Krakow to Budapest - Night Train?
New Member
Posted on: Sun, 10/02/2008 - 06:49
How is everyone doin?
I am going to be in Krakow at the end of March, and I would like to leave from there and head to Budapest on March 29th. I have heard of the night train between the two places, but cannot find out where to purchase tickets etc. If anyone has any insight into my dilemma please respond. Thank you in advance!
I don’t know of a way to buy this ticket on-line. If you’re going to be in Krakow for a few days, wait until you arrive and buy it at the train station (before you leave the station to avoid a trip back). If you think you need to buy it earlier, try to buy it at a major train station in any other European city.
wow i’m so glad i stumbled across this. thanks for the tip! any idea how expensive this train is (for early July)
tia
According to http://ourworld.comp…
ticket and reservation is 74 euros per berth in a 6 berth couchette, 80 in a 3 or 4 berth and 90 in a double.
I am sorry to tell you, but oldlady is wrong this time. Train No. 200/201 does not convey direct cars between Krakow and Budapest anymore. The last night service between Krakow and Budapest ended with the end of 2007 railroad timetable, when train no. 381 was changed from all-year round to summer only. In 2008, this night train will run only from June 19 till August 31, departing Krakow Glowny at 22:45 and arriving to Budapest Keleti station at 9:27.
In late March, the only direct train between these cities is daytime EuroCity train No. 383, departing Krakow Glowny station every day, all year round at exact noon and arriving to Budapest Keleti station at 21:27.
The highest possible fare (can be bought anywhere in Europe) is EUR 53.50 for single ride, but most probably there will be numerous discounts, actually, I am pretty sure there will be. Return ticket to Hungary is often cheaper than one-way ticket (!), if that is the case here, you just buy the return ticket and throw away the unused part. Also, you may get the discount when you buy the ticket at the counter in the place of departure (Krakow) or if there are more persons than one. To make sure, just make an inquiry at Krakow Glowny station, they will provide you with an exact fare.
A surcharge for a couchette should be 59 polish zloty and for a bed in 3-bed compartment 65 zloty, which is about USD 20-25.
If you have any questions about Prague or Czech and Slovak republics, ask me.
Sorry about that… I think the Euraide link indicated that most of the overnight service between Krakow and Budapest had been discontinued, but I thought there was still one train. The German rail site still shows one direct overnight train http://reiseauskunft… It has 3 different train numbers (D200, R203 and EN3770) on the route, but at least some of the coaches are supposed to go the whole route without having to make a connection..
Yes, that was the train running through Ostrava and Bratislava in Czech rep. and then Slovakia. Actually it was three trains, but with cars switched from one to another, so there was a direct car from Krakow to Budapest in them. But I happen to have the current timetable books of both Slovakia and Hungary, and really, the only direct train indicated is daytime train through the east of Slovakia (runs 100 yards behind my house actually
If you have any questions about Prague or Czech and Slovak republics, ask me.
Hi Papyr!
I need your help.
I´m from Portugal and i´m going on a trip through Central Europe.
I´ll arrive at Prague in the 12/08/2008 and stay there until 16/08/2008, and travel to Bratislava by Eurolines. The next day i go by boat to Vienna, stay there one night and go to Budapest by Eurolines.
Then come the problems, i want to stay in Budapest from 18/08/2008 until 21/08/2008, and then go to Krakow.
By Eurolines it´s impossible, they only have a Bus the 20/08/2008 morning or 23/08/2008. By train it´s very expensive. Is there another way to go to krakow without spending a fortune?
Making some stopholders perhaps? In Slovakia?
Thanks.
I don’t know about direct transport between Budapest and Krakow but it shouldn’t be that difficult or expensive to get connecting trains – or buses.
Last year I went from Bratislava to Olomouc by train (one change of train in Breclav) then the next day from Olomouc to Krakow (changing trains in Katowice, Poland). The cost from Olomouc to Krakow – 1st class 877 kc (Czech currency), 2nd class 565 kc (exact prices from my vacation notes!). The price from Bratislava to Olomouc was cheap. Another option would be going to Brno from Budapest or Bratislava then on to Krakow. (I rejected that option last year because the Euroline bus from Bratislava to Brno was extremely early in the morning – something like 5am if I recall correctly).
I’m assuming here that it is quite easy to get from Budapest to Bratislav.
I need your help.
I´m from Portugal and i´m going on a trip through Central Europe.
I´ll arrive at Prague in the 12/08/2008 and stay there until 16/08/2008, and travel to Bratislava by Eurolines. The next day i go by boat to Vienna, stay there one night and go to Budapest by Eurolines.
Then come the problems, i want to stay in Budapest from 18/08/2008 until 21/08/2008, and then go to Krakow.
By Eurolines it´s impossible, they only have a Bus the 20/08/2008 morning or 23/08/2008. By train it´s very expensive. Is there another way to go to krakow without spending a fortune?
