Trains to Prague from Munich

cant see this really being an issue! maybe if u somehow fall out of a window in the train, get sucked under the moving train and land face first in a big pile of human shit. but to be honest that would be more preferably to falling out the window and getting hit by a signal or landing on a fence nor is it worse than actually being run over by the train as in all those cases you would probaby be dead. I guess it is abit worrisome if u have a habit of drinking the water in a toilet - i mean THEN i coud imagine ur horror when u lift the toilet seat, lean forward and no sooner than u stick ur tongue out it gets ripped off at 70mph and the rest of ur body is covering the last half mile of track...now if thats the case then i can understand ur but really i am abit about ur habits!!

the only problem with the open toilet is when you stand there swaying gently in the breeze of several beers, staring down at your stream of piss whipping off down the track somewhere behind you. can be somewhat mesmerizing and cause a temporary trance, which could be nasty if you were very skinny and fell down said toilet.

Some Germany Trains are also like this...

Has anyone driven to Prague?

1. How long does it take?
2. Do insurance policies (generally) cover you for driving there?
3. Is parking/leaving your car there over the weekend a problem?

If you haven't got a lot of luggage Hlavni Nadrazi train station to Florenc bus station is a 15 minute walk.

Turn right out of the station main entrance and its left right left right..
You can also take the metro, it's 3 stops and one change iirc.

As for the train toilets: natural human waste hitting the ground at speed, it decomposes fairly quickly and is enviromentally friendly.

You can be faster in the car, but I'd train it to Prague.

Yes, allow more time if you're carrying an elephant.

Last time I was there, and according to the Prague metro website ( http://www.dp-praha.cz/en/ ), it is one stop from the main railway station (hlavni nadrazi) to Florenc. Just be careful whom you talk to in the main railway station. Dodgy types hang out there who try to get you to change money with them (never ever do that, they cheat you with invalid currency), and pickpockets.

@satman: Yes, I drive regularly to Prague. Since 1982 actually (before then I didn't have a car and took the train or flew).
1. Pure driving time is about 3.5 to 4 hours, but I usually allow 5 hours door to door. This is due to: jams on the Nürnberg autobahn getting out of Munich; queues at the border (there are about 6 lanes, but I've only ever seen one open at any time); messing around at the border (you'll see what I mean); tanking up (petrol is a bit cheaper in Czecho); messing around in Plzen (Prazdroj brewery and 24-hour Tesco).
2. Sure, should do. There was a time when you weren't insured to take a hire car in, but I don't think that applies anymore. Check with your insurer if you're unsure.
3. Sure. My car has been broken into or damaged several times. Overnight I generally leave my car in guarded parking. The one I use costs CZK 20 per hour, so 8 hours is 160, which is about € 5.50. Maybe your hotel will have guarded parking, even the Travellers Hostel ( http://www.travellers.cz/en/welcome.php ) has locked parking.

Couple more things:

The line from Hlavni Nadrazi to Florenc is the red-coloured one, and you want to head north, direction "Ladvi".

The other thing is, just what is this fascination that Brits have with toilets? Surely not every Brit went to public school and was slapped with wet towels or buggered within an inch of their lives?

Most of the larger hire companies allow their cars into the Czech Republic now, but you need to tell them of your travel plans when you book as this affects the model of car they will supply. Sixt only allow you take Fords over the border, Europcar only VWs. Many transporter/truck rental firms still enforce restrictions, however.

YL6

Hi,

I'm from the US and I'll be heading to Munich next week for a month. Me and a couple of my friends are planning to go to Prague from Munich by train. I've read the entire thread and I am still not sure what the best way of obtaining train tickets is.

I checked the bahn.de website but the tickets were ~120 Euro roundtrip. Are there any cheaper tickets out there?

Also, this would be my first time in Europe. For most of the posts above, I had no clue what you guys were talking about.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

CK

i would just go in and pester the people at the train station desks. i paid 80euros return a few easters ago to go from augsburg -> munich -> prague and back. i reckon you can do cheaper than 120.

Was in the Euraid office the other day and found out there is still a special on return tickets from Munich to Prague: 59 euros. Moreover, this ticket is valid for a month!

The fare is valid on direct trains only, excluding the night train. As mentioned in a previous post the departure times from Munich are 6:44am (arrives 12:45) and 16:44 (arrives 22:45).

