If you’re putting together a travel itinerary through Central Europe, you can’t go wrong adding a short trip from Vienna to Český Krumlov.
This fairytale village in South Bohemia is an absolute treat to visit, and its small size means that a day or two is all that you need to see the best of Český Krumlov!
Whether you plan to continue north after visiting Český Krumlov (perhaps to Prague or Brno?), dip back into Austria, or something else entirely, a trip from Vienna to Český Krumlov is absolutely worth the time.
After spending a few days in Vienna, we found ourselves traveling from Vienna to Český Krumlov by train.
It was a fairly straightforward and entirely lovely trip! The views of the Austrian and Czech countryside are marvelous, the trains comfortable, and the journey enjoyable.
By traveling by train, we genuinely felt that we were able to add to rather than detract from our experience (and our general dislike of unnecessary bus travel helped that opinion along, as well).
It does require a few steps, but they’re fairly straightforward to navigate.
Here’s everything you need to know before boarding your train from Vienna to Český Krumlov!
Table of Contents
- Step-By-Step Guide to Traveling from Vienna to Český Krumlov By Train
- How to Reach the Center of Český Krumlov from the Train Station
-
Tips from Traveling from Vienna to Český Krumlov By Train
- Start by deciding when you plan to take the train from Linz to České Budějovice and work backward from there.
- Have your passport ready.
- Don’t plan to eat lunch at the České Budějovice station.
- Plan about 4.5 hours to reach Český Krumlov from Vienna.
- Remember, you’ll need to change currencies.
- These are all regional train routes, so they don’t require reservations.
- Where We Stayed in Český Krumlov
- Read More About Visiting Central Europe
Step-By-Step Guide to Traveling from Vienna to Český Krumlov By Train
Step One: Vienna to Linz
The trains from Vienna to Linz are near-constant, so when you decide when you want to travel from Vienna to Český Krumlov, check the schedule and start making a plan!
Vienna’s main train stations tend to run on the larger side, so before heading out the door, be sure to double-check which station you intend to leave from (most likely it will be Vienna HBF) and give yourself plenty of time to get there!
Step Two: Linz to České Budějovice
After arriving in Linz, it’s time to get ready to cross from Austria into the Czech Republic (or Czechia, if we’re being technical).
Trains run from Linz to České Budějovice roughly every 2 hours.
The Linz HBF train station is fairly easy to navigate, and there are a few restaurants and shops in the station if you’d like to grab a quick bite to eat while there.
You’ll want to avoid being hungry at the small České Budějovice station, which is your next stop, so better to grab snacks or a meal in Linz if needed.
Step Three: České Budějovice to Český Krumlov
The trains from České Budějovice to Český Krumlov are timed with the arrivals of the trains from Linz, so while you should double-check the schedule, you should be able to count on a short wait time in České Budějovice.
Unlike the other two trains on this route, the trains that run between České Budějovice and Český Krumlov are quite small, so be prepared for possible crowds.
On this train, we experienced standing room only when heading to Český Krumlov, but then enjoyed a completely empty train when we returned to Vienna via the same path.
How to Reach the Center of Český Krumlov from the Train Station
The best way to reach the center of Český Krumlov from the train station is to take a taxi.
Taxis tend to congregate in the parking lot in front of the station when trains arrive, but just in case there aren’t any nearby, there are large advertisements with phone numbers for several companies on the side of the building across the street from the train station.
You’ll definitely want to make sure that you have a phone that works in Czechia for this leg of the journey!
We used Green Taxi a couple of times while in Český Krumlov and had friendly and fair drivers both times, though it’s worth noting that the company has mixed reviews.
The rate for a taxi is roughly 100 Czech koruna, or a steeper rate of 4-5 Euro if your driver is willing to accept Euro instead of koruna.
Alternatively, you can walk about 25 minutes downhill into the town center, or take the bus from the nearby Špičák stop which will cut a solid portion of the walk.
Tips from Traveling from Vienna to Český Krumlov By Train
Start by deciding when you plan to take the train from Linz to České Budějovice and work backward from there.
Trains from Vienna to Linz are almost constant, and trains from České Budějovice to Český Krumlov are generally timed to work well with the times that trains arrive at České Budějovice.
Because of this, it’s the middle journey that you should plan first when deciding on your travel schedule.
Have your passport ready.
Since Austria and Czechia are both within the Schengen Zone, there is no formal border crossing to travel between them.
However, random identity checks may occur at any point, so be sure to have your passport and any applicable visas handy when you travel from Vienna to Český Krumlov!
Don’t plan to eat lunch at the České Budějovice station.
The station is very small, with just a few stands selling snacks, coffee, pastries, etc.
Better to pack something from Vienna, or just plan to eat a hearty Czech meal once you arrive in Český Krumlov!
Plan about 4.5 hours to reach Český Krumlov from Vienna.
On average, you can expect the 3 train rides, including transitions between them, to take about 4.5 hours.
While there are plenty of excellent day trips from Vienna out there, this isn’t one of them!
Remember, you’ll need to change currencies.
Though Czechia is part of the EU and Schengen Zone, it does not use the Euro as its currency.
While Euros are widely accepted in Český Krumlov, the exchange rate tends to be rather terrible. You’ll spend less if you pick up some Czech koruna during your visit.
We found that credit cards were accepted sporadically in Český Krumlov, but it wasn’t at all uncommon to come across restaurants that only took cash.
If you plan to stick to only paying with cards during your trip, be sure to inquire whether they’re accepted before sitting down for a meal.
