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Köln / Cologne / Koeln to Praha / Prague / Prag by train
All that’s good to know about taking the train from Köln / Cologne / Koeln to Praha / Prague / Prag
There are no direct trains from Koln to Praha, but it's a straightforward journey with only one connection between express trains on the easiest route via Berlin.
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Routes
From Köln/Cologne Hbf to Praha hl.n.
Journey Summary
9hr 15min - 9hr 45min (approx)
Daily
Travel Information
Change trains in: Berlin
If you want to travel from Koln/Cologne to Praha/Prague solely by train, then this routing via Berlin is the easiest option, the connecting time between trains in Berlin will be usually be just over an hour
*Rail Pass Users:
For Eurail and InterRail pass users a plus of this routing is neither of the trains have to be reserved - but the IC Bus does require reservations if you opt to travel via Nurnberg.
Though if you will be travelling with a 2nd class pass we recommend making the reservations, if you want to be sure of having a seat on the trains.
4 x connections per day (typically)
Tickets
Online bookings usually open: 6 months ahead of the travel date
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings usually open: up to 6 months ahead of the travel date - but this period of time is shorter when looking up journeys in August to October.
A choice of tickets
Three types of tickets are available:
Two types of discounted tickets, which will be cheaper the further ahead you book - Sparpreis Europa and Super Sparpreis Europa
One type of non-discounted ticket - Flexpreis Europa.
A key difference between these types of tickets is refunds:
- Super Sparpreis tickets are cheapest, but they can't be refunded at all.
- Sparpreis tickets can be refunded for a fee, but the refund will be in the form of travel vouchers to be used for alternative / future journeys.
- Flexpreis Europa tickets can be refunded at no additional charge.
The other key difference is that both types of Sparpreis tickets are only valid on the specific departures selected when booking, but both types of Flexpreis tickets live up to their name, as they can be used on any departure on your travel date.
Note that none of the tickets can be exchanged to a different departure.
There's no need for this to be available for Flexpreis Europa tickets, as they aren't train departure specific.
If you book a Sparpreis Europa ticket and want to travel by a different departure you can refund it and then use the travel voucher towards the cost of the new booking.
Super Sparpreis Europa tickets can't be exchanged or refunded.
The Sparpreis, Flexpreis and Flexpreis Plus tickets also include 'City tickets', which can be used on public transport between locations in Köln city centre and Köln Hbf.
Seat reservations
Seat reservations are optional on the ICE train and on the EC train between Berlin and Praha / Prague - take note if you will be using a rail pass.
They cost €4.90 when travelling in 2nd Class and €5.90 when travelling in 1st class - they are included within the cost of booking 1st class Flexpreis tickets.
On this journey which involves two trains on which seat reservations are available, the fees cover all trains - if reservations are added when initially booking.
Specific seats can be selected from seating plans, you don't have to accept the seat(s) that you will be automatically offered.
When booking Super Sparpreis, Sparpreis and 2nd class Flexpreis tickets, you have the option of purchasing seat reservations later.
It can be worth re-looking up a journey a week or two ahead of travel, because the DB website will indicate how busy a departure will be.
Though if you opt to add reservations later you will have pay the fees per train.
Booking on the DB website
When looking for tickets from Köln Hbf on the DB website type ‘K‘ or 'COLOGNE' into the ‘from‘ box and not ‘Ko‘.
To see all the combinations of trains and journey options, some of which may be cheaper, take off the 'fastest connections' default.
Where to book
| Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| DB | * |
Train 1
Travelling On
Journey Features
Good to Know
Final Destination: Berlin-Gesundbrunnen
The train will travel on a high speed line between Hannover and Berlin-Spandau.
Train 2
Journey Features
Good to Know
Between Dresden and Prague, the train travels through the beautiful Elbe River valley, but sit on the left of the train (when facing the direction of travel) for the best views.
This part of the journey between Dresden and Prague/Praha is so fabulous that it's featured on the Daily Telegraph's list of Best Train Journeys that can be completed in a day.
Journey description:
Between Dresden and Prague, the train travels through the beautiful Elbe River valley, but sit on the left of the train (when facing the direction of travel) for the best views.
This part of the journey between Dresden and Prague/Praha is so fabulous that it's featured on the Daily Telegraph's list of Best Train Journeys that can be completed in a day.
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This second version of ShowMeTheJourney is exciting and new, so we are genuinely thrilled that you are here and reading this, but we also need your help.
We’re striving not to let anything get in the way of providing the most useful service possible, hence a facility has been set up with DonorBox which can be used to support the running costs and make improvements.
Instead of advertising or paywalls, your financial support will make a positive difference to delivering an enhanced service, as there’s a lot of ideas which we want to make happen.
So if you have found the info provided here to be useful, please consider saying thank you.
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