Is there a reason to prefer the bus to the train in the Czech Republic?
I'm traveling to Brno for a conference, and am making last-minute travel plans. The recommendation is to fly into Vienna and take ground transportation from there, as Brno's own airport is very small. Someone at the office here in the US suggested that there's a bus between the two cities, but, of course there's also the train, and the conference info page suggests that they're about the same price. A couple of decades ago I took the train from Dresden to Prague, and that was fine.
In my mind, trains are pretty much always better than buses, but I don't know how things stand in the Czech Republic. Would there be any particular advantage to the bus?
Best Answer
There can be a few reasons, generically, why the bus can be better than the train:
- sometimes, the bus is faster! For example, from Buenos Aires to Rosario (Argentina), the bus is faster than the horrendously slow train.
- sometimes the bus is cheaper! (Although you've mentioned in this case it's not). In the previous example, the bus is also cheaper than the train (no idea why anyone takes that train except for perhaps the next reason....)
- sometimes, the schedule is better. Trains and buses aren't always a regular thing - they may leave hours apart, or twice a week, for example. Check out the schedule, it might be more convenient to arrive when the bus arrives.
- some buses have wifi, in my experience - more often than trains do. So if you're after that, it could be useful.
- buses quite often run from the airport, meaning you don't have to worry about getting from an airport to the city's train station.
For getting to Brno, Wikivoyage notes that there are several options, and indeed you could even fly into Prague and get there in under 3 hours by train, while there are also frequent buses from the Prague airport itself, which might be more convenient for you. Have a read of the page, you may see an option which is more preferable to you.
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Is a bus better than a train?
Trains offer fewer departure and arrival times- For most popular routes, there are only one or two trains operating per day. You have to leave at those times. Buses often operate on a much more regular schedule. For example, between two big cities, there may be a bus leaving every half hour.Is public transport in Prague good?
Prague has one of the best public transportation systems in Europe. The metro, trams and buses are used by two-thirds of Prague's population and cover the majority of the city and outskirts. The metro especially makes getting around town a breeze since it enables you to cover long distances in a matter of minutes.What is the best way to get around Prague?
The best way to get around Prague is on foot or by public transportation. Exploring this city on foot is a treat for the eyes, plus many of the most noteworthy attractions are within walking distance of one another. What's more, several of the city's top guided tours are walking tours.How is public transport in Czech?
The Czech Republic has one of the most dense railway networks in Europe and a sophisticated system of bus transportation. Both trains and buses are reliable. A comprehensive system for looking up departures of trains and buses all around the Czech Republic is to be found here.Best Way to Travel in the Czech Republic - Train info
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