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11 ways to save money on Swiss train travel

Last Updated: 30 Apr 2021
By Tanya, Founder of Swiss Family Fun

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Switzerland train travel is efficient, punctual, clean and a great way to see this beautiful country. But Swiss public transportation can also be expensive, especially if you are traveling with a large group or family.

So here are tips for getting discounts on Swiss train fares to maximize your budget.

How much does it cost to ride a train in Switzerland?

Short-term travel passes, long-term travel cards, discount fares.

Full fare train travel in Switzerland can be expensive. Here are some sample one-way fares (double these for round trip).

Zürich to Luzern = CHF 25
Luzern to Interlaken = CHF 33
Zürich to Zermatt = CHF 125
Zermatt to Geneva = CHF 102

Children 6-16 pay half-fare. Children under 6 ride for free.

Seniors and students do not get a discount on full fare train tickets. But they do qualify for discounts on some travel passes, travel cards and mountain excursions.

Travel passes are designed for tourists, making Swiss travel more convenient and cost effective. Instead of buying individual tickets each day of travel, you purchase a travel passes for a specific number of days, from 2 to 10 days depending on the pass.

Most travel passes cover public transport (trains, trams, buses) and give discounts on mountain excursions and leisure activities. Look at the specific pass details for the exact benefits.

1. Swiss Travel Pass

The most popular option for tourists is the Swiss Travel Pass. It fully covers transportation on trains, buses, and boats for a predetermined number of days. It also gives a discount on mountain transport at many locations. This is the most flexible pass and is best if you are traveling long distances and don’t have a set itinerary.

Should you buy a Swiss Travel Pass?

2. Regional travel passes

Many mountain destinations offer a regional travel passes that covers trains, buses, boats, and some mountain transport (or discounts for them) in one region for a certain number of days. You’ll have to do the math, but generally, these are only worth it if you don’t have a car (meaning you are always traveling to/from places by public transport) and you will be using expensive mountain transport every day.

Jungfrau Pass
Berner Oberland Regional Pass
Tell Pass for Central Switzerland
Erlebnis Card for Upper Valais
Graubünden Pass for southeast Switzerland
Golden Pass for western Switzerland

See Best Swiss Regional Passes

3. International travel passes

If you are traveling across Europe with a InterRail or Eurail pass, you may be eligible for discounts on Swiss train travel. But if Switzerland is the focus of your trip, it’s much better to purchase a Switzerland specific pass as mentioned above.

Interrail Global Pass – This pass is only available to residents of Europe and not valid in the country you live in (i.e. Swiss residents cannot use it in Switzerland). It is generally used to travel between major destinations/countries, e.g. 5 days of travel in one month. If you use this pass in Switzerland, it covers all public transportation and gives a discount on some mountain excursions (usually 25% off). If seat reservations are required on your train (like the Glacier Express), you must purchase those separately. Learn more .

Eurail Pass – This pass is only available to non-European residents. Depending which version of the pass you get, you get discounts on train trail and some mountain excursions in Switzerland. Learn more .

These travel cards are designed more for Swiss residents, giving them discounted travel over the long term. But these can also be purchased by tourists and may be a more cost efficient option in some scenarios.

4. Half-fare travelcard

The SBB Half-fare travelcard gives you a 50% discount on public transportation (trains, trams, buses and boats) and most mountain transport. This pass pays for itself rather quickly if you ride up just a few expensive mountains.

Swiss residents can purchase the yearly SBB Half-fare travelcard, which costs CHF 185/adult. First you have to order a Swiss Pass, which is a travel ID card. Then you can buy travel passes to load onto the card. Learn more .

Tourists can purchase a 1 month Half-fare card, which provides the same benefits but just for 30 days. In 2023, this short-term travelcard costs CHF 120/adult. Learn more .

More info about the SBB Half-fare card .

5. Junior card – Free travel for kids

If you are traveling with children aged 6 to 16, you should buy the SBB Junior card (sometimes called the Family Card). It costs CHF 30 per year and entitles the child to travel free on public transportation and most mountain transport when traveling with a parent with a valid ticket.

The Junior Card is available for purchase by both locals and tourists. You can buy the Junior card at a train station that has a ticket office. You need to bring IDs for your children proving their age.

You can also buy a Children’s Co-Travelcard, which allows children to travel free when traveling with any adult with a valid ticket. It also costs CHF 30/year.

Children under 6 are free on all public transport and almost all mountain transport when accompanied by a parent with a valid ticket.

More info about SBB Junior Cards

5. 1-month GA Travelcard

If you are staying in Switzerland for a few weeks, a one month GA card could be the most affordable way to travel. A GA pass includes free public transportation all over Switzerland, including trains, trams, buses and boats. It also include a discount on most mountain railways, usually 50% discount and some free. See the current validity map to see what’s covered.

In 2023, a 1-month GA Travelcard costs CHF 420 (2nd class), about the same price as an 8 day Swiss Travel Pass (see below). You do not need a SBB Half-fare card to use the 1 month GA Travelcard. Both Swiss residents and non-Swiss residents can purchase this card.

Buy a 1-Month GA travelcard

If you do a little research and purchase in advance, you can benefit from discounted fares and special promotions.

6. Supersaver fares

If you buy tickets in advance, you may get a Supersaver Ticket option, which can offer extreme discounts. In the example below, a normal one-way ticket from Zürich to Bern is CHF 51, but with Supersaver it’s only CHF 15.40 (even less with a SBB Half-fare card).

When booking tickets on SBB.ch or the SBB app, you’ll see the Supersaver option in the “Options for outward journey” section at the bottom of the screen. You’ll need to expand that section to see it. The Supersaver option isn’t always available. If you see the % symbol, then a discount option is available.

Please note that the Supersaver fare is for a specific date & time, so you cannot use this ticket for a different train that day, e.g. if you missed the train or wanted to take an earlier one. More details on SBB .

7. SBB Railaway combi discounts

SBB Railaway does many special travel promotions within Switzerland. Their “combi discounts” give you a discount when you purchase your train travel together with a leisure activities like mountain excursions and museums. The discount is at least 10% but can be as high as 50%. They typically publish a new set of offers each season.

See SBB Railway Offers here .

A day pass covers all public transport covers all public transportation throughout Switzerland and gives discounts on some mountain transport. In 2022, the standard day pass costs CHF 150 full fare and CHF 75 with a SBB Half-fare card. But there are three ways you can get a discounted day pass.

8. Saver Day Passes

Anyone can buy Saver Day Passes in advance, which covers all public transportation throughout Switzerland and gives discounts on some mountain transport. These Saver Day Passes can be as low as CHF 52 for adults or CHF 29 for adults with a SBB half-fare card. This is about the same price as a return ticket from Zürich to Luzern. Amazing deal!

The downside is that you have book very far in advance to get the biggest discount. If your plans change, there is bad weather or you get sick, you might not be able to use the pass.

The Saver Day Pass generally has the same validity as a GA Pass. But some mountains do not accept the Saver Day Pass (even if they accept the GA pass). So check the validity map to make sure your desired destinations are covered.

Learn more about the Saver Day Pass

9. “Gemeinde” Day Passes

Many towns pre-purchase GA Day Passes (covers travel for the entire country), which they offer at a discount to people who live in the town. You can see a list of towns and calendar of what’s still available here: https://www.tageskarte-gemeinde.ch/en-us/

This website simply links you to the website for that Gemeinde (aka community), so you can see their rules for reserving and purchasing the tickets. You can often reserve them online, sometimes by phone, then pick them up a few days before your travel day. Typically only people living in the Gemeinde can reserve and pick up the tickets, so you could have a friend do it for you.

10. Leisure Card

If you have a SBB Half-fare card, you can purchase a “Leisure Card,” which includes 20 GA day passes for CHF 900. This works out to CHF 45/day, which is much cheaper than the standard half-fare day pass price of CHF 75/day.

You have to use all 20 passes within a year of purchase. But you can use them anytime and don’t have to pre-book a specific day.

Buy SBB Leisure Card

Is it cheaper to buy Swiss train tickets online?

For regular tickets, it is not cheaper to purchase Swiss train tickets online. However, some discount offers (like Supersaver fares and Saver Day Passes) are only available on the SBB website and SBB mobile app. So it’s always better to purchase train tickets online or via mobile app so you can see if these discounts are available.

Do I need to reserve a seat on Swiss trains?

Seat reservations are only CHF 5 but it’s not usually necessary to make a seat reservation on Swiss trains. I’ve made a reservation only one time in 17 years.

But you may need/want to reserve a seat if:

you are traveling on a special panorama train that requires a reservation (e.g. Glacier Express, Bernina Express, Gotthard Express)
the train is forecast to be very crowded and you are traveling a long distance on a single train
you are traveling a popular commute route during commuting hours (Zurich – Bern, Bern – Geneva, Zurich – Lugano)
you are traveling with children or a large group and want to sit together
you want to sit in a special train car, like family area or business zone

You can only make reservations on most Intercity (IC) and ICN trains, not on local trains. You can see the forecast capacity on the SBB.ch or SBB mobile app. They have a little people icon that turns red as they predict the train to be more full.

You can make the reservation online at SBB.ch. You don’t reserve the seat when purchasing your ticket. You do it separately using the reservation booking system . During this process, make sure to select the same train your ticket is for.

Do I have to buy a train ticket for my dog?

Dogs larger than 30 cm tall must have a train ticket. Small dogs under 30cm may travel for free only if they travel inside a carrier or basket.

For short journeys, purchase a half-fare ticket for your dog. For longer journeys, purchase a Dog Day Pass, which costs CHF 25. You can also purchase a Dog year pass for CHF 350. Learn more .

Do I need a train ticket for my bike?

Yes, you need a separate train ticket for your bike. For short distances, you can purchase a half-price ticket for your bike in addition to your own ticket. For longer distances, purchase a bike day pass, which in 2022, costs CHF 14. Learn more about taking bikes on Swiss trains .

Do disabled passengers receive discounts?

Disabled passengers are not automatically entitled to discounts on Swiss train travel. However, you may receive discounts if you purchase Swiss train tickets from your country of origin. Learn more .

I hope these tips helped. Do you have any other ideas on how to save money on travel in Switzerland?

TAGS: Swiss Public Transport

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2 Responses

Thank you, very useful! Saved us quite a bit on train tickets

Great! So I could help you save some money on your trip.

Ultimate Guide to Train Travel in Switzerland (2024 Update)

Switzerland Train Map - Lago Bianco with a Red Bernina Express Train

In Switzerland, train travel is more than a simple mode of transportation. Granted, thanks to the world’s most dense public transportation network, the Swiss travel more kilometers by train than any other country.

The Swiss trains, trams, buses, and boats are meticulously scheduled so that transfers are smooth and efficient. Almost all railway lines run at least once an hour, and the busiest routes run every half hour or even every 15 minutes. And for the so-called last mile from the station to the door, a bus, tram, or cable car awaits the arriving passengers.

Regardless of the operating company, all modes of transport are integrated into a single master timetable across the country. It truly is a Swiss travel system .

But in this country boasting nearly 5000 km of railway tracks, train travel is also a major leisure activity. Numerous scenic railway journeys are part of the Grand Train Tour of Switzerland, a network of routes that connect the major sights. It allows tourists to see the best of Switzerland while traveling by train from one destination to another.

This ultimate guide to train travel in Switzerland showcases how the Swiss Travel System works: from types of trains to popular itineraries and ticket options.

All About Train Travel in Switzerland

Grand train tour of switzerland, train itineraries in switzerland, how to travel by train in switzerland, faqs about train travel in switzerland, train types in switzerland, panoramic trains.

In a country known for its scenic mountains, glaciers, and lakes, it only makes sense to run trains that offer the best views out the window. There are several noteworthy panoramic train lines in Switzerland, each offering oversized window panes to reveal every mountain peak to those seated in their cushy coaches.

Here are the top panoramic trains in Switzerland:

Bernina Express : This train takes you through the Swiss Alps from Chur to Tirano, Italy. It crosses the Landwasser Viaduct, one of the world's most famous and picturesque railway bridges. And it passes the Bernina Pass, the highest rail crossing in Europe, before presenting views of the Lago Bianco reservoir.
Glacier Express : This train is considered one of the most scenic train rides in the world. It travels between Zermatt and St. Moritz across southeastern Switzerland, passing 91 tunnels and 291 bridges. Highlights of the route include alpine meadows, typical Swiss villages, the 2033-meter Oberalp Pass, and the Vorderrhein valley. And since it takes about 7.5 hours to complete, it is often touted as the slowest express train in the world. Lunch is served in first class, seat reservations are mandatory, and the trip runs year-round in both directions.
GoldenPass Express : The latest panoramic train service runs up to four times daily between Interlaken and Montreux. Thanks to unique technology, the GPX can change the gauge of its wheels and the height of its coach bodies, making a transfer in Zweisimmen a thing of the past. The Prestige and first-class seats offer sweeping views of the diverse landscape between Switzerland's German and French-speaking parts.
Gotthard Panorama Express : This journey starts with a serene steamboat ride across Lake Lucerne to Flüelen. From there, a panoramic train coach with Switzerland’s largest windowpanes picks up the course, then passes cliffs and cascading waterfalls en route to Lugano.
Luzern–Interlaken Express: This train takes passengers on a journey through the heart of Switzerland. The route connects Lucerne and Interlaken, two popular tourist destinations in less than two hours. From the shores of Lake Lucerne, it passes Lake Lungern, crosses the Brünig Pass, and finally arrives at Lake Brienz in the Bernese Alps.
Treno Gottardo : This fairly new line runs hourly and connects Basel, Zurich, and Lucerne to Locarno. As the name suggests, the train line runs along the 120-year-old Gotthard route and stops at the historically significant village of Göschenen. After passing through the Leventina valley, it runs along Lake Maggiore before arriving in the southern town of Locarno.

Jaw-Dropping Swiss Train Journeys (2024)

Memorable train lines in switzerland in 2024, intercity and regional trains.

A network of high-speed trains connects Switzerland’s cities. The ICN InterCity train lines run non-stop between major hubs such as Basel, Bern, Geneva, Lausanne, Lucerne, and Zurich.

Meanwhile, the regional lines of the Swiss rail network play a crucial role in connecting the smaller towns and villages. These lines often run through more rural and remote areas, providing access to lesser-known but equally beautiful destinations. Since the locals use these lines to commute, they are an authentic place for tourists to learn about Swiss culture.

Specialty Trains for Foodies

Switzerland has a variety of special train services catering to foodies, such as the Chocolate Train, Cheese Train, and Cookie Train. These trains offer a one-of-a-kind and memorable experience for any food lover.

The Chocolate Train is an absolute must-see for chocolate lovers the world over. The journey aboard the historic Belle-Epoque coaches lasts from Montreux to Montbovon. The chocolate bus connects to the Gruyère region, where you will visit the Maison Cailler chocolate factory in Broc and stroll through the charming Gruyère old town. Admission to the show dairy, as well as coffee and chocolate bread, are included.

The Cheese Train provides a one-of-a-kind experience for cheese lovers. The journey also begins in Montreux and continues to Château-d'Oex, where you can enjoy a delicious cheese fondue. Two museum visits are included: "Espace Ballon," about the history of hot-air ballooning, and the new Swiss Museum of Papercuts.

And finally, the Kambly Cookie Train is a must-try for any sweet tooth. The train line connects Bern and Lucerne through the Emmental valley. The idea is that you can take an entire day to enjoy the scenery along the way. A definitive highlight is a visit to the "Kambly Experience," a cookie bakery in Trubschachen. And there’s an optional boat cruise from Brienz to Interlaken Ost.

International High-Speed Trains

Thanks to a dense network of international trains, Switzerland is conveniently connected to European destinations. Cutting-edge high-speed trains provide amenities to ensure a comfortable and convenient journey. Business travelers will appreciate the on-board business centers equipped with power outlets and Wi-Fi. Those looking to unwind will appreciate the bistro coaches and restaurant cars - some of which even serve local specialties from the carrier’s country.

International high-speed trains from Switzerland:

EuroCity: Bologna, Genova, Milan, Venice
ICE : Berlin, Dortmund, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Hannover, Mannheim, Munich, Stuttgart
RailJet : Bregenz, Graz, Innsbruck, Salzburg, Vienna
TGV Lyria: Paris, Marseille

Interactive map of international train connections to Switzerland

Overnight Trains in Switzerland

Thanks to a growing network of overnight trains across Europe, you can see a musical and put on your PJ in Amsterdam, then sip your morning coffee in Zurich.

The increasing demand for climate-friendly travel alternatives has launched a rebirth of overnight train connections. They provide a comfortable way to travel to and from Switzerland - with significantly fewer emissions than airplanes.

Overnight train compositions come in different setups. There are sleeper cars with private compartments featuring beds, sinks, and breakfast service. Sleeper car compartments have space for one to three persons. Deluxe rooms include a shower and toilet.

So-called couchette cars have compartments with four to six bunk beds and shared facilities.

Women-only sections, plus family-friendly and accessible compartments, are available. And finally, overnight trains have regular coaches with seating.

Overnight trains and destinations from Switzerland:

ÖBB EuroNight: Budapest, Dresden, Leipzig, Ljubljana, Prague, Vienna, Zagreb
ÖBB Nightjet: Amsterdam, Berlin, Cologne, Hamburg
From 2024: Barcelona, Rome

Interactive map of overnight trains in Switzerland

The Grand Train Tour of Switzerland is the ultimate train journey through the heart of Switzerland. This round trip offers a complete and comfortable experience, taking visitors to the country's most popular sights and landmarks.

Along a staggering journey of 1280 km, train lovers can check the top experiences of Switzerland off their bucket lists. Consider it “two birds with one stone”: an epic train journey to highlights such as Lucerne, impressive natural spectacles like the Rhine Falls, and majestic peaks like the Matterhorn.

The Grand Train Tour of Switzerland passes no less than 11 lakes and includes five panoramic train lines, making it a unique and unforgettable Swiss train journey. This experience is available year-round, and you can start and finish your journey wherever it is most convenient.

The Grand Train Tour of Switzerland is divided into eight sections:

Zurich – Lucerne – Interlaken (131 km, 2:45 h)
Interlaken – Montreux (120 km, 3:15 h)
Montreux – Visp – Zermatt (148 km, 2:30 h)
Zermatt – Chur – St. Moritz (291 km, 7:45 h)
St. Moritz – Tirano – Lugano (183 km, 6:30 h)
Lugano – Flüelen – Lucerne (182 km, 5:30 h)
Lucerne – St. Gallen (125 km, 2:15 h)
St. Gallen – Schaffhausen – Zurich (133 km, 2:30 h)

Download the Grand Train Tour of Switzerland map

Switzerland's train system is like a journey through a storybook, with popular routes like the Glacier Express as the main chapters. Each route offers a different tale, taking passengers across historic viaducts and past mighty glaciers. Whether you're a railway enthusiast or simply looking for a scenic way to travel, Switzerland's trains provide an immersive soundtrack for your journey.

Most Popular Train Lines in Switzerland

The Glacier Express , often heralded as the world’s slowest express train, wins our nomination for the most popular train line in Switzerland. It is regularly booked down to the last seat, treating the lucky passengers to a visual extravaganza through the large panoramic windows.

Here are other popular train lines in Switzerland that we have covered in detail:

Switzerland Train Itinerary for Rail Lovers (2024)

How to travel switzerland by train in 5 days, lesser-known train lines in switzerland.

Switzerland is a dream destination for railway enthusiasts. Apart from the usual suspects, there are numerous lesser-known train lines in Switzerland.

Alpine Cruise: We had the pleasure of experiencing the Alpine Cruise train experience that winds through the canton of Graubünden. The idea is that your luggage is shipped from one hotel to the next - just like on a cruise ship. Meanwhile, you get to travel on the iconic red trains of Rhaetian Railway to places like Bergün, Chur, Davos, or St. Moritz. At the end of each day, simply check into the hotel at the destination.

Centovalli Line: For those looking to explore the Italian-speaking region, the Centovalli Line is a must-do. This route runs between Locarno and Domodossola and offers breathtaking views of the Centovalli region, including the famous Centovalli viaduct.

Chemins de Fer du Jura: This hidden gem of a train line passes through the sparsely populated Jura plateau. Between Glovelier and La-Chaux-de-Fonds, the narrow-gauge train stops in many small towns, each presenting a new chance to enter one of the many hiking trails.

Léman Express: This relatively recent train connects Geneva to the cities of Lausanne, Nyon, and Gland. It’s unique in that the Léman Express passes the vineyards of Lavaux and even crosses the border into France.

Planning a Train Trip in Switzerland

When planning a trip by public transportation, it's important to consider that the Swiss rail network is extensive. Planning the itinerary in advance helps ensure the most effective use of your time (and money.)

Some random hints for planning a train trip:

The Swiss Travel Pass is synonymous with unlimited travel on the Swiss public transportation network. Activate it and forget about it while you transfer from trains to buses, and from boats to mountain railways.
Make seat reservations in advance if you plan to travel during peak travel season, generally from April to September.
Unlike most of the world’s train stations, Switzerland’s train platforms are freely accessible by anyone - even without a valid ticket. There are no turnstiles or ticket gates whatsoever.
Ticketing on Swiss trains is based on an honor system where it is assumed that each traveler has a valid ticket when boarding a train. During random checks, travelers have to be able to produce a fare card or travel pass, or else they will be fined.
Conveniently ship your luggage from one hotel to the next. This service is not very expensive and gives you flexibility during the day.