WOW! Remind me to shovel some extra cash in the pockets of whoever runs that company!

That "special" is still dearer than the cheapest method of doing it yourself with a Bayern Ticket / Czech ticket combo.

Note: There's another decent connection to Prague from Munich with an easy change at Regensburg and Schwandorf on which you can use the cheapest tickets which aren't valid on the early Munich departure on weekdays. On the return trip there's a similar connection if the 2330 of the 2nd daytime direct train into Munich is too late for you.

The Schones Wochenende Ticket is valid as far as Plzen, so weekend travel is even cheaper still -- and vastly less than 59€ return.

Ive just read this whole post and im still utterly confused.. 2 of us want to get from Munich to Prague in early feb. Please tell me exactly what I need to do to get the cheapest return ticket.. (not 100% sure if ill be travelling on a weekend). Or should i just go and bug Euraid?

If going from a Fri-Sun, then get 2 Schones Wochende tickets. Or if your going during the week get 2
Bayern tickets. Both will get you to Plzen, where you change trains and goto Prague. The costs of the
ticket from Plzen to Prague is less that 10 Eur. The Schones Wochende and Bayern tickets are good for
up to 5 people. Thus you only need 1 for each direction of your trip from Plzen to Munich.

So as an example:

Leave on a Thursday
------------------------
MUC-Plzen - Bayern Ticket 22 Eur (Up to 5 people)
Plzen to Prague - Local CZ rail ticket 8-10 Eur (Per Person)

Return on sunday
------------------------
Prague-Plzen - 8-10 Eur
Plzen-Munich - Bayern Ticket or Schones Wochende - 22 Eur

I'm not sure, but I don't think the Bayern Ticket is valid in the Czech Republic at all. I think that only applies to the Schönes Wochenende ticket. You would have to buy a ticket from the border to Prague, which might still be the cheapest option.

Nope, the Bayern Ticket is valid in some of the former Sudetenland.
In this case up to Plzen. Have a look at Deutschebahns website. I'd give a link but I can't access the DB site at the moment. I and many others have used BT's many times before to get to Prague.

The Bayern Ticket is valid to Furth in Wald and not a centimeter further. See link (PDF; dated 2006).


Otherwise, you can follow DK's advice. If you travel Mon-Fri, get a Bayern Ticket to the border, and when you cross the border buy a ticket to Prague from the ticket inspector. At weekends, buy a Schönes Wochenende Ticket, and after Plzen buy a ticket from the inspector to take you to Prague. And remember your passport.

The Schönes Wochende Ticket is available in some parts of the north and west of the Czech Republic ie as far as Plzen but NOT the Bayern Ticket. IIRC, the increased cost of the SW Ticket is MORE than the fare you would pay for the Czech section Fürth-im-Wald to Plzen.

Get a ticket, paying in Czech cash off the Czech conductors. They know that people will have Bayern Tickets and will sel you a ticket to any Czech station at Czech rates. I do it every few weeks. It is the cheapest way.

If you are confident and don't have a lot of luggae you could buy a new ticket at Plzen and hop on the train again as it stops there to change locomotives. Stresfull mind.

Yep, there's time at Plzen to pop out. We nip into the station to buy our first bottles of Pilsner Urquell!

If it it was your first trip though I wouldn't get off and back on at Plzen to get a new ticket.
Though a pivo stop is a good idea!

Thanks guys, one other thing where do I buy a Bayern Ticket, can I buy the return one in advance and do I need to book the train?

You can buy them from any DB automat. Yes you can buy them in advance (Up to 3 months I think)

You can't reserve seats on the train. However, these trains can get very busy (especially the 1644 departure), so turn up early to get decent seats.

You can buy the Bayern Ticket in advance from any DB or MVV machine. It used to be the case that the tickets from the MVV machine didn't have a date on and so were good if you didn't know which day you were returning. I don't know if this is the case any more.

Yes, that is the case, buy a bayern Ticket in advance from an MVV machine and they are undated. But obviously have to be used before any price increase.

The 1644 departure (its the same in the new timetable) can get VERY busy.
There are exztra carriages put on as far as Regensburg but they are at the front of the train so the rear Czech bound coaches in HBF are jammers first.

Despite this train being a normally unreservable RE train in Germany I have seen reserved seats on it.
But I'd just get there early. Excellent Czech run restaurant car on this train too.

