Article Czechia: paradise for railway buffs

Iconic routes by rail. Historical steam locomotives and luxury glamping in carriages. Czechia is a paradise for railway enthusiasts! The first railroad in continental Europe ran through the country and it still has the densest railway network in the EU. Fun fact: you can cross Czechia from west to east on a high-speed train in 4:44 minutes. 

Glamping on a train 

Try glamping on the tracks for some railway romance on the ridge of the Ore Mountains. Nothing but peace, quiet, and wilderness all around! Heated carriages with panoramic windows, each of a different design, offer a comfortable place to stay year-round. You can experience this type of unusual sleepover at the Kovářská station in the Ore Mountains, just a few minutes’ walk from the tourist center in Boží Dar. 

Mountain railway 

Known as the Silesian Semmering, the mountain railway in the Jeseníky offers breathtaking views of the mountains. The railway winds its way through several valleys, which the trains cross via huge viaducts. The highest point along the route is the express train station Ramzová. You can also ride on the Glass Local Train in the north of the country. If you’re in Kamenický Šenov, you can visit the Glass Museum and take a trip to the unique natural rock formation called Panská skála. 

Panoramic and nostalgic trains 

Love the views of the surrounding countryside and fancy getting a better look? Then the unique Swiss train with its sightseeing car is just the thing for you. In Czechia you can ride it from South Moravia to Silesia, from Břeclav to Bohumín. The large arched panoramic windows give passengers a view that is up to 90 percent better than in a standard carriage.  

It was back in 1902 that the first train ran along Czechia’s steepest and only cog railway line, which links the gorgeous Jizera Mountains with the majestic Giant Mountains. During the summer season, Tanvald is the place to see historical locomotives and carriages, as it offers nostalgic train rides on a unique cog locomotive known as Cloudy.  

If you want a real out-of-the-ordinary experience, take a ride on the narrow-gauge track in the Osoblaha Hook. The Osoblaha narrow-gauge railway, connected to the unique Technotrail, is a technical monument. The steam locomotive puffs its way out onto the track in May. Popular events include the Scary Train and the Gastronomy Train. 

Have sweet dreams! 

Several sleeper trains that run through Czechia connect major European cities. A direct night train goes from Prague to Budapest, Kraków, Warsaw, and Vienna. Starting at the end of March 2024 a night train will link Prague and Brussels. If you’re in the mood to admire the beauty of the high mountains in neighboring Slovakia, take the train that from Prague to Poprad.  

Travelling by rail is an amazing experience and a very environmentally friendly way to travel around. In Česká Třebová, one of the major railway junctions in Czechia,  National Railway Day will be celebrated on September 21st, 2024.