Prague is a popular tourist city. However, after enjoying the beauty of the Czech capital, you can travel to neighboring countries, such as Austria. Vienna is only a few hours away and the city's attractions are well worth the time. In this article, we will talk in detail about how to get from Prague to Vienna by different types of transport.
All ways
A large number of buses run between the two European capitals. This is perhaps the most economical way to travel in this direction. A convenient schedule will help you plan your trip according to your desires.
You can save time by flying by plane - you will spend no more than an hour in the air.
Some tourists choose the night train so as not to waste money on a hotel. In this case, you need to be ready to spend the night sitting, because sleeping places will cost much more.
Traveling by car gives you maximum freedom. The traveler will not be connected with the schedule of city transport, he will be able to choose the road on his own. However, you will have to pay a considerable sum for such comfort.
| Way | Cost, EUR | Travel time |
|---|---|---|
| Train | from 15 | 4 hours |
| Bus | from 14.9 | 4 hours 25 minutes |
| Airplane | from 82 | 1 hour + 35 min. road to the airport + 1 hour registration |
| Auto | 4 hours | |
| rent | 100 fuel + from 30 day rental from 370 euros - deposit | |
| fellow traveler | 11 |
By train from Prague to Vienna
Czech railway transport is popular with both locals and tourists. You can get direct from Prague to Vienna by intercity fast train R (Rychlik) or by night EN (EuroNight).
The first expressway in the given direction departs at 4.49, in Vienna you will be already at 8.49, that is, you will spend 4 hours on the road.
The R trains run directly every 2 hours, the last one leaving at 18.51. If you want to save money on a hotel, it is best to take the EN train, which departs from Prague at 23.57 and arrives in Vienna at 7.00.
The standard price for a 2nd class ticket is on average between 25 and 35 euros. The final cost depends on the time of day.
You can take a night train for 25 euros. You can view the schedule, purchase tickets on the official website of the carrier.
Children under 15 years old tickets are purchased at half price, children under 6 years old travel for free. These conditions apply to cars of the 1st and 2nd class. If you immediately buy round-trip travel documents, you will receive a 5% discount.
Group travelers can also purchase a special Skupinova jizdenka ticket, the cost of which is calculated as follows: 100% of the price for the first passenger from the group, 75% for the second and 5% for each of the subsequent ones. On such a ticket, from 2 to 30 people can travel, age does not matter.
Czech Railways offer comfortable carriages equipped with sockets, air conditioning, and toilets. Night trains even have showers.
Free breakfasts, single occupancy are provided for 1st class passengers. EuroNight passengers traveling in 2nd class are offered double or triple accommodation.
Also on night trains there are compartments for 4 and 6 people and a compartment with enhanced comfort DeLuxe (individual shower and toilet).
Bed linen is included in the fare. The seats can be easily converted into a reclining seat.
The trains of the Czech national carrier have special compartments and luggage storage rooms. The weight of the items handed over must not exceed 50 kg. It can be not only bags or suitcases, but bicycles, strollers, etc.
The cost of a piece of luggage depends on the destination (from 0.6 euros). Items not exceeding 90x50x40 cm can be considered as carry-on baggage. Such luggage is placed under the seat, on the lap, special shelves, hooks. Carry-on baggage is free.
Regio Jet is a Czech rail and bus carrier. The first train in the given direction departs at 05.21, and the last - at 16.21. The journey will take 4 hours; a standard ticket will cost 15 euros. You can find more information and purchase a ticket on the official website of the carrier.
In Prague, trains to Vienna leave from the main central railway station, Hlavní Nádraží. It is located practically in the center of the Czech capital.
- The most convenient way to get to the station is by metro. Get off at Hlavní Nádraží station (red line C). The metro is located directly under the train station.
- A tram stop is 300 meters away. Day trams no. 5, 9 and 26, night trams no. 55, 58 stop at Hlavní Nádraží.
- Aeroexpress (AE) runs from the airport directly to the train station.
- City buses no. 505 and 511 make a stop at Hlavní Nádraží.
- Taxi directly from the hotel will cost you 6-8 euros.
In Vienna, trains arrive at Central Station. It is located on Südtiroler Platz, from which you can easily get to any corner of the Austrian capital by public transport - metro, trams, buses and S-Bahn.
How to get there by bus
Buses in the Czech Republic are chosen by those who are determined to save money. The vehicles are comfortable, equipped with toilets, sockets, air conditioning, and Wi-Fi is available in the cabin. The direction is very popular, so it is served by several carriers, you can leave every half hour. The most popular companies are Regio Jet and Flix Bus.
Regio Jet yellow buses, also known as Student Agency, are popular primarily due to the low prices for services. The company offers several types of tickets: credit, electronic, open, fixed. Children under 6 travel free of charge.
It is recommended to transport babies under 3 years old in a special car seat (own). However, the lack of this accessory will not be an obstacle to your trip.
All discounts offered by the carrier are valid only within the Czech Republic.
In time, the road from Prague to Vienna will take 4 hours 25 minutes. The first Regio Jet bus from the Czech capital to the Austrian one leaves at 7.00, and the last one at 23.55. There are five buses per day in a given direction. The ticket price starts at 14.9 euros.
On the official website of the carrier, you can view the schedule for several weeks in advance, choose a suitable date and time, buy a bus ticket without overpayments.
In Vienna, the yellow Regio Jet buses arrive at the Busterminal Stadioncenter, Engerthstrasse, which is located near the Stadion Center shopping mall in the city center. Praterstern Underground Station is 4 minutes from the stop.
Flix Bus is a well-known European carrier that offers many direct flights from Prague to Vienna all day long. The first bus leaves at 02.30, the last one at 23.15. A total of 31 flights are scheduled per day.
