Train Fare from Budapest to Prauge; train fare through Slovakia?
 

Hi, all,

I am trying to obtain the price of a first class rail ticket from Budapest to Prague. I have the rail schedule (direct IC train), but I am unable to price the ticket on-line except via RailEurope, etc. What would be the price if I purchased the ticket in Budapest?

Also, my companions will have railpasses; the passes do not cover Slovakia. The train we are taking travels through Slovakia to Prague. I am also trying to get the cost of a first class rail ticket for the Slovaki portion of the trip (I believe it would be from Sturovo to Breclav.)

Thanks for the expert help!

Regards,
Chels

Try for a cheap ticket at http://eshop.cd.cz, from just 19 euros in 2nd class, 1st class will be similarly cheap. You print out your own ticket.

If you have a pass then you show the pass in Buda or Pest before getting on the train and buy the supplemental Slovakian portion before boarding the train so the whole route is covered - conductors may well sell tickets for that portion on the train but often at a hefty surcharge IME to discourage folks from buying tickets on trains - and the chances of being allowed to slide thru Slovakia are slim.

If you went Budapest - Vienna - Prague your companions Eurail Select passes would be valid as that route does not go thru Slovakia (i believe) - i would not worry too much about how much it costs because it is such a short distance in Slovakia and train fares are dirt cheap there anyway.

Well i see it's 3 hours in Slovakia but still it won't be a really steep fare IME

Thank you so much for the replies; this is extremely helpful.

Many thanks!

Just a warning - I have checked the terms and conditions and it now seems the CD e-shop requires an inward ticket to Prague to be stamped on an outward journey FROM Prague before becoming valid. So the CD e-shop is great for journeys starting in Prague, but should not be used for journeys from outside the Czech Republic TO Prague.

But tickets from Budapest to Prague cannot be purchased online cost effectively. Buy them once in Budapest. The 19 Euro tickets go on sale 30 days before departure i think, and do sell out, but then the fare goes up to 29 Euros and is always available

Thanks for the information. My companions will be traveling with 1st class rail passes, and they have been given the option of reserving 1st class seats. I cannot find the option to purchase 1st class point-to-point tickets so that I can sit with my friends. I do not mind paying a bit extra.

Thanks,
Chels

Tell your friends not to bother paying for reservation. 1st class carriages are always half empty,no point wasting money.
As you were told above, you cannot buy the tickets on line (Except from rip off agents like Raileurope) so just buy it on the day in Keleti 1st class and you can all sit happily together. It's not a big deal travelling by train, trust me.

Thank you; I will wait until we arrive in Budapest to purchase my ticket.

-Chels