I’ve traveled several lengths of the equator with central European trains.

I’ll post the price for 100 kilometers (A) and for 400 kilometers (B) using a second class train with no surcharges (these are applicable for high quality or high speed trains) in each of these countries, both in local currencies and calculated to British pounds.

Note: These prices apply to domestic transport only. For cross-border transport, prices may be higher.

Austria: A – 20 EUR (£15.90) B – 46.60 EUR (£37)
Croatia: A – 52.50 Kn (£5.52) B – 148 Kn (£15.57)
Czech republic: A – 132 Kc (£4.42) B – 491 Kc (£16.47)
Hungary: A – 1500 Ft (£5.08) B – 4670 Ft (£15.83)
Poland: A – 17 Zl (£4) B – 52 Zl (£12,38)
Romania: data unavailable, but should be more or less the same or cheaper than in other Central European countries
Slovakia: A – 144 Sk (£3.80) B – 482 Sk (£12.75)
Slovenia: A – 6.24 EUR (£4.95) B – does not imply due to size of the country (342 km = 20.70 EUR = £16.42)

nice break down papyr…

thank you so much, better response than i could ever have hoped for! and also means i will go for the option of buying each ticket as and when i intend to travel! Plans have now changed however due to time constraints and we will now be travelling around Hungary, Romania and then either Bulgaria or Slovenia. The trip will be 3weeks long. Could you suggest which would be better? based on experience of these countries? also maybe what are your favourite cities in these countries other than the capitals and major cities? I have heard good things about Cluj-Napoca in Romania and Szeged in Hungary? have you ever been to these places?

Bulgaria is more of the “wild east”. Roads and infrastructure are not excellent (actually, when I was there in 2004, roads were totally desolate), marks are often in cyrillic only, and the officials are unpleasant. It is cheap, though. Bulgaria has many natural beauties, including Rila mountains over 3000 m high and a long coastline of the Black sea with many seaside resorts. The country is relatively large.

Slovenia is small, and you won’t notice that it had once been a part of the “socialist” bloc. They combined the advantage of being a part of Yugoslavia, which was the richest of all the socialist countries, with the advantage of being the only part of Yugoslavia which was not devastated by civil war when they seceded. They pay with Euros, prices are almost Western, infrastructure is good. There are not many seaside resorts at the Slovenian portion of Adriatic beach, since Slovenes only have a short coastline. The Julian Alps and Triglav are beautiful and breath-taking and so is Bled area. It is one of the smallest European countries.

I haven’t been to Cluj, but I have been to Szeged, twice. Szeged is a cute town of 150k inhabitants. They have a nice centre, good transportation and they make world-famous “PICK” Hungarian salami, very savory. Anyway, eating in Hungary (almost anywhere) is a gastronomical orgasm. But there are lots of towns like this in the Central European region, also in Czech&Slovakia, Croatia etc.

If I may give a tip, go visit the municipality of Tokaj, eastern Hungary, about 50km eastbound from Miskolc. A small winery town is famous for its wine, which is unique and extremely good. Many cellars, good dining, cute architecture, slow pace, excellent train connection.