Has anyone taken the train from Krakow to Prague, and if so, was it a good experience?

I've taken it in reverse (Prague to Krakow) so I suppose it's about the same thing. There are probably a variety of trains on there, but the one I took was very nice and comfortable because it was an EC (I think that's the term) going from Vienna to Krakow. I don't think there is any train directly from Prague; I got on it at Prerov down in SE Czech Republic because I was staying nearby (in Olomouc) a day or so. I had taken the train from Prague down to Olomouc which was just a regular train, but nice enough. I bought first class seats the entire way because the fare was so cheap (even then, I think it was only US$38 total). That's a fairly long trip, which is why I wanted to break it up. I had to transfer at Prerov on the leg from Olomouc to Krakow.

There is a night train from Krakow (dep 22.20) to Prague (arr 7.31). <BR>www.vlak-bus.cz

Thanks for the info and the web site. I should have said that I wanted a day train. I was told the train trip would be about 7 hours. Daniel, your train was over 10 hours and the ones on the web site were over 13 hours. Ouch!

Try the German rail site for good info re schedules. I went from Vienna to Krakow in 7 hours and Prague is closer so surely there is a way. Use Wien for Vienna. I had a good experience as I look for the cars with compartments and try to find a female riding alone or with others. I met a nice Polish school teacher, who spoke English, and we had a nice visit and are still writing.

That was the reason I stayed overnight in Olomouc, there wasn't a day train, at least from Prague to Krakow, only overnights--maybe ones that took a very long time. It isn't just the distance (and I think Vienna is actually a little closer to Krakow as the crow flies), but there is no real good direct train route between the two. I think the route I took is actually the most direct, looking at a rail line -- From Krakow through Katowice, Poland then SW to Prerov, CR and from there it's a straight line NW through Olomouc to Krakow. Altogether the trip I took probably took about 8-9 hours. If you can't find one direct on rail lines, try finding a train from Krakow to Prerov and then from Prerov to Prague -- or, from Krakow to Katowice and from there to Prague (or to Prerov, then Prague). If I'm remembering correctly, the reason I went to Prague first, then Krakow, was because there was no good rail schedule from Krakow to Prague in the daytime and I did not want an overnight train.

The reference library of a city near you may have the Thomas Cook European Timetable. Table 95 shows that by day you have two connections. Krakow 0808, Katowice 0930 to 0958, Ostrava 1148 to 1212, Prague Hlavni station 1704, 9 hour trip. <BR>Or Krakow 1053, Prerov 1509 to 1717 Prague 2048, 10 hour trip. <BR>Or Krakow 1305, Katowice 1430 to 1620, Prague Hlavni 2304, 10 hour trip. (Monday to Friday you can leave Krakow 1408 and arrive Katowice 1530, 9 hour trip). <BR>The 0808 and 1408 trains have no restaurant car: all the others have one. Since pickpockets work in gangs of three at Krakow and Prague main stations you may like in your Krakow hotel to pack your passport, air tickets, credit cards, and spare money in a packet inside your heaviest bag, and to take the passport out only thirty minutes before the Czech frontier. After frontier checks you can take out just one credit card (for drawing money from a machine in Prague), and put the passport back in the heavy bag, ready to take it out next only after arrival at your Prague hotel.<BR><BR>Please write if I can help further.<BR><BR>Ben Haines, London

Good advice about the passport,etc. Ben. I was on the train from Krakow to Prague and was almost a victim to 2 thugs reaching for my pockets but because i speak Polish, I shouted "get lost" and that sure scared them away.Not to scare Ashton but just some advice.....Generally travel is very safe.

For Krystyna: Ashton does not even need Polish. When I found a strange hand in my trouser pocket on a train in Krakow I grabbed it firmly round the wrist. The thieve pulled away, and as he left I shouted loudly Thief: you are a thief. He stopped to say Of shut up, which I thought showed a good command of English, at least.<BR><BR>Ben Haines

Ben, thank you so much for all of that great information. You are truly an asset to this site.

We are going to take the Krakow to Katowice 080; the Katowice to Ostrava 0958; and then Ostrava to Prague 1212. I would like to know if these trains have compartments for first class.

The 8.08 train from Krakow to Katowice has 2nd class only. <BR><BR>Go to www.vlak-bus.cz, click on the British flag in the lower right corner. Type in Krakow to Praha via Ostrava. Click on the train numbers and you will get info.

I checked the www.vlak-bus.cz web site, but still don't see where it states whether or not there are compartments. I am only interested in the long segment of the trip - Ostrava to Prague. Thanks.

Sorry, I don´t know if the train has compartments (for 6 people). Many new trains don´t have them, because they are more expensive to build and clean.

Please check busses.