Salzburg versus Cesky Krumlov

Kim C · April 11

We are on The Blue Danube Prague to Budapest beginning May 27, 2024! If anyone has visited both Salzburg and Cesky Krumlov, please let me know which one you would choose for your excursion. I have researched both and they look equally wonderful. Thanks for your advice!

AlanS · April 11

Do both- arrive a day early and hire a guide and driver to take you to Cesky Krumlov. We used Rick Steves recommended Prague Walker. Despite the long drive, if you get an early start (the hotel packed us box brunches), you will be able to spend more time in Cesky Krumlov than Tauck does- I know that for a fact because we arrived there at the same time a Tauck bus from the westbound cruise arrived. They were gone well before we left to return to Prague. If your guide was as great as ours, Tereza, you can really get a lot of info about the country and town during the drive. We also hired her for a tour of the Jewish Quarter the previous day so we could do another Tauck option after the tour started. We saw Salzburg (for the second and third time for us) with Tauck a few days later. It depends on what interests you. I would say there is more to see in Salzburg, but I really enjoyed both.

MikeHenderson · April 11

If you go to Salzburg, go to the Augustiner Bräu Kloster Mülln beerhall. Best beerhall I've been in.

Much, much better than the Hofbräuhaus in Munich. The Hofbräuhaus is a tourist place. Augustiner is a beer hall that locals go to.

Choc · April 11

My vote, Salzburg

wanderingstar · April 11

I agree with Choc. Salzburg is a beautiful walking city. I have Austrian friends who visited me in Salzburg during a Junior Year abroad. May is a great time to visit. Rick Steves has a YouTube video whenyou search for Salzburg on Google.

gladysorlando984 · April 11

I you have to choose go to Cesky Krumlov, if you take other river cruises or land with Tauck eventually you'll be able to go to Salzburg of course going to both places is the best choice.

wildcat03 · April 11

Have done this trip. Salzburg is more touristy.while CK is very quaint and lovely. If I could only do one I would choose CK.

mil · April 12

Went to both, both are beautiful!

Salzburg

If you like classical music and like Mozart, you would find interesting the Mozart's House, also you could enjoy eating Mozart Balls.
A stroll around the Maribell gardens it's nice and the views of the castle/river are incredible. At the Maribell gardens - there is always live music- and lots of flowers, also there is the Cathedral at the city center, then the Opera House, built inside a rock , you could do a day tours inside. You could also visit the Castle above the city- great views and as you come down on a cable car... across from the Funicular entrance there is a pet's cemetery, very cute!
Also, a couple of miles from the center there is the Schloss Hellbrunn- palace with tricky water fountains.
And the last thing, which I cannot stand... the infamous Sound of Music tour. YUK!!!!
Sorry, I don't like musicals on TV or Julie Andrews.

Cesky Krumlov it's beautiful too but smaller and with limited things to see, compared to Salzburg.
They have a great Baroque- Rennaissant castle in which you'll see the coat of arms etc.. you will also visit the beautiful Baroque theater which it's well preserve and from the bridge connecting both also the views of the city center, houses and surroundings.
At the city center you could visit a church, next to a beer pub and the main square with shops. - not much more..
Driving to both it's great and the scenery beautiful.

Take your pick according to your interest. If you have a day off from Tauck tour , do CK on your own.