Vienna or Prague? How to choose between two magnificent European capitals which each have many tourist attractions and rich cultural and architectural heritages? To decide between Vienna and Prague, the best is to refer to the selection criteria that can influence the success of a trip.
Vienna vs Prague: the comparison criteria
Knowing how to determine the selection criteria is essential to be able to designate the ideal destination. To do this, we can base ourselves on the tourist assets of each city, of course, but also on certain factors such as the climate, the budget, the quality of life or the various activities.
Vienna, the capital of Austria, is renowned for its natural, sporting, cultural and gastronomic assets. It is a cultural destination par excellence, allowing to follow in the footsteps of famous artists and intellectuals such as Mozart, Beethoven and Sigmund Freud. The capital of Austria is also a delight for nature enthusiasts, because the city is crossed by the Danube.
Affectionately nicknamed “the city of a thousand towers and a thousand spiers”, Prague is a fascinating city with its many castles and palaces, its churches and its statues of Catholic saints without forgetting its famous Charles Bridge and its Old Town. Which makes Prague one of the most popular city break destinations in Europe.
Which city to choose according to the climate and the weather?
In order to designate the most climate-friendly city, it suffices to find the one that offers the best climatic conditions favorable to sunny and pleasantly warm days.
Best weather forecast: Vienna
Vienna has a continental climate, resulting in superb climatic conditions, from May to September. The hot summer days invite to the joy of outdoor activities, like excursions and hikes. While snowy winters allow romantic getaways or family winter vacations. Although the climate in Prague is similar to that of Vienna, the humidity in Prague is more marked and temperatures are slow to rise or drop rapidly during the transition seasons.
Which city to choose according to the price of plane tickets?
In order to find the preferred destination according to the price of plane tickets, our analysis is based on the cheapest price during the low and high tourist season.
The cheapest average round trip price: Prague
After several comparisons between Prague and Vienna, and this, on the average ticket prices over the seasons, it turned out that the flight to Prague is cheaper compared to that to Vienna. Thus, depending on the departure cities, the price differences can range from € 8 to € 70. So for those who choose their destination based on the cheapest return price, Prague is the place to go.
Prague Castle
The destination to choose according to your budget
By taking into account the costs of living during the stay, it is possible to determine the most advantageous city because it is accessible, even with a reasonable travel budget.
The cheapest city: Prague
For a two or three day getaway, the difference is rather insignificant, but it becomes significant as the stay gets longer and lasts beyond a week. To do this, we must take into account the costs of accommodation, catering, transport and various activities. Thereby, a stay in Prague for 2 people for 2 weeks, excluding plane tickets, is less budget-intensive and even saves a few hundred euros, compared to a stay in Vienna, on equal terms.
Quality of life: health, safety, air quality
To find the destination where life is good, all you need to do is take an interest in health and safety issues. Which of Vienna or Prague is the city to favor when it comes to well-being?
It's good to live in Vienna
Vienna is one of the cities where life is good in the world. Indeed, in 2019, the Austrian capital was named for the 10th time in a row the most liveable city in the world, which partly explains why this destination is so popular with urban tourists. As for Prague, considered one of the most beautiful European capitals, it is a safe city and appreciated for its quality of life, only certain precautions are always in order, such as avoiding walking at night in Vrchlického Sady, in the Ve Smečkách Street, near Wenceslas Square and around the Anděl metro station.
Which city to choose according to travelers' opinions: Vienna or Prague?
If you're still having trouble making up your mind, you can also rely on the reviews of travelers who have had a successful stay in Vienna or Prague.
Travelers prefer: Vienna and Prague
Travelers' opinions differ when it comes to choosing between Vienna and Prague, as these two destinations each have their unique tourist and cultural assets. Corn those who love art, literature and history or follow in the footsteps of Mozart, Beethoven and Sigmund Freud, or who marvel at the splendor of imperial palaces, like Schönbrunn Palace, prefer Vienna . As for those who wish to stroll in the alleys of the historic center of "the city of a thousand towers and a thousand spiers", they opt without hesitation for Prague.
Vienna, Schonbrunn Palace
Which destination to choose for a weekend or a week: Vienna or Prague?
Which destination to choose according to the time you have available: Vienna or Prague? To answer it, all you have to do is find the activities to do during this time.
For a romantic weekend, prefer Vienna
Vienna, a cultural destination par excellence, is also a romantic city, perfect for spending a weekend together. Lovers will enjoy a stroll in the Freihausviertel district, to admire the “Art Nouveau” buildings or spend time in the contemporary art galleries. They can also treat themselves to gifts bought in trendy boutiques and indulge themselves at the “Naschmark” gourmet market.
Prague and Vienna are perfect for a stay of a week or more
Thanks to their cultural riches and their tourist attractions, Prague and Vienna are suitable for a stay of more than a week. Indeed, it is possible to alternate cultural visits and activities allowing to discover them, through unusual attractions or off the beaten track. Young people and families with young children will love visiting these two beautiful capitals., often animated by festive activities.
Which city to choose, depending on the places of interest to visit?
The interest of an unforgettable trip lies in the diversity of the activities to be done and in the satisfaction of discovering many places, tourist sites and culture.
The city with the most UNESCO-listed sites: Vienna
With the palaces and gardens of Schönbrunn and the historic center, called InnereStadt, where there are many monuments, including St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna, St. Stephen's Square, Judenplatz (home of the Jewish community) and the Stadttempel (main synagogue in Vienna): the Austrian capital has many UNESCO heritage sites. This allows him to win the match against Prague which only has the historic center of Prague as Unesco heritage. Note, however, that Jože Plečnik's eternal humanist architecture in Prague is particularly interesting.
The most cultural destination: Vienna and Prague
Vienna and Prague are among the most popular destinations for foreigners visiting Europe. And for good reason, they both arouse cultural interests that make them essential to the eyes of enthusiasts. If Vienna offers the complete assets necessary for a good stay such as its natural, sporting, cultural and gastronomic attractions; it's hard to compete with prague, with its many unique cultural and architectural assets such as: medieval castles, Romanesque churches, Baroque palaces, the unmissable Charles Bridge as well as the very trendy Holesovice and Malá Strana districts.
Vienna, Stefansplatz
So which is your choice: Vienna or Prague?
Prague, the capital of Bohemia in the Czech Republic, and Vienna, the capital of Austria, have similarities that make the choice difficult. But with the new elements you have, you'll no longer have a hard time figuring out which destination suits you the most. So which one of Vienna or Prague is your favorite? Tell us in the comments!