Thanks for the info

I went and had a look at the ticket machines today and to my suprise some of them are in English, which means I can make sure I buy the correct ticket

I think ill take the 6.44am train... Give's me 6 hours to find my accommodation when I get there

when you buy your ticket it'll ask you for hte day the ticket is going to be used.

Not if you buy from an MVG machine in a U-Bahn station it won't!

Note the cheap tickets are ONLY valid on the 0644 departure on ther weekends and public holidays!
The ticket office can sell you a ticket to bridge the gap until the 0900 (?) start of validity. But you'll be in Schwandorf by then anyway. For a daytime departure there are other options with chnging trains, one of which is fairly fastish too with just 2 changes in Regensburg and Schwandorf IIRC.

Just be aware that you can't use the Bayern Ticket before 9am between Monday and Friday. If you are travelling during the week and don't want to arrive in Prague at 11pm, then there are earlier connections, such as the 1044 departure which still only takes six hours despite two changes. Just type in München-Praha into bahn.de.

There are accommodation offices as well as various touts at the main train station, so you won't have to leave the train station to find a good deal on budget accommodation.

June 2007 update: A new ticket, the Bayern-Böhmen-Ticket has been introduced. This is valid throughout Bavaria and as far as Pilsen in the Czech Republic. After 9am on weekdays and all day at weekends and on public holidays, this ticket will get you most of the way from Munich to Prague. You just need to buy a cash single on the train between Pilsen and Prague (maximum €10). Note that the Schönes-Wochenende-Ticket is now no longer valid to Pilsen. The Bayern-Böhmen-Ticket costs €32 for up to five people or €22 for one person. It can also be used to reach Karlovy Vary, Marianske Lazne and Ceske Budejovice.

See also Transport options for Munich to Prague

Dec 2007 Update:

Main news is that the Night train is no longer running.

Day trains taking 6 hours depart Munich at:
8.44
12.44 (1 change)
16.44

And departing from Prague:
5.16 (1 change)
9.16
13.16 (1 change)
17.16

Hi all,

Most of this infomation seems outdated already...please can somebody shed some light as to the cheapest and most efficient way to get to Prague by train for 2 people? Looking at this Friday morning to Sunday.

Also, can I pay in EUROs on the train in the Czech Rep?

I'm completely clueless, please help.

Thanks,
Nu

P.S- recommendation of a nice hotel is also welcome.

Bayern ticket Single x 2 - To get you to the Czech border
At the border but a CZ Rail ticket to Prague. it should cost you around 10-15 Eur (But buy it in Koruna)

You might be able to pay in Eur on the CZ train, but you might get worse rates/prices...

If your willing to spend 100-150 Eur a night (American style Breakfast Buffet Included), then try the Movenpick.
Its very clean and modern and only a 5 min walk from the Andel underground station.

Hotel Movenpick
Mozartova street 261/1, Prague 5
phone: +420 226 201 910-13
e-mail: hotel-moevenpick@prague-holiday.cz

Is the Bayern, Czech Border "Furth im Wald" ? Would I then have to change trains at the border? Sorry, I'm confused...

Kinda.. It used to be... Now DB have a new land ticket called the Bayern-Böhmen-Ticket
Which is basically a Bayern Ticket with an addition which includes travel to Plzen.

If you get hat ticket, you will change in Plzen for the train to Prague. Again its about 10-15 Eur. (Or CZK equiv)
See the above link for more info. including Day/Time/Destination/Line Restrictions.

The two main changes over recent months have been:

1. The new Bayern-Böhmen-Ticket that DK mentions. This takes you all the way from Munich to Plzen. From there it's less than €10 per person on to Prague – actually around €5 to €7 if I remember correctly. If you're on the train from Munich then they'll probably accept Euros, but I would take some local currency with you just in case.

2. The morning, direct service from Munich to Prague now departs two hours later, at 08.44. Previously, this service was of no use on weekdays because the Bayern Ticket is only valid after 9am Monday to Friday. Now you have the option of additionally purchasing an MVV Gesamtnetz-Partnercard for around €18 (valid for up to five people, or a Gesamtnetz-Single at €10 for one person), which will get you as far as Freising, by which time it's 9am and the Bayern-Böhmen-Ticket is valid. Obviously this adds to the cost, but it is still far cheaper than the standard DB fare of €54 per person. Alternatively, there is a 12.44 departure that requires one change in Schwandorf. The other services involve 2-3 changes and longer journey times, although there is also a direct service at 16.44 that arrives at 22.45. Get there early if you want a seat on that train though.

