is the university, a little plaza and the castle

Other cute towns in that area are Tubingen and Ulm

Lake Constance (bodensee) is beautiful (and closer) and then you could check out Salzberg, Austria and/or Stein am Rhine in Switzerland. Zurich is only about 40 minutes from the border as well.

Re: Vienna & Prague from Karlsruhe, Germany

we're actually going to that area of germany on friday!!!! (we're visiting a friend near saarbrucken)
DH has been there before and said he took the train to prague. he said its a long train ride, but they broke it up. they took a train from Idar-Oberstein to Berlin. they stayed in berlin for an afternoon and overnight, and then the next day took an overnight train to prague. they slept on that train, and got to prague early the next day. they spent that day in prague and got a hotel room. so, it was a couple days, but they got to see berlin as wel and he said it was doable...

Message edited 2/10/2007 12:07:28 AM.

Re: Vienna & Prague from Karlsruhe, Germany

Thank you for the info!

After speaking with a co-worker (who has travelled many times to Germany) he suggested the same - breaking the trip up a bit...and perhaps seeing other parts of Germany as well. He mentioned Suttgart(?).

Have fun, ML110 - share what you did/saw when you return!

Re: Vienna & Prague from Karlsruhe, Germany

i liked prague better than vienna. i was bored in vienna, but i think it was b/c i lived in germany for a year and i was churched out...

Karlsruhe (karl's rest ) can be done in a day. there is plenty to see in southern germany, but after a while it is the same (sorry i lived there for a year, so i hope this doesnt come off as snobby) and i am a HUGE fan of eastern (or what used to be) europe.

if you go to prague or vienna you can fly from stuttgart (where i lived 45 mins away from) via germanwings (www.germanwings.com) and to both prague and vienna. this airline is always having cheap specials, but they get you on taxes. i went to prague for 59 euro return with taxes. i did a single to vienna for 19 euro.

you can also take ryan air ryanair from frankfurt hahn, which is a bit aways from Frankfurt am Main, but you can find good specials. Dont schedule a flight on a sunday from this airport. you can olnly get there by taxi on a sunday.

you can do prague in 3 days. i did it in 3 days with a side trip to Terezin, which i got stuck in b/c we dont read or speak czech and no one in the town spoke english, so we got by on what German they could speak...

there is a fair bit to see in the part by karlsruhe. you must check out Baden-Baden and go to the baths. Feel free to FM me if you have questions, i did a lot of travelling there b/c i lived in Tübingen for a year.

HTH!

Re: Vienna & Prague from Karlsruhe, Germany

Posted by ~Colleen~

Thank you for the info!

After speaking with a co-worker (who has travelled many times to Germany) he suggested the same - breaking the trip up a bit...and perhaps seeing other parts of Germany as well. He mentioned Suttgart(?).

Have fun, ML110 - share what you did/saw when you return!

Re: Vienna & Prague from Karlsruhe, Germany