 UK to Poland without flying: Main square, Krakow |
UK to Poland by train from £81...
It's easy to travel from the UK to Poland by train. Travel from London to Berlin on day 1 by Eurostar & high-speed train, stay overnight, then take an air-conditioned express from Berlin to Warsaw, Krakow or Gdansk on day 2. London-Brussels from £78 return, Brussels-Warsaw or Brussels-Krakow from €46.90 each way. The train journey from London to Poland is safe and comfortable, with a chance to see Berlin on the way. This page explains all you need to know...
Train times, fares & tickets
London to
Oswiecim (Auschwitz)
London to
Szczecin, Gdansk, Gdynia
Interactive map: Click a destination or route...
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London to Zakopane & the Tatra
mountains
London & Cambridge to Poland by
ferry from Harwich
UK to Poland
by ferry from Hull or Newcastle
Starting from other UK towns & cities
International trains to/from Poland
Trains to Poland from other European cities
Warsaw
to other European cities
Krakow
to other European cities
Other useful information
Useful country information: currency,
dial code...
Warsaw Centralna station
information
Krakow
Glowny station information
Hotels in Poland -
suggested places to stay
Custom-made holidays to Poland by train
How to buy train
tickets within Poland
General European train travel information
Travel insurance, Curve card & VPN
Route map
Useful country information
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Train operator in Poland: |
PKP (Polskie Koleje Panstwowe), for express trains within & from Poland see www.intercity.pl which also does online booking for domestic Polish express trains. To check train times for all Polish routes I recommend http://rozklad.sitkol.pl/bin/query.exe/en To book international trains starting in Poland contact reliable Polish ticket agency www.polrail.com. All-Europe online train times |
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Time zone: |
GMT+1 (GMT+2 from last Sunday in March to last Saturday in October). |
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Dialling code: |
+48 |
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Currency: |
£1 = 4.9 zlotys, €1 = 4.4 zlotys, approx. Check current exchange rates |
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Tourist information: |
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Hotels in Poland: |
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Visas: |
UK citizens don't need a visa to visit Poland. |
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Page last updated: |
16 March 2023. Train times valid 11 Dec 2022 to 9 Dec 2023 |
London to Warsaw & Poznan
There are several good options for travelling from London to Warsaw by train:
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Option 1 is the most direct. Travel from London to Berlin, stay overnight, then take a Berlin-Warsaw EuroCity train to Warsaw next day.
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Option 2 is the same route as option 1, but with the overnight stop in Brussels rather than Berlin. So you can leave London in the evening well after the working day has finished and be in Warsaw the following evening.
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Option 3 is slower, but actually pretty time-effective with a chance to stop off in Prague if you like: London to Brussels on any evening Eurostar you like from £52 one-way or £78 return, overnight hotel in Brussels, Brussels to Prague next day from €46.90, then the sleeper to Warsaw from €29.
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Option 4 is a round-about route via Vienna, but it's time-effective as it uses the Brussels-Vienna sleeper train. Travel from London to Brussels in the afternoon, catch the Brussels-Vienna Nightjet sleeper which runs 2 or 3 times a week, you've then a morning to explore Vienna, then you take the afternoon EuroCity train to Warsaw arriving in the evening.
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Option 5 is the ferry alternative. Travel from London or Cambridge to Amsterdam overnight by train & ferry with a comfortable private en suite cabin on the Harwich-Hoek van Holland ferry, then take onward trains to Berlin, stay overnight, then take a train to Warsaw.
By all means go out one way and back another. Incidentally, the Jan Kiepura sleeper train between Cologne & Warsaw was sadly discontinued in December 2016, so there are now no sleeper options on the direct route at least.
Option 1, London to Warsaw by train with overnight stop in Berlin.
This is usually the cheapest option, London to Brussels from £29 each way (when booked as a return), Brussels to Poland from €46.90 each way, centre to centre by train with no luggage weight limits, a cafe-bar or bistro-restaurant, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi...
London ► Warsaw
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Day 1, travel from London to Berlin using any of the options shown on the London to Germany page. For example:
Leave London St Pancras at 08:55 by Eurostar, change at Brussels Midi & Cologne Hbf onto high-speed ICE trains arriving Berlin Hbf 19:15.
Leave London St Pancras at 11:04 by Eurostar, change at Brussels Midi & Cologne Hbf onto high-speed ICE trains arriving Berlin Hbf 21:15.
Eurostar has a cafe-bar, ICE trains have a restaurant car, all these trains have power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
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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.
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Day 2, travel from Berlin to Warsaw by EuroCity train, leaving Berlin Hbf at 09:51 and arriving Poznan 12:25 & Warsaw Centralna 15:22.
The Berlin-Warsaw EuroCity trains are comfortable & air-conditioned with trolley refreshment service and a restaurant car serving drinks, snacks and meals. Treat yourself to lunch and a beer in the restaurant...
On Mondays-Saturdays there's an earlier EuroCity train if you prefer, leaving Berlin Hbf 05:52, arriving Poznan 08:25 & Warsaw Centralna 11:16.
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Why not spend some time in Berlin? It's just a 10 minute walk from Berlin Hbf to the restored Reichstag and Brandenburg Gate. There are later trains to Warsaw, right up to a 17:52 departure daily except Saturdays, arriving Warsaw Centralna at 23.16, see the timetable here. You can check times for your date of travel at www.bahn.de.
Warsaw ► London
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Day 1, travel from Warsaw to Berlin on any suitable EuroCity train, see the timetable here.
For example, you can leave Warsaw Centralna at 12:32 & Poznan at 15:26 arriving Berlin Hbf at 18:07.
Or daily except Saturdays there's a later EuroCity train leaving Warsaw Centralna at 16:32 & Poznan at 19:26 arriving Berlin Hbf 22:05.
The Warsaw-Berlin EuroCity trains are comfortable & air-conditioned with restaurant car serving drinks, snacks and meals. Treat yourself to an inexpensive meal and a beer or two...
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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.
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Day 2, travel from Berlin to London using any service shown on the London to Germany page. For example:
Leave Berlin Hbf at 06:46, change at Cologne Hbf & Brussels Midi, arriving London St Pancras at 16:57.
Leave Berlin Hbf at 10:46, change at Cologne Hbf & Brussels Midi, arriving London St Pancras at 19:43.
Eurostar has a cafe-bar, ICE trains have a restaurant car, all these trains have power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
How much does it cost?
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London to Brussels by Eurostar starts at £52 one-way or £78 return in standard class, £115 one-way, £199 return standard premier (1st class).
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Brussels to Poznan or Warsaw starts at €46.90 each way in 2nd class, €79.90 each way in 1st class.
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Fares are dynamic like air fares, so for the cheapest prices book early and avoid busy times such as Fridays or Sunday afternoons.
How to buy tickets
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Buy tickets at www.raileurope.com. This allows you to book all your tickets together in one place.
Anyone from any country can use www.raileurope.com, in plain English, international credit cards accepted and fares shown in multiple currencies. There's a small booking fee. Who are Rail Europe?
First book your ticket from London to Berlin. If you're returning, book London to Berlin as a round trip because Eurostar return fares are significantly cheaper than two one-ways. Add this to your basket. Then book from Berlin to Poland one-way for the following day, add to basket, and (if returning) book from Poland to Berlin one way for the day prior to your Berlin-London journey, add this to your basket and check out.
You print your own ticket, or you can load the Eurostar ticket into the Eurostar app, and show the DB ticket on your laptop or phone.
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When does booking open?
Booking for Eurostar & onward trains to Germany opens up to 180 days ahead, but significantly less than this when the mid-December timetable change intervenes. Booking for trains between Berlin & Poland only opens 60 days ahead. More about when booking opens.
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Booking tips
Fares are dynamic like air fares, so book early for the cheapest prices and avoid busy days such as Fridays or Sunday afternoons.
After booking you can use the Eurostar Manage Booking system to select an exact seat on Eurostar.
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Is it a through ticket?
No, as there are no through tickets from London to Berlin or Poland any more, DB's Sparpreis London fares were discontinued in March 2020. But www.raileurope.com will seamlessly sell you a Eurostar ticket from London to Brussels plus an onward German Railways ticket from Brussels to Berlin, then it'll sell you a separate ticket from Berlin to Warsaw for the following day.
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Seat reservations
A seat reservation is automatically included with every ticket on Eurostar and the Berlin-Warsaw EuroCity trains. However, seat reservations on the Brussels-Cologne-Berlin ICE trains are optional, if you want a reserved seat it can be added during the booking process for fee of around €4.50 each way. A reserved seat is a good idea, especially at busy periods, so I'd add one when prompted.
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About those tight 20-minute connections at Brussels Midi
The slick 20-minute connection in Brussels between Eurostar and an onward ICE, sometimes less than this, is usually a recognised connection which lots of people make. It's not usually a problem, especially if you use the Brussels Midi short cut between platforms.
Even though the system sells you separate tickets either side of Brussels, you are protected by the Railteam Promise/HOTNAT so if there's a delay and you miss the connection you will be allowed to travel on later onwards trains at no extra charge.
Tip: Nothing stops you booking an earlier Eurostar than the one which directly connects with your chosen onward ICE, if it has cheaper fares or if you want a more robust connection. To do this using Raileurope.com, click More options, then enter Brussels (any station) as a via station with a stopover duration of (say) 1 or 2 hours. There are plenty of places for a meal, coffee or beer between trains in Brussels!
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How to buy a connecting ticket from other UK towns & cities: See the advice on special add-on tickets here.
Another way to buy tickets
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This is more work as it involves two websites, but it can be slightly cheaper for two reasons: First, you don't pay any booking fee. Second, you can use the Stopover feature at www.bahn.de to book a Brussels to Poland through ticket with an overnight stop in Berlin, which is cheaper than buying separate Brussels to Berlin & Berlin to Warsaw tickets from Raileurope.
Obviously, do a dry run on both sites first to check availability & prices. I'd also check that your outward Eurostar and ICE are indeed a recognised connection by checking that they appear together when you run a London to Cologne enquiry at www.bahn.de - read the paragraph in the previous section about the 20-minute connection in Brussels .
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Step 1, book the Eurostar from London to Brussels (and back, if returning) at www.eurostar.com and print your own ticket, or load it into the Eurostar app to show on your phone. Eurostar return fares are significantly less than two one-ways, so if you're coming back, make sure you book this as a round trip. After booking you can use the Eurostar Manage Booking system to select an exact seat on Eurostar.
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Step 2, book from Brussels to Warsaw at the German Railways website www.bahn.de, but first click Stopover, enter Berlin Hbf and a stopover duration of (say) 12 hours: I have set up this special link for you, by all means adjust the departure time & stopover duration to get the trains you want either side of Berlin.
This will get you a Brussels to Poland through ticket with an overnight stop in Berlin included, which is what you want. With German Railways a return is simply two one-ways, so you may find it gives you more control to book Brussels to Poland one-way first, then Poland to Brussels one-way as a separate booking.
You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in and check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time. An advantage of booking direct with www.bahn.de is that you can select an exact seat on ICE trains from a seating plan.
Have your trip arranged as a package
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Railbookers are a train travel specialist who can put together a UK-Poland 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 varied or customised to your requirements. As you're booking a package, they'll take care of you if anything happens to one part of the itinerary 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. Another top seller is their holiday to Berlin & Prague with travel to & from London by train.
