Night Journey from Budapest to Prague: A Detailed Guide to the EN476 Sleeper Train

13 min readJul 20, 2024

Planning a trip between Budapest and Prague? Consider taking the EN476 night train for an efficient and unique travel experience. This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know, from booking tickets and choosing the best sleeper berths to navigating Budapest Nyugati pu and enjoying the onboard facilities. Discover practical tips for a smooth journey and learn how to make the most of your night train adventure.

1. Overview of the Journey

For our Europe Trip, the flight was to and from Budapest. While planning the trip, my family also wanted to visit Prague. Although we had plenty of travel time, we didn’t want to waste precious daylight hours on a train ride of about 7 hours (the distance between Budapest and Prague is about 600 km, and there’s only a regular train, no high-speed rail yet). Therefore, the night train became our choice.

Our outbound journey was a direct night train from Budapest to Prague, and on the return trip, we traveled through Vienna and Bratislava, Slovakia, before finally returning to Budapest. The cross-border transportation for other segments will be shared in another article.

Recently (June 2024), Hong Kong West Kowloon Station also launched direct high-speed rail sleeper trains to Beijing and Shanghai. However, tickets are hard to come by at the moment, and I haven’t had the opportunity to take a sleeper train before. Choosing a sleeper train in Europe not only saved us time but also allowed me, as a researcher in the field of transportation, to experience sleeper travel and the facilities of sleeper trains.

I took this train in late June 2024.

Train Information:

Train Number: EN 476 Metropol / IC 576 EuroNight
Departure Station: Budapest Nyugati pu, 19:30
Arrival Station: Prague hl.n., next morning at 08:13
Total Duration: 12 hours 43 minutes (no time difference between the two cities)

2. Booking Tickets and Choosing Sleepers

I booked the tickets on the official website of Czech Railways (CD). The overall booking process was smooth. Later, I also downloaded their official app, which allows you to show the QR code of the ticket and track the train’s progress in real-time. (However, for this sleeper train ticket, I had printed a paper copy, and the conductor did collect the paper ticket when boarding.)

Step 1: Enter the Official Website and Search

Fill in the departure and destination points. You can select the cities directly without specifying the stations. Choose the date, select the total number of people, and click “Search” to find the trains.

Make sure to fill in the number of people traveling together right from the start so you can choose the berths together later. Remember to select “2nd class (2. Class)” to search for the train with sleeper options.

Step 2: Choose the Train

Find the EN 476 / IC 576 train and click the green button. (I wasn’t entirely sure if it runs every day, but it seems to be available almost daily.)

The night train is about 6 hours longer than the day train because the entire train stops at Breclav, the first station after entering the Czech Republic, from 23:04 to 05:07 for carriage reconfiguration (you can click “Details” to see the stations and stop times along the way). Some carriages of the same train will be detached and head towards Poland, some to Germany, while the part we were on goes to Prague. This is also why the same train has two train numbers, EN 476 / IC 576. If it goes to other destinations, the second train number will be different.

One great advantage of this direct train is that during the deepest sleep, the train actually doesn’t move. When booking, make sure it is a direct train. On the Czech Railways website, there are other options with shorter overall durations, but they require changing trains in the middle of the night. Depending on the season, arriving in Prague around 5 AM might mean it’s still dark outside.

Step 3: Choose a Berth

The fare is divided into two parts: the “Ticket” is the variable fare for the train, which is generally cheaper if booked earlier. The “Reservation” is for the berth reservation. By default, it selects the cheapest option, which is a Couchette in a six-berth compartment. You can click “Change” to modify your berth selection.

The berths are divided into Couchette Carriage and Sleeper Carriage. The cheapest option in the Couchette Carriage is a bed in a six-person compartment, followed by a bed in a four-person compartment, which are either three-tier or two-tier beds. The Sleeper Carriage offers more variety. Each “room” is the same size, but for solo travelers, you can choose to book an entire room, or you can share a room with other passengers in a double or three-berth compartment. When booking, you need to fill in your gender, and the system will arrange same-gender travelers in the same room. For two people traveling together, you can choose a room with two bunk beds, or you can book two separate rooms.

You can refer to the photos later in this article for the specific differences between each type of berth, or check the Seat 61 website for more detailed information. The number of sleeper rooms is limited (it seems there are about 10 rooms per carriage), so you might encounter a red warning like the one shown in the picture below, which means they are sold out.

Since we had a full day of sightseeing planned in Prague the next day, ensuring good sleep quality was a priority. Therefore, we opted for the Sleeper Carriage. We were a group of four, so we booked two double compartments. Make sure to check the “We want to travel in the same compartment” option to ensure you’re all in the same cabin, as there are no gender restrictions if you book the entire compartment yourself.

