By Karen Svold Coates, M.Sc. Biology · Verified in person, spring 2026 · Last updated June 2026
Taking a Dog on the ComfortJet, Berlin to Denmark: the First-Hand Account (2026)
The ComfortJet is Czech Railways’ new flagship — a direct international train running Prague–Dresden–Berlin–Hamburg–Copenhagen — and you can take a dog on it. We rode RJ 384 from Berlin Hauptbahnhof to Odense in spring 2026, on a service that had existed for six days, with Sofus, our 6.2 kg Coton de Tuléar. As far as we know, this is the first account anywhere of what it’s actually like to travel with a dog on the ComfortJet. Below: how we booked, the free dog ticket, the muzzle reality, the surprise hour in Hamburg, and the seven calm hours in between.
Booking — and the dog travels free
On our cross-border Sparpreis booking, three people came to €311, booked about a week ahead — and the dog was free, simply printed on the ticket as “1 Hund.”
The dog was added with no fuss and no fare — listed on the booking like the most normal thing in the world. Two catches are worth knowing: a Sparpreis (saver) fare can’t be cancelled, and on this cross-border booking you can’t choose your seats in advance. We booked through the German railway; the ComfortJet is a Czech Railways service, and the through-ticketing across operators worked smoothly.
The journey — eight hours, and it runs on ordinary railway time
RJ 384 from Berlin to Odense is scheduled at nearly eight hours — the longest single train of our trip — and even this gleaming new flagship ran a little late.
Our 10:38 departure became 10:54. Sixteen minutes is nothing over eight hours, but it’s worth building a little slack into any onward connection. Berlin Hauptbahnhof itself is huge but easy — a glass escalator runs straight down to the platform thirty metres inside the door.
Seven calm hours — and the mat trick
Lay your carrier’s base mat on the floor by your seat: the dog recognises its own scent and settles instantly. Keep the harness on and leash in hand at all times, even while the dog sleeps.
The train was only half full and nobody claimed the seats beside us, so we each had two seats with room on the floor between us. Out came the mat from the base of Sofus’s carrier — the trick that carried us across half of Europe — and he settled on his own patch of territory and slept for most of the journey. Harness on, leash in hand, always: that’s the rule on every train, even a sleeping dog.
The muzzle reality
Germany expects a muzzle on a dog travelling outside a carrier; in our experience it was never checked — but the rule exists, so carry it and treat any relaxation as your responsibility.
Two conductors, one German and one Danish, each glanced at Sofus, glanced at the ticket, and asked nothing. It’s the same lesson Poland taught us: the rule exists, enforcement varies, and you should carry the muzzle anyway. We’d never relax it around children or in a crowd.
The Hamburg hour — a toilet stop in disguise
In its first weeks the ComfortJet ran a diversion with a long scheduled stop in Hamburg — which happened to solve the toilet question on an eight-hour day.
The train stood still in Hamburg for a full hour, and Carl simply took Sofus off for a wee halfway through the longest train day of the trip. The reason: the regular Berlin–Hamburg line was under reconstruction until mid-June 2026, so the trains went the long way round via Stendal, Uelzen and Lüneburg, with a long Hamburg stop. From 14 June 2026 the route returned to normal — so that built-in break may no longer apply. On a long train day, plan your dog’s toilet timing around the actual stops, not the diversion.
The restaurant car
Onboard food was pricey — about 90 DKK for a dry sandwich — so bring your own for a long leg.
Compared with RegioJet in Poland, where excellent food came to the seat for very little, the ComfortJet’s restaurant car felt expensive. Homemade sandwiches won the day, as they usually do.
FAQ
Can you take a dog on the ComfortJet?
Yes. On our spring-2026 Sparpreis booking the dog travelled free, listed on the ticket as “1 Hund.” Keep the dog on a harness and leash, with a muzzle carried for the German leg.
How much does a dog cost on the ComfortJet?
On our cross-border booking the dog was free. Fares and pet rules vary by booking and operator, so confirm when you book.
Is there a toilet stop for the dog?
In early 2026 a diversion gave a long Hamburg stop, ideal for a wee — but that ended on 14 June 2026. On a normal run, plan around the scheduled stops on the nearly eight-hour journey.
Do you need a muzzle for a dog on German trains?
Germany expects a muzzle for a dog outside a carrier. In our experience it wasn’t checked, but carry it and use it as required.
The ComfortJet was the last leg of a two-month journey. The full guide covers all of it — five train operators, the flight, three cities, and the honest costs. €19, instant PDF plus a phone-friendly online version.
By Karen Svold Coates, M.Sc. Biology · Verified in person, spring 2026 · Last updated June 2026