London to Prague

Which route to choose?

• Option 1, lunchtime Eurostar to Brussels, Brussels to Prague by European Sleeper - the easiest option!  Runs on Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays, London to Prague with one easy change in Brussels and a scenic run along the Elbe Valley next morning.

• Option 2, lunchtime Eurostar to Paris, high-speed train to Karlsruhe, Czech sleeper to Prague - also a time-effective sleeper option, with daily departures, some sleepers with private toilet & shower.

• Option 3, morning Eurostar to Paris, high-speed train to Basel, Czech sleeper to Prague - another sleeper option with daily departures, some sleepers with private toilet & shower.

• Option 4, by daytime trains with overnight stop in either Brussels, Cologne or Berlin - if you prefer daytime trains and a hotel, options 5 or 6 are the options for you.

• Option 5, by daytime trains with overnight stop in Paris or Munich - also using daytime trains, this time via Paris.

• Option 6, by Harwich-Hoek overnight ferry - the ferry alternative!  Evening departure from London or Cambridge using the overnight rail & sail service to Amsterdam, sleeping in a cosy cabin with toilet, shower & satellite TV on Stena Line's Harwich-Hoek ferry.  Then take daytime trains to Prague with an overnight stop in Berlin, or spend a day exploring Rotterdam or Amsterdam & take the European Sleeper to Prague.

• Option 7, by Harwich-Hoek daytime ferry - early morning departure from London using the daytime rail & sail service to Hoek van Holland & Rotterdam.  Then take the European Sleeper from Rotterdam to Prague.

• Option 8, by ferry from Hull or Newcastle - by-pass London, sailing overnight from Newcastle or Hull to Holland.  Spend a day exploring Rotterdam or Amsterdam, then take the European Sleeper to Prague.

Which is cheapest?  You'll have to go online and see, each option involves several tickets and prices vary like air fares.  At short notice, the ferry options are usually cheaper than Eurostar.

Can you go out one way, back another?  Yes!  Almost all European train fares are priced as one-way, so you can book out one way out and back another.  Eurostar is the exception where a return fare is cheaper than two one-ways, so book London-Paris or London-Brussels as a round trip if you can.

Can you stop off?  Of course!  Simply book trains either side of the stopover on whatever dates you want.  Each part of these journeys is ticketed separately in any case (for example, the Eurostar, the sleeper train and any onward train), so it's no problem to stop off at the interchange points.

What if you're not starting from London?  See advice about starting your journey from elsewhere in the UK.

Option 1, London to Prague using the European Sleeper

This is the easiest and most time-effective way from London to Prague.  Take an afternoon Eurostar from London to Brussels then the thrice-weekly European Sleeper from Brussels to Prague. The European Sleeper was launched in May 2023 from Brussels to Berlin and extended to Prague from March 2024.  The author was on board both inaugural runs!  London to Prague centre to centre in under 24h with one easy change in Brussels and a comfy bed for the night!

London ► Prague:  Monday, Wednesday, Friday

• Step 1, travel from London to Brussels by Eurostar, leaving London St Pancras at 13:01, arriving Brussels Midi 16:06.

  Eurostar has two cafe-bars, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Plus & Premier fares include lunch with wine.

  A later 15:04 departure from London is theoretically possible, but as sleeper trains from Brussels can sometimes be retimed an hour earlier I recommend playing safe and booking the 13:01.

  In Brussels, the bar of the Pullman Hotel at Brussels Midi makes the perfect VIP waiting room.

• Step 2, travel from Brussels to Prague by European Sleeper, leaving Brussels Midi at 19:22 on Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays arriving Prague Hlavni 10:51.

  The European Sleeper has a comfortable sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed rooms with washbasin, couchette cars with 5 & 6 berth compartments and ordinary seats.  In sleepers, a light breakfast is included.  Check times at www.europeansleeper.eu.  More about the European Sleeper.

  In the morning over breakfast, enjoy a scenic run along the Elbe valley between Dresden & Prague, see the scenery photos.

Prague ► London: Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday

• Day 1, travel from Prague to Brussels by European Sleeper, leaving Prague Hlavni at 18:05 on Tuesdays, Thursdays & Sundays arriving Brussels Midi 09:27.

  The European Sleeper has a comfortable sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed rooms with washbasin, couchette cars with 5 & 6 berth compartments and ordinary seats.  In sleepers, a light breakfast is included.  Check times at www.europeansleeper.eu.  More about the European Sleeper.

  Enjoy the scenic run along the Elbe river valley between Prague & Dresden, the river will be on the right hand side.

• Day 2, travel from Brussels to London by Eurostar, leaving Brussels Midi at 12:56, arriving London St Pancras 13:57.

  Eurostar has two cafe-bars, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Plus & Premier fares include lunch with wine.

How much does it cost?

• London to Brussels by Eurostar starts at £51 one-way or £78 return in Standard, £98 one-way, £140 return in Plus (1st class).

• Brussels to Prague by European Sleeper starts at €49 in a seat, €79 with a couchette in 6-berth, €99 with a couchette in 5-berth, €109 with a bed in 3-bed sleeper, €129 with a bed in 2-bed sleeper, €159 with a bed in single-bed sleeper.

  All per person per berth.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Children under 4 travel free, without their own berth.  Children under 12 travel at a child rate.

How to buy tickets

• Step 1, book the Brussels-Prague sleeper at www.europeansleeper.eu.

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  Check arrival & departure times as they can vary.  You print your own ticket or show it on your phone.

• Step 2, now book the London-Brussels Eurostar at www.eurostar.com.

  Booking opens up to 11 months ahead, but I'd wait until the sleeper can be booked.  If you're returning, book Eurostar as a round trip because Eurostar return fares are cheaper than two one-ways.  You print your own tickets or can show them on your phone.

  Tip:  After booking you can use Manage your booking at www.eurostar.com to choose a better seat, see tips on choosing a Eurostar seat.

  Tip:  If you're travelling from a town or city north or west of London, see advice on buying tickets to connect with Eurostar.

Using an Interrail pass

• Alternatively, you can travel from anywhere in the UK to Prague or anywhere in Czechia using an Interrail pass.  It usually costs more than advance-purchase tickets booked a few months in advance, but if fares are expensive or you need flexibility, see how to use an Interrail from the UK to the Czech Republic.

What's the journey like?

1. London to Brussels by Eurostar

Eurostar trains link London & Brussels in just 2 hours, travelling at up to 300 km/h (186 mph).  There are two bar cars, power sockets at all seats and free WiFi.  Plus and Premier fares include a light meal with wine (or breakfast, on departures before 10:15).  There's a 30-minute minimum check-in as all border formalities are carried out before you board the train.  More about Eurostar & check-in procedure.  St Pancras station guide.  Brussels Midi station guide.

Eurostar e320 at St Pancras.  More about Eurostar.		1st class: Plus or Premier seating.

Standard class.  Larger photo.		One of two cafe-bars, cars 8 & 9.  Larger photo.

2. Brussels to Prague by European Sleeper

Launched by two sleeper-loving entrepreneurs in May 2023, the European Sleeper has a sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, newer couchette cars with 5-berth compartments, older couchette cars with 6-berth compartments & ordinary seats.  A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes. Light snacks and drinks can be ordered from the attendant, but there's no restaurant so bring a picnic and bottle of wine!  More about European Sleeper.  Prague Hlavni station guide.

The European Sleeper calls at Amsterdam.  This is a 5-berth couchette car, beyond it is the stainless steel sleeping-car.

1, 2 or 3 bed sleeper, set up as a single.		5-berth couchettes, daytime mode.

5-berth couchettes, night mode.		Breakfast can be added when you book.

On the glorious morning of 26 March 2024, the very first European Sleeper to Prague runs along the Elbe river valley.  See more photos.

The European Sleeper arrived at Prague Hlavni.

Video guide: The European Sleeper

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Option 2, London to Prague using the Karlsruhe - Prague sleeper

Another time-effective way from London to Prague.  An overnight train with sleeping-car & couchettes links Zurich with Prague via Basel, Karlsruhe & Dresden.  From London or Paris it's fastest to pick up this sleeper in Karlsruhe (you can pick it up earlier in Basel, that's option 4).  It's a comfortable way to go, some sleepers have an toilet & shower, breakfast included.

London ► Prague

• Step 1, travel from London to Paris by Eurostar, leaving London St Pancras at 12:31, arriving Paris Gare du Nord 15:59.

  Eurostar has two cafe-bars, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Plus & Premier fares include lunch with wine.

  In Paris, it's an easy 7 minute 500m walk from the Gare du Nord to the Gare de l'Est.  No need to cross Paris!

• Step 2, travel from Paris to Karlsruhe by TGV Duplex, leaving Paris Gare de l'Est at 17:53, arriving Karlsruhe Hbf 20:25.

  This 320 km/h double-deck TGV Duplex has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Book an upper deck seat for the best views. 

  Have dinner in Karlsruhe:  The Erste Fracht Braugasthaus (www.erste-fracht.de) is just across the road from the station's main exit and serves German food & beer, open until late 7 days a week.  The Wirtshaus Wolfbräu (www.wolfbräu.de) is an 18-minute 1.4 km walk away but has been suggested as better by one seat61 correspondent, see walking map.  There is also a decent Indian restaurant, the Maharaja (www.restaurantmaharaja-ka.de) across the road and to the right.  There is a MacDonald's inside the station, open until late.

• Step 3, travel from Karlsruhe to Prague by sleeper train, leaving Karlsruhe Hbf at 23:09, arriving Prague Hlavni 09:25.

  The EuroNight sleeper train Canopus has two Czech air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-cars each nine 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, and three 1, 2 & 3 bed deluxe compartments with en suite shower & toilet.  There are toilets and a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in regular sleepers.  There are also 4 & 6-berth couchettes.  A light breakfast is included in the sleeper fare.

  A Czech restaurant car is attached to the train between Leipzig (around 06:00) and Prague, if you'd like a cooked breakfast.

  In the morning, enjoy the scenic run along the Elbe river valley between Dresden & Prague.  The train arrives at Prague Hlavni, just 15 minutes walk from Prague's historic old town.  See Prague Hlavni station guide.

Prague ► London

• Step 1, travel from Prague to Karlsruhe by sleeper train, leaving Prague Hlavni 18:31, arriving Karlsruhe Hbf 05:04.

  The EuroNight sleeper train Canopus has a Czech air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-car with nine 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, and three 1, 2 & 3 bed deluxe compartments with en suite shower & toilet.  There are toilets and a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in regular sleepers.  There are also 4 & 6-berth couchettes.  A light breakfast with tea or coffee is included in the sleeper fare.

  A Czech restaurant car is attached to the train between Prague and Leipzig (reached around 22:00), treat yourself to dinner with wine.

  Tip:  At Karlsruhe Hbf there are various bakeries and cafes open from 6am.  The Schwarzwaldstube restaurant in the Schlosshotel Karlsruhe (www.schlosshotelkarlsruhe.de) serves breakfast from 06:00, it's open to non-residents, just across the road from the station & to the right.

• Step 2, travel from Karlsruhe to Paris by TGV Duplex, leaving Karlsruhe Hbf daily at 07:32, arriving Paris Gare de l'Est 10:05.

  This 320 km/h double-deck TGV Duplex has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Book an upper deck seat for the best views.

  In Paris, it's an easy 7 minute 500m walk from the Gare de l'Est to the Gare du Nord.

• Step 3, travel from Paris to London by Eurostar, leaving Paris Gare du Nord at 12:02, arriving London St Pancras 13:30.

  Eurostar has two cafe-bars, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Plus & Premier fares include lunch with wine.

• Alternatively, if you don't fancy the 5am arrival at Karlsruhe and don't mind a later arrival in London.

  You can book the sleeper from Prague to Basel instead, it arrives at Basel SBB at the much more agreeable hour of 07:20.  The 10:34 TGV-Lyria from Basel SBB reaches Paris Gare de Lyon at 13:38, cross Paris by metro and take the 17:02 Eurostar from Paris Nord to London St Pancras.

How to much does it cost?

• London to Paris by Eurostar starts at £51 one-way or £78 return in Standard, £98 one-way or £140 return in Plus (1st class).

• Paris to Karlsruhe by TGV starts at €39.99 each way 2nd class, €69.99 each way 1st class.

• Karlsruhe to Prague by sleeper starts at €49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, €59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, €69.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €89.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €139.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.  Berths in deluxe sleepers with shower & toilet cost a bit more.

• All these fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

How to buy tickets

• Step 1, book from London to Karlsruhe at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com.

  Both are easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee.  About Raileurope.  About Thetrainline.

  Booking opens up to 11 months ahead for Eurostar, up to 6 months ahead for other trains.  More about when bookings open.  I'd wait until all trains are open for booking before buying a Eurostar ticket.

  Tip:  You can book from London to Karlsruhe in one go if you like, but I'd book London-Paris first, add to basket, then book Paris-Karlsruhe and add to basket, to make sure you get at least an hour between trains.  You can also see if earlier Eurostars have cheaper prices.

  Tip:  If you're returning, London-Paris return fares are cheaper than two one-ways so book Eurostar as a return.  All other trains are priced one-way so it makes no difference, I find it easier to book one way at a time.

