Train from Munich to Prague
 

Hi All. We [3] are planning a short holiday to Germany [ Mittenwald / Rothenburg ] and Prague. Need to reach Prague on May 2. Tried the night train on bahn.de but im unable to view the price of a sleeper ticket. Am not sure if I am doing something wrong. Is the night train a good option [the one way flight to Prague from Munich is around 300 Euros which seems costly]. Or is driving from Rothenburg to Prague an option? [I dont speak German, but am an experienced driver]. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks...

You won't find sleeping accommodation prices on the Bahn website. You can find and book accommodations on many night trains at http://buchung.nachtzugreise.de. The site can be displayed in English.

For May 1, I found that there were accommodation available on CNL 363 leaving Munich at 10:07 PM. The savings price (non-refundable, non-exchangeable, quantitiy limited, advance purchase necessary) was €69 per person in a three person compartment with a sink. That is the full price, including the rail ticket and sleeping accommodations. You can purchase these tickets online at the site, pay with a credit card, and self-print the tickets at home.

If you are going round trip to Prague, there is also a special price on the Prague-Spezial on one of three daily train connections in each direction from Munich to Prague for €59 per person. For Nürnberg to Prague it is only €49. It is only available as a round trip. You can view the offer in German at www.tiny.cc/PragueSpecial. If you click on the pdf icon on the bottom of the page, it will bring up a broshure, also in German, with the schedule. You can purchase these tickets at a ticket counter or automat in Munich or Nürnberg.

By the way, just to clarify, €59 is the price of the round trip (not one way) from Munich to Prague with the Prague-Spezial fare.

An alternative, particularly for one way only, would be to purchase a Bayern ticket for €27. That would allow all three of you to travel via any regional trains from anywhere in Bavaria (Munich, Rothenburg, etc) to the Czech border at Bayerish Eisenstein, Furth im Wald, or Schirnding. Also purchase in Munich (or any other station in Bavaria) tickets from the border to Prague (about €20 per person). It might be wise to use a ticket counter for all of this. It will cost €2 extra for the Bayern Ticket, but the agent can coordinate the route and give you the correct connecting tickets. This way would cost about €30 per person one way.

>Also purchase in Munich (or any other station in Bavaria) tickets from the border to Prague (about €20 per person)
It'll cost a fraction of that, if you buy the ticket on the other side of the border .Czech railways have vastly different prices for national and international customers. It only depens where you buy the ticket.

>Schirnding
Not Schirnding, but Marktredwitz / Eger (Cheb). Birthplace of Wallenstein.

First, the rail connection from Markredwitz into the Czech Republic makes it's last stop in Germany in Schirnding. That is why I used it as an example of the border crossing.

Second, yes, the Czech Rail fare from the first station on the other side of the border to Prague is less, but how do you buy the ticket? How do you get to the first station on the other side of the border without having a ticket? Can you buy the Czech Rail ticket on the train when you cross over the border? Schirnding and Bayrisch Eisenstein are still in Bavaria, so the only tickets to Prague you could buy there are the same DB tickets I mentioned. If you bought a DB ticket to the first station on the other side of the border, you would still have to leave the train to buy the Czech tickets and then catch the next train to Prague, making the trip unnecessarily longer.

>How do you get to the first station on the other side of the border without having a ticket?
There's a ticket machine onboard the train to Eger, you can get one to there. You can also buy this ticket in advance at any German station or DB ticket machine. Just enter the last German and the first Chech station. In many cases, you have to change trains in Eger. You can either buy a ticket at the station,
or you can buy one on the train. There's a czech conductor on board that sells tickets. So no need to leave the train, but you have to buy two tickets in Germany, that is a Bayern Ticket plus one from the last Bavarian to the first Czech station.

Btw. You can buy tickets from any German DB ticket machine that are valid for depature from any specified german DB train station, no matter how far away.

Hi Larryincolorado and logos999 - thanks so much for the information. I like the option of purchasing a Bayaren ticket and then another Czech ticket [costing 30 Euro one way] - however, we are travelling with my aunt who is over 70, you think it is advisable to purchase this ticket 3 days in advance or do an advance booking [would the option suggested be done over the internet?]

