Three imperial capitals linked by rail
This is leg 1 of 2, the opening leg.
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Travel leg · Prague, Vienna & Budapest
Prague and Vienna sit about 251 km (156 mi) apart in a straight line, with Vienna to the south-east. It is leg 1 of 2 on our Prague, Vienna & Budapest itinerary, a 9-day trip. It crosses from Czechia into Austria. Here is how long it takes by train, what to see on the way and where it fits in a real itinerary.


Road distance is estimated as 1.2–1.4× the straight line; drive time assumes average speeds of 65–95 km/h with no stops or traffic. These are rough estimates — check a maps app for the actual route.
We don't have live routing data, so the figures below are labelled estimates built from the straight-line distance. Use them to plan the day, then confirm in a maps app.
Our Prague, Vienna & Budapest itinerary is planned around rail, so a train is the likely way to cover this leg. Timetables and direct connections vary — check the operator before you book.
Driving is an estimated 301–351 km (187–218 mi) and 3 h 15 min – 5 h 30 min at typical average speeds, not a routed time.
Direct trains run Prague–Vienna (about 4 hours) and Vienna–Budapest (about 2.5 hours); book ahead on ČD, ÖBB or MÁV for lower fares. Within each city, trams and metros cover everything, and the old centers are walkable.
Picks from our curated guides at both ends.
Palaces, world-class art and coffeehouse culture. Stay 3 days.

Habsburg summer palace with 1,441 rooms and formal gardens up to the Gloriette.

One of the world's top opera houses, with daily performances most of the year.

Long open-air market with produce stalls, delis and casual eateries.

Classic 1880 coffeehouse with billiard tables and slow, formal service.

Heuriger wine tavern in a house where Beethoven lived, serving its own Vienna wines.

Grand hotel opposite the State Opera, home of the original Sachertorte.
Gothic spires, a hilltop castle and cheap, excellent beer. Stay 3 days.
Where Prague → Vienna sits in the full itinerary. Highlighted stops are this leg.
Three imperial capitals linked by rail
This is leg 1 of 2, the opening leg.
Going the other way? Vienna to Prague is the same 251 km in a straight line, heading north-west. Reverse directions in Google Maps ↗
The biggest gap comes in November, when Vienna averages highs 2°C warmer than Prague.
| Measure | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prague high | 2° | 4° | 9° | 15° | 20° | 24° | 27° | 26° | 21° | 14° | 8° | 3° |
| Vienna high | 3° | 5° | 10° | 17° | 21° | 25° | 28° | 27° | 22° | 16° | 9° | 4° |
| Prague rain | 42 | 32 | 39 | 36 | 69 | 78 | 79 | 81 | 53 | 46 | 43 | 41 |
| Vienna rain | 42 | 38 | 46 | 41 | 85 | 91 | 88 | 86 | 79 | 54 | 45 | 42 |
Temperatures in °C, rain in mm per month. Long-term monthly averages from NASA POWER satellite climatology — a guide to typical conditions, not a forecast. Month headings link to Vienna month guides.
Prague is about 251 km (156 mi) from Vienna in a straight line, with Vienna to the south-east. By road, we estimate 301–351 km (187–218 mi), or 1.2–1.4 times the straight line. Check a maps app for the exact route.
An estimated 3 h 15 min – 5 h 30 min, assuming 301–351 km of road at average speeds of 65–95 km/h with no stops or traffic. It is not a routed time, so check a maps app on the day. Our itinerary leans on rail, so check train times too.
Our Prague, Vienna & Budapest itinerary includes this leg. Prague, Vienna & Budapest runs about 9 days across 3 stops, best in Apr – Jun, Sep – Oct.
Add this leg to a shared itinerary, poll the group on where to stop, split fuel and tickets, and keep everyone's packing list in one place in TripsCircle.