  Tip:  After booking you can click Manage your booking at www.eurostar.com to choose a better seat from a seat map, see tips on choosing a seat.

  Tip:  If you're travelling from a town or city north or west of London, see advice about buying tickets to connect with Eurostar.

  Alternatively, you can book the Eurostar at www.eurostar.com, then book the Paris-Karlsruhe TGV at int.bahn.de.  More work, same prices, but no booking fee.

• Step 2, book the Karlsruhe-Prague sleeper at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com.

  You'll see the train listed twice, once for the seats cars (marked DB if you're using Trainline) and once for the sleepers & couchettes (marked ÖBB on Thetrainline).  Needless to say, you should select the version that offers the couchettes and sleepers.

  Booking opens up to several months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

  If you have any problems, you can also book with Austrian Railways at www.oebb.at (as it's a Nightjet partner route), same prices, in €.

Using an Interrail pass

• Alternatively, you can travel from anywhere in the UK to Prague or anywhere in Czechia using an Interrail pass.  It usually costs more than advance-purchase tickets booked a few months in advance, but if fares are expensive or you need flexibility, see how to use an Interrail from the UK to the Czech Republic.

Have your trip arranged as a package

• Byway (Byway.travel) is a UK-based eco-holiday firm with a 5-star TrustPilot rating.  If you're nervous about booking train travel yourself, book a trip from the UK to Prague through Byway as a package including hotels, starting from any British station you like.  Byway includes package protection, a 100% Covid refund guarantee, free disruption and re-planning and on-demand WhatsApp support while you're away.

  Browse pre-configured packages from the UK to Prague by train at www.byway.travel/destination/...czech-republic-by-train.

  Or ask them to build a trip to your requirements, call 0300 131 7173 (09:00-17:00 Monday-Friday) or email them or use the contact form.

  Or try designing your own trip using their new map interface at www.byway.travel/map (in beta).

  If you live outside the UK, no problem, send them an email or use their contact form or call +44 300 131 7173.

  Please say you heard about them from Seat 61.

• Tailor Made Rail can also organise a trip to Czechia by train, with hotels and transfers. Call their dedicated seat61 phone line 020 3778 1461 and quote seat 61 when booking.  From outside the UK call +44 20 3778 1461.  Lines open 09:00-17:30 Monday-Friday.  Their website is www.tailormaderail.com/destinations/czech-republic.

• Railbookers are a train tour & holiday specialist who can put a trip together as a package, with rail travel, hotels & transfers to your specifications.  As you're booking a package, they'll also take care of you if anything happens such as a strike or delay.  One of their most popular trips is Ultimate Berlin, Prague, Vienna, Budapest with train travel from the UK - it can be customised to include train travel back to the UK as well, just ask them.  Also a top seller is their holiday to Berlin & Prague with travel to & from London by train.

    UK call 0207 864 4600, www.railbookers.co.uk. 

    US call free 1-888-829-4775, www.railbookers.com.

    Canada call free 1-855-882-2910, www.railbookers.com.

    Australia call toll-free 1300 971 526, www.railbookers.com.au. 

    New Zealand call toll-free 0800 000 554 or see website.

What's the journey like?

1. London to Paris by Eurostar

Eurostar trains link London & Brussels in just 2 hours, travelling at up to 300 km/h (186 mph).  There are two bar cars, power sockets at all seats and free WiFi.  Plus and Premier fares include a light meal with wine (or breakfast, on departures before 10:15).  There's a 30-minute minimum check-in as all border formalities are carried out before you board the train.  More about Eurostar & check-in procedure.  St Pancras station guide.

Eurostar e320 at St Pancras.  More about Eurostar.		1st class: Plus or Premier seating.

Standard class.  Larger photo.		One of two cafe-bars, cars 8 & 9.  Larger photo.

2. Paris to Karlsruhe by TGV Duplex   See the video

In Paris it's an easy 7 minute 500m walk from the Gare du Nord to the Gare de l'Est for the TGV to Germany.  Sit back with a glass of red and enjoy the ride - book an upper deck seat for the best views.  The train has power sockets at all seats & free WiFi in both classes.  A cafe-bar serves drinks, snacks & microwaved hot dishes.  The train soon leaves the Paris suburbs behind and speeds across a vast wide open plateau of woods & farmland at up to 320 km/h (199 mph), past picturesque French villages of the Champagne region.  An hour or two later, the train leaves the high-speed line and slowly meanders through pretty wooded hills, the countryside eventually flattening out towards Strasbourg.  On leaving Strasbourg, look out for Strasbourg cathedral on the left with its famously missing second tower.  Minutes afterwards you rumble across the river Rhine into Germany.  Paris Gare de l'Est station guide.

TGV Duplex at Paris Est. These impressive 320 km/h double-deck trains link Paris & Germany, a relaxing journey with reading book & glass of wine.  Book an upstairs seat for the best views.

Cafe-bar on upper deck in car 4 (or 14), serving tea, coffee, wine, beer, snacks & microwaved hot dishes.		2nd class seats on the upper deck.  There's a mix or tables for 4 and unidirectional seating.  360º photo.

1st class on upper deck, a club duo on the left, a club quatre on the right.  360º photo.		A TGV Duplex.  The 1 near the door indicates 1st class, a 2 indicates 2nd class.

3. Karlsruhe to Prague by Czech sleeper train

This has two modern Czech sleeping-cars, each with 9 standard compartments with washbasin and 3 deluxe compartments with toilet & shower.  Each compartment can be sold with 1, 2 or all 3 beds in use, as single, double and T3.  There are toilets and a shower at the end of the corridor, and each compartment converts from beds to a private sitting room for the evening & morning parts of the journey.  There's a power socket for laptops & mobiles.  Bedding and towels are provided.  The doors have card-key locks like hotels.  A very safe, civilised and comfortable way to travel!  More about this sleeper train.

This train also has a couchette car.  Couchettes are basic bunks with rug & pillow, you can book a bunk in either a 6-berth or less crowded 4-berth compartment.  Clean sheets and a pillow are provided, the doors have a normal lock and security lock or chain, there are several European-type 2-pin 240v power outlets in each compartment.  Toilets and washrooms at the end of the corridor.  Couchette compartments are not segregated by gender, as you do not normally get fully undressed, but women can book a berth in a women-only compartment.  More about this sleeper train.  Prague Hlavni station guide.

A Czech sleeping-car of the Comfortline type.

Standard sleeper set up as a 2-berth, with blind down & washstand open.  Each room can be used with 1, 2 or 3 beds.  Larger photo.		Same sleeper with seats folded out, washstand closed.  Similar to a deluxe, but without the shower & toilet.  Larger photo.		Deluxe sleepers are almost identical to standard, a bit more floorspace & shower & toilet instead of washstand.  Larger photo.		Just like a hotel, the corridor in a Comfortline sleeping-car.  There's a shower at end of the corridor for standard sleeper passengers.

6-berth couchettes.  There are also 4-berths.  Larger photo.		Couchette car on the inaugural departure from Prague, leased from RDC as CD don't have enough 200km/h couchette cars of their own.  Photos courtesy of @_wrzlbrnft_

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Option 3, London to Prague using the Basel - Prague sleeper

London ► Prague

• Step 1, travel from London to Paris by Eurostar, leaving London St Pancras at 10:31, arriving Paris Gare du Nord 13:59.

  Eurostar has two cafe-bars, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Plus & Premier fares include breakfast.

  Transfer by metro or taxi from the Gare du Nord to the Gare de Lyon, 2 stops on RER line D.

• Step 2, travel from Paris to Basel by TGV-Lyria, leaving Paris Gare de Lyon at 16:22, arriving Basel SBB 19:26.

  This 320 km/h double-deck high-speed train has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Book an upper deck seat for the best views.  More about TGV-Lyria.

  Have dinner in Basel, see suggested restaurants.

• Step 3, travel from Basel to Prague by sleeper train, leaving Basel SBB at 21:16, arriving Prague Hlavni 09:25.

  The EuroNight sleeper train Canopus has two Czech Comfortline sleeping-cars, each with nine 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, and three 1, 2 & 3 bed deluxe compartments with shower & toilet.  There are toilets and a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in sleepers.  In the sleeping-car, a light breakfast is included in the fare.  There is a couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats.  More about the Zurich-Basel-Prague sleeper.

  A Czech restaurant car is attached to the train between Leipzig (around 06:00) and Prague, if you'd like a cooked breakfast.

  The train arrives at Prague's main station, just 15 minutes walk from Prague's historic old town.  See Prague Hlavni station guide.

Prague ► London

• Step 1, travel from Prague to Basel by sleeper train, leaving Prague Hlavni 18:31, arriving Basel SBB 07:21.

  The EuroNight sleeper train Canopus has two Czech Comfortline sleeping-cars, each with nine 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, and three 1, 2 & 3 bed deluxe compartments with shower & toilet.  There are toilets and a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in sleepers.  In the sleeping-car, a light breakfast is included in the fare.  There is a couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats.  More about the Prague-Basel-Zurich sleeper.

  A Czech restaurant car is attached to the train between Prague and Leipzig (reached around 22:00), treat yourself to dinner with wine.

• Step 2, travel from Basel to Paris by TGV-Lyria, leaving Basel SBB daily at 08:34, arriving Paris Gare de Lyon 11:38.

  This 320 km/h double-deck high-speed train has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Book an upper deck seat for the best views.  More about TGV-Lyria.

  Transfer by metro or taxi from the Gare de Lyon to the Gare du Nord, 2 stops on RER line D.

• Step 3, travel from Paris to London by Eurostar, leaving Paris Gare du Nord at 14:02, arriving London St Pancras 15:30.

  On Sundays, you leave Paris Gare du Nord at 14:30, arriving London St Pancras 16:00.

  Eurostar has two cafe-bars, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Plus & Premier fares include a meal with wine.

How to much does it cost?

• London to Paris by Eurostar starts at £51 one-way or £78 return in Standard, £98 one-way or £140 return in Plus (1st class).

• Paris to Basel by TGV-Lyria starts at €29 each way 2nd class, €79 each way 1st class.

• Basel to Prague by sleeper starts at €49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, €59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, €69.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €89.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €139.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.

• All these fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

How to buy tickets

• Step 1, book from London to Basel at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com.

  Both easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee.  About Raileurope.  About Thetrainline.

  Booking opens up to 11 months ahead for Eurostar, up to 4 months ahead for Paris-Basel, several months ahead for the Basel-Prague sleeper.  More about when bookings open.  I'd wait until all trains have opened for booking before buying a Eurostar ticket.

  Tip:  You can book from London to Basel in one go if you like, but for more control I'd book London-Paris first, add to basket, then book Paris-Basel and add to basket.  That way you can allow a longer connection than the system gives you and you can see if earlier Eurostars are cheaper.

  Tip:  If you're returning, London-Paris return fares are cheaper than two one-ways so book Eurostar as a return.  All other trains are priced one way so it makes no difference, beyond Paris I find it easier to book one way at a time!

  Tip:  After booking you can click Manage your booking at www.eurostar.com to choose a better seat from a seat map, see tips on choosing a seat.

  Tip:  If you're travelling from outside London, see advice about buying tickets to London to connect with Eurostar.

  Alternatively, you can book the Eurostar at www.eurostar.com, then the Paris-Basel TGV-Lyria at the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com.  More work, same prices, but no booking fee.

  Tip:  www.thetrainline.com & www.sncf-connect.com let you to choose your TGV-Lyria seats from a seat map when booking 1st class.

• Step 2, book the Basel-Prague sleeper at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com.

  You'll see the train listed twice, once for the seats cars (marked DB if you're using Trainline) and once for the sleepers & couchettes (marked ÖBB on Thetrainline).  Needless to say, you should select the version that offers the couchettes and sleepers.

  Booking opens up to several months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

  If you have any problems, you can also book with Austrian Railways at www.oebb.at (as it's a Nightjet partner route), same prices, in €.

Using an Interrail pass

• Alternatively, you can travel from anywhere in the UK to Prague or anywhere in Czechia using an Interrail pass.  It usually costs more than advance-purchase tickets booked a few months in advance, but if fares are expensive or you need flexibility, see how to use an Interrail from the UK to the Czech Republic.

Have your trip arranged as a package

• Byway (Byway.travel) is a UK-based eco-holiday firm with a 5-star TrustPilot rating.  If you're nervous about booking train travel yourself, book a UK-Prague train trip through Byway as a package, including hotels and starting from any British station you like.  Byway includes package protection, a 100% Covid refund guarantee, free disruption and re-planning and on-demand WhatsApp support while you're away.

  Browse pre-configured packages from the UK to Prague by train at www.byway.travel/destination/...czech-republic-by-train.

  Or ask them to build a trip to your requirements, call 0300 131 7173 (09:00-17:00 Monday-Friday) or email them or use the contact form.

  Or try designing your own trip using their new map interface at www.byway.travel/map (in beta).

  If you live outside the UK, no problem, send them an email or use their contact form or call +44 300 131 7173.

  Please say you heard about them from Seat 61.

