Write down what you want on a piece of paper and give it to the ticket seller.

You can buy the ticket at the bus depot in Krakow.

The bus depot is just outside the train station. It's a white building with a couple of steps up to the door. There are taxis waiting outside. The international desk is to the left of the entrance. The buses are at the back of the building so you can't see them from the entrance.

<< Any tips on traveling on Orange Ways buses >>

IMHO you should take a train.

I have just booked an Orangeways bus from Krakow to Budapest. I did it all online. http://www.orangeways.com/en.
The site tells you where the bus station is at both ends.
Someone on Thorn Tree said the scenery is spectacular as it goes through the Tatras Mountains. I looked at trains
http://www.bahn.de but didn't find a train that suited my plans as well as the bus.
Good luck.

gertie - is your name on the bus ticket or do you need to have the same credit card you used to purchase the ticket?

Yes, my name is on the ticket. Date/time of departure, place of departure, ditto arrival. All in Hungarian and English. Also the price I paid and the seat number. And a booking code.
Check-in 20 minutes ahead of time, better read the website about carry-on luggage. Looks like big stuff is charged but small stuff isn't....

gertie3751 - thank you for your insight into using www.Orangeways.com and process of taking a bus - As you get more information, please continue to share - my visit is planned for May 22 to May 25.
all you help is appreciated
jw320

I leave Krakow on 25 May to Budapest.
See you on the bus?

gertie3751 - AWESOME - what chance does something like these happen in life? Great information and guidance from a traveler on how to get reservations and travel on the same bus.
My plan is to book the holiday inn and then do some site seeing on May 23 & May 24 - any local guides which you would recommend?
jw320

gertie3751 Booking online bus ticket went ok.
Receipt shows date, time, seat #, amount HUF, depart time and arrival time. confirmation code
thanks for your insight
jw320

I'm traveling with my 17 yr old grandson. We are thinking of taking the Orange Way Bus. The times are god and the price is very good.I've read that they overbook an/or leave early. Any comments?

Our bus left a few minutes late due to the arrival from Budapest being dead on time and needing a bit of time to unload. Plenty of spare seats. Only confusion was finding out which bay in the bus station it came into: there are no signs. But the people who work there will tell you. And it's the only bright orange bus!

gertie - did you stop at all between Krakow and Budapest?

No. The bus stopped at a place half-way called Banska Bystrica in Slovakia but no-one got on or off.
The whole trip was less painful than I imagined and I would certainly do it again.
Arrival at 10.30pm or so into a rather obscure part of Budapest but on the metro line to anywhere and no problem.

gertie,

Was there a toilet on the bus?

Was food and drink available for purchase?


thanks