Compare: Paris→Vienna (1,033 km) vs Paris→Prague (883 km). Paris → Prague wins by 150 km (15%). Side-by-side with flight & drive times.
By SnapDistance Team · Updated April 21, 2026
1,033 km
642 miles · Flight: ~1h 47min · Drive: ~16h 47min
883 km
549 miles · Flight: ~1h 36min · Drive: ~14h 21min
✓ Shorter route
Difference: 150 km (15%) · Flight time difference: ~11 min
Verdict
Paris → Prague is the smarter pick if travel time and emissions matter most: it is 150 km (15%) shorter, saves about 11 min of flight time, and cuts roughly 38 kg of CO₂ per passenger. Choose Paris → Vienna only if the destination itself is the reason for the trip.
Paris → Prague is the shorter route at 883 km, which is 150 km (15%) shorter than Paris → Vienna. You would save approximately 11 min in flight time by choosing the shorter route.
| Metric | Paris → Vienna | Paris → Prague |
|---|---|---|
| Distance (km) | 1,033 | 883 |
| Distance (miles) | 642 | 549 |
| Flight time | ~1h 47min | ~1h 36min |
| Driving time | ~16h 47min | ~14h 21min |
| Road distance (est.) | ~1,343 km | ~1,148 km |
| Drivable? | Yes | Yes |
| Cross-continental | No | No |
| Initial bearing | 89° (E) | 77° (ENE) |
| Time-zone shift | +1h | +1h |
| CO₂ – flight (per pax) | ~263 kg | ~225 kg |
| CO₂ – driving (per car) | ~230 kg | ~196 kg |
| Fuel cost (est.) | ~$134 USD | ~$115 USD |
Flying from Paris to Vienna produces roughly 263 kg of CO₂ per passenger, based on the ICAO/EEA short-haul emission factor of ~0.255 kg per passenger-km. The Paris → Prague flight emits about 225 kg. Choosing the shorter route saves approximately 38 kg of CO₂ per traveler — equivalent to 2 typical tree-years of carbon sequestration. For comparison, driving emits roughly 230 kg and 196 kg per car respectively — meaningful only when the car carries multiple passengers.
The Paris to Vienna route covers 1,033 km (642 miles), staying within Europe. Paris (population: 2,161,000) is located in Île-de-France, France, while Vienna (population: 1,911,191) is in Vienna, Austria.
The Paris to Prague route covers 883 km (549 miles), remaining within Europe. Paris (population: 2,161,000) is in Île-de-France, France, and Prague (population: 1,309,000) is in Bohemia, Czech Republic.
Flying from Paris to Vienna takes approximately 1h 47min, while Paris to Prague takes 1h 36min. If driving is an option, expect roughly 16h 47min for the first route and 14h 21min for the second.
Since both routes depart from Paris, this comparison is especially useful for travelers deciding between Vienna and Prague as a destination.
The 150 km difference between these routes is relatively modest, so other factors like ticket prices and schedules may matter more.
Both routes are drivable, with road distances of approximately 1,343 km and 1,148 km respectively. For road trips, the shorter route saves roughly 195 km of driving.
Vienna (Austria) has a population of 1,911,191 and is located in the Vienna region of Europe. It's a significant city with good transport links and cultural offerings.
Prague (Czech Republic) has a population of 1,309,000 and is situated in Bohemia, Europe. This city serves as an important regional hub with solid connectivity.
Choose this route if your priority is reaching Vienna (Austria) — a city of 1,911,191 in the Vienna region of Europe. Despite being the longer of the two at 1,033 km, it makes sense when Vienna itself is the destination, the schedule fits better, or ticket prices are noticeably lower. Driving is realistic at this distance, with an estimated 1,343 km of road and a fuel cost band around $134 USD. The initial bearing is 89° (E), so a great-circle flight leaves Paris heading roughly E.
This route is the right call if you are heading to Prague (Czech Republic) — a city of 1,309,000 in the Bohemia region of Europe. It is also the shorter of the two at 883 km, saving about 11 min of flying and around 38 kg of CO₂ per passenger. Driving is feasible — expect roughly 1,148 km of road and a fuel cost in the $115 USD range. Departing Paris, the great-circle bearing toward Prague is 77° (ENE).
Paris (48.86°, 2.35°) and Vienna (48.21°, 16.37°) sit with a time-zone shift of +1 hour. Paris (48.86°, 2.35°) and Prague (50.08°, 14.44°) have a +1-hour offset. Both routes have manageable time-zone shifts, so jet lag should not be a major factor.
Prague is closer at 883 km, which is 150 km (15%) shorter.
1,033 km (642 miles). Flight: ~1h 47min.
883 km (549 miles). Flight: ~1h 36min.
Flying to Prague is faster at ~1h 36min, saving about 11 min compared to Vienna.
All distances on SnapDistance are calculated using the Haversine formula, which determines the great-circle distance between two points on Earth's surface. This gives the shortest possible distance over the globe, which is the measurement used for aviation and navigation. Actual travel distances by road or rail are typically 20-40% longer due to terrain, borders, and infrastructure routing. Flight times assume 800 km/h cruising speed with 30 minutes for takeoff and landing. Driving estimates use 80 km/h average speed with a 30% road distance factor.
📍 Data: Coordinates from OpenStreetMap contributors. Distances calculated using the Haversine formula. Travel times are estimates only. Last verified: April 21, 2026.