• Railbookers are a train tour & holiday specialist who can put a trip together as a package, with rail travel, hotels & transfers to your specifications.  As you're booking a package, they'll also take care of you if anything happens such as a strike or delay.  One of their most popular trips is Ultimate Berlin, Prague, Vienna, Budapest with train travel from the UK - it can be customised to include train travel back to the UK as well, just ask them.  Also a top seller is their holiday to Berlin & Prague with travel to & from London by train.

    UK call 0207 864 4600, www.railbookers.co.uk. 

    US call free 1-888-829-4775, www.railbookers.com.

    Canada call free 1-855-882-2910, www.railbookers.com.

    Australia call toll-free 1300 971 526, www.railbookers.com.au. 

    New Zealand call toll-free 0800 000 554 or see website.

What's the journey like?

1. London to Paris by Eurostar

Eurostar trains link London & Brussels in just 2 hours, travelling at up to 300 km/h (186 mph).  There are two bar cars, power sockets at all seats and free WiFi.  Plus and Premier fares include a light meal with wine (or breakfast, on departures before 10:15).  There's a 30-minute minimum check-in as all border formalities are carried out before you board the train.  More about Eurostar & check-in procedure.  St Pancras station guide.  Paris Nord station guide.

Eurostar e320 at Paris Nord.  More about Eurostar.		1st class: Plus or Premier seating.

Standard class.  Larger photo.		One of two cafe-bars, cars 8 & 9.  Larger photo.

2. Paris to Basel by TGV-Lyria

All TGV-Lyria trains are now 320km/h (199 mph) double-deck TGV Duplex like the one shown below.  TGV-Lyria trains have 3 classes:  Standard (2nd), standard premiere (1st class) and business premiere (1st class with hot meal & drinks included in the fare).  There's a cafe-bar car selling drinks & snacks.  There are power points at all seats & free WiFi in all classes.  Lyria is a consortium of the French and Swiss national railways.  More about TGV-Lyria.  Paris Gare de Lyon station guide.  Basel SBB station guide.

TGV-Lyria TGV Duplex train. This is the 16:22 TGV-Lyria boarding at Paris Gare de Lyon.  More about TGV-Lyria.

Cafe-bar on the upper deck in car 4 (or 14), serving tea, coffee, wine, beer, snacks & microwaved hot dishes.		2nd class seats, this is upper deck seating.  There's a mix or tables for 4 and unidirectional seating.  360º photo.

1st class on upper deck, a club duo on the left, a club quatre on the right. Larger photo.		A TGV-Lyria at Paris Gare de Lyon.  You enter on the lower deck, with 9 stairs up to top deck.

3. Basel to Prague by sleeper

The train has two Czech Comfortline sleeping-cars, each with 9 standard compartments with washbasin and 3 deluxe compartments with a compact en suite toilet & shower.  Each compartment can be sold with 1, 2 or all 3 beds in use, as single, double and T3.  There are toilets and a shower at the end of the corridor, and each compartment converts from beds to a private sitting room for the daytime parts of the journey.  There is a power socket for laptops and mobiles.  All necessary bedding and towels are provided.  The doors have card-key locks like hotels.  A very safe, civilised and comfortable way to travel! 

Don't obsess about getting a deluxe - In the standard compartments the beds and the decor are exactly the same as the deluxe ones, the only difference is that the compartment floor space is a fraction smaller (though not so you'd notice) and there's a washbasin instead of an en suite toilet & shower.  You can of course use the shower at the end of the corridor - you access it using the same card key that opens your compartment door. 

The train also has a couchette car with 4-berth and 6-berth compartments.  Couchettes are basic bunks with rug, sheet & pillow.  Women travelling alone can book a berth in a ladies-only compartment.  More about the Zurich-Basel-Prague sleeper.  Basel SBB station guide.

The sleeping-car to Prague.

Standard sleeper set up as a 2-berth, with blind down & washstand open.  Each room can be used with 1, 2 or 3 beds.  Larger photo.		Same sleeper with berths folded away, seats folded out.  Very similar to a deluxe, but without the shower & toilet.  Larger photo.		Deluxe sleepers are almost identical to standard, a bit more floorspace & shower & toilet instead of washstand.  Larger photo.		Just like a hotel, the corridor in a Comfortline sleeping-car.  There's a shower at end of the corridor for standard sleeper passengers.

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Option 4, London to Prague with an overnight stop

If you prefer daytime trains and a hotel to sleepers, this is the option for you.  I recommend the route via Brussels, Cologne & Berlin as it involves fewest changes, all the trains are high-quality with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi and there's great scenery along the river Elbe south of Dresden.

You can leave London in the morning with an overnight stop in Berlin, or at lunchtime with an overnight stop in Cologne, or in the evening with an overnight stop in Brussels.  The most time-effective option is to overnight in Brussels, leaving London in the evening after a full working day, arriving in Prague in the evening the following day.  By all means stop at one city on the outward and another on your way back.

Why not stop off for longer?  In Cologne the station is right next to the cathedral, a few minutes walk from the Rhine.  In Berlin, the station is a short walk from the Reichstag and Brandenburg Gate.

London ► Prague (overnight in Brussels)

• Day 1, travel from London to Brussels on any evening Eurostar you like.

  The last Eurostar usually leaves London St Pancras at 19:34 arriving Brussels Midi 22:35.

  But by all means book an earlier one and spend a pleasant evening in Brussels.

  Eurostar has two cafe-bars, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Plus & Premier fares include dinner with wine.

• Stay overnight in Brussels.

  I recommend the excellent Pullman Hotel Brussels Midi on Brussels Midi station, or the inexpensive Ibis Brussels Midi across the road.

• Day 2, travel from Brussels to Prague by train, with a choice of departure:

  Leave Brussels Midi 06:23, change at Cologne Hbf & Berlin Hbf, arriving Prague Holesovice 19:15.

  Leave Brussels Midi 08:25, change at Cologne Hbf & Berlin Hbf, arriving Prague Hlavni 21:25.

  You travel from Brussels to Cologne by ICE3neo and Cologne to Berlin by ICE2 or ICE4, with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

  Then from Berlin to Prague by ComfortJet, also with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Treat yourself to dinner and a glass or two of wine as the train runs along the scenic River Elbe south of Dresden!

London ► Prague (overnight in Cologne)

• Day 1, travel from London to Cologne by train, see the timetable here.  For example:

  Leave London St Pancras at 13:01, change at Brussels Midi (arrive 16:06, depart 16:22), arriving Cologne Hbf 18:15.

  Leave London St Pancras at 15:04, change at Brussels Midi (arrive 18:05, depart 18:25), arriving Cologne Hbf 20:15.

  You travel from London to Brussels by Eurostar with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, Plus & Premier fares include lunch with wine.  About the 20-minute connection in Brussels.  Then from Brussels to Cologne by ICE3neo, with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  I recommend the Erdinger Weissbier!

  There are earlier departures if you'd like to spend time in Cologne, see the London-Cologne timetable.  But don't book the 17:04 from London when you have onward travel to Prague next morning, give yourself some leeway in case of delay.

• Stay overnight in Cologne.

  The good & inexpensive Ibis Hotel Köln-am-Dom is ideal as it's part of Cologne Hbf, the entrance is left of the station entrance, many rooms have a cathedral view.  Other hotels near the station with good reviews are the Breslauer Hof Am Dom, Hotel Domspitzen, CityClass Hotel Europa am Dom, Hilton Cologne, Excelsior Hotel Ernst am Dom.

  For dinner in Cologne I recommend the Brauhaus Sion, 5 minutes walk from the station.

• Day 2, travel from Cologne to Prague by train, with a choice of departure:

  Leave Cologne Hbf at 07:45, change at Berlin Hbf, arriving Prague Hlavni 17:25.

  Leave Cologne Hbf at 09:45, change at Berlin Hbf, arriving Prague Holesovice 19:15.

  You travel from Cologne to Berlin by ICE2 or ICE4 with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Then from Berlin to Prague by ComfortJet, also with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Treat yourself to a meal and a beer or two as the train runs along the scenic River Elbe south of Dresden.  See the Berlin to Prague page for timetable, photos & tips.

London ► Prague (overnight in Berlin)

• Day 1, travel from London to Berlin by train, see the timetable here.  For example:

  Leave London St Pancras at 09:01, change at Brussels Midi (arrive 12:05, depart 12:25) & Cologne Hbf, arriving Berlin Hbf 19:16.

  Leave London St Pancras at 11:04, change at Brussels Midi (arrive 14:05, depart 14:25) & Cologne Hbf, arriving Berlin Hbf 21:18.

  But don't book the 13:01 from London when you have onward travel to Prague next morning, give yourself some leeway in case of delay.

  You travel from London to Brussels by Eurostar with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, Plus & Premier fares include breakfast before 10:15, or lunch with wine on departures after 10:15.  About the 20-minute connection in Brussels.  Arrival time in Berlin varies.

  You then travel from Brussels to Cologne and Cologne to Berlin on ICE trains with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.   In 1st class a steward takes food & drink orders and serves you at your seat.  I recommend the Erdinger Weissbier!

• Stay overnight in Berlin.

  Top choice here is the InterCity Hotel Berlin Hbf (my favourite), only 200m from Berlin Hbf's main entrance, relatively inexpensive with great reviews, or if you're in the money, the excellent 5-star Steigenberger Hotel just outside the station.  If you're on a budget, the cheaper 3-star Motel One Berlin-Hbf is behind the station or use www.hostelworld.com.  Of course, if you really want to push the boat out, the famous Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin is next to the Brandenburg Gate just 17 minutes walk away.

• Day 2, travel from Berlin to Prague by ComfortJet, for example:

  Leave Berlin Hbf 07:28, arriving Prague Hlavni 11:25.

  Leave Berlin Hbf 09:28, arriving Prague Hlavni 13:25.

  Leave Berlin Hbf 11:28, arriving Prague Holesovice 15:15.

  ComfortJet trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

  There's lovely scenery along the river Elbe south of Dresden, see photos & tips for the Berlin to Prague train ride.

  Or there are later trains, see the timetable here.

Prague ► London (overnight in Brussels)

• Day 1, travel from Prague to Brussels by train, with a choice of departure:

  Leave Prague Hlavni 06:31, change at Berlin Hbf & Cologne Hbf, arriving Brussels Midi 19:35.

  Leave Prague Hlavni 08:31, change at Berlin Hbf & Cologne Hbf, arriving Brussels Midi 21:35.

  You travel from Prague to Berlin by ComfortJet, with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Treat yourself to lunch as the train runs along the scenic River Elbe south of Dresden. Then Berlin to Cologne & Cologne to Brussels on ICE trains, also with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

• Stay overnight in Brussels.

  I recommend the excellent Pullman Hotel Brussels Midi on Brussels Midi station, or the inexpensive Ibis Brussels Midi across the road.

• Day 2, travel from Brussels to London on any morning Eurostar you like.

  On Mondays-Saturdays the first train leaves Brussels Midi at 07:56, arriving London St Pancras 08:59.

  On Sundays the first train leaves Brussels Midi at 08:52, arriving London St Pancras 09:57.

  Eurostar has two cafe-bars, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Plus & Premier fares include breakfast.

Prague ► London (overnight in Cologne)

• Day 1, travel from Prague to Cologne by train, with a choice of departure:

  Leave Prague Hlavni at 10:31, change at Berlin Hbf, arriving Cologne Hbf 20:12.

  Leave Prague Hlavni at 12:31, change at Berlin Hbf, arriving Cologne Hbf 21:40.

  You travel from Prague to Berlin by ComfortJet, with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Treat yourself to lunch as the train runs along the scenic River Elbe south of Dresden. Then Berlin to Cologne & Cologne to Brussels by ICE trains with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. Or there are earlier trains.  Exact times may vary.

  For dinner, I recommend the Brauhaus Sion, 5 minutes walk from the station.  See photos & tips for the Prague to Berlin train.

• Stay overnight in Cologne.

  The good & inexpensive Ibis Hotel Köln-am-Dom is ideal as it's part of Cologne Hbf itself, the entrance is left of the station entrance, many rooms have a cathedral view.  Other hotels near the station with good reviews are the Breslauer Hof Am Dom, Hotel Domspitzen, CityClass Hotel Europa am Dom, Hilton Cologne, Excelsior Hotel Ernst am Dom.

• Day 2, travel from Cologne to London by train, see the timetable here.  For example:

  Leave Cologne Hbf at 07:43, change at Brussels Midi onto the 10:56 Eurostar, arriving London St Pancras 11:57.

  Leave Cologne Hbf at 09:41, change at Brussels Midi onto the 12:52 Eurostar, arriving London St Pancras 13:57.

  You travel from Cologne to Brussels by superb IC3neo with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Then from Brussels to London by Eurostar with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Plus & Premier fares include lunch with wine.  Exact times may vary.

Prague ► London (overnight in Berlin)

• Day 1, travel from Prague to Berlin by ComfortJet, with a choice of departure:

  Leave Prague Hlavni at 12:31, arriving Berlin Hbf 16:29.

  Leave Prague Holesovice at 14:41, arriving Berlin Hbf 18:29.

  Leave Prague Hlavni at 16:31, arriving Berlin Hbf 20:29.

  ComfortJet trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

  There's great scenery along the river Elbe between Prague & Dresden, see photos & tips for the Prague to Berlin train.  Or there are earlier trains, see the timetable here.