Switzerland Train Map

The official Switzerland train map is updated annually by Swiss Federal Railways. Available in print or digitally, the Switzerland train map is the most comprehensive overview of Switzerland's train network. A single Swiss map contains all train stations, major and minor train lines, mountain railways, and even boat lines.

Access the Switzerland Train Map

Train Companies in Switzerland

Their trains and coaches can be recognized by the abbreviation “SBB CFF FFS.” These abbreviations cover three of the four languages of Switzerland, but they all stand for Swiss Federal Railways:

SBB: Schweizerische Bundesbahnen
CFF: Chemins de Fer Fédéraux Suisses
FFS: Ferrovie Federali Svizzere

In addition, a few other companies cover large areas of Switzerland, such as BLS and SOB. Finally, several regional lines provide connections from hubs to smaller train stations.

Notable train companies in Switzerland:

Appenzeller Bahnen
Berner Oberland-Bahn
Bern-Lötschberg-Simplon (BLS)
Chemins de fer du Jura
Montreux-Oberland-Bernois (MOB)
Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn (MGB)
Rhätische Bahn (RhB)
Schweizerische Südostbahn (SOB)
Zentralbahn

Travel Classes on Swiss Trains

Swiss trains offer two main travel classes: first class and second class. The primary distinction between the two classes is the level of comfort and available onboard amenities.

Second-class coaches are rather nice, with cushioned seating arranged in sets of four. Most seats do not have dividing armrests, which removes some privacy. Especially during peak travel times, such as during weekday commuting or on Fridays and Sundays, second-class coaches can get quite crowded. As a result, seats are not always available.

First-class coaches on Swiss trains offer more comfort and privacy. For one, they are roomier with fewer seats per carriage, but each seat features more space and ample legroom. Armrests between seats provide more privacy. Other amenities include power outlets for every seat and business sectors for working in a quiet environment.

Information about the sectors where first and second-class coaches are located on a given train is shared on overhead boards or over the loudspeaker. First-class coaches might not be available on some private train lines, and amenities vary by type of train.

Tickets and Train Passes

There are a range of options for planning train travel logistics in Switzerland. Some visitors may prefer to look up all the destinations on a map and buy individual point-to-point tickets for each leg. Others prefer the blanket coverage of a travel pass. Here is an overview of Switzerland's various tickets and train passes.

Point-to-Point Tickets

Point-to-point tickets can be purchased at the train station ticket booths and vending machines, on the train company's website, or in the official SBB mobile app.

While this approach may be the ultimate money-saving option in Switzerland, it is unlikely to be the most efficient. It is also not the most flexible way because the regular point-to-point tickets require you to follow a schedule.

Regional Passes

Regional passes are an ideal alternative for those travelers who plan on spending most of their time in a particular region, such as Central Switzerland or the Bernese Alps.

Some regional passes offer free transportation coverage for the entire pass duration, while others restrict free travel days but offer discounts on the remaining days. They are available to both residents of Switzerland and visiting tourists.

Swiss Travel Pass

The Swiss Travel Pass presents the ultimate option. Unlike single tickets or regional passes, it provides unlimited blanket coverage for most Swiss public transportation for a pre-determined number of travel days. The “hop on/hop off” nature of the pass is perfect for those who want to stay flexible.

The Swiss Travel Pass includes most trains, buses, and boats in Switzerland. Five top-tier panoramic train lines and any trains operated by Switzerland’s major carriers are covered entirely.

Buy a Swiss Travel Pass at GetYourGuide

Swiss Travel Pass in 2023 - Bernina Express

Benefits of the Swiss Travel Pass in 2024

Brienz Rothorn Railway - Summer Switzerland

Swiss Travel Pass Overview and Insights for 2024

Swiss Travel Pass FAQs - Zurich Airport Train Station

Swiss Travel Pass FAQs: Helpful Answers for 2024

Young female tourist sitting in a Swiss train looking out the window and thinking

Is the Swiss Travel Pass worth it in 2024?

Get our ultimate free guide swiss travel pass: how to make it work in 2024.

The free guide includes a round-trip itinerary starting in Zurich for budget travelers. It “hacks” a three-day Swiss Travel Pass to make it last for a five-day stay…

Digitally savvy and flexible travelers can uncover saver fares in the SBB Mobile app. These individual tickets are contingent on a particular date and train connection, but they offer the cheapest way to travel by train. Travelers who wish to remain flexible regarding train connections may prefer the Swiss Travel Pass. Using included mountain railways, boat cruises, and museums, they could maximize the upfront cost and come out cheaper than with individual tickets.

The cost of train tickets in Switzerland can vary depending on the type of train and the route. Regional trains tend to be the most affordable, while scenic trains like Glacier Express can be more expensive. Many Swiss subscribe to the Swiss Half Fare Card, which reduces the price of individual train tickets by 50 percent.

Yes, discounts are available for train travel in Switzerland. On the one hand, discounts may be available for children, students, and senior citizens. It is also possible to purchase a Swiss Half Fare Card, which allows for a 50% discount on most train tickets. And finally, the SBB Mobile app and website offer limited saver fares for particular connections - usually during midday.

Yes, train tickets can be purchased in advance in the SBB Mobile app, on the Swiss Federal Railways website, or through a travel agency. Advance purchases can often result in lower fares. Look out for discounted tickets labeled with a percentage sign on the SBB website; they can result in significant savings.

Seat reservations are not required for most intercity and regional trains in Switzerland. However, reservations are recommended for scenic trains such as the Bernina Express and are mandatory on the Glacier Express.

Yes, it is possible to travel by train with a bike. Bicycles can be taken on most trains by paying an extra fee . On some trains, it is mandatory to make a prior reservation for bicycles as space is limited during peak seasons.

Except on mountain railways, first-class seating is available on all trains in Switzerland. First-class compartments usually provide more comfortable seating and more space. Some trains, such as the GoldenPass Express , offer a VIP section with oversized panoramic windows and private-jet quality seating.

Switzerland is considered safe for rail travel, but CCTV cameras are generally on most trains. In the case of an emergency, the onboard emergency button will alert the train driver and the nearest police station. As anywhere in the world, savvy travelers will always watch their luggage. Here are additional precautions and resources for safe traveling in Switzerland .

Purchase the Swiss Travel Pass online at the most reputable vendor starting at CHF 244. You will receive an immediate email confirmation with a PDF ticket.

PLEASE Pin OUR EXPERT GUIDE!

Switzerland Train Travel Expert Guide - From top panoramic trains to itinerary and travel passes, use our expert guide to train travel in Switzerland to plan the adventure of a lifetime - Glacier Express, Bernina Express, Swiss Travel Pass

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How to visit Switzerland by train on a budget: our tips

Last Update: 25/01/2024 2 COMMENTS

Switzerland is a very small country compared to its neighbors… However, it is probably also the country with the most trains. 🙂 Switzerland and trains are a love story, and if you decide to travel in Switzerland we can only encourage you to consider this means of transportation.

Ecological, practical, it is also an option that can be VERY scenic! Switzerland has some of the most beautiful train routes! By the way, if you are thinking about which route to take, we suggest you take a look at this article where we talk about the most beautiful train lines in Switzerland. 🙂

The Swiss travel pass

The swiss travel pass youth and the family card, regional passes – discover a swiss region by train, the half-fare travelcard, buy swiss train tickets on the spot (at the station or via the app), supersaver tickets – buy your train ticket in advance, supersaver day passes in switzerland, faq about train travel in switzerland – special tickets, visiting switzerland by train.

But enough of that, in this article we are not going to focus on the routes or the legendary punctuality of the Swiss trains, but on the train ticket system and the different options available to you. Switzerland is a country with a reputation for being expensive (we’ll be honest, it’s the case for many things). Nevertheless, if you do your homework and plan your trip in advance, you can save a lot of money on train tickets.

We start with the product that has been “created” for people who decide to visit Switzerland. This means that the Swiss Pass is only available to non-residents of our small country. This is the reason why we have never tested it personally… After that, we already did quite some research about it because we have already recommended it several times to friends who wanted to visit Switzerland.

The idea of the Swiss Pass is to make it simple: one card and everything (or almost everything is included). You choose the number of days you want and then the swiss pass will allow you to take any train, bus, boat, streetcar, subway in the country as well as access to more than 500 museums! The Swiss pass also includes a lot of cable cars and for those that are not included, the pass gives you a discount equivalent to the half-fare card that many Swiss people have. There are just some trains like the Glacier Express, the Bernina Express or the Golden Pass where you will have to pay a supplement for the seat reservation. You can see the validity of the pass on this map .

The swiss pass exists in 2 models:

The classic Swiss Travel Pass : You choose between 3, 4, 6, 8 or 15 days of validity and then, upon activation, the pass is valid for the consecutive days.
The Flex Swiss Travel Pass : ditto, you choose the number of days. The difference here is that the days can be used flexibly over a period of 30 days.

The flex pass is a bit more expensive, but in reality it’s often worth it because it allows you to use fewer days (basically you don’t activate the pass on days when you just take a bus to visit a city but keep the pass days for longer trips).

If you are interested in the Swiss pas, we encourage you to read our detailed review of the Swiss here .

Our links to Getyourguide are affiliate links. By buying the passes via Getyourguide you pay the same price as on the official website (actually for a reason that escapes me it’s even a few CHF cheaper via Getyourguide), and as a bonus we will get a small commission. In addition to supporting us in our independent research (because no, this content is not sponsored, it is our honest and spontaneous opinion on this product), you will also benefit from GetYourGuide’s flexible and simplified cancellation conditions.

To learn more about how we monetize our site via affiliate marketing, you can read this article .

The Swiss travel pass is also VERY advantageous for young people under 25 and families! On Getyourguide , you can simply select the youth rate in the menu. The price is about 30% lower!

For families, simply add the children to your order (it’s free) and you will get the Family Card. All children under 16 years old travel for free if they are accompanied by a parent holding the Swiss pass . Honestly, if you travel with children, it’s a good deal and also a very comfortable and fun thing to do everything by train! In addition, the Swiss pass also includes more than 500 museums throughout the country.

If your trip in Switzerland is limited to a particular region, it may be worth looking into a “regional” pass. Generally much cheaper than the Swiss pass, these regional passes allow you to benefit from the same transport advantages.

For example there is:

The Jungfrau Pass : This pass gives unlimited access to the cable cars, buses and trains of the Jungfrau region (from Interlaken to Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen, Mürren, etc). Please note that you will have to pay a supplement if you want to go to the top of the JungfrauJoch (but this would also be the case with the Swiss Pass)
The Graubünden Pass : A card issued by the Rhaetian Railway that gives access to all trains, post buses and regional buses in Graubünden. It’s really cheap compared to the Swiss Pass, so if you only plan to visit Graubünden, it would be better to take this pass and just buy a Supersaver ticket to go to Graubünden.
The Pass Saint Bernard : This one is next to us and frankly it is so crazy in terms of price that we just had to add it to this list… Sold for 139 CHF, it gives unlimited access to the region’s transportation, 15 activities and all the ski lifts of the region during 1 year (so even in winter). The “summer” pass costs 29 CHF and includes the same services but just for the summer months!
The Zurich Card or The Fribourg City Card : These are city cards. They include public transportation as well as museums/tours. If you visit these regions and want to do some cultural tourism, they really pay for themselves very quickly (and it would be a shame to use a day’s worth of Swiss Passes just to visit a city)

Note that in some cities and regions (Lausanne, Dents du Mid region, Val d’Hérens and many others) these cards/passes are included if you stay there and they give you access to regional transport and activities.

The Half-Fare travelcard was originally reserved for Swiss residents. Its price? 185 CHF per year (165 CHF when renewed). In Switzerland, a lot of people take it (including us) because it allows to have a 50% discount when taking the train. For occasional travelers like us, it’s really quickly amortized. The problem is that it was not accessible to travelers passing through.

There is now a half-fare card version for foreign tourists. Sold at 120 CHF, it is valid for 1 month .

It sounds expensive, but believe us it pays for itself. What is an example? You are planning a small city trip in Switzerland. You arrive in Geneva and decide to go to Zurich, then to Basel and finally come back to Geneva via Sion.

At full price you would pay:

Train Geneva – Zurich : 88 CHF
Train Zurich – Basel : 34 CHF
Basel – Sion : 92 CHF
Train Sion – Geneva : 48 CHF

Total: 262 CHF. With the half fare card, it would have been 251 CHF (131 CHF for the half price tickets + 120 CHF half fare card). In short, if you add to that a few tram/bus rides or excursions, it’s quickly worth it.

If you want to see more itinerary suggestions as well as the prices comparing the half fare card and the Swiss Travel pass, you can take a look at our detailed blog post.

After that, I would say that the Flex Swiss Travel Pass is quickly more advantageous if you start taking more transports… Quite honestly, you have to have fun doing the calculations. If you want to see more details, you can read this article in which we compare the 2 products in more detail.

For the occasional traveler

As you can see above, multi-day tickets and passes are very convenient, but they are also relatively expensive. If your travel plans in Switzerland involve less travel, then it might be more interesting to do without a pass and just buy tickets or day passes as you go. But here again, there are a few tricks that can save you some CHF.

For almost all public transport in Switzerland, you will have the possibility to buy your ticket at automatic machines (only exception would be on some lines in the mountains/countryside where the ticket is still sold from by the bus driver). The machines in the stations are large touch screens where you can choose the language and pay by card, cash or via smartphone.

The solution of the machine works very well for individual tickets, even if personally I would rather recommend the mobile application of the SBB. Very well designed, it allows you to check the timetable and directly buy the tickets. You just have to create an account and connect a payment method.

One feature that is nice on the app is EasyRide. Basically, you don’t buy a ticket, but simply activate the button when you get on a bus/train. At the end of the day, the app calculates the cheapest ticket that covers all your trips.

Example: At 8 am I take a train to Lausanne from Vevey. Price of the trip: 11.20 CHF if I bought the ticket (valid for 2 hours) At 11:30 am I decide to meet a friend and get on a bus in Lausanne to make 3 stops. Price of a ticket: 3.70 CHF (valid 1h) At 4pm I take a bus back to the train station area: 3.70 CHF At 18h I return to Vevey by train. Price of the trip: 11.20 CHF

By taking the tickets individually each time I would have spent 29.8 CHF. With the EasyRide, the application would have calculated that for this day it would have been more advantageous to take a day pass of the region (6 zones) for 22.8 CHF. Of course, if you know in advance which trips you are going to make, you can directly take such a ticket, but in reality I find it convenient to let the application do the math 😉 In case of ticket control, the app generates a temporary ticket that is valid as long as you have activated the trip BEFORE getting on the bus/train.

A good way to save money on train tickets in Switzerland is to buy them in advance! Supersaver tickets are a number of tickets made available to travelers at low prices (up to 70% off) up to 2 months before the date of travel. The earlier you book, the cheaper it is! These tickets are available for Half-Fare card holders as well as for people without a basic season ticket, for both 2nd and 1st class. They can be purchased directly from the timetable page. If Supersaver tickets are available on your dates, you will see the discounted price displayed on top. You will then have to select the option on the next screen:

Also consider whether you are flexible on the hours… Discounts are much lower during rush hour than during off-peak hours. If you can, try to travel mid-morning or mid-afternoon.

But be careful: these tickets are advantageous because they are neither refundable nor exchangeable! Personally, we often buy them but only if we are sure of the schedule. Example: during our last trip to Slovakia, we left by night train from Zurich. We bought a 60% discounted ticket to go to Zurich from Valais (starting from home, it was easy for us to take some margin and not miss our train).

For the return trip, however, our night train had to arrive at 8:20 am in Zurich. A Supersaver ticket was available at 8:35 am and another one at 9:35 am. As the night train between Vienna and Zurich takes 12 hours, we assumed that it would be possible that it would be a little bit late. In short, we also took a Supersaver ticket but we played it safe and took it with a 1h margin.

Similar to the Supersaver Tickets, it is possible to buy Supersaver Day Cards. They are put on sale 2 months before the date of travel and are available to both holders of a half-fare card and to people without a card. If you book in advance, the Supersaver Day Passes are available from CHF 29 with half fare or from CHF 52 without half fare. If you are planning a long day of travel, it is definitely worth it!

But beware, these day passes are neither exchangeable nor refundable.

More info on the SBB website

Do the children have to pay a ticket?

Children up to the age of 6 travel free of charge on all public transport. From 6 to 16 years of age, the reduced fare (half fare) applies.

Afterwards, if you travel with children older than 6, it is possible to take a pass for them which will make the trips free:

La Swiss Family Card : This card is free of charge if the parents have a travel pass ( Swiss Pass , Swiss Pass Flex or half-fare card). The card can be picked up free of charge at the station ticket offices. With this pass, children from 6 to 16 years old travel free of charge on the entire network!
The Junior card : The card costs CHF 30 per year and allows children up to the age of 16 to travel free of charge if accompanied by a parent who pays a ticket. The parent does not need to have any travel pass.

Are dogs allowed on trains and buses in Switzerland? If so, how much does the ticket cost?

Yes, dogs are allowed on all public transportation. Dogs up to 30cm tall can travel free of charge but must be in a carrier bag at all times. Larger dogs or those not in a bag must have a half-fare ticket. Note: if you are making a longer journey, it is possible to take a “dog” day pass which costs 25 CHF (this is cheaper than a ticket for a Lausanne-Zurich journey for example). If you travel often, there is also an annual pass for 350 CHF.

Is it possible to travel with a bicycle on swiss trains?

Yes, on most lines this is possible. However, please note that your bike must have a ticket. For short trips, you can take a half-fare ticket or, for longer trips, buy a “bicycle” day pass at CHF 14. To make sure that bicycles are allowed and if a reservation is necessary, the best way is to use the advanced search options on the “timetable” page and check the bicycle box. By clicking on the “train composition” button you will be able to see in which carriage there are bicycle spaces.

Is there free wifi on swiss trains?

No, there is no public wifi in public transport. Switzerland is outside the European Union, so foreign travelers are often subject to roaming fees (check your subscription before coming!). If you don’t have mobile data included in Switzerland, we advise you to take a pre-paid card from Sunrise (they have a 0 CHF offer for travelers). Their package offers unlimited data and calls for 2,5 CHF / day (the amount is deducted only on the days you use it). As a bonus, the SBB have a partnership with them and thanks to FreeSurf app you will have a free connection in the trains (no charge on the pre-paid card).

That’s it for this article about traveling to Switzerland by train and the different ticket options. If you have any questions, feel free to leave us a comment.

See you soon!

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Reader Interactions

9 months ago

Thanks for the excellent information.

We are travelling as a family of 4 (2 adults, 10yo, 8yo) over 7 days. We are happy to book in advance and commit to specific train times at an off peak time – middle of days work best for us. I’ve played around with ticket prices and it would seem super saver or super saver day passes will be best for my husband and I, but I think this mean we are not eligible for a free Swiss family card for the children. Am I understanding it correctly that I can buy them a Junior card for 30CHF each and they will travel free, or alternatively buy a 30 day half fare card from myself and husband and we are then eligible for the free family card.

The half price card doesn’t seem to pay for itself booking super saver fares, but comes out about even if I take the free kids travel into account (saving 60CHF for junior cards). And we then have a half price card should we do more travel than currently anticipated during our week in Switzerland.

Many Thanks

7 months ago

Hallo Fabienne,

Eine Freundin und ich werden drei Tage am Anfang November in Schweiz Urlaub machen. Wir übernachten in Interlaken und bekommen Interlaken Gästekarte. Wir wollen am ersten Tag zu Jungfraujoch bis zum Top fahren.

Am am zweiten Tag nach Lauterbrunnen und andere Orte in Jungfraujoch Region besuchen.

Am letzten Tag wollen wir Montreux besuchen. Was ist am günstigsten zu kaufen, Swisstravel Pass (3 Tage)+ Jungfrau Travel Pass + Anschlussticket Jungfraujoch Top 63 CHF oder statt Swisstravel Pass lieber Swiss Half Fare Card +Jungfrau Travel Pass + Anschlussticket Jungfraujoch Top 63 CHF? Über Ihre Hilfe würde ich mich sehr freuen.

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The Best Train Routes in Switzerland (Cheaper Than You Think)

If you’re thinking of sampling the awe-inspiring vistas of Switzerland , train travel is an excellent way to go. Not only because of the country’s picture-postcard beauty but also because Swiss trains run like clockwork, seriously.

Seeing Switzerland by train, trundling along at a more leisurely pace, you can sit back and enjoy the breathtaking views. From mountains, lakes, and valleys to brief glimpses of daily Swiss life, taking a train is definitely the way to go. And trying to figure out how they managed to lay all the rail tracks, often in precarious locations is a fun game to play as you traverse the country.

The most convenient place to begin your days of scenic Swiss rail adventures is to start in one of the big cities which often have larger airports. Zurich or Geneva are great places to start. And below, you will find some of the best interrailing routes in Switzerland according to our team of experts!

Note: Don’t forget to get your Swiss Travel Pass , which makes train travel in Switzerland affordable and a breeze!

Image courtesy of Simon Pielow

Connecting Lucerne with Montreux on Lake Geneva, the GoldenPass Line is one of the most scenic routes in Switzerland. It covers the highlights of the country, which can be viewed from the train panoramic windows. With great lakes, expansive plains, ethereal mountain ranges, wine estates, and quaint villages, it’s easy to fall in love with the beautiful views.

