Train help for Prague
 

Hi!

I need advice for buying train tickets for my family of 5 from Salzburg to Prague (staying two days) and Prague to Berlin. I would love tips and experience for buying these in advance! Thanks!

Go to the national railways web sites and book your own online -get the cheapest price -limited number of discounted tickets can sell out early so ASAP - at least 60 days if not more before.

www.seat61.com explains all of that for those countries- for general info on trains (like 1st vs 2nd cl) also check www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

tickets rarely sell out, especially in first class so you can always buy once there but at a higher price usually.

Discounted tickets I think may not allow for stop-offs like in Dresden so if not buy two separate tickets -www.bahn.de/en for both. And Dresden is totally worth even a few-hour look- Florence on the Elbe it has been called.

Dresden's main train stations are both an easy enough walk to the town center and river front where the most famous places are.

Sit on the east side of the train when going to Dresden -great views of the famous red sandstone cliffs and pinnacles of Saxon Switzerland:

https://www.google.com/search?q=saxo...HScSDBYQsAQIGg

So, stop in Dresden from Prague on the way to Berlin?

Do you know what the deal is on December 10? Do the ticket prices change?

Thanks

>Discounted tickets I think may not allow for stop-offs like in Dresden so if not buy two separate tickets -www.bahn.de/en for both.<

No. When booking at www.bahn.com, just request an intermediate stop of nn hours at Dresden. I can see a connection with EC trains on Dec. 10 which gives a 6 hours layover in Dresden for E. 44.90 (the fare without layover being 39.90):

Praha hl.n. ab 10:27 EC 174 Eurocity Richtung: Hamburg-Altona
Dresden Hbf an 12:44

Dresden Hbf ab 18:56 17 EC 170 Eurocity Richtung: Berlin Hbf (tief)
Berlin Hbf an 20:58

BTW, you may want to double check fares at the Czech Rail website, which might be somewaht cheaper.

BTW, you may want to double check fares at the Czech Rail website, which might be somewaht cheaper.>

Can Czech Railways tickets include a stop-over? Be clear of that.

Be sure you know which train station in Prague your train uses. Most often it is the one abbreviated as hl.n. (Hlavní nádrazi) at the metro station by the same name (the red C line).

But quite a few international trains use Nádrazi Holesovice, also on the red C line of the metro, three stops from hl.n.

If you take local/regional trains, they might use the third station called Masarykovo nádrazi on metro line B at the Námesti Republiky stop.

Dresden? Yes! I am in Dresden now for the Christmas market. After visiting Nürnberg, Leipzig, and Dresden, the Dresden Striezelmarkt, while not as big as the one in Nürnberg, came with pretty decorations and lighting. The sun sets around 4pm now and the markets are most attractive when the lights come on. I have just visited ones in Berlin. I didn't care for them. Too small and felt more like a happy hour than the ones in Dresden with a lot of families.

The Dresden tram tickets from the station to the market area can be bewildering. For two of us, we used mostly the 4-way ticket for 8.20€. It is one ticket containing 4 rides, that is it has 4 places to validate. For one way, I validate one side, then immediately flip the card to punch the other side. For the return trip, I used the other end of the ticket. The ticket machine takes bills and coins and give changes.

Be sure you know which train station in Prague your train uses. Most often it is the one abbreviated as hl.n. (Hlavní nádrazi) at the metro station by the same name (the red C line).>

Good point -check www.bahn.de/en to see which station -the two are a few miles apart. May also give platform number.

Praha hl.n. ab 10:27 EC 174 Eurocity Richtung: Hamburg-Altona
Dresden Hbf an 12:44>

sla gave the station above for trains to Dresden!

I think all of the EC trains from Prague to Dresden stop at both stations, anyway. I know the above train (EC 174) does). In fact, I took an EC to Dresden and I got on at Holesovice because it was closer for me. It should be about the same price, just pick whichever one is more convenient.