UK 0207 864 4600,
www.railbookers.co.uk
US 1-888-829-4775,
www.railbookers.com
Canada 1-855-882-2910,
www.railbookers.com
Australia 1300 971 526,
www.railbookers.com.au
New Zealand 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 UK-Poland 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. They can build a one-way or return trip to your requirements if you email them or use this contact form. When you book, please say you heard about them from Seat 61.
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Escorted tours: If you'd like to travel with a convivial group of travellers escorted by a professional tour guide, the operators to check are Great Rail Journeys (www.greatrail.com, in the UK call 01904 527 120) and Rail Discoveries, www.raildiscoveries.com, 01904 730 727. Both have various escorted tours from the UK to Prague by train, with departures on a variety of dates.
How to buy tickets by phone
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It's better to book online to avoid additional phone booking fees and so you can see for yourself which departures are cheapest for each stage of the journey. Most ticketing agencies only work office hours on weekdays, but online booking is possible 24/7. However, if you want to book by phone, see my list of UK ticketing agencies with phone numbers & opening hours.
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. Standard Premier and Business Premier fares include a light meal with wine (or breakfast, on departures before 11:00). There's a 30-minute minimum check-in at London St Pancras (45-minute minimum in Paris, Brussels & Amsterdam) as all border formalities are carried out before you board the train. More information about Eurostar including check-in procedure. St Pancras station guide. Brussels Midi station guide & short cut for changing trains in Brussels.
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A Eurostar e320 train. More about Eurostar. |
Standard Premier/Business Premier. Larger photo. |
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Standard class seats. Larger photo. |
One of two cafe-bars, in cars 8 & 9. Larger photo. |
2. Brussels to Cologne by ICE3...
Germany's superb ICEs have a bistro-restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. In 1st class, bistro orders are taken 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 information about ICE3. Brussels Midi station guide. Cologne Hbf station guide.
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An ICE3M to Cologne at Brussels Midi. More information about ICE. Advice on changing trains in Brussels. |
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2nd class seats on an ICE3M. Larger photo. |
1st class seats on an ICE3M. Larger photo. |
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Proper china, metal cutlery. I recommend the Erdinger Weissbier! See current month's menu. |
Restaurant car: This is the small 12-seat restaurant area on an ICE3M. Larger photo. |
3. Cologne to Berlin by ICE2...
ICE2 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 information about ICE2. Cologne Hbf station guide. Berlin Hbf station guide.
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2nd class seats. Larger photo. |
An ICE2 at Berlin Hbf... |
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Restaurant car. Larger photo. |
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Bar car. Larger photo. |
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Boarding an ICE2 at Berlin Hbf... |
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1st class seats. Larger photo. |
4. Berlin to Warsaw by EuroCity train...
These comfortable air-conditioned trains have a restaurant car. See the Berlin-Warsaw EuroCity page for more photos, tips & information.
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A Berlin-Warsaw EuroCity train on platform 11 at Berlin Hbf... |
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1st class compartment. |
2nd class, some like this, some in compartments. |
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Restaurant car... |
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The bar... |
Decent food, served on proper china... |
Option 2: London to Warsaw by train with overnight stop in Brussels
This is similar to option 1, but with the overnight stop in Brussels rather than Berlin. That might be more time-effective if you can leave London after the end of the working day, and arrive in Warsaw the following evening. Feel free to go out using option 1, back using option 2, or vice versa. Just book everything as one-way. This option runs from London daily except Saturdays, from Warsaw daily except Sundays.
London ► Warsaw
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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 at 22:38, but by all means travel earlier for a pleasant evening in Brussels. Check times at www.eurostar.com.
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Stay overnight in Brussels. I recommend the excellent Pullman Hotel Brussels Midi which is an integral part of Brussels Midi station itself, or the inexpensive Ibis Brussels Midi just across the road.
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Day 2, travel from Brussels to Berlin by comfortable ICE train, leaving Brussels Midi at 06:23, making one quick & easy change at Cologne Hbf and arriving Berlin Hbf at 13:15.
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Day 2, travel from Berlin to Warsaw by EuroCity train, leaving Berlin Hbf at 13:51 & arriving Poznan 16:31 & Warsaw Centralna 19:28.
If you'd like lunch in Berlin and to see the Reichstag & Brandenburg gate just 10-15 minutes walk from the station, there's a later EuroCity train, leaving Berlin Hbf at 17:52 and arriving Poznan at 20:31 and Warsaw Centralna at 23:16.
Warsaw ► London
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Day 1, travel from Warsaw to Berlin by EuroCity train, leaving Warsaw Centralna at 08:32 or Poznan at 11:26 arriving Berlin Hbf at 14:05.
Tip: If you book the earlier 06:36 EuroCity train from Warsaw you'd have a safer connection and time for lunch in Berlin, and perhaps a quick wander to the Reichstag & Brandenburg gate, 10-15 minutes walk from the station.
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Day 1, travel from Berlin to Brussels by ICE train, leaving Berlin Hbf at 14:46, with one easy change at Cologne Hbf arriving Brussels Midi 21:35.
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Stay overnight in Brussels. I recommend the excellent Pullman Hotel Brussels Midi which is an integral part of Brussels Midi station itself, or the inexpensive Ibis Brussels Midi just across the road.
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Day 2, travel from, Brussels to London on any morning Eurostar you like...
The first train currently leaves Brussels Midi at 08:52 arriving London St Pancras 09:57, check times at www.eurostar.com.
How much does it cost?
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London to Brussels by Eurostar starts at £52 one-way or £78 return in standard class, £115 one-way, £199 return standard premier (1st class).
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Brussels to Warsaw starts at €46.90 each way in 2nd class, €79.90 each way in 1st class.
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Fares are dynamic like air fares, so for the cheapest prices book early and avoid busy times such as Fridays or Sunday afternoons.
How to buy tickets
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Step 1, book London to Brussels at www.eurostar.com.
Booking opens up to 180 days ahead. Fares are dynamic like air fares, so book early for the cheapest prices and avoid busy days such as Fridays or Sunday afternoons.
If returning, be sure to book this as a round trip, as Eurostar return fares are significantly cheaper than two one-ways.
You print your own ticket, or you can load the Eurostar ticket into the Eurostar app, and show the DB tickets on your laptop or phone.
Tip: After booking you can use the Eurostar Manage Booking system to select an exact seat on Eurostar.
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Step 2, book Brussels to Warsaw at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.
This gets you a Brussels to Warsaw through ticket. A return is simply two one-ways, and you may find it easier to book Brussels to Warsaw one-way first, then Warsaw to Brussels one-way.
Tip: If you want to stop off in Berlin, simply click Stopover and enter your desired stopover duration, say 2 hours if you want a quick look at the Reichstag & Brandenburg Gate before taking the later Berlin-Warsaw train, though you can stop off for longer if you like, up to 48h. If you want longer connections between trains, use the Adjust transfer time feature.
You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in and check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.
Option 3, London to Warsaw via Brussels & Prague
OK, so this isn't the fastest route or the simplest route with fewest changes. But it's a useful route which can sometimes have the cheapest fares. There is nothing second-rate about the quality of the trains (see the photos below), and a night-day-night journey taking up just one day is quite time-effective. So what's not to like? Worth considering!
London ► Warsaw
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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 at 22:38, but by all means travel earlier for a pleasant evening in Brussels. Check times at www.eurostar.com.
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Stay overnight in Brussels. I recommend the excellent Pullman Hotel Brussels Midi which is an integral part of Brussels Midi station itself, or the inexpensive Ibis Brussels Midi just across the road.
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Day 2, travel from Brussels to Prague on one of these departures:
Leave Brussels Midi 06:23 every day, change Frankfurt (Main) Hbf, Nuremberg & Cheb, arrive Prague Hlavni at 17:17.
Leave Brussels Midi 08:25 every day, change Frankfurt (Main) Hbf, Nuremberg & Cheb, arrive Prague Hlavni at 19:17.
It involves 4 trains, but all on one inclusive cheap ticket and there's nothing cut-rate about the trains: You take top-quality high-speed ICE trains from Brussels to Frankfurt & Frankfurt to Nuremberg with bistro-restaurant car, then a swish air-conditioned regional train from Nuremberg to Cheb and from Cheb to Prague. Tip: When boarding the train from Nuremberg to Cheb, make sure you join the portion for Cheb, as another portion goes to Hof. See the Brussels to Prague via Cheb page for more photos & information.
Have dinner in Prague... The Restaurant Šalanda (www.restauracesalanda.cz) is at the station, just inside the modern station's main front entrance, but it gets so-so reviews. Consider a 6 minute 550m walk to the Restaurant Zvonice (www.restaurantzvonice.cz) which gets great reviews, see walking map. It's open until late, ideal if you're catching the sleeper. Feedback appreciated.
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Step 2, travel from Prague to Warsaw by sleeper train, leaving Prague Hlavni at 22:13 and arriving Warsaw Gdanska at 08:56 next morning.
This train has a modern Czech Comfortline sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed sleepers with washbasin and several 1, 2 or 3 bed sleepers with en suite shower & WC, and a couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments. Morning tea or coffee is included in the fare in the sleepers.
Alternatively, stay overnight in Prague and catch a daytime train from Prague to Warsaw next day, see the Prague-Warsaw info here. Hotels with good reviews next to the station include the Esplanade Hotel (good choice, stayed there myself), Falkensteiner Hotel Maria, Chopin Hotel.
Warsaw ► London
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Day 1, take the sleeper train from Warsaw to Prague, leaving Warsaw Centralna at 19:48 and arriving Prague Hlavni at 07:38 next morning.
This train has a modern Czech Comfortline sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed sleepers with washbasin and several 1, 2 or 3 bed sleepers with en suite shower & WC, and a couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments. Morning tea or coffee is included in the fare in the sleepers.
Alternatively, take a daytime train from Warsaw Centralna to Prague Hlavni, see the timetable here. Then stay overnight in Prague, hotels with good reviews next to the station include the Esplanade Hotel (good choice, I've stayed there myself), Falkensteiner Hotel Maria, Chopin Hotel.
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Day 2, travel from Prague to Brussels by train, all on one ticket:
You leave Prague Hlavni at 10:43, change Cheb, Nuremberg & Frankfurt (Main) Hbf, arriving Brussels Midi at 21:35.
If you took a day train from Warsaw to Prague and stayed in Prague overnight, you can travel on an earlier departure, leaving Prague Hlavni at 06:43, change Cheb, Nuremberg & Frankfurt arriving Brussels Midi at 17:35.
You travel on a swish air-conditioned regional express train from Prague to Cheb and from Cheb to Nuremberg, then by top-quality high-speed ICE train from Nuremberg to Frankfurt and Frankfurt to Brussels, complete with restaurant car and beer on tap. See the Brussels to Prague via Cheb page for more photos & information.
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Stay overnight in Brussels. I recommend the excellent Pullman Hotel Brussels Midi which is an integral part of Brussels Midi station itself, or the inexpensive Ibis Brussels Midi just across the road.
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Day 3, travel from, Brussels to London on any morning Eurostar you like...
The first train currently leaves Brussels Midi at 08:52 arriving London St Pancras 09:57, check times at www.eurostar.com.
How much does it cost?
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London to Brussels by Eurostar starts at £52 one-way or £78 return in standard class, £115 one-way, £199 return standard premier (1st class).
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Brussels to Prague starts at €46.90 each way 2nd class or €61.90 in 1st class.