Also- on the option of buying the ticket from Eger to Prague, would we be able to keep the same sleeper seats on CNL 363? pls advise which will be a more comfortable option. [I dont mind spending little more for peace of mind and this would be our first trip to the Czech Republic]Thanks a lot....

If you need to make reservations, your best options are to buy ONE ticket and pay more. The night train train is only a good option, if you're able to sleep. I would never dare taking it. The roundtrip flight can be bought for 150€ in Summer btw. No need to pay twice that much for the one way flight. http://www.czechairlines.de/de/germany/de_home.htm

hi logos999 - I am getting a price of 284 Euros per person for a one way flight OK0555 on May2 at 08:50- but a return ticket is costing me 219 Euros. Looks strange!! Any thoughts on other options? I really would like to spend a few days in Prague...Thanks a lot..

Hi S.

>I am getting a price of 284 Euros per person for a one way flight ...but a return ticket is costing me 219 Euros. Looks strange!! <

Not really. RT is almost always less than 1-way.

Have you checked prices at www.whichbudget.com?

((I))

Hi Ira - the website shows condor as flying from munich to prague, but Condor's website does not show a flight from Munich to Prague. I've tentatively blocked with my travel agent a Cz Air return flight [will not use the return segment - but thats cheaper than buying a one way ticket!!]

The fares Logos and I were talking about using a Bayern Ticket and point to point to Prague are for DAY trains. I posted earlier (first answer to your OP) about the night train from Munich to Prague. There is also a night train bookable on the same website from Nuernberg to Prague, if you don't want to go through Munich.

As for flying, unless you were going to spend time in Munich, taking the train from Rothenburg to Munich takes enough time that, with preboard time at the airport, flight time, getting off the plane, finding ground transportation and getting into Prague, flying will take almost as much time as Rothenburg to Prague by rail - and cost a lot more.

Hi larryincolorado. Thanks for your inputs. You are right on the add on time related to flying but i was thinking on the lines of hiring a car during my time in germany and dropping off the car at the munich airport and flying to prague. You think this makes sense or is the train options better?

And if the train is better, would it be ok to book the night train when i reach Germany or do we need an advance booking to be done now? I've yet to receive my Czech visa [here its a long drawn process]- hence in case there are issues, want to wait a bit. Pls advise... thanks a lot ...

From your opening post I gathered that you were not planning on spending any time in Munich. Are you?

If not, there is a night train from Nürnberg to Prague that would be easier to get to from Rothenburg. But if you are planning to be in Munich, then the night train from there works better.

As for going by car or train from Rothenburg to Munich airport, except for the higher cost for a car rental vs. a €27 Bayern Ticket, I think it is pretty much equivalent.

The time difference per the Bahn schedule vs. Michelin's driving time estimate is about 2 hour. However, unless you miss a train connection, the train times are pretty predictable. On the other hand, if driving, how much of a time buffer do you leave to account for backups or missing a turn? Since you have never driven that route, you have no idea of the timing. Plus you will spend time at the car rental return plus getting from there to the airport.

Isn't the fee to drop a car at the airport pretty steep?

As for the night trains from Nürnberg or Munich, according to the Nacht Zug Reise website, it looks like enough people have already booked, that there are no SparNight fares for three of you together. If you book now, you can get full fare in a three person compartment at €383 for everyone. That full fare ticket is refundable up to two days before departure.

However, if you are not spending time in Munich, but just passing through as a point of origin to fly to Prague, you can instead leave Rothenburg on the 10:06 train, connect in Steinach and Ansbach to Nürnberg and then take the direct train (RE 453) to Prague. This connection takes about 6 1/2 hours and avoids the hassle of the airport. The cost, remember, is about €30 per person with a Bayern Ticket, depending on how you do the connecting ticket in the Czech Republic.

We took a 6:00am train from Munich to Prague. Yes, it is early, but it is the fastest train between the two cities (6hrs), and gets you there by noon, so it doesn't waste a whole day. It was very affordable, and we paid for the whole thing in Munich. We considered the night train, but decided we would rather have a good night's sleep (well until 5:00am anyway) and then nap on the train, rather than relying on getting real sleep on the night train.