• Stay overnight in Berlin.

  Top choice here is the InterCity Hotel Berlin Hbf (my favourite), only 200m from Berlin Hbf's main entrance, relatively inexpensive with great reviews, or if you're in the money, the excellent 5-star Steigenberger Hotel just outside the station.  If you're on a budget, the cheaper 3-star Motel One Berlin-Hbf is behind the station or use www.hostelworld.com.  Of course, if you really want to push the boat out, the famous Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin is next to the Brandenburg Gate just 17 minutes walk away.

• Day 2, travel from Berlin to London by train on any departure you like, see the timetable here.  For example:

  Leave Berlin Hbf at 06:46, change at Cologne Hbf & Brussels Midi onto the 14:52 Eurostar, arriving London St Pancras 15:57.

  Leave Berlin Hbf at 08:46, change at Cologne Hbf & Brussels Midi onto the 16:51 Eurostar, arriving London St Pancras 17:57.

  Leave Berlin Hbf at 11:04, change at Cologne Hbf & Brussels Midi onto the 18:52 Eurostar, arriving London St Pancras 19:57.

  You travel Berlin-Cologne & Cologne-Brussels by ICE, with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Then from Brussels to London by Eurostar with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Plus & Premier fares include a meal with wine.  Berlin departure times may vary.

How much does it cost?

• London to Brussels by Eurostar starts at £51 one-way or £78 return in Standard, £98 one-way, £140 return in Plus (1st class).

• Brussels to Prague starts at €46.99 each way 2nd class, €79.99 each way 1st class.

• Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

How to buy tickets

• Buy tickets at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com

  Using either of these sites lets you book all your tickets together in one place, in plain English, international credit cards accepted with fares shown in €, £ or $.  There's a small booking fee.  About Rail Europe.  About Thetrainline.

  The easiest method is simply to book each day's journey as a one-way and add it to your basket.  Then check out and pay for all four bookings as one transaction.  For example, if overnighting in Cologne on the way out and Berlin on the way back, you'd make four bookings, London-Cologne, Cologne-Prague, Prague-Berlin and Berlin-London.

  However, Eurostar return fares are cheaper than two one-ways, so book the London-Brussels Eurostar as a round trip if you can:  If you're overnighting in the same city out & back it's easy, for example you'd book London-Cologne as a round trip, then Cologne-Prague one-way and Prague-Cologne one-way.

  You print your own tickets, or can show them on your phone.

• When does booking open?

  Booking for Eurostar opens up to 11 months ahead.  Onward trains to Germany & Czechia usually open up to 6 months ahead, less when the mid-December timetable change intervenes.  More about when booking opens.

• Booking tips

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.  Like flights, mid-week is usually cheaper than Fridays or Sunday afternoons.

  After booking you can use Eurostar's Manage your booking link to select a better seat on Eurostar.

• Is it a through ticket?

  No, there are no through tickets from London to Prague or even to Germany.  But www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com can seamlessly sell you a Eurostar ticket from London to Brussels plus an onward German Railways ticket (or tickets) from Brussels to Prague.

• Seat reservations

  A seat reservation is automatically included on Eurostar and on the Berlin-Prague ComfortJet trains.  Seat reservation on Brussels-Cologne-Berlin ICE trains is usually optional, but I recommend adding a reserved seat when prompted, for €5.50 2nd class or €6.90 1st class.

• Starting from another UK town or city?  See advice on buying tickets to connect with Eurostar.

Another way to buy tickets

• You can also book the Eurostar direct with Eurostar and onward trains direct with German Railways.

  This involves two websites, but it can be cheaper for two reasons:  First, there's no booking fee.  Second, if you're stopping overnight in Cologne or Berlin you can use the Stopovers feature at int.bahn.de to book a Brussels-Prague through ticket with the overnight stop included, which is cheaper than buying separate tickets either side of Cologne or Berlin.

  There are two other advantages of booking direct with German Railways:  int.bahn.de allows you to adjust transfer time to get robust connections, and on ICE trains you can select your seat from a seat map.

• Step 1, go to www.eurostar.com and book your Eurostar from London to Brussels.

  If you're returning, book this as a round trip because Eurostar's return fares are cheaper than two one-ways.

  You print your own ticket, or load it into the Eurostar app to show on your phone.  After booking you can use Eurostar's Manage your booking link to choose a better seat on Eurostar.

• Step 2, book from Brussels to Prague at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

  If you're returning, book one way at a time as in this case it makes no difference to the price and it makes booking easier.

  If you're stopping overnight in Brussels, to get the eastbound option shown above, (a) click Stopovers and enter Berlin Hbf with a stopover duration of 2 hours, (b) change Transfer time from normal to 30 minutes.

  For a westbound booking from Prague to Brussels, (a) change Transfer time from normal to 30 minutes, (b) click Stopovers, enter Berlin Hbf as stopover 1, Brussel Noord as stopover 2, leaving length of stay 00:00.

  If you're stopping overnight in Cologne or Berlin, before running the eastbound enquiry, click Stopovers, enter Brussel Noord as stopover 1, leaving length of stay 00:00, then enter Cologne or Berlin Hbf as stopover 2 with a length of stay of (say) 12 hours.  Also change Transfer time from normal to 30 minutes.  This will get you a Brussels to Prague through ticket with an overnight stop, which can be €10-€20 cheaper then buying separate tickets either side of Cologne or Berlin.  Adjust the departure time & length of stay to get the trains you want either side of Cologne or Berlin.  A little trial & error may be needed!

  Before running a westbound enquiry, click Stopovers, enter Cologne or Berlin Hbf as stopover 1 with a length of stay of (say) 12 hours, then enter Brussel Noord as stopover 2, leaving length of stay 00:00.  And change Transfer time from normal to 30 minutes.

  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in and check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.  Tips for using int.bahn.de.

• Some advice:

  If you're overnighting in Brussels, booking this way is easy.  If you're overnighting in Cologne or Berlin, check that your Eurostar departure remains a recognised connection into that ICE on your date.  For example, suppose the 09:01 Eurostar from London arrives in Brussels at 12:11 on your date instead of the usual 12:05, due to trackwork or whatever.  Is it still a recognised connection into the 12:25 ICE to Cologne?  Go to int.bahn.de and run an enquiry from London to Cologne or Berlin.  In the search results, find the 09:01 departure and click Details.  If the 09:01 Eurostar is shown as connecting into the 12:25 ICE, it's a recognised connection, you're fine.  About these 20-minute connections in Brussels.

Using an Interrail pass

• Alternatively, you can travel from anywhere in the UK to Prague or anywhere in Czechia using an Interrail pass.  It usually costs more than advance-purchase tickets booked a few months in advance, but if fares are expensive or you need flexibility, see how to use an Interrail from the UK to the Czech Republic.

Have your trip arranged as a package

• Railbookers are a train travel specialist who can put together a UK-Norway trip for you as a package, including rail travel, hotels & transfers.  You'll find a range of suggested tours & holidays on their website which can be customised to your requirements.  As you're booking a package, they'll take care of you if anything happens such as a strike or delay.  One of their most popular trips is Ultimate Berlin, Prague, Vienna, Budapest with train travel from the UK - it can be customised to include train travel both ways, just ask.  Another top seller is their holiday to Berlin & Prague with travel to & from London by train.

    UK call 0207 864 4600, www.railbookers.co.uk

    US call free 1-888-829-4775, www.railbookers.com

    Canada call 1-855-882-2910, www.railbookers.com

    Australia call 1300 971 526, www.railbookers.com.au

    New Zealand call 0800 000 554 or see website

• Byway (Byway.travel) is a UK-based eco-holiday firm with a 5-star TrustPilot rating.  If you're nervous about booking train travel yourself, book a trip from the UK to Prague by train through Byway as a package including hotels, starting from any British station you like.  Byway includes package protection, a 100% Covid refund guarantee, free disruption and re-planning and on-demand WhatsApp support while you're away.

  Browse pre-configured packages from the UK to Prague by train at www.byway.travel/destination/...czech-republic-by-train.

  Or ask them to build a trip to your requirements, call 0300 131 7173 (09:00-17:00 Monday-Friday) or email them or use the contact form.

  Or try designing your own trip using their new map interface at www.byway.travel/map (in beta).

  If you live outside the UK, no problem, send them an email or use their contact form or call +44 300 131 7173.

  Please say you heard about them from Seat 61.

What's the journey like?

1. London to Brussels by Eurostar

Eurostar trains link London & Brussels in just 2 hours, travelling at up to 300 km/h (186 mph).  There are two bar cars, power sockets at all seats and free WiFi.  Plus and Premier fares include a light meal with wine (or breakfast, on departures before 10:15).  There's a 30-minute minimum check-in as all border formalities are carried out before you board the train.  More about Eurostar & check-in procedure.  St Pancras station guide.  Brussels Midi station guide.

Eurostar e320 at St Pancras.  More about Eurostar.		1st class: Plus or Premier seating.

Standard class.  Larger photo.		One of two cafe-bars, cars 8 & 9.  Larger photo.

2. Brussels to Cologne by ICE3

These superb ICE3neo trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  In 1st class, food & drink orders are taken and served at your seat.  50 minutes after leaving Brussels the ICE calls at Liège, where you can admire the impressive station designed by celebrity architect Santiago Calatrava.  As you approach Cologne Hbf you'll see the twin towers of Cologne Cathedral on the right, next to the station.  More about ICE3 trains.  Brussels Midi station guide.  Cologne Hbf station guide.

An ICE3neo at Brussels Midi with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Photo above courtesy of Christian Hunt.

The restaurant car.  See current month's menu.		1st class seats on an ICE3neo.  Larger photo.

2nd class seats on an ICE3neo.  Larger photo		Lunch and a beer.

3. Cologne to Berlin by ICE1, ICE2 or ICE4

ICE trains have a restaurant car, bar car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. In 1st class, bistro orders are taken at your seat.  Immediately after leaving Cologne Hbf, the train crosses the Hohenzollern bridge over the Rhine.  It passes through the industrial Ruhr via Wuppertal & Hamm.  After leaving Hannover, the train passes non-stop through Wolfsburg - look out for the original Volkswagen factory on the left, built in 1938.  The train then travels at up to 280 km/h (174 mph) on the high-speed line to Berlin Hbf, where it arrives at the low-level platforms.  More about ICEs.  Cologne Hbf station guide.  Berlin Hbf station guide.

An ICE1 at Cologne Hbf.		2nd class seats.  Larger photo

Restaurant car.  Larger photo.		Bar car.  Larger photo.

1st class seats.  Larger photo.		ICE1 at Cologne Hbf.

4. Berlin to Prague by ComfortJet

Most trains on this route are now operated by brand-new Czech ComfortJet trains, with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Treat yourself to lunch and a beer or two as the train speeds along the scenic Elbe valley south of Dresden.  More about Berlin-Prague ComfortJet trains.

A ComfortJet train to Berlin at Prague Hlavni.  Click the images below for larger photos.

2nd class with power outlets & free WiFi.		1st class with power outlets & free WiFi

Restaurant car, in the centre of the train.  1st class passengers have orders taken & served at their seat.		There are large luggage racks inside the seating area in both classes.  Or put bags above your seat.

Between Berlin & Prague the train runs 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.

Video guide: Berlin to Prague by train

The video shows a classic Eurocity train, now replaced by modern ComfortJet carriages, but the scenery is the same.

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Option 5, London to Prague with overnight stop in Paris or Munich

This is potentially the second cheapest option, London to Prague from as little as €74.  Like option 1 it involves daytime trains rather than sleepers with an overnight hotel stop, this time in Paris or Munich.

London ► Prague with overnight stop in Paris

• Day 1, travel from London to Paris on any evening Eurostar you like, check times at www.eurostar.com.

  The last one normally leaves London St Pancras at 20:01, arriving Paris Gare du Nord 23:29.

  But by all means book an earlier one and spend a pleasant evening in Paris.

  Eurostar has two cafe-bars, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Plus & Premier fares include a meal with wine.

• Stay overnight in Paris.

  I recommend the excellent 25 Hours Terminus Nord, across the road from the Gare du Nord with great reviews & great feedback from Seat61 users, see other suggested hotels near Paris Nord or Paris Est stations.

  Next morning, it's an easy 7 minute 500m walk from the Gare du Nord to the Gare de l'Est.

• Day 2, travel from Paris to Munich, leaving Paris Gare de l'Est at 09:06, change at Mannheim, arriving Munich Hbf 15:14.

  You travel from Paris to Mannheim by TGV Duplex with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, then Mannheim to Munich by ICE with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Times may vary.

• Day 2 evening, travel from Munich to Prague, leaving Munich Hbf at 16:44, arriving Prague Hlavni 22:21.

  The train is air-conditioned with power sockets, free WiFi & a minibar serving drinks & snacks.  More about Prague-Munich trains.

London ► Prague with overnight stop in Munich

• Day 1, travel from London to Munich on any of the morning departures shown on the London to Germany page, via Paris or via Brussels.

• Stay overnight in Munich.