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Prague to Warsaw by sleeper starts at €29 with couchette in 6-berth, €39 with couchette in 4-berth, €39 with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper or €49 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or around €75 with a single-bed sleeper all to yourself. Prague to Warsaw by daytime EuroCity train starts at €28 in 2nd class or €48 in 1st class.
How to buy tickets
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Step 1, buy a Eurostar ticket from London to Brussels at www.eurostar.com. You print your own ticket.
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Step 2, now use the German Railways website www.bahn.de to book from Brussels to Prague. Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.
You'll see journeys via various routes, to specify this route click Stopover and enter Cheb as a via station, leaving duration zero.
You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets.
You can also book at the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz, in this case booking only opens up to 90 days ahead. If you are booking well in advance, I find www.bahn.de is often cheaper. Booked close to departure date, www.cd.cz is often cheaper.
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Step 3, now use the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz again to book from Prague to Warsaw, looking for the direct sleeper train marked No transfers (EN) or a direct daytime train marked No transfers (EC). You print your own ticket.
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. Standard Premier and Business Premier fares include a light meal with wine (or breakfast, on departures before 11:00). There's a 30-minute minimum check-in at London St Pancras (45-minute minimum in Paris, Brussels & Amsterdam) as all border formalities are carried out before you board the train. More information about Eurostar including check-in procedure. St Pancras station guide. Brussels Midi station guide & short cut for changing trains in Brussels.
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A Eurostar e320 at St Pancras. More about Eurostar. |
Standard Premier/Business Premier. Larger photo. |
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Standard class seats. Larger photo. |
One of two cafe-bars, in cars 8 & 9. Larger photo. |
2. Brussels to Frankfurt to Nuremberg by ICE...
Germany's superb ICEs have a bistro-restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. In 1st class, bistro orders are taken at your seat. The Brussels to Frankfurt train calls at Liège, where you can admire the impressive station designed by celebrity architect Santiago Calatrava, and at Cologne Hbf, where you'll see Cologne Cathedral to the right as you approach, right next to the station. Immediately after leaving Cologne Hbf, the train crosses the long Hohenzollern bridge over the Rhine before joining the 300km/h high-speed line to Frankfurt. More information about ICE3. Brussels Midi station guide. Frankfurt (Main) Hbf station guide.
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An ICE3M from Brussels at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf. More information about ICE. Advice on changing trains in Brussels. |
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2nd class seats on an ICE3M. Larger photo. |
1st class seats on an ICE3M. Larger photo. |
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Proper china, metal cutlery. I recommend the Erdinger Weissbier! See current month's menu. |
Restaurant car: This is the small 12-seat restaurant area on an ICE3M. Larger photo. |
3. Nuremberg to Cheb by regional train, Cheb to Prague by express train...
You'll find tips and more scenery & train photos on the Brussels to Prague via Cheb page
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The easy & relaxed interchange at Cheb station... The red train on the right is the German regional train arrived from Nuremberg. You cross to the blue Czech train on the left about to leave for Prague - although always check the departure boards as sometimes a faster train to Prague goes from an adjacent platform. More information on the Brussels to Prague via Cheb page. |
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Scenery between Nuremberg & Cheb, courtesy Arnaud Loneux |
Hills & forest between Cheb & Prague. Courtesy of Arnaud Loneux. |
4. Prague to Warsaw by sleeper train...
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Above, the Czech sleeping-car to Krakow & Warsaw is boarding at Prague Hlavni. |
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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 ones, but with a compact shower & toilet. 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. |
Option 4: London to Warsaw via the Brussels-Vienna sleeper
On paper this is a round about route. But because it involves a time-effective Nightjet sleeper direct from Brussels to Vienna, it's not only slightly quicker, you get a morning in Vienna in to the bargain. The Brussels-Vienna Nightjet runs 3 times a week. By all means go out this way and back another.
London ► Warsaw Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays
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Step 1, travel from London to Brussels by Eurostar, leaving London St Pancras at 15:04 and arriving in Brussels Midi at 18:05.
Tip: At Brussels Midi, the Pullman Hotel bar makes an excellent VIP waiting room.
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Step 2, travel from Brussels to Vienna by Nightjet, leaving Brussels Midi 19:32 on Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays, arriving Vienna Hbf 09:14.
This comfortable Austrian Nightjet sleeper train has an air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-car with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There are toilets & a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers. The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu. The train has couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment. See the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video.
The train travels along the famous Rhine Valley between Koblenz (23:46) and Mainz (00:39), so if you're still awake and your compartment happens to be on the left-hand side of the train, switch off the lights and watch the Rhine pass by, mountains, vineyards, castles & the legendary Lorelei Rock lit by moonlight. Wonderful!
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Step 3, travel from Vienna to Warsaw by EuroCity train with restaurant car, leaving Vienna Hbf at 14:10 arriving Warsaw Centralna at 21:29.
Warsaw ► London Tuesdays, Thursdays & Sundays
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Step 1, travel from Warsaw to Vienna by air-conditioned EuroCity train with restaurant car, leaving Warsaw Centralna at 06:32 & arriving Vienna Hbf at 13:49. You now have an afternoon free in Vienna.
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Step 2, travel from Vienna to Brussels by Nightjet, leaving Vienna Hbf at 20:11 on Tuesdays, Thursdays & Sundays, arriving Brussels Midi 09:55.
This comfortable Austrian Nightjet sleeper train has an air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-car with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There are toilets & a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers. The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu. The train has couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment. See the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video.
Tip: If you have a ticket for a sleeper, you can use the ÖBB lounge at Vienna Hbf with complimentary refreshments & free WiFi.
Tip: On arrival at Brussels Midi, the Pullman Hotel bar makes an excellent VIP waiting room.
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Step 3, travel from Brussels to London by Eurostar, leaving Brussels Midi at 12:56 arriving London St Pancras at 14:05.
How much does it cost?
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1. London to Brussels by Eurostar |
From £52 one-way, £78 return 2nd class. From £115 one-way, £199 return 1st class. Child fares |
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2. Brussels to Vienna by Nightjet (per person, each way) |
In a seat |
In a couchette |
In the sleeping-car |
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6-berth |
4-berth |
3-berth |
2-berth |
1-berth |
3-berth + shower |
2-berth + shower |
1-berth + shower |
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Fares start at... |
€29.90 |
€49.90 |
€59.90 |
€89.90 |
€109.90 |
€159.90 |
€99.90 |
€139.90 |
€179.90 |
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3. Vienna to Warsaw |
From €29.90 each way in 2nd class, €39.90 each way in 1st class. |
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How to buy tickets
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Buy tickets at www.thetrainline.com, in plain English, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee.
Fares are dynamic like air fares, so book early for the cheapest prices and avoid busy days such as Fridays or Sunday afternoons. Do a dry run first to check prices and availability for each stage before booking for real.
Booking for Eurostar & Nightjet opens up to 180 days ahead, see more information about when bookings open. Vienna-Poland trains may open as little as 60 days ahead, but there's no need to book this far in advance.
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Step 1, book your Eurostar from London to Brussels (and back, if returning) using the train times on this page as a guide. Add this to your basket. Never allow less than an hour in Brussels when connecting into a sleeper train.
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Step 2, book the Nightjet sleeper from Brussels to Vienna & back, looking for the direct train with 0 changes. Add to basket & check out.
You print your own tickets. After booking you can use the Eurostar Manage Booking system to select an exact seat on Eurostar.
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Step 3, now go to Austrian Railways www.oebb.at and book the train from Vienna to Warsaw & back. Tickets must be collected from an ÖBB ticket machine or ticket office in Vienna, they cannot be printed. This journey cannot be booked at Thetrainline.com.
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If you're travelling from a UK town or city north of London, see advice about buying domestic tickets to London to connect with Eurostar.
Another way to book tickets
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Alternatively, you can of course book direct with the operators without any booking fees, but this means more work. In all cases you print your own ticket, or can in some cases show it on your phone.
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Step 1, book the London-Brussels Eurostar at www.eurostar.com.
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Step 2, book the nightjet sleeper and Vienna-Budapest train at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at.
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Step 3, book the Vienna-Warsaw ticket at www.oebb.at & collect in Vienna from an ÖBB machine or ticket office.
How to buy tickets by phone
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It's better to book online to avoid additional phone booking fees and so you can see for yourself which departures are cheapest for each stage of the journey. Most ticketing agencies only work office hours on weekdays, but online booking is possible 24/7. However, if you want to book by phone, see my list of UK ticketing agencies with phone numbers & opening hours.
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. Standard Premier and Business Premier fares include a light meal with wine (or breakfast, on departures before 11:00). There's a 30-minute minimum check-in at London St Pancras (45-minute minimum in Paris, Brussels & Amsterdam) as all border formalities are carried out before you board the train. More information about Eurostar including check-in procedure. St Pancras station guide. Brussels Midi station guide. In Brussels, I recommend using the Pullman Hotel bar as your VIP waiting room.
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A Eurostar e320 at St Pancras. More about Eurostar. |
Standard Premier/Business Premier. Larger photo. |
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Standard class seats. Larger photo. |
One of two cafe-bars, in cars 8 & 9. Larger photo. |
2. Brussels to Vienna by Nightjet: See the Nightjet guide...
This is an Austrian Railways (ÖBB) Nightjet train, with sleeping-car, couchettes & seats. The sleeping-car has 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, plus three deluxe compartments with 1, 2 or 3 beds with private shower & toilet. The sleeper berths come fully made up with sheets and duvets, all sleeper passengers get mineral water in the evening and a light breakfast served in their compartment next morning. Towels & toiletries are provided, including shampoo and shower gel in the deluxe sleepers. In the more economical couchettes, you can book a couchette in a cheaper 6-berth compartment or a less-crowded 4-berth compartment, each provided with sheet, blanket, pillow & small bottle of water, and couchette passengers get a tea or coffee in the morning. When waiting for the northbound sleeper train in Vienna, if you have booked a sleeper you can use the ÖBB lounge with complimentary refreshments. More pictures & information about Nightjet trains.
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On 20 January 2020, the inaugural Nightjet left Brussels for Vienna, the first scheduled sleeper train to leave Brussels in 16 years. Above, that inaugural train is seen ready to leave Brussels Midi on 20 January - naturally, the Man in Seat 61 was on board! |
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Deluxe sleeper. Each compartment can be used as a 1, 2 or 3-bed room. Larger photo. Video of deluxe room |
The same deluxe sleeper in evening/morning mode with beds folded away, seats folded out. Larger photo. |
Deluxe rooms have a compact shower & toilet, towels & hair/body wash provided. Larger photo. |
Standard sleeper set up as 2-berth, washstand open. It can be used as a 1, 2 or 3 berth. Larger photo. |
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6-berth couchettes... |
4-berth couchettes... |
Couchette car on the Brussels-Vienna Nightjet... |
3. Vienna to Warsaw by EuroCity train...
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A EuroCity train from Vienna to Warsaw, at Vienna Hbf. Change at Katowice for Krakow. The green stripe above the windows indicates 2nd class. Yellow indicates first class. Red indicates the restaurant car. Courtesy of Jennifer Delaney. |
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Polish restaurant car on a EuroCity train between Warsaw & Vienna. Courtesy of www.discoverbyrail.com. |
Breakfast in the restaurant car between Vienna & Warsaw. Courtesy www.discoverbyrail.com. |
London to Krakow & Katowice
The fastest & cheapest way from London & Krakow is via Berlin, shown as option 1 below. Alternatively, it can be cheaper and only a bit longer to travel via Prague, so why not combine the two great cities of Prague & Krakow in one flight-free trip? By all means go out one way and back another. If you also want to visit the museum at Auschwitz, or in Polish, Oswiecim, see here.