You will spend an average of 4 hours on the road; the last bus takes 4 hours and 40 minutes. The cost ranges from 15.9 to 25.99 euros. Discounts are available for children under the age of 14.
Babies under 3 years old can only be transported in a child car seat. The presence of such an accessory must be ensured by the passenger.
A good opportunity to save money is to purchase a group ticket. A lower fare is offered for groups of 3 to 40 people.
During the booking process, the passenger can see if a special price is available for the selected flight. A group ticket can be purchased at least one day before travel.
It is convenient to view the schedule, book and redeem travel documents on the official website of the carrier.
In the Austrian capital, green Flix Bus buses arrive at the Erdberg bus station. It takes only 7 minutes to get to the city center from the station along the orange metro line. Also city buses no. 72A, N75, 80A run from Erdberg.
In Prague, regular buses of the Regio Jet and Flix Bus companies leave from the central Prague bus station Florenc. Whatever public transport you take to the station, you need to get off at the Florenc stop.
Metro lines B and C lead to the bus station. Tram no. 3, 8 and 24 can be reached during the day, and no. 92 runs at night. Buses 133, 135, 175, 194 and 207 also go to Florenc station.
To Vienna from Prague by plane
The flight from Prague to Vienna will only take about an hour, of course, you should take into account the time you spend on check-in and travel to / from the airport. But in any case, the plane is the fastest way to get to the Austrian capital from Prague.
This route is operated by MyAustrain. Austrian Airlines offers five direct flights Prague-Vienna.
If you buy tickets in advance, their cost can be as little as 82 euros one way. The closer the date of travel, the higher the price of the flight.
The first flight to Vienna leaves at 8.10, already at 9.10 you will land at the airport of the Austrian capital. The last plane on the given route leaves at 21.30, and you will spend only 45 minutes on the way. The interval between flights is on average 3 hours.
You can see the flight schedule and purchase a ticket on the airline's official website.
Prague airport. Vaclav Havel is the largest in the Czech Republic. It is located 17 km from the city center. This distance can be covered by metro, bus or taxi.
The bus stop is located at the arrivals area of terminals 1 and 2. Tickets for 1.25 euros can be bought at the terminal or from the driver.
From the metro station "Nadrazhi Veleslavin" (line A) there is a bus number 119, the travel time will be 15 minutes, from the station "Zlichin" (line B) - number 100, the bus trip will take 35 minutes.
Taxis in the Czech Republic are expensive, but many people choose this method of transportation to save time. A trip from the center of Prague to the airport will cost approximately 17 euros.
The City Airport Train runs from the airport in Vienna to the city center. It covers this distance in 16 minutes. The first train leaves at 5.00 and trains run at 30 minute intervals until 22.30. The ticket price is 9 euros.
It is cheaper to take the city train S7, which reaches the center in 25 minutes, and the ticket price is only 3.9 euros.
How to get there by car
If you have a driver's license and relevant driving experience (from 1 year), you can go on a trip in a rented car. A confident driver will spend approximately 4 hours on the road if driving on a short road. The distance between Vienna and Prague is 292 km, if you choose the optimal route: along the E50 and E59 highways through the cities of Jihlava and Znojmo.
Now you need to calculate the fuel consumption. For a liter of gasoline in the Czech Republic, you will have to pay 1.29 euros, diesel costs a little cheaper - 1.25 euros. On average, 9 liters of fuel are needed per 100 km. This means that you will need at least 30 liters of gasoline for the entire journey for a total of 35 euros. And this is only one way. Therefore, in order to make the route by car, you will have to spend at least 70 euros on fuel alone.
Several toll sections await along the way. For this reason, emphasize at the rental office that you are going to go to Austria, so you need a car with a vignette that gives you the right to travel on toll motorways. Otherwise, you will have to buy a sticker with a minimum expiration date at petrol stations.
The cost of the sticker in 2021 is € 9 for 10 days. If you are caught on Austrian motorways without a vignette, the fine will be € 120 if paid locally. The sticker must not be re-glued or mechanically damaged, otherwise such actions will be considered fraudulent, which will result in a fine of 240 euros.
However, the first thing you need to do is rent a car. The minimum average rental price per day is 30 euros. The price includes taxes, vignette (if notified by the customer), Schengen visa insurance and navigation equipment. When concluding a contract, the client may be charged a deposit of 370 euros or more - it depends on the rules of the company. Some rental companies are organizing a weekend promotion, giving discounts on rentals from Friday to Monday.
When concluding an agreement, be sure to inform that you are going to cross the border by car: an additional fee may be required. Check if there are any restrictions and how many kilometers the mileage should be.
You can rent a car at a rental company, for example, czech.myrentacar.com, or at the airport. Distributors' offices are usually located in the city center. You can also contact the company via the Internet by choosing a car model from the catalog. The rental procedure takes no more than 30 minutes. The client can order the delivery of the car to the chosen place.
If it is too expensive for you to travel by car on your own, you can use the BlaBlaCar service and become a travel companion. Drivers who set off on this route charge 11 euros per passenger.
Summarize
The Czech Republic and Austria are neighboring countries, so many tourists take the opportunity to visit both countries at once. Transport links are well established between Prague and Vienna, so you can get from one capital to another by land transport in an average of 4 hours.
To save on overnight stays, travelers take the overnight train.
Those who do not want to waste time on the road choose air travel.
Fans of complete freedom rent a car in order to have time to see all the main sights of Vienna in one day and not depend on the timetable of public transport.
With minimal financial investment, but in a comfortable environment, you can move by bus or train. A large number of flights during the day with a short interval will allow you to choose the right time for each tourist.
