Will be in eastern Europe for 3 weeks beginning of the year....flying in and out of Prague. In addition to Prague plan on visiting Berlin, Warsaw, Krakow, Budapest, Vienna and back to Prague. Should we purchase train tickets in advance or is it safe to assume that at that time of year train tickets will be available a day or two before travel? Our schedule is flexible. Any advice is appreciated.
Posted by
Magyarország / Rep of Texas
20191 posts
If the train you want to be on hasn't been canceled due to border crossings or due to other migrant related events, then the tickets can be purchased in-country without any hardship a day or two in advance.
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16895 posts
Your Polish trains require seat assignments, included when you buy the tickets, but that doesn't mean you need to rush the purchase. From Krakow to Budapest is a longer ride, with connections on the daytime route, or a direct overnight train is available; again no deadline to reserve, but it helps if you are flexible about which type of sleeper compartment you can take. The other half of your trip plans don't even require seat assignments, so the trains can never sell out.
Have you already purchased the flight? To save yourself one day of train travel, consider booking an open-jaw or "multi-city" airline ticket, into Prague or Berlin and home from the other.
Posted by
San Francisco
14979 posts
If you choose the direct night train option, you'll be going through two hubs for night trains in east Central Europe....Krakow and Budapest.
Posted by
OP
22 posts
Thanks much for all the help!