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Option 1 is the most direct. Travel from London to Berlin on day 1, stay overnight, then travel from Berlin to Krakow next day.
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Option 2 is the cheapest option, although not the fastest. However, it's actually pretty time-effective: London to Brussels on any evening Eurostar you like from £52 one-way or £78 return, overnight hotel in Brussels, Brussels to Prague next day for an amazing €29, then the sleeper to Krakow from €29.
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Option 3 is a round-about route via Vienna, but it's time-effective as it uses the Brussels-Vienna sleeper train. Travel from London to Brussels in the afternoon, catch the Brussels-Vienna Nightjet sleeper which 3 times a week, you've then a morning to explore Vienna, then you take an afternoon train to Krakow arriving late evening.
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Option 4 is the ferry alternative. Travel from London to Amsterdam overnight by train & ferry with a comfortable private en suite cabin on the Harwich-Hoek van Holland ferry, then take onward trains to Berlin, stay overnight, then take a train to Poland.
Option 1, London to Krakow with overnight stop in Berlin
London ► Krakow
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Day 1, travel from London to Berlin using any of the options shown on the London to Germany page. For example...
Leave London St Pancras at 08:55 by Eurostar, change at Brussels Midi & Cologne Hbf onto high-speed ICE trains arriving Berlin Hbf 19:15.
Leave London St Pancras at 11:04 by Eurostar, change at Brussels Midi & Cologne Hbf onto high-speed ICE trains arriving Berlin Hbf 21:15.
Eurostar has a cafe-bar, ICE trains have a restaurant car, all these trains have power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
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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.
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Day 2, travel from Berlin to Krakow by EuroCity train Wawel, leaving Berlin Hbf at 10:52 & arriving Wroclaw 14:50, Katowice 16:58 & Krakow Glowny 18:01.
The EuroCity train Wawel is a comfortable air-conditioned Polish train with restaurant car serving drinks, snacks and full meals. Treat yourself to an inexpensive meal and a beer or two in the restaurant!
Krakow ► London
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Day 1, travel from Krakow to Berlin by EuroCity train Wawel, leaving Krakow Glowny at 10:09, Katowice 11:06 or Wroclaw 13:09, arriving Berlin Hbf at 17:05.
EuroCity train Wawel is a comfortable air-conditioned Polish train with restaurant car serving drinks, snacks & inexpensive meals.
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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.
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Day 2, travel from Berlin to London using any service shown on the Germany page. For example...
Leave Berlin Hbf at 06:46, change at Cologne Hbf & Brussels Midi, arriving London St Pancras at 16:57.
Leave Berlin Hbf at 10:46, change at Cologne Hbf & Brussels Midi, arriving London St Pancras at 19:57.
Eurostar has a cafe-bar, ICE trains have a restaurant car, all these trains have power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
How much does it cost?
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London to Brussels by Eurostar starts at £52 one-way or £78 return in standard class, £115 one-way, £199 return standard premier (1st class).
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Brussels to Berlin starts at €27.90 each way in 2nd class, €69.90 each way in 1st class.
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Berlin to Krakow starts at €27.90 each way in 2nd class, €39.90 each way in 1st class.
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Fares are dynamic like air fares, so for the cheapest prices book early and avoid busy times such as Fridays or Sunday afternoons.
How to buy tickets
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Buy tickets at www.raileurope.com. This allows you to book all your tickets together in one place.
Anyone from any country can use www.raileurope.com, in plain English, international credit cards accepted and fares shown in multiple currencies. There's a small booking fee.
First book your ticket from London to Berlin. If you're returning, book London to Berlin as a round trip because Eurostar return fares are significantly cheaper than two one-ways. Add this to your basket. Then book from Berlin to Krakow one-way for the following day, add to basket, and (if returning) book from Krakow to Berlin one way for the day prior to your Berlin-London journey, add this to your basket and check out.
You print your own ticket, or you can load the Eurostar ticket into the Eurostar app, and show the DB ticket on your laptop or phone.
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When does booking open?
Booking for Eurostar & onward trains to Germany opens up to 180 days ahead, but significantly less than this when the mid-December timetable change intervenes. Booking for trains between Berlin & Poland only opens 60 days ahead. More about when booking opens.
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Booking tips
Fares are dynamic like air fares, so book early for the cheapest prices and avoid busy days such as Fridays or Sunday afternoons.
After booking you can use the Eurostar Manage Booking system to select an exact seat on Eurostar.
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Is it a through ticket?
No, as there are no through tickets from London to Berlin or Poland any more, DB's Sparpreis London fares were discontinued in March 2020. But www.raileurope.com will seamlessly sell you a Eurostar ticket from London to Brussels plus an onward German Railways ticket from Brussels to Berlin, then it'll sell you a separate ticket from Berlin to Krakow for the following day.
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Seat reservations
A seat reservation is automatically included with every ticket on Eurostar and the Berlin-Warsaw EuroCity trains. However, seat reservations on the Brussels-Cologne-Berlin ICE trains are optional, if you want a reserved seat it can be added during the booking process for fee of around €4.50 each way. A reserved seat is a good idea, especially at busy periods, so I'd add one when prompted.
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About the 20-minute connections (sometimes less) between Eurostar & ICEs at Brussels Midi
The slick 20-minute connection in Brussels between Eurostar and an onward ICE, sometimes less than this, is usually a recognised connection which lots of people make. It's not usually a problem, especially if you use the Brussels Midi short cut between platforms.
Even though the system sells you separate tickets either side of Brussels, you are protected by the Railteam Promise/HOTNAT so if there's a delay and you miss the connection you will be allowed to travel on later onwards trains at no extra charge.
Tip: Nothing stops you booking an earlier Eurostar than the one which directly connects with your chosen onward ICE, if it has cheaper fares or if you want a more robust connection. To do this using www.raileurope.com, click More options, then enter Brussels (any station) as a via station with a stopover duration of (say) 1 or 2 hours. There are plenty of places for a meal, coffee or beer between trains in Brussels!
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How to buy a connecting ticket from other UK towns & cities: See the advice on special add-on tickets here.
Another way to buy tickets
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This is a bit more work as it involves two websites, but you don't pay any booking fee.
Obviously, do a dry run on both sites first to check availability & prices. I'd also check that your outward Eurostar and ICE are indeed a recognised connection by checking that they appear together when you run a London to Cologne enquiry at www.bahn.de - read the paragraph in the previous section about the 20-minute connection in Brussels .
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Step 1, book the Eurostar from London to Brussels (and back, if returning) at www.eurostar.com and print your own ticket, or load it into the Eurostar app to show on your phone. Eurostar return fares are significantly less than two one-ways, so if you're coming back, make sure you book this as a round trip. After booking you can use the Eurostar Manage Booking system to select an exact seat on Eurostar.
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Step 2, book from Brussels to Berlin at the German Railways website www.bahn.de,
A return is simply two one-ways, so it makes no difference to the price whether you book a round trip or book one way at a time.
You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in and check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time. An advantage of booking direct with www.bahn.de is that you can select an exact seat on ICE trains from a seating plan.
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Step 3, still on www.bahn.de, now book from Berlin to Krakow for the following day and print your own ticket. You can adjust the connection time in Warsaw using the Adjust transfer time feature, or programme in a longer stopover (up to 48 hours) using the Stopover feature.
Have your trip arranged as a package
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Railbookers are a train travel specialist who can put together a UK-Poland 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 varied or customised to your requirements. As you're booking a package, they'll take care of you if anything happens to one part of the itinerary 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. 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 UK-Poland 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. They can build a one-way or return trip to your requirements if you email them or use this contact form. When you book, please say you heard about them from Seat 61.
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Escorted tours: If you'd like to travel with a convivial group of travellers escorted by a professional tour guide, the operators to check are Great Rail Journeys (www.greatrail.com, in the UK call 01904 527 120) and Rail Discoveries, www.raildiscoveries.com, 01904 730 727. Both have various escorted tours from the UK to Prague by train, with departures on a variety of dates.
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. Standard Premier and Business Premier fares include a light meal with wine (or breakfast, on departures before 11:00). There's a 30-minute minimum check-in at London St Pancras (45-minute minimum in Paris, Brussels & Amsterdam) as all border formalities are carried out before you board the train. More information about Eurostar including check-in procedure. St Pancras station guide. Brussels Midi station guide & short cut for changing trains in Brussels.
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A Eurostar e320 train. More about Eurostar. |
Standard Premier/Business Premier. Larger photo. |
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Standard class seats. Larger photo. |
One of two cafe-bars, in cars 8 & 9. Larger photo. |
2. Brussels to Cologne by ICE3...
Germany's superb ICEs have a bistro-restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. In 1st class, bistro orders are taken 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 information about ICE3. Brussels Midi station guide. Cologne Hbf station guide.
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An ICE3M to Cologne at Brussels Midi. More information about ICE. Advice on changing trains in Brussels. |
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2nd class seats on an ICE3M. Larger photo. |
1st class seats on an ICE3M. Larger photo. |
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Proper china, metal cutlery. I recommend the Erdinger Weissbier! See current month's menu. |
Restaurant car: This is the small 12-seat restaurant area on an ICE3M. Larger photo. |
3. Cologne to Berlin by ICE2...
ICE2 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 information about ICE2. Cologne Hbf station guide. Berlin Hbf station guide.
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2nd class seats. Larger photo. |
An ICE2 at Berlin Hbf... |
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Restaurant car. Larger photo. |
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Bar car. Larger photo. |
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Boarding an ICE2 at Berlin Hbf... |
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1st class seats. Larger photo. |
4. Berlin to Krakow by EuroCity train Wawel...
This comfortable air-conditioned train has a restaurant car. See the Berlin-Poland EuroCity page for more photos, tips & information.
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The Berlin-Krakow Wawel, boarding on platform 11 at Berlin Hbf with this 1st class car at the rear. |
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1st class is open-plan on the Wawel... |
2nd class. Some cars are open-plan like this... |
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Other 2nd class cars have compartments like this, with side corridor & 6-seat compartments. Click images for larger photos. |
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Restaurant car... |
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The bar. Larger photo. |
Decent food, served on proper china... |
Option 2: London to Krakow via Brussels & Prague
This takes a bit longer and involves a few more changes, but it can sometimes be the cheapest option. And it's pretty time-effective, taking just one daytime day out of your schedule at each end of your stay in Krakow, and might save you a hotel night or two in Krakow given the morning arrival and evening departure. With an evening in Brussels, dinner in Prague, and high-quality air-conditioned trains with a comfy sleeper at night, what's not to like?
London ► Krakow
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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 at 22:38, but by all means travel earlier for a pleasant evening in Brussels. Check times at www.eurostar.com.
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Stay overnight in Brussels. I recommend the excellent Pullman Hotel Brussels Midi which is an integral part of Brussels Midi station itself, or the inexpensive Ibis Brussels Midi just across the road.
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Day 2, travel from Brussels to Prague, leaving Brussels Midi at 08:25, changing at Frankfurt, Nuremberg & Cheb, arriving Prague Hlavni at 19:17.
The journey involves top quality high-speed ICE trains with bistro-restaurant Brussels-Frankfurt-Nuremberg and comfortable air-conditioned regional trains Nuremberg-Cheb-Prague. You've time for dinner in Prague. On Mondays-Saturdays you can leave Brussels two hours earlier if you like, at 06:24, for a longer evening in Prague. See the Brussels to Prague via Cheb page for more photos, tips & information.