The Bayern-Böhmen-Ticket is valid for many routes in CZ. For a better overview (with Map) and day/time/route restrictions make sure
you read the Bayern-Böhmen-Ticket PDF File for the most up to date info.

Sorry to bring this up again, just want to make sure about something.

Can I use the Bayern-Böhmen Ticket for the 8.44 train (it would be on a Feiertag in August), and can I pay on the train once in CZ for the rest of the journey to Prague?

Yes and Don't know.. You'll prob. have time between train changes so hit the ticket machine or counter. If there isn't one or you don't have time, then buy on the train.

OK cool, thanks.

Would the Schönes Wochenende work for a Feiertag if it's on a Friday, meaning that it could be used from that Friday until Sunday?

Can you explain number 2 more clearly? I'm going to be traveling from Munich HBF to Prague on July 2nd and I am looking to get to Prague as early as possible. Would i go from the Munich HBf to Freising and then catch the 8.44 train that started originated from Munich HBF? Let me know.

The cheap tickets "Bayern Ticket" (valid as far as the border) and "Bayern-Böhmen Ticket" (valid as far Pilsen) can only be used after 0900 on Monday to Fridays.
But the early morning through train leaves Munich at 0844...

The answer is to get on the train and use a standard MVV (Munich Transit Authority) ticket as far as Freising, which is in the MVV area and the prague train calls at, but after 9AM.

Happy trails!

you can actually board that 8.44 train at HBF no problems. MVV tickets are valid on regional trains within the MVV region.

If you are travelling on your own theres a "Prag Spezial" ticket that is 62 euro return which might be as easy. One ticket for everything. No faffing about.
(I'm off to watch the germany soccer game so no time to figure out if you save a couple of cent here or there.)
http://www.bahn.de/regional/view/bayern/ba...g_spezial.shtml is the info page for the ticket

Sometimes this train has catering, sometimes not, sometimes a guy come round selling beers and snacks, sometimes not.
So take along some refreshments.

Oh okay, I get it now. So I buy two tickets for the same train. I am traveling in a group of 2, so lets see if i have this right:

So in Munich HBf, I buy 1 MVV Gesamtnetz-Partnercard for €17 from a MVV ticket machine.
Then I buy 1 Bayern-Böhmen Ticket for €32 from a DB ticket machine.
At 08.44, I board the direct train from Munich HBf to Prague and don't get off until I get to prague.

One more question, how do i validate the tickets? On the train or before i get on? Is there a machine you use to stamp/validate your ticket?

P.S. Since i'm traveling with 2 and I don't need to return to prague, the prague special isnt necessary but thanks riri, i did look into it.

Stamp the MVV Ticket as you normally would... The Bayern-Böhmen ticket gets checked/stamped on the train.

OR, if you live near/closer to Freising than Hbf. Get the CZ bound train at Freising (9:05), and save yourself some $ from
getting a Gesamtnetz-Partnercard

ok so just to get this straight...

getting there for 2ppl-

1x MVV Gesamtnetz Partnerkarte
18€

1x Bayern-Böhmen Ticket
32€

1 or 2 Plzen-Prag karte(n)
5-10€/karte

getting there i have no problem with...
but whats the easiest way to get back? we would probably be headed there during the week (shes got 2 wks of vacation) therefore the MVV ticket, and would also probably be headed back during the week, but could also be on the w/e.

ideas? buy a CZ tik there good to the border and keep a bayern ticket (from MVV mach. w/ no date stamp) in the pocket? or...?

Yep, buy a Bayern Ticket from an MVV vending machine in a U Bahn station and as the train enters Germany on the way back present that to the conductor.

ok cool thx!

just one more question. would it be cheaper to buy 2x Bayaern-Böhmen tix and 2x tix plzn-prag/prag-plzn, or the BB ticket, Plzn-prag ticket, and then local ticket back to bayern and a bayern ticket?

... i think that makes sense.

I would keep it short and simple and just buy a ticket through to Prague from the Czech conductor and not bother with a Bayern-Böhmen ticket, just a Bayern Ticket between munich and the border.