Actually, that train leaves Munich at 6:43 and gets into Prague at 12:45 (pretty close to noon). The Nürnberg to Prague train takes only 5 hours, but there is still the issue of getting from Rothernburg to Nürnberg via regional trains.

Actually, getting to Nürnberg shouldn't be difficult. You have five minutes to change platforms in Steinach; there will probably be a herd going to the southbound train and they won't leave while people are still coming to the train. As long as you don't fall behind the herd, you are fine. The change in Ansbach is 5 minutes for a cross platform change; no problem. When you get to Nürnberg you have 15 minutes to get to the adjacent platform.

Hi Larryincolorado for patiently responding to my queries and giving me so much advise. Really appreciate it. Thanks to saltymuffin too. I want to travel from Munich as I want to visit Dacau so plan to stay that night in and around munich and then either take train / flight. The car i thought would be handy in leisurely driving around in Bavaria - last stop being Dacau and then train to Prague [via Munich]..

Serenity,

It's Dachau!

I have occasionally driven in German; more times I have been a passenger in a car driven by someone else. It was never anything special.

For a leisure trip in Bavaria, I much prefer the train. On the train I can sit back and enjoy the scenery, write in my journal, or organize my pictures. If I drive, I have to watch the road and the cars around me.

Public transportation in Bavaria is handy, convenient, and generally inexpensive. If you know the system, you can get almost anywhere by train, and if not, then by bus.

You said you were going from Mittenwald to Rothenburg, which takes you right by Munich. Then a couple of days later, you are coming back to Munich? Why not just stop in Munich on the way. I would recommend spending a night in Munich. There is so much to see there, but Dachau would not be high on my list. If you feel you have to see Dachau, it is on the way from downtown Munich to Rothenburg. Take the S-Bahn to Dachau, leave your bags in a locker at the station, the bus to the memorial leaves from in front of the station. When you get back, continue by regional train to Rothenburg via Treuchtlingen. A train leaves almost every hour from Dachau.

If the only thing you want to see in Munich is Dachau, you can make the entire trip from Mittenwald to Rothenburg in a day. Mittenwald to Dachau via Laim (skipping downtown Munich) takes about 2 ½ hours, buses run from Dachau station to the memorial on a 20 minute schedule and the trip takes about 10 minutes. Regional trains from Dachau to Rothenburg take about 3 hours. The stretch of track into and out of Treuchtlingen goes along the Altmühl river and is particularly scenic.

Getting Dachau/Munich out of the way on the way to Rothenburg allows you to take the direct train from Nürnberg to Prague. If you use Bayern Tickets from Mittenwald to Rothenburg and from Rothenburg to the Czech border, and connecting tickets from the border to Prague (maximum €18,70 if you buy them from DB in Rothenburg), the total of your German travel will cost only about €110, or less than €140 if you stop overnight in Munich. The Bayern ticket will cover all of your local travel (S/U-Bahn, streetcar, or bus) in Munich, including the bus to/from Dachau memorial.

Hi Larryincolorado- sorry for the sp. on Dachau and the delay in replying. I have 4 days in Germany before I leave for Prague and my flight [unfortunatlely] lands in Frankfurt. We thought that we would drive in the Bavarian region given the short time and not depend on public transport [lots of posts recommend driving] and since Dachau seems like the nearest Memorial, we wanted to visit before leaving [hence leaving from Munich to Prague]. Mittenwald and Rothenburg are towns we would particularly like to see, although it seems we have not logically routed the journey. You think Frankfurt, Mittenwald area, Dachau, Rothenburg, ending with Nürnberg [to take the train to Prague] makes more sense? And with 4 days, is this doable conveniently by public transport? Could you advise? Thanks a lot.

Had you originally indicated that you were coming from Frankfurt, I would have changed my suggestions slightly.

Considering that Rothenburg is close by your route from FRA to Munich or Mittenwald, I think you should go there first and avoid any backtracking. That will also make your first day's travel a little shorter. Are you coming to Frankfurt directly from the U.S.? Are you arriving at FRA in the morning?

Does four days include May 2, the day you have to reach Prague? If you go by day train, would you travel on the 2nd?

Are you arriving in Frankfurt on Sat, Apr 28?

