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Back to Sleeper Trains: Brussels to Prague by Night Train
Prague from Powder Tower 01
Sleeper trains

Brussels to Prague by Night Train

Brussels · Prague

Timetable-checked:1 train · 16h 48m on board
1 daySuggested duration
2 stopsIconic cities
OvernightSleeper
75% Lower CO₂Than flying (est.)

“Fall asleep by the canals, wake up by the Elbe.”

Suggested
1 day
Stops
2
On board
16h 48m

Overnight · Timetable-checked · 75% lower CO₂ than flying (est.)

Overview

This route links Brussels and Amsterdam by day, then a single night train carries you all the way to Prague. You fall asleep in the Netherlands and wake beside the Elbe, with the last miles through the sandstone gorge seen in daylight.

“One night on the rails, a new country the next day.”

The route

  1. Brussels, photographed for Wikimedia CommonsBrussels · Day stopGuildhalls, comic strips and Belgian beer.
    European SleeperES 45318:06 → 10:54 · 16h 48mTimetable-checked
    ES 453 · European SleeperBruxelles-Midi - Brussel-Zuid → Praha hl.n.18:06 → 10:54
    1. Bruxelles-Midi - Brussel-ZuidDep 18:06
    2. Antwerpen-CentraalArr 18:50 · Dep 18:54
    3. RoosendaalArr 19:41 · Dep 19:47
    4. Rotterdam CentraalArr 20:21 · Dep 20:24
    5. Den Haag HSArr 20:39 · Dep 20:41
    6. Amsterdam CentraalArr 21:29 · Dep 21:33
    7. DeventerArr 22:47 · Dep 22:51
    8. Berlin GesundbrunnenArr 06:01 · Dep 06:05
    9. Dresden HbfArr 08:29 · Dep 08:32
    10. Bad SchandauArr 08:58 · Dep 09:00
    11. Děčín hl.n.Arr 09:18 · Dep 09:21
    12. Ústí nad Labem hl.n.Arr 09:36 · Dep 09:37
    13. Praha hl.n.Arr 10:54
  2. Prague, photographed for Wikimedia CommonsPrague · 1 nightA hundred spires above the Vltava.

Timetable-checked on 12 October 2026 for travel on 2026-10-13

Suggested tickets

Suggestions only. Trainlink doesn't sell tickets: check prices, coverage and reservation rules with the seller.

The experience

Brussels, photographed for Wikimedia Commons Brussels - The capital of EuropeBrussels

The Grand Place

The Grand Place is one of the finest squares in Europe, ringed by gilded guildhalls and a Gothic town hall. Most of it was rebuilt after a French bombardment in 1695, which is why it looks so complete. From there the old streets climb towards the royal quarter and the museums of the Mont des Arts.

Art Nouveau and comics

Brussels was a birthplace of Art Nouveau, and the Horta houses in Saint-Gilles and Ixelles show off its flowing ironwork and stained glass. The city also loves the comic strip, with painted murals on walls across the centre and a museum in a Horta department store.

Frites, waffles and beerFood

Belgian frites come twice-fried from street stands, and warm waffles are sold on almost every corner. Beer is a serious matter here, with hundreds of styles poured in old cafés.

Flowers and processionsTraditions

Every other August a vast carpet of begonias covers the Grand Place. Each summer the Ommegang pageant brings a costumed procession through the old centre.

Brussels → Prague17:48 → 11:0317h 15mdirectTimetable-checked

Across the Low Countries

The line runs north through Antwerp and across the flat polders of the Dutch delta. Long bridges carry it over wide river mouths before it reaches the canals of Amsterdam.

Prague, photographed for Wikimedia Commons Prague - The golden cityPrague
Booking.com

Find a place to stay in Prague

The same place and dates on each site. Trainlink doesn’t sell rooms; an affiliate link may earn us a commission.

Castle and bridge

Prague Castle has crowned the hill above the Vltava for more than a thousand years, with St Vitus Cathedral at its heart. Below it, the Charles Bridge crosses the river between rows of baroque statues of saints.

The Old Town

The Old Town Square is ringed by Gothic and baroque houses and the twin spires of the Týn church. On the town hall, the astronomical clock has marked the hours since the fifteenth century.

Dumplings and pilsnerFood

Czech cooking is hearty, with roast pork, sauerkraut and bread dumplings. It comes with some of the best lager in the world, often poured straight from the tank.

Markets and musicTraditions

Christmas markets fill the Old Town Square through December. Every May the Prague Spring music festival opens with Smetana's My Country.

The train

European Sleeper, photographed for Wikimedia Commons
European Sleeper, photographed for Wikimedia Commons
European Sleeper, photographed for Wikimedia Commons
European Sleeper - Sleeping east to Bohemia
European Sleeper

Classic carriages, refitted

The train runs on older carriages that have been refurbished for a second life, with compartments off a long corridor and windows that still open. It is a practical night train rather than a luxury hotel, and its friendly crew are a big part of its charm.

Seat, couchette or bed

The cheapest way to travel is a seat in a shared compartment. Couchettes turn a compartment into berths at night, with sheets, a blanket and a pillow, and sleeping cars give more space and privacy. Compartments can be shared or booked privately for a group or family.

Night trains, brought back

The company behind the train is a young cooperative set up to bring direct night trains back between European cities. Part of its money came from members of the public who wanted to see those trains return.

Photo credits

About the train, not a timetable. Services, carriages and seasons change: check with the operator that it runs on your dates.

Practical info

Booking

Trainlink doesn't sell tickets. Check each leg with the operator or a retailer before you travel.

Reservations

Night trains need a reservation for a seat, couchette or bed, and rail passes do not include it. Book early for a private compartment.

Running days

The night train does not run every day, so plan the stops around its departures.

Best time to travel

Late spring and early autumn bring mild evenings in Amsterdam and clear views along the Elbe.

Trainlink plans journeys; operators and retailers sell the tickets.