maysielulu

Hi folks,

I'm trying to figure out the best way to get from Prague to Switzerland (not including car travel) and it's not proving to be easy. It looks like the best way may be to take a night train on the German Bahn system. I'm interested in hearing reviews of the overnight train cars (I'd be willing to invest in the personal sleeper car) and any recommendations and tips. I've never used the German train system.

Thanks.

Phil

maysielulu:

There is a non-stop flight with Swiss. Return prices start at $125 on weekends.

This certaily is more comfortable than taking an overnight train.

Hope this helps

Phil.

BTilke

Flying is fastest (and probably cheapest) as Phil noted.
If you want to go by train, you have to choose between a night train and a day train.

The night train is direct (no changes) but you'll miss the scenery. And a private compartment won't be cheap (example: I've taken private compartments for overnight trains from Brussels to Vienna and it cost more than 250 euros). Your trip from Prague to Basel will take about 14 hours. I don't sleep that well on night trains, but some people love them. No restaurant car on the night train, so either eat beforehand or bring a picnic (snacks and breakfast may be provided by the sleeping car attendant, probably for an extra cost). You could lower the cost of the overnight train by sleeping in a couchette, that is sharing the compartment with strangers. Many Fodorites do this and are fine with it. I did it once and won't do it again, esp. as a solo traveler.

Day trains allow you to see the scenery but it's a long ride (over 10 hours) and you will have to change trains more than once. The two main options are going from Prague to Dresden, changing there, and changing again in Frankfurt--OR--train from Prague to Munich, changing there for a train to Zurich and then changing for a train to Basel. I believe the day trains have restaurant cars.

I love day trains and actually enjoy long train rides, so I would pick the day train, going for the second route.

But the best decision for you rests on your itinerary (does it allow for you to spend a whole day riding the rails), budget, and personal preferences.

swandav2000

Hi maysielulu,

I've done the overnight trains on the City Night Line service between Munich and Dresden, then Dresden and Basel. It's fantastic!

It is quite expensive, though, there's no way around it. But there are some discounts if you buy your tickets in advance, so you would need to do that if you can.

Anyway, I found it to be a very romantic and indulgent way to travel. I bought a small bottle of wine and was just sipping it while the train began pulling out of the station. So -- wine, then a picnic dinner, then a nice, long sleep. I thought it was a very 1940s way to go!

Have fun!

s

maysielulu

Phil -- I'd love to know where you've seen a Swiss flight advertised for $125. All I can find (on any airline) is certainly more than the $400 or so that the train would cost. What I've just found on Swiss was over $800.

Thanks to the others for the info and for your positive encouragement!

BTilke

Have a good trip! If you want a sleeping compartment all to yourself, make that very clear to the ticket agent when you purchase your ticket and also to the train attendant in your sleeping car.
I once took a night train from Germany to Milan and had booked a private sleeping compartment. The attendant showed me to my compartment and I noticed that two bunks were made up. I put my purse on the upper bunk, which the attendant removed with a sniffy comment about needing to keep the berth clean for a woman who would be joining me at 1 am (!!). I said WHAT?? That I had paid for a private compartment and demanded he re-check my ticket. He did so with reluctance and then with even more reluctance admitted I was right.
Be polite but firm if anyone tries to tell you that your private compartment is going to be shared.

Also, don't forget that your train attendant will most likely ask for your passport after he checks you in. This is to show any border control/police who may check the train along its route. It's completely normal and you'll get your passport back in the morning.

I always bring a 1 liter bottle of plain (non sparkling) mineral water along with me on night trains. Drinking water is provided in the compartment, but in a fairly small amount. (You can't drink the water from the taps on your little in-compartment sink.)

Phil

maysielulu:

Swiss, on their website

http://www.swiss.com/web/DE/Pages/index.aspx?Country=CH

offer weekend flights between Prague and Basel for CZK 910.50 a way, totalling (inclusive of taxes and services) CZK 2121 as a return fare; at the current rate this equals $122.

Weekday fares are between CZK 300 to CZK 500 ($17.75 to $28.75) more expensive per way.

Hope this helps

Phil.

Phil

maysielulu:

If you feel uncomfortable buying a return ticket and using only one portion, you might want to explore following options:

Fly with SkyEurope to Paris Orly (2 hours; from €45) and connect (about 1 hour by public transport, shorter by taxi) to the TGV from gare de l’Est to Basel (3 1/2 hours; from €25 to €87)

Fly with Germanwings to Cologne (1 1/2 hours; from €70) and connect to the ICE from Cologne to Basel (4 hours; from €29)

Fly with SkyEurope to Amsterdam (1 1/4 hours; from €45) and connect to Basel with EasyJet (1 1/4 hours; from €47). Caution: with all low cost airlines, you will have to claim your luggage and check in again.

Fly with Easyjet or SkyEurope to London Stansted/Luton/Gatwick (2 hours; from €35) and connect AT THE SAME AIRPORT to Basel with EasyJet (1 3/4 hours; from €32).

Fly with Sterling or SkyEurope to Copenhagen (1 1/2 hours, from €40) and connect to Basel with Cimber (1 3/4 hours; from €110).

Even with the added hassle of transfers, travelling time will be significantly lower than making the whole trip by rail.

My favourite is the Paris option.

Hope this helps.

Phil.

DalaiLlama

Just came across this, maybe too late for OP? But for anyone else, let me suggest the daytime travel on the EuroCity lvg Praha hl.n. station at 9:16AM, with a switch in Regensburg (arr. 1:37PM, lvg 2:33PM - time for lunch!), another in Frankfurt am Main arr. 5:36PM, lvg 6:05PM), arriving in Basel SBB at 8:55PM. It takes 11:31 hours and there's still time for dinner in Basel.

The direct (no transfers needed) night train takes 14:12 hours, lvg. Praha hl.n. station at 8:25PM and arr. Basel SBB at 10:37AM. It's a CityNightLine train with sleepers and couchettes/bunks.

By the time you get to your hotel in Basel and check in (if the room is ready...) and freshen up, it's lunch time, and after a night where you probably didn't sleep as well as you would have liked (the night train makes 16 stops en route, each time you are likely to wake up from the slowing-down and speeding-up noises and door slammings, people outside your dompartment, announcements over the platform PA etc.), your day in Basel will not amount to much.