  The affordable Eden Hotel Wolff & NH Collection München are across the road from the station's north side exit with great reviews.  I've stayed at both myself, the former is a cosy traditional hotel, the latter has a more modern corporate style.  Or try the upmarket 25 Hours Hotel The Royal Bavarian, Excelsior by Giesel & Mercure City Center.  For a splurge, the luxurious Sofitel Munich Beyerpost occupies the former Royal Bavarian Post Office building of 1896-1900, at the station's south side exit.

• Day 2, travel from Munich to Prague by express train with a choice of departure:

  Leave Munich Hbf at 04:44, arriving Prague Hlavni 10:21.

  Leave Munich Hbf at 06:44, arriving Prague Hlavni 12:21.

  Leave Munich Hbf at 08:44, arriving Prague Hlavni 14:21.

  Leave Munich Hbf at 10:44, arriving Prague Hlavni 16:21.

  These trains are all air-conditioned with power sockets, free WiFi & a minibar serving drinks & snacks.  More about Prague-Munich trains.

Prague ► London with overnight stop in Paris

• Day 1, travel from Prague to Munich by train with a choice of departure:

  Leave Prague Hlavni at 07:35, arriving Munich Hbf 13:18.

  Leave Prague Hlavni at 09:35, arriving Munich Hbf 15:18.

  These trains are air-conditioned with power sockets, free WiFi & a minibar serving drinks & snacks.  More about Prague-Munich trains.

• Day 1, travel from Munich to Paris by high-speed train.

  If you left Prague at 07:35, there's a 13:48 from Munich Hbf with a change at Mannheim, arriving Paris Gare de l'Est 20:42.

  If you left Prague at 09:35, there's a 15:28 from Munich Hbf with a change in Stuttgart, arriving Paris Gare de l'Est 22:13.

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

  Tip:  Change Transfer time from normal to 45 minutes to get the trains I suggest, otherwise you get a risky tight connection.

  In Paris, it's an easy 7 minute 500m walk from the Gare de l'Est to the Gare du Nord.

• Stay overnight in Paris.

  I recommend the excellent 25 Hours Terminus Nord, across the road from the Gare du Nord with great reviews & feedback from Seat61 users, see other suggested hotels near Paris Nord or Paris Est stations.

• Day 2, travel from Paris to London on any morning Eurostar you like.

  On Mondays to Saturdays the first Eurostar leaves Paris Gare du Nord at 07:02, arriving London St Pancras 08:30.

  On Sundays, the first Eurostar leaves Paris Gare du Nord at 08:02, arriving London St Pancras 09:30.

  You can be in central London for the start of the working day!

  Eurostar has two cafe-bars, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Plus & Premier fares include a meal with wine.

Prague ► London with overnight stop in Munich

• Day 1, travel from Prague to Munich by express train, see the Prague-Munich timetable:

  Leave Prague Hlavni at 13:35 arriving Munich Hbf 19:18

  Leave Prague Hlavni at 15:35 arriving Munich Hbf 21:18,

  Leave Prague Hlavni at 17:35 arriving Munich Hbf 23:18.  .

  These trains are air-conditioned with power sockets, free WiFi & a minibar serving drinks & snacks.  More about Prague-Munich trains.

• Stay overnight in Munich.

  The affordable Eden Hotel Wolff & NH Collection München are across the road from the station's north side exit with great reviews.  I've stayed at both myself, the former is a cosy traditional hotel, the latter has a more modern corporate style.  Or try the upmarket 25 Hours Hotel The Royal Bavarian, Excelsior by Giesel & Mercure City Center.  For a splurge, the luxurious Sofitel Munich Beyerpost occupies the former Royal Bavarian Post Office building of 1896-1900, at the station's south side exit.

  Tip:  For dinner, I recommend the Bavarian food & beer at the Augustiner Keller (www.augustinerkeller.de) at Arnulfstrasse 52, to the north side of Munich Hbf, see walking map.

• Day 2, travel from Munich to London, either via Paris or via Brussels, see the Munich to London timetable here.

  If you don't mind an early start, you can leave Munich Hbf at 06:51 by direct TGV Duplex to Paris Gare de l'Est, it's a 7 minute walk to Paris Gare du Nord for a Eurostar to London, arriving 16:30, see the Munich-Paris TGV video.

  Later departures are possible if you want to linger over your cornflakes.

How much does it cost?

• London to Paris by Eurostar starts at £51 one-way or £78 return in Standard, £98 one-way or £140 return in Plus (1st class).

• Paris to Munich starts at €39.99 each way 2nd class or €69.99 each way 1st class.

• Munich to Prague starts at €16 each way in 2nd class or €39 each way in 1st class.

• All these fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

How to buy tickets

• Step 1, book the London-Paris Eurostar at www.eurostar.com.  You print your own ticket or can use the Eurostar app on your phone.

  Booking opens up to 11 months ahead for Eurostar, 6 months ahead for Paris-Munich and 90 days ahead for Munich-Prague.  I'd wait until booking is open for all trains before buying a Eurostar ticket, unless you're prepared to take a calculated risk.  More about when booking opens.

  If you're travelling from a UK town or city north or west of London, see advice about buying tickets to connect with Eurostar.

  Tip:  If you are making a round trip, London-Paris return fares are significantly cheaper than two one-ways so it's cheaper to book the Eurostar as a return.  All other trains are one-way ticketed so it makes no difference how you book, and it can be easier to book one way at a time.

• Step 2, book the Paris-Munich journey at German Railways int.bahn.de.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

• Step 3, book the Munich-Prague train at Czech Railways site www.cd.cz, as this is the only site that sells these cheap fares.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

Using an Interrail pass

• Alternatively, you can travel from anywhere in the UK to Prague or anywhere in Czechia using an Interrail pass.  It usually costs more than advance-purchase tickets booked a few months in advance, but if fares are expensive or you need flexibility, see how to use an Interrail from the UK to the Czech Republic.

What's the journey like?

1. London to Paris by Eurostar

Eurostar trains link London & Paris in 2h20, travelling at up to 300 km/h (186 mph).  There are two bar cars, power sockets at all seats and free WiFi.  Plus and Premier fares include a light meal with wine (or breakfast, on departures before 10:15).  There's a 30-minute minimum check-in as all border formalities are carried out before you board the train.  More about Eurostar & check-in procedure.  St Pancras station guide.  Paris Gare du Nord station guide.

Eurostar e320 at St Pancras.  More about Eurostar.		1st class: Plus or Premier seating.

Standard class.  Larger photo.		One of two cafe-bars, cars 8 & 9.  Larger photo.

2. Paris to Munich by TGV Duplex   See video guide

In Paris it's an easy 7 minute 500m walk from the Gare du Nord to the Gare de l'Est for the TGV to Germany.  Sit back with a glass of red and enjoy the ride - Book an upper deck seat for the best views.  The train has a cafe-bar serving drinks, snacks & microwaved hot dishes, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  The train leaves the Paris suburbs behind and speeds across a vast wide open plateau of woods & farmland at up to 320 km/h (199 mph), past picturesque French villages of the Champagne region.  Two hours later, the train leaves the high-speed line and slowly meanders through pretty wooded hills, the countryside flattening out towards Strasbourg.  On leaving Strasbourg, look out for Strasbourg cathedral on the left with its famously missing second tower.  Minutes afterwards you rumble across the river Rhine into Germany, before heading on to Stuttgart & Munich.  Paris Gare de l'Est station guide.  Munich Hbf station guide.

TGV Duplex at Paris Est. These impressive 320 km/h double-deck trains link Paris with Munich.

Cafe-bar on upper deck in car 4 (or 14), serving tea, coffee, wine, beer, snacks & microwaved hot dishes.		2nd class seats on the upper deck.  There's a mix or tables for 4 and unidirectional seating.  360º photo.

1st class on upper deck, a club duo on the left, a club quatre on the right.  360º photo.		A TGV Duplex.  The 1 near the door indicates 1st class, a 2 indicates 2nd class.

3. Munich to Prague by express train.  More about trains from Munich to Prague

A Munich to Prague express on platform 26 at Munich Hbf.  This is a Czech Railways car with an Alex Länderbahn car behind it.

Choose a Länderbahn compartment car.		Or a Czech Railways open-plan car.

Sit back and watch beautiful Czech countryside roll past.

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Option 6, London to Prague via the Harwich-Hoek night boat

The ferry alternative!  A great option if you live in East Anglia (there's a direct train from Cambridge & Ipswich to Harwich to connect with the night boat), if you want to avoid the Channel Tunnel or if there are strikes in France.  It can be cheaper than Eurostar, especially at short notice.  Or you may simply prefer a leisurely overnight cruise in a cosy private cabin with toilet, shower & satellite TV, an onward train to Berlin next day, overnight stop, then a scenic ride to Prague along the Elbe river valley.  Alternatively, enjoy a day in Rotterdam or Amsterdam, then take the European Sleeper to Prague.

London, Cambridge, Harwich ► Prague using day trains

• Day 1, travel from London to Amsterdam overnight, see the Stena Line Rail & Sail page for details.

  You leave London Liverpool Street at 19:36 Mondays-Fridays, 19:04 Saturdays or 20:00 Sundays by direct train to Harwich International.

  You leave Cambridge at 19:46 daily, by direct train to Harwich International.

  The Rail & Sail fare is valid from any Greater Anglia station, for example Norwich, Cambridge, Romford, Ilford, Ipswich.

  At Harwich, the station is right next to the ferry terminal and you walk off the train into the terminal, check in at the Stena Line desk and walk straight onto Stena Line's luxurious overnight superferry Stena Hollandica.

  All passengers travel in cosy private cabins with toilet, shower & satellite TV.  Comfort & Captains class cabins are also available, and there's free WiFi.  You can board the ferry around 9pm, have a late dinner in the restaurant or Stena Plus lounge and settle into your cabin.

  The ferry sails at 23:00 and arrives at Hoek van Holland at 08:00 next morning, Dutch time.

  On arrival at Hoek van Holland, the metro station is next to the ferry terminal.  Walk down the gangway into the ferry terminal, through passport control, out of the terminal and across the road to the metro station.

  Take the metro to Schiedam Centrum and change onto an InterCity train arriving Amsterdam Centraal 10:24.

• Day 2, travel from Amsterdam to Berlin by ICE, leaving Amsterdam Centraal at 12:00, arriving Berlin Hbf 17:42.

  This superb ICE3neo train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  In 1st class, a steward takes food & drink orders and serves them at your seat.  Or there are later trains, see the Amsterdam-Berlin timetable & journey guide.

• Stay overnight in Berlin.

  Top choice here is the InterCity Hotel Berlin Hbf (my favourite), only 200m from Berlin Hbf's main entrance, relatively inexpensive with great reviews, or if you're in the money, the excellent 5-star Steigenberger Hotel just outside the station.  If you're on a budget, the cheaper 3-star Motel One Berlin-Hbf is behind the station or use www.hostelworld.com.  Of course, if you really want to push the boat out, the famous Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin is next to the Brandenburg Gate just 17 minutes walk away.

  Tip:  Take an evening stroll past the Reichstag building to the Brandenburg Gate, just 17 minutes walk from the station.

• Day 2, travel from Berlin to Prague by ComfortJet, for example:

  Leave Berlin Hbf 07:28, arriving Prague Hlavni 11:25.

  Leave Berlin Hbf 09:28, arriving Prague Hlavni 13:25.

  Leave Berlin Hbf 11:28, arriving Prague Holesovice 15:15.

  ComfortJet trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

  There's lovely scenery along the river Elbe south of Dresden, see photos & tips for the Berlin to Prague train ride.

  Or there are later trains, see the timetable here.

London, Cambridge, Harwich ► Prague using the European Sleeper

• Day 1, travel from London to Amsterdam overnight, see the Stena Line Rail & Sail page for details.

  You leave London Liverpool Street at 19:36 Mondays-Fridays, 19:04 Saturdays or 20:00 Sundays by direct train to Harwich International.

  You leave Cambridge at 19:46 daily, by direct train to Harwich International.

  The Rail & Sail fare is valid from any Greater Anglia station, for example Norwich, Cambridge, Romford, Ilford, Ipswich.

  At Harwich, the station is right next to the ferry terminal and you walk off the train into the terminal, check in at the Stena Line desk and walk straight onto Stena Line's luxurious overnight superferry Stena Hollandica.

  All passengers travel in cosy private cabins with toilet, shower & satellite TV.  Comfort & Captains class cabins are also available, and there's free WiFi.  You can board the ferry around 9pm, have a late dinner in the restaurant or Stena Plus lounge and settle into your cabin.

  The ferry sails at 23:00 and arrives at Hoek van Holland at 08:00 next morning, Dutch time.

  On arrival at Hoek van Holland, the metro station is right next to the ferry terminal.  Walk down the gangway into the ferry terminal, through passport control, out of the terminal and across the road to the metro station.

  For Amsterdam, take the metro to Schiedam Centrum and change onto an InterCity train to Amsterdam Centraal, arriving 10:24.

  For Rotterdam, take the metro to Eendrachtsplein station in downtown Rotterdam, every 20-30 minutes, journey time 33 minutes.

• Day 2, spend a pleasant day at leisure in Amsterdam or Rotterdam.  Left luggage lockers are available.

• Day 2, travel from Rotterdam or Amsterdam to Prague by European Sleeper, leaving Rotterdam Centraal at 21:21 or Amsterdam Centraal at 22:34 on Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays, arriving Prague Hlavni 10:51 (day 3).