This particular journey traverses three mountain passes and two language regions – the German and French-speaking parts of Switzerland. And, as an added bonus, this line is also one of the most cost-efficient and easily accessed scenic rail routes around.

Lucerne to Montreux

The train ride from Lucerne to Montreux, along Lake Geneva, is among Europe’s best. Although it is predominantly a commuter train, there is little chance you will complain about the punctuality or cleanliness of Swiss trains. If you are after the full tourist experience, you can also hop aboard one of the daily panoramic trains.

On the way, you will pass through the lakeside town of Interlaken, which makes for an ideal stopover. You can have a quick ferry trip on the unspoiled lake Thun, or Brienz, which is contained in some rail passes at no extra cost, or enjoy the stunning mountains just beyond the town itself.

If you do stop in Interlaken, it is certainly a good idea to visit both the Jungfraujoch and the valley of Lauterbrunnen.

Although they are probably not included in your Interrail pass, Lauterbrunnen is quite a cheap destination by Swiss standards. There Lauterbrunnen, you can explore the quiet city and enjoy a hike in the woods. The valley is a famous base-jumping spot, so there’s a good chance you’ll see some wingsuit-clad adrenaline junkie whizzing by as you enjoy your day in the mountains!

Note: Be sure not to miss the GoldenPass Classic rail car between the towns of Zweisimmen and Montreux.

Image courtesy of Jungfrau.ch

Jungfraujoch

Interlaken also brings you very close to one of the highlights of any trip to Switzerland – the Jungfraujoch . It is the highest railway station in all of Europe and precariously perched between two of the highest peaks in the region. This particular route takes you from the city of Interlaken all the way to 11,000 feet above sea level.

All trains to the top depart from the station of Kleine Scheidegg, another great spot to have a quick stop on the way and enjoy the view down to Grindelwald.

Interlaken to Kleine Scheidegg

You can choose to reach Kleine Scheidegg via two routes – Grindelwald or Lauterbrunnen. That being said, this route can be pretty hectic during the summer months, even though it is far from cheap. But seeing the world-renowned Swiss Alps, aboard a classic piece of engineering (including tunnels through mountain tips), makes this one train ride worthy of the effort and investment.

via Lauterbrunnen

If you want to experience the best views going up when traveling from Interlaken via Lauterbrunnen, choose the seats to the right side of the direction of the train.

via Grindelwald

If you travel via Grindelwald , start by sitting on the right and then left when you change trains for a more unobstructed view of the 4km peak of Elger mountain.

Note: Plan a stop in the town of Wengen or Grindelwald. You can also go on a single journey up to Kleine Scheidegg and choose a different way down. This method allows you to experience both sides of the mountain.

Glacier Express

Another very popular and extremely scenic rail journey is the Glacier Express. The cold-sounding name is enough indication for you to guess what kinds of views are in store for you. The glaciers, of course, take center stage, along with dramatic peaks, stunning lakes, and isolated villages. More than enough to keep your eyes and cameras occupied.

The starting point in Zermatt can be accessed via a short regional rail trip from Montreux, which happens to be the end of the GoldenPass line. You can also reach Zermatt directly from Geneva or Zurich, it just takes a little longer.

The Glacier Express is dubbed one of the most luxurious rail rides in the world, while the resort town of Zermatt used to be an exclusive getaway for the rich and famous. So, if you do get the chance, try to spend at least a day or two in the region , before taking the train, to try to soak up the amazing views.

Zermatt to St.Moritz

The Glacier Express is best enjoyed at a glacial speed. Locals and tourists agree that it is the slowest express train in Europe, but given what you get to experience, no one seems to care. The idyllic scenery unfolds right before your eyes and will certainly make the eight-hour journey pass in an instant. Also, the service, along with the amazing panoramic windows on this train is so luxurious that’ll make you cry tears of joy.

Depending on the season, prepare for a vastly different experience on this train. In summer, you will be overwhelmed by the greenery and wildlife, while the winter scenery will make you feel like you’ve entered the set of “Frozen”. Although you can make several stops along the way, it is best to make the journey in one sitting. After all, it is one of the best train routes in the world!

Bernina Express

Another famous train route is the Bernina Express, which can be accessed in the South-east of the country from the region of St Moritz, or via the capital of Graubunden – Chur. Taking you from the stunning lakes around St. Moritz, the train then veers up and over the Alps with glaciers seeming to drip down their sides.

It then continues to Tirano in Italy, before arriving in Lugano, a quaint city in the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland. So, in essence, you get to experience a wide variety of Switzerland, and Italy, all in a few hours train ride!

St.Moritz to Lugano

Even though the tourist trains on this line are quite popular, it is better to avoid them altogether and hop aboard a regular one. Overall, the cost associated with tourist lines is significant, and they don’t necessarily offer a better experience.

The Bernina Express to Lugano crosses through the White Lake and the Alps before descending to the amazing Palu glacier. You have the option of spending the night in the town of Tirano in Italy before heading off for the lake-side city of Lugano.

Note: The Brusio spiral viaduct is a must-see. The best view can be gleaned by sitting on the right side when heading from north to south.

Gotthard Panorama Express

One of the oldest and most often used train routes in Switzerland is the Gotthard Express, which runs north to south through Switzerland. It has since been mostly replaced by the opening of the NEAT tunnel, which saves significant time on this journey. However, those wanting to take the scenic route still love traveling the original Gotthard Panorama Express.

This train route is also combined with a boat ride from Fluelen, in central Switzerland, to Lucerne crossing the stunning Lake Lucerne and offering views of the surrounding alps.

In total, the Gotthard Panorama Express runs from Lucerne all the way to Bellinzona or Lugano in the Mediterranean south of Switzerland

Lausanne to Zurich

This train ride is among the most idyllic in Switzerland, as you will get the chance to ride past the entire length of Lake Neuchatel on the way. The city of Lausanne in itself is worth a stop to explore its Medieval Old Town and marvel at the rolling vineyards above Lake Geneva.

Its student population makes it surprisingly lively (for a lakeside Swiss town), with several up-and-coming districts and as well as modern and chic buildings.

Switzerland has so much scenic beauty in its every nook and cranny. Staying overnight in a few villages will give you a chance to soak up on local culture. Don’t be in too much of a rush because this country may be small in size, but it has so much to offer.

Traveling through Switzerland via rail will let you take it slow and witness the real face of Switzerland. Before you go ahead and plan your trip, check the validity of your ticket and make sure you know all the discounts you are entitled to.

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About the author roger timbrook.

Roger is a little obsessed with travel. He has been to over 40 countries, broken 3 suitcases and owned over 10 backpacks in 12 months. What he doesn't know about travel, ain't worth knowing!

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18 Do’s And Don’ts To Visiting Switzerland On A Budget

Jaw-dropping peaks, pristine green fields and wooden cabins, turquoise-blue lakes – Switzerland is easily one of the most picture-perfect destinations in Europe. It also happens to be one of the most expensive . While many scrape by backpacking the Swiss Alps, the price tags of food, transportation, accommodation and experiences make planning the average weekend getaway or extended vacation a major hit to the wallet. But you can still make your dream trip a reality while saving money – use these tips to do Switzerland on a budget .

Some of these links are affiliate links. This means if you make a purchase through that link, I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Read my full disclosure !

Currency in Switzerland

The currency is used in Switzerland are Swiss Francs (CHF). As of August 2022, 1 CHF equals $1.05 USD. And while the exchange rate is fairly even, the cost of living in Switzerland is completely different to most areas in the US!

To put into perspective just how much the prices can differ in Switzerland, a Big Mac and a 6-count chicken nugget meal from McDonald’s cost me 27 CHF in Switzerland. In the US, it would cost me $10!

Tips to Visit Switzerland on a Budget

Do grocery shop.

One of the easiest ways to save money in Switzerland is to live like a local! Skip restaurants and head to the grocery store to stock up on snacks, pre-made lunch goodies, and even do some normal grocery shopping if you have the means to cook at your accommodation.

While the Swiss lifestyle isn’t cheap and the prices of some things will still make you do a double take, you will still be able to find much more affordable food options here than at any restaurant or take away in the area.

Don’t Eat Out Every Meal

You’re on your dream trip to Switzerland, so it is impossible to tell you to not try the local food or have a nice meal every now and again! But if saving money is your biggest worry, then you should try to avoid eating out for every meal and instead have a plan to picnic or cook with your grocery store finds.

Do Take Advantage of Grocery Store Restaurants

My favorite Switzerland budget travel secret is… the grocery store restaurants! I discovered at least two of the major grocery store chains in Switzerland, Migros and Coop, also have their own IKEA-esque eating areas. It may sound strange but they are a budget traveler’s dream!

Some are buffet-style where you can stack your plate with as much food as you’d like for a fixed price, while others are focused on meal deals and a-la-carte items. I can guarantee you will get some of the best deals on eating out here. If you already know the stops on your itinerary, check ahead of time if these grocery stores are present and if they have a restaurant!

Do Book Hotels Early

Some say that you can get crazy last-minute deals if you wait to book your accommodation immediately before your trip days, but I have not found that to be the case in Switzerland.

It may just be because of traveling during peak season, but once accommodation is getting booked up, prices rarely go down. Instead, they increase! Your only shot at testing out this method and having it work is to try a service like HotelTonight that collects discounts on lasts-minute hotels.

Good to know : You will likely have to pay a city tax at the end of your hotel visit. The amount can vary depending on the town. As an example, in Interlaken, the tax was 2.50 CHF per person/per night.

Don’t Travel to Switzerland During High Season

I know everybody says it, but the period in which you are traveling through Switzerland can have a huge effect on accommodation prices.

Switzerland’s peak seasons are between June-August and December-February. The most budget-friendly time to visit Switzerland is from March-April and October-November.

Pro Tip : If you are looking for Switzerland accommodation during one of the peak season periods, try to book a hotel that allows you Free Cancellation up to a certain point. Then you can frequently check back to see if any new, more affordable properties are available due to cancellations.

Do Utilize Day Trips to Save Money

Staying for a longer time in one place can often be more cost-saving than switching hotels frequently. Rates per night tend to get better the longer you are staying at a hotel. Lots of Airbnbs also give extended-stay discounts for stays over a week long.

With this travel tip, you should plan your itinerary around day trips instead of moving from place to place. Planning excursions to cities, like a day trip to Lucerne or one day in Zurich , is very easy because of the well-connected public transport network.

And to get to more remote areas like Jungfrau, for example, you can also check out day trip tours. Weigh the cost between traveling with a tour that includes the activity and transportation and DIYing your day trip to find out what’s the best deal for you.

Do Get Breakfast Included at Your Hotel

It may seem counterintuitive to spend more booking your accommodation to get breakfast included, but if you do the calculations, you will see that the price difference is usually a savings rather than a cost.

As a personal example, I spent two nights in Interlaken with my boyfriend and paid an extra 20 CHF for the two of us to have breakfast included. Just a cappuccino in Interlaken cost 5 CHF, so for the same price per person we had a full buffet breakfast each day.

Don’t Pay for Water

The beauty of the Swiss Alps? The super fresh mountain water! Many cities and rural areas are full of fountains distributing the water so that you can fill up for free!

Don’t forget to pack your favorite travel water bottle .

Do Stay at a Hostel or Campground

I know they sound like they are reserved solely for backpackers and road trippers, but there are actually options to make these accommodations adaptable to any budget-conscious traveler’s trip style!

Hostels are known to be some of the cheapest accommodation around. But you don’t need to opt for the cheapest of the cheap and board with 10 other people. Many also offer private rooms like any other hotel for a higher price, but are still more budget-friendly than standard hotels.

And did you know that even if you’re not road tripping through Switzerland with your own motorhome, you could still take advantage of an inexpensive campground?

Tons of campgrounds have their own bungalows ! These tiny houses are perfect for cheap stays. Plus, they will likely have a kitchen, which makes cooking and staying on a budget with food even easier!

Don’t Road Trip Switzerland Without Knowing These Expenses

Driving in Switzerland is a spectacular way to see the country’s incredible landscapes. It also gives you tons of flexibility in your itinerary.

But there are some fixed expenses you should note before hopping on the road. Switzerland’s toll system operates with a vignette , a small sticker that allows you access to all the highways in Switzerland. This vignette is valid for the calendar year up to January 31st of the following year, but costs 40 CHF.

Parking is another expense that can get out of control in major cities. Parking in Zurich, in particular, is very expensive (around 5-6 CHF per hour in parking garages).

And it’s also important to know the road rules in Switzerland, as fines are very high. Throughout Switzerland, there are speed cameras that you may not notice. Small towns often have very slow speed limits but it’s important not to exceed them to avoid having a fine show up in your mail weeks later due to these cameras. For more road rules, check out my guide to Driving in Switzerland .

Do Take Advantage of City Guest Cards

It pays off to do research and planning to truly do Switzerland on a budget. Luckily, Switzerland has a decent number of initiatives to promote tourism that also result in you being able to do more while paying less!

One useful hack you should look out for is city guest cards . You’ll have to look up if your specific destination offers an incentive like this, but guest cards are usually offered to travelers staying in accommodation in that city.

For example, the Interlaken guest card is available to anyone staying in accommodation in the town of Interlaken and offers discounts on stores and attractions, but most importantly, allows you to ride the public transportation for free in and around the city!

Lots of other cities do this too: Lucerne, Bern, Geneva, Basel. The Canton of Ticino even has a Ticino ticket that lets you use free public transport to explore the entire region!

Pro Tip : When deciding where to stay during your trip to Switzerland, you should also consider staying outside of major tourist areas and cities, where you’ll likely find more budget-friendly rates. I recommend during your accommodation search weighing the costs between savings on transportation and activities with a city card (if your destination has one) and staying in more remote areas.

Do Consider Buying Travel Passes

If you are planning to get around Switzerland on a budget using public transportation, you should weigh the cost of buying one of the many Swiss travel passes against paying for tickets individually to every destination on your itinerary.

The Swiss travel passes are expensive, so it is best to plan out your itinerary in as much detail as you can to understand if the price tag of the travel pass will truly save you money. Some of the travel passes offered include the Swiss Travel Pass , which comes in packages of 3, 4, 6, 8, and 15 days of unlimited travel on the public transportation network, and the Swiss Half Fare Card , which gives you unlimited 50% discounts on public transportation tickets for a year.

Pro Tip: On the Swiss Travel Pass website, use the Find The Right Pass section to start getting an idea if the pass makes sense for your itinerary and budget.

Don’t Be Too Spontaneous

Being spontaneous on vacation can lead to some unexpected amazing memories! Or, it can end up being a costly mistake.

Budget-breaker storytime : My boyfriend and I hiked from Iseltwald to Giessbach waterfalls, about an hour and a half. Well, after a strenuous, long uphill climb to these falls, we figured let’s take the bus back. We had no internet and found out the last bus passed hours ago. It was now 8 pm, the sun was due to set in 45 minutes, and our accommodation was an almost 2-hour walk and then a 15-minute bus ride away. In short, we ended up having to walk to the next town over with a train station (another hour and a half journey) and spend 20 CHF to take a train back to Interlaken.

Moral of the story? Have a plan! You don’t have to have every detail organized but, at least before you act on spontaneity, take a minute to consider what factors could have a significant impact on your budget and if you are okay with that.

Do Have a Phone Plan

We found ourselves in the previously told sticky situation mostly because we had no roaming in Switzerland on our phones, meaning we could only access the Internet via WiFi. Switzerland is not included in EU roaming, meaning using data is extremely costly.

You could either try to buy a local SIM card, rely on WiFi like us, or pay the international rate through your domestic phone plan. Buying a local SIM card is typically the perfect balance between cheap and convenient, whereas WiFi is only cheap, and paying for your international plan is only convenient.

Pro Tip: Download Offline Maps using Google Maps so that if worse comes to worst, you have a map on hand to orient yourself and get around. Also, be sure to pack a portable charger with you, especially if you plan on spending long days out away from your accommodation, like hiking.

Don’t Miss Out on Student Discounts

Youth and student discounts on travel in Switzerland can help you save on transportation and activities!

For example, young travelers from 16-24 can get a discount on the Swiss Travel Pass.

These discounts are usually found in the “Reduced” section of ticket charts. Not every activity or transport has them, but it is always worth checking ahead of time to see if you can take advantage of them and how (if you need to present a student ID, for example.)

Do Exchange Currency (But don’t do it at local kiosks!)

Most places in Switzerland accept debit and credit cards. However, one of the reasons you might prefer to pay in cash is because some restaurants and shops may use a conversion rate that is highly unfavorable.

But if you are going to exchange currency, you will almost always find the best rates at banks and post offices. You will find less favorable exchange rates at kiosks located in your destination (it literally just looks like a tourist trap) or at airports.

Check out more budget travel tips relating to using ATMs abroad and exchanging currency while traveling .

Don’t Let The Language Fool You

Surprisingly, even in places known for tourism, you will not find that many things are translated from German – menus, signs, etc. This can make it difficult to understand what you’re paying for and if it’s worth the spend.

Unfortunately, there’s not much you can do about this other than hoping you can get a hold of someone who speaks English to help you out or have a translation app on hand.

Do Have Fun with Free Activities!

Unfortunately, lots of activities in Switzerland are expensive, both in and out of cities. But if you do some research before your trip, you’ll find that there’s also a decent number of free things to do to help curb costs and fill up your itinerary!

Switzerland Travel Budget Resources

We all know by now that planning a trip to Switzerland on a budget is no easy feat. It’s probably one of the hardest destinations in Europe. Here is a list of resources to help you stretch your dollar and understand what a realistic Switzerland trip budget looks like:

BudgetYourTrip – This site gives you the average prices relating to different travel expenses in your selected destination. You can use it as a benchmark to see if you are getting a good deal on accommodation, food, and transportation.
My Road Trip Budget Planner (& many other resources in The Travel Library!)
SBB Offers – Current deals from the main train company in Switzerland.

Unfortunately, visiting Switzerland will never be “cheap” but the travel tips in this guide for doing Switzerland on a budget will at least help ease the expenses.

Let me know in a comment – what does your dream Switzerland itinerary look like?

Save these tips to Pinterest for later reference!

Michela is a travel writer and photographer living in northern Italy. She is passionate about helping people make the most of their travels by sharing advice gained from her personal experiences, off-the-beaten-path destinations and time-saving quick itineraries. Browse her top articles or have her help you plan your itinerary to your dream destination!

Find me on: Web | Instagram

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10 Simple Ways to Travel Switzerland on a Budget

Written By: Seraina Zellweger

Switzerland

Updated On: February 8, 2024

Switzerland is expensive. That’s old news. But you can visit Switzerland on a Budget. And be honest. It’s why you haven’t put it on your bucket list yet, right? You’re intimidated by the high prices.

You think you’ll never be able to afford a trip to Switzerland without blowing your retirement savings. You’re nervous you’ll be paying off debts for months to come. But despite all those worries, deep down, you still want to go.

Table of Contents

10 Ways to Travel Switzerland on a Budget

Switzerland on a budget sleep above cows

There are plenty of reasons to go to Switzerland . You’ve heard of the breathtaking views. You’re familiar with the taste of Swiss chocolate. You’ve longed for their endless selection of cheese. And you’re just about dying to see the Alps up close. You’ve reached the point where you’re already subconsciously packing your bags .

Wondering whether your trekking shoes still fit you, how much weight you might gain once you give in to your chocolate cravings or whether you need to bring a German, French or Italian dictionary.

If only it wasn’t for that persistent voice at the back of your head. You know, the one that’s keeping you awake at night with a million questions. Read more: 19 Beautiful Places to Visit in Switzerland

How are you supposed to make it through a single day in Switzerland without robbing a bank?
Are you going to crawl up in a cardboard box and sleep in a stranger’s backyard just to save money?
Are you happy to live off instant noodles as you did during that trip to Australia ?
Do you seriously believe there’s anything free to do in Switzerland?
What if the emptiness in your savings account forces you to come home after a few days?

The list goes on. But before you let this situation get out of hand, do yourself a favour.

Shut that voice up.

Because first of all, nobody’s going to sleep in a cardboard box. And for the record, robbing a bank is out of question, too. Never mind those instant noodles, either.

Believe it or not, but simple and legal ways to save money in Switzerland do exist. And here are 10 ways to make your money last longer in Switzerland.

1. Use free public transport

If you’re staying in Bern, Lucerne, Basel , Geneva or Lausanne, you get to use local public transport for free.

Your accommodation provides you with a ticket that’s valid for the time of your stay.

The Canton of Ticino extended this concept and recently introduced what I refer to as the travel-jackpot.

Every visitor spending at least one night in the Canton receives an all-inclusive ticket.

We’re talking about a free ticket here that includes buses and trains as well as a discount for cable cars, boats and selected activities.

More and more cities seem to be joining this concept.

So wherever you’re parked for the night, make sure you hit up your receptionist for potential freebies.

Check out our best Switzerland pictures .

2. Don’t buy a travel pass

Don’t buy a travel pass, at least not until you know your options.

Travel passes can be amazing value for money if you’re going to use public transport. But they don’t always make sense.

To avoid wasting your funds on something you don’t need, set aside some time to do your research.

In order to pick your best match when buying a travel pass, try to answer the following questions as precisely as you can:

Where exactly do you want to go? What places do you want to see?
Are you going to cover long distances or mostly stay in the same area?
How frequently are you going to use public transport? Every day? Every second day? Only once or twice during your whole stay?
Apart from Switzerland, are you travelling to any other European countries?

