We began a month-long train journey through Europe from Berlin, Germany, to Prague, Czechia. We stayed in Berlin for one day to recover from our overnight flight, and we booked a 3-night stay in Prague. Read more about our full train trip: https://lifeafter50travel.net/2026/06/25/affordable-train-travel-in-eastern-europe-and-finland/
Our Quick Impression of Berlin
Accommodations in Berlin
We flew directly from Toronto and successfully navigated public transport for (5 Euros each) to arrive at our cheap and cheerful hotel, the Motel One Hauptbahnhof. It was a 6min walk to the train station, which set us up beautifully to catch our train to Prague the next day. We flew overnight, so when we arrived at the hotel at 2 pm, we had a shower and a nap before finding dinner.
Our First Night- Motel One Hauptbahnhof
Motel One had nice, comfy beds, up-to-date decor and a delicious breakfast that we added on to our stay. We were able to keep our bags secured at the hotel until our early-evening train ride on the following day.
Our Last Night- Moxy Berlin Ostbahnhof
One month later, we returned to Berlin to catch our flight back to Canada. We stayed at the Moxy Berlin Ostbahnhof near the airport. It is an easy shuttle ride to the airport, and the room was quiet and comfortable. We did not eat at the hotel; instead, we chose to eat at a nearby Pizza place, which we regretted. The food was good, but it was expensive, and table service was lacking. Overall, we felt that Berlin servers are not very interested in providing good service. Perhaps we caught them on a bad day?
Quick Walkabout
Despite jet lag from an overnight flight, we managed to walk to several significant areas of Berlin on our one-day visit.
We walked through Tiergarten Park to the Victory Column (Siegessaule) and down the wide boulevard of Juni 17, which ends at the famous Brandenburger Tor (Gate). The Brandenburg Gate was covered in scaffolding during my last visit, so I loved being able to see the architectural details this time.
We also walked through the grounds of the German Parliament. Unfortunately, the day’s tour of the Reichstag Dome was sold out. We hadn’t planned any tours in Berlin as we considered it a recovery day from our overnight flight. Our walkabout was in beautiful weather, and we enjoyed orienting ourselves at our own pace.
If you are planning a visit to Berlin, we recommend booking tours early to avoid disappointment. Next time we would book our tours ahead of time with either GetYourGuide or Viator.
Our Dining Choices in Berlin
Our limited time in Berlin meant we ate at only a few places. After a disappointing experience at one highly rated place, we found success at Caselot Restaurant. The Arabian-influenced meal was delicious with excellent service and atmosphere. We enjoyed our Mediterranean lunches and strong Turkish coffee.
Train to Prague, Czechia
We arrived early at the Berlin Hauptbahnhof station. The station is multilevelled and very busy with many shops and places to eat. 30 minutes before departure, our train’s platform was supposed to be listed. Instead, the board displayed a CANCELLATION! Luckily, we found a helper who explained we now needed to catch our train from the southern Berlin train station! We managed to find our way and caught the train to Prague from the new location. We were lucky we asked for help when we did, as we had 5min to make the connecting train! We passed the time chatting with a Danish/Canadian couple. EU passenger rights state that compensation is available if the train is more than an hour late. Our train was only 40 minutes late, so no compensation was available. We were shocked that they would skip the central station for the Prague train.
We learned early on our trip that the platform and even station details may be altered! This kept us alert for future trains. We travelled first class on this segment, which was very comfortable. We arrived in Prague at midnight and took a Bolt (rideshare) to our hotel.
Our Impressions of Prague
Prague is a very beautiful city and is very easy to walk around. We truly enjoyed the variety of architectural styles and art that surprised us around every corner! The old town area is busy with tourists, and so we opted not to do many of the typical activities.
Where did we stay in Prague?
We enjoyed our stay at the Mosaic House Design Hotel; it was perfectly located near the old town, so we walked to all attractions. As 50+ travellers, I think the best feature in any hotel room is a deep bathtub!
Our Favourite Activities in Prague
Walking Tour
On our first morning in Prague, we booked a walking tour with GuruWalk to learn about the city and its history. Our tour guide was an enthusiastic history buff who answered all of our questions. We learned about some of the architecture and the way the city has evolved. I especially enjoyed visiting and learning about life in the Jewish district. Our guide also created a nice summary of suggested activities and places to eat, which we appreciated!
One of the busiest moments of our tour was waiting for the hourly Astronomical Clock display. It was underwhelming and not worth waiting for in the crowds. You can watch my recording of the Astronomical Clock Display if you are curious.
There are many places to visit in Prague’s old town. If you are there for a few days, it is a good idea to book tours in advance, as they sell out. If you want to explore a large castle, Prague is the city to do it!
The famous Charles Bridge is beautiful and busy too!
The rest of the time in Prague we explored on our own. We found a car display to try out some driving and see rare autos. We also admired the unique architectural designs and various art hidden around the city.
Dining Highlights
Being a cosmopolitan city, it was easy to find a variety of dining options. We enjoyed Vietnamese pho, Mediterranean kebabs and Indian dishes all within easy walking distance from our hotel.
Cafe Louvre
Our favourite place to eat in Prague was Cafe Louvre. We ate a late lunch and also an awesome breakfast there! The hundred-year-old cafe is upstairs, and is a lovely place to spend time. The food was fresh, and the servers were excellent! There is a billiards room to enjoy as well. The Czech full breakfast is no joke! The hot chocolate was also delicious!
We enjoyed our 2 full days in Prague, and we would go back. It might be a place to stay for longer…
Our next train adventure was to the fascinating city of Krakow!
I took my first flight at 6 months of age and I have continued to plan trips and travel to more than 60 countries. Now as a middle age traveler we have learned some travel hacks and budget saving ideas that we are happy to share. Follow our posts for ideas and tips to stretch your travel budget in your gogo years!
