You might be able to buy the ticket from either the German or the Polish national rail company website. The German one will be easiest: http://reiseauskunft… and is the best place to check schedules for any train in Euroep. But check both as you might find a better special fare on the Polish site if the Polish national rail company runs the specific train you choose. http://www.pkp.pl/

Otherwise, just buy the ticket at the train station in Krakow — or try at any other major train station in Europe.

This isn’t a great train trip as the shortest train is over 9 hour and the overnight options all have connections. Have you looked for a cheap flight?

Thanks for replying!

I’ve tried the German one before and it doesn’t seem to let me actually book the tickets. I’ve just tried the Polish one as well and I can’t seem to find a way to buy the tickets. All I seem able to do is view the timetable.

I wouldn’t mind buying the tickets when I was in Poland if I could guarantee I would definitely get them but I don’t want to get there and there’s none left!

I’ve thought about getting a cheap flight but that would mean I’d either need to book an extra night in a hotel in either Poland or Germany. Ideally I’d like to travel through the night and just wake up in Germany. Regarding the connections, do you have any idea how reliable the trains are? If, for example, one of my trains was delayed and I missed a connecting train are the trains regular enough to just get the next one that comes along?

Sorry to bombard with you with all these questions but again any advice would be greatly appreciated

Craig

You can buy tickets for some trains on this route from the German website, but the“best” overnight option is a Polish train. You might be able to buy on line from a travel agency website like eurail.com, raileurope.com, etc. However you’ll probably end up paying nearly double what it will cost at the station in Europe. Unless it’s an overnight train on Friday or Sunday night, a day in advance inKrakow should be sufficient. Try at any major train station in Europe if you think you need to buy it before you get to Krakow.

All European trains are reliable. A train that’s more than 5 minutes late is a rarity. German trains will be more reliable than Polish, but unless there’s a major issue like a bridge washed out, I would not worry about reliability. Connections are usually very easy — often just walking across the platform (almost always the case in Germany where you’ll be connecting). Plus, you can generally just take the next train if you miss a connection. Your ticket will probably be honored, but you might need a new reservation.

I’m flying to Poland for the first leg of my journey and I’ll be there for 4 days before leaving on a Friday night I have tried these other train websites and they are very expensive. Think one of them was about 180 pounds for 2 tickets. I guess I’ll just keep looking around for tickets then if I can’t get them I’ll just wait until I’m in Poland and hope I have no problems getting tickets.

Thanks for your help!
Craig

This post is about the daytime offer.
The Polish rail offers specials from Krakow to Berlin from 29 euros. The offer is called SparDay and is available only at cash desks. Info in Polish: h_center_start=show&cmn_id=1026” title=“http://www.intercity.pl/index.php?page=Oferta_miedzynarodowa&amph_center_start=show&cmn_id=1026”>http://www.intercity…

So be sure to visit the train station on the day of your arrival and request this. Think well about the date, however, as that ticket cannot be returned or modified once it’s sold.

Anyway, even if SparDay offer is sold out, the normal TCV tariff (tariff commun a voyageurs, standard non-discounted international tariff) says that Krakow to Berlin should costs 58.60 euros.\

You clearly misunderstand the concept of a ticket and a reservation. You will be able to buy a ticket in the cash desk up to the moment of departure, even after it, for the standard price of 58.60 euros. That ticket entitles you to travel the length of journey, but is valid for one month and lets you choose the train you will use. Then, there is a reservation ticket, which usually costs some 1 to 3 euros and reserves you a seat in a particular train or trains. But even without the reservation ticket, you can sit on a train, provided someone else who has a reservation for your exact seat doesn’t come and throw you out. Simply you don’t need the reservation if the train is not crowded. So the worst thing that may happen to you is that reservations will be sold out and you will have to either stand on the corridor or sit in a dining car and consume the whole journey. But practically, there’s no way they can keep you out of that train if you decide to use it and have the ticket valid in that period. It’s not like airlines who cannot take more on board than there is seats.

The SparDay is a single document which combines the fare and the reservation so it is valid only for the train and person specified and costs 29 euros. THAT may sell out if you come late, but the 60-euro option will remain available indefinitely.

This post is about the nighttime connection.

As there is no direct train from Krakow to Berlin, you will not be able to just sleep your way through. But there is a possibility to take the domestic overnight train from Krakow to Szczecin and then change for a train from Szczecin to Berlin.

For example, leaving Krakow at 21.45, arrive to Szczecin at 9:03 in the morning, continue by regional at 9.18 to Angermunde, arrive 10.20, then regional leaving Angermunde at 10.33, arriving to Berlin main station at 11.26.
Or leave Krakow at 18.33, arrive Szczecin at 5:47, leave Szczecin at 6:11, arrive Berlin Gesundbrunnen at 7:56.

Tickets to domestic sleeper trains can be only bought at cash desk in Poland, and the number of available couchette and bed reservations may run out, so go there as soon as you arrive.