From my perspective, you are not allowing enough time, since each of your destinations is a major city with a lot to see. You could save some time with an open jaw flight, arriving in Zurich and flying home from Prague, for example.

Also, with time being important, you should know that a car is about the slowest way to get between cities. that parking is often at a premium, and that there is almost always a hefty extra charge if you return the car in a different country from where you started, and some companies even charge if you return it at a different location from where you picked it up. Also, with four people plus luggage, you will need a larger more expensive car. So check out the costs of a car vs. the costs of using trains, or even planes, and the time it will take, and make your decision. Understand that in the cities you name, there is good public transportation that will get you anywhere and you won’t have to worry about parking.

So the answer to your question is yes, what you propose is possible. But you won’t get to see much.

If your 10 days is actually “on the ground” I think you can do this. If if includes flights to/from North America, it’s probably too little time. I agree with Cleveland about the rental car. It may be enough slower than train to make this difficult. IMO, this itinerary maximizes the negatives of driving (a car’s a nightmare in any large, old city) and minimizes the positives (you don’t really have time to enjoy getting off the beaten path). Even though a rental car may save a bit of money for 4, I’d still choose the train for this itinerary. What’s your reason(s) to want to drive this?

Thanks for the reply Cleveland. We will be on the ground for 10 days. However, we have reconsidered, and think we will probably leave out Zurich. We have been to Europe and used both the trains and rental cars. We had thought the rental car might be a little cheaper, but not much. We will continue to do research.
Are there any “must sees” you would recommend?
Thanks again for your input.
Rick

Thanks for your input oldlady. As we told Cleveland, we are ruling out including Zurich. That will give us a little more time. We do enjoy getting off the beaten path, but we have complained in the past about the negatives of having a rental car.

Any special must see places to see while we are there?

Thanks again
Rick

I’ve not been to Prague for too many years to give good information, but we were in Munich for two weeks a couple of years ago.

Munich has three excellent art museums, if that is your thing. They are organized by the age of the works. The Alte and Neue were good (I preferred the Alte). The Moderne is more a design museum, with cars, furniture, etc. The main square is always busy, and everyone wants to see the clock ring, because of the mechanical carved figures that are part of that. We sat across the square drinking coffee and had a good view, better, I think than those who were closer. Near one end of the square is Dallmayrs, a popular food store that has good everything. Upstairs are a couple of nice restaurants. Also near that end of the square is an open air market with a lot of stalls, which is also a nice place to eat and have a beer. I think everyone goes to the Hoffbrau house, which is large, crowded, and boisterous, but they do have a band. I didn’t like it there because it was too crowded and noisy (think of a fraternity party), but it is something go see. Also near the square is a Marionette museum that is quite good, and not crowded.

If you want a daytrip, there are a few castles a short train trip away that are very popular (one is said to be the inspiration for the castle at Disneyland). Here’s a money saving tip; they sell what I recall as being a Bayern ticket, which is cheap and covers a group of up to five. It can’t be used until 0900 or weekends (apparently to keep locals from using it to commute to work). It’s sold in a glassed in area in the center of the train station (I think they also sell it at the ticket windows, but at a higher price). You go into the glassed in area, and poke at one of the ticket machines; when one of the many attendants notices that you don’t know what you are doing, they come over and help you. Near the castles is a bobsled run with a metal half pipe so it works in the summer. I wanted to go there also, but we ran into huge crowds at the castles and ran out of time.

Many people visit Dachau, which is more educational than morbid.

The Deutsches Museum (spelling not guaranteed) is a huge place, primarily science and industry, but well worth seeing. And Englisher park is a pleasant place to walk and picnic.

There is a lot more to see and do in Munich, but these are the things that stick in my head.

You don’t really have to rent a car, unless you want to have a complete freedom of where to stop en route. If you fly into Prague, spend one night on sleeper train from Prague to Zurich, and then one night on a sleeper train from Zurich to Munich, then fly home from Munich. The trips on these trains will save you one night in a hotel each and tickets can be obtained relatively cheaply (if well in advance) on the websites of national rail carriers of the country of departure.

5 years ago I flew into Prague, stayed a few days, overnight train to Zürich, again stayed 2 or 3 days, then Munich for 3. It can be done but might be a bit rushed. IMO Zürich is the most beautiful city in the world, but by excluding it you will save a lot of money since it’s probably the most expensive city in Europe.

Maybe you could go Prague – Salzburg – Munich to save time & money.

Neuschwanstein is roughly 2 hours from Munich and I’d really recommend a day trip there.

Last year I also used the Prague->Munich connection.
I drived by bus around 5 hours and the biggest benefit was the low cost.
Look at www.fahrtenfuchs.de
Munich -> Zurich around 15 Euro
Prague -> Munich around 30 Euro

so have fun in Prague and enjoy its tasty beer