These two culture-packed European capitals are now finally connected by direct train

Prague and Copenhagen both sit high on the list of Europe’s must-see cities, the former known as the ‘City of a Hundred Spires’ thanks to its intricate Gothic architecture, the latter for its stylish population, smørrebrød and ‘hygge’. 

However, stopping off at both places in one trip hasn’t always been an obvious travel option – until now, that is. As of May 1, the two hubs are officially connected by a direct train after more than a decade. 

Czech Railways (ČD) has launched two daily services between Prague and Hamburg – both include stops in Berlin and Dresden, and one journeys all the way to Copenhagen. Essentially, it’s now possible to hop around Europe’s coolest cities via one train. 

Recommended: 13 of the most exciting new train routes launching in 2026. 

Throughout this year, trains will depart at 6.30am and 10.30am. In the summer season, a third 4.30pm departure will be added to the schedule. 

The operation is a joint effort between Czech Railways (ČD), Deutsche Bahn, and Danske Statsbaner, and uses ČD’s recently launched ComfortJet trains. They feature onboard restaurants, bike storage, Wi-Fi and even a children’s cinema, but the best things about these trains is their speed, which can reach up to 230km per hour – that means Prague to Hamburg takes six hours and 41 minutes, and Prague to Copenhagen takes a mere 13. 

The EU’s commissioner for sustainable transport and tourism, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, described the launch of these services as ‘a strong example of progress’ towards a greener Europe, according to euronews. Exciting stuff, eh?

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Plus: The 12 new UNESCO geoparks to visit in 2026. 

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