Once you have those answers, start digging.

Figure out whether buying tickets as you go, getting a Half Fare Card, an Interrail/Eurail Pass, a Swiss Travel Pass or Supersaver tickets work out cheapest for you.

3. Grab a (free) bike

Ways to Make Your Money Last Longer in Switzerland free bikes

If you’re going to Zurich , Bern, Geneva, Neuchâtel, Zug or the Canton of Valais, you’re in for a treat. Those places offer free bikes.

Some for a few hours, some for a whole day and some even longer.

Bring along your ID and 20 CHF for the deposit.

Other cities rent out bikes as well but not for free.

Depending on your itinerary, it might still work out cheaper than paying for public transport, though.

4. Take matters into your own hands

Unless you desperately want to, you don’t need to book a tour to explore Switzerland.

With public transport being as efficient and plentiful as it is, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a place that isn’t accessible by bus, train or boat.

Buses and trains run frequently so don’t worry about getting stuck anywhere.

However, if you head out to more isolated places, double-check the timetable just to be on the safe side.

5. Put your connections to use

travel switzerland on a budget couchsurfing

Nothing eases the pressure on a backpacker’s wallet like staying with a friend does.

Saving 30 – 40 CHF on accommodation each night pretty much pays for an all-inclusive Swiss Travel Pass.

And with Switzerland being this small, you can take day trips to almost every corner of the country.

If you don’t have anyone you can contact, try Couchsurfing instead. It’s more common than you’d expect and it’s a fantastic way to get in touch with locals.

6. Sleep above the cows

Believe it or not, but this exists. Provided you’re not allergic to hay or straw, sleeping on straw sets you up for a night out of the ordinary.

Especially if you’re after an adventure and travelling with a sleeping bag.

Agrotourismus is a good place to look for Swiss holiday farms – Prices range between 25 – 35 CHF per person, which is roughly the same or even less than a hostel.

With breakfast being included, this is well worth taking a detour out of the city.

By the way, some places also let you set up your own tent for a small fee.

7. Embrace your inner chef

You’ve guessed it. Eating out is expensive, too.

Dinner at a restaurant costs at least 20 – 30 CHF. You might get away with 15 – 20 CHF if you catch a bargain.

Cooking your own food is way more affordable. Depending on how much of a gourmet your are, you can get by with 60 – 80 CHF a week for groceries.

Possibly even cheaper if you cut some edges. But I’d budget at least 50 CHF.

Supermarkets like Migros, Coop, Denner, Aldi and Lidl are your best friends here.

With Aldi and Lidl being the cheapest. Read more 15 Swiss Foods to try in Switzerland or at Home

8. Buy old bread

budget travel switzerland tips day old bread

This one‘s way better than it sounds. I promise.

A new concept called Ässbar has taken root in Switzerland.

In order to fight food waste, these guys collect whatever bakeries couldn’t sell during the day and offer it for half the price the next day.

As a result, you can get pastries, bread rolls, sandwiches and sausage rolls at a massive discount.

You can find Ässbar stores in St. Gallen, Winterthur, Zurich, Bern, Fribourg and Basel.

And since their concept is so popular, they’re looking to expand to other cities as we speak.

Find out how you can stretch your travel cash by downloading her free guide, 10 ways to save money on food in Switzerland .

9. Go crazy over free snacks

Everything free is worth its weight in gold.

And farmer’s markets are an excellent place to grab free samples every now and then.

While you probably won’t get a whole meal out of this, tasting free crackers, olives, bread, the occasional piece of cheese or cookie is the perfect way to get over those mid-morning or afternoon cravings.

Chocolate factories also hand out samples but since they make you pay entrance, I don’t like to count those.

However, the Kambly biscuit factory in Trubschachen lets you dig in until you explode. At no extra cost.

Trust me, you won’t make it through their whole selection in one go. Even if you arrive on an empty stomach.

Challenge accepted?

See some of the best Switzerland Photos on Instagram .

10. Stick with free activities

Nothing in life is free. Or is it?

You’d be surprised. If you pay attention and know where to look, you can find plenty of free things to do. Check out The 12 Best Hikes in Switzerland

Free Things to do in Switzerland

Join a free walking tour in different cities across the country.
Spend some quality time with the bears in Bern – figuratively speaking.
Visit a free wildlife park in Zurich, Aarau, Winterthur, St. Gallen, Interlaken and many other places.
Check out old towns, churches, and free museums.
Visit the Appenzeller cheese factory in Stein and stuff your face with free samples.
Join a tour of the Bundeshaus (House of Parliament) in Bern.
Take a stroll through botanical gardens and parks.
Head out to Schaffhausen and visit the Rhine Falls, Europe’s largest waterfalls.
Take a refreshing dip in a lake.
Hike until your feet fall off. After all, that’s what Switzerland is famous for.

Budget Switzerland Travel – The only thing left

Now that you know how you can stretch your money while you’re in Switzerland, let’s see how that know-it-all at the back of your head is doing.

Is it still leading you on to rob a bank, sleep in a cardboard box or live off instant noodles? Or has it finally decided to shut up?

If it’s still being reluctant, don’t be too upset with it. After all, nothing you do will ever turn your trip to Switzerland into a low-cost holiday.

But with these 10 tips, hitting the Alps without blowing your retirement savings has just become a whole lot more realistic.

The only thing left for you to do is this. Go to your drawer, dig out your bucket list and scribble those eleven letters at the very top of it.

You know you want to.

The Ultimate One-Week Switzerland Itinerary
The Ultimate Switzerland Road Trip Itinerary
Our best Switzerland Pictures
Things to do in Grindelwald, Switzerland – Complete 4 Day Itinerary
The Perfect 3 Days in Zurich, Switzerland
24 Fantastic Things to do in Basel, Switzerland

Check out these money saving tips

How to Save Money for Travel
How to Travel on a Budget – Our Top Cheap Travel Tips
Our Best Travel Tips – From 20 Years of Traveling the World
How to Travel Around the World – The Ultimate Travel Resource

Travel Planning Resources

Looking to book your next trip? Why not use these resources that are tried and tested by yours truly.

Flights: Start planning your trip by finding the best flight deals on Skyscanner

Book your Hotel: Find the best prices on hotels with these two providers. If you are located in Europe use Booking.com and if you are anywhere else use TripAdvisor

Find Apartment Rentals: You will find the cheapest prices on apartment rentals with VRBO .

Travel Insurance: Don't leave home without it. Here is what we recommend:

Allianz - Occasional Travelers.
Medjet - Global air medical transport and travel security.

Need more help planning your trip? Make sure to check out our Resources Page where we highlight all the great companies that we trust when we are traveling.

About Seraina Zellweger

Seraina Zellweger is a devoted budget traveller who’s been around the world and back. As a native Swiss, she’s made it her mission to give fellow backpackers tips on how to visit Switzerland on a shoestring.In her latest project, she's created a series of guides with itineraries for Switzerland , ranging from 2 to 14* days. For more information, Follow Seraina at LostInSwitzerland / Facebook / Twitter

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41 thoughts on “10 Simple Ways to Travel Switzerland on a Budget”

My wife and myself is trying to visit swzertland in the month of July 23 please give some details

Thank you for this article! It eased a lot of my concerns for my upcoming trip to Switzerland. I am wondering about the public transportation… Will the free transportation take us from Geneva to Zurich? Or is it just free public transportation within the city you are staying in? Thank you again for all of the tips. My husband and I are feeling more confident in making this Switzerland trip an affordable and enjoyable experience!

Great tips on traveling to Switzerland on a budget. It is unbelievable how expensive everything is there, especially when traveling as a family. I will refer back to your post again before our next trip to this amazing country!

Zurich is one of the most beautiful capitals in Europe.Thanks for sharing this amazing info

Amazing read. I’ve traveled around Switzerland on a tight budget just for a week. It was the first time I’ve used Couchsurfing and it was an amazing time! My host was a very friendly Swiss guy who was extremely interested in learning about my culture and traveling experiences. Also, as you’ve mentioned, using free public transport saves a lot as well as biking around the cities.

i was planning for a family trip there, and luckily found this amazing informational guide… thanks a lot as this guide will help me for my family travel trip… briefly explained travel guide…!!

I’ve been traveling almost all cheaper countries… scheduling how to set on foot on the rather expensive countries like- Switzerland, Norway, Sweden, Iceland etc.!

Switzerland is really awesome place for roam. You share the information is really awesome. Very helpful information on this blog. I am glad to find it. Thanks!

If you could travel through only one European country, which might you choose? Italy? France? Germany? How about a taste of three in one? That can only mean Switzerland! You’ll find Switzerland a chocolate box bursting with unexpected flavours. 🙂

This post made us laugh, sleeping above cows sounds like an adventure for sure! You are right on point with avoiding Switzerland due to the high cost, but maybe now we will finally add it to our bucket list. We accept the challenge of eating all the free snacks we can get while there!

I am excited that you are accepting the challenge to travel there on a budget. Let us know how it goes !

It is very very Attractive Post. Some great travel tips for travel in Switzerland green And clean city.

Budget is the main concern not for all but for many of us. Cooking own food is the best idea to save money and also to maintain health.You have shared very useful budget friendly ideas here. I really like it.

Great post I’ve always been intimidated to visit Switzerland, but I was little worried about the cost of accomodation. I’m very curious about Agrotourismus, I’ve never heard of it and will definitely check it out. I love to hike so i’m covered for activities. Cheers! Millie

Awesome post Seraina. My first visit on your post but not last, will follow your next post! You obviously spent considerable effort and time to carefully document this post for our benefit. I was in Switzerland last year and spent average budget (My thinking before reading this post). But after reading your post I can say, “Yes” I could save 50% of my budget amount.

I absolutely loved Switzerland. The FRESH AIR is incomparable. And yes to Tip#1!! Our hotel was nice enough to inform us of this before we spent any money on public transport in Montreux. Oh and I remember getting a free ticket to the city from the airport in Geneva too. What I would give to live there. Great post, Seriana!

Izy thank you for commenting because transportation is my biggest concern for my trip to Switzerland in September. I am wondering if the free transportation will take us from Geneva to Zurich? Or is it just free public transportation within the city you are staying in?

These are just stunning! Switzerland is one of my favorite places to travel. Wondering when I get a chance to visit..

I love this! Switzerland has been on mine and my husband’s travel wishlist for a while! It’s great to know about that free public transportation and the free bikes! It sounds like it would be best to spend more time in cities that offer these perks!

I love the fact you like my country.You are from which country?

I’m planning a trip to Switzerland and your post is so handy and packed with good tips! Will definitely put some into good use.

That’s a very good idea Cam. I’m sure you wouldn’t regret it 🙂 Enjoy your travels in Europe.

Very greats article . Thank for sharing . I loved it

I might just include Switzerland in my tour of Europe after all. Thanks for all these amazing tips!

very beautiful places to visit. we haven’t finished exploring the world

Thank you so much Donna. I hope one day I get to return the couchsurfing favour by hosting you and Ted in Switzerland. There are so many things I’d love to show you.

So good to hear from you Laio. And yes, it’s been ages since Bolivia. Such good times out in the Salar de Uyuni. I really hope to see you in Switzerland one day. And you’re definitely welcome to stay with me whenever you’re here. The couch is waiting for you 🙂 Take care

Excellent blog. Great tips and information. We may have to try this trip after all. Well done.

We love your blog. Lots of great tips and information. I think that Ted and I may have to try this sometime. Well done.

Hey Seraina my Dear Friend! So many days since Bolivia’s Travel… times fly! Switzerland seems to be an amazing place… I probably will visit some day! I´ve no doubt that I will “put my connections to use” and I hope you enjoy to give a shelter for me there! This blog is awesome and very helpful! Thanks for it! Kisses

Hey Rosemary thanks for your comment. I’m glad you like Switzerland and think it’s worth a visit. I totally agree with you that coffee and cake are expensive. It’s a shame. Hopefully this won’t keep you from coming back one day 🙂

Switzerland is a really great place – all the trains run on time and are easy to work out. They are clean and comfortable. We agree that you can use public transport to travel around – it’s really good and convenient.

There are lots of things which are good value in Switzerland but we find quick meals like coffee and a cake or something expensive.

It’s worth going to Switzerland though as you’ll have a lot of fun.

Such a wonderful post by Seraina! Switzerland is a dream for me and this one just takes me so many steps closer. I especially agree with point 4 and 10 – nothing like exploring a new place on our own, there’s so much joy and it’s so cost effective too!

Thank you for your comment Arti. I’m glad my post got you a little closer to reaching your dream. Hopefully you’ll make it to Switzerland soon.

Some great travel tips in this post to stretch your time in Switzerland. I love Switzerland, it’s so green, it’s so clean and it’s so stunning. My husband and I decided to camp in Switzerland, which meant we could save a lot on accommodation and we could cook our own meals. We just loved it (it was just a bit cold to sleep in a tent) 🙂

Hi Sabine, thanks for your comment. Yes, Switzerland is pretty green and clean, isn’t it. Camping is definitely a great way to save some money on accommodation. Although you’re right about the chilly nights. I hope you had a good sleeping bag and didn’t catch a cold 🙂

Grabbing a bike and exploring is my kind of thing. And I loved the concept called Ässbar. I hope they’ll spread all over the world….

Hi Seraina,

LOL on old bread. That is all I buy 😉 I’d be saving Swiss scratch right off the bat. Ditto on the free biking. I recall years ago biking all over Hoi An in Vietnam for 2 months. I got in tip top shape and saved a small fortune in taxi fare. Thanks for sharing 🙂

Haha there’s nothing like old bread Ryan is there. I think you’d be saving heaps in Switzerland ? I love going to that place. Wow biking in Vietnam sounds exciting. And it’s definitely a great way to get in shape for free too, isn’t it.

Very Superb Article. Thanks a lot for sharing this information

Thanks for your comment Jay. And you’re welcome. Glad you liked the article.

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Moscow to Zurich by train

Travel from Moscow (Russia) to Zurich (Switzerland) by train (2195km): schedule and information to the train connection. Compare fares and buy your ticket.

The train connection Moscow (Russia) - Zurich (Switzerland) goes via Poland and Germany. The overnight trains from Moscow to Germany are a good option. From Germany continue to Switzerland by direct high-speed-trains. Another option is to travel from Moscow by night train to Vienna (Austria) and to continue from there to Switzerland. Please read the following travel information and blog posts.

Your travel route could be like that.

1 Moscow (Russia) - Berlin (Germany) - Zurich (Switzerland)

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train connections: popular connections travelled by other users Berlin - Moscow

1b Travelling from Berlin (Germany) to Zurich (Switzerland)

Travel from Berlin to Zurich by train. The journey time is 08:00 hours. The train ticket price starts at 17 EUR. A comfortable travel option is by "ÖBB nightjet" overnight train. Travel by ICE day train connection with a journey time of 08:00 hours. The train ticket price starts at 17 EUR. The departure station is "Berlin Hbf". The arrival station is "Zürich HB". You have to change trains once for example in Frankfurt or Basel. The more comfortable travel option is by "ÖBB nightjet" NJ471 overnight train. The train ticket price starts at 29 EUR. The departure time in Berlin is 21:00. The arrival time in Zurich is 09:00. The following service classes are available: - standard seat: the cheapest travel option with a ticket price from 29 EUR. - shared compartments with beds: with a maximum of 4 to 6 travellers per compartment. The ticket price starts at 49 EUR. You can book this type of accommodation as well as private compartment only for your family or friends. - private compartments with beds: travel for your own in a private compartment or with up to three travellers in total. Some compartments offer a private shower and WC. The ticket price starts at 89 EUR.

Where to buy a ticket from Berlin to Zurich?

Cheap train tickets! Buy your train ticket online on Omio. The easy to use booking system with very good prices and e-tickets.

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train types: Train types you are likely to travel with. Intercity (IC) / IntercityExpress (ICE)

night train: Night trains that might be suitable for this trip. ÖBB nightjet NJ470 Zurich - Berlin / ÖBB nightjet NJ471 Berlin - Zurich

train connections: popular connections travelled by other users Zurich - Berlin

Spending almost 24 hours with one of the RZD railway birds

From the “high” north to germany’s south in under 7 hours, from one metropolis to another in four hours, quiet, unhurried and pleasant, from russia with snow, an overnight journey in the russian grand express, an overnight journey by nightjet and the early morning in berlin., travel in style with russian railways, need a cheap place to sleep we recommend booking.com, find a cheap flight compare prices on kiwi.com.

Do you have questions about the connection between Moscow and Zurich? Does something not work as it should? Just ask in our forum and get competent answers from our rail travel experts.

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Prague Hlavni station guide

Recommended hotels in Prague

Before you buy your tickets

Take a moment to read these important tips for buying European train tickets . They answer all the usual questions, "Do I need to book in advance or can I buy at the station?", "Can I stop off?", "Are there Senior fares?" and that old favourite, "Should I buy an $800 railpass or a €35 point-to-point ticket?". How far ahead can you buy train tickets?

European train travel FAQ

Prague to Český krumlov.

Český Krumlov is the 2nd most-visited place in the Czech Republic after Prague, a lovely picturesque town. It's easy to get there from Prague by train, you can do it as a day trip. For times, fares, photos & tips, see the Český Krumlov page .

Check train times from Prague to Cesky Krumlov at int.bahn.de or jizdnirady.idnes.cz .

There are regular departures with a change at Ceske Budejovice onto a branch line train, or there is one direct air-conditioned express every day leaving Prague Hlavni at 09:21, arriving Cesky Krumlov 11:50.

The fare is 386 CZK (€16) in 2nd class or 484 CZK (€20) with 1st class travel on the mainline train.

This is a OneTicket fare, which covers both the CD mainline train and the GWTR branch line train.

How to buy tickets

The branch line trains between Ceske Budejovice & Cesky Krumlov are run by private operator GWTR, but you can buy a through ticket between Prague & Český Krumlov at the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz or at the CD ticket office at Prague Hlavni .

For more information see the Český Krumlov page .

Prague to Brno, Ostrava, Karlovy Vary & elsewhere in the Czech Republic

You can buy tickets at the Czech Railways (CD) website www.cd.cz , see my tips & advice for using it .

Booking opens 60 days ahead . You print your own ticket.

Within the Czech Republic, reservation is unnecessary, you can usually just turn up, buy a full-flex ticket and hop on the next train. Tickets are valid on any train that day, or for journeys over 100km, on any train that day and the following day. Indeed, you can even just hop on a train and pay on board if you find the conductor immediately and don't mind paying an extra CZK 40 (about €1.50).

The exception is the premier SuperCity (SC) pendolino trains which require a seat reservation in addition to a ticket.

Prague to Brno

Prague to Brno takes about 2h40, full-flex fare about 429 CZK (€18) or book an advance-purchase fare from 289 CZK (€12). Private operator www.regiojet.com also operates trains on this route, see what Regiojet trains are like here .

Prague to Ostrava

Prague to Ostrava takes about 3h01 using CD's excellent tilting pendolino SuperCity (SC) trains, or 3h25 by slightly slower InterCity or EuroCity trains. The full-flex SuperCity fare is about 530 CZK (€22) bought on the day, but advance-purchase fares start at 289 CZK (€12).

In addition to the regular Czech Railways (CD) trains, two good private operators now link Prague and Ostrava, RegioJet ( www.regiojet.com ) and Leo Express ( www.leoexpress.com ). Unlike CD's tickets, tickets for both Regiojet & Leo Express automatically include a reservation but are only valid on the specific train you book. What are Regiojet trains like? What are Leo Express trains like?

Prague to Plzen takes about 1h35, full-flex fare about 219 CZK (€9), or slightly cheaper if you book ahead.

Prague to Karlovy Vary takes about 3h13 by train, the fare is about 484 CZK (€20) or slightly cheaper if you book ahead.

Suggested day trips from Prague

You can check times for all these trips at www.cd.cz and either buy online or simply buy at the station on the day.

Cesky Krumlov: See the Cesky Krumlov page . The route to Cesky Krumlov takes you via Ceske Budejovice, formerly known as Budweis , and you can visit the brewery centre there home of the original Budweiser , www.budejovickybudvar.cz .

Karlštejn castle: Frequent stopping trains from Prague Hlavni towards Beroun, get off at Karlštejn station, it's then a delightful 1 km walk up through the village to the castle. See www.hrad-karlstejn.cz .

Konopište castle , home of Archduke Franz Ferdinand: Regular express trains run from Prague Hlavni towards Ceske Budéjovice, get off at Benešov (where Franz Ferdinand had a private waiting room), then walk a 2 km footpath through the Konopište estate. See www.zamek-konopiste.cz .

Kutna Hora old town: Regular express trains run from Prague Hlavni towards Brno, get off at Kutna Hora Hlavni (main) station outside town and change onto a little 4-wheel railbus train which goes into a siding, reverses, then heads off to Kutna Hora Mesto (town) station for the cathedral and silver mines. See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kutná_Hora .

Křivoklat castle: Take a fast train from Prague Hlavni to Beroun, then a little railbus train up the lovely Berounka valley line towards Rakovnik. Křivoklat is a request stop, then follow your nose to the castle. See www.hrad-krivoklat.cz .

Prague to London

See the London to Prague page for train travel between London & Prague in either direction.

Prague to Paris from €55

Option 1, Prague to Paris overnight, using the Prague-Karlsruhe sleeper - easily the most time-effective option

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

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

Book the sleeper train at the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz . Booking opens 2 or 3 months ahead .