  The train has 5 & 6 berth couchettes & a sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin.  A light breakfast is included in sleepers, extra in couchettes.  Enjoy the scenic run along the Elbe river valley over breakfast between Dresden & Prague.  More about the European Sleeper.

Prague ► Harwich, Cambridge & London using day trains

• Day 1, travel from Prague to Berlin by ComfortJet, with a choice of departure:

  Leave Prague Hlavni at 12:31, arriving Berlin Hbf 16:29.

  Leave Prague Holesovice at 14:41, arriving Berlin Hbf 18:29.

  Leave Prague Hlavni at 16:31, arriving Berlin Hbf 20:29.

  Or there are earlier trans, see the timetable here.  The ComfortJet has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  There's great scenery along the Elbe valley, see the photos.

• Stay overnight in Berlin.

  Top choice here is the InterCity Hotel Berlin Hbf (my favourite), only 200m from Berlin Hbf's main entrance, relatively inexpensive with great reviews, or if you're in the money, the excellent 5-star Steigenberger Hotel just outside the station.  If you're on a budget, the cheaper 3-star Motel One Berlin-Hbf is behind the station or use www.hostelworld.com.  Of course, if you really want to push the boat out, the famous Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin is next to the Brandenburg Gate just 17 minutes walk away.

• Day 2, travel from Berlin to Amsterdam by ICE, leaving Berlin Hbf at 10:16, arriving Amsterdam Centraal 16:00.

  These superb ICE3neo trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  In 1st class, a steward takes food & drink orders and serves them at your seat.  Or there are earlier trains, see the Berlin-Amsterdam timetable & journey guide.

• Day 2, travel from Amsterdam to London overnight, see the Stena Line Rail & Sail page for details.

  You leave Amsterdam Centraal at 18:36 by Dutch intercity train to Schiedam Centrum and change onto the frequent metro to Hoek van Holland Haven.  At Hoek, the metro station is next to the ferry terminal.  Check in at the Stena Line desk at least 45 minutes before sailing time, then walk up the gangway onto the luxurious Stena Line superferry and sail overnight to Harwich.

  All passengers travel in cosy private cabins with toilet, shower & satellite TV.  Comfort & Captains class cabins are also available, and there's free WiFi.  You can board the ferry around 8pm, have dinner in the restaurant or Stena Plus lounge and settle into your cabin.

  The ferry sails from Hoek van Holland at 22:00 and arrives at Harwich International at 06:30 next morning (day 3), UK time.

  Day 3, take a train from Harwich to London Liverpool Street arriving around 08:54 or from Harwich to Cambridge, arriving 09:42 (10:39 Sundays).

Prague ► Harwich, Cambridge & London using the European Sleeper

• Day 1, travel from Prague direct to Amsterdam or Rotterdam by European Sleeper, leaving Prague Hlavni at 18:05 on Tuesdays, Thursdays & Sundays, arriving Amsterdam Centraal 06:26 or Rotterdam Centraal 07:29 next morning.

  The train has 5 & 6 berth couchettes & a sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin.  A light breakfast is included in sleepers, extra in couchettes.  In summer when it's light, enjoy the scenic run along the Elbe river valley between Prague & Dresden.  More about the European Sleeper.

• Day 2, spend a pleasant day at leisure in Amsterdam or Rotterdam.

• Day 2, evening, travel from Amsterdam or Rotterdam to London overnight, see the Stena Line Rail & Sail page for details.

  Coming from Amsterdam, leave Amsterdam Centraal on the 18:36 Dutch intercity train to Schiedam Centrum and change onto the frequent metro train to Hoek van Holland Haven.

  Coming from Rotterdam, take the frequent metro from Eendrachtsplein metro station to Hoek van Holland Haven at around 19:30, journey time 33 minutes.

  At Hoek van Holland, the metro station is right next to the ferry terminal.  You check in at the Stena Line desk at least 45 minutes before sailing time, then walk up the gangway onto the Stena Line super ferry.

  All passengers travel in cosy private cabins with toilet, shower & satellite TV.  Comfort & Captains class cabins are also available, and there's free WiFi.  You can board the ferry around 8pm, have dinner in the restaurant or Stena Plus lounge and settle into your cabin.

  The ferry sails from Hoek van Holland at 22:00 and arrives at Harwich International at 06:30 next morning, UK time.

  Take a train from Harwich to London Liverpool Street arriving around 08:56, or from Harwich to Cambridge arriving 09:41 (10:39 on Sundays).

How much does it cost?

• Amsterdam to Prague by day trains starts at €37.99 each way 2nd class or €69.99 each way 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• Amsterdam or Rotterdam to Prague by European Sleeper starts at €79 with a couchette, see the European Sleeper page for details.

How to buy tickets

• Step 1, book from London or any Greater Anglia station to Hoek van Holland at www.stenaline.co.uk/rail-and-sail/to-holland.

  This is a special Stena Line Rail & Sail ticket, see the Stena Line Rail & Sail page for more tips & information on how to buy one.

  You buy the metro ticket from Hoek van Holland to Schiedam or Rotterdam at the metro station using the ticket machines or simply by touching in & out with any contactless bank card.

• Step 2 if using daytime trains:

  Book from Schiedam Centrum to Prague using the German Railways website int.bahn.de like this:

  To get Schiedam Centrum to Prague with a robust connection in Amsterdam and an overnight stop in Berlin, enter Schiedam Centrum to Prague, then click Stopovers.  Enter Amsterdam Centraal as the first stopover with length of stay 1 hour, enter Berlin Hbf as the second stopover with length of stay as (say) 14 hours.  Set departure time from Schiedam as 10:00.  Run the enquiry.

  Adjust the length of stay as necessary to get the trains you want between Amsterdam & Berlin and (the following morning) Berlin & Prague.

  Incidentally, even train-specific Sparpreis or Super Sparpreis tickets are good for any train on the Schiedam-Amsterdam part of this journey, so when you get to Schiedam you can take the next available train to Amsterdam, you don't have to wait for the one specified on your ticket.  Read about Zugbindung here.

  If can't get your head around this, just use int.bahn.de to book Amsterdam-Berlin as one ticket and then Berlin-Prague as another ticket next day, although that usually costs a little more.

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in and check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.  You print your own tickets or can show them on your phone.

• Step 2, if using the European Sleeper:

  Book from Rotterdam or Amsterdam to Prague at www.europeansleeper.eu.

What's the journey like?

Step 1, London to Amsterdam by train & ferry

A train takes you from London's Liverpool Street station or from Cambridge directly to the ferry terminal at Harwich.  You walk off the train, into the terminal, get your boarding card & cabin key at the Stena Line check-in desk and walk straight onto the overnight ferry to Hoek van Holland.  The superferries Stena Britannica & Stena Hollandica are the largest ferries of their kind in the world.  Have a late dinner in the restaurant, retire to bed in a private cabin with en suite toilet & shower and satellite TV.  At Hoek van Holland, you walk off the ship, through passport control and straight onto the station for the frequent metro train to Schiedam & Rotterdam.  Change at Schiedam Centrum for a Dutch Railways (NS) train to Amsterdam Centraal.  The journey is explained in detail on the Stena Line Rail & Sail page.  See the video.

The Stena Hollandica boarding at Harwich, a floating hotel with private cabins, restaurant, bar, lounges, shop & kennels.

Above left, a standard outside cabin.  Larger photo.  360º photo.  Above right, the Stena Plus lounge with complimentary red & white wine, tea, coffee & snacks.

Above left, the bar on 9 deck. Above right, a Captain's Class cabin with complimentary minibar, toilet & shower.

Step 2, Amsterdam to Berlin by ICE

You take a superb ICE3neo train from Amsterdam Centraal to Berlin Hbf, with a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats and free WiFi.  In 1st class a steward takes food & drink orders and serves them at your seat.  More about Amsterdam-Berlin trains & what to see on the way.

An ICE3neo at Amsterdam Centraal.

The restaurant car.  See current month's menu.		1st class seats on an ICE3neo.  Larger photo.

2nd class seats on an ICE3neo.  Larger photo.		Lunch and a beer!

Step 3, Berlin to Prague by ComfortJet train

Most trains on this route are now operated by brand-new Czech ComfortJet trains, with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Treat yourself to lunch and a beer or two as the train speeds along the scenic Elbe valley south of Dresden.  More about Berlin-Prague ComfortJet trains.

A ComfortJet train at Prague Hlavni.  Click the images below for larger photos.

2nd class with power outlets & free WiFi.		1st class with power outlets & free WiFi

Restaurant car, in the centre of the train.  1st class passengers have orders taken & served at their seat.		There are large luggage racks inside the seating area in both classes.  Or put bags above your seat.

Scenery along the Elbe river between Dresden & Prague.

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Option 7, London to Prague via the Harwich-Hoek day boat

It's an early start from London, but Stena Line's Harwich to Hoek van Holland daytime crossing connects nicely with the 3-times-a-week European Sleeper from Rotterdam to Berlin, for an onward train to Prague.  Like option 7 above, it can be cheaper than using Eurostar especially at short notice.  And what's not to like about a leisurely cruise across the North sea on the rock-steady 63,000 ton Stena Line superferry, an overnight sleeper train to Berlin then a onward train ride to Prague along the scenic Elbe river valley?

London & Harwich ► Prague

• Step 1, travel from London to Harwich by train.

  You leave London Liverpool Street at 06:00 Mondays-Fridays, 06:36 Saturdays or 06:44 Sundays, check times at www.nationalrail.co.uk.

  At Harwich, the station is right next to the ferry terminal.  You walk off the train and into the terminal, check in at the Stena Line desk and walk onto Stena Line's luxurious superferry to Hoek van Holland.

  This is an integrated train & ferry service, see the Stena Line Rail & Sail page for details.  The special fare from London to Hoek van Holland is valid from any Greater Anglia station, for example Norwich, Romford, Ilford or Ipswich.

• Step 2, cruise from Harwich to Hoek van Holland with Stena Line.

  On Mondays-Fridays & Sundays the ferry sails at 09:00 arriving 17:15.

  On Saturdays she sails at 09:00 arriving 16:45.

  The ferry has a bar, self-service restaurant, lounges, a premium Stena Plus lounge, children's play area & free WiFi.  A private cabin is optional (but half price) on the day crossing, all cabins come with toilet & shower & satellite TV.  Deluxe Comfort class & Captains class cabins are also available, also half price.

• Step 3, hop on the metro from Hoek van Holland to Rotterdam.

  On arrival at Hoek van Holland, walk off the ferry into the terminal and go through passport control.  Walk out of the terminal to the metro station across the road and hop on the metro from Hoek van Holland Haven to Eendrachtsplein in downtown Rotterdam, the metro leaves every 20-30 minutes, journey time 33 minutes, see metro network map.  Buy a ticket using the ticket machines or simply touch in and out with any contactless bank card.

  From Eendrachtsplein it's an 850m 11-minute stroll to Rotterdam Centraal, see walking map, or you can change onto metro line D or E and go 2 stops to Rotterdam Centraal.

  You've time for dinner in Rotterdam, try Kaapse Maria (www.kaapsebrouwers.nl) for craft beer and good pub food, half way between Eendrachtsplein & Rotterdam Centraal, see location map.  Check opening hours, it's open Monday & Friday but closed Wednesdays.  Alternatively, Le Nord (lenord.nl), La Cazuela & Dunya are all good bistros 5 minutes walk north of the station, see walking map.

• Step 4, travel from Rotterdam to Prague by European Sleeper, leaving Rotterdam Centraal at 21:22 on Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays, arriving Prague Hlavni 10:51 next morning.

  The train has 5 & 6 berth couchettes & a sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin.  A light breakfast is included in sleepers, extra in couchettes.  Enjoy the scenic run along the Elbe river valley over breakfast between Dresden & Prague.  More about the European Sleeper.

Prague ► Harwich & London

• Step 1, travel from Prague to Rotterdam overnight by European Sleeper, leaving Prague Hlavni at 18:05 on Tuesdays, Thursdays & Sundays, arriving Rotterdam Centraal 07:27 next morning.

  The train has 5 & 6 berth couchettes & a sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin.  A light breakfast is included in sleepers, extra in couchettes.  Enjoy the scenic run along the Elbe river valley between Prague & Dresden.  More about the European Sleeper.

• Step 2, hop on the metro from Rotterdam to Hoek van Holland.

  Walk from Rotterdam Centraal to Eendrachtsplein metro station, 850m, 11 minutes, see walking map, or you can take metro line D or E 2 stops to Beurs.  Then take metro line B from Beurs or Eendrachtsplein to Hoek van Holland Haven, this runs every 20-30 minutes, journey time 33-35 minutes, see metro network map.

  Buy a ticket using the ticket machines or simply touch in and out with any contactless bank card.  The ferry terminal is right next to Hoek van Holland Haven metro station.  Walk into the terminal and check in at the Stena Line desk.  You'll need to leave downtown Rotterdam around 12:00 Monday-Friday or 11:30 Sundays, allowing for travel time and ferry check-in.

• Step 3, cruise from Hoek van Holland to Harwich with Stena Line, see the Stena Line Rail & Sail page for details.