Have dinner in Prague... The Restaurant Šalanda (www.restauracesalanda.cz) is at the station, just inside the modern station's main front entrance, but it gets so-so reviews. I recommend a 6 minute 550m walk to the Restaurant Zvonice (www.restaurantzvonice.cz) which gets great reviews, see walking map and see photos on the Prague Hlavni page. It's usually open until midnight, ideal if you're catching the sleeper. Feedback appreciated.
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Day 2, travel from Prague to Krakow by Czech sleeping-car, leaving Prague Hlavni at 22:13 every day, arriving Krakow Glowny at 05:44 next morning (day 3 from London).
The Czech Comfortline sleeping-car has cosy 1, 2 & 3-bed compartments with washbasin and several deluxe compartments with 1, 2 or 3 beds with en suite toilet & shower, see photos, tips & information on the Prague to Krakow page. There's also a couchette car with 4-berth & 6-berth compartments.
Alternatively, stay overnight in Prague and catch the daytime EuroCity train Cracovia from Prague to Krakow next morning (day 3), see timetable & information on the Prague to Krakow page. By all means stop off in Prague! Hotels with good reviews next to the station include the Esplanade Hotel (good choice, I've stayed there myself), Falkensteiner Hotel Maria, Chopin Hotel.
Krakow ► London
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Day 1, travel from Krakow to Prague by comfortable direct Czech sleeping-car, leaving Krakow Glowny at 22:44 and arriving at Prague Hlavni at 07:38 next morning (day 2).
The Czech Comfortline sleeping-car has cosy 1, 2 & 3-bed compartments with washbasin and several deluxe compartments with 1, 2 or 3 beds with en suite toilet & shower, see photos, tips & information on the Prague to Krakow page. There's also a couchette car with 4-berth & 6-berth compartments.
Alternatively, you could leave Krakow in the morning on the daytime EuroCity train Cracovia from to Prague, see dates of operation, timetable & information on the Prague to Krakow page. Then stay overnight in Prague, hotels with good reviews next to the station include the Esplanade Hotel (good choice, I've stayed there myself), Falkensteiner Hotel Maria, Chopin Hotel.
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Day 2, travel from Prague to Brussels, leaving Prague Hlavni 10:43, changing Cheb, Nuremburg & Frankfurt Flughafen, arriving Brussels Midi 21:35.
The journey involves comfortable regional trains Prague-Cheb-Nuremberg and top quality high-speed ICE trains with bistro-restaurant car Nuremberg-Frankfurt-Brussels. See the Brussels to Prague via Cheb page for more photos, tips & information.
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Stay overnight in Brussels. I recommend the excellent Pullman Hotel Brussels Midi which is an integral part of Brussels Midi station itself, or the inexpensive Ibis Brussels Midi just across the road.
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Day 3, travel from Brussels to London in 2h on any morning Eurostar you like.
The first train leaves Brussels Midi at 08:52 arriving London St Pancras 09:57, check times at www.eurostar.com.
How much does it cost?
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London to Brussels by Eurostar starts at £52 one-way or £78 return in standard class, £115 one-way, £199 return standard premier (1st class).
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Brussels to Prague starts at €46.90 each way 2nd class or €61.90 in 1st class.
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Prague to Krakow starts at €29 each way with couchette in 6-berth, €39 with couchette in 4-berth, €39 with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper or €49 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or around €75 with a single-bed sleeper all to yourself. However, it's a bit more complicated than that, see full details of costs on the Prague to Krakow by train page.
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Prague to Krakow on the daytime train Cracovia starts at just €15.
How to buy tickets
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Step 1, book from London to Brussels at www.eurostar.com. You print your own ticket or can show it in the Eurostar app on your phone.
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Step 2, book from Brussels to Prague at the German Railways website www.bahn.de. Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.
You'll see journeys via various routes, to specify this route click Stopover and enter Cheb as a via station, leaving duration zero.
You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets.
You can also book at the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz, in this case booking only opens up to 90 days ahead. If you are booking well in advance, I find www.bahn.de is often cheaper. Booked close to departure date, www.cd.cz is often cheaper.
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Step 3, now book the Prague to Krakow sleeper also at the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz - there's a knack to this, see full details of how to book this train on the Prague to Krakow by train page. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
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. Standard Premier and Business Premier fares include a light meal with wine (or breakfast, on departures before 11:00). There's a 30-minute minimum check-in at London St Pancras (45-minute minimum in Paris, Brussels & Amsterdam) as all border formalities are carried out before you board the train. More information about Eurostar including check-in procedure. St Pancras station guide. Brussels Midi station guide & short cut for changing trains in Brussels.
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A Eurostar e320 at St Pancras. More about Eurostar. |
Standard Premier/Business Premier. Larger photo. |
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Standard class seats. Larger photo. |
One of two cafe-bars, in cars 8 & 9. Larger photo. |
2. Brussels to Frankfurt & Frankfurt to Nuremberg by ICE...
Germany's superb ICEs have a bistro-restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. In 1st class, bistro orders are taken at your seat. The Brussels to Frankfurt train calls at Liège, where you can admire the impressive station designed by celebrity architect Santiago Calatrava, and at Cologne Hbf, where you'll see Cologne Cathedral to the right as you approach, right next to the station. Immediately after leaving Cologne Hbf, the train crosses the long Hohenzollern bridge over the Rhine before joining the 300km/h high-speed line to Frankfurt. More information about ICE3. Brussels Midi station guide. Frankfurt (Main) Hbf station guide.
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An ICE3M from Brussels at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf. More information about ICE. Advice on changing trains in Brussels. |
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2nd class seats on an ICE3M. Larger photo. |
1st class seats on an ICE3M. Larger photo. |
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Proper china, metal cutlery. I recommend the Erdinger Weissbier! See current month's menu. |
Restaurant car: This is the small 12-seat restaurant area on an ICE3M. Larger photo. |
3. Nuremberg to Cheb by regional train, Cheb to Prague by express train...
You'll find tips and more scenery & train photos on the Brussels to Prague via Cheb page
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The easy & relaxed interchange at Cheb station... The red train on the right is the German regional train arrived from Nuremberg. You cross to the blue Czech train on the left about to leave for Prague - although always check the departure boards as sometimes a faster train to Prague goes from an adjacent platform. More information on the Brussels to Prague via Cheb page. |
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Scenery between Nuremberg & Cheb, courtesy Arnaud Loneux |
Hills & forest between Cheb & Prague. Courtesy of Arnaud Loneux. |
4. Prague to Krakow by sleeper train...
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Prague to Krakow by sleeping-car. Above, the Czech sleeping-car to Krakow is boarding at Prague Hlavni. |
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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. Similar to a deluxe, without the shower & toilet. Larger photo. |
Deluxe sleepers are almost identical to standard ones, but with a compact shower & toilet. 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. |
Option 3: London to Krakow via the Brussels-Vienna sleeper
On paper this is a round about route. But because it involves a time-effective Nightjet sleeper direct from Brussels to Vienna, it's not only slightly quicker, you get a morning in Vienna in to the bargain. The Brussels-Vienna Nightjet runs 3 times a week.
London ► Krakow Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays
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Step 1, travel from London to Brussels by Eurostar, leaving London St Pancras at 15:04 and arriving in Brussels Midi at 18:05.
Eurostar is currently running a reduced service due to Covid-19, so check what Eurostar departures are available on your date of travel at www.thetrainline.com allowing at least 60 minutes in Brussels between trains.
Tip: At Brussels Midi, the Pullman Hotel bar makes an excellent VIP waiting room.
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Step 2, travel from Brussels to Vienna by Nightjet, leaving Brussels Midi at 19:32 on Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays, arriving Vienna Hbf 09:14.
This comfortable Austrian Nightjet sleeper train has an air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-car with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There are toilets & a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers. The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu. The train has couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment. See the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video.
The train travels along the famous Rhine Valley between Koblenz (23:46) and Mainz (00:39), so if you're still awake and your compartment happens to be on the left-hand side of the train, switch off the lights and watch the Rhine pass by, mountains, vineyards, castles & the legendary Lorelei Rock lit by moonlight. Wonderful!
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Step 3, travel from Vienna to Krakow, leaving Vienna Hbf at 14:10 by air-conditioned EuroCity train with restaurant car, changing at Katowice onto a Polish Intercity train arriving Krakow Glowny at 20:45. You have time for dinner between trains in Katowice.
Krakow ► London Tuesdays, Thursdays & Sundays
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Step 1, travel from Krakow to Vienna, leaving Krakow Glowny at 07:26 by regional train, changing at Katowice (with time for breakfast) onto an air-conditioned EuroCity train with restaurant car arriving Vienna Hbf at 13:49 You now have an afternoon in Vienna.
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Step 2, travel from Vienna to Brussels by Nightjet, leaving Vienna Hbf at 20:11 on Tuesdays, Thursdays & Sundays, arriving Brussels Midi 09:55.
This comfortable Austrian Nightjet sleeper train has an air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-car with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There are toilets & a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers. The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu. The train has couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment. See the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video.
Tip: If you have a ticket for a sleeper, you can use the ÖBB lounge at Vienna Hbf with complimentary refreshments & free WiFi.
Tip: On arrival at Brussels Midi, the Pullman Hotel bar makes an excellent VIP waiting room.
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Step 3, travel from Brussels to London by Eurostar, leaving Brussels Midi at 12:56 arriving London St Pancras at 14:00.
How much does it cost?
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1. London to Brussels by Eurostar |
From £52 one-way, £78 return 2nd class. From £115 one-way, £199 return 1st class. Child fares |
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2. Brussels to Vienna by Nightjet (per person, each way) |
In a seat |
In a couchette |
In the sleeping-car |
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6-berth |
4-berth |
3-berth |
2-berth |
1-berth |
3-berth + shower |
2-berth + shower |
1-berth + shower |
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Fares start at... |
€29.90 |
€49.90 |
€59.90 |
€89.90 |
€109.90 |
€159.90 |
€99.90 |
€139.90 |
€179.90 |
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3. Vienna to Krakow |
From €29.90 each way in 2nd class, €39.90 each way in 1st class. |
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How to buy tickets
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If you buy tickets at www.thetrainline.com you can buy the London-Vienna tickets together in one place, in plain English, international credit cards accepted and fares shown in multiple currencies. There's a small booking fee. Anyone from any country can use www.thetrainline.com.
Do a dry run first to check prices and availability for each stage before booking for real.
Fares are dynamic like air fares, so book early for the cheapest prices and avoid busy days such as Fridays or Sunday afternoons.
Booking for Eurostar & Nightjet usually opens up to 180 days ahead, see more information about when bookings open. Vienna-Poland trains may open as little as 60 days ahead, but there's no need to book this leg way in advance.
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Step 1, go to www.thetrainline.com and book your Eurostar from London to Brussels (and back, if returning) using the train times on this page as a guide. Add this to your basket. Never allow less than an hour in Brussels when connecting with a sleeper train.
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Step 2, now book the Nightjet sleeper from Brussels to Vienna & back, looking for the direct train with 0 changes. Add to basket & check out.
You print your own tickets. After booking you can use the Eurostar Manage Booking system to select an exact seat on Eurostar.
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Step 3, now go to Austrian Railways www.oebb.at and book the train from Vienna to Krakow & back. Tickets must be collected from an ÖBB ticket machine or ticket office in Vienna, they cannot be printed. This journey cannot be booked at Thetrainline.com.
