Hi, I will be in Munich before joining my Rick Steves Prague-Budapest tour in mid September. I am confused about where to board the bus in Munich (I am staying in the Old Town area) as well as the best place to purchase the bus ticket (online now, at bus station, or aboard the bus). I'd appreciate hearing from anyone who rode this bus recently. Thanks!
PS Has anyone taken the direct train from Munich to Prague. If so, what was your experience?
I haven't ridden a bus from Munich to Prague, but I can read schedules and information.
There is a German IC bus that goes from Munich 3 times (7:35, 10:15, & 16:15) a day. It leaves from the Munich ZOB (Zentral Omnibus Bahnhof, Central Bus Station) which is adjacent to the Hackerbrücke S-Bahn station (one station west of the Hauptbahnhof). It's a minute or two on the S-Bahn or about a km walk (depending on from where you start) from the Hbf.
Use the Bahn schedule webpage to find the times.
The fare, which includes a seat reservation, is a little steep, but you can usually get discounted, advance purchase, "Saver Fare" tickets for a pretty reasonable price. Buy them now, not at the station or on the bus.
I see the tours always start on a Sunday. The 7:35 bus is 19.90 EUR it you buy it on line now for Sept 16, and gets you there by 12.40. There is also a direct train at 8:43 that gets you there by 2:31 pm. It costs 38 EUR if you buy it now on-line.
I'm not seeing a direct train from Munich to Prague running currently. It looks like the direct trains return on Tues., Sept. 11.
Prior to Sept. 11 there is a 3 change connection using an RE to Ingolstadt, an AG to Regensburg, and 2 ALX trains with a dedicated change in Schwandorf. The change in Ingolstadt is 13 minutes, one or two platforms. The change in Regensburg in only 4 minutes, one platform. The change in Schwandorf if a 10 minute, same platform change. I don't see the Prag-Spezial ticket available online for this multi-train connection, but I think you can still purchase it at the station with a surcharge (or maybe from a ticket automat or on the Bahn store).
Starting Sept. 11, the direct train runs every two hours from 6:42 to 16:44.
The 38€ price is for a "Prag-Spezial one way" ticket. It's the price per person. It doesn't go up as lower cost tickets sell out, like the "Savings Fare" tickets; that is always the price, but it appears to be non-refundable. There is no time limitation (like after 9 AM).
You can also get to Pilsen from Munich (or anywhere in Bavaria) using a Bayern-Böhmen-Ticket (28€ first person, 6,60€ each next 4 people), which is like a Bayern-Ticket (starts after 9 AM workdays) except it includes a part of the Czech Republic along the border with Bavaria.
The Bayern-Böhmen-Ticket gets you to Pilsen; you must purchase a Czech ticket from Pilsen to Prag. That fare is 105 Kc (about 4€). You could get off the ALX train in Pilsen, buy the ticket at the station, then spend time in Pilsen before continuing on to Prague on the next ALX or Czech train (although Czech trains are old and dumpy). Or you could buy it online from www.cd.cz. I think you could buy it on the train from the conductor (anyone know for sure?).
If you are traveling to Prague on a weekend day, the Bayern-Böhmen-Ticket will cover you on any train, even the 6:42 or 8:43 ALX. If you are traveling on a weekday and want to use the 8:43 ALX, you can't use the B-B-Ticket until after 9 AM. The 8:43 train stops at Freising and leaves there after 9, so you would need an additional 8,70€ MVV ticket from the Hbf to Freising, so it would be cheaper with the Prag-Spezial-Ticket. However, if you are flying into MUC on a weekday and want to go directly to Prague that day, you are free with the B-B-Ticket to take any ALX train except the the 6:42. There are buses (2,90€) from the airport to Freising Bhf every 20 minutes, and the 8:43 leaves Freising after 9.
If you're after a train ride from Germany to Prague now, you''ll need to do that from Dresden or Berlin. That Berlin train stops in Dresden too before proceeding to Prague, otherwise it will be by bus from Munich or Nürnberg. A couple of years ago I took the Dresden train to Prague on a day trip.
Thanks for all your comments. I was able to find a direct train from Munich to Prague for about $100 USD which will be the best transportation for me.
I suppose you went to Rail Europe. But the same train is for sale from Deutsche Bahn for 38 EUR.
If you're after a train ride from Germany to Prague now, you''ll need to do that from Dresden or Berlin.
@Fred. Of course you mean a direct train ride. You can go by train from Munich, you just need to make changes.
@ Lee...After 31 May there were direct Munich to Prague train connections. They probably ended in July, no longer anymore. Hopefully, next year again on 31 May, this direct link will be back in operation.
I was able to find a direct train from Munich to Prague for about $100 USD which will be the best transportation for me.
For $100 you can get easily six train tickets from Munich to Prague. Your starting point for searching tickets should always be the e-shop of Czech Rail. For Sept. 13, e.g., it offers the direct ALEX train dep. Munich 8:43 for 367 czk = €14.50.
Only when these cheap tickets are sold out you resort to the solution mentioned by Sam and Lee, i.e. a combination of Bayern ticket or Bayern-Bohemia ticket and a simple ticket on the CD from the border or Plzen, resp.
Direct trains between Munich and Prague in September will resume operation on Sep., 11, after the completion of the Neufahrn bend (which will connect Regensburg to the airport). Further interruptions in autumn will depend entirely on the actual construction site situation in the Czech Republic. There will be more substitute busses in the Plzen area for some weeks but only after the OP's travel date in mid september.
completion of the Neufahrn bend (which will connect Regensburg to the airport)
Is there going to be any modification to the airport (now S-Bahn only) station to accommodate the new trains, or will they just fit them in on the existing platforms between the S-Bahn arrivals?
Are those 14,50€ Czech tickets refundable or exchangeable?
From CD.CZ
2nd class ticket 367 CZK
München HbfPraha hl.n.
Dep. 16.9.2018 Sun / 08:43
5:48 ALX 355 Západní expres
1x First Minute Europe, 2nd class
Non-transferable – linked to a person
Can only be used on a particular train
Can be returned no later than by 24:00 (midnight) on 15.9.2018 for a fee of EUR 3 for each person
Is there going to be any modification to the airport (now S-Bahn only) station to accommodate the new trains, or will they just fit them in on the existing platforms between the S-Bahn arrivals?
There will be no modifications presently since there are enough time slots for the single train per hour arriving from Regensburg. When the newly build line will be extended to Erding there will be an extension of the present station to the east.