Making some stopholders perhaps? In Slovakia?
Thanks.
A very hard task. I don’t even know where to begin. It is important to know this:
1. It is possible to save money by moving in smaller steps. But it takes up time.
2. The railways here offer much cheaper return tickets abroad, than two one-way tickets. The Hungarian railways are supermasters in this – a return ticket to Slovakia or Poland is cheaper than ONE one-way ticket! So you may consider buying a return ticket and throw away the unused part.
3. Even if you move in smaller steps, the total price may sum up so that it’s not THAT much cheaper than the direct train’s price.
4. It’s cheapest to cross the national borders on foot.
So, here’s one suggestion for pedestrian border crossing:
From Budapest, take a train to Komarom or Esztergom.
In Komarom, cross the border on the river Danube, to Slovak Komarno. (From Esztergom, cross the river to Sturovo.) The walk from the station to the station is about 5 km.
From Komarno, take a bus to Bratislava. Or, from Sturovo, take a train to Bratislava.
(An alternative is to take a “Student Agency” bus from Budapest to Bratislava, it’s quite cheap and comfortable.)
From Bratislava, take one of numerous fast trains to Zilina.
From Zilina, take a train to Cesky Tesin in the Czech republic. Very cheap, since both towns are less than 40 kms from the border, and an inland tariff applies.
In Cesky Tesin, there is a border crossing to Poland (Cieszyn) located about 500 m from the train station.
From Cieszyn, take a bus or a train to Krakow.
But this involves lots of walking and takes at least two days.
Here’s another suggestion:
a) Budapest to Hidasnemeti (may be with a transfer in Miskolc) by train (3440 forints, equals to 14.70 EUR).
b) Hidasnemeti to the borderpoint on foot (3-4 km).
c) Borderpoint to Kosice by bus (bus starts right next to the former customs building), 47 crowns, equals to 1.50 EUR.
Also, instead of points b) and c), you might try to hitchhike to Kosice from the main road in Hidasnemeti, northbound. Most probably you’ll be in Kosice much quicker than if you had walked and waited.
d) use a train from Kosice to Krakow, departs daily at 11:55 and 22:54. The one-way fare is 700 crowns (23.50 EUR) if you are older than 26 or 501 crowns (16.70 EUR) if you are under 26 (in that case, request a BIJ youth ticket). It is possible to pay for this at the Kosice train station with a credit card.
Personally, I’d use the route through Miskolc – Hidasnémeti – Kosice. It’s less transfers, less walking, quicker and most probably it’s cheaper than the route Bratislava-Zilina-Cesky Tesin. The only walking part is 4 kilometers from Hidasnémeti to Milhost.
Hope I helped you, in case you have any further questions, feel free to ask.
If you have any questions about Prague or Czech and Slovak republics, ask me.
Plus one more…
Search engines to find train and bus timetables:
In Hungary: http://www.menetrend… – click MAV for trains, VOLAN for bus
In (Czecho) Slovakia: http://www.cp.sk – offers both train and bus services automatically
In Poland: http://rozklad-pkp.p… for trains, http://www.rozklady…. for buses. The first field is always “from” and the second is “to”.
I speak all four languages, so if you have troubles with anything, contact me.
If you have any questions about Prague or Czech and Slovak republics, ask me.
Yes, they are. I never was mugged or anything during my ten years of average one journey per month in Central European night trains. Just lock the door from the inside of your compartment. Buy sleepers rather than couchettes (couchette compartment can be unlocked from the outside with a special device that railmen have, but sleeper compartment cannot be opened from the outside once its locked). But – I repeat – I never was robbed on a train, and I have traveled cca 25.000 kms in night trains here.
If you have any questions about Prague or Czech and Slovak republics, ask me.
You can find timetables here: http://www.krakow.gr…
hi
im planning on travelling from budapest to krakow, around the 5th of september.
ive read through this thread, and would i be right in saying there is no night train on that route??
as im here could i ask about krakow to prague??
http://reiseauskunft… shows one direct overnight train from Budapest to Krakow at 20:00 each day in early September. There are also options with connections and for day trains. I don’t see a direct overnight train from Krakow to Prague, but there’s one direct train during the day.
thanks! that 8 o’clock train would probaly be perfect!
That evening 8 o’clock train is not actually the whole train, just one car in the train. You will be boarding the EuroNight No. 376 “Galileo Galilei” with destination Frantiskovy Lazne. One of the sleeping cars on that train goes to Krakow, that’s the one you need to reserve your bed in. The ticket should be routed via (Slovakia) Nove Zamky – Bratislava – Kuty – (Czech rep.) Breclav – Ostrava – (Poland) Zebrzydowice – Oswiecim.
If you have any questions about Prague or Czech and Slovak republics, ask me.