The ticket prices is dynamic. I purchased tickets and reservations for all four of us for a total of 8,840 CZK (350 EUR) about 7 weeks before departure, which averages out to CZK 2,210 / EUR 87.5 / NTD 3,070 / HKD 730 per person. This is roughly the same price as a round-trip high-speed rail ticket from Taipei to Kaohsiung, or a first-class round-trip ticket from Hong Kong West Kowloon to Guangzhou. Considering that it saved us a night’s accommodation and completed an intercity transfer, I found it to be a high value for money.

A quick note: the berth numbers on the tickets are unlikely to be consecutive, with odd and even numbers forming different compartments (e.g., 41, 43, and 45 in one compartment, and 42, 44, and 46 in another). I got berths 41, 42, 45, and 46 (since we booked doubles, the middle numbers 43 and 44 were skipped). For a complete explanation of the berth numbering logic, you can refer to the “Sleeper berth numbering” section on the Seat 61 website.

3. The Station and Boarding

The departure station is Budapest Nyugati pu (Budapest West Railway Station). From the front, it looks like a beautiful building, but the interior is rather old and simple. Overall, it’s quite clean and conveniently located, with tram and metro connections, nearby supermarkets, and food shops. There’s also a large shopping mall behind the station.

The Airbnb we stayed at the previous night was within walking distance of Nyugati pu. After checking out in the morning, we stored our luggage at a nearby Nannybag until just before the evening departure. (Nyugati pu also has self-service lockers, but they have limited space for large luggage, so we didn’t consider using them.) Before retrieving our luggage, we did some grocery shopping at a supermarket near the station since dinner is not provided on the train.

The electronic display board at the station entrance shows which platform the EN476 will depart from. We arrived about an hour early, and the information was already displayed, luckily indicating a nearby platform. When we walked over to the train, there were two conductors standing next to it. We showed them our printed tickets, and they checked a list to confirm our names. Based on your final destination, they will tell you the carriage number and the compartment number. (It felt very much like a scene from the movie “Murder on the Orient Express.”)

The conductors temporarily took our paper tickets and would return them the next day. (seems that they need to check them during border crossings.)

4. Carriage Layout

Since we arrived early, most of the other compartments were still empty, which gave us a chance to take some photos. Below are pictures of the corridor and bathroom facilities. There is a bathroom at each end of the carriage, and one of them includes a shower.

The following three photos show the differences between single, double, and triple rooms. The space is the same size, but the difference is in how many beds are set up. For example, in a single room, only the bottom bed is kept open while the upper two are folded away. In a double room, the top bed is folded away, and the middle one is raised slightly higher, making it comfortable to sit on the bottom bunk.

Personally, I think a triple room can be a bit cramped, especially during the first few hours of the journey before bedtime. It can be awkward if you’re sharing with strangers, as standing or sitting comfortably is challenging. However, if you’re traveling in a group of five, a combination of a triple and a double room might work well.

Additionally, there’s a feature I didn’t know about when booking and checking the details, which I discovered only upon boarding: there are folding doors that can connect two compartments (this detail also resembles a scene from the “Murder on the Orient Express” movie). However, not every pair of adjacent rooms has these folding doors. From my observation, it seems that only two sets of four rooms in the entire carriage can be connected. We were fortunate to be assigned to two of the interconnected rooms. This option doesn’t appear to be selectable on the booking page, but I guess the system prioritizes assigning travelers from the same booking to these compartments.

In practice, you just need to unlock the locks on both sides to open the door. Once connected, it becomes quite convenient. Before going to sleep, we could have dinner together, chat, and take turns using the shower. It also made the space feel more spacious.

5. Sleeper Facilities, Services, and Dining

Shortly after departure, the conductor came to each room to introduce the compartment and carriage facilities in English. The conductor we encountered was a tall, young guy (probably responsible for our entire carriage). He explained the facilities in great detail, answered all our questions, and was friendly and professional. He wasn’t overly enthusiastic but was as accommodating as possible. For example, when we asked for hot water, he said to wait a moment and returned about half an hour later with a large thermos to pour us hot water.

In the Compartment

Each compartment is equipped with its own washbasin and trash bin. The washbasin has an automatic sensor (since the water flows for a long time continuously, we were initially worried about how to turn it off).

There is an upper luggage rack for placing luggage (see previous photos). However, lifting large luggage up there isn’t easy, so we only placed small 20-inch suitcases and backpacks on it. A 28-inch and a 30-inch suitcase stood upright on the floor with enough space, and it was manageable to open one suitcase at a time to retrieve items.