Leave 2nd class selected. Do not select 1st class even if you want a deluxe sleeper as the sleeper train won't show up. The train will appear in the search results twice , both marked No transfers . The first appearance is the seats carriages marked EC (EuroCity), ignore this. Click the buy button against the second appearance of this train, with a sleeper & couchette symbol marked EN for EuroNight, and continue. Use the modify & edit features to adjust the type of couchette & sleeper. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

You can also try booking at the Austrian Railways site www.oebb.at .

This 320 km/h (199 mph) double-deck TGV Duplex has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. Book an upper deck seat for the best views, any seat number >60 is upper deck.

Option 2, Prague to Paris using the Prague-Zurich sleeper - also a time-effective option, very similar to option 1 above

Fares start at €45 with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper, €59 with a bed in a cosy 2-bed sleeper, or €112 with a bed in a single-bed sleeper all to yourself, all per person per bed. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Option 2, Prague to Paris using the Linz-Paris Nightjet sleeper train , 3 times a week - also safe, comfortable & time-effective

Step 1, travel from Prague to Linz by EuroCity train , leaving Prague Hlavni at 14:21 and arriving Linz Hbf at 18:06.

Tip: Don't risk any tight connections when you have a sleeper train to catch. Have dinner in Linz.

Tip: If you have a sleeper ticket, you can use the ÖBB lounge at Linz Hbf between trains, with complimentary refreshments & free WiFi. Open every day until 21:00.

This comfortable Austrian Nightjet train has two air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-cars each 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 a couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and an ordinary seats car. 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 .

Fares start at €49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, €59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, €89.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €109.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €159.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Option 3, Prague to Paris in a single day from €54.90 - the cheapest option, a chill-out day

Leave Prague Hlavni 05:35, arrive Munich Hbf 11:18. Leave Munich Hbf 13:28, change at Mannheim, arriving Paris Gare de l'Est 20:43.

Leave Prague Hlavni 07:35, arrive Munich Hbf 13:18. Leave Munich Hbf 15:27, change at Mannheim, arriving Paris Gare de l'Est 22:13.

You travel from Prague Hlavni to Munich Hbf by express train with a minibar serving drinks & snacks, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. More about these Prague-Munich trains .

You travel from Munich Hbf to Mannheim by ICE train with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

Step 1, book from Prague to Munich at the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz .

You can also use int.bahn.de , but the Czech site is usually cheaper. Booking normally opens 92 days ahead . Change the Czech flag to the UK flag for English and for 1st class click More options and select it before running the enquiry. Look for options marked No transfers (ALX) . You print your own ticket.

Step 2, book from Munich to Paris at the German Railways website int.bahn.de .

Before running the enquiry, change Transfer time from normal to 20 minutes .

Option 4, Prague to Paris with overnight stop in Munich, from €55 - As option 2, but an overnight stop in Munich breaks up the trip nicely

Book this at the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz .

Booking usually opens 92 days ahead . Change the Czech flag to the UK flag for English and for 1st class click More options and select it before running the enquiry. Look for options marked No transfers (ALX) . You print your own ticket.

Prague to Lyon , Avignon, Aix en Provence, Marseille

Option 1, Prague to Lyon & southern France with an overnight stop in Munich

Booking usually opens 92 days ahead . Switch it to English by selecting the UK flag and look in the search results for departures shown as No transfers (Ex) . You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

Day 2, travel from Munich to Mannheim by ICE train , leaving Munich Hbf at 10:46 and arriving Mannheim Hbf at 13:28.

Then travel from Mannheim to France by TGV Duplex , leaving Mannheim at 14:39 arriving Lyon Part Dieu 19:56, Avignon TGV 21:09, Aix en Provence TGV 21:31 & Marseille St Charles 21:46.

The ICE train has a restaurant car, the TGV Duplex has a cafe-bar, both trains have power sockets at all seats & free WiFi

Fares from Munich to Lyon, Avignon, Aix or Marseille start at €49.90 in 2nd class or €79.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares.

Book from Munich to Lyon, Avignon, Aix or Marseille at the German Railways website int.bahn.de .

Before running the enquiry, change Transfer time from normal to 40 minutes . This gets you a robust connection in Mannheim with time for a coffee, not a risky 11-minute connection.

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

Option 2, Prague to Lyon & southern France using the Prague-Zurich sleeper

Step 1, travel from Prague to Zurich by overnight sleeping-car as shown in the Prague to Switzerland section below .

Step 2, travel from Zurich to Geneva by Swiss Intercity train, journey time 2h45. These run twice an hour.

Step 3, travel from Geneva to Lyon by TER regional train , these run every two hours or so, taking 2h. You should make the 13:14 arriving Lyon Part Dieu at 15:22, although you might find an earlier connection is possible on some dates.

Book the Prague Zurich sleeper as shown in the Prague to Switzerland section below .

Book from Geneva to Lyon using www.thetrainline.com . You print your own tickets.

Prague to Nice , Cannes, Monte Carlo

Option 1, Prague to Nice & the South of France using the Vienna-Milan sleeper

This excellent air-conditioned railjet train has a restaurant car with draught beer on tap, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. Or book an earlier train and spend an afternoon in Vienna.

Fares start at €14.90 in 2nd class, €29.90 in 1st class or €44.90 in business class (premium 1st). Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Tip: If you have a sleeper ticket, you can use the ÖBB lounge at Vienna Hbf between trains, with complimentary refreshments & free WiFi.

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 .

Fares start at €59.90 in 6-berth couchettes, €69.90 in 4-berth couchettes, €89.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €109.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €159.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, same prices). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead . You print your own ticket.

This is a lovely scenic ride along the Italian Riviera.

Fares start at €19.90 in 2nd class or €26.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Step 4, travel from Ventimiglia to France by TER local train , leaving Ventimiglia 15:16, arriving Monte Carlo 15:47, Nice Ville 16:11, Cannes 16:53.

The fare is €9.20, promotional fares of €5 or €7.50 are sometimes available. 2nd class only.

Buy a ticket at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com .

Booking opens up to 4 months ahead . You print your own ticket or can show a mobile ticket on your phone.

Option 2, Prague to Nice & the South of France with an overnight stop in Verona - mountains and coastline

Fares start at €16 in 2nd class or €39 in 1st class. These are limited-availability advance-purchase fares.

Buy a ticket at the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz .

Booking usually opens 92 days ahead . Change the Czech flag to the UK flag for English and for 1st class click More options and select it before running the enquiry. You print your own ticket.

It's a lovely scenic ride along the Italian Riviera between Genoa and Ventimiglia, through Savona and San Remo. If you'd like a morning in Verona, a 13:02 departure from Verona to France is also available, see the timetable here .

Fares start at €38.90 in 2nd class or €59.80 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Booking opens up to 4 months ahead . You print your own ticket or can show a mobile ticket on your phone. You can also book at the French Railways website, www.sncf-connect.com (in €, no fee).

Option 3, Prague to Nice & the South of France with overnight stop in Venice - A little longer than option 2, but with a stopover in Venice

It's a lovely scenic ride along the Italian Riviera between Genoa and Ventimiglia, through Savona and San Remo.

The fare is a fixed-price €9.20, promotional fares of €5 or €7.50 are sometimes available. 2nd class only.

Prague to Brussels & Bruges

Option 1, Prague to Brussels direct by European Sleeper - a time-effective & scenic option, 3 times a week

The European Sleeper leaves Prague Hlavni at 18:04 on Tuesdays, Thursdays & Sundays, arriving Brussels Midi 09:27.

The European Sleeper has a comfortable sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed rooms with washbasin, economical couchette cars with 5 & 6 berth compartments and ordinary seats. A light breakfast is included in the sleepers. More about the European Sleeper .

Fares start at €49 in a seat, €79 with a couchette in 6-berth, €99 with a couchette in 5-berth, €109 with a bed in 3-bed sleeper, €129 with a bed in 2-bed sleeper, €159 with a bed in single-bed sleeper. All per person per berth. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book the sleeper at www.europeansleeper.eu .

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

For Bruges , change in Brussels. Belgian domestic trains link Brussels Midi and Bruges twice an hour taking around an hour, buy a ticket at www.belgiantrain.be/en or at the station when you get to Brussels and hop on the next train.

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

In summer when it's light you'll see great scenery along the Elbe river between Prague & Dresden. This is a morning view from the eastbound sleeper.

Option 2, Prague to Brussels in a day - a chill-out day with free WiFi and some great scenery

Leave Prague Hlavni at 06:28, change at Berlin Hbf & Cologne Hbf , arriving Brussels Midi at 19:35.

Leave Prague Hlavni at 08:28, change at Berlin Hbf & Cologne Hbf , arriving Brussels Midi at 21:35.

Option 3, Prague to Brussels using the Berlin-Brussels Nightjet sleeper - another time-effective option, 3 times a week

Step 1, travel from Prague to Berlin by EuroCity train , leaving Prague Hlavni at 14:28 and arriving Berlin Hbf 18:43.

This comfortable air-conditioned EuroCity train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. Treat yourself to dinner with wine as the train rolls along the scenic Elbe valley towards Dresden. More about this EuroCity train .

Fares start at €18.90 each way in 2nd class, €27.40 each way in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Buy a ticket at the German Railways website int.bahn.de .

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

In Berlin, the bar of the Steigenberger Hotel just outside the station makes an excellent VIP waiting room, it offers both drinks and food. You've time for an evening stroll to the Reichstag and Brandenburg Gate , just 17 minutes walk from the station.

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 a couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and an ordinary seats car. 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 .

This train started running from 10 December 2023, it's expected to become daily from autumn 2024.

Option 4, Prague to Brussels with an overnight stop in Berlin - same as option 2 but with an overnight stop

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.

Leave Berlin Hbf 10:57, change at Cologne Hbf , arrive Brussels Midi 17:35.

Prague to Amsterdam from €46.90

Option 1, Prague to Amsterdam by European Sleeper - the most direct & time-effective option, 3 times a week

The European Sleeper leaves Prague Hlavni at 18:04 on Tuesdays, Thursdays & Sundays, arriving Amsterdam Centraal at 06:26 next morning.

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

Option 2, Prague to Amsterdam in a single day - how about a few hours in Berlin?

Leave Prague Hlavni 06:28 by EuroCity train , change at Berlin Hbf onto an InterCity train , arrive Amsterdam Centraal 18:00.

Leave Prague Hlavni 08:28 by EuroCity train , change at Berlin Hbf onto an InterCity train , arrive Amsterdam Centraal 20:00.

You travel from Prague Hlavni to Berlin Hbf by air-conditioned EuroCity train with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, with great scenery along the scenic Elbe valley between Prague & Dresden. More about the Prague-Berlin journey .

Buy tickets at the German Railways website int.bahn.de .

Booking opens up to 6 months ahead . In the search results, look for journeys with 1 change. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

Option 3, Prague to Amsterdam with an overnight stop in Berlin - same as option 1 but with an overnight stop

Buy a ticket at the German Railways website int.bahn.de .

To get the overnight stop in Berlin, click Stopovers , enter Berlin Hbf with a suitable length of stay, say 14 hours. Adjust the departure time and increase or decreases the length of stay to get the trains you want either side of Berlin. A little trial and error is sometimes needed!

Prague to Luxembourg from €46.90

You can travel from Prague to Luxembourg from €46.90. For example:

Leave Prague Hlavni at 07:35, changing at Regensburg & Koblenz arriving Luxembourg 20:22.

Leave Prague Hlavni at 09:35, changing at Regensburg & Koblenz arriving Luxembourg 21:29.

You travel from Prague to Regensburg by express train with minibar serving drinks & snacks, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

Regensburg to Koblenz is by superb German ICE train with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

This train travels via the scenic Rhine Valley between Mainz & Koblenz, past river boats, vineyards, castles & the legendary Lorelei Rock, see the Rails Down the Rhine page .

Koblenz to Luxembourg is by double-deck regional train, sit upstairs for the best views as the train snakes along the Moselle river.

Fares start at €46.90 in 2nd class or €59.90 in 1st class.

Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Prague to Zurich , Basel, Geneva & Switzerland from €37.90

Option 1, Prague to Basel & Zurich by sleeper train - safe, comfortable, time-effective

Since December 2022 there's been a second overnight train between Prague & Zurich, in addition to the Prague-Zurich sleeping-car routed via Linz & Austria shown in option 2. This train is routed via Dresden & Basel and has both a sleeping-car & couchettes. It saves time compared to flying and saves a hotel bill, too!

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

Change at Basel SBB or Zurich HB for destinations all over Switzerland.

Buy tickets at the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz .

Booking opens 2 or 3 months ahead . Leave 2nd class selected. Do not select 1st class even if you want a deluxe sleeper as the sleeper train won't show up. The train will appear in the search results twice , both marked No transfers . The first appearance is the seats carriages marked EC (EuroCity), ignore this. Click the buy button against the second appearance of this train, with a sleeper & couchette symbol marked EN for EuroNight, and continue. Use the modify & edit features to adjust the type of couchette & sleeper.

You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone. You can also try booking at the Austrian Railways site www.oebb.at .

Option 2, Prague to Zurich by direct sleeping-car - safe, comfortable, time-effective

Tip: To book a sleeper, click Modify against Sleeper berths when the reservations page appears and change Sleeper - automatically to Sleeper deluxe - automatically if you want a deluxe sleeper with shower & toilet. Just remember there are only 3 such compartments on the whole train! Click the pencil icon to toggle the type of sleeper between 1, 2 & 3 bed. You are booking berths, not compartments, one person = one ticket = one bed, so if you book 2 people in a 2-berth you get the whole compartment, if you book 2 people in a 3-berth the third bed may be sold to another passenger of the same gender.

Option 3, Prague to Switzerland in a single day from €37.90 - the cheapest option

This is the fastest, easiest and usually cheapest option. Prague to Switzerland in one day with not an airport in sight!

Leave Prague Hlavni at 05:35 arriving Munich Hbf 11:18. Leave Munich Hbf at 12:54 arriving Zurich HB 16:27.

Leave Prague Hlavni at 07:35 arriving Munich Hbf 13:18. Leave Munich Hbf at 14:54 arriving Zurich HB 18:27.

Leave Prague Hlavni at 09:35 arriving Munich Hbf 15:18. Leave Munich Hbf at 16:53 arriving Zurich HB 20:27.

Leave Prague Hlavni at 11:35 arriving Munich Hbf 17:18. Leave Munich Hbf at 18:51 arriving Zurich HB 22:27.

You travel from Prague to Munich by express train , with minibar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. More about Prague-Munich trains . You then travel from Munich to Zurich by bullet-nosed EuroCity train with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. More about Munich-Zurich trains .

How much does it cost?

Prague to Switzerland starts at €37.90 in 2nd class or €56.90 in 1st class.

Booking opens up to 6 months ahead . In the search results, look for a journey with 1 change (or 2 changes, if going beyond Zurich), marked EX, ALX, EC. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

Option 4, Prague to Switzerland with an overnight stop in Munich - same as option 3, but with an overnight stop in Munich.

These comfortable EuroCity trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. More about Munich-Zurich trains .

To get the overnight stop in Munich, click Stopovers , enter Munich Hbf and a suitable length of stay, say, 10 hours.

In the search results, look for a journey with 1 change (or 2 changes, if going beyond Zurich), marked EX, ALX, EC.

Option 5, Prague to Switzerland with overnight in Salzburg, from €54 - a recommended option, great scenery & chance to see Salzburg

OK, so this route takes a tad longer than via Munich, it usually costs a euro or two more and involves two changes of train not one. But the scenery through the wonderful Arlberg Pass between Austria and Switzerland makes it worth considering.

Day 1, travel from Prague to Salzburg in 5h25, there are various departures using comfortable air-conditioned trains with 1 easy change at Linz, see the timetable here .

Fares start at €23.70 in 2nd class or €42.50 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book this at the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz , change the Czech flag to the UK flag for English. If you want 1st class click More options and select it before running the enquiry. Booking usually opens 92 days ahead . You print your own ticket.

Stay overnight in Salzburg. The Austria Trend Hotel Europa and H+ Hotel Salzburg are across the road from Salzburg Hbf with good reviews.

Day 2, travel from Salzburg Hbf to Zurich HB in 5h24 by smart Austrian Railjet train , there's a departure every two hours.

These trains travel through the lovely scenic Arlberg Pass, with a restaurant car with draught beer on tap, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. More about railjets . See the Arlberg Pass scenery video .

Fares start at €29.90 in 2nd class, €44.90 in 1st class or €59.90 in business class (premium 1st class, a real treat).

Book this at www.thetrainline.com (easiest to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, same prices). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead . You print your own ticket.

Prague to Venice , Milan, Florence, Rome, Naples & Italy

Option 1, Prague to Italy using the Vienna-Rome or Vienna-Venice Nightjet sleeper train - the most comfortable & time-effective option, recommended!

By all means book an earlier train and spend some time in Vienna, left luggage is available . Suggested restaurants for dinner .

Tip: If you have a sleeping-car ticket, you can use the ÖBB Lounge at Vienna Hbf between trains, with complimentary tea, coffee & free WiFi.

Step 2, travel from Vienna to Italy overnight by Nightjet sleeper train .

A Nightjet leaves Vienna Hbf at 19:18 every evening, with a portion arriving Verona Porta Nuova 05:51, Milan Rogoredo 07:42, Genoa Piazza Principe 09:38 & La Spezia 11:10, another portion arriving Bologna Centrale 05:15, Florence 06:52 & Rome Termini 09:10.

Another Nightjet leaves Vienna Hbf at 21:40 arriving Venice Santa Lucia on the banks of the Grand Canal at 08:34.

These comfortable Austrian Nightjet trains each have one or two air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-cars 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 .

Fares start at €49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, €59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, €69.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €89.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €139.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Step 3, book onward trains from Rome to Naples, Rome to Sicily or Milan to Genoa (for example) at either www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, recognisees English place-names) or www.italiarail.com (easy to use, recognises English place names, the small booking fee will be refunded if you email them at [email protected] afterwards) or Italian Railways own website www.trenitalia.com (requires Italian language place names, read this advice on using it first ). I'd allow at least an hour between the nightjet arrival and any onward train. Booking opens up to 4 months ahead .

Option 2, Prague to Venice in a single day from €44.80, comfy, scenic

Step 1, travel from Prague to Vienna by Czech railjet train , leaving Prague Hlavni at 06:44 and arriving Vienna Hbf at 10:49.

The excellent railjet train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

Fares start at €28.30 in 2nd class, €56.60 in 1st class or €71.60 in business class (premium 1st). Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, same prices). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead . You print your own ticket.

Step 3, next day take a train from Venice Santa Lucia to Milan, Florence, Rome or Naples.

Option 3, Prague to Venice with an overnight stop in Vienna from €44.80 - same as option 2, but an overnight stop breaks up the journey nicely

Day 1, travel from Prague to Vienna on any railjet train you like in 4h05, see the Prague-Vienna timetable here .

You can leave Prague Hlavni as late as 18:44 arriving Vienna Hbf at 22:49, but I'd book an earlier train and spend a leisurely evening in Vienna. The railjet has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

Fares start at €14.90 in 2nd class, €29.90 in 1st class or €44.90 in business class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Day 2, travel from Vienna to Venice by smart Austrian railjet train , leaving Vienna Hbf at 06:24 arriving Venice Santa Lucia at 14:05.

Option 4, Prague to Florence or Rome by scenic daytime trains with overnight stop in Munich, from €54

Book this train at the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz , switch it to English by selecting the UK flag and look in the search results for departures shown as No transfers (Ex) . Booking usually opens 92 days ahead . You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

Prague to Barcelona, Madrid & Spain

Option 1, Prague to Barcelona & Spain with overnight stop in Munich

Day 2, travel from Paris to Barcelona by TGV Duplex , leaving Paris Gare de Lyon at 14:42 and arriving Barcelona Sants at 21:27.

The high-speed TGV Duplex has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats and free WiFi. I recommend an upstairs seat for the best views, any seat number >60. It's a scenic and very comfortable journey, see more about the journey from Paris to Barcelona .

Fares start at €39 in 2nd class or €59 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book this train at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, no fee).

Stay overnight in Barcelona. The Hotel Barcelo Sants is top choice here, it's part of Barcelona Sants station so easy to use when arriving & departing by train, with great reviews & good feedback from Seat61 users. See other suggested hotels near the station .

Day 3, travel from Barcelona Sants to anywhere in Spain by high-speed train.

Book trains in Spain at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com or the Spanish Railways website www.renfe.com (much more fiddly, may reject some overseas credit cards, see advice on using it ). Booking normally opens 60 days ahead , but this varies greatly.

For Madrid: AVE-S103 high-speed trains link Barcelona Sants with Madrid Atocha every hour or two in as little as 2h30 from €35.

For Granada: Leave Barcelona Sants at 06:45 by AVE S112 high-speed train arriving Granada at 13:10.

For Malaga: Leave Barcelona Sants at 08:35 by AVE-S112 high-speed train arriving Malaga Maria Zambrano at 14:51.

For Cordoba & Seville: Leave Barcelona Sants at 08:35 by AVE-S112 high-speed train arriving Cordoba 13:42 & Seville Santa Justa 14:32.