Krakow to Prague, beginning of September:
One direct train, the EuroCity No. 108 “Comenius”, leaving Krakow Glowny at 7:00 AM, arriving Prague hlavni at 14:00. Runs daily.
One direct sleeping car Kiev-Prague, leaving Krakow Glowny at 22:25 as express train no. 200, arriving to Prague Smichov at 6:48 the next day. Runs daily, only sleeping cars.
If you have any questions about Prague or Czech and Slovak republics, ask me.
papyr, thanks for all of the information on the night train from Krakow.
Do you know if students with International Student ID cards get discounts on the night train from Krakow to Prague? Do you have any idea on what the cost is for a couchette? Is a round trip ticket cheaper than one way? And lastly, can I buy tickets in Krakow one day ahead and still get a seat?
Thank you
Do you know if students with International Student ID cards get discounts on the night train from Krakow to Prague?
Theoretically yes, Polish railways officially accept ISIC as a reason for a discount. Practically, when I still had ISIC and tried to ask for a discount in Poland, the lady at Krakow Glowny station told me it was only for Polish students, and even though I asked her to show me where is this prerequisite written, she simply refused to give me a discount. And I spoke Polish with her, I just had my Czech ISIC.
Do you have any idea on what the cost is for a couchette?
Around 30 euros if they haven’t changed it.
Is a round trip ticket cheaper than one way?
Round trip is sure cheaper than two one-way tickets. It’s more expensive than one one-way ticket, though.
Thank you
I don’t think you’ll need a seat reservation at all. There will be empty seats. But if you want to be sure, you can buy a seat reservation, they should be available practically until ten minutes before departure. Neither Krakow to Prague, nor Krakow to Budapest overnighters are sold out. A ticket is a ticket, entitles you to travel. A seat reservation is a seat reservation, it’s not valid without a ticket. But if you buy it and then the train is half-empty, it’s wasted money.
If you have any questions about Prague or Czech and Slovak republics, ask me.
Hi. A friend and myself are looking at doing the Express 200 overnight train around the end of this month. We are also looking at buying the Eastern Europe flexipass as we will visit all 5 of the countries. A few questions maybe oldlady or papyr could answer.
1. I can not find much info on that specific pass anywhere but the booking form on the site, has anyone else used it.
2. Do you know how many sleeper beds are available in that one car and how often does it fill. I know we will probably have to also book a reservation (what is the cost?)?
3. Do they have compartments with 2 beds? If not can we buy the 3rd and use our passes for the other two? I know some trains even if you buy the extra bed, the conductor has the option of putting someone in there.
Thanks
John
Sure, but the trick is, that the PKP (Polish state railways) officially informed their Slovak and Czech counterparts that there IS a discount on the ISIC with no sign that it’s for Poles only. Therefore, at a Slovak railway station you can get a leaflet advertising the discount in Poland, but when you actually are in Poland, they won’t sell it to you. And the lady at the cash desk was very mean anyway, speaking something about me leeching the Polish discount system. So I turned back on her and bought a bus ticket instead, which was cheaper at the full price than the discounted rail ticket.
If you have any questions about Prague or Czech and Slovak republics, ask me.
1. I can not find much info on that specific pass anywhere but the booking form on the site, has anyone else used it.
Actually, I’ve never heard of such a thing. Can you post a link showing the exact terms of use?
3. Do they have compartments with 2 beds? If not can we buy the 3rd and use our passes for the other two? I know some trains even if you buy the extra bed, the conductor has the option of putting someone in there.
Thanks
John
One standard WLAB car has 9 or 10 compartments, each having three beds. Some of them are designated as a “double” or “single”, so they are occupied with just two, or one person, but the bed ticket is appropriately more expensive. The “single” category requires not only an expensive bed ticket, but also a first class ticket for the journey itself. Standard three-bed compartments are divided into gentlemen’s and ladies’ compartments, if you want to occupy it as a mixed couple, you have to buy all the bed tickets in one compartment. You cannot buy a bed ticket without having a journey ticket for that route and day, so if you want to buy a third bed, you also have to pay kilometric fare for it, not just the price of the bed. But you still can buy two bed tickets in the “double” category, and they won’t put a third person in it, and it’s a cheaper option than buying the fare and the bed for the third, non-existent person.
The “reservation” is a synonym for “bed ticket”.
Anyway, that car runs from Kiev. I am not sure whether booking a bed ticket to that car WITHIN the EU is possible at all. Try to browse through the PKP InterCity, Inc. webpage at http://www.intercity… or contact them at infoeuropa@intercity.pl or call their Warsaw based customer hotline at +48229436 or +48225116003, replacing the + sign with 00 if calling from Europe or with 011 if calling from North America. They should answer all your questions precisely.
If you have any questions about Prague or Czech and Slovak republics, ask me.
Thanks for the replies Oldlady and Papyr