There are several charging outlets (since the beds can accommodate three people, there should be at least one outlet per person), with one additional outlet near the washbasin. There are both USB ports and standard European round-pin sockets.

Each bed has a small night light, and the ceiling has a larger light with adjustable brightness. The air conditioning is also adjustable, with switches and dials located above the compartment door.

Regarding the door, the inner side of the door panel has a key card for access if you need to leave your compartment and go use the restroom. The conductor also reminded us to ensure the door is securely closed and to use the physical security lock when sleeping, given the many stops along the way and the six hours when the train is not moving.

Also In the Compartment, there are

4 bottles of mineral water (presumably 2 per person, but I didn’t find the water very good).
1 small towel per person (as shown in the photo).
3 hangers (probably one for each person if the compartment is full).

1 paper bag on the bed per person, containing:

1 pair of slippers (the kind you find in regular hotels, white and disposable).
1 bar of soap.

About Showering

The communal shower room becomes available shortly after the train departs. The shower room is small but sufficient, with a dry and wet separation and hot water. There is a folding chair in the shower area (for sitting while showering). You need to bring your own shampoo and towel, or use the soap and small towel provided in the compartment. There isn’t much space to put clean clothes, so you can use a small tote bag to carry them and hang it on the hook inside.

The entire carriage accommodates about 20 people. Although not every passenger might use the shower, and some may prefer to shower in the morning, there might still be a slight wait in the evening. You can either stand outside the shower room to wait or casually check from your compartment. If the shower is in use, a red light will be on, similar to an airplane restroom. Budapest can be quite hot in the summer, and taking a shower before bed feels much more comfortable, especially since we wouldn’t be able to check into our accommodation in Prague until the afternoon and had to start exploring in the morning.

Breakfast

While dinner is not provided, breakfast is available (served about an hour before arrival). The conductor will go from room to room the night before to ask for breakfast preferences, and there is also a morning call service.

The breakfast details can be seen in the photo of the English menu below. Essentially, it consists of:

2 breads (choice of sweet or savoury).
1 wafer
1 hot drink (choice of coffee, black tea, fruit tea, or green tea).
1 bottle of juice (choice of apple juice or multivitamin juice).

There is a small table in the compartment, and when the conductor brings the breakfast in the morning, they will help you set it up. You can enjoy breakfast while sitting on the lower bunk.

6. Arrival at Prague Main Station

We arrived at 08:13 AM on time and had to get off the train immediately. Therefore, it was a bit hectic to eat breakfast, change clothes, and pack our luggage in the morning. We were a bit rushed when we got off the train.

Ideally, you should use the train’s restroom one last time before arrival, as the restrooms at Prague Main Station require a fee. Additionally, Prague Main Station has a staffed luggage storage service with reasonable rates: €2.5 per item for the whole day. Before getting off the train, we organized our luggage and were ready to start our day’s activities with just our backpacks. Note that the luggage storage service there only accept cash, fortunately also Euro Cash as we don’t have any cash in CZK.

7. Useful Tips

Book Tickets in Advance: Sleeper compartments are limited. To ensure you get your preferred bed arrangement, it is recommended to book your tickets early.
Print Out Paper Tickets: The conductors need the paper tickets for verification.
Prepare Ready-to-Eat Food, Snacks, and Water: Although there is food service on the train, it’s more convenient to bring your own, especially since it will be dinner time when you board.
Earplugs and Sleep Aids: Trains can be noisy and shaky. If you’re a light sleeper, earplugs or sleep aids can help you rest better, ensuring you have the energy for the next day’s activities.
Organize Your Luggage in Advance: Space in the compartment is limited. It will be much simpler if you can avoid opening your suitcase. Keep items you will need during the train journey in a separate, easily accessible bag.
Set an Alarm: In addition to the conductor’s morning call, set an alarm to remind yourself. This ensures you have enough time to freshen up, pack your luggage, and leisurely enjoy breakfast while admiring the scenic outskirts of Prague.
Secure Your Valuables: Make sure your valuables like wallet, passport, and phone are securely stored. The sleeper compartments are narrow with some gaps where items can easily fall and be forgotten. With the compartment door properly locked from the inside, your belongings should be safe.

8. Conclusion

The journey on the EN476 night train from Budapest to Prague was a very pleasant experience overall. It allowed us to make full use of the night, sleep comfortably in the sleeper berths, and arrive at our destination refreshed and ready to start a new day.

If your European travel plans include both Budapest and Prague, I highly recommend taking the EN476 night train. It is not only efficient but also a unique and interesting experience. I hope this guide helps you better prepare for and enjoy your journey.