Hello - need to purchase train tickets from Munich to Prague. Checked on the dbBahn website and there's a train that departs at 9:01 - 0 changes; 5 hr 43 min. The rest of the options appear to be via bus. Checked the Czech website for tickets and they also show the train EX 353 - ALX. Have not seen this before. What train is this? Is there a better way to do this?
Thanks for your help
When I traveled from Munich to Prague last year with two friends, we simply went to the main railroad station , bought the tickets, got on the train and went to Prague.
I think there is way too much emphasis on pre-planning on the site. Sure, you want to have plans when traveling abroad, but sometimes just think and act like a local.
You will get to your destination more cheaply and quickly (by about one hour) by DB's IC bus (as little as 19€ when purchased in advance.) The 9:01 train is €69.10. These are some pretty nice buses.
Planning saves $. Locals know this and pre-purchase their tickets from DB. Prices for DB tickets rise as tickets sell, so plan as far ahead as you are comfortable with to get the bet fares.
Sue,
someones been looking at the seat61 web site.
Im looking at that same thing for Sept. Right now im not sure if im gonig to do the bus or train. 4 or 5 hours on my tush isnt my idea of fun and so im leaning towards the train since in my experience they have nice seating and you can wonder around the cars or head on over to the food car if it has one.
Any method i choose, i will be buying in advance since id like to save some $$ where i can. I think there are limited buses too.
happy trails.
The Intercity bus from Munich to Prague STARTS at 29€. (19€ is for the bus from Nürnberg to Prag.) The ticket is a Savings Fare - bus specific - good only on one bus (time) on one day. It is refundable less a penalty before the day of travel, non-refundable on the day of travel.
If you purchase a Bayern-Boehmen-Ticket (26€ plus 4,50€ for travelers 2-5), you can travel on those trains (there are two per day, direct (9:01 & 17:01), plus one at 12:44 with a dedicated change in Schwandorf) to Pilsen where you can purchase a Czech Rail ticket to Prague for 100 Kc (about 3,65€). The Bayern-Boehmen-Ticket is always available up to travel time for that price and is valid from anywhere in Bavaria to Pilsen.
So, 29,65 for one person on the train, 18,90 each for 2 people on the train, from 29€ for the bus. If you just go up to the window (or bus driver), Joan, the fare to Prague from Munich by train is 69,10€ or by bus (if still available), 66,20€. There is a significant "tax" for not planning.
Update: I see the Bahn has changed the schedule. Now, all three ALX rail connections to Prague are direct. The trains stop in Schwandorf to pick up passengers from a train from Nürnburg.
The IC bus fare is indeed €29 each minimum from Munich, as Lee points out. Oops. It's a lot better than the standard train fare even so.
"im leaning towards the train since in my experience they have nice seating and you can wonder around the cars or head on over to the food car if it has one."
A food car is highly unlikely. But I like riding trains much more as well for the reasons you are thinking about them in this case
Lee writes, "If you purchase a Bayern-Boehmen-Ticket (26€ plus 4,50€ for travelers 2-5), you can travel on those trains (there are two per day, direct (9:01 & 17:01), plus one at 12:44 with a dedicated change in Schwandorf) to Pilsen where you can purchase a Czech Rail ticket to Prague for 100 Kc (about 3,65€)."
Lee: The Bayern-Böhmen ticket strategy saves $, but if you're on one of the direct trains between Munich and Prague, and there's only a 10-min. stopover scheduled in Plzen, is it reasonable to assume the €3.65 ticket can be purchased there with so little time? Or are you suggesting a longer stopover in Plzen to get this ticket/price?
I've been told by Germans, but I have not done this to confirm it, that you can purchase the ticket from Pilsen to Prague on the train from the Czech conductor. When I was riding the train (not the ALX one) from Pilsen to Prague in 2012, I did see riders purchasing tickets from the conductor. It might be necessary to have Czech Koruna to do this. I don't know if they take euro. They show prices in equivalent euro on the boards in Prague hl.n. You might want to ask the conductor before you get to Pilsen.
I know of one person who used the Bayern-Boehmen ticket to go from Munich airport (caught the train in Freising), but he got off the train in Pilsen and took the bus (cheaper) from there.
You could also purchase an Anschluß ticket from Furth im Wald to Prague from the Bahn for 29,20€, and use a regular Bayern-Ticket. That's a "for sure" possibility and still less expensive than the full fare ticket, but more, I think, than necessary.
Or you could buy the ticket for Pilsen to Prague from the Bahn in Munich, but I can't see a price for that (should be less than 29,20€. Based on tariff km, it should be about 17,-€? from the Bahn.).
Wow - thanks to all for your input. After reading all this - I'm really clear on what the best way is to do this (ha ha). Anyway - I really appreciate everyone taking the time to comment.
The one thing I know for sure is, regardless of what ticket and mode of transportation we decide on, I'm definitely purchasing my tickets online, in advance. We would much rather spend our money on an extra beer or glass of wine, than buying the tickets last minute at the train station. Just takes a little more planning and since I'm retired, I've got nothing but time :)
Thanks again everyone.
The only ticket that will save you money by buying in advance is the ticket for the bus (29€, min, single, 58€, min, for two). For the train, the least expensive ticket, the Bayern-Böhmen-Ticket (26€, single, 31,50, for two), can be purchase at the same price right up to travel time.
Lee - I don't see the ticket you're talking about on the db Bahn website. I see a ticket for Bavaria under the Lander Ticket overview. Is it the same one?
Not sure where to look for the B-B ticket info in English; use an online translator?
Bayern-Böhmen Ticket
I have not been able to find an English description of the Bayern-Böhmen-Ticket, either. Using the webpage linked by Russ, click on Angebotskonditionen (conditions of offer) to see the Preis (price) of tickets and Übersichtskarte (overview map) to see the area of validity (blue lines) in the Czech Republic. The ticket is valid for all of Bavaria, not just the red lines, which show the area of validity for a corresponding Czech Rail pass (possible no longer sold).
Also, you can purchase the B-B-Ticket online, but only from the Bahn ticket shop (which is also only in German, and I think you need a customer login).