  The ferry sails at 14:15 Monday-Saturday or 13:45 on Sundays, arriving Harwich at 19:45.

  The ferry has a bar, self-service restaurant, lounges, a premium Stena Plus lounge, children's play area & free WiFi.  A private cabin is optional (but half price) on the day crossing, all cabins have toilet, shower & satellite TV.  Comfort & Captains class cabins are also available, also half price.

  At Harwich, the ferry terminal is right next to the station.  Walk off the ferry, into the terminal, through passport control and onto the train.

• Step 4, travel from Harwich to London by train.

  On Mondays-Saturdays a train leaves Harwich International at 20:45 arriving London Liverpool Street station at 22:14.  On Sundays, leave Harwich at 20:30, arriving London Liverpool Street at 21:44.  Check train times at www.nationalrail.co.uk.

How much does it cost?

• London or any Greater Anglia station to Hoek van Holland starts at £64 per person each way with a Rail & Sail ticket.

  For full details of fares & cabin costs, see the Stena Line Rail & Sail page.

• Hoek van Holland to Rotterdam by metro costs around €4.

• Rotterdam to Prague by European Sleeper starts at €79 with a couchette, see the European Sleeper page.

How to buy tickets

• Step 1, book from London or any Greater Anglia station to Hoek van Holland at www.stenaline.co.uk/rail-and-sail/to-holland.

  This is a special Stena Line Rail & Sail ticket, see the Stena Line Rail & Sail page for more tips & information on how to buy one.

• Step 2, book the sleeper from Rotterdam to Prague at www.europeansleeper.eu.

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

• You can buy the Rotterdam metro ticket at the metro station using the ticket machines or simply touch in & out with any contactless bank card.

What's the journey like?

1. London to Rotterdam by train & ferry

A train takes you from London Liverpool Street station directly to the ferry terminal at Harwich International.  You walk off the train and into the terminal, get your boarding card at the Stena Line check-in desk and walk straight onto the ferry to Hoek van Holland.  The superferries Stena Britannica and Stena Hollandica are the largest ferries of their kind in the world.  There's a self-service restaurant, a bar, lounges, a premium Stena Plus lounge & children's play area.  There's free WiFi in the public areas on 9 deck.  At Hoek van Holland, you walk off the ship, through passport control and out of the terminal to the adjacent metro station for the frequent metro train to Rotterdam.  See the Stena Line Rail & Sail page for details.

The Stena Hollandica at Hoek van Holland, a floating hotel with restaurant, bars, lounges, shop, cabins & kennels.

Above left, the bar on 9 deck.  Above right, the Stena Plus lounge with complimentary red & white wine, tea, coffee, soft drinks & snacks.

Above left, a Captain's Class cabin with complimentary minibar, toilet & shower.  Above right, fresh sea air aft on 9 deck.

2. Rotterdam to Prague by European Sleeper

Launched by two sleeper-loving entrepreneurs in May 2023, the European Sleeper has a sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, newer couchette cars with 5-berth compartments, older couchette cars with 6-berth compartments & ordinary seats.  A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes. Light snacks and drinks can be ordered from the attendant, but there's no restaurant so bring a picnic and bottle of wine!  More about European Sleeper.  Berlin Hbf station guide.

Above, the European Sleeper at Amsterdam Centraal.  That's a 5-berth couchette car, next along is a stainless-steel sleeping-car.

1, 2 or 3 bed sleeper, set up as a single.		5-berth couchette compartment.

5-berth couchettes, night mode.		Breakfast can be added when you book.

On the glorious morning of 26 March 2024, the very first European Sleeper to Prague runs along the Elbe river valley between Dresden & Prague.

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Option 8, Scotland & the North to Prague

If you live in the North of England or Scotland, you can take a train to London and travel to Prague using Eurostar & onward trains as shown above, see this advice on buying train tickets to London.  But there are ferry alternatives which by-pass London.  There's an overnight DFDS Seaways ferry from Newcastle to Amsterdam, and an overnight P&O Ferries ferry from Hull to Rotterdam.  Spend a pleasant day exploring Rotterdam or Amsterdam, then take the European Sleeper overnight to Prague.  Alternatively, take an Intercity train to Berlin and stay overnight there, then take a scenic train ride along the Elbe river valley next morning to Prague.  A great combination!

Scotland & North ► Prague using the European Sleeper

• Day 1, take a train to Hull or Newcastle, whichever is most convenient for where you live.

  In Hull, transfer to P&O ferry terminal and sail overnight from Hull to Rotterdam by P&O cruise ferry, with bus transfer to Rotterdam Centraal.  The ferry has bars, restaurants & cosy en suite cabins.  For details, see the Hull-Rotterdam page.

  In Newcastle, transfer to the DFDS ferry terminal at North Shields and sail overnight from Newcastle to Amsterdam by DFDS Seaways cruise ferry.  The ferry has bars, restaurants & cosy en suite cabins.  For details, see the Newcastle-Amsterdam page.

• Day 2, spend a pleasant day exploring Amsterdam or Rotterdam.

• Day 2, travel from Rotterdam or Amsterdam direct to Prague by European Sleeper, leaving Rotterdam Centraal at 21:22 or Amsterdam Centraal at 22:34 on Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays, arriving Prague Hlavni 10:51 (day 3).

  The train has 5 & 6 berth couchettes & a sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin.  A light breakfast is included in sleepers, extra in couchettes.  Enjoy the scenic run along the Elbe river valley over breakfast between Dresden & Prague.  More about the European Sleeper.

Scotland & North ► Prague using daytime trains

• Day 1, take a train to Hull or Newcastle, whichever is most convenient for you.

  In Hull, transfer to P&O ferry terminal and sail overnight from Hull to Rotterdam by P&O cruise ferry, with bus+train connection to Amsterdam Centraal.  The ferry has bars, restaurants & cosy en suite cabins.  For details, see the Hull-Rotterdam page.

  In Newcastle, transfer to the DFDS ferry terminal at North Shields and sail overnight from Newcastle to Amsterdam by DFDS Seaways cruise ferry.  The ferry has bars, restaurants & cosy en suite cabins.  For details, see the Newcastle-Amsterdam page.

• Day 2, travel from Amsterdam to Berlin by ICE, leaving Amsterdam Centraal at 14:00, arriving Berlin Hbf 19:42.

  The superb ICE3neo train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  In 1st class, a steward takes food & drink orders and serves them at your seat.  There are later trains if you prefer, see the Amsterdam-Berlin timetable & journey guide here.

• Stay overnight in Berlin.

  Top choice here is the InterCity Hotel Berlin Hbf (my favourite), only 200m from Berlin Hbf's main entrance, relatively inexpensive with great reviews, or if you're in the money, the excellent 5-star Steigenberger Hotel just outside the station.  If you're on a budget, the cheaper 3-star Motel One Berlin-Hbf is behind the station or use www.hostelworld.com.  Of course, if you really want to push the boat out, the famous Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin is next to the Brandenburg Gate just 17 minutes walk away.

  Tip:  Take an evening stroll past the Reichstag building to the Brandenburg Gate, just 17 minutes walk from the station.

• Day 3, travel from Berlin to Prague by ComfortJet, with a choice of departure:

  Leave Berlin Hbf 07:28, arriving Prague Hlavni 11:25.

  Leave Berlin Hbf 09:28, arriving Prague Hlavni 13:25.

  Leave Berlin Hbf 11:28, arriving Prague Holesovice 15:15.

  ComfortJet trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

  There's lovely scenery along the river Elbe south of Dresden, see photos & tips for the Berlin to Prague train ride.

  Or there are later trains, see the timetable here.

Prague ► Scotland & North using the European Sleeper

• Day 1, travel from Prague direct to Amsterdam or Rotterdam by European Sleeper, leaving Prague Hlavni at 18:05 on Tuesdays, Thursdays & Sundays, arriving Amsterdam Centraal 06:26 or Rotterdam Centraal 07:29 next morning.

  The train has 5 & 6 berth couchettes & a sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin.  A light breakfast is included in sleepers, extra in couchettes.  Enjoy the scenic run along the Elbe river valley between Prague & Dresden.  More about the European Sleeper.

• Day 2, spend a pleasant day exploring Amsterdam or Rotterdam.

• Day 2, travel overnight by cruise ferry with P&O Ferries from Rotterdam to Hull or DFDS Seaways from IJmuiden (near Amsterdam) to Newcastle, whichever is most convenient for where you live.  Next morning (day 3) transfer to the station and take a train home.

  For details of timetables, fares & how to buy tickets for these ferries, see the Hull-Rotterdam page or the Newcastle-Amsterdam page.

Prague ► Scotland & North using daytime trains

• Day 1, travel from Prague to Berlin by ComfortJet, with a choice of departure:

  Leave Prague Hlavni at 12:31, arriving Berlin Hbf 16:29.

  Leave Prague Holesovice at 14:41, arriving Berlin Hbf 18:29.

  Leave Prague Hlavni at 16:31, arriving Berlin Hbf 20:29.

  The ComfortJet has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  There's great scenery along the Elbe valley, see the photos.  Or there are earlier trans, see the timetable here.

• Stay overnight in Berlin.

  Top choice here is the InterCity Hotel Berlin Hbf (my favourite), only 200m from Berlin Hbf's main entrance, relatively inexpensive with great reviews, or if you're in the money, the excellent 5-star Steigenberger Hotel just outside the station.  If you're on a budget, the cheaper 3-star Motel One Berlin-Hbf is behind the station or use www.hostelworld.com.  Of course, if you really want to push the boat out, the famous Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin is next to the Brandenburg Gate just 17 minutes walk away.

• Day 2, travel from Berlin to Amsterdam by ICE, leaving Berlin Hbf at 08:16, arriving Amsterdam Centraal 14:01.

  This superb ICE3neo train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  In 1st class, a steward takes food & drink orders and serves them at your seat.  Allow plenty of time for the transfer from Amsterdam to the ferry, don't risk any tight connections.

• Day 2, travel overnight by cruise ferry either with P&O Ferries from Rotterdam to Hull or with DFDS Seaways from IJmuiden (near Amsterdam) to Newcastle, whichever is most convenient for where you live.  Next morning (day 4) transfer to the station and take a train home.

  For details of timetables, fares & how to buy tickets for these ferries, see the Hull-Rotterdam page or the Newcastle-Amsterdam page.

How much does it cost?

• See the Hull-Rotterdam or Newcastle-Amsterdam pages for ferry fares.

• Amsterdam to Prague by daytime trains starts at  €37.99 each way 2nd class or €69.99 1st class.

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• Rotterdam or Amsterdam to Prague by European Sleeper starts at €79 with a couchette, see the European Sleeper page for details.

How to buy tickets

• Step 1, book the Newcastle-Amsterdam ferry at www.dfds.com or the Hull-Rotterdam ferry at www.poferries.com.

• Step 2, buy a train ticket from your local station to Hull or Newcastle as shown on the UK page or via www.nationalrail.co.uk

• Step 3, book trains from Holland to Prague:

  If using the European Sleeper, book from Rotterdam or Amsterdam to Prague at www.europeansleeper.eu.

  if using daytime trains, book at int.bahn.de as follows:  To get Amsterdam to Prague with an overnight stop in Berlin, enter Amsterdam Centraal to Prague, click Stopovers, enter Berlin Hbf with a length of stay of (say) 12 hours.  Adjust the length of stay and departure time as necessary to get the trains you want between Amsterdam & Berlin and (the following morning) between Berlin & Prague.

  If can't get your head around this, just use int.bahn.de to book Amsterdam-Berlin as one ticket and then Berlin-Prague as another ticket next day, although that usually costs a little more.

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in and check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

What's the journey like?

Step 1, sail overnight by cruise ferry from Newcastle to Amsterdam (DFDS) or Hull to Rotterdam (P&O), with private en suite cabins, restaurants, bars, cinema, a floating hotel.  If travelling with DFDS from Newcastle, a transfer bus takes you from IJmuiden ferry terminal to Amsterdam Centraal next morning.  If travelling with P&O from Hull, a transfer bus takes you from Rotterdam Europoort ferry terminal to Rotterdam Centraal.

DFDS Seaways Princess of Norway (now Princess Seaways) about to sail overnight from Newcastle to Amsterdam.  The ferry also has deluxe Commodore class cabins with minibar, satellite TV, shower & toilet.  See the video.		A standard Seaways class cabin with shower & toilet on DFDS Princess of Norway from Newcastle to Amsterdam.

P&O Ferries Pride of Rotterdam at Rotterdam Europoort.  The ferry also has deluxe class cabins with minibar, satellite TV, shower & toilet.		A standard outside cabin with shower & toilet on P&O's Pride of Rotterdam from Hull to Rotterdam.

Step 2, Rotterdam or Amsterdam to Prague by European Sleeper

Launched by two sleeper-loving entrepreneurs in May 2023, the European Sleeper has a sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, newer couchette cars with 5-berth compartments, older couchette cars with 6-berth compartments & ordinary seats.  A light breakfast is included in sleepers, extra in couchettes. Light snacks and drinks can be ordered from the attendant, but there's no restaurant so bring a picnic and bottle of wine!  More about European Sleeper.  Berlin Hbf station guide.