For Valencia & Alicante: EuroMed trains link Barcelona Sants with Valencia & Alicante regularly through the day, for example one leaves Barcelona Sants at 07:15 Mondays-Saturdays arriving Valencia Joaquin Sorolla 10:10 & Alicante 12:38 or at 10:15 every day arriving Valencia Joaquin Sorolla 13:13 & Alicante 15:32.

For Santiago de Compostela, A Coruna & Vigo , there's a morning Alvia train to Galicia, see details here .

Option 2, Prague to Barcelona & Spain with overnight stop in Paris

The train has a minibar serving drinks & snacks, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. More about these Prague-Munich trains .

Fares starts at €16 in 2nd class or €39 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Day 1, travel from Munich to Paris, leaving Munich Hbf at 15:27, change at Mannheim, arriving Paris Gare de l'Est at 22:13.

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

Fares start at €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book this at the German Railways website int.bahn.de .

Before running the enquiry, change Transfer time from normal to 30 minutes .

Booking opens up to 6 months ahead , exact times may vary. Make sure you have at least 45 minutes between trains in Munich. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

Stay overnight in Paris . The Mercure Paris Gare De Lyon is part of the Gare de Lyon station complex, ideal for an early train next morning. See other suggested hotels near the Gare de l'Est & Gare de Lyon .

Day 2, travel from Paris to Barcelona by TGV Duplex , leaving Paris Gare de Lyon at 09:42 and arriving Barcelona Sants at 16:31.

The high-speed TGV Duplex has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats and free WiFi. I recommend an upstairs seat for the best views. It's a comfortable and scenic journey. More about the journey from Paris to Barcelona .

Day 2, travel from Barcelona to Madrid, Valencia, Alicante by high-speed train.

A high-speed AVE leaves Barcelona Sants at 18:25, arriving Madrid Atocha 20:55, with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

A fast EuroMed train leaves Barcelona Sants at 18:15 arriving Valencia Joaquin Sorolla 21:07 & Alicante 23:40.

For Granada, Seville, Cordoba & Malaga, stay in Barcelona overnight, I recommend the Hotel Barcelo Sants inside the station. Next morning direct high-speed AVE trains leave Barcelona Sants at 06:45 for Granada and 08:35 for Cordoba, Seville Santa Justa & Malaga Maria Zambrano.

Option 3, Prague to Barcelona & Spain using the Prague-Zurich sleeper & with overnight stop in Marseille - a pleasant alternative

Day 1, travel from Prague to Zurich by direct sleeping-car, leaving Prague Hlavni at 18:20 & arriving Zurich HB at 08:20.

This comfortable Czech Comfortline sleeping-car has nine 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 & 3 bed deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. More about this Prague to Zurich sleeper train .

Fares start at €45 with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper, €59 with a bed in a cosy 2-bed sleeper, or €112 with a bed in a single-bed sleeper.

Book this train at the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz .

Booking usually opens 60 days ahead . You print your own ticket.

Day 2, travel from Zurich to Marseille by high-speed TGV, leaving Zurich HB 13:34, changing at Dijon and arriving Marseille St Charles 19:47.

Times vary, check your date online. The Zurich-Dijon TGV-Lyria & Dijon-Marseille TGV have a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

Fares start at around €60. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book this journey at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, no fee).

Stay overnight in Marseille . Inexpensive hotels with good reviews just outside Marseille St Charles station include the Ibis Marseille Centre Gare St Charles , Holiday Inn Express Marseille St Charles .

Fares from Marseille to Barcelona start at €25 in 2nd class or €45 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Fares from Marseille to Madrid start at €44 in 2nd class or €54 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book this journey at either www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee) or using Renfe's own website www.renfe.com (in €, much more fiddly, may reject some overseas credit cards, see advice on using it ).

Day 3, take a high-speed train from Barcelona to Valencia & Alicante or from Madrid to Cordoba, Seville, Granada, Malaga.

A fast EuroMed train leaves Barcelona Sants at 16:10 arriving Valencia Joaquin Sorolla 19:02 & Alicante 21:34.

Buy tickets at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee) or Renfe's own site www.renfe.com (in €, much more fiddly, may reject some overseas credit cards, see advice on using it ). You print your own ticket.

Booking normally opens 60 days ahead , but it varies. Allow at least 60 minutes between trains in Barcelona or Madrid.

Prague to San Sebastian

Step 1, travel from Prague to Paris by sleeping-car & TGV-Lyria as shown in the Prague to Paris section above .

Book this train at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both sites easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, no fee).

Step 3, transfer from Hendaye to San Sebastian by Euskotren metro, every 30 minutes, journey 37 minutes, fare €2.75.

Simply walk out of Hendaye station and turn right, the little Euskotren station is just 50m away. Buy a ticket at the Euskotren station from the machines or staffed counter with cash or card and hop on the next half-hourly Euskotren to San Sebastian Amara station. More about the Paris to San Sebastian journey .

Prague to Lisbon & Portugal

Day 2, travel from Paris to Barcelona by TGV Duplex leaving Paris Gare de Lyon at 09:42 and arriving Barcelona Sants at 16:31.

This 320 km/h (199 mph) double-deck TGV has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. It's a comfortable & scenic journey. More about the journey from Paris to Barcelona .

Fares start at €39 in 2nd class or €59 in 1st class. Fares work like air fares, so book ahead.

Book this at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com . Booking for the TGV opens up to 4 months ahead .

Day 2, travel from Barcelona to Madrid by AVE high-speed train , leaving Barcelona Sants at 18:25 and arriving Madrid Atocha at 20:55.

The AVE has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. More about trains from Barcelona to Madrid .

Fares start at €38 in Standard class or €45 in Comfort class. Fares work like air fares, so book ahead.

Book this at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com . Booking normally opens 60 days ahead , but this varies greatly.

Prague to Andorra

Prague to berlin from €18.90 or dresden from €15.

Comfortable EuroCity trains with restaurant car link Prague Hlavni with Berlin Hbf in 4h09 every 2 hours, see the timetable here .

Fares start at €18.90 in 2nd class or €37.90 in 1st class.

Book at int.bahn.de or www.cd.cz and print your own ticket.

Booking opens up to 6 months ahead on int.bahn.de, 92 days ahead on cd.cz.

For times, fares, tips, photos, video & how to buy tickets, see the Prague to Berlin page .

Prague to Munich from €15

Every day, 7 comfortable trains link Prague Hlavni with Munich Hbf , see the Prague to Munich page .

Fares start at just €16 or from €39 in 1st class. These are limited-availability advance-purchase fares.

It's a great journey by train, with air-conditioning, power sockets and (in most cars) free WiFi. Pleasant Bohemian woodland and farm scenery comes as standard.

Book at the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz , see tips & advice for using it . Look for trains marked No transfers (Ex) .

Booking usually opens 92 days ahead . You print out your own ticket. Easy!

Also check the German Railways website int.bahn.de , but CD is usually cheaper.

Prague to Frankfurt from €19

Option 1 , via Dresden with 1 change: This would be my first choice, a lovely journey. You'll see this option every two hours with 1 transfer marked EC, ICE. If you click the Show details link you'll see the change is at Dresden with just over an hour between trains.

I'd choose this option even though it's not the fastest, as it's the simplest with only 1 change of train. It uses a comfortable EuroCity train from Prague to Dresden and a high-quality ICE train from Dresden to Frankfurt, with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, it takes you over the scenic line along the Elbe river valley between Prague and Dresden, see the photos & video . The bonus? An hour or so in Dresden is enough time for a look-round, the Frauenkirche is 22 minutes walk from the station. Or just have a coffee. What's not to like?

Option 3 , via Cheb with 3 changes, marked IC, RE, RE, ICE: This is usually the fastest option, using a swish air-conditioned Czech Interjet train to Cheb, then a smart German regional express from Cheb to Marktredwitz to Nuremberg and a superb German ICE train to Frankfurt. You'll see it roughly every couple of hours, The trains are comfortable, scenery pretty enough, you can see what the trains and scenery are like on this route on the Prague via Cheb page . But with an extra change in Marktredwitz needed in 2024, it's just too many changes.

Prague to Nuremberg from €17

Trains link Prague with Nuremberg every hour, departures from Prague Hlavni are at 05:35 then every hour at xx:35 until 17:35.

Departures on odd-numbered hours take 4h40 with 1 change at Schwandorf, using a Prague-Munich express train as far as Schwandorf then a German regional train.

Departures on even-numbered hours take 4h45 with 2 changes at Cheb & Marktredwitz, using a swish Czech Interjet train from Prague to Cheb, then two German regional trains. Both changes are easy, the interchange at Cheb simply means walking a few metres across the platform. More about the journey from Prague to Nuremberg via Cheb .

German Railways (DB) and Czech Railways) both sell these same trains, but with different pricing. Use whichever suits.

Buy tickets at the German Railways website int.bahn.de - more flexible

If you buy from the Germans, the fare is €39 one-way or €72 return with a Prague Special fare.

A Prague Special ticket is good for any departure that day via either Cheb or Schwandorf. You can buy at this price even on the day of travel.

Buy tickets at the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz - cheaper, if you pre-book and go via Cheb

Cheap advance-purchase First Minute fares start at €17 (422 CZK) or €32 (794 CZK) in 1st class.

However, you'll only find these cheap fares on the route via Cheb. For the route via Schwandorf Czech Railways only offer full-flex fares (shown as International ticket ) for €72 (1796 CZK). Obviously, you'd be better off buying a €39 Prague Special from the Germans!

Booking opens 92 days ahead , specified departure only, no changes, no refunds. You can find First Minute fares even booking a week or two ahead and you simply print your own ticket.

Prague to Rothenburg ob der Tauber from €25

Rothenburg ob der Tauber is a much-visited medieval town in Germany. It's easy to travel there by train:

06:35, changing Cheb, Marktredwitz, Nuremberg, Ansbach & Steinach arriving Rothenburg 12:51.

08:35, changing Cheb, Marktredwitz, Nuremberg, Ansbach & Steinach arriving Rothenburg 14:51.

10:35, changing Cheb, Marktredwitz, Nuremberg, Ansbach & Steinach arriving Rothenburg 16:51.

12:35, changing Cheb, Marktredwitz, Nuremberg, Ansbach & Steinach arriving Rothenburg 18:51.

14:35, changing Cheb, Marktredwitz, Nuremberg, Ansbach & Steinach arriving Rothenburg 20:51.

The changes are easy - at Cheb, it's literally walking 20 feet across the width of a platform from the excellent Czech Interjet train to the waiting German regional express to Nuremberg. And there's some nice scenery, and these are all comfortable trains with toilets, luggage space and room to move. More about the journey from Prague to Nuremberg via Cheb .

There are also departures via Schwandorf, buy DB don't offer affordable Sparpreis fares on that route, only €140+ flexible fares, so stick with the route via Cheb.

Fares start at €20.90 in 2nd class or €33.90 in 1st class.

Prague to Passau €18

Option 1, Prague to Passau through Austria, via Linz

Prague to Passau (where many river cruises start) takes 5h30 or so by train with 1 easy change in Linz in Austria.

Fares start at around €18 in 2nd class or €35 in 1st class.

These are advance-purchase First Minute fares, so book ahead.

Option 2, Prague to Passau through Germany, via Regensburg

This takes slightly longer, 5h50 to 6h50 depending how connections work, with 1 easy change at Regensburg.

You travel from Prague Hlavni to Regensburg on a comfortable Prague-Munich express train with refreshment trolley, power sockets & free WiFi, then from Regensburg to Passau Hbf on a superb German ICE-T train with restaurant car, power sockets & free WiFi.

Fares start at around €20.90 in 2nd class or €33.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book at the German Railways website int.bahn.de .

Booking opens up to 6 months ahead . Look for journeys with just 1 change. 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.

Prague to Cologne, Hamburg & other German cities

Prague to other German cities by train

The German Railways website int.bahn.de sells tickets from Prague to anywhere in Germany from €18.90 upwards.

The Czech railways website www.cd.cz also sells tickets to Germany. Booking normally opens 92 days ahead . You print your own ticket.

Prague to Vienna in 4 hours from €14.90

Option 1, Prague to Vienna by railjet train with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi

Fares start at €14.90 in 2nd class, €29.90 in 1st class or €44.90 in business class .

Option 2, by competing Regiojet train from €15 with free WiFi, power sockets & at-seat service

Prague to Linz, Hallstatt & Salzburg from €23.70: See the Prague-Salzburg page

Prague to Salzburg

You can easily travel from Prague Hlavni to Salzburg Hbf by comfortable air-conditioned train from just €23.70 with one easy change in Linz, centre to centre in around 5h25 with various departures through the day every day, see the Prague to Salzburg page .

Book at the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz and print your own ticket. Booking usually opens 92 days ahead .

Prague to Linz

Direct trains with swish air-conditioned Czech carriages link Prague with Linz several times a day in 4h05, fares from €19. See the Prague to Linz & Salzburg page .

Prague to Hallstatt

You can book Prague to Hallstatt at www.cd.cz with fares from €19 and print your own ticket.

Look for journeys with 1 easy change at Linz, journey time as little as 6h26. Booking usually opens 92 days ahead .

The train arrives at Hallstatt railway station ( Hallstatt Bahnhof ) on the east side of the Hallstatter See (Hallstatt Lake ). Hallstatt town is on the west side of the lake, so you need to take a small local ferry called the Stefanie from Hallstatt Bahnhof (to Hallstatt town, this sails shortly after most train arrivals and takes 15-20 minutes, see www.hallstattschifffahrt.at for a timetable. You pay for the ferry separately at the quayside before boarding, around €3 per crossing, children under 4 free, children under 14 at a reduced fare.

Prague to Innsbruck from €19

You can travel from Prague to Innsbruck in comfort by train with one easy change in Linz, centre to centre in 7h23 from €19.

It's an air-conditioned Czech EuroCity train from Prague Hlavni to Linz in 3h45, then a swish Austrian railjet train from Linz to Innsbruck Hbf in 2h56. There's a range of departures to choose from through the day.

On the Czech EuroCity train there's a bistro car serving drinks & meals, 1st class passengers are served at their seat, there are power sockets at all seats, free WiFi and plenty of room for luggage.

On the Austrian railjet train there's a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi - 1st class passengers have food and drink orders taken and served at their seat.

Fares start at a bargain €19 (around 550 CZK) if you pre-book. Indeed, you'll often find these €19 First Minute fares available online even looking just a few days ahead. Or treat yourself to 1st class from €39.

Buy tickets at the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz looking for journeys from Prague to Innsbruck with 1 transfer at Linz. See my tips & advice for using cd.cz . Booking usually opens 92 days ahead . You print your own ticket.

Prague to Copenhagen , Malmö, Gothenburg & Stockholm

Option 1, Prague to Stockholm using the Hamburg-Stockholm sleeper train - the time-effective option

The EuroCity train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

Have dinner in Hamburg, see suggested restaurants near the station .

Fares start at €18.90 in 2nd class or €29.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Fares start at €44.90 with a couchette in 6-berth, €69.90 with a couchette in 4-berth, €79.90 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or €164.90 with a single-bed sleeper all to yourself. All prices per person per bed, fares vary like air fares so book ahead.

Book tickets at SJ's website www.sj.se .

Option 2, Prague to Copenhagen in a day from €39.90. Onwards to Stockholm, Gothenburg or Oslo next day.

Stay overnight in Copenhagen. The friendly Astoria Hotel is a 1930s design classic right outside Copenhagen station main entrance, see photos & information here . Other hotels near the station with good reviews include the Nimb Hotel (5-star luxe), Radisson Blu Royal Hotel (5-star), Axel Guldsmeden (4-star), Andersen Boutique Hotel , First Hotel Mayfair (3-star), Hotel Ansgar (3-star), City Hotel Nebo (2-star).

For Gothenburg , travel from Copenhagen to Gothenburg Central on any hourly Öresund train you like, journey time 3h50.

Prague to Copenhagen starts at €37.90 in 2nd class or €59.90 in 1st class.

Book from Prague to Copenhagen, Stockholm, Gothenburg or Malmö at the German Railways website int.bahn.de .

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

If you have any problems booking from Prague to Sweden (for example you find no affordable 1st class fares), split the booking. First book from Prague to Copenhagen using int.bahn.de . Then book from Copenhagen to Malmö, Gothenburg or Stockholm using www.sj.se or Omio.com .

Hamburg to Copenhagen by EuroCity train . From June 2023, these trains are temporarily being operated by former German Railways intercity cars and a Danish electric locomotive, until new trains being built by Talgo arrive in 2024. The current trains have 1st & 2nd class, power sockets at seats, but no catering so bring your own food & drink. More about the Hamburg-Copenhagen journey .

2nd class seats are almost all open-plan like this. There are a handful of 6-seat 2nd class compartments in one of the coaches, but only a few.

The 1st class car has 6-seater compartments like this. Larger photo . Larger photo .

Option 3, Prague to Copenhagen with an overnight stop in Hamburg

Day 2, travel from Hamburg to Copenhagen by EuroCity train , leaving Hamburg Hbf at 08:50 arriving Copenhagen at 13:34.

Day 2 afternoon, travel from Copenhagen to Sweden or Norway.

For Malmo , travel from Copenhagen to Malmö Central by Öresund train , these run several times each hour, journey time 39 minutes.

For Gothenburg , travel from Copenhagen to Gothenburg Central by Öresund train , these run every hour, journey time 3h50.

For Stockholm , travel from Copenhagen to Stockholm by X2000 train leaving Copenhagen at 14:19 and arriving Stockholm Central 19:37.

Prague to Stockholm starts at €69.90 in 2nd class or €99.90 in 1st class.

Buy tickets at German Railways website int.bahn.de .

To get the overnight stop in Hamburg, click Stopovers and enter Hamburg Hbf with a suitable length of stay, say 11 hours. Adjust the departure time and length of stay to get the trains you want each side of Hamburg.

Option 4, Prague to Copenhagen with an overnight stop in Berlin

Prague to Copenhagen starts at €37.90 in 2nd class or €59.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

To get the overnight stop in Berlin, click Stopovers and enter Berlin Hbf with a suitable length of stay, say 11 hours. Adjust the departure time and length of stay to get the trains you want each side of Berlin.

Booking opens up to 6 months ahead . 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.

Prague to Oslo & Norway

Option 1, Prague to Oslo with overnight stop in Copenhagen - by train all the way

Day 2, travel from Copenhagen to Oslo by train, leaving Copenhagen at 09:30, change at Gothenburg Central, arriving Oslo Sentral 17:44.

Earlier & later departures are available, see the Copenhagen-Oslo timetable & how to buy tickets here .

Option 2, Prague to Oslo with overnight stop in Hamburg - by train all the way

Option 3, Prague to Oslo via the Kiel-Oslo cruise ferry - the most comfortable way to Oslo

Prague to Helsinki & Finland

Option 1, Prague to Helsinki using a Finnlines ferry from Germany - the easiest option

Day 1, travel from Prague to Hamburg by EuroCity train , leaving Prague Hlavni at 10:28 and arriving Hamburg Hbf 17:11.

The EuroCity train has a restaurant car, power sockets at seats & free WiFi. There's great scenery between Prague and Dresden along the Elbe river, see the photos & video here .

Tip: You should book from Praha hl.n. to Skandinavienkai Terminal, Lübeck as one transaction as this gets you a through ticket to the ferry terminal covering the train from Prague to Hamburg, the regional train to Lübeck and the bus to the Skandinavienkai Terminal. If you'd like time for dinner in Lübeck ( see suggested restaurant here ), click Stopovers and enter Lübeck Hbf with a length of stay of (say) 2 hours, entering an earlier departure time.

Day 1, travel from Hamburg Hbf to Lübeck by regional train then take a bus to the Skandinavienkai ferry terminal in Travemünde.

Tip: Have dinner in Lübeck's old town, see suggested restaurant here .

Sail from Travemünde to Helsinki by Finnlines ferry. Finnlines sail from Travemünde to Helsinki every day, boarding at 23:30, sailing at 02:45 (the exact time varies) and arriving at Helsinki's Hansa Terminal in Vuosaari at 09:15 2 nights later (Day 3 from Prague).

For details of the transfer, check-in arrangements & ferry crossing, see here .

Book the ferry using the Direct Ferries website or at www.finnlines.com .

Book onward trains within Finland at the Finnish Railways website www.vr.fi .

Option 2, Prague to Helsinki by train to Stockholm, then ferry

Step 1, travel from Prague to Stockholm as shown above .

Prague to Bratislava from €15

Option 1, Prague to Bratislava by EuroCity train run by the Czech & Slovakian & national railways - the most frequent option

Option 2, Prague to Bratislava by competing Regiojet train - 4 per day, can be cheaper, with great on-board service

Option 3, Prague to Bratislava by sleeper train - the time-effective option

Prague to Poprad Tatry & Košice

Option 1, Prague to Poprad Tatry & Kosice by daytime train - choose from 3 competing operators

SuperCity trains are high-quality tilting Italian-designed pendolinos , all seats reserved, with cafe-bar, food & drink orders taken and served at your seat, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. See the SuperCity train information on the CD website ( please let me know if this link stops working).

If you book ahead even a few days or weeks, First Minute advance-purchase fares with the SuperCity reservation included start at €19 in 2nd class or €39 in 1st class. Full-price bought on the day is around €55 in 2nd class.

Option 2, Prague to Poprad Tatry & Kosice by sleeper train

Tip: The final destination of this sleeper is Humenné, this is what's shown on the departure boards in Prague.

