City Breaks To Prague

On track for a rainy Czech diversion

EASTERN EXPRESS BERLIN - PRAGUE:  The train from Berlin to Prague leads to a city much changed from the description found in a battered 1970s copy of ‘Let’s Go: Europe’, in the second part of a series exploring Europe by rail, writes RUADHAN Mac CORMAIC  

‘I KNOW EXACTLY the place to go,” wrote a friend in Berlin when I sent word of my stopover. A short walk from the Hauptbahnhof (the central railway station), in an isolated half-timbered building next to the sandy vastness of the site where Germany’s new interior ministry is due to be built, stands Paris-Moskau. Built at the end of the 19th century, the tavern – now a fine restaurant – was one of the few buildings in the area to survive the 1945 battle for the nearby Reichstag intact. Its location made it a crossroads between east and west, and it did a brisk trade with long-distance lorry drivers and east Berliners until the erection of the Berlin Wall in 1961 hit business and tipped it into decline.

It got its current name, a reference to the 120-year-old railway link between the French and Russian capitals and Berlin’s place between them, in 1987, when Mikhail Gorbachev’s reforms were starting to prise open the Soviet Union. The staff concocted their own special cocktail and called it Glasnost. Today, in a sign of how Europe’s imagery of Russia has evolved in the intervening years, the signature cocktail is called the Gazprom, after the energy megafirm.

The direct rail link between Paris and Moscow still exists (albeit with a 10-hour stopover in Berlin), but I opted for a more circuitous route, heading south to Prague, across the Czech Republic and north to Warsaw.

Over lunch in the dining car, en route to Prague, Patrick Miller from Pennsylvania produces a small rock from his pocket, places it on the table and tells me it’s a memento from one of the highlights of his trip so far. It’s nondescript; I admire it. He explains that he picked it up on the Normandy beaches as a gift for one of his neighbours – another military nut – back home.

“I’d been watching the military channel,” he explains.

“Again,” adds his wife, Janet, with mock exasperation. “I get to fit in my fun stuff every so often, but mostly it’s military.”

Patrick and Janet – amiable and laid-back – are on a two-week train trip, taking in parts of France, Belgium, Italy, Germany and the Czech Republic. They don’t have much of a plan, being simply content to enjoy the rare thrill of travelling everywhere by train. “We wake up and say, ‘okay, where do you want to go today’,” Janet says.

Top 5 city breaks for culture vultures | Travel Tips

Everyone has their own preference for things that make up a great holiday, but many cities across the world have established themselves as excellent destinations for cultural city breaks – whether you’re keen to discover their remarkable history or get involved in their contemporary social scene.

From ancient European capitals strewn with fascinating monuments to modern style capitals of the USA, city breaks are a chance to experience a new culture and try out new experiences. Thanks to cheap flights and holiday packages, you could also find taking a number of weekend city breaks throughout the year is a great alternative to traditional holidays.

One of the most enduringly popular destinations for culture seekers, there’s a reason Rome is known as the ‘Eternal City.’ The Italian capital has been a major global city for more than 2,000 years, from the reign of the Roman Empire to the emergence of the Vatican, and every stage of its fascinating history acts as a major pull to tourists. If you’re just spending the weekend in Rome, see the major sights such as the Colosseum and the Spanish Steps and consider paying a trip to Vatican City – not technically a part of Rome, this independent city state is nevertheless still a key part of many itineraries.

For another historic Italian gem, head to the north of the country to experience the floating city of Venice for yourself. Its Renaissance buildings and romantic canals offer a very different type of city break to Rome, and the local art galleries are among the best in the world.

Italy isn’t the only European city brimming with culture, of course, and French capital Paris is still a major stop-off for those visiting the continent for the first time. This incredibly photogenic city offers as much outdoors as it does inside, whether you choose to spend a day exploring the immense halls of the Louvre Museum or just enjoying a stroll between famous landmarks, like the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame Cathedral.

Another European capital that’s emerged as a major location for city breaks in recent years is Prague. The Czech Republic has a long and intriguing history, and bustling Prague has historical attractions at every turn – from majestic Prague Castle to the labyrinth of medieval streets that comprise Stare Mesto, the Old Town.

Finally, no list of cultural cities would be complete without a trip to New York. ‘The city that never sleeps’ encapsulates everything that’s appealing about international cities and the United States in particular, and you’ll find attractions and entertainments to please all tastes – whether you’re keen to take in a Broadway show or head to the top of the Empire State Building to see the incredible city from above.

The Rough Guide to Prague

European City Breaks, 2nd

Vienna Prague Budapest, 2nd

Rough guide to the Czech & Slovak Republics

Czech Republic, The Bradt Travel Guide