My husband and I are planning to go from Dresden to Prague on 05/13/2016 by bus. There are more than a dozen of bus companies doing this. Which one is the most reliable?
We will travel in Europe for a month so each of us has a big suitcase. Will there be enough room for big suitcases on a bus? Is it going by train a better option because of this reason?
I found out that bus tickets are cheaper than train tickets and just as fast or a bit faster. This is the main reason for us to choose bus.
Bus tickets can be cheap, but we have always chosen the train on this route, so not much bus experience here. Normally, luggage is stored under a bus before boarding. (But I hope you meant small suitcases, that you can handle yourselves in a variety of situations.)
The full fare of a 2nd-class train ticket on this route is "only" €35 euros per person, or advance-discount rates start at €19 through DeutscheBahn.
I really meant a large suitcase that you cannot use as a carry-on on an airplane, but nothing unusual. The suitcase has wheels so I have no problem in moving it.
If I go by train, how much in advance that I should buy the tickets. I looked into the price: 2nd class 38 EUR for 2 people; 1st class 98 EUR for 2 people. Is it really worth it to go 1st class? What does 1st class give you?
Thanks a lot for your reply.
Train is < 2-1/2 hrs, 2nd class is just fine, no need for 1st class at all.
I haven't traveled that route, and I don't mean to discourage taking the train. A train is usually more comfortable than a bus because you have more leg room and can move around, though I hit a fair number of non-air-conditioned trains.
Last year I came to love buses because I didn't have to carry my too-heavy suitcase down one flight of steps and up another flight of steps to get to the train platform, nor did I have to lift the bag up several steps onto a train and wrestle it onto an overhead rack if I couldn't find some other place to store it. It's much easier to deal with a suitcase on a bus.
Mind you, Dresden may be one of those dead-end stations that has no stairs to climb on the way to the platforms. Or it may have elevators. It's just that as a general rule, I find baggage-handling a lot easier when I travel by bus.
In the past, when I have investigated these inter-city buses, they have only run a few times per day, some days no trips. There are EuroCity trains (6) every day, every two hours from 9:08 until 19:08. They take 2h20m. And there is an IC at 7:08 every day, same time to Prague.
Hi,
Is one of those bus companies Berlinlinienbus? They are a German company whose advertisments I've seen often on the trains. They do the Dresden to Prague route and lots others too. For the route Dresden to Prague they charge 13 Euro, takes 2 hours. At Berlin Ostbahnhof there is a office of Berlinlinienbus. Going by bus in Germany and Europe is not like going by Greyhound, I've done a few bus rides from city to city, or and one country to country, ie, Forbach/Lorraine to Saarbrücken.
The train follows the Elbe river and crosses some of Central Europes most beautiful mountains, the Elbe Sandstone Mountains, also known as Saxon/Bohemian Switzerland. The bus doesn't. Take the train and sit on the left side.
Wow! all your tips are helpful.
- The bus company that I found is FlixBus, not Berlinlinienbus. All of these companies offer pretty comparable prices.
- Since I have a personal assistant (my husband) travelling with me, going up and down some steps will not be a problem. I probably will go by train to enjoy the scenic route. I will definitely keep this advice in mind so that I will travel by bus in the future if I travel solo.
- It looks like I should save some money by going 2nd class.
One remaining question: How much in advance should I book my train tickets?
I'm very grateful for all your help. I'm also very impressed by the enthusiasm of this forum's community.
The best price on the train is whatever you see available now through DB for your travel date in May. There are limited seats at the advance-discount rates, which lock in your travel date and time; you're likely to pay more if you wait.
Dresden Hbf (main station) looks like a terminal station with street-level access, while Dresden Neustadt is a pass-through station with both stairs and elevators to reach the tracks.
While a "regular" sized suitcase can be taken onto either a train or a bus, I caution you that it's pretty easy to pack more than you need or more than you can carry into even an airline carry-on sized bag. Shoes, toiletries, books, denim jeans are all potentially heavy items that will add up. I wouldn't want a luggage issue to stress your relationship or your husband's back.
Good advice. I'm going to buy my tickets today. I'm very well prepared for this trip with everybody's help.
Thanks again.
Dresden Hbf is pretty unique amongst German stations. On the street level, it's a terminal station, mostly for local trains, but they've added a through level, 3 tracks on each side, elevated so that the tracks go over the street. There are escalators at the front of the station as well as elevators, if you don't want to use stairs to get to the upper level. If you take one of the ECs, I think it will use the upper level (mine did).
I bought my tickets yesterday, a EC to Prague from Dresden Hbf. Glad to know that we should use the escalator at the front ahead of time. Our train will depart at 9:08 am. How early should we be at the platform?
Thank you.
Like Berlinlinienenbus Flixbus is also a German company. True, the prices are pretty much comparable for going the same routes, maybe one Euro difference. The bus is a cheaper alternative than relying on trains with max flexibility.
Have a look at this webiste: https://meinfernbus.de/en
Like the other guys said the company called "Meinfernbus-Flixbus" has a huge network and a good service. It´s in addition very cheap to go by bus.
This company is also a good one! https://www.postbus.de/
You might find something here as well.
Have a nice journey!
Thanks for all the good advices about travelling by bus.