These are all regional train routes, so they don’t require reservations.
If you decide to take a last-minute trip from Vienna to Český Krumlov, don’t worry: none of these trains require reservations or advance planning!
You can purchase tickets for the first two routes at the Vienna train station you intend to leave from right before departing, and you can purchase tickets for the České Budějovice to Český Krumlov route either at the České Budějovice station or on the train itself.
Where We Stayed in Český Krumlov
Penzion TOP — We loved this little place!
With clean and cozy rooms, a beautiful view of Český Krumlov, an extremely quick and easy walk into the city center, and an incredibly friendly owner.
We couldn’t ask for anything more–especially at their incredibly affordable prices.
Check rates & book your stay at Penzion Top!
Read More About Visiting Central Europe
Planning a trip through Central Europe soon?
We’d love to help you with your research!
You can browse all of our blog posts about Austria here, our blog posts about the Czech Republic here, or check out these guides:
- Salzburg in Winter: A Massively Detailed Guide
- Prague, Vienna, Budapest, Beyond: Epic Central Europe Itinerary
- How to Find 6 of the Absolute Best Views in Prague
- Prague or Budapest: Which One Should You Visit
- How to Plan an Epic 2 Week Europe Trip (+ Europe Itinerary Ideas!)
We will have an overnight layover in Vienna on our way to Morocco and on the way back. The first time will be pretty long as we will land around 2PM and leaving at 9AM the next day. On the way back we are landing at 7PM and leaving at 10AM the next day so we won’t have as much time. Any suggestions? We are staying near Wien Mitte station, and plan to walk around the downtown core, but we also want to visit the Schönbrunn Palace, which does not seem like it is walking distance.
If you’re going before Christmas, definitely the markets! The biggest one is at Rathausplatz, and Schonbrunn is lovely as well (you can basically throw a stone and hit a market in Vienna right now).
If you’re going after Christmas, Schonbrunn Palace is the perfect way to spend an afternoon–it probably won’t be walking distance, Vienna is pretty spread out, but it’s easy enough to get there on the tram.
I’d also recommend stopping by one of Vienna’s famous cafes–they’re beautiful and quite the experience! Cafe Central is well-known and within the historical center, as is Demel, which is well-known for its desserts. St. Stephen’s Basilica is also within walking distance from there and is worth ducking inside. It’s free to enter, and you can climb to the top for a small fee.
Thanks for all the suggestions. Unfortunately both times we will be there mostly for the evenings. We are going before Christmas and after. So when we are at the airport, do we buy the 24 hour pass and a zone 1 ticket?
I’d run the numbers to see if the pass is worth it, but otherwise yes! A single ride is 2.4 Euros.
I appreciate your detailed information on travel from Vienna to Cesky Krumlov. We will fly from Texas to Vienna, arriving Oct. 23 with plans to spend time in Melk & Vienna (for the 2nd time) before going to Cesky Krumlov on Oct 28 & on to Prague Oct. 30. We had planned to use CK Shuttle to Cesky Krumlov but just learned they aren’t operating due to Covid-19. I am trying to decipher train/bus possibilities. Apparently you advise going via Linz, then Ceske Budejoivce. I didn’t realize trains run from the latter to Cesky Krumlov or how reliable they are. Our Vienna hotel is across from the Westbahnhof. If you can provide ANY current hints, we would be extremely appreciative. Your positive enthusiasm makes me feel we can accomplish this. Also, would you buy a substantial amount of Euros before arriving in Vienna? Thanks so very much!
Hi Barb! Unfortunately, I haven’t personally experienced this route in a post-covid world, so I can’t speak to that. I’d recommend asking someone on the ground in Vienna just to double-check, though I’m fairly confident that you’ll still be able to get to Cesky Krumlov by train without issue!
Personally, we don’t buy Euros in advance before heading to Europe, but instead withdraw them from the ATM once we arrive–it’s generally much more efficient that way! Just be sure to set a travel notification on your debit card before leaving the country so your bank doesn’t lock your card (a lot banks will even let you do it online now).
Dear Kate,
I enjoyed your write up about your trip and admired you’re travelling lifestyle. It will be my maiden trip to Central EU, as will be in Budapest from 28th – 31st August. As from Budapest, I intend to move on to visit to Vienna, Cresky Kumlov, Krakow (Auschwitz), Prague and fly back from Berlin to LHR on 12 Sept 23. What will be your advice on the flow of itinerary for the mentioned destinations? Hope I am not too imposing, and your kind advice will be appreciated.
Thank You, Ian
Hi Ian,
Happy to help!
The order you’ve laid out is pretty much what I would do, except I’d go from Vienna to Cesky Krumlov and then on to Krakow. You should be able to use trains for every transition if you like, though check buses too if you’re on a strict budget–they’ll probably be cheaper.
You might also look into the sleeper train from Prague to Krakow for a fun experience!
We do have guides to every destination you mentioned except Vienna and Berlin on Our Escape Clause as well, and many guides to Budapest. Here are a few that might be helpful:
Budapest: https://www.ourescapeclause.com/3-days-in-budapest-itinerary/
Auschwitz: https://www.ourescapeclause.com/visit-auschwitz-from-krakow-tour/
Krakow: https://www.ourescapeclause.com/krakowpoland/
Cesky Krumlov (most things still apply to summer): https://www.ourescapeclause.com/cesky-krumlov-in-winter/
Hope you have an incredible trip!