Taking the Train from Berlin to Prague

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Here’s everything you need to know about taking the train from Berlin to Prague.

 

Berlin to Prague by Train

Both Berlin and Prague are European cities buzzing with energy. While they both have a behind-the-curtain past, a trip now is as much about architecture, art and top cuisine as it is about Eastern Bloc history and politics.

It’s a popular route for travellers – because once you’ve done London and Paris, it’s time to do Berlin and Prague. With direct routes and beautiful scenery, the train is one of the best ways to travel between them.

Is There a Direct Route?

Rest assured. There are direct trains, which means it’s easy to get from one to the other.

Train Time Berlin to Prague

A EuroCity (EC) train takes as little as 3:58 hours, depending on which train you catch. Usually, they’re just over 4 hours.

The trains leave during the day about every two hours, though there is no direct overnight train.

But be forewarned: Both cities have more than one station, so make sure you know where you’re starting and where to get off.

Which Stations Do You Leave From for Berlin to Prague and Vice Versa?

Most trains to Prague leave from Berlin’s main train station, Berlin Hauptbahnhof (Berlin Hbf) and arrive at Prague’s main station, Praha Hlavni Nadrazi (Praha hl.n.).

You also might be able to catch the train or disembark from a different station such as Berlin Südkreuz or Praha-Holesovice in Prague. (Praha is the Czech term for Prague.)

Of course you can easily do this itinerary the other way as well, take the train from Praha Hlavni Nadrazi Station to Berlin if it suits your schedule better.

Train Platform Berlin to Prague

Many of the trains that leave from Berlin Hauptbahnhof depart from Berlin Hbf (tief). These are the lower level platforms on the north-south line.

Just note that platforms can change, so check the platform number as soon as you get to the station.

Give yourself enough time at the train station so that you can find your departure platform without stressing.

(PS: I don’t always take my own advice, and then run around hysterically trying to find some mysterious hidden platform like I did on the train from Paris to Barcelona.) Live and learn.

For the Best Price Book in Advance

European train tickets are much cheaper if you buy in 30 days in advance. Prices for the train from Berlin to Prague can cost less than 20 Euros.

If you buy last minute it can cost more than 100 Euros.

I always recommend spending a few euros extra for a seat reservation especially if you’re travelling on a rail pass. (And definitely if you’re travelling first class with a rail pass, as I’ve had real problems with this in the past.)

Stops between Berlin and Prague: Dresden

As the train takes less than five hours, you can easily do Berlin to Prague by train in a day. But why hurry?

The top stopover on this route is Dresden. Formerly part of East Germany and devastated during WWII, the city has been rebuilt and the Old Town (Dresden Aldstadt) has been restored to its Baroque glory.

Visit the reconstructed Frauenkirche to see its magnificent dome or the Zwinger museum complex to see its collection of old master paintings and Dresden porcelain.

If you want to see Dresden’s edgier side head to Neustadt, the New Town, for your fix of street art and indie cafes.

Can You Do Berlin to Prague With a Stopover in Dresden in a Day?

Yes, if you’re more ambitious than me.

You could catch the 7:16 a.m. train from Berlin arriving in Dresden Hauptbanhof at 9:22 a.m. and then take the 19:24 train from Dresden to Prague.

(Note: train schedules change, these are a guideline only.)

Do you have to pay extra for a stopover?

Make sure when you buy your ticket, a stopover is allowed as there are many classes of tickets and options can vary. Another option is to buy two separate tickets.

Stopovers Between Berlin and Prague: Bad Schandau

Don’t get so caught up in the vibrancy of these top European cities that you forget about tranquility and nature.

While I realize a stop at a spa town might not be high on the average traveller’s list, it’s high on mine. Bad Schandau is a German spa town in Saxony near the Czech border and your train will almost certainly stop there.

Sitting on the Elbe River, in the Kimitzsch Valley, Bad Schandau is also part of a national park (hiking trails!) and is one of the oldest health resorts in Germany.

You could even spend a couple of hours relaxing in the pools and saunas at the Toskana Therme before continuing on.

It’s a Scenic Trip

Finally, don’t forget about the journey itself.

With views of the Elbe River and later, towards Prague, the Vlatava, taking a train from Prague to Berlin or Berlin to Prague is a good way to see the surrounding countryside and explore the destinations between.

It’s a chance to slow down while the outside world speeds by, so sit back and enjoy the ride.