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Tailor Made Rail · Independent rail holiday

Warsaw, Krakow and Prague

Rail journey through Poland and Czech Republic from Cologne to Nuremberg

Illustration of Warsaw, Krakow and Prague

Tailor Made Rail's independent rail holiday strings together five European cities across Germany, Poland, and the Czech Republic in 13 days, departing London and returning via Cologne, Berlin, Warsaw, Krakow, Prague, and Nuremberg. You travel by Eurostar, the Berlin-Warszawa-Express, a Polish high-speed train, a Czech SuperCity train, and the ALEX through Bohemia and Bavaria. Hotels are handpicked three-star properties with breakfast included; standard-class rail seats are reserved on all segments. The journey balances travel days with leisure time: you have a free morning in Berlin to walk near the Reichstag and Brandenburg Gate, three days in Warsaw to explore the Old Town, Royal Castle, and Warsaw Rising Museum, three days in Krakow for the Wawel Castle and Jewish Quarter (with optional day trips to Auschwitz or Wieliczka Salt Mine), and three days in Prague including an early-morning walk across the Charles Bridge. The itinerary suits independent travellers who enjoy history, cities, and a mix of rail journeys and self-directed exploration.

What to know before you look closer

  • First class is not included in the base price; standard-class upgrades to first class cost GBP 300 per person or more for individual segments.
  • The itinerary recommends visiting Auschwitz-Birkenau and Wieliczka Salt Mine as day-trip options from Krakow, but does not state whether these are included or require separate booking and transport.
  • Some hotel names in the itinerary are listed as options (e.g., 'Golden Tulip Krakow Kazimierz' in the Jewish Quarter); final accommodation may vary by season and availability.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Cologne

    London to Cologne

    Depart London St Pancras on a Eurostar bound for Brussels, where you connect with the German rail network to Cologne. Enjoy an evening on the River Rhine, perhaps stopping for dinner in the Old Town or visiting the famous cathedral.

  2. Day 2overnight: Berlin

    Cologne to Berlin

    After breakfast, continue your journey through Germany towards the capital, Berlin. Your hotel is located within easy reach of Berlin's central station.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Warsaw

    Berlin to Warsaw

    Enjoy a free morning in Berlin, within walking distance of the Reichstag parliament building and Brandenburg Gate. Around lunchtime, catch the Berlin-Warszawa-Express, which crosses the Elbe into Poland and delivers you into the heart of Warsaw in time for dinner.

  4. Day 4overnight: Warsaw

    Warsaw

    Explore the highlights of Warsaw: the Old Town, the Plac Zamkowy (Castle Square) and the Royal Castle. The historic avenue Szlak Krolewski (Royal Way) links the Old Town with the New Town and boasts the Chopin Museum.

  5. Day 5overnight: Warsaw

    Warsaw

    We recommend visiting the beautiful Saxon Gardens and Lazienski Park, as well as the Warsaw Rising Museum, which commemorates the city's insurrection against its Nazi occupiers during World War II.

  6. Day 6railovernight: Krakow

    Warsaw to Krakow

    Take a brand-new Polish high-speed train between Warsaw and Krakow, taking in the countryside as you speed down to Poland's second city in just 3 hours. Krakow boasts a hilltop castle, the Wawel, and the bustling Jewish quarter of Kazimierz.

  7. Day 7overnight: Krakow

    Krakow

    A day at leisure in historic Krakow. The Old Town is focused on the vast Rynek Glowny (Main Square), with its 15th-century town hall tower and cloth hall at the centre of the square.

  8. Day 8overnight: Krakow

    Krakow

    For those who prefer a day trip out of town, the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp memorial and the UNESCO World Heritage listed Wieliczka Salt Mine, with its underground chapels and rock salt sculptures, are both options.

  9. Day 9railovernight: Prague

    Krakow to Prague

    Board a EuroCity train into the Czech Republic, changing in Ostrava onto a Czech SuperCity Train, arriving into Prague in time for an evening stroll and dinner. The Castle district offers panoramic views over the 15th-century Charles Bridge and Old Town.

  10. Day 10overnight: Prague

    Prague

    To avoid the crowds, head down to the Charles Bridge at dawn for a magical setting almost to yourself, then take a siesta before heading out for a glass of local Pilsner and wild game specialties at U modré kachnicky restaurant in the Old Town.

  11. Day 11overnight: Prague

    Prague

    A second day in the Czech capital, with the option of a day trip (or overnight stay) to the charming town of Cesky Krumlov.

  12. Day 12railovernight: Nuremberg

    Prague to Nuremberg

    Take a local ALEX train in the afternoon through the forests of Bohemia and into Bavaria before arriving at the beautiful Bavarian city of Nuremberg.

  13. Day 13rail

    Nuremberg to London

    Time for another wander around Nuremberg before returning to the station for your rail journey back to London, with easy changes in Frankfurt and Brussels.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 3The Berlin-Warszawa-Express crosses the Elbe into Poland, delivering you to Warsaw in time for dinner.
  • Day 6A brand-new Polish high-speed train carries you from Warsaw to Krakow in 3 hours through the countryside.
  • Day 9A EuroCity train takes you into the Czech Republic, changing in Ostrava onto a Czech SuperCity Train to Prague.
  • Day 10An early morning walk across the 15th-century Charles Bridge in Prague before the crowds arrive.
  • Day 12The ALEX train carries you through the forests of Bohemia and Bavaria to Nuremberg.

Included

  • Standard Class rail travel with seat reservations
  • 12 nights’ handpicked hotel accommodation with breakfast
  • Comprehensive directions to your hotels
  • Easy-to-follow travel documentation
  • Despatch of tickets by email, post or collection from our London office

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included in the price?
Yes. Tailor Made Rail includes standard-class rail travel with seat reservations on all five trains: Eurostar, Berlin-Warszawa-Express, Polish high-speed train, EuroCity/Czech SuperCity Train, and ALEX. First-class upgrades are available at extra cost.
Is this an escorted or independent tour?
Tailor Made Rail describes this as an independent rail holiday. You book your own activities within each city; the operator provides travel documentation and hotel accommodation with breakfast.
What hotels are included?
The itinerary names Mondial am Dom MGallery (Cologne), Amano Grand Central (Berlin), Polonia Palace Hotel (Warsaw, 3 nights), Golden Tulip Krakow Kazimierz (Krakow, 3 nights), Liberty Hotel (Prague, 3 nights), and NH Collection Nuremberg City (Nuremberg, 1 night).
How many nights are in each city?
Cologne 1 night, Berlin 1 night, Warsaw 3 nights, Krakow 3 nights, Prague 3 nights, Nuremberg 1 night. The total is 12 nights over 13 days.
What is the price and when does it run?
Low season (November to March) starts at GBP 1,499; high season (April to October) from GBP 1,699. The operator publishes no specific departure dates; confirm availability with Tailor Made Rail.
How much walking is involved?
Each city offers free time and days at leisure. The itinerary includes optional day trips (Auschwitz, Wieliczka Salt Mine, Cesky Krumlov) but does not specify walking distances for city exploration or these excursions.

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