Above, the European Sleeper at Amsterdam Centraal.  This is a 5-berth couchette car, beyond it is the stainless steel sleeping-car.

1, 2 or 3 bed sleeper, set up as a single.		5-berth couchette compartment.

5-berth couchettes, night mode.		Breakfast can be added when you book.

On the glorious morning of 26 March 2024, the very first European Sleeper to Prague runs along the Elbe river valley between Dresden & Prague.

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Train travel in the Czech Republic

• You can reach anywhere in Czechia by train, travelling from London to Prague as shown above, then using domestic Czech trains from Prague.

  Brno is closer to Vienna than Prague, so consider travelling to Vienna using any of the options shown here, then catching a train to Brno.

• int.bahn.de gives you train times within Czechia, www.cd.cz (change the Czech flag to the UK flag for English) gives fares and sells tickets.

• There is one main station in Prague, Praha Hlavni, near the city centre, see the Prague Hlavni station guide.

• Trains run at least every hour or two, from Prague to all the places shown in the Key Destinations section below.  You don't have to buy a ticket in advance, just book as far as Prague then buy an onwards ticket at the station when you get to Prague, this is easy - you can pay on board the train if you find the conductor immediately, and don't mind paying an extra CZK 40 (about €1.50).  Or you can buy online at www.cd.cz. 

• Seat reservation is compulsory for the premier SuperCity Pendolino trains between Prague and Ostrava, but reservation is unnecessary on almost all other Czech Railways trains, so they cannot sell out, just turn up, buy a ticket and hop on.

Key destinations

• Ostrava

  Prague to Ostrava by train takes about 3h10, fare about 489 Kc (£16).  The best services are the tilting pendolino SuperCity trains, which are air-conditioned with bar car, see the photos below.  In addition to the regular Czech Railways (CD) trains, two private operators now link Prague and Ostrava, RegioJet (www.regiojet.cz) and Leo Express (www.le.cz).  Unlike CD's tickets, tickets for both Regiojet & Leo Express automatically include a reservation but are only valid on the specific train you book.

• Plzen

  Prague to Plzen by train takes about 1h35, fare about 130 Kc (£4).

• Brno

  Prague to Brno by train takes about 2h40, fare about 250 Kc (£7).

• Český Krumlov

  First travel to Prague.  Prague to Český Krumlov takes about 3h40 with a change at České Budějovice, although there's now a direct train leaving Prague at 09:21.  The fare is about 250 Kc (£7).

  Alternatively, you can travel from London to Linz in Austria (see the London to Austria page) then travel by local trains from Linz to Český Krumlov with one easy change at České Budějovice.  Use www.cd.cz to find train times & tickets from Linz to České Budějovice, pay for the GWTR local train either at the station in České Budějovice from the green-and-orange GWTR ticket kiosk or on board the train from the self-service machines which take cash or contactless MasterCard & Visa. 

• Karlovy Vary

  Prague to Karlovy Vary takes about 3 hours 20 minutes by train, the  fare is about 250 Kc (£7).  However, if you're travelling from London, Paris or Amsterdam, change trains at Usti nad Labem, an hour before arriving in Prague, for a local train to Karlovy vary.  This will save time over going into Prague and out again.  Use int.bahn.de to find train times.  You'll find it easier to book to Usti nad Labem, then buy a local ticket to Karlovy Vary when you get to Usti.  Similarly, on your return journey, travel from Karlovy Vary to Usti nad Labem and pick up the sleeper to Cologne & Amsterdam, or a ComfortJet to Berlin, there.

Buying tickets for trains within the Czech Republic:  www.cd.cz

Buy tickets for trains in the Czech Republic at the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz, at cheap Czech prices with no booking fee.  You print your own ticket or (for domestic journeys) can show it on your phone.  www.cd.cz can also book international trains from Prague to neighbouring countries, including Vienna, Budapest, Bratislava, Dresden, Berlin, Munich, Krakow & Warsaw, also at cheap prices.

SuperCity pendolino trains.  These modern pendolino tilting trains operate the premium SuperCity services linking Prague and Ostrava, the Czech Republic's second city.  Reservation is compulsory and there's a cafe-bar & free WiFi on board.

SuperCity 1st class.  Courtesy of CD		SuperCity 2nd class.  Courtesy of CD

Visiting Prague

It's an easy walk from Prague's main Hlavni station to the old town and the famous Charles Bridge, as you can see from the map.  For Prague bus & metro information see www.dpp.cz or see this link.  For Prague tourist information see prague.eu.  Map of Prague.  Prague Hlavni station info.

Prague old town square with the town hall & cathedral.		Old town hall clock.		Crossing the King Charles Bridge.
No flights were involved in the taking of these pictures - Prague is just a train ride away from the UK!

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Holidays & tours to Prague by train

If you want a holiday to Prague by train not plane, but would like someone else to organise all the train tickets and hotels for you, several specialist companies do just that, for a holiday with no airport hassles or whole days in cramped coach seats on motorways.

Railbookers, railbookers.co.uk

Railbookers are a train travel specialist who can put together a tour or short break as a package, including rail travel, hotels & transfers.  Their website has a range of suggested tours & holidays by rail which can be varied or customised to your requirements.  And as you're booking a package, they'll take care of you if anything happens such as a strike or delay.  For example, they offer a 6-night holiday to Prague, Vienna & Budapest with daytime train travel by Eurostar & TGV.

  UK call 0207 864 4600, www.railbookers.co.uk. 

  US call free 1-888-829-4775, www.railbookers.com.

  Canada call free 1-855-882-2910, www.railbookers.com.

  Australia call toll-free 1300 971 526, www.railbookers.com.au. 

  New Zealand call toll-free 0800 000 554 or see website.

Byway, byway.travel

Byway (Byway.travel) is a UK-based eco-holiday firm with a 5-star TrustPilot rating.  If you're nervous about booking train travel yourself, they'll book a holiday to Prague for you as a package, including hotels, starting from any British station you like.  Byway includes package protection, a 100% Covid refund guarantee, free disruption & re-planning and on-demand WhatsApp support while you're away.

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European Rail Timetable & maps

The European Rail Timetable (formerly the Thomas Cook European Timetable) has train & ferry times for every country in Europe plus currency & climate information.  It is essential for regular European train travellers and an inspiration for armchair travellers.  Published since 1873, it had just celebrated 140 years of publication when Thomas Cook decided to pull the plug on their entire publishing department, but the dedicated ex-Thomas Cook team set up a private venture and resumed publication of the famous European Rail Timetable in March 2014.  You can buy it online at www.amazon.co.uk (UK addresses) or www.europeanrailtimetable.eu (shipping worldwide).  More information on what the European Rail Timetable contains.

Rail Map Europe is the map I recommend, covering all of Europe from Portugal in the west to Moscow & Istanbul in the east, Finland in the north to Sicily & Athens in the south.  Scenic routes & high-speed lines are highlighted.  See an extract from the map.  Buy online at www.europeanrailtimetable.eu (shipping worldwide) or at www.amazon.co.uk (UK addresses).

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Guidebooks

Paying for a guidebook may seem an unnecessary expense, but it's probably only a tiny fraction of what you're spending on your whole trip.  You will see so much more, and know so much more about what you're looking at, if you have a decent guidebook.  The Lonely Planets and Rough Guides are about the best out there for independent travellers.  Both have everything you need - lots of background historical and cultural information, lots of practical information.  You won't regret buying one!

Click the images to buy at Amazon.co.uk

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Hotels in Prague

Apart from review score and price, I think the three key factors in choosing a hotel are location, location, and, erm, location.  For a longish stay, I'd book a hotel right in the heart of the old town on or near the Old Town Square where the action is.  For a shorter stay, especially if you are leaving on an early train, I'd go for a hotel near the station, so there's no time wasted in taxis, you can walk across the road and leave your bags, and it's an easy stroll across the road to the station when it's time to leave - but that's still easy walking distance to the old town and all the sights.

Hotels near Prague's old town square

Ventana Hotel or Old Town Square Hotel (both 5-star), Grand Hotel Prague, Hotel Rott (both 4-star), Zlatý kůň Golden Horse (3-star).

Hotels near Prague Hlavni station

MeetMe23 (3-star, a funky designer hotel with holographic receptionist!, Exe City Park Hotel (3-star), Chopin Hotel (3-star), Falkensteiner Hotel Maria (4-star), Esplanade Hotel (5-star, a top choice which I've used myself, this photo of Prague Hlavni station was taken from my room on an upper floor).

Personal recommendation:  Hotel Carlo IV

The Hotel Carlo IV is a grand 5 star hotel in the classic tradition, in an impressive 19th century building that was originally a bank.  It's an easy 3 minute stroll across the park from the station, an easy walk from all the sights, and being in Prague it isn't as expensive as you'd expect a hotel of this top calibre to be.  Great location, great staff, nice rooms, excellent breakfast, and it even has a spa and swimming pool.

Hotel Carlo IV, Prague, seen as you arrive from the station.		Room at the Carlo IV Hotel.

Backpacker hostels

www.hostelworld.com:  If you're on a tight budget, don't forget about backpacker hostels.  Hostelworld offers online booking of cheap private rooms or dorm beds in backpacker hostels in Paris and most other European cities at rock-bottom prices.

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Travel insurance & other tips

Always take out travel insurance

You should take out travel insurance with at least £1m or preferably £5m medical cover from a reliable insurer.  It should cover trip cancellation and loss of cash & belongings up to a reasonable limit.  These days, check you're covered for covid-19-related issues, and use an insurer whose cover isn't invalidated by well-meant but excessive Foreign Office travel advice against non-essential travel. An annual policy is usually cheapest even for just 2 or 3 trips a year, I have an annual policy with Staysure.co.uk myself.  Don't expect travel insurance to bail you out of every missed connection, see the advice on missed connections here.  Here are some suggested insurers, I get a little commission if you buy through these links, feedback always welcome.

  www.staysure.co.uk offers enhanced Covid-19 protection and gets 4.7 out of 5 on Trustpilot.

  www.columbusdirect.com is also a well-know brand.

  If you live in the USA try Travel Guard USA.

Get an eSIM with mobile data package

Don't rely on WiFi, download an eSIM with a European mobile data package and stay connected.  Most newer mobile phones can download a virtual SIM including iPhone 11 & later, see device compatibility list.  There's no need to buy a physical SIM card!  Maya.net is a reliable eSIM data retailer with a 4.5 out of 5 Trustpilot rating and a range of packages including unlimited data.

Get a Curve card for foreign travel

Most banks give you a poor exchange rate then add a foreign transaction fee on top.  A Curve MasterCard means no foreign transaction fees and gives you the mid-market exchange rate, at least up to a certain limit, £500 per month as I write this.  The money you spend on your Curve card goes straight onto one of your existing debit or credit cards.  And you can get a Curve card for free.

How it works:  1. Download the Curve app for iPhone or Android.  2. Enter your details & they'll send you a Curve MasterCard - they send to the UK and most European addresses.  3. Link your existing credit & debit cards to the app, you can link up to two cards with the free version of Curve, I link my normal debit card and my normal credit card.  4. Now use the Curve MasterCard to buy things online or in person or take cash from ATMs, exactly like a normal MasterCard. Curve does the currency conversion and puts the balance in your own currency onto whichever debit or credit card is currently selected in the Curve app.  You can even change your mind about which card it goes onto, within 14 days of the transaction.

I have a Curve Blue card myself, it means I can buy a coffee on a foreign station on a card without being stung by fees and lousy exchange rates, just by tapping the Curve card on their card reader.  The money goes through Curve to my normal debit card and is taken directly from my account (in fact I have the Curve card set up as payment card on Apple Pay on my iPhone, so can double-click my phone, let it do Face ID then tap the reader with the phone - even easier than getting a card out).  I get a little commission if you sign up to Curve, but I recommend it here because I think it's great.  See details, download the app and get a Curve card, they'll give you £5 cashback through that link.

Get a VPN for safe browsing.  Why you need a VPN

When travelling you may use free public WiFi which is often insecure.  A VPN encrypts your connection so it's always secure, even on unsecured WiFi.  It also means you can select the geographic location of the IP address you browse with, to get around geoblocking which a surprising number of websites apply.  See VPNs & why you need one explained.  ExpressVPN is a best buy with a 4.7 out of 5 Trustpilot ranking which I use myself - I've signed up as an ExpressVPN affiliate, and if you go with expressvpn.com using this link you should see a special deal, 3 months free with an annual subscription.  I also get some commission to help support this site.

Carry an Anker powerbank

Tickets, reservations, hotel bookings and Interrail or Eurail passes are often now held on your mobile phone.  You daren't let it run out of power, and you can't always rely on the phone's internal battery or on being near a power outlet.  I always carry an Anker powerbank which can recharge my phone several times over.  Buy from Amazon.co.uk or buy from Amazon.com.

Touring cities?  Use hill walking shoes!

One of the best things I've done is swap my normal shoes for hill-walking shoes, in my case from Scarpa.  They're intended for hiking across the Pennines not wandering around Florence, but the support and cushioning for hiking works equally well when you're on your feet all day exploring foreign cities.  My feet used to give out first and limit my day, now the rest of me gives up before they do!

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