EuroCity train from Berlin to Prague
 
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Berlin - Prague from €18.99

Comfortable air-conditioned EuroCity trains with restaurant car & free WiFi link Berlin and Prague every two hours, 388 km (241 miles) in 4 hours, centre to centre with great scenery along the scenic Elbe & Vlatava rivers.  Train is the way to go, an experience in itself - Watch the video!

small bullet point  Train times

small bullet point  How much does it cost?

small bullet point  How to buy tickets

small bullet point  What are the trains like?

small bullet point  Travel tips

small bullet point  The journey in pictures

small bullet point  Watch the video!

small bullet point  Berlin Hbf station guide

small bullet point  Prague Hlavni station guide

small bullet point  Hotel suggestions for Prague

small bullet point  Trains from Berlin to other destinations

small bullet point  Trains from Prague to other destinations

Train times southbound

Until 14 December 2024

 Berlin ► Prague

 

daily

daily

daily

daily

daily

daily

daily

Train type:

RJ

EC

ECH

EC

EC

EC

EC

Train number:

257

171

172

379

175

177

179

 Berlin Hbf depart:

06:15

07:16

09:16

11:16

13:16

15:16

17:16

 Dresden Hbf depart:

08:10

09:10

11:10

13:10

15:10

17:10

19:10

 Prague Holesovice arrive:

10:17

11:14

13:14

15:14

17:14

19:14

21:14

 Prague Hlavni (main station) arrive:

10:27

11:24

13:24

15:24

17:24

19:24

21:24

15 Dec 2024 to 9 Aug 2025

 Berlin ► Prague

 

daily

daily

daily

daily

daily

daily*

daily

Train type:

EC

ECH

EC

EC

EC

EC

NJ

Train number:

171

172

379

175

177

179

457

 Berlin Hbf depart:

07:15

09:15

11:16

13:16

15:16

17:16

19:21

 Dresden Hbf depart:

09:10

11:10

13:10

15:10

17:10

19:10

22:10

 Prague Holesovice arrive:

11:14

13:14

15:14

17:14

19:14

21:14

00:14

 Prague Hlavni (main station) arrive:

11:24

13:24

15:24

17:24

19:24

21:24

00:25

10 Aug to 13 Dec 2025

 Berlin ► Prague

 

daily

daily

daily

daily

daily

daily

Train type:

EC

ECH

EC

EC

EC

NJ

Train number:

171

172

379

175

177

457

 Berlin Hbf depart:

06:55

08:56

10:57

12:57

14:57

19:47

 Dresden Hbf depart:

09:10

11:10

13:10

15:10

17:10

22:10

 Prague Holesovice arrive:

11:16

13:13

15:13

17:13

19:13

00:14

 Prague Hlavni (main station) arrive:

11:27

13:23

15:23

17:23

19:23

00:25

Train times northbound

Until 14 December 2024

 Prague ► Berlin

 

daily

daily

daily

daily

daily

daily

daily

Train type:

EC

EC

EC

EC

ECH

EC

RJ

Train number:

178

176

174

378

172

170

256

 Prague Hlavni (main station) depart:

06:28

08:28

10:28

12:28

14:28

16:28

17:31

 Prague Holesovice depart:

06:38

08:38

10:38

12:38

14:38

16:38

17:41

 Dresden arrive:

08:50

10:50

12:50

14:50

16:50

18:50

19:50

 Berlin Hbf arrive:

10:42

12:43

14:43

16:43

18:43

20:43

21:54

15 Dec 2024 to 9 Aug 2025

 Prague ► Berlin

 

daily*

daily

daily

daily*

daily

daily

9 May to

14 Sept

Train type:

EC

EC

EC

EC

ECH

EC

EC

Train number:

178

176

174

378

172

170

256

 Prague Hlavni (main station) depart:

06:28

08:28

10:28

12:33

14:33

16:28

20:28

 Prague Holesovice depart:

06:39

08:39

10:39

12:43

14:43

16:39

20:39

 Dresden arrive:

08:50

10:50

12:50

14:50

16:50

18:50

22:50

 Berlin Hbf arrive:

10:43

12:43

14:43

16:43

18:43

20:43

00:57

10 Aug to 13 Dec 2025

 Prague ► Berlin

 

daily

daily

daily*

daily

daily

9 May to

14 Sept

Train type:

EC

EC

EC

ECH

EC

EC

Train number:

176

174

378

172

170

256

 Prague Hlavni (main station) depart:

08:28

10:28

12:33

14:33

16:28

20:28

 Prague Holesovice depart:

08:39

10:39

12:43

14:43

16:39

20:39

 Dresden arrive:

10:50

12:50

14:50

16:50

18:50

22:50

 Berlin Hbf arrive:

13:01

15:02

17:01

19:01

21:01

00:57

Timetable notes

* = Runs most days but not all due to trackwork, check your date at int.bahn.de.

