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from Praha / Prague/ Prag to Zurich by train
How take the overnight direct trains from Praha / Prague to Zurich
The overnightservices from Prague/Praha to Zurich are the only direct trains from Czechia to Switzerland.
Travelling by day on trains from Prague/Praha to Zurich involves making connections in Linz OR Munchen/Munich, but on both routes the connections on to Czechia involve fairly lengthy journeys on the type of trains typically used for regional services, so they lack the ambience and facilities typically found on express trains.
But what's new is that from December 11th and into 2023 there will be a choice of two overnight train services when travelling from the capital of Czechia to Switzerland's largest city.
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Routes
Option 1: taking service which travels through Germany
Journey Summary
14hr 39min
Nightly
Travel Information
This train is typically scheduled to depart from Praha hl.n, the main station in the Czech capital, at 18:26 and arrive in Zurich at 09:05.
Final Destination: Zurich
This train also calls at: Holesovice station in Praha and at Decin
1 x train per night
Tickets
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings open: 6 months ahead of the travel date
The train conveys:
- Compartment Seats (Sitzwagen)
- Couchettes (Liegewagen); 4 berths AND 6 berthsm
- Standard sleeping cars (Schlafwagen) with 3 bed, 2 bed and 1 cabins
- Deluxe sleeping cars with showers (Schlafwagen) with 3 bed, 2 bed and 1 cabins
Rail pass users must reserve before boarding these trains.
Click the train details below for more info including the rail pass reservation fees:
Making the rail pass reservation online a minimum of a couple of weeks ahead of the travel date, is particularly recommended if you will be traveling between June and September.
If you wait until arriving in Praha to reserve, your first choice of accommodation may have sold out.
Where to book
| Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| CD | * |
On this journey
Travelling On
Journey Features
Good to Know
Unlike the alternative service from Praha to Zurich, this train conveys couchettes
This train also conveys seated accommodation, which is in effect an Intercity train that is attached to this train.
Option 2: taking the faster route which travels through Austria
Journey Summary
13hr 59min
Nightly
Travel Information
This train is typically scheduled to depart from Praha hl.n, the main station in the Czech capital, at 18:21 and arrive in Zurich at 08:20.
Final Destination: Zurich
This train also departs from: Ceske Budejovice and Tabor
This train also calls at: Buchs (connect for Chur) and Sargans
1 x train per night
Tickets
Book early and save: Yes*
Online bookings usually open: 2 months ahead of the travel date
It's worth making the effort to book ahead if you want a bed in a sleeping cabin, but you'll save less than €10 compared to booking at the station if you want to travel in a seat or couchette.
A plus of booking online is that you will have ensured your place on the train. Your first choice of accommodation MAY be sold out if you don't book in advance.
There's much to be admired regarding the CD website, the online booking service of the Czech national rail operator, České dráhy, but how to book a berth in a couchette, or a bed in a sleeping cabin isn't particularly obvious.
Hence our step-by-step guide to booking overnight accommodation on the CD website, which you can find HERE.
Travelling with a rail pass:
Rail pass users must reserve before boarding these trains, and reservations CAN be booked online - follow the same steps as for booking tickets, except when initially looking up the journey, select, 'I want a reservation' instead of 'Buy'
OR reservations can also be arranged and paid for at the CD Travel desk at Praha hl.n station - ideally do this when you first arrive in Prague/Praha hl.n on the preceding train on your itinerary.
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Where to book
| Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| CD | * |
On this journey
Journey Features
Good to Know
This train conveys sleeping cabins, but seemingly not couchettes, though daytime style seats are also available.
The coaches headed for Zurich are attached to a regular departure heading to Linz, so if you see Linz as the final destination on the departure screens, the info will also be applicable to this train.
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