Prague and Dresden in one trip: two art cities two hours apart by bus
A 5-night budget itinerary: fly into Prague, stop off in Dresden and Saxon Switzerland, then head back to Prague for your flight. Nights, travel times and tips.
Updated on 17 September 2026
At a glance
- One return flight to Prague and a stop in Germany, in Dresden, about two hours away by bus.
- 5 nights: 2 in Prague when you arrive, 2 in Dresden, and the last one back in Prague.
- From Dresden you can take the train to Saxon Switzerland and the Bastei Bridge: a day out in nature in the middle of a city break.
- Dresden has few direct low-cost flights: getting there via Prague is often the cheapest option.
Travel times are approximate: check timetables and stops on the operator's website before you book.
The route
| Leg | Transport | Approx. time |
|---|---|---|
| Your airport → Prague | Flight | depends on where you fly from |
| Prague → Dresden | Bus | about 2 hours |
| Dresden → Prague | Bus | about 2 hours |
| Prague → your airport | Flight | depends on where you fly from |
Prague · 2 nights on arrival
Charles Bridge at dawn, before the crowds. Old Town Square with the Astronomical Clock, the Castle and St. Vitus Cathedral, the Malá Strana district. In the evening, a beer in one of the city's many historic pubs.
From the airport: Václav Havel Airport is linked to the centre by city buses and by the shuttle to the main railway station, in 30-40 minutes.
Dresden · 2 nights
The "Florence on the Elbe": the rebuilt Frauenkirche, the Zwinger, the Semperoper and the Brühl Terrace above the river. The Neustadt district, across the Elbe, is the young part of town, full of bars and painted courtyards.
From Prague: about two hours by bus through the Elbe valley. Both the road and the railway run through gorgeous scenery, so grab a window seat.
A day trip to Saxon Switzerland
The regional train from Dresden gets you to Kurort Rathen in under an hour, where a trail climbs up to the Bastei, the stone bridge among the rocks high above the Elbe. Allow half a day or a full day, and wear comfortable shoes.
Back to Prague · 1 night
Take an afternoon bus back to Prague and spend the night in the city: the next day you have the morning free before your flight. If your flight is in the evening you can also travel back that same morning, leaving at least three hours between the bus arriving and your flight.
Tips to keep costs down
- Currency: the Czech Republic uses the koruna, Germany the euro. Pay by card with no foreign transaction fees and steer clear of the exchange booths in central Prague.
- Stay in Dresden's Neustadt: it's generally cheaper than the old town and just a few minutes' walk from the centre.
- Avoid Christmas market weekends in December if you're after low prices: Prague and Dresden are among the most popular destinations of the season.
Let FlyDown work it out
When you create a watch you can switch on More cities in one trip: for every flight it finds, FlyDown checks which cities you can reach by bus from your destination, splits the nights between your arrival city and the others, and shows you the full loop with bus times and costs, within the budget you've set.