Is there a point to point train from Zurich to Prague? If so, what is the cost per person. We are visiting Switzerland for 1 week from 7/21 through 7/28 & have an 8 day Swiss Pass. We have reserved an apartment in the village of Oberdiessbach for the time we're in Switzerland. From there, we would like to take a train to Prague & stay in the city for a few days. Then rent a car to visit Cesky Krumlov & on to the Wachau Valley, Salkammergut, Salzburg, the Innsbruck area & then on to Zurich for our flight back to the US. (Planning a return flight on 8/9/12) Does this sound like a feasible itinerary? My husband & I have been to Europe several times since 2001 & have always depended on your guide books for advice during our travels to Germany, Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, France & Ireland. We just ordered our Swiss Passes through you for this summer's trip to Europe. We'll also depend on your suggestions for lodging when we leave Switzerland & continue on to the Czech Repubic & Austria.
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23626 posts
Not sure what you are asking about Zurich to Prague? Are you looking for a direct train - no changes - to Prague. That would be impossible. It is a long ways and you probably work you way through Nurnberg and the Bahn bus from there. Maybe have to go via Munich. Plug it into bahn.de to see what schedule they would suggest. And it would make a lot more travel sense and cheaper, besides, to use an open jaw. Maybe coming home from Prague or Munich instead of making the long trek back to Zurich.
Posted by
Lewiston, Idaho, USA
2092 posts
Shirley, just so you know, Rick Steves and staff don't usually reply on this Helpline; we're just other travellers, many of whom also use Rick's books, travel advice and travel items (see Travel Store). I checked the Deutsch Bahn site which is the most reliable & easiest to use for train schedules in Europe. (Tickets through this site can only be purchase for travel in, from or to Germany.) Travel by train would take 10 hours with 2 changes. I then checked skyscanner.net and found a flight on Germanwings for $117 (at the moment. Prices go up the closer you get to the travel date.) This flight would take 3 hours, plus check-in time with a change in Cologne. Wouldn't flying be preferable in this case?
Posted by
San Francisco
14980 posts
Shirley, From Zürich to Prague you could go by train day or night, if you reject the flying option. My suggestion is this: (day) depends how long you want to be on the train, but I see you two are well versed in train travel. Instead of going Zurich-Nürnberg, take the early 0800 ICE to Frankfurt, transfer to the direct ICE in Dresden. In Dresden you take the EC direct to Prague, arr. 2136. Basically, you have 2 changes without rushing to do so, Frankfurt and Dresden. It's bit more circuitous and takes a whole day, and two legs are on the ICE, nothing wrong with the DB bus if you choose the Nürnberg route. The other option is by night: Zürich-Dresden on the CNL, arr. 0804, then you can take whichever connection to Prague. I would choose the IC connection, arr. 11:26. That one gives you some relax time after arriving at Dresden Hbf., a very nice and bright station. If I were pressed for time, I myself would do the night option. Aside from flying and depending on your priorities, it's doable by train...only no direct connection.
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
CNL 459 goes directly from Zurich to Prague, departing at 19:42 and arriving at 10:30. There is no need to change trains in Dresden.
Posted by
Tilburg, Netherlands
2829 posts
^^ Taking a train that takes almost 17h (as suggested above) is completely unjustifiable in my book. This is NOT a night train but indeed a train that takes an evening, a night and almost all the following morning! All of that without a shower, without proper bathrooms and what else.
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19274 posts
There are now DB buses from Munich to Prague. You could take a EuroCity (EC) leaving Zürich HB at 9:16, getting into Munich at 13:29. You'll have two hours for lunch or a lookaround in Munich. The DB bus leaves Munich at 15:45 and gets into the Prague bus station (next to hl.n.) at 20:44. Total time, including the stop in Munich, 11½ hours.