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If you're travelling from a UK town or city north of London, see advice about buying domestic tickets to London to connect with Eurostar.
Another way to book tickets
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Alternatively, you can of course book direct with the operators without any booking fees, but this means more work. In all cases you print your own ticket, or can in some cases show it on your phone.
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Step 1, book the London-Brussels Eurostar at www.eurostar.com.
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Step 2, book the nightjet sleeper and Vienna-Budapest train at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at.
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Step 3, book the Vienna-Krakow ticket at www.oebb.at & collect in Vienna from an ÖBB machine or ticket office.
How to buy tickets by phone
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To buy tickets by phone, call International Rail on 0844 248 248 3, lines open 09:00-17:00 Monday-Friday. Overseas callers call +44 844 2482483. International Rail are equipped with both the French and German rail ticketing systems, so can offer the best prices all the trains between London and Hungary. They charge a £10 booking fee for bookings under £100, £20 for £100-£300, £30 above £300. In many cases tickets can be emailed to you as e-tickets, so there's no postage fee or delay.
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Alternatively, you can call Deutsche Bahn's UK phone line, 00 49 (0)30 311 68 29 04, lines open 08:30-20:00 Monday-Friday, 09:00-13:00 Saturday & Sunday UK time, 1.5% fee for phone bookings. Click here for more information on how to buy European train tickets.
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. Standard Premier and Business Premier fares include a light meal with wine (or breakfast, on departures before 11:00). There's a 30-minute minimum check-in at London St Pancras (45-minute minimum in Paris, Brussels & Amsterdam) as all border formalities are carried out before you board the train. More information about Eurostar including check-in procedure. St Pancras station guide. Brussels Midi station guide. In Brussels, I recommend using the Pullman Hotel bar as your VIP waiting room.
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A Eurostar e320 at St Pancras. More about Eurostar. |
Standard Premier/Business Premier. Larger photo. |
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Standard class seats. Larger photo. |
One of two cafe-bars, in cars 8 & 9. Larger photo. |
2. Brussels to Vienna by Nightjet: See the Nightjet guide...
This is an Austrian Railways (ÖBB) Nightjet train, with sleeping-car, couchettes & seats. The sleeping-car has 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, plus three deluxe compartments with 1, 2 or 3 beds with private shower & toilet. The sleeper berths come fully made up with sheets and duvets, all sleeper passengers get mineral water in the evening and a light breakfast served in their compartment next morning. Towels & toiletries are provided, including shampoo and shower gel in the deluxe sleepers. In the more economical couchettes, you can book a couchette in a cheaper 6-berth compartment or a less-crowded 4-berth compartment, each provided with sheet, blanket, pillow & small bottle of water, and couchette passengers get a tea or coffee in the morning. When waiting for the northbound sleeper train in Vienna, if you have booked a sleeper you can use the ÖBB lounge with complimentary refreshments. More pictures & information about Nightjet trains.
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On 20 January 2020, the inaugural Nightjet left Brussels for Vienna, the first scheduled sleeper train to leave Brussels in 16 years. Above, that inaugural train is seen ready to leave Brussels Midi on 20 January - naturally, the Man in Seat 61 was on board! |
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Deluxe sleeper. Each compartment can be used as a 1, 2 or 3-bed room. Larger photo. Video of deluxe room |
The same deluxe sleeper in evening/morning mode with beds folded away, seats folded out. Larger photo. |
Deluxe rooms have a compact shower & toilet, towels & hair/body wash provided. Larger photo. |
Standard sleeper set up as 2-berth, washstand open. It can be used as a 1, 2 or 3 berth. Larger photo. |
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6-berth couchettes... |
4-berth couchettes... |
Couchette car on the Brussels-Vienna Nightjet... |
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As night falls, the sleeper train speeds along the Rhine Valley. Above, crossing the Rhine at Mainz... |
3. Vienna to Katowice by EuroCity train, Katowice to Krakow by regional train...
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A EuroCity train from Vienna to Katowice & Warsaw, at Vienna Hbf. Change at Katowice for Krakow. The green stripe above the windows indicates 2nd class. Yellow indicates first class. Red indicates the restaurant car. Courtesy of Jennifer Delaney. |
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Polish restaurant car on a EuroCity train between Warsaw & Vienna. Courtesy of www.discoverbyrail.com. |
Breakfast in the restaurant car between Vienna & Warsaw. Courtesy www.discoverbyrail.com. |
London to Oswiecim (Auschwitz)
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If you are visiting the museum at Oswiecim, better known by its infamous Germanic name, Auschwitz, you travel to Krakow as shown above then take a local train. Regular local trains link Krakow Glowny with Oswiecim every hour or two, see www.bahn.de" to check train times.
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Once in Oswiecim, there are two camps to visit:
Auschwitz I was an ex-Polish army barracks in the town itself about 20 minutes walk from the station -turn right outside the station then veer left.
Auschwitz-Birkenau II was a purpose-built concentration camp a little way out of town, about 25 minutes walk from the station (turn right, then turn right again at the first major road bridge across the railway). There are also regular buses between Krakow and Oswiecim, see www.busy-krk.pl/en/how-to-get-to-auschwitz.php.
London to Łódź
Łódź is pronounced 'wooch' or 'woodge' and it's one of Poland's largest cities. It's easy to reach by train...
London ► Łódź
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Day 1, travel from London to Berlin by Eurostar & luxurious German ICE train as shown on the London to Germany page. You can use any option you like, for example you can leave London St Pancras at 11:04 and arrive Berlin Hbf at 21:15.
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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.
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Day 2, travel from Berlin to Łódź by train leaving Berlin Hbf at 09:51 by Berlin-Warsaw EuroCity train, change at Kutno & arrive Łódź Kaliska 15:47. Check times for your date of travel at www.bahn.de.
Łódź ► London
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Day 1, travel from Łódź to Berlin by train, leaving Łódź Kaliska at 12:07, changing at Kutno and arriving Berlin Hbf at 18:07. Check times for your date of travel at www.bahn.de.
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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.
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Day 2, travel from Berlin to London as shown on the London to Germany page. You can use any option you like, for example you can leave Berlin Hbf at 06:46 and reach London St Pancras at 16:57, or at 10:46 daily except Saturdays reaching London at 19:57.
Fares & how to buy tickets
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For fares & how to buy tickets from London to Berlin, see the London to Germany page.
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Berlin to Łódź costs from €29.90 each way booked in advance. Buy tickets online at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.
London to Wroclaw
Option 1, by daytime trains with overnight stop in Berlin
London ► Wroclaw
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Day 1, travel from London to Berlin using any of the options shown on the London to Germany page.
Leave London St Pancras at 08:55 by Eurostar, change at Brussels Midi & Cologne Hbf onto high-speed ICE trains arriving Berlin Hbf 19:15.
Leave London St Pancras at 11:04 by Eurostar, change at Brussels Midi & Cologne Hbf onto high-speed ICE trains arriving Berlin Hbf 21:15.
Eurostar has a cafe-bar, ICE trains have a restaurant car, all these trains have power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
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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.
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Day 2, travel from Berlin to Wroclaw by EuroCity train Wawel, leaving Berlin Hbf at 10:52 arriving Wroclaw Glowny at 14:50.
Fares start at €27.90, check times & buy tickets at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.
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Alternatively, spend the day exploring Berlin, then take the direct train leaving Berlin Hbf at 18:52 arriving Wroclaw Glowny at 22:53. This train consists of EuroCity seating cars attached to the night express to Vienna & Budapest.
Wroclaw ► London
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Day 1, travel from Wroclaw to Berlin by direct EuroCity train Wawel, leaving Wroclaw Glowny at 13:09 and arriving Berlin Hbf 17:05.
Fares start at €27.90, check times & buy tickets at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.
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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.
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Day 2, travel from Berlin to London using any service shown on the London to Germany page. For example:
Leave Berlin Hbf at 06:46, change at Cologne Hbf & Brussels Midi, arriving London St Pancras at 16:57.
Leave Berlin Hbf at 10:46, change at Cologne Hbf & Brussels Midi, arriving London St Pancras at 19:57.
Eurostar has a cafe-bar, ICE trains have a restaurant car, all these trains have power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Option 2, by daytime trains with overnight stop in Dresden...
London ► Wroclaw
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Day 1, travel from London to Dresden by Eurostar and connecting trains, for times, fares & how to buy tickets see the London to Dresden section on the Germany page.
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Stay overnight in Dresden. Find hotel near the station in Dresden.
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Day 2, travel from Dresden to Wroclaw Glowny (= main station) by local train. There are several a day, journey time 3h55, look up times at www.bahn.de. No reservation is necessary or possible, just buy a ticket at the station and hop on. The fare is likely to be around €35.
Wroclaw ► London
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Day 1, travel from Wroclaw to Dresden on one of several daily local trains, journey 3h55. Look up times at www.bahn.de. No reservation is necessary or possible, just buy a ticket at the station and hop on. Fare likely to be around €35.
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Stay overnight in Dresden. Find hotel near the station in Dresden.
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Day 2, travel from Dresden to London by ICE trains and Eurostar, for times, fares & how to buy tickets see the London to Dresden section on the Germany page.
London ► Szczecin, Gdansk, Gdynia
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Day 1, travel from London to Berlin using any of the options shown on the London to Germany page. For example:
Leave London St Pancras at 08:55 by Eurostar, change at Brussels Midi & Cologne Hbf onto high-speed ICE trains arriving Berlin Hbf 19:15.
Leave London St Pancras at 11:04 by Eurostar, change at Brussels Midi & Cologne Hbf onto high-speed ICE trains arriving Berlin Hbf 21:15.
Eurostar has a cafe-bar, ICE trains have a restaurant car, all these trains have power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
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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.
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Day 2, travel from Berlin to Gdansk or Gydnia by EuroCity train, leaving Berlin Hbf 12:52, arriving Gdansk Glowny 18:24 & Gdynia Glowna 18:51.
A restaurant car is available for lunch, treat yourself to an inexpensive meal and a beer or two. See the Berlin-Warsaw EuroCity page, as this is one of those same trains.
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For Szczecin, there are regular trains every hour or two from Berlin Lichtenburg to Szczecin Glowny, journey time 1h49 to 3h30, just use www.bahn.de to find train times & tickets for your date of travel. You can also go from Berlin Hbf to Szczecin with one change en route, see www.bahn.de.
Gdynia, Gdansk, Szczecin ► London
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Day 1, travel from Gydnia or Gdansk to Berlin by EuroCity train, leaving Gdynia Glowna at 09:07 or Gdansk Glowny at 09:32 and arriving Berlin Hbf at 15:05. A restaurant car is available for breakfast and lunch, treat yourself!
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From Szczecin, there are regular trains to Berlin every hour or two usually with one simple change, journey time 2h30 to 3h30, just use www.bahn.de to find train times & tickets for your date of travel.
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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.
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Day 2, travel from Berlin to London using any service shown on the London to Germany page. For example:
Leave Berlin Hbf at 06:46, change at Cologne Hbf & Brussels Midi, arriving London St Pancras at 16:57.
Leave Berlin Hbf at 10:46, change at Cologne Hbf & Brussels Midi, arriving London St Pancras at 19:57.
Eurostar has a cafe-bar, ICE trains have a restaurant car, all these trains have power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Fares & how to buy tickets
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For fares & how to buy tickets from London to Berlin, see the London to Germany page.
