Paris to Prague
The train departs Paris in the late afternoon and arrives in Prague the following evening, having crossed France and Germany overnight and passed through Vienna around midday. It is a journey that trades Alpine drama for something quieter: forested hills, broad river valleys and the gentle Bohemian countryside.
The Paris to Prague route is one of the VSOE's more distinctive journeys. It runs on selected dates and takes a different character from Paris to Venice or Paris to Budapest. The overnight crossing passes through France and into Germany, and by the time you are awake the next morning the train is in Austria. Rather than the sharp peaks of the Alps, the scenery here is rolling forested hills and wide valleys: the Bohemian Massif at its most benign. The train makes a midday stop at Vienna Westbahnhof before continuing north into the Czech Republic, crossing the border and descending through the Bohemian countryside as afternoon becomes evening. Prague receives the train at approximately 18:45.
A complimentary transfer from your Paris accommodation to Paris Gare d'Austerlitz is included in the Paris to Prague fare.
The VSOE carriages at its Paris platform waiting to depart
The First Evening
The train departs Paris Gare d'Austerlitz around 15:30. Settle into your cabin, meet your steward and find your way to the Bar Car for an aperitif before the first call to dinner. Chef Jean Imbert's four-course seasonal menu is served in the restaurant cars with the sommelier's selection of wines. After dinner, Bar Car 3674 stays animated: the pianist plays, cocktails are poured and the train crosses into Germany as the night deepens. At midnight a brunch is laid on in the Bar Car for those still awake: champagne, lobster rolls and a truffled club sandwich.
Dinner in the VSOE restaurant car.
The Second Day
Breakfast is served in your cabin by your steward as the train passes through Austria, the landscape outside a pleasing succession of forested hills and river valleys. There is none of the sharp Alpine drama of the Paris to Venice route here, but the scenery is quietly beautiful and the sense of crossing Central Europe at a civilised pace is entirely characteristic of the VSOE.
A three-course lunch is served in the restaurant car as the train approaches Vienna. The midday stop at Vienna Westbahnhof around 12:30 gives a brief platform break before the train continues north-east into the Czech Republic. The Bohemian countryside in the afternoon, forested and unhurried, is distinctly different from anywhere else the train travels. Afternoon pastries are served in your cabin as the Czech Republic passes outside and Prague draws closer. The train arrives at Prague main station at approximately 18:45.
The Bohemian countryside from the VSOE window
What Is Included
Complimentary Transfer
Transfer from your Paris accommodation to Gare d'Austerlitz before departure.
Cabin Accommodation
One night in your chosen cabin: Historic Twin, Suite or Grand Suite. Personal steward service throughout.
Four-Course Dinner
Seasonal table d'hote menu by Chef Jean Imbert, served with the sommelier's selection of wines.
Midnight Brunch
Champagne, lobster rolls and more in Bar Car 3674 from midnight for those who wish to continue the evening.
Breakfast in Your Cabin
A French breakfast served by your steward as the train crosses Austria the following morning.
Three-Course Lunch
A leisurely lunch in the restaurant car as the train approaches Vienna on the second day.
Timetable
2026 Departure Dates
The Paris to Prague route runs on selected dates only.
July 2026
- Sun 5
For 2027 departure dates, see our VSOE Timetables page.
2026 Fares: Paris to Prague
| Cabin Type | 2026 Price (GBP) | Per Person Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Historic Twin Cabin | from £4,275 | Two sharing |
| Suite | from £9,660 | Two sharing |
| Grand Suite | from £13,530 | Two sharing |
All fares are per person, one way, and include all meals and a transfer from your Paris accommodation. See the full fare table for all routes and years.
Prague to Paris
The Prague to Paris journey departs in the morning and gives you the whole of the first day on board while the train moves through the Czech Republic and Austria in daylight. The landscapes are different from the dramatic Alpine routes: quieter, more forested, more Central European. But the train, the cooking and the Bar Car are exactly the same, and that is rather the point.
The Prague to Paris route departs Prague main station at 09:15, which means the whole of the first day is spent on the move with the scenery passing by your window. Lunch is served as the train crosses into Austria and heads towards Vienna. After the Vienna stop the train continues west and south into France, where dinner is served in the restaurant car as evening falls. The overnight passage brings the train to Paris the following morning.
Unlike the Paris to Prague direction, no transfer is included at the Paris end. Paris Gare d'Austerlitz is well served by taxi and Metro and is a straightforward starting point for onward travel.
Station platform with the VSOE blue and gold carriages at rest before departure
Day One: Prague to France
Board at Prague station and settle into your cabin. The train departs at 09:15 and heads south-west through Bohemia. The Czech countryside in the morning is rolling and forested, with occasional glimpses of river valleys and the stone towers of small towns. A three-course lunch is served in the restaurant car as the train crosses into Austria, the landscape becoming more open as the morning's Bohemian hills give way to the Austrian plains.
The train pauses at Vienna Westbahnhof in the middle of the afternoon before continuing westward. Beyond Vienna, the hours drift by pleasantly as you explore the elegant carriages, browse the onboard boutique, or simply admire the rolling Austrian scenery from your cabin while your steward serves freshly prepared pastries.
As evening draws near, it is time to prepare for dinner. A refined four-course dining experience awaits in the restaurant car, followed by an evening in the Bar Car, where the pianist provides the soundtrack and conversation flows long into the night as the train glides through France towards Paris.
Enjoy lunch in the restaurant as the scenery glides by
Day Two: Arrival in Paris
Breakfast is served in your cabin by your steward as the train travels through France towards Paris. The train arrives at Paris Gare d'Austerlitz at approximately 10:05. From here, Paris is immediately accessible: taxi and Metro services run from outside the station and the centre of the city is a short ride away. Passengers connecting to the Eurostar for London transfer to Gare du Nord, approximately 30 to 40 minutes by taxi.
Breakfast is served in your cabin before arriving in Paris
What Is Included
Cabin Accommodation
One night in your chosen cabin: Historic Twin, Suite or Grand Suite. Personal steward service throughout.
Three-Course Lunch
Served on the first afternoon as the train crosses Austria towards Vienna.
Afternoon Tea
Pastries served in your cabin as the train continues from Vienna through Austria into France.
Four-Course Dinner
Seasonal table d'hote menu by Chef Jean Imbert, served in the evening with the sommelier's selection of wines.
Breakfast in Your Cabin
A French breakfast served by your steward the following morning as the train travels through France to Paris.
Steward Service
Your personal steward is available throughout the journey to attend to your cabin and any requests.
Timetable
2026 Departure Dates
July 2026
- Wed 8
For 2027 departure dates, see our VSOE Timetables page.
2026 Fares: Prague to Paris
| Cabin Type | 2026 Price (GBP) | Per Person Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Historic Twin Cabin | from £4,275 | Two sharing |
| Suite | from £8,785 | Two sharing |
| Grand Suite | from £12,300 | Two sharing |
All fares are per person, one way, and include all meals. No transfer is included at the Paris end. See the full fare table for all routes and years.