From Berlin Tegal to Prague..
 

Flying into Tegal, and then need to catch the train to Prague. I will likely take a taxi from the airport to the train station (unless there is a direct rail link or something). Any idea on the cost? My bigger question is, should I reserve the train in advance or can I just show up and wing it?

Thanks!

just show up and wing it - worst you'd have to do is go 1st class though these trains don't require reservations i believe so you can always board even if full. Trains about every two hours.

Or buy in advance at www.bahn.de - German rail web portal where you can find schedules and purchase tickets in advance - sometimes at a discount - but flying you never know when you will land.

taxi to the new Berlin Hauptbahnhof should not take long as it's only a few miles from the airport.

>I will likely take a taxi from the airport to the train station (unless there is a direct rail link or something).

There is a direct bus link. Costs 2,10. Taxi will be 10x that.

My bigger question is, should I reserve the train in advance or can I just show up and wing it?

You can always get on the train without reservation, but if it is a Friday afternoon (and to a lesser extent Sunday afternoon) you risk standing part of the way if you don´t reserve a seat a few days in advance.

OTOH there are cheaper advance offers (like 29 Euro one way) which have to be bought as early as possible (sell out) and are not refundable, not changeable etc.

Sit on the left-hand side of the train (going forward) for the best views on this route.

the best views being in Saxon Switzerland, south of Dresden when the train tracks along the west bank (i think) of the Elbe, affording great views out the left side of weird sandstone reddish cliffs with pinnacles like the Bastei and others topped by castles and forts.