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Berlin to Gdansk costs from €27.90 in 2nd class or €59.90 in 1t class booked in advance at www.bahn.de.
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Berlin to Szczecin costs €30.70 each way if you book online at www.bahn.de. However, if you wait until you reach Berlin, you can use the self-service machines to buy a Berlin-Stettin ticket for just €10, valid from any Berlin urban area station to any rail station, tram or bus stop in the Szczecin urban area, on any train including IC and EC trains. You should select Stettin, not Szczecin, as your destination on the machines to see the Berlin-Stettin ticket appear.
London to Zakopane
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To reach Zakopane at the foot of the famous Tatra mountains, first travel from London to Krakow using any of the options shown in the London to Krakow section above.
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Then travel from Krakow to Zakopane by train, using www.bahn.de to find train times. There's a train every few hours, journey time is about 3 hours 30 minutes, and it's a very scenic run. You can buy a Krakow to Zakopane ticket at the station in Krakow. You can also check times at www.intercity.pl.
London to Poland via Harwich - Hoek van Holland
The ferry alternative! You might prefer train & ferry to reach Poland, for example to avoid the Channel Tunnel if there are problems with Eurostar or if you suffer from claustrophobia. This route is also handy if you live in East Anglia as you can travel direct to Harwich avoiding London (there's a direct Cambridge to Harwich train connecting with the overnight ferry). Indeed, you may simply prefer to cruise overnight on the Stena Line superferry in a luxury en suite cabin with shower, toilet & satellite TV, then take onward trains to Poland, see the video. And if you need to travel at short notice when Eurostar is expensive, the rail & sail option can still be affordable.
London, Cambridge & Harwich ► Warsaw, Krakow
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Day 1, travel from London to Amsterdam overnight by Stena Line Rail & Sail...
You leave London Liverpool Street at 18:45 Mondays-Fridays, 19:36 Saturdays or 20:00 Sundays by direct train to Harwich International.
You leave Cambridge at 19:47 Mondays-Saturdays or 19:45 on Sundays by direct train to Harwich International.
At Harwich, the station is right next to the ferry terminal, you simply walk off the train into the terminal, through a simple security & passport check, check in at the Stena Line desk to get your boarding card & cabin key, then straight onto the Stena Line ferry to Hoek van Holland.
The ferry sails at 23:00 and arrives at Hoek van Holland at 08:00 Dutch time next morning.
All passengers travel in cosy private cabins with en suite toilet & shower, satellite TV & free WiFi. Deluxe Comfort class & Captains class cabins are also available. You can have a late dinner in the restaurant and settle into your cabin.
Day 2, take the frequent metro train from Hoek van Holland Haven to Schiedam Centrum and change onto a Dutch intercity train arriving Amsterdam Centraal at 10:25, see the Stena Line Rail & Sail page for full details.
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Day 2, travel from Amsterdam to Berlin by Intercity train, leaving Amsterdam Centraal at 13:00 & arriving Berlin Hbf at 19:25.
Or spend some time exploring Amsterdam and take a later train, the 15:00 from Amsterdam arrives in Berlin at 21:25. Left luggage lockers are available at Amsterdam Centraal.
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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.
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Day 3 for Warsaw, take a EuroCity train from Berlin to Warsaw, see the timetable here.
The first one leaves Berlin Hbf at 05:52 Mondays-Saturdays arriving Warsaw Centralna at 11:16, or have a leisurely breakfast and take the daily 09:51 arriving at 15:22. A restaurant car is available, treat yourself to lunch and a beer or two...
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Day 3 for Krakow & Wroclaw, travel from Berlin to Wroclaw & Krakow by EuroCity train Wawel.
This leaves Berlin Hbf at 10:52 & arriving Wroclaw 14:50, Katowice 16:58 & Krakow Glowny 18:01.
The EuroCity train Wawel is a comfortable air-conditioned Polish train with restaurant car serving drinks, snacks and full meals. Treat yourself to an inexpensive meal and a beer or two in the restaurant car!
Krakow, Warsaw ► Harwich, Cambridge & London
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Day 1 from Krakow & Wroclaw: Travel from Krakow to Berlin by EuroCity train Wawel, leaving Krakow Glowny at 10:09, Katowice 11:06 or Wroclaw 13:09 arriving Berlin Hbf at 17:05. EuroCity train Wawel is a comfortable air-conditioned Polish train with restaurant car serving drinks, snacks & meals.
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Day 1 from Warsaw: Travel from Warsaw to Berlin by EuroCity train. Daily except Saturdays you can leave Warsaw Centralna at 16:32 and arrive Berlin Hbf at 22:05. Or on any day of the week you can leave Warsaw Centralna at 12:32 and arrive Berlin Hbf 18:07. A restaurant car is available serving drinks, snacks & meals.
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.
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Day 2, from Berlin to Amsterdam by Intercity train, leaving Berlin Hbf at 08:33 and arriving Amsterdam Centraal 14:49, or take the 10:33 arriving 16:49.
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Day 2, travel from Amsterdam to London overnight by Stena Line Rail & Sail.
You take the 18:35 train from Amsterdam Centraal to Schiedam Centrum and change onto the frequent metro train to Hoek van Holland Haven. At Hoek, the metro station is right next to the ferry terminal. Check in at the Stena Line desk, walk onto the ferry & sail overnight to Harwich.
The ferry sails at 22:00 and arrives at Harwich International at 06:30 next morning, UK time.
All passengers travel in cosy private cabins with en suite toilet & shower, satellite TV & free WiFi. Deluxe Comfort class & Captains class cabins are also available. You can have a late dinner in the restaurant and settle into your cabin.
Day 3, take a train from Harwich to London Liverpool Street arriving around 08:54, or from Harwich to Cambridge arriving 09:41 (10:39 on Sundays). See the Stena Line Rail & Sail page for full details.
How much does it cost?
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London to Hoek van Holland by Rail & Sail starts at £55 per person each way, plus cabin.
Cabins start at £34 for a single berth cabin or £45 per cabin for a 2-berth, and are compulsory on the night sailing. For full details of fares and cabin types and costs, see the Stena Line Rail & Sail page.
Hoek to Schiedam by metro costs around €4.
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Schiedam Centrum to Warsaw by train starts at €37.90 each way in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.
How to buy tickets
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Step 1, buy a Stena Line Rail & Sail ticket from London to Hoek van Holland online as shown on the Stena Line Rail & Sail page.
Buy the onward metro ticket to Schiedam Centrum as shown on that page.
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Step 2, book your trains from Schiedam Centrum to Warsaw & back at the German Railways website www.bahn.de like this:
To get a through ticket from Schiedam Centrum to Warsaw or Krakow with (a) a decent connection in Amsterdam and (b) an overnight stop in Berlin, enter Schiedam Centrum to Warsaw Centralna or Krakow Glowny, click Stopover, enter Amsterdam Centraal as a first via station with a stopover duration of 1 hour, then enter Berlin Hbf as a second via station with a stopover duration of (say) 14 hours.
Adjust the stopover duration and departure time as necessary to get the trains you want between Schiedam, Amsterdam & Berlin and (the following morning) Berlin & Poland. It also helps to click Type of transport and change admit changes to direct connections for each of the 3 sectors, Schiedam to Amsterdam, Amsterdam to Berlin and Berlin to Krakow or Warsaw.
Incidentally, even train-specific Sparpreis or Supersparpreis tickets are usually good for any train you like on the Dutch domestic Schiedam-Amsterdam part of the journey, so you can use any train on this sector, not just the one shown on your ticket.
If can't get your head around all this, simply book Schiedam-Amsterdam as a separate ticket at the Dutch Railways website www.ns.nl, then use the German Railways website www.bahn.de to book an Amsterdam-Berlin ticket, then use it again to book a Berlin-Warsaw ticket for the following day. Although this will cost a more, indeed, Schiedam-Warsaw often costs exactly the same as Amsterdam-Warsaw, saving you €17 straight away
What's the journey like?
Step 1, London to Amsterdam by train & ferry...
A train takes you from London's Liverpool Street station 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 superferry Stena Britannica is the largest ferry of its 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 from London to Holland is explained in detail on the Stena Line Rail & Sail page. See the video...
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Captain's Class cabin on the Harwich-Hoek ferry with double bed, complimentary minibar with sparkling wine, tea & coffee making facilities, hairdryer. Larger photo. |
Boarding the Stena Britannica at Harwich. She's a floating hotel to Hoek van Holland, with easy rail connections on either side of the Channel. Restaurants, bars, shop, kennels, cinema... |
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Dinner before bed? Metropolitan à la carte restaurant. |
Standard outside cabin. Larger photo. 360º photo. |
Step 2, Amsterdam to Berlin by Intercity train...
You then take a comfortable Intercity train from Amsterdam Centraal to Berlin Hbf. See the Amsterdam to Berlin InterCity page for photos, tips, and what to see along the way.
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A German Intercity train. More information about Intercity trains. |
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Dinner in the bistro. The beef ribs were delicious... |
Bistro car. See current month's menu... |
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2nd class seating is usually in open-plan saloons like this, most seats unidirectional, but with some tables for 4. Sometimes you'll find 2nd class compartment cars with side corridor and ten 6-seat compartments Larger photo. |
Step 3, Berlin to Warsaw or Krakow by EuroCity train...
These comfortable air-conditioned trains have a restaurant car. See the Berlin-Warsaw EuroCity page for more photos, tips & information.
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This is the Berlin-Krakow Wawel, boarding on platform 11 at Berlin Hbf... |
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1st class seats on the Berlin-Krakow Wawel... |
2nd class seats. Some are in compartments. |
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Restaurant car... |
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The bar... |
Decent food, served on proper china... |
If you live in the North of England or Scotland, the fastest option is to take a train up to London and travel from London to Poland using Eurostar as described above. If you choose this option, see this advice on buying cheap connecting train tickets to London. But there are some useful ferry alternatives which allow you to by-pass London, and spend a day in Amsterdam on the way. DFDS Seaways run an excellent daily overnight cruise ferry from Newcastle to Amsterdam, and P&O Ferries run a daily overnight cruise ferry from Hull to Rotterdam. So take the overnight ferry to Holland, head onwards by train to Berlin, and after an evening and night in the German capital, hop on a morning train to Poland!
Scotland & North ► Warsaw, Krakow
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Day 1, take a train to either 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/train connection to Amsterdam Centraal. The ferry has bars, restaurants & cosy en suite cabins. For details of schedule, fares & tickets, 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 of schedule, fares & tickets see the Newcastle-Amsterdam page.
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Day 2, spend the rest of the day in Amsterdam, all the sights are an easy walk from Amsterdam Centraal. Left luggage lockers are available.
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Day 2, travel from Amsterdam to Berlin by Intercity train, leaving Amsterdam Centraal at 15:00 & arriving Berlin Hbf at 21:22.
Or take an earlier train and enjoy an evening in Berlin, the 13:00 arrives 19:22. The Reichstag is only 10 minutes walk from Berlin Hbf, the Brandenburg Gate just 15 minutes walk.
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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.
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Day 3 for Warsaw, take a EuroCity train from Berlin to Warsaw, see the timetable here.
The first one leaves Berlin Hbf at 05:52 Mondays-Saturdays arriving Warsaw Centralna at 11:16, or have a leisurely breakfast and take the daily 09:51 arriving at 15:22. A restaurant car is available, treat yourself to lunch and a beer or two...
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Day 3 for Krakow, travel from Berlin to Krakow by EuroCity train Wawel.
