What are the visa requirements for traveling to Prague from Dresden?
As both cities are within the Schengen Area, travelers typically do not need a visa for short stays. This applies to citizens of Schengen Area countries, who can move freely across member states. However, non-EU citizens should check entry requirements based on their nationality.
Are there good day-trip opportunities from Prague?
Definitely! Everyone who visits Prague should make a trip to the UNESCO-listed town of Kutn├б Hora, with its historic silver mines and Gothic architecture, and the impossibly charming ─Мesk├╜ Krumlov (also a UNESCO World Heritage Site). Brno and Vienna are less than 4 hours away if you start the day early.
How much is a train ticket from Dresden to Prague?
A train ticket typically costs between $68 (63 euros) and $128 (119 euros), depending on the class and when you booked. The transit takes around two hours. Keep in mind if youтАЩre carrying heavy luggage, this might not be the best option for you.
What is the best way to get from Dresden to Prague?
The best way to get from Dresden to Prague is by using DaytripтАЩs private car service. ItтАЩs convenient. Each vehicle is clean, fully airconditioned, and smoke-free. Each car has seats for your kids, is handicapped-accessible, and is driven by an English-speaking driver. And best of all, you can stop for sightseeing on the way!
Is Dresden close to Prague?
Yes, Dresden is relatively close to Prague, with a driving distance of just 93 miles (150 kilometers). Because they're so close, it is a popular route for locals and visitors alike.
What is the cheapest way to get from Dresden to Prague?
The most economical option is by bus, which offers several daily low-cost services between these cities, with tickets starting at just $9 (тВм8). However, the bus is slightly slower and less comfortable than the train.
Traveling from Dresden to Prague takes you to the heart of Central Europe. The Czech RepublicтАЩs capital, Prague, has been awarded as a leading cultural destination. Several transportation options exist between these cities, such as taking a car. The distance spans approximately 93 miles (150 kilometers), and the route takes about two hours.
Driving gives travelers the freedom to explore landmarks, from natural vistas to bustling cities. One of these is the Elbe River Valley, famous for its design dating back to the Industrial Revolution. You can also head to the landscapes of the Bohemian Highlands, which is split by this river.
Along the way, you can stop to stretch your legs exploring the fantastic rock formations of Bastei in тАЬSaxon Switzerland,тАЭ scale the mountaintop Konigstein fortress, admire the charming architecture of Litom─Ы┼Щice, or learn about the low point of the 20th century at the Terezin concentration camp. These stops can turn your two-hour road trip into an enriching adventure, and they will get you ready to explore Prague!
About Prague
Going from Dresden to Prague brings you to a city touted as a true escape from the modern world. For one, the most revered musicians in the world etched their lives here. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart considers Prague his home. It was also where his Prague Symphony and Don Giovanni were first performed. The city holds a spring music festival each year to commemorate the music of great Czech composers Anton├нn Dvo┼Щ├бk, Bed┼Щich Smetana, and Leo┼б Jan├б─Нek.
As you set foot here, youтАЩll fall in love with its beautiful Gothic cathedrals, Baroque palaces, and hundreds of gardens across the city. Whether youтАЩre fond of marveling at architecture or a history buff, thereтАЩs really nowhere better to be. From the Prague Castle to the heart of the Old Town Square, you can easily spend your day discovering the cityтАЩs finest attractions.
Prague was founded in the ninth century and later became the capital of the Kingdom of Bohemia and a cultural hub of Central Europe. During the 1300s, it thrived under Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV. The city has endured the toughest times, such as the HabsburgsтАЩ rule. It was also one of the settings for the Protestant Reformation. Later on, it was occupied by the Nazis and Soviets.
This history shaped how the city looks today. HereтАЩs a list of some of the best places to visit when you get to Prague:
Knowing these tips will help make your Dresden to Prague visit a hassle-free experience.
Learn a few basic Czech phrases
Czechs are big on formality. Every conversation should start with dobr├╜ den (good day) and end with d─Ыkuji (thank you). Pros├нm is please and you're welcome. You'll be using that a lot. Learning these and a few other key phrases (pivo is beer) will allow you to interact with the locals and show respect for Czech culture. Statistics show that only about 45 percent of the population speaks some level of English. Czechs know their language is hard and appreciate the effort!
### Be aware of the local customs and legal requirements
For instance, if you're driving yourself, you need a vignette to drive on certain highways in the Czech Republic. DonтАЩt worry though, you can purchase this at most border crossings or gas stations. Or as mentioned above, always say hello, please, and thank you.
### Carry cash
While digital payments are widely accepted, some smaller shops, local restaurants, and street food stalls are still cash-only. When you get to Prague, be sure to withdraw some Czech koruna (use a bank ATM) for purchases in places that do not accept cards.