EC = EuroCity Berliner, air-conditioned 1st & 2nd class with restaurant car, CD (Czech Railways) train.

ECH = EuroCity Hungaria, air-conditioned 1st & 2nd class with restaurant car, MAV (Hungarian Railways) train.

RJ = Czech railjet train Vindobona, to/from Vienna.  Air-conditioned 2nd class, 1st class & business class with restaurant car.

NJ = Nightjet sleeper train to Budapest & Vienna, conveys 2nd class seats cars, but no 1st class or catering.

Times may vary, check times for your date of travel at int.bahn.de.

Berlin to Prague by train is 388 km or 241 miles.

How much does it cost?

How to buy tickets

What are the trains like?

The EuroCity trains between Berlin & Prague are run jointly by the German, Czech, Hungarian & Austrian national railways:

EC 170, 171, 174, 179, 378, 379 = classic Czech EuroCity trains, gradually being replaced by ComfortJet trains in late 2024 & early 2025.

EC 175, 176, 177, 178 = Czech EuroCity trains being equipped with new ComfortJet carriages first, starting September 2024.

EC 172, 173 = EuroCity Hungaria, a Hungarian EuroCity train with restaurant car to/from Bratislava & Budapest, see the photos here.

RJ 256, 257 = Railjet Vindobona, a Czech railjet train to/from Vienna, see the photos here.

NJ 457 = Nightjet sleeper train en route to Vienna and Budapest, has 2nd class seats cars only, no 1st class or catering.

You can check the rolling stock used on your specific departure and see details of your train formation & car numbers using www.vagonweb.cz/razeni. Look under Germany or Czechia for EC or search by train number.

Classic Czech EuroCity trains

Most Berlin-Prague trains are branded Berliner and use CD (Czech Railways) rolling stock.  Starting from 29 September 2024, the original classic EuroCity trains shown below will be progressively replaced by new ComfortJet carriagesSeat map for classic EuroCity cars.

The usual formation for these classic Czech trains is 2 x 2nd class open plan car, 3 x 2nd class cars with 6-seat compartments, restaurant car, 1st class open-plan car.  However, extra cars are added at peak times and formations vary.  The 1st class car is normally at the front in the Berlin>Prague direction, at the back Prague>Berlin.

EuroCity train from Berlin to Prague about to leave Berlin

The first class car of the EuroCity train EC174 Robert Schumann boarding in Berlin.  Click the images below for larger photos.

First class on Prague to Budapest traiin   First class on Prague to Budapest EuroCity traiin

1st class seats.  Seats are usually in an air-conditioned open-plan saloon, arranged 2+1 across car width, some face to face, some face to back, some tables for 4, some tables for 2.  Power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Larger photo.

Restaurant car on the  Berlin to Prague traiin   Inside the Berlin to Prague restaurant car

Restaurant car.  All Berlin-Prague trains have a restaurant car serving inexpensive snacks, drinks and complete meals, located between the 1st class car and the rest of the train.  Euros, Koruna & credit cards are accepted.  Having lunch or dinner as the train snakes through the beautiful Elbe river valley is a real treat!  There are no table reservations, just go along and sit down.  There's a separate counter if you want to take snacks or drinks back to your seat.  A refreshment trolley may also make its way along the train with tea, coffee, beer, wine and snacks.  Larger photo.

2nd class compartment on Prague to Budapest traiin   2nd class compartment on Prague to Budapest traiin

2nd class seats are mostly in classic 6-seat compartment cars like this, air-conditioned, power sockets & free WiFi.

Berlin to Prague EuroCity traiin at Dresden   2nd class open plan car on Prague to Budapest traiin

There are one or two open-plan saloon cars, which I personally prefer.  Air-conditioned, power sockets, free WiFi.