Prague to Budapest from €16

Option 1, Prague to Budapest by daytime train

Air-conditioned EuroCity trains link Prague Hlavni & Budapest Nyugati every couple of hours in 6h30. The trains are clean, comfortable, have power sockets and a restaurant car serving meals with wine or there's draught beer on tap. More about these trains .

Fares start at €21 in 2nd class or €35 in 1st class.

These First Minute fares have limited availability, no refunds, no changes. They're often available even just a few days ahead.

The full-flex fare is around €67 in 2nd class if you buy on the day at the station.

Note that these trains switched to using Budapest Nyugati station , not Keleti, from the timetable change in December 2017.

Option 2, Prague to Budapest by competing Regiojet train

In addition to the EuroCity trains run by the national rail operators, since July 2020 private open-access operator Regiojet operates 2 trains a day from Prague to Budapest with 4 classes (lo-cost, standard, relax & business) with fares from just €16, more information here .

Book at www.regiojet.com .

Option 3, Prague to Budapest by sleeper train - the time-effective option

A time-effective sleeper train leaves Prague Hlavni at 22:03 every night and arrives at Budapest Nyugati at 08:29 next morning.

The train has a comfortable Czech sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments, morning tea or coffee and a light breakfast are included in the sleeper fare.

For full details, see the Prague to Budapest sleeper train section.

Prague to Brasov & Bucharest from €48

Option 1, Prague to Romania using the Budapest-Bucharest sleeper - the most time-effective option

Step 1, travel from Prague to Budapest by EuroCity train , leaving Prague Hlavni at 09:44 and arriving Budapest Nyugati at 16:28.

The train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. On arrival in Budapest, walk, tram, taxi or metro from Nyugati to Keleti .

Fares start at €21 (around 500 Czech Koruna) in 2nd class or €35 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book this at the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz , see my tips for using it .

Step 2, travel from Budapest to Romania by sleeper train Ister , leaving Budapest Keleti at 19:10 and arriving Brasov 08:50 & Bucharest Gara de Nord 11:30 next day.

This safe & comfortable train has a Romanian air-conditioned sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, a Romanian couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments and ordinary seats. There's no restaurant car in the evening so take a picnic & bottle of wine, although a bar car is attached at Simeria for the morning run into Bucharest serving coffee and breakfast. Enjoy the lovely Alpine scenery through the Carpathian mountains between Brasov & Bucharest.

Fares start at €39 with a couchette in 6-berth, €46 with a couchette in 4-berth, €69 with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper, €84 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or €162 with a single-bed sleeper all to yourself. All prices per person per berth. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

You can also book at the Hungarian Railways website www.mav-start.hu , see my advice on using it .

For Bucharest type Bucuresti . You show your ticket in the MAV app on your phone. If www.mavcsoport.hu won't offer tickets for a 2-bed or 1-bed sleeper, book 3 tickets in a 3-bed sleeper to get sole occupancy.

Option 2, Prague to Romania by daytime trains with overnight stop from €48 - if you prefer day trains & hotels to sleepers

Day 1, travel from Prague to Budapest by EuroCity train , leaving Prague Hlavni at 15:44 and arriving Budapest Nyugati at 22:28.

By all means take an earlier train to enjoy an afternoon and/or evening in Budapest. The train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. On arrival in Budapest, walk, tram, taxi or metro from Nyugati to Keleti station .

Stay overnight in Budapest . Top choice for an inexpensive stay next to Budapest Keleti is the Intercity Hotel just across the square in front of the station. Also try the Royal Park Boutique Hotel , the inexpensive Baross City Hotel across the road or the Elit Hotel two minutes walk away. Of course, if you want to push the boat out, the luxurious Corinthia Hotel opened in 1896 was almost certainly the inspiration for the 2014 film The Grand Budapest Hotel , 20 minutes walk or 9 minutes by taxi from Keleti station . More hotels in Budapest .

Day 2, travel from Budapest to Transylvania & Bucharest by daytime train.

An air-conditioned InterCity train called the Traianus leaves Budapest Keleti at 07:10 via Arad & Timisoara arriving Bucharest Nord 00:31.

Another air-conditioned IC train leaves Budapest Keleti 09:10 via Simeria & Sibiu arriving Brasov at 22:42.

There are also IC trains to Cluj-Napoca, see the trains from Budapest page .

Fares start at €26.30 in 2nd class or €40.50 in 1st class (where available).

Book these trains at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu , see my advice for using it .

Booking opens 60 days ahead . You show your ticket in the MAV app on your phone.

You can also book at the Romanian Railways website bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro .

Click EN top right for English. Booking opens up to 90 days ahead . For Bucharest type Bucuresti. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.

Prague to Ljubljana & Rijeka from €40

Option 1, Prague to Ljubljana in just an afternoon & evening, all year round

Step 1, travel from Prague to Graz by air-conditioned railjet train leaving Prague Hlavni at 12:44 and arriving Graz at 19:33.

The railjet train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. Have dinner in Graz.

Step 2, travel from Graz to Ljubljana by air-conditioned EuroCity train Drava , leaving Graz at 21:38 and arriving Ljubljana at 01:03.

This train has come from Budapest, it's composed of excellent modernised air-conditioned Hungarian carriages with open-plan seating in both 1st & 2nd class. There's no catering car so bring a picnic & some beer or wine. It's routed across Austria via Graz.

Fares start at around €55 in 2nd class or €69 in 1st class.

Book from Prague to Ljubljana at the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz , see tips for using it .

Important: To avoid getting a later departure with a risky few minutes connection in Graz, before running the enquiry, click More options , then Connection parameters then Transfers . Change from regular to 4 hours to from 30 minutes to 4 hours . You could also reduce Maximum number of transfers to 1.

Option 2, Prague to Ljubljana in a single day via Vienna, all year round

Step 1, travel from Prague to Vienna by air-conditioned railjet train leaving Prague Hlavni at 10:44 and arriving Vienna Hbf at 14:49.

The railjet train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

Book the railjet at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee, booking opens up to 6 months ahead ) or the Czech Railways site www.cd.cz (in CZK, booking opens 3 months ahead , see tips for using it ). You print your own ticket.

Step 2, travel from Vienna to Ljubljana, leaving Vienna Hbf at 16:24 by railjet , changing at Villach onto a Slovenian train arriving Lesce-Bled 21:47 & Ljubljana 22:38.

Enjoy the scenery along the beautiful UNESCO-listed Semmering route through the mountains between Vienna & Villach .

Fares start at €24.90 in 2nd class or €34.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Option 3, Prague to Ljubljana using the Munich-Ljubljana sleeper - the most time-effective option

Step 1, travel from Prague to Munich by express train, leaving Prague Hlavni at 15:35 and arriving Munich Hbf at 21:18.

By all means take an earlier train and spend a pleasant evening in Munich. The train has refreshments available, power sockets at all seats and (in most cars) free WiFi. See a timetable and more about trains from Prague to Munich .

Buy a ticket at the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz , see tips for using it .

Booking usually opens 92 days ahead . You print your own ticket.

Have dinner in Munich - for local Bavarian food and a beer or two before boarding the sleeper I recommend the Augustiner Keller ( www.augustinerkeller.de ) at Arnulfstrasse 52, to the north side of Munich Hbf , see walking map .

Transfer from Munich Hbf to Munich Ost by frequent S-Bahn train taking 8 minutes.

Step 2, travel from Munich to Ljubljana by sleeper train Lisinski, leaving Munich Ost at 23:54 and arriving Ljubljana at 08:09 next morning.

It has an excellent air-conditioned Croatian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 berth compartments with washbasin, see the photos below, a modern Croatian air-conditioned couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats. See the Croatian sleeper video .

Fares start at €49 with a couchette in 6-berth, €59 with a couchette in 4-berth, €89 in a 2-bed sleeper with washbasin or €129 in a single-bed sleeper with washbasin, all per person per berth. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book the sleeper at www.thetrainline.com (in €, £ or $ , overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, same prices). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead . You print your own ticket.

Option 4, Prague to Ljubljana with an overnight stop in Vienna

Step 1, travel from Prague to Vienna by air-conditioned railjet train on any train you like.

The last one leaves Prague Hlavni at 18:44 arriving Vienna Hbf 22:49, but by all means book an earlier one, see the timetable here .

Fares start at €19.90 in 2nd class, €29.90 in 1st class or €44.90 in business class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book this at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee, booking opens up to 6 months ahead ) or the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz (in CZK, see tips for using it , booking opens 3 months ahead ). You print your own ticket.

Stay overnight in Vienna . Hotels near the station with good reviews include the Motel One Vienna Hbf , GraetzlHotel & Hotel Schani Wien .

Step 2, travel from Vienna to Ljubljana by air-conditioned EuroCity train Emona leaving Vienna Hbf at 07:58, arriving Ljubljana 14:00.

This is a great trip: The Emona has a Slovenian restaurant car serving snacks, meals, beer and wine, and it travels via the beautiful UNESCO-listed Semmering route through the mountains between Vienna & Graz . A real treat!

Prague to Zagreb from €29

Option 1, Prague to Zagreb via Budapest from €29 - the cheapest option

Step 1, travel from Prague to Budapest by EuroCity train , leaving Prague Hlavni at 05:44 and arriving Budapest Nyugati at 12:28.

There's a restaurant car for breakfast, have power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see timetable & more about Prague to Budapest trains .

Fares start at €21 in 2nd class or €35 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

On arrival in Budapest, transfer by walking, tram, taxi or metro from Nyugati station to Deli station .

Step 2, travel from Budapest to Zagreb by Intercity train Agram , leaving Budapest Deli at 15:35 and arriving Zagreb at 21:59.

The Agram has one comfortable air-conditioned Hungarian car with open-plan 2nd class seats and one air-conditioned Croatian car with 6-seat 2nd class compartments, plus various older Hungarian cars only going as far as the border. There's no 1st class and no catering car so take your own picnic & wine.

Fares start at just €9. This is a limited-availability advance-purchase fare.

Book this at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu , see my advice on using it .

Booking opens 60 days ahead . You print your own ticket or can show it in the MAV app. Suggested hotels in Zagreb .

Option 2, Prague to Zagreb via Vienna from €45 - slightly faster, with a restaurant car on both trains

Step 1, travel from Prague to Vienna by air-conditioned railjet train leaving Prague Hlavni at 10:44 & arriving Vienna Hbf at 14:49.

Book the railjet at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee, booking opens up to 6 months ahead ) or the Czech Railways site www.cd.cz (in CZK, see my tips for using it , booking normally opens 3 months ahead ). You print your own ticket.

Step 2, travel from Vienna to Zagreb by EuroCity train leaving Vienna Hbf at 15:58, change in Villach, arriving Zagreb at 22:20.

From Vienna to Villach there's a restaurant car serving snacks, meals, beer & wine so treat yourself to dinner, enjoy the scenery along the beautiful UNESCO-listed Semmering route through the mountains between Vienna & Graz .

Fares start at €29.90 in 2nd class or €39.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easiest to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, same prices). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead . You print your own ticket.

By all means split the journey over two days with an overnight stop in Vienna, using www.thetrainline.com or www.cd.cz to find any train you like between Prague and Vienna, they run every two hours, and www.thetrainline.com or www.oebb.at to find journeys between Vienna and Zagreb.

Option 3, Prague to Zagreb using the Munich-Zagreb sleeper - the most time-effective option, all year round.

By all means take an earlier one for an afternoon or evening in Munich. The train has a minibar, power sockets at all seats & (in most cars) free WiFi. More about these Prague to Munich trains with timetable .

Transfer from Munich Hbf to Munich Ost by frequent S-Bahn train, taking 8 minutes.

Step 2, travel from Munich to Zagreb by Croatian sleeper train Lisinski leaving Munich Ost at 23:54, arriving Zagreb at 10:39.

Option 4, Prague to Zagreb with an overnight stop in Vienna

The last one leaves Prague Hlavni at 18:44 arriving Vienna Hbf at 22:49, see the timetable here .

Buy a ticket at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee, booking opens up to 6 months ahead ) or the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz (in CZK, booking opens 92 days ahead , see tips for using it ). You print your own ticket.

Step 2, travel from Vienna to Zagreb, leaving Vienna Hbf at 08:25 by railjet train , changing trains at Villach and arriving Zagreb at 17:10.

The railjet takes you over beautiful UNESCO-listed Semmering route through the mountains between Vienna & Klagenfurt .

Fares start at €29.90 in 2nd class or €39.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Buy a ticket at www.thetrainline.com (easiest to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, same prices). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead , you print your own ticket.

Option 5, Prague to Zagreb using the Prague-Budapest sleeper - with a morning in Budapest, well worth considering

Step 1, travel from Prague to Budapest by sleeper train as shown above , leaving Prague Hlavni at 22:03 & arriving Budapest Nyugati 08:29.

Fares start at €35 with couchette, booked at www.cd.cz .

On arrival in Budapest, transfer by taxi or metro from Nyugati to Deli station .

Spend a pleasant morning in Budapest. Alternatively, you could of course take a day train and stop overnight in Budapest, the choice is yours.

Step 2, travel from Budapest to Zagreb by Intercity train Agram, leaving Budapest Deli at 15:35 and arriving Zagreb at 21:59.

Fares start at just €9 if you book online in advance.

Book this at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu , see my advice on using it . Booking opens 60 days ahead .

Incidentally, the Hungarian Railways site only sells cheap advance-purchase fares, it does not sell regular fares. As there are no cheap 1st class fares you can't buy 1st class tickets online, only at the station at full-flex prices. So stick with 2nd class as this is perfectly comfortable, it's simply not worth paying €70 at the station for 2" more legroom when a €9 fare is available in 2nd class.

Prague to Split & Dubrovnik

Option 1, Prague to Split & Dubrovnik via Zagreb - daily, all year round

Step 1, travel from Prague to Zagreb using any of the options above .

Step 2, stay overnight in Zagreb and take a train from Zagreb to Split next day, a lovely scenic route, see the Trains from Zagreb page for times, fares & photos .

Zagreb to Split by train only costs around €20 in 2nd class, even bought on the day.

Buy tickets at the Croatian Railways website www.hzpp.hr .

However, it's not usually a problem to buy on the day. Booking opens 60 days ahead .

Step 3, take a bus from Split to Dubrovnik. Buses leave Split bus station every hour or even every half hour and take between 3h45 and 4h35 to Dubrovnik bus station. There are various operators, the fare is between €13 and €17. Buy at the bus station on the day, it's easy.

Option 2, Prague to Split using the Vienna-Split sleeper - 3 times a week May-October, recommended

Step 1, travel from Prague to Vienna by air-conditioned railjet train leaving Prague Hlavni at 12:44 & arriving Vienna Hbf at 16:49.

It leaves Vienna Hbf at 18:05 and arrives in Split at 08:10 next morning.

This Slovakian sleeper train starts its journey in Bratislava, with three comfortable air-conditioned sleeping-cars with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, a couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments and ordinary seats. You can see details of train formation & carriages if you go to www.vagonweb.cz switch it to English, click train formations and search for train number EN 1153.

Fares start at €29.90 in a seat, €49 in a couchette, €79.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €99.90 in a 2-bed sleeper, €149.90 in a single-bed sleeper.

Book at either www.thetrainline.com (easy, in €, £ or $, small booking fee, international credit cards no problem) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, same prices). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead , you print your own ticket.

Step 3 for Dubrovnik, take a bus from Split. There are buses every hour or even every half hour, run by several companies. Journey time between 3h45 and 4h35, fare around €13-€17. Buy a ticket at the bus station in Split.

Prague to Belgrade & Montenegro

Option 1, Prague to Belgrade with overnight stop in Zagreb

Step 1, travel from Prague to Vienna by air-conditioned railjet train leaving Prague Hlavni at 10:44 and arriving Vienna Hbf 14:49.

Fares start at €14.90 in 2nd class, €29.90 in 1st class or €44.90 in business class (= premium 1st). Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book the railjet at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee, booking opens up to 6 months ahead ) or the Czech Railways site www.cd.cz (in CZK, see my tips for using it , booking opens 92 days ahead ). You print your own ticket.

Step 2, travel from Vienna to Zagreb by EuroCity train , leaving Vienna Hbf at 15:58,change at Villach, arriving Zagreb at 22:20.

There's a restaurant car from Vienna to Villach serving snacks, meals, beer & wine so treat yourself to dinner, and at least in summer enjoy the scenery along the beautiful UNESCO-listed Semmering route through the mountains between Vienna & Graz .

Book this at www.thetrainline.com (easiest to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, same prices). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead . You print your own ticket.

Stay overnight in Zagreb . There are some good hotels just a stone's throw from the station, I suggest the historic Esplanade Hotel , Palace Hotel or Central Hotel .

Step 2, travel from Zagreb to Belgrade by train, leaving Zagreb at 11:04 and arriving Novi Beograd 18:04 & Belgrade Centar at 18:12.

This train was suspended due to Covid-19 and remains suspended in 2024.

This train has air-conditioned Serbian carriages with comfortable 2nd class seats, but no 1st class. There's no dining-car, so bring a picnic and some beer or wine.

If you need to stay overnight in Belgrade, I recommend the historic Hotel Moskva .

Option 2, Prague to Belgrade with overnight stop in Budapest - by train all the way

Day 1, travel from Prague to Budapest by EuroCity train , leaving Prague Hlavni at 13:44 and arriving Budapest Nyugati at 20:28.

By all means book an earlier train for a pleasant evening in Budapest. The train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

Stay overnight in Budapest . The highly-recommended 3-star T62 Hotel is across the road from Budapest Nyugati and a traveller's favourite. The cheaper 3-star Star Inn Budapest Centrum is few minutes walk away. The 4-star Radisson Blu Béke Hotel is one block away.

Day 2, travel from Budapest to Belgrade as shown on the Budapest-Belgrade page .

You leave Budapest Nyugati at 05:50, change at Szeged, Subotica & Novi Sad, arriving Belgrade Centar at 20:27.

All direct Budapest-Belgrade mainline trains remain suspended until at least 2025 while the line is modernised for 200 km/h operation. However, in 2024 it's possible for the determined traveller to reach Belgrade on local trains via this somewhat round-about route. It's a long but interesting journey, with time for lunch in Subotica.

Serbian local train of the type used between Szeged & Subotica and Subotica & Novi Sad. They are air-conditioned, 2nd class only, with toilets. Courtesy of @AndyBTravels , DiscoverByRail.com .

Prague to Sofia

Option 1, Prague to Sofia via Bucharest

Day 1, travel from Prague to Budapest by EuroCity train , leaving Prague Hlavni at 05:44 and arriving Budapest Nyugati at 12:28.

The Czech EuroCity train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

Transfer from Nyugati to Keleti station by taxi, tram or metro and have lunch in Budapest.

Fares start at €20 in 2nd class or €37 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Booking opens up to 3 months ahead . You print your own ticket or can show it in the CD app on your phone.

The Muntenia has 4 & 6-berth couchettes and ordinary seats. A Romanian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments is attached from Arad (depart 21:04) to Bucharest. There's no catering car, so bring your own food & drink.

Fares start at €40 with a couchette in 6-berth or €47 with a couchette in 4-berth. These are limited-availability advance-purchase fares

Book this at the Romanian Railways international website bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro/en . You print your own ticket.

The fare is around €34.

Option 2, Prague to Sofia via Belgrade

Prague to Krakow from €19

Option 1, Prague to Krakow by sleeper train, see the Prague to Krakow page

A safe & comfortable sleeper train leaves Prague Hlavni at 22:13 and arrives in Krakow Glowny at 05:59 next morning.

Fares start at €29 with couchette or €49 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper.

Prague to Krakow is a popular route with tourists, and saves a hotel bill too! See the Prague to Krakow page for details .

Option 2, Prague to Krakow by daytime train , see the Prague to Krakow page

A direct Prague-Krakow daytime train called the Cracovia links Prague Hlavni with Krakow Glowny every day .

It has comfortable air-conditioned carriages with power sockets, and a bistro car with draught beer on tap, but by all means take your own picnic and wine or beer, see the Prague to Krakow by train page for details .

Limited-availability advance-purchase fares start at €19. The full-price fare bought at the station is around €42.

Book at the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz . Booking normally opens 60 days ahead and you print your own ticket.

Option 3, Prague to Krakow by day train with private operator Leo Express . See the Prague to Krakow by train page

Leo Express ( www.le.cz ) started a new high-quality air-conditioned train between Prague and Krakow in competition with Czech and Polish Railways in 2018. It runs only 2 or 3 times a week, but shoud become daily at some point. See the Prague to Krakow by train page .

Buy tickets at www.leoexpress.com .

Prague to Warsaw from €28

Option 1, Prague to Warsaw by sleeper train - the safe, comfortable, time-effective option

A safe & comfortable sleeper train leaves Prague Hlavni at 22:13 and arrives Warsaw Gdanska at 08:56. This option saves time & a hotel bill!

What's the sleeper train like?

The train runs every day all year round with a modern air-conditioned Czech Comfortline sleeping-car with 1, 2 or 3-bed compartments with washbasin and several deluxe compartments 1, 2 or 3 berth with en suite shower & toilet, see the photos below.

There is a comfortable Czech couchette car with 4-berth & 6-berth compartments.

How much does it cost?

Berths are sold individually, so you do not have to pay for sole occupancy if you are a solo traveller. You can book one bed in a 3-bed sleeper and share with other civilised sleeper passengers of the same sex, which is much cheaper.