How to get from Dresden to Prague
Dresden and Prague are only separated by a distance of 93 miles (150 kilometers). Being two important Central European cities, theyтАЩre well connected, so you have plenty of transportation options.
Dresden to Prague by bus
The bus is the cheapest way to get from Dresden to Prague and is popular with visitors and locals alike. Fares start at just $9 (тВм8), so buses often sell out, especially in the summer. If you are traveling on a budget, make sure to book in advance since tickets have been known to soar to $119 (тВм111) at peak travel times. The bus isnтАЩt without drawbacks though. Along with being crowded, theyтАЩre less spacious in general, especially with their under-stairs bathroom. And the ride can take longer.
### Dresden to Prague by train
The train from Dresden to Prague provides a balance of speed and scenic travel, with direct connections linking the two cities in approximately two hours. This offers the comfort of larger seating areas, on-train amenities like a dining car, and the convenience of frequent departures from Dresden Hauptbahnhof to Prague Hlavn├н N├бdra┼╛├н.
### Dresden to Prague by plane
DonтАЩt bother. While both cities have airports, there are no direct flights because theyтАЩre so close together. The airfare costs around $285 (тВм265) and the time of the journey can take more than eight hours, excluding airport processes, because most flights aren't direct and will have layovers in different cities.
### Dresden to Prague by boat
Yes, it is also possible to travel part of the way from Dresden to Prague by boat but note that this is not the most popular and straightforward method. The boat ride typically involves taking a cruise along the Elbe from Dresden to Decin. From Decin, youтАЩd have to take a bus to Melnik to get another boat to Prague, or just take the bus all the way to Prague. While the river is scenic, weтАЩd recommend just arranging a river cruise once you get to Prague.
### Dresden to Prague by car
If youтАЩre planning on exploring the Czech countryside after you get to Prague, driving a rental car is an option. It only takes two hours depending on traffic and road conditions. From Dresden, youтАЩll drive along the A17 Motorway before you cross the Czech border and then traverse the D8 Motorway. While the drive itself is pretty easy, we donтАЩt recommend this option.
Navigating PragueтАЩs narrow streets can be harrowing, especially with trams whizzing by mere inches away. Also parking in the city is difficult unless itтАЩs provided by your accommodation. Finally, you donтАЩt need a car to get around Prague, and the robust bus and train network can easily get you to the top sights outside the city.
### Dresden to Prague with Daytrip
If you want the freedom of driving without any of the drawbacks, you want a private car transfer with Daytrip. With Daytrip, you can look forward to an English-speaking driver picking you up at your accommodation in Dresden and handling your luggage before whisking you away on the road to Prague.
Along the way you can talk about local history and culture or get insider insights on things to do when you get to Prague. But best of all, Daytrip lets you stop for sightseeing along the way, so you can easily experience more of Germany and the Czech Republic before you're dropped off at your final destination in Prague.
Things to do when you get to Prague
After your trip from Dresden, youтАЩll be raring to explore the Czech capital. Here are some of the best things to do when you get to Prague:
Historic Prague
Prague was largely untouched by World War II, so itтАЩs one of the best-preserved historic cities in Europe. In fact, its entire Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site! If you want to experience the cityтАЩs rich history and magnificent architecture, start your visit at the Old Town Square.
From here you can follow the тАЬRoyal WayтАЭ through the medieval heart of Prague, past significant landmarks such as the Old Town Hall, and the Astronomical Clock, across Charles Bridge, through the Mala Strana, and up to Prague Castle. If youтАЩre spending more than a few days in Prague, itтАЩs a great idea to dedicate more time to exploring each area
Art and music
Prague has witnessed remarkable moments in history for art and music. Thus, thereтАЩs no better place to immerse in them than here. Start your day at the National Gallery Prague, showcasing collections spanning from Medieval to contemporary art.
To continue your artistic escapades check out the Rudolfinum and the DOX Center for Contemporary Art. The Rudolfinum hosts the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra and the latter offers exhibitions in a modern architectural setting. For art nouveau enthusiasts, head to the Municipal House, which also dazzles spectators with classical music performances.
Activities for kids
There may be no Disneyland in Prague, but kids will love it here too. The Prague Zoo ranks among the world's best, featuring diverse animal exhibits and interactive zones.
Petrin Hill, accessible via a funicular ride, has gardens to explore. Then, you have the Petrin Observation Tower for panoramic views. Nearby, the Mirror Maze adds an element of fun and discovery for children.
Local flavors
Want to introduce your palate to Czech dishes? Then Prague is the perfect place. Taste test the cityтАЩs culinary delights with traditional local dishes and favorites. First-timers should try sv├н─Нkov├б (slices of beef in a vegetable cream sauce with steamed dumplings), sma┼╛en├╜ s├╜r (Czech fried cheese), chleb (Czech bread), and chleb├н─Нky (Czech-style open-faced sandwiches).