New Czech ComfortJet trains

From 29 September 2024, CD's new ComfortJet carriages will start taking over some Berliner services on the Berlin-Prague route.  Almost identical to the InterJet carriages shown below, they will ultimately be 9-car push-pull trains with restaurant car and a welcome extra 2 cars compared to the classic EuroCity trains they replace (meaning two 1st class cars, not just one).  However, initially they will consist of 7 cars plus an older restaurant car taken from the classic EuroCity trains.  Seat map for ComfortJet.

The morning express from Prague to Cheb

A ComfortJet train at Prague Hlavni (technically this is an InterJet train, but InterJet carriages are virtually identical to ComfortJet)

2nd class seats on a Prague to Cheb Interjet train   1st class seats on a Prague to Cheb Interjet train

2nd class with power outlets & free WiFi.  Larger photo.

 

1st class with power outlets & free WiFi.  Larger photo.

Luggage rack

A large luggage rack inside the first class saloon.  There are similar racks in 2nd class.

Restaurant car on the  Berlin to Prague traiin   Inside the Berlin to Prague restaurant car

Classic restaurant car.  Until Siemens manufacture the ComfortJet restaurant cars, an older EuroCity restaurant car is attached serving inexpensive snacks, drinks and meals.  On these trains the restaurant is attached at one end.  Euros, Koruna & credit cards are accepted.  Having lunch or dinner as the train snakes through the beautiful Elbe river valley is a treat!  There are no table reservations, just go along and sit down.  There's a separate counter if you want to take snacks or drinks back to your seat.  A refreshment trolley may also make its way along the train with tea, coffee, beer, wine and snacks.  Larger photo.

 

Route map

Berlin to Prague train route map

Green = scenic section

Map extract by kind permission of the European Rail Timetable people. 

I recommend buying this map for your European travels with shipping worldwide at www.europeanrailtimetable.eu.

Travel tips

Useful links

Berlin to Prague by train, in pictures

Berlin Hbf, exterior

Berlin's impressive Hauptbahnhof, opened in 2006.  It's just 17 minutes walk past the Reichstag to the Brandenburg Gate.  See Berlin Hbf station guide.

Boarding the train to Prague in Berlin

Boarding the lunchtime EuroCity train to Prague.  At Berlin Hbf, the north-south platforms are below ground level, reached by massive escalators or lifts.

Dining car for lunch   Soup

Dinner in the diner, or in this case, lunch.

Pork cutlet and potatoes   The train calls at Dresden

Pork cutlet as main course.

 

The train calls at Dresden Hbf.

Dresden's impressive station   Cliffs along the river Elbe

The historic Dresden Hauptbahnhof was built in 1898.  The station has a unique layout, a terminus in the centre at ground level, flanked by through tracks on either side raised up on viaducts.

Scenery along the river Elbe

South of Dresden the train starts running along the pretty river Elbe, or Labe in Czech.  One of Europe's major rivers, the Elbe eventually flows into the North Sea at Cuxhaven near Hamburg.  Watch for river boats, even the occasional paddle steamer.

Bad Schandau on the Elbe

Last stop in Germany is the pretty spa town of Bad Schandau, pictured above on the far bank of the Elbe.  Soon afterwards the train crosses into the Czech Republic.  Spot checks are possible, but usually there are no border formalities to speak of.

Decin Castle

First stop in the Czech Republic is Decin, where the imposing Decin Castle (pictured above) overlooks the river and railway.  Once home to the Bohemian kings, the castle was used by the Soviet army from 1968 until 1991.

More cliffs along the river Elbe

More picturesque scenery along the river Elbe.  The river views are all on the left hand side going south from Berlin to Prague, or on the right hand side going north from Prague to Berlin.

Dam on the river Vlatava   The train crosses the Vlatava

Above left, the 14th century Strekov Castle towers over the 1935 Strekov Dam, just south of Usti Nad Labem.  The train leaves the Elbe and starts running along the river Vlatava.  Above right, the train finally crosses the broad Vlatava as it approaches Prague.  Passengers with sharp eyes can spot Prague's old town cathedral towers in the far distance on the right of the train.

Prague Hlavni station, main entrance   The train from Berlin arrived in Prague

Arrival at Prague Hlavni (main station), right in Prague city centre.

Old town square, Prague   Charles Bridge, Prague

The station is just 15 minutes walk from the old town square, and 20 minutes from the famous Charles Bridge.

VideoBerlin to Prague by train


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