You leave Berlin Hbf at 10:52 & arriving Wroclaw 14:50, Katowice 16:58 & Krakow Glowny 18:01.
The EuroCity train Wawel is a comfortable air-conditioned Polish train with a restaurant car serving drinks, snacks and full meals. Treat yourself to an inexpensive meal and a beer or two in the restaurant car!
Krakow, Warsaw ► Scotland & North
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Day 1 from Krakow: Travel from Krakow to Berlin by EuroCity train Wawel, leaving Krakow Glowny at 10:09 or Katowice 11:06, arriving Berlin Hbf at 17:05. EuroCity train Wawel is a comfortable air-conditioned Polish train with a restaurant car serving drinks, snacks & meals.
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Day 1 from Warsaw: Travel from Warsaw to Berlin by EuroCity train. Daily except Saturdays you can leave Warsaw Centralna at 16:32 and arrive Berlin Hbf 22:05. On any day of the week you can leave Warsaw Centralna at 12:32 and arrive Berlin Hbf 18:07. A restaurant car is available serving drinks, snacks & meals.
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.
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Day 2, travel from Berlin to Amsterdam by Intercity train, leavings Berlin Hbf at 08:33 arriving Amsterdam Centraal 14:49.
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Day 2, travel overnight by cruise ferry from Rotterdam to Hull with P&O Ferries or from IJmuiden (near Amsterdam) to Newcastle with DFDS Seaways, whichever is most convenient for you. Next morning (day 4) transfer to the station and take a train home.
For details of timetables, fares & how to buy tickets from Amsterdam to the UK via these ferry routes, see the Hull-Rotterdam page or the Newcastle-Amsterdam page.
Fares & how to buy tickets
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Step 1, check the ferry times and buy your ferry ticket at www.dfds.co.uk (Newcastle-Amsterdam) or www.poferries.com (Hull-Rotterdam).
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Step 2, check train fares and buy a train ticket from your local station to Hull or Newcastle online as shown on the UK page or using www.nationalrail.co.uk.
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Step 3, Amsterdam to Warsaw by train starts at €37.90 each way in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class. Book this at www.bahn.de as follows:
To get Amsterdam to Warsaw or Krakow with an overnight stop in Berlin, enter Amsterdam Centraal to Warsaw Centralna or Krakow Glowny, then click Stopover and enter Berlin Hbf as a via station with a stopover duration of (say) 14 hours. I've set this link up for you, just enter your date of travel and number of passengers. Adjust the stopover duration and departure time as necessary to get the trains you want between Amsterdam & Berlin and (the following morning) Berlin & Poland.
If can't get your head around this, just use www.bahn.de to book Amsterdam-Berlin as one ticket and then Berlin-Poland as another ticket next day, although that usually costs a bit more.
What's the journey like?
Step 1, Newcastle to Amsterdam (DFDS) or Hull to Rotterdam (P&O) by overnight cruise ferry...
Both ferries have 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 station next morning. If travelling with P&O from Hull, a transfer bus takes you from Rotterdam Europoort ferry terminal to Rotterdam Centraal, from where frequent Dutch trains run to Utrecht.
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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. |
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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, Amsterdam to Berlin by Intercity train: You then take a comfortable Intercity train from Amsterdam Centraal to Berlin Hbf. See the Amsterdam to Berlin InterCity page for photos, tips, and what to see along the way.
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A German Intercity train. More information about Intercity trains. |
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Dinner in the bistro. The beef ribs were delicious... |
Bistro car. See current month's menu... |
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2nd class seating is usually in open-plan saloons like this, most seats unidirectional, but with some tables for 4. Sometimes you'll find 2nd class compartment cars with side corridor and ten 6-seat compartments Larger photo. |
Step 3, Berlin to Warsaw by EuroCity train...
These comfortable air-conditioned trains have a restaurant car. See the Berlin-Warsaw EuroCity page for more information.
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This is the Berlin-Krakow Wawel, boarding on platform 11 at Berlin Hbf... |
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1st class seats on the Berlin-Krakow Wawel... |
2nd class open-plan seats. Some are in compartments. |
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Restaurant car... |
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The bar... |
Decent food, served on proper china... |
It's not difficult to buy train tickets for domestic journeys within Poland online or at the station ticket office. It can help to write down what you want, in case staff don't speak extensive English. UK agencies such as DB's English-speaking phone line on 00 49 (0)30 311 68 29 04 (open 08:30-17:00 Monday-Friday, 09:00-13:00 Saturday & Sunday) can usually get you reservations on international trains starting in Poland. However, if they have problems, or if you want to see if buying locally would be cheaper, try contacting the following agency in Poland:
Buy Polish domestic tickets at www.intercity.pl
You can book Polish inter-city train tickets (but not international ones except to Berlin) online at the Polish Railways InterCity website, www.intercity.pl. At www.intercity.pl the English button is top right, and you'll need to use the Polish spellings of Krakow and Warszawa. You pay online with a credit card and print out your own ticket. Many seat61 correspondents have reported success buying self-print tickets for Polish trains this way, using UK and Dutch credit cards.
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Or use Polish train ticketing agency www.polrail.com
Polish train ticketing agency www.polrail.com comes highly recommended if you want to arrange train tickets within Poland in advance, or book international train tickets starting in Poland, for example, from Warsaw to Prague, Vienna, Budapest, Moscow, Kyiv, Lviv or Vilnius, or from Krakow to Prague, Budapest or Vienna, etc.. You should arrange tickets between 10 & 60 days before travel (Polish train reservations open 60 days before departure, but 10 days is necessary for the agency to buy and send tickets). Tickets can be couriered to your home address in any country, or they can arrange ticket collection within Poland, for example, at your hotel. If you use their services, feedback is always welcome!
Check any Polish train time at rozklad.sitkol.pl
A recommended journey planner for all Polish trains, including local ones (for example, those linking Krakow with Oswiecim (Auschwitz) see rozklad.sitkol.pl/bin/query.exe/en.
Definitely take a good guidebook. For the independent traveller, I think this means one of two guidebooks, either the Lonely Planet or the Rough Guide. Both series are excellent. You can buy an in-depth guide for Poland or a guide covering all the countries in Eastern Europe.
Click the images to buy online at Amazon.co.uk
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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).
Hotels in Poland
In Warsaw: Polonia Palace & Hotel Bristol
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The Polonia Palace Hotel is a top choice for Warsaw, just across the road from Warsaw Centralna station and from the Palace of Culture skyscraper, 25 minutes walk from Warsaw's old town. Opened in 1913, it was one of the few hotels to emerge unscathed from WW2, and has been used by many famous people including General (later President) Eisenhower and General de Gaulle. It provides very high quality rooms at what by western standards is a budget price. I thoroughly enjoyed my own stay there, in a room with a great view of the Palace of Culture, and so handy for the station. Check prices & book.
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Warsaw's most prestigious and historic luxury hotel is the Hotel Bristol, opened in 1901 right next to the old town. It also survived the bombing of the old town in WW2, being used as the German HQ. Hotel Bristol is 27 minutes walk from Warsaw Centralna, but only 8 minutes walk from Warsaw old town square. Check prices & book
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A double room at the Polonia Palace... |
The Polonia Palace from the viewing terrace of the Palace of Culture. |
In Krakow...
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At the top end, the 5-star Hotel Bonerowski Palace is housed in a historic building right on the old town square itself. The 5-star Hotel Stary is also on the old town square, and features a spa and a roof-top terrace. Both get great reviews, and would be top choice.
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The 4-star Hotel Francuski is in the old town on the side closest to the station, 9 minutes walk from Krakow Glowny and 8 minutes walk from the old town square. It boasts free WiFi, art nouveau grandeur and gets great reviews. The Hotel Unicus & Hotel Imperial are not far from the Hotel Francuski and similarly priced.
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For something cheaper, try the 3-star Hotel Europejski, 6 minutes walk from the station and 8 minutes from Krakow's old town square, or the 3-star Hotel Polonia, 5 minutes walk from the new station, directly across the road from the old station.
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For budget rooms, try B&B La Fontaine which is also well-located for both station and old town, or the Bubble Hotel which offers budget rooms and cheap beds in shared rooms.
In Gdansk: Craft Beer Hotel
The Craft Beer Hotel is located in the city centre, next to the railway station and 200m from the old town hall. It's a historic building which - as the name suggests - includes a craft beer brewery. Look no further!
Backpacker hostels: www.hostelworld.com...
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.
Tours & holidays to Poland by train
 0207 864 4600 (UK) 1-888-829-4775 (USA) 1-855-882-2910 (Canada) 1300 971 526 (Aus) 0800 000 554 (NZ) |
If you want a holiday to Krakow or Warsaw by train not plane, but want someone else to organise all the train tickets & hotels for you, one specialist company can do just that, for a holiday with no airport hassles and no long days in cramped coach seats on motorways.
Railbookers for tours, holidays & breaks to Krakow & Poland by train...
Railbookers are a train travel specialist who can put together a tour or holiday for you as a package, including rail travel, hotels & transfers. On their website you'll find a range of suggested tours & holidays which can be varied or customised to your own requirements. And as you're booking a package, they'll take care of you if anything happens to one part of the itinerary such as a strike or delay. They get very positive reviews. For example, they suggest a 6 night trip from London to Krakow, Warsaw & Berlin.
UK call 0207 864 4600,
www.railbookers.co.uk.
US call free 1-888-829-4775,
see
website.
Canada call free 1-855-882-2910,
see website.
Australia call toll-free 1300 971 526,
see website.
New Zealand call 0800 000 554 or
see
website.
Travel insurance & VPN
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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 use an annual policy 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.
You
can use
www.confused.com to compare prices & policy features across
major insurance companies.
If you live in the USA try
Travel Guard USA.
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Curve card saves foreign transaction fees...
Banks often give a poor exchange rate, then charge a currency conversion fee as well. 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 balance 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 app for iPhone or Android. 2. Enter your details & they'll send you a Curve MasterCard - they send to most European addresses including the UK. 3. Link your existing credit & debit cards to the app. 4. Now use the Curve MasterCard to buy things online or in person or take cash from ATMs, just like a normal MasterCard. Curve does the currency conversion and puts the balance onto whichever of your debit or credit cards you choose. You can even change your mind about which card it goes onto, within 14 days of the transaction.
I use a Curve Blue card myself - I get a little commission if you sign up to Curve, but I'm recommending 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, too.
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Get a VPN for safe browsing. VPNs & why you need one explained...
When you're travelling you often use free WiFi in public places which may not be secure. A VPN means your connection to the internet is encrypted & always secure, even using unsecured WiFi. In countries such as China where access to Twitter & Facebook is restricted, a VPN gets around these restrictions. And lastly, you can select the geographic location of the IP address you browse with, to get around geographic restrictions which some websites apply - for example one booking site charges a booking fee to non-European visitors but none to European visitors, so if you're not located in Europe you can avoid this fee by browsing with a UK IP address using a VPN. VPNs & why you need one explained. ExpressVPN is a best buy and I use it myself - I've signed up as an ExpressVPN affiliate, and if you go with expressvpn.com using the links on this page, you should see a special deal, 3 months free with an annual subscription, and I get a small commission to help support this site.
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Carry an Anker powerbank...
With tickets, reservations, vaccination records and Interrail or Eurail passes now often held digitally on your mobile phone, it's vital to keep it charged. I recommend carrying an Anker powerbank which can recharge your phone several times over if you can't get to a power outlet when you're on the move. I never travel without one.