End your meal with something sweet. Although itтАЩs not actually a Czech dish, all throughout the city, you can find trdeln├нk, a cinnamon-sugar pastry often filled with ice cream or whipped cream. For something more traditional, keep your eye out for a cukr├бrna (pastry shop) and get yourself a decadent pastry (expect a lot of cream fillings).
Some restaurants to try are Restaurant Ml├╜nec, La Degustation Boh├кme, and Kant├╜na.
Explore the city
Beyond its main attractions, Prague is hiding tons of тАЬInstagrammableтАЭ locations. Snap a few flicks and visit Vy┼бehrad for a relaxing respite.
Then, you can pose by the John Lennon Wall to take pictures with a landmark that symbolizes peace and artistic expression.
Circling back to PragueтАЩs gardens, Vojan Gardens can give you a place to kick back and watch the clouds. After you leave PragueтАЩs oldest garden, you can wander through Kampa IslandтАЩs canals.
You might also want to see some modern art installations nearby, such as тАЬBabies,тАЭ a series of sculptures by David ─Мern├╜.
When is the best time to visit Prague
Tourists heading from Dresden to Prague must know that the optimal time to visit the Czech capital is during the spring and early fall when the weather is mild. Temperatures range from 50┬░F to 70┬░F (10┬░C to 21┬░C), so the climate is ideal for outdoor activities and exploring the city on foot. Even better, the city also wonтАЩt be overcrowded with tourists.
Visiting during these months allows you to experience Prague's Easter markets and the famous Prague Spring Music Festival, a month-long celebration from May to June. These events will give you that chance to see Prague's cultural heritage and break out a few dance moves.
Alternatively, if you love Christmas, come in the winter. From the end of November, holiday festivities take over the city, and many of Prague's many squares fill with festive Christmas Markets. Get some mulled wine, sausages, and fried bread, and enjoy the special performances and twinkling Christmas lights!
Located on the banks of the River Elbe and only a short distance from central Dresden, Pillnitz Castle is architecturally unique and visually stunning.┬аThe Castle With Three Palaces┬а
Bastei
The Bastei is a one million-year-old rock formation regarded by many as the highlight of the Saxon Switzerland National Park in Germany.┬аNature at its finest┬а
Weesenstein
Tucked away in the pleasant countryside south of Dresden, Weesenstein is a majestic site perched on its wooded eyrie above the valley.┬аGlorious castle overlooking the M├╝glitz valley┬а
Konigstein
A castle has stood atop Koingstein Hill since 1233 and it has a history just as long, varied and exciting as one would expect!┬аA Hilltop Fortress Like No Other┬а
Litomerice
This sleepy medieval village on the Elbe River has a beautiful town square lined with Gothic, Baroque, and Renaissance buildings.┬аA Quiet Elegance┬а
Terezin
With the greater part of the Czech Tourism Industry focused on distant centuries it's important to be aware how profoundly the horrors of the Twentieth Century marked the country.┬аGestapo Prison and Concentration Camp┬а
тАЬWe booked this last minute and late at night...and we received exceptional communicaiton and service. The day trip from Prague to Dresden with 3 stops along the way was superb. The driver Erik was very polite and professional. The car was spotlessly clean and water was provided. We thoroughly enjoyed the day and would book this again without hesitation.тАЭ
тАЬWe booked 3 seperate journeys with Daytrip to provide us with transport during our European holiday in August 2017. In order they were; Berlin to Dresden followed a few days later by Dresden to Prague & lastly from Prague to Budapest. As it turned out we had the same driver for each journey, - Tomas R who is based in Prague. These comments, therefore, relate to all 3 trips.
For each Journey we had selected a number of sightseeing stop overs from the available selection provided by Daytrip. Each was very worthwhile & was something we would not otherwise have seen if we had not used Daytrip. Our driver Tomas was absolutely amazing & we cannot speak highly enough of him. At all times we felt extremely safe with Tomas behind the wheel & always arrived at our end destination on or about the estimated arrival time. His car was so clean and comfortable- Not only was Tomas a wonderful driver he was also an amazing guide & an endless source of information regarding each of the places we visited & many other things that we asked questions about on each of the routes we travelled. Was always happy to stop when requested.
Being picked up and dropped off from Hotel to Hotel-saved time, money and anxiety! Definitely the very best way to travel.
Over 3 seperate days we got to know Tomas quite well & found him to very friendly & a great communicator who spoke english very well. He was extremely patient in dealing with our numerous questions & went well beyond simply being our driver. I would not hesitate to use Daytrip again when next in Europe & would be more than delighted if Tomas was,again, our driver.
