Munich,Prague,Budapest,Salzburg,Berlin....how to schedule by train
Jul 7th, 2013, 06:20 AM
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Munich,Prague,Budapest,Salzburg,Berlin....how to schedule by train
Hello, I am planning a trip to Europe for 2 weeks and would like to visit Munich area (3-4 days), Cologne cathedral (1 day), Prague(3 days), Budapest (2 days), Salzburg (1 day) & Berlin ( 3 days). Would appreciate if someone could guide me as to how to schedule the trip.
Jul 7th, 2013, 07:27 AM
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That's quite a zig-zag.
Cologne is a bit the odd one out here.
Before I start fiddling around with your choices of destinations, I'll have a first try:
Fly into Frankfurt, take train to Cologne.
Fly to Berlin
Train to Prague
Train to Budapest
Fly into Munich
Train to Salzburg
Train to Frankfurt.
A lot of traveling...
If you replaced the Cologne Cathedral by the Stephan Cathedral in Vienna (on your way from Munich or Prague to Budapest anyway), things would become easier.
Also great churches in Dresden, on your way from Berlin to Prag.
Cologne is a bit the odd one out here.
Before I start fiddling around with your choices of destinations, I'll have a first try:
Fly into Frankfurt, take train to Cologne.
Fly to Berlin
Train to Prague
Train to Budapest
Fly into Munich
Train to Salzburg
Train to Frankfurt.
A lot of traveling...
If you replaced the Cologne Cathedral by the Stephan Cathedral in Vienna (on your way from Munich or Prague to Budapest anyway), things would become easier.
Also great churches in Dresden, on your way from Berlin to Prag.
Jul 7th, 2013, 08:40 AM
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Cologne and Budapest are really stretching you geographically.
How to do this depends on which city you can get to easily. Are you flying in from N. America another continent or coming in by rail or air from somewhere in Europe?
Presuming you are flying to Europ from somewhere, Frankfurt, as the most common entry point in Germany makes for the most obvious starting point until you provide more information. From FRA airport you should take the train to Cologne as you can do it directly from the airport station and the Dom is right outside the Cologne train station. That is better than connecting on to Cologne from FRA by air. You can stay in a hotel near the station and then head right back out the next doay on the train to Berlin.
The train to Berlin makes more sense that flying since it takes less time when you include transport to the airport, check in, security, baggage pick up and transport to Berlin City. It's 4.5 hours on the train with no changes or connections to get from city centre to city centre.
From Berlin, take the train to Prague (4 hours 40 minutes - 1 connection) and then the train to Salzburg. This is a tough call, since it is a 6.5 hour rail trip but it is not a popular air route either.
Going from Prague to Budapest, instead of to Salzburg, takes almost 7 hours and leaves you with needing to get home from Salzburg , which would become your last point on the itinerary. you save 30 minutes on the travel time going to Salzburg first and it is likely to be easier to get back from Budapest. If it turns out that it is easier to get back from Salzburg, then reverse the order of them after Prague
Then, Salzburg to Budapest is about 5 hours 45 minutes by direct train and you can then fly home from Budapest.
This, of course, works in reverse, too.
How to do this depends on which city you can get to easily. Are you flying in from N. America another continent or coming in by rail or air from somewhere in Europe?
Presuming you are flying to Europ from somewhere, Frankfurt, as the most common entry point in Germany makes for the most obvious starting point until you provide more information. From FRA airport you should take the train to Cologne as you can do it directly from the airport station and the Dom is right outside the Cologne train station. That is better than connecting on to Cologne from FRA by air. You can stay in a hotel near the station and then head right back out the next doay on the train to Berlin.
The train to Berlin makes more sense that flying since it takes less time when you include transport to the airport, check in, security, baggage pick up and transport to Berlin City. It's 4.5 hours on the train with no changes or connections to get from city centre to city centre.
From Berlin, take the train to Prague (4 hours 40 minutes - 1 connection) and then the train to Salzburg. This is a tough call, since it is a 6.5 hour rail trip but it is not a popular air route either.
Going from Prague to Budapest, instead of to Salzburg, takes almost 7 hours and leaves you with needing to get home from Salzburg , which would become your last point on the itinerary. you save 30 minutes on the travel time going to Salzburg first and it is likely to be easier to get back from Budapest. If it turns out that it is easier to get back from Salzburg, then reverse the order of them after Prague
Then, Salzburg to Budapest is about 5 hours 45 minutes by direct train and you can then fly home from Budapest.
This, of course, works in reverse, too.
Jul 7th, 2013, 08:57 AM
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If your boss sent you on this route for business, you’d want a raise. You’ll see most of nothing in all these locations if you just rush in and back out. And you’ll spend a fortune just making all the points. But if you insist...
The best way to attempt this: Fly into Cologne, fly home from Munich.
Fly into Cologne, get yourself to the railway station - the cathedral is right across the street - then hop on a train for Berlin. It’s five hours and gets you right into the center of Berlin, going back out to the airport and flying etc. would take just as long.
From Berlin to Prag it’s just under 5 hours by train, so flying wouldn’t save you much if anything.
From Prag take the EuroNight train EN 477 at 1 minute past midnight that goes all the way and arrives in Budapest at 08:35 - reserve your choice of sleeping accommodation as soon as possible.
From Budapest you have any number of trains that go all the way to Salzburg in just under six hour, the earliest in the day leaves at 06:05 and gets in at 11:58.
From Salzburg you can be in Munich in less than 90 minutes by fast train.
For trains: www.bahn.de
For info on night trains and more: www.seat61.com
The best way to attempt this: Fly into Cologne, fly home from Munich.
Fly into Cologne, get yourself to the railway station - the cathedral is right across the street - then hop on a train for Berlin. It’s five hours and gets you right into the center of Berlin, going back out to the airport and flying etc. would take just as long.
From Berlin to Prag it’s just under 5 hours by train, so flying wouldn’t save you much if anything.
From Prag take the EuroNight train EN 477 at 1 minute past midnight that goes all the way and arrives in Budapest at 08:35 - reserve your choice of sleeping accommodation as soon as possible.
From Budapest you have any number of trains that go all the way to Salzburg in just under six hour, the earliest in the day leaves at 06:05 and gets in at 11:58.
From Salzburg you can be in Munich in less than 90 minutes by fast train.
For trains: www.bahn.de
For info on night trains and more: www.seat61.com
Jul 7th, 2013, 10:50 AM
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Perhaps this would make more sense. Fly into Budapest. Then with a Eurrail pass train to Vienna, then train to Prague, then train to Dresden, then train to Berlin, then fly home from Berlin.
No backtracking and you go first class on the trains which are wonderful- you see the countries and they have dining cars!
Spend 3 days in each city (maybe 2 days in Dresden).
No backtracking and you go first class on the trains which are wonderful- you see the countries and they have dining cars!
Spend 3 days in each city (maybe 2 days in Dresden).
Jul 7th, 2013, 11:02 PM
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Thanks guys for your feedback. I will be flying from Dubai to Munich.As per your suggestions would need to leave out Cologne cathedral. What would be the places to go in the Bavaria region ? My wife is more interested to visit places of scenic beauty. I am planning to go to the Neuschwanstein Castle.Is it possible to visit the Black forest in 2-3 days ?
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