Advance-purchase fares start at €29 (760 Czech Koruna) with couchette in 6-berth, €39 (1022 Kr) with couchette in 4-berth, €39 (1022 Kr) with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper or €49 (1284Kr) with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or around €75 (2,014 Kr) with a single-bed sleeper all to yourself.

Bought at the station in Prague , the fare is in the region of €60 for the basic travel ticket plus around €11 supplement for a couchette or €28 for a bed in a 2-bed sleeper. Single occupancy requires a first class ticket (around €80) plus around €55 sleeper supplement. There are normally berths available even on the day of departure, but the sleeper can leave fully-booked, so book in advance to be sure.

You can (usually) book at the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz and print your own ticket, see tips for using cd.cz .

Booking normally opens 60 days ahead . Do read those tips - they include the workarounds for cases when you get a red Your request could not be granted message.

Option 2, Prague to Warsaw by daytime train - the chill-out option

Three comfortable EuroCity trains link Prague & Warsaw every day. Take a good book, chill out, and enjoy a meal and beer in the inexpensive restaurant or bistro car as the train rolls through farmland & woods across the Czech Republic and into Poland.

An air-conditioned EuroCity train branded Silesia leaves Prague Hlavni at 06:19 & arrives Warsaw Gdanska 14:33.

This train has 1st & 2nd class seats and a modern bistro car serving drinks, snacks and meals. The 1st class seats are at one end of the bistro car, which is of the same sort used from Prague to Krakow on the Cracovia , see the photos & description here . 1st class passengers have food & drink orders taken and are served food & drink at their seats, an excellent arrangement. In 2nd class, you can choose a seat in an open-plan car or a compartment car, see the photos below.

An air-conditioned EuroCity train called the Cracovia leaves Prague Hlavni at 10:19 & arrives Warsaw Centralna at 19:34.

This train has 2nd class through cars to Warsaw, the rest of the train is for Krakow. You can choose a seat in a 2nd class open-plan car or a 2nd class compartment car, see the photos below. A bistro car is attached as far as Bohumin, see the bistro photos & description here .

An air-conditioned EuroCity train branded Silesia leaves Prague Hlavni at 14:19 & arrives Warsaw Gdanska at 22:49.

This train has 1st & 2nd class seats and a restaurant car. In 2nd class there's a choice of open-plan cars or compartment cars, see the photos below. In 1st class on this particular train the 1st class seats are in a classic side-corridor-and-compartments car with 6-seat and some 4-seat compartments, see the photo below.

Tip: When booking 1st class at www.cd.cz make sure you spot the Select seat from the seating map link and use it to select a seat in more exclusive 4-seat compartment - it doesn't cost any more!

Fares start at €28 (about 745 CZK) in 2nd class or €48 (1297 CZK) in 1st class.

Book at the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz .

Booking normally opens 92 days ahead . You print your own ticket. See tips for using cd.cz .

Prague to Wroclaw

You'll typically find these daily departures:

Prague Hlavni depart 06:03, change Usti nad Orlici & Lichkov, Wroclaw arrive 11:14.

Prague Hlavni depart 08:03, change Usti nad Orlici & Lichkov, Wroclaw arrive 14:15.

Prague Hlavni depart 11:03, change Usti nad Orlici & Lichkov, Wroclaw arrive 16:14.

Prague Hlavni depart 13:03, change Usti nad Orlici & Lichkov, Wroclaw arrive 18:37.

Prague Hlavni depart 16:03, change Usti nad Orlici & Lichkov, Wroclaw arrive 21:11.

You can normally find these by running an enquiry at the German Railways website int.bahn.de , but it won't sell tickets.

Step 1, travel from Prague Hlavni to Usti Nad Ulici.

Buy a ticket at the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz . There are hourly departures.

Step 2, take the regional train run by Leo Express from Usti Nad Orlici to Wroclaw with an easy change at Lichkov.

Check times at www.leoexpress.com , if that fails look them up at www.cd.cz . There are departures several times a day.

Buy a ticket for these Usti nad Orlici to Wroclaw regional trains at the station.

Prague to Vilnius , Riga, Tallinn

Day 1, travel from Prague Hlavni to Warsaw by EuroCity train, as shown in the Prague to Warsaw section .

Or take the overnight sleeper & spend the following day exploring Warsaw.

Prague to Lviv, Kyiv & Ukraine

Option 1, Prague to Lviv & Kyiv by Regiojet sleeper train - running in spite of the war, comfortable, cheap, easily booked online

Private open-access train operator Regiojet runs a comfortable daily train service from Prague to Lviv & Kyiv, consisting of a sleeper train from Prague to Przemysl run by Regiojet themselves and a connecting seats train from Przemysl to Lviv & Kyiv run by partner Ukrainian Railways. Regiojet sell this combo online as a fully-integrated service, making it very easy to book with lots of capacity available.

It leaves Prague Hlavni at 21:56 every day, arriving Przemysl at 07:43, connecting train leaves 09:35 arriving Lviv 12:27 & Kyiv at 19:57.

Option 2, Prague to Kyiv using the Vienna-Lviv-Kyiv sleeping-car - a comfortable option, easily booked online

Step 1, travel from Prague to Vienna by railjet train , leaving Prague Hlavni at 10:44 & arriving Vienna Hbf at 14:49.

Book the railjet at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee, booking opens up to 6 months ahead ) or the Czech Railways site www.cd.cz (in CZK, booking normally opens 3 months ahead , see my tips for using it ). You print your own ticket.

Step 2, travel from Vienna to Lviv or Kyiv by sleeping-car. leaving Vienna Hbf at 16:42 daily arriving next day in Lviv at 10:20 & Kyiv 17:03.

Introduced in 2017, this train consists of 2 or sometimes 3 direct Ukrainian sleeping-cars attached to a Vienna-Zahony EuroCity train. The sleeping-cars have comfortable 1, 2 & 3 berth compartments with washbasin, see the photos below. At Chop on the other side of the border the through sleeping-cars are jacked up to have their wheelsets changed from European standard gauge (4'8½") to Russian gauge used in Ukraine (5').

Vienna to Kyiv costs €89.60 in a 3-berth sleeper, €99.60 in a 2-berth sleeper or around €170 in a single sleeper.

Book this train at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at .

Booking for these direct sleeping-cars opens 20 days ahead, but tickets sell out a day or two after booking opens, so book as soon as the booking period opens. If the ÖBB website says Ticket not available within 20 days it means fully-booked , if it says that more than 20 days ahead it means booking isn't open yet.

Tickets can now be printed out so you can book in either direction. However, you must print the ticket, it cannot be shown on a mobile device.

Option 3, Prague to Lviv & Kyiv via Budapest - 3 hours quicker than option 1, unfortunately not bookable online

Fares start at €20 in 2nd class or €35 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book this online at www.cd.cz . By all means take an earlier one for more time in Budapest. See tips for using cd.cz .

The best way to buy tickets for this train is via reliable agency www.polrail.com , with tickets posted or couriered to you for a small fee. Polrail are based in Poland so charge in zlotys, but as they have access to Ukrainian ticketing system they are good for booking this train. You cannot currently book online with ÖBB although you could try emailing or calling their telesales via their website www.oebb.at . Feedback would be appreciated . If you order tickets from Polrail:

Budapest to Kyiv costs around €103 in a 3-berth sleeper €114 in a 2-berth sleeper, or €184 in a single-berth sleeper.

Option 4, Prague to Kyiv via Warsaw

Prague to Moscow , St Petersburg & Russia

Option 1, Prague to Moscow by direct Russian Railways sleeping-car, every day - via Belarus

The fare is approximately €155 with a bed in a 4-berth sleeper. €230 in a 2-bed sleeper or €265 in a single-bed sleeper.

This train uses impressive Austrian-built sleeping-cars with 4-berth compartments built in 2014, see photos of this type of sleeper here & see panorama photo inside one of these modern sleepers . Each compartment can be sold as 1st class 1-berth, 1st class 2-berth or 2nd class 4-berth. There's a bistro car in Poland and a Russian restaurant car is attached between Brest (on the Polish/Belarus border) & Moscow.

Option 2, Prague to Moscow via Kyiv, avoiding Belarus and the need for a Belarusian visa.

Prague to Athens & Greece

Option 1, Prague to Athens by train through the Balkans

Option 2, Prague to Athens via ferry from Italy - currently the most viable option

Day 1, travel from Prague to Vienna by railjet train , leaving Prague Hlavni at 12:44 and arriving Vienna Hbf at 16:49.

The swish modern railjet has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee, or use the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, same fares).

Have dinner in Vienna, see suggested restaurants .

Tip: If you have a sleeper ticket, you can use the ÖBB Lounge at Vienna Hbf between trains, with complimentary tea, coffee, soft drinks & WiFi.

Day 1, travel from Vienna to Bologna by Nightjet sleeper train leaving Vienna Hbf at 19:18 arriving Bologna Centrale at 05:15.

This comfortable Austrian Nightjet 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's 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. There are 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 .

Fares start at €49 with couchette or €109.90 with a bed in a cosy 2-bed sleeper. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Day 2, travel from Bologna to Bari by Frecciarossa , leaving Bologna Centrale at 09:45 arriving Bari Centrale at 15:27.

The train has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. It's a pleasant run along the scenic Adriatic coast.

In Bari, transfer from station to port, see map of Bari showing station, port entrance, check-in building & Superfast Ferries berth .

You can walk the 1.9 km from the station to the port entrance in 25 minutes, a stroll through Bari's pleasant old town, see correct walking map from the station to the port entrance gate - if Google tells you any different, trust me, not Google!

Alternatively, bus 50 runs from Bari Centrale station to the road outside the port gate roughly every 40 minutes. A taxi will take 10 minutes.

Day 2, sail overnight from Bari to Patras in Greece with Superfast Ferries.

The ferry sails from Bari at 19:30 on Mondays-Saturdays, arriving Patras at 13:00 next day (Day 3).

On Sundays the ship sails at 13:30, too early to make connections from Milan.

You can check sailing times & dates at using the Direct Ferries website or at www.superfast.com or www.ferriesingreece.com .

You should check in at the Superfast desk on the ground floor of the cruise terminal (Terminal Crociere) at Bari port with passport & booking number to get your boarding pass, ideally 3 hours before departure in summer, although in practice 2 hours or even 1½ hours is normally fine.

You then walk 500m from check-in to the ferry, board the ferry via the foot passenger gangway at the stern and head up the escalator to the main lounge and reception desk to get your cabin key.

The ship is comfortable, with self-service restaurant, lounge, bar and sun deck. You can book a deck place (a good & cheap option in summer if you have your own sleeping bag), a reclining seat or various types of cabin, all with private shower & toilet. Strolling the decks in the morning sun as the ship cruises past the islands of Cephalonia and Ithaca is the nicest part of the trip, and it's a wonderful way to arrive in Greece.

Day 3, travel from Patras to Athens by Greek Railways bus/train combo.

Prague to Istanbul

Prague to Istanbul via Budapest & Bucharest - currently the only viable option

Step 1, travel from Prague to Bucharest as shown above .

Do not risk any tight connections in Bucharest, I'd allow a minimum of 2 hours, or plan an overnight stop.

Book online as shown on those pages, but you should consider using an Interrail pass for the flexibility it gives. You'll find more info about using a pass for a journey like this on the London to Istanbul page .

Railbookers custom-made tours

If you just want to buy train tickets at the cheapest price, book online as shown on this page. However, if you want someone to sort out your whole trip for you, arranging all your trains, hotels and transfers, and to look after you if anything affects your arrangements, the people to talk to are Railbookers. Railbookers can tailor-make a train trip around Europe to your own specification. Just tell them what you want and they'll advise you on the best trains, routes & hotels. They get good reports and a lot of repeat business! They now have offices in the UK, North America and Australia.

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 toll-free 0800 000 554 or see website ., hotels in prague.

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

Hotels near Prague's old town square

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

Hotels near Prague Hlavni station

Personal recommendation: hotel carlo iv.

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

Backpacker hostels

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

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Trains in Switzerland
The Swiss Travel Pass Flex offers a set number of travel days (3, 4, 8 or 15) in a given time period (1 month). On your travel days, which don't need to be consecutive, you can take as many trains as you want. With the Swiss Travel Pass Flex, you can also get discounts on Swiss attractions and museums. From CHF 267*.
11 ways to save money on Swiss train travel
Here are some sample one-way fares (double these for round trip). Zürich to Luzern = CHF 25. Luzern to Interlaken = CHF 33. Zürich to Zermatt = CHF 125. Zermatt to Geneva = CHF 102. Children 6-16 pay half-fare. Children under 6 ride for free. Seniors and students do not get a discount on full fare train tickets.
Travel at the lowest fares with supersaver tickets
This means you can travel on many Swiss public transport routes with a discount of up to 50%. Supersaver tickets are available online at SBB.ch or via the smartphone app. Take advantage of this inexpensive way to travel. By the way, the purchase of supersaver tickets also works in combination with the Half Fare Travelcard PLUS: simply use the ...
Expert Guide to Train Travel in Switzerland (2024 Update)
Ultimate Guide to Train Travel in Switzerland (2024 Update) In Switzerland, train travel is more than a simple mode of transportation. Granted, thanks to the world's most dense public transportation network, the Swiss travel more kilometers by train than any other country. The Swiss trains, trams, buses, and boats are meticulously scheduled ...
Switzerland on a budget: how to buy cheaper train tickets
Supersaver tickets - buy your train ticket in advance. A good way to save money on train tickets in Switzerland is to buy them in advance! Supersaver tickets are a number of tickets made available to travelers at low prices (up to 70% off) up to 2 months before the date of travel. The earlier you book, the cheaper it is!
Supersaver tickets and Saver Day Passes
Find your supersaver ticket for one of 30 Swiss cities. Valid for travel to one of the cities. Also available without a Half Fare Travelcard. Supersaver tickets can be purchased up to 6 months in advance, subject to availability. No refund or exchange. The 'Find supersaver tickets' function is only available on SBB.ch.
The Best Train Routes in Switzerland (Cheaper Than You Think)
Interlaken also brings you very close to one of the highlights of any trip to Switzerland - the Jungfraujoch. It is the highest railway station in all of Europe and precariously perched between two of the highest peaks in the region. This particular route takes you from the city of Interlaken all the way to 11,000 feet above sea level.
Cheap train tickets to Switzerland: Maps, timetables
With world-renowned punctual timetables, contemporary comfy trains and easy connections, the Swiss Travel Pass is the most straightforward way to discover Switzerland by train or ferry. Seek out stations at elevations of 3,800m, or make the most of excursions included in the pass, to more than 500 museums or a plethora of peaks, over a period ...
The SBB online portal for timetable, trains and public transport
Half Fare & GA Travelcards, tickets, excursions, city breaks, event tickets & information on stations, disruptions & the timetable.
Swiss Travel Passes
Unlimited travel in Switzerland by train, bus and boat; Freely selectable 3, 4, 6, 8 or 15 non-consecutive days; Additional 50% discount on most mountain railways and gondolas; Free admission to over 500 museums; from USD 318.00. From price applies per adult, 2nd class. Info. Buy ticket.
Switzerland Rail Passes and Train Tips from Rick Steves
Mt. Rigi: 50 percent off all trains and lifts above Vitznau/Arth-Goldau/Weggis (full price: $25-40 per leg) Lake boats: 50 percent off most boat trips, but Lake Thun and Lake Brienz boats are fully covered. Free kids: Up to two kids age 4-11 travel free with each adult-rate pass.
Trains in Switzerland
High-speed trains in Switzerland International high-speed trains. The following high-speed trains cover routes to and from Switzerland: ICE trains connect Switzerland to Germany and the Netherlands at 300km/h; Railjet trains connect Zurich with Vienna (Austria); Eurocity trains connect Zurich, Basel and Geneva to Milan or Venice in Italy. These may be operated by a number of rail companies and ...
Train travel in Switzerland
A Swiss Travel Pass (continuous or flex) gives you unlimited free travel on all the train, bus & ferry routes shown as solid red, yellow or black lines on the map. Swiss Travel Passes give you a 50% discount (not free travel) on the routes shown as dotted red, yellow or black lines. One thing that confuses people: A solid line becomes a dashed ...
ALL Cheap Train Tickets Switzerland & Great Rail Tours
1. Book Cheap Train Tickets Switzerland | 2. Rail Tours in Switzerland | 3. Swiss Travel Pass. Famous scenic train rides: Bernina Express and Glacier Express. Traveling by train is by far the best way to discover Switzerland. Swiss Travel Pass: 100% Discount. Swiss Half Fare Card: 50% Discount. Other Rail Passes Switzerland: Eurail and Interrail.
How to Plan a Trip to Switzerland on a Budget (2024)
How to Get to Switzerland. The best way to travel to Switzerland from the United States is to fly into one of the major cities such as Geneva or Zurich. From there, you can take connecting flights to Bern, Davos, Zermatt, and Basel. Zurich is the largest city and you'll likely find the most flight options into Zurich airport.
18 Do's And Don'ts To Visiting Switzerland On A Budget
Don't Miss Out on Student Discounts. Youth and student discounts on travel in Switzerland can help you save on transportation and activities! For example, young travelers from 16-24 can get a discount on the Swiss Travel Pass. These discounts are usually found in the "Reduced" section of ticket charts.
Switzerland scenic train trips
SAVE MONEY and enjoy unlimited travel in Switzerland by train bus, boat and public transport with the Swiss All-in-One Travel Pass. Travel all over Switzerland with a Swiss Rail pass, valid all over the country. Choose between a 3, 4, 6, 8, or 15 consecutive day pass. Make your trip to Switzerland as easy as possible with a rail pass that gives ...
Swiss Travel Pass
The advantages for you. Unlimited travel by train, bus and boat. Unlimited travel on premium panorama trains (seat reservation fees and/or surcharges apply) Unlimited use of public transport in more than 90 towns & cities. Free admission to more than 500 museums. Link opens in new window. Mountain excursions included: Rigi, Stanserhorn and Stoos.
10 Simple Ways to Travel Switzerland on a Budget
And here are 10 ways to make your money last longer in Switzerland. 1. Use free public transport. Take advantage of free public transport in certain cities to make your money last longer in Switzerland. If you're staying in Bern, Lucerne, Basel, Geneva or Lausanne, you get to use local public transport for free.
From Moscow to Zurich by Train from €110.00
1b Travelling from Berlin (Germany) to Zurich (Switzerland) Travel from Berlin to Zurich by train. The journey time is 08:00 hours. The train ticket price starts at 17 EUR. A comfortable travel option is by "ÖBB nightjet" overnight train. Travel by ICE day train connection with a journey time of 08:00 hours.
Trains from Switzerland to other European countries
Switzerland to Dublin & Ireland. Option 1, Switzerland to Dublin via London & Holyhead - daily departures Day 1, travel from Switzerland to London by TGV-Lyria & Eurostar, as shown on the London to Switzerland page.. Stay overnight in London, see suggested hotels near St Pancras. Day 2, travel from London Euston to Dublin on the morning train & ferry service, arriving Dublin Ferryport 17:25 ...
Trains from Prague to other European cities
This page explains how to travel by train from Prague to other cities all over Europe, and how to buy tickets the cheapest way. ... Then book the Munich to Switzerland train from €27.90 at the German Railways site int.bahn.de. ... Cheap advance-purchase First Minute fares start at €17 (422 CZK) or €32 (794 CZK) ...
Cheap train tickets to Switzerland: Maps, timetables
With world-renowned punctual timetables, contemporary comfy trains and easy connections, the Swiss Travel Pass is the most straightforward way to discover Switzerland by train or ferry. Seek out stations at elevations of 3,800m, or make the most of excursions included in the pass, to more than 500 museums or a plethora of peaks, over a period ...

11 ways to save money on Swiss train travel

How much does it cost to ride a train in Switzerland?

1. Swiss Travel Pass

2. Regional travel passes

3. International travel passes

4. Half-fare travelcard

5. Junior card – Free travel for kids

5. 1-month GA Travelcard

6. Supersaver fares

7. SBB Railaway combi discounts

8. Saver Day Passes

9. “Gemeinde” Day Passes

10. Leisure Card

Is it cheaper to buy Swiss train tickets online?

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Do I have to buy a train ticket for my dog?

Do I need a train ticket for my bike?

Do disabled passengers receive discounts?

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Most Popular Train Lines in Switzerland

Switzerland Train Itinerary for Rail Lovers (2024)

Planning a Train Trip in Switzerland

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The Best Train Routes in Switzerland (Cheaper Than You Think)

Lucerne to Montreux

Jungfraujoch

Interlaken to Kleine Scheidegg

via Lauterbrunnen

via Grindelwald

Glacier Express

Zermatt to St.Moritz

Bernina Express

St.Moritz to Lugano

Gotthard Panorama Express

Lausanne to Zurich

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18 Do’s And Don’ts To Visiting Switzerland On A Budget

Currency in Switzerland

Tips to Visit Switzerland on a Budget

Don’t Eat Out Every Meal

Do Take Advantage of Grocery Store Restaurants

Do Book Hotels Early

Don’t Travel to Switzerland During High Season

Do Utilize Day Trips to Save Money

Do Get Breakfast Included at Your Hotel

Don’t Pay for Water

Do Stay at a Hostel or Campground

Don’t Road Trip Switzerland Without Knowing These Expenses

Do Take Advantage of City Guest Cards

Do Consider Buying Travel Passes