Thanks to both Daytrip & Tomas for making our holiday extra special.
Debra &Mike AustraliaтАЭ
тАЬMy sister and I had booked transfers from Warsaw to Krakow, Krakow to Prague, Prague to Dresden and Dresden to Cesky Krumlov. We thought we would have a variety of drivers, and Jan S who drove us from Warsaw to Krakow was an excellent driver and very pleasant person. We were pleased with our first Daytrip experience. After our Krakow/Prague transfer with Michal I (Mike) we asked if we would be able to have the same driver (he lived in Prague) for our other transfers. Fortunately this request was able to be facilitated. Mike also was a very good driver. Often people who drive a lot themselves are nervous when driven by someone else. We did not feel at all nervous with him as he was a sensible and alert driver who read and pre-empted the traffic well and acted accordingly - i.e. slowed down well ahead of time instead of slamming the brakes at the last minute! So, Mike was our driver from Krakow to Prague, Prague to Dresden and Dresden to Cesky Krumlov.
Apart from the safe driving, our driver, was a friendly, courteous, sensible and punctual person whose company we enjoyed. The fact that he spoke fluent English and fluent Czech (being of Scottish/Czech parents) was a real bonus because we were able to speak normally to him in a relaxed way (rather than having to carefully choose words that a non-natural-English-speaking driver would understand). Mike's ability to speak Czech equally well/naturally was very helpful with menus or other questions we had at road stops, etc. He showed initiative in finding suitable places for lunch at our side-trip stops. We would certainly recommend Michal (Mike) and should we return to Eastern Europe we would have no hesitation in requesting him as our driver in the future. We found communication with Daytrip easy - they were very professional in responding to emails at the original booking stage and provided us with contact details and name/s of the driver. It might be good if the drivers wore the same coloured and type of shirts or polo tops bearing the Daytrip logo so they were recognisable in the foyer of hotels (and this would be good for business as well!). All in all, we would highly recommend Daytrip. (Just be aware, though, that the vehicles are not black Mercedes such as you would find in Italy for similar trips - still they were newish cars, but perhaps not as large). Well done Daytrip! And how good it was not to have to worry about our luggage being taken into and out of the hotel foyers. Thank you!тАЭ
тАЬJana Mitrjukova was friendly, drives safe and flexible to accommodate us taking time to explore and take pictures. The car was clean and Jana provided excellent customer service. Highly recommend Daytrip for traveling between cities.тАЭ
Tripadvisor рдпрд╛рддреНрд░реА Helen W рджреНрд╡рд╛рд░рд╛ рд╕рдореАрдХреНрд╖рд╛ рдХреА рдЧрдИ
тАЬTransfer by car was so convenient, with pickup at our hotel in Prague and arrival at our hotel in Dresden. Our driver Marketa was very accommodating, assisted us with our luggage, accompanied us at Bastei and Moritzburg. Seeing the countryside was additional value. She found us a great authentic German restaurant along the way, and also served as our photographer. It was definitely worth the extra money over taking a train.тАЭ
тАЬI booked this trip with Daytrip over the internet even though the train would have been a straight forward and easy method of transport. I liked the flexibility of travelling with Daytrip because it meant we could choose stops along the way and there was door to door service. It was also reasonable value. We were not disappointed. Our driver Thomas was friendly, helpful and full of information. It was a great idea to travel through little towns rather than the train. I highly recommend this service.тАЭ
тАЬWe are so excited to have discovered Daytrip! My husband has a health condition and walking can be difficult for him. Day trip proved to be the perfect solution! We traveled from Prague to Dresden in July with stops at Terezin Concentration Camp, Konigstein, and Bastei. Our guide, Marketa, was outstanding! She arrived promptly (actually she was a bit early which is always nice) at our hotel in Prague and was friendly, kind, interesting and knowledgeable. She was very considerate and accommodating of my husband's condition throughout our travels and tailored her pace to his. She also brought water bottles for each of us which was super thoughtful and appreciated. We learned much about Terezin and found our time there to be very humbling and sober - it was a highlight of our stay in the Czech Republic. Konigstein is a German cliffside fortress. It is a remarkable feat of engineering and the views from the fortress are AMAZING! The Bastei (also known as the Saxon Switzerland) is breathtaking. The rock formations are incredible and the views spectacular. Just FYI, I contacted Daytrip ahead of time to see if we could spend more time in each of the locations than is typically allotted and was told that is possible for an added expense (which we were happy to pay). At the end of our travels Marketa dropped us off at our hotel in Dresden making sure we were settled before she left. We totally enjoyed every minute of our day and it was a pleasure getting to know Marketa - she was fabulous!тАЭ
