Travelling by train across Central and Eastern Europe
 

I know that train tickets may not be purchased very far in advance but I would like to familiarize myself with the easiest way to understand the schedules and purchase tickets on line.I am looking to travel as follows:
Warsaw to Berlin
Berlin to Dresden
Dresden to Prague
Prague to Vienna
Vienna to Bratislava
Bratislava to Budapest
Can anyone help me please?

Warsaw-Berlin from 29 euros www.bahn.de/en

Berlin-Dresden & Dresden-Prague from 19 euros also www.bahn.de/en

Prague to Vienna from 19 euros www.cd.cz/eshop

Vienna-Bratislava 15 euros, buy at station, train every hour.

Bratislava-Budapest buy at the station.

Also check out the European East Railpass which lets you hop on any train virtually anytime in Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Austria - if wanting flexibility and not having to line up a string of discounted tickets - which typically have severe restrictions on changes or refunds the pass is reasonably priced - especially in first class which I would recommend for anyone on the trip of a lifetime, especially in this area - much much more relaxed ride.

For lots of great info on trains in these countries check out these info-laden sites - www.seat61.com - Man in Seat 61 who posts above his commercial site - Rail Europe is listed on his home page as an official sponsor so click on his commercial link to Rail Europe to get railpass prices; and www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

The easiest schedule site for all European trains to me to use is the German Railways official site - www.bahn.de/en - schedules for all your trains.

Vienna to Bratislava
Bratislava to Budapest>

You could easily as I did take a one-hour train ride from Vienna as a day trip to Bratislava, which to me is worth for the average tourist at most one full day - day trip in - no luggage to deal with - can also take a hydrofoil on the Danbue one way or both.

One less relocation - packing, unpacking, etc and Vienna to Budapest is a quick train ride (or again by water).

They can often be purchased as much as three months (or more) in advance. If you are willing to register yourself on the Bahn site and put a credit card on file it is a simple matter of reserving and printing out tickets at home for those timings that originate or (sometimes) end in Germany.

Thanks to all of you. This is much appreciated.

Even some non-German trains can be booked on www.bahn.de/en - usually connecting trains in other countries to German trains I think.

Note that discounted tickets are sold in limited numbers usually and generally are non-changeable non-refundable and must be used on the specific train you have reserved. Most folks are fine with setting their trains in stone weeks/months in advance - folks who was full flexibility or first class travel (which Man in Seat 61 who posts above said before on Fodor's that he 'was an aficianado of' and which I highy recommend for the trip of a lifetime and those will lots of luggage) then look at the European East Railpass if taking several train rides in countries covered (Germany is not).

Thank you PalenQ

My wife and I have now completed all our train schedules in this part of Europe and our findings are as follows:

It is more cost effective to purchase tickets locally at the stations rather than from Canada.

2nd class is fine. We had no issues whatsoever, especially as we only had knapsacks and no suitcases.

If you wish, seats on 2nd class may be reserved for very little money.

Most people we noticed do not reserve seats but sit anywhere until someone with a reservation shows up which they often don't.

Two of our 2nd class rides compared favorably with our 1st class ride from Prague to Vienna. In fact there was a noisy family next to us in first class which took away from the experience.

Having travelled in Italy using 1st class I would not recommend 2nd class there as the Italian system appears most disorganized.

Thanks for letting us know what you learned!

2nd class is fine. We had no issues whatsoever, especially as we only had knapsacks and no suitcases.>

That is a key issue between 1st and 2nd class - IME must easier to find stowage room for such things in first class - i often can put them on an empty seat near me and with less folks in the same-size railcar easier to find room in overhead luggage racks.