Prague and Vienna are two capital cities in Central Europe, known for their historic beauty. Prague is known for its beautiful Old Town and being known as one of the most picturesque cities in Europe. Vienna is known for its grand palaces and for being a hub for the arts. If you are trying to decide between Prague or Vienna, here is the ultimate city comparison to help you decide.
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Prague or Vienna Overview
Prague
Prague is the capital city of the Czech Republic. It is often regarded as being the “Heart of Europe” because it is the capital of the country that is closest to being smack dab in the middle of the continent. Prague is a city straight out a storybook. Charles Bridge and Prague Castle are two landmarks that are so photogenic that people travel across the world to see them. The city is the 4th most visited city in Europe, so there are quite a few tourists roaming around but for good reason.
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city in Austria with 1.9 million residents. It is best known for its beautiful architecture and world-renowned palaces. It quickly becomes obvious that Vienna was one of the wealthiest cities in the world for centuries. Vienna is often ranked for having the highest quality of living in the world. It is also regarded as the World’s Capital of Music due in part by the fact that Mozart, Beethoven, and Johann Straus called Vienna home. Vienna is located in the middle of Europe making smelting-pot for travelers from all over the world.
Places to See
Prague
Prague Castle was built in the 9th century and is the official office of the President of the Czech Republic.
Charles Bridge was the only way to cross the Vltava River for centuries. Construction started on the bridge in 1357.
Old Town Square is one of the most historic and well-recognized town squares in the world.
The Prague Astronomical Clock was originally installed in 1410. It is the 3rd oldest astronomical clock in the world and the oldest one still working.
Wenceslas Square is in the New Town of Prague and is the part of town where many city events are held.
Vienna
Schonbrunn Palace was the main summer residence for the Habsburg rulers. It has been open to tourists since the 1950s.
The Hofburg used to be the imperial residence of the Hofburg rulers. It is now the official residence and workplace of the President of Austria.
St. Stephen’s Cathedral is one of the biggest churches in Vienna and is the seat of the Archbishop of Vienna.
Belvedere Palace is another large palace within Vienna. It is known for its beautiful gardens.
The Austrian National Museum is the largest museum in Austria. It was established in 1368 and now has over 12 million items in the collection.
Food
Prague
Sausages are staples in the cuisine scene in Prague. There are many varieties of sausages the Czech people like, including pickled sausage. Goulash is one of the most famous dishes to come from the Czech Republic. Roast pork served as an entrée is another favorite here. The Czech Republic is home to the highest beer consumption per capita in the world. Pilsners originated in the Czech city of Pilsen so it is no wonder they drink so much beer.
Vienna
One of Austria’s most famous dishes is Wiener Schnitzel. Wiener Schnitzel is breaded veal that is pan-fried in butter. Vienna Sausages are also known around the world. Vienna Sausages are traditionally made using pork and beef stuffed into sheeps’ intestine. When it comes to desserts, Apfelstrudel or apple strudel, is one of the most popular tasty treats to get in Vienna.
Getting Around
Prague
Prague has a great network of different modes of public transportation. For traveling shorter distances in here you should consider walking or using the trams. If you want to travel a longer distance, you will want to take the metro. Once you leave the center of the city you can use the city’s bus line. Most of the city center is very walkable, however.
Vienna
Vienna is known for having a great network of public transportation with the subway, train, tram, and bus systems. Some of Vienna’s biggest attractions are on the outskirts of the city so you will want to use public transportation during your time here. It all runs on the honor system so there are no ticket barriers on any form of transportation. Though it runs off the honor system, you should buy a ticket because random ticket checks are common and you could get a hefty fine without a ticket.
Nightlife
Prague
Prague is full of bars and pubs but many of them are just tourist traps. Most locals will stay away from the bars deemed as tourist traps. If you are into the club scene, you should definitely check out Cross, Palac Akropolis, Lucerna Music Bar, and Roxy. Even though the Czech people drink A LOT of beer, the club scene can be just as big of pull to the Prague nightlife as the bars. The biggest takeaway here is to try to go to establishments that aren’t just tourists there because the locals know what places are best.
Vienna
Vienna was ranked as one of the best cities in the world for young adults so it is no wonder there is a thriving nightlife scene here. There are also over 200,000 university students in Vienna which ensure that the nightlife is alive and well. There are many bars here that have live music every night of the week. There are also quite a few clubs to choose from. Two of the best clubs are Volksgarten and Grelle Forelle.
Day Trips
Prague
Cesky Krumlov is a picturesque town to the south of Prague. You could easily spend the night here because of its beauty.
Český ráj, otherwise known as Bohemian Paradise is an area of protected land worth exploring.
Karlovy Vary is a popular resort town because of the thermal springs it sits on. It is about 2 hours from Prague.
Kutna Hora is a small town to the east of Prague. It is known for St. Barbara’s Church which sits on the hill above the town.
Not far from Prague is the German city of Dresden, which would be a fantastic city to explore for a night or two.
Vienna
Liechtenstein Castle is only 20 minutes from Vienna, making it a very easy journey.
Melk Abbey is a large Benedictine abbey that is perched on top of a hill in Melk. It is roughly 50 minutes from Vienna.
Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia. The city is only an hour away from Vienna and would be excellent for exploring for a day or two.
Budapest is under three hours away from Vienna, making it another great option if you have a few extra days to spare.
Overview
Prague and Vienna are two beautiful capital cities in Central Europe. Prague is known for its incredible Old Town and its for having one of the largest castle complexes in the world. Vienna is known for its grand palaces and beautiful architecture. Both cities have an abundance of sights to see, although, Vienna seems a lot more spread out than Prague. Prague is definitely the cheaper city to visit but it is also packed full of tourists. If you are in the history of Central Europe and going to museums, you should go to Vienna. If you only care about exploring a picturesque city, Prague is the perfect city for you.