I would plan a full day (i.e., two nights) for Rothenburg. How much time are you planning for Mittenwald?

Hi Larryincolorado - we are flying from India - reaching Frankfurt on April 28 at 10:30 am. and fly out of Prague on May 6 [morning]. Given your earlier response, was thinking on the train journey on May 2, [RE451] reaching Prague by 12:45 pm. That would give us 3.5 days in Prague.

Planning on spending a day each in Rothenburg, Mittenwald [2 nights to see the surrounding area] - Last night around Munich to see Dachau before leaving on May 2 for Prague.

Larryincolorodo - I really appreciate your time and patience. Thanks!!

I think you may be packing too much into the time you have.

You have four nights in Germany, 4/28 - 5/1. You want to spend the last night in Munich to take an early morning train to Prague. That leaves 2 nights for, say, Rothenburg, but only one night for Mittenwald (or the other way around).

More specifically, the Dachau memorial closes at 5 PM on May 1 (see www.kz-gedenkstaette-dachau.de). The guided tours go at 1:30 (introduction at 12:30); the AUDIO tours take about 2 1/2 hours. At the latest you need to be at Dachau around 2 PM. That doesn't leave much time for Mittlenwald.

One other thing you should know. I looked back and realized no one ever completely explained the Bayern ticket to you. See www.tiny.cc/laenderticketsen. On weekdays you cannot start using a Bayern Ticket until 9 AM, so you won't be able to use it for RE 451. You can, however, use it for the 10:44 connection. If you want to take the earlier train you will need standard tickets, about €50 per person. You better find a hotel close to the main train station, since you will have to get to the station quite early. Also, if you rent a car, you will have to turn it in the day before, maybe before going to Dachau.

BTW, the obvious logical day to visit Dachau would be the day you travel from Rothenburg to Mittenwald. That would make everything fit. However, that turns out to be Monday, and the memorial, like many other museums in Europe, is closed.

hi Larryincolorado - looks like I've messed up the itinerary. I am trying to re-issue my ticket to land in Munich and also decided to forego Dachau for another visit [hopefully]. Does this modified itinerary make sense? [I am really thankful for your inputs and your PATIENCE .. thanks a ton!!!]

April 28 [Sat] Land in Munich - Reach Fussen by afternoon. Night in Fussen
April 29 [Sun] See the Castles in Neuschwanstein and surrounding area. Night in Fussen
April 30 [Mon] Mittenwald and surrounding area. Night in Mittenwald
May 1 [Tue] Drive leisurely along the Romantic road, spend a few hours in Rothenburg, night in Nurnberg
May 2 [Wed] 7:36 train to Prague [with the standard ticket] as the 9:50 train will only reach at 15:45.

I think my patience IS running out. Your previous itinerary was too tight because you were landing in Frankfurt. So, you are fixing that problem with a Munich landing, and you could make your original itinerary (with modification) work. So now you come up with a new itinerary that is as inappropriate for the time you have as was the original itinerary.

It appears to me that you are interested in quantity, not quality. That is, you are only interested in how many how many stickers you can add to you luggage, not actually spending adequate time at those places.

If there are no traffic delays and if you drive straight through without stopping, driving time from Mittenwald via the Romantic Road from Wieskirche to Rothenburg, per Via Michelin, is five hours. But that is not really the way to see the Romantic Road. I suggest you read the comments on
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=34814380.

If you make any stops on the way, by the time you get to Rottenburg and have another hour’s drive to Nürnberg, there will not be enough time left to adequately see Rothenburg. The last time I was in Rothenburg it was for a day and a half, and that seemed about right

I suggest instead that you go back to your original schedule. If you are arriving early enough in Munich, you could take the train to Rothenburg with a stop at Dachau. Spend Sunday seeing Rothenburg, go by train on Monday to Mittenwald, and come back to Munich Tuesday afternoon or evening (how late do the car returns stay open?) for your early departure on Wednesday.

Finally, I don’t think I can help you any more. My forte is travel by public transportation, particularly by rail, in Bavaria. I know how to use public transportation, especially promotions of the Bahn, to save a lot of money vs. renting a car. You seem determined to do this by car, so I don’t think I can help you more.

Gute Reise.

Larryincolorado - sincerely apologize.