European Rail Travel - Trains on Christmas (Salzburg-Prague)

We are flying into Vienna this winter and trying to put together an itinerary to also visit Salzburg and Prague. I'm thinking Vienna to Salzburg, and then Salzburg to Prague. I realize Salzburg to Prague is long I but see an itinerary online that involves a transfer in Linz.

We'd like to do this trip between Salzburg and Prague on Christmas Day, but are wondering if the trains even run on Christmas. Any info?

We'd like to do this trip between Salzburg and Prague on Christmas Day, but are wondering if the trains even run on Christmas. Any info?

On Christmas Day, European trains run on a Sunday schedule.

On Christmas Day, European trains run on a Sunday schedule.

"Sunday schedule" may well be the correct answer for the OP's itinerary, but it is not correct to say that European trains run to a Sunday schedule on Christmas Day. There are some countries where trains don't run at all on Christmas Day, and there are probably some where trains run to a normal schedule on 25 December because Christmas is celebrated according to the Julian Calendar (i.e., on 7 January)

. I realize Salzburg to Prague is long I but see an itinerary online that involves a transfer in Linz. There are 2 ways:
1) By Bus via Linz -> https://westbus.at/en/timetable/lookup/from/linz-wissensturm-hbf/to/praha-uan-florenc/
2) or by Train via Vienna -> http://fahrplan.oebb.at/bin/query.exe/en?L=vs_call


Please note some Public Transport in the City have a very "light" Timetabel on 24.12 and 31.12/ 1.1

"Sunday schedule" may well be the correct answer for the OP's itinerary, but it is not correct to say that European trains run to a Sunday schedule on Christmas Day. There are some countries where trains don't run at all on Christmas Day, and there are probably some where trains run to a normal schedule on 25 December because Christmas is celebrated according to the Julian Calendar (i.e., on 7 January)

Well, EXCUUUUUUUSE ME ! (with reference to Steve Martin)

There are other options from Salzburg to Prague, for example via Germany (Passau and Schwandorf).

Generally, in this part of the world, some sort of weekend service is operated at Christmas, with maybe a few specific cancellations.

Since the annual European timetable change takes place on 9th December, you won't know for sure yet which trains are running at Christmas. The new timetables are published about 6 weeks before the change.

There are 2 ways:
1) By Bus via Linz -> https://westbus.at/en/timetable/lookup/from/linz-wissensturm-hbf/to/praha-uan-florenc/
2) or by Train via Vienna -> http://fahrplan.oebb.at/bin/query.exe/en?L=vs_call

There are other options from Salzburg to Prague, for example via Germany (Passau and Schwandorf).

Indeed all this is subject to a bit of change when the new timetable comes out. Most things won't change, though. Like railways said, at least most of the current Sunday level of service should be operating. The options considering that are as follows.
It sounds like you're trying to minimalize travel time, so going via Linz is best.

Train/Bus via Linz
Ad. ToGo 1) WestBahn train Salzburg-Linz and WestBus Linz-Prague is likely one of the cheapest options at €29 each for a combiticket, and the fastest at 5.5 hours total. (Given they still have that offer and service in December and if they are operating bus service on Christmas.)

Train/Train via Linz
Ad. ToGo 2) No reason to go via Vienna unless you want to take the same train routes again and again and have an extra long trip. Instead grab a train Salzburg-Linz and transfer to a Linz-Prague train (currently 2 daily). There are more connection time options Linz-Prague if you're willing make a coordinated transfer at Ceske Budejovice (Budweiss). 6.5 hours total.

Train/Train(/Train) via Bavaria
Ad. railways going "via Passau") requires changes in Wels and Regensburg. 7.5 hours total, AFAIK rather expensive if you don't have any local discount cards. Though its not a high-speed strech I've heard of non-Europeans taking this strech just to try the ICE train.
Ad. railways going "via Schwandorf") requires one change in Landshut, and for some departure times another change in Schwandorf. Over 7.5 hours total but can be done for €21 each (if you're two people... less if you're a bigger group).
Going via Munich is also possible for €21, but tags on a couple hours to the travel time.

Train/Bus via Bavaria
Take a train to Munich (1.5 hour) then catch a bus to Prague (5+ hours). Bus companies include Touring - Eurolines (http://www.touring.de/index.php?id=1371&L=1), Student Agency - DB (http://bustickets.studentagency.eu/Booking/from/MUNCHEN/to/PRAHA/), and Autobus Oberbayern - ExpressBus (http://www.expressbus.de/en/) (no service on Christmas Tuesday).

Some general info for as far as Christmas goes: its celebrated on the 24th in Austria, though some stores are still open in the morning. Some bars and clubs will be open all night for the anti-Christmas crowd. The 25th is a very lazy "Sunday" and everything is closed, lots of things are still closed on the 26th, too. Czech Republic is the least religious country in Europe so businesses will more likely be open there.