4 of us plan to do trains in Eastern Europe (May 14-17 days). Flying into Berlin and out of Warsaw to get the best and cheapest flights. Do you need to get train tickets before you get to Europe or just buy them a couple days ahead when there? We'll do the bus from Prague to Cesky Krumlov for a couple days. Prague to Krakow looks long. Suggestions for the best ways to do this? Thanks so much.
Posted by
OP
Alexandria, MN, USA
175 posts
Jim, Thanks for your reply but I think you misunderstood the length of the trip. We will have 14-17 total days for this trip. Rough itinery ? about 4 days Berlin ,maybe 1 in Dresden??, 4 days Prague, 1-2 in Cresky Krumlov,full day getting to Krakow, 4-5 in Krakow with a sidetrip, maybe just one in Warsaw to do a walking tour and then fly home.
Posted by
Oklahoma City, OK, USA
430 posts
My wife and I used an overnight train Prague-Berlin. The daytime train Berlin-Prague is 4 to 6 hours, depending on the route; Prague-Krakow is long -- 7 to 10 hours depending on which route you take.
With only 4 days there -- and 4 destinations -- the only way you will possibly see anything is to be on the train at night.
You do not have to buy tickets before leaving the states, and it is possible to buy them there, but I would not recommend that. You can purchase tickets in Germany up to 92 days before travel. If you do use night trains you will want to buy them on that 92nd day before you use them to get the best fare (so... about February 11th you should be fully researched and ready to pounce).
Go to www.bahn.de to research travel schedules. (Selector box in upper right corner of home page to switch it to english.)
What date does your plane land in Berlin? What date do you fly out? As short as that trip is, going down to the Czech republic then back up to Krakow may not be realistic.
Posted by
Oklahoma City, OK, USA
430 posts
LOL (...at myself...)
Now that you clarify... I see how I (in my haste) misread your question.
Let me try once more, with my head on straight.
I would still factor in an overnight train ride -- partially because I love overnight train rides. What you laid out for a rough itinerary looks pretty good -- I'd adjust it to have a little more Dresden, and you can do that with the night train I mentioned. I'm not sure how to weigh "time in Krakow" versus 'time elsewhere' as I've only been through Krakow to see Auschwitz (...which should be on your must-see list, by the way)
4 Berlin
2 Dresden
4 Prague
1-2 Cresky / Night Train
4-5 Krakow
1 Warsaw ?
15 - 18 days.
Now that I understand your plan... (sheesh... I'm slow today) you could have enough time there, depending on side trips you select, to shorten Berlin, Prague, and/or Krakow by 1 day each and include 1 more stop of 2-3 days. Bratislava, Vienna, and Nurnburg are each within 4-hour striking distance of your current schedule. You'll have to decide how hurried, or leisurely, you'd like your trip to be.
I re-read my comments on rail planning -- and those look sound. You can buy passes or point-to-point tickets in advance -- do the math to see which is cheaper.
Posted by
Seattle
4637 posts
You can buy train tickets when you get to Europe. I would buy ticket for Prague in Berlin, for Krakow in Prague, etc.
Posted by
Atlanta
1358 posts
Dresden is worth a stop. It's on the way from Berlin to Prague, only a couple of hours from each, so it'll break up the train ride between those cities. It's a beautiful town.
Posted by
maplewood, new jersey, usa
818 posts
I would do an overnight train from Prague to Krakow and book that ahead of time.
The only leg I have done by train is Krakow to Warsaw - we just showed up at 9:45 am, bought tickets and got on a 10:00 am train. Very easy and pleasant trip - I got a delicious ham and cheese sandwich at the snack bar.
We loved Poland. Krakow especially - good pizza. And in Warsaw - good perogis. Prague - good beer.