Transportation between Krakow and Budapest
Sep 16th, 2015, 10:16 AM
#1
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Transportation between Krakow and Budapest
When traveling one-way between Budapest and Krakow, are there any advantages to beginning in one city versus the other? I realize that most people use the overnight train sleeper cars, but I’m wondering if there are differences in price, train style, ease of booking ahead, etc, depending on where you start.
And if we book a sleeper and find it uncomfortable, can we just go take an open regular seat for the remainder of the train ride? I tend to like train travel in Europe, but must admit I am not looking forward to this one.
Are there realistic options besides the train?
And if we book a sleeper and find it uncomfortable, can we just go take an open regular seat for the remainder of the train ride? I tend to like train travel in Europe, but must admit I am not looking forward to this one.
Are there realistic options besides the train?
Sep 16th, 2015, 11:10 AM
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flying - otherwise a long tedious daytime train ride - sleeper accommodations are WAY nicer than other accommodations and especially open-seat cars where folks may come and go all night and theft is a real problem IME. Private compartments in the Sleeper Car have locks on the inside of the door and are generally comfy - noise seems to be the main problem for folks - moving to a regular car would be silly in any case - sleeping in upright seats with much more noise and ticket checks from conductors, etc
for lots of looks at European night trains in general check www.seat61.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.
As for where to go first makes no difference train-wise but what is the rest of your itinerary - fly out of any city with the best airfare that fits into a olinear as much an itinerary.
for lots of looks at European night trains in general check www.seat61.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.
As for where to go first makes no difference train-wise but what is the rest of your itinerary - fly out of any city with the best airfare that fits into a olinear as much an itinerary.
Sep 16th, 2015, 12:46 PM
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One reason to take a train into Budapest maybe that if it is running you would not have to take a train out of Budapest and be caught in the huge flow of migrants that have prevented trains from running out, at least in some directions.
Sep 16th, 2015, 01:32 PM
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There are some train delays or cancellations now on routes through Austria, I believe, hope this is in a while.
I think the train cars will be about the same in both directions in terms of comfort/quality, but you may prefer one schedule over another. I'd prefer the one from Krakow to Budapest because it leaves at 10 pm and arrives at 8:35 am. The one from Budapest leaves at 8 pm and arrives at about 7 am -- you can't really do anything at 7 am. Even if you go to a hotel and they will keep your luggage (probably just as much as arriving at 9 am), there is nothing else to do at that hour. But if you had plans to immediately leave and go somewhere else, that might suit you. But if you got to your hotel at 9 am, left your bags, you could go out for a cup of coffee and then start doing something at that hour (museum, shop, whatever). Also, you'd get a better dinner by having to before you get on the train, most likely. But others might not want to go to a train station that late at night.
I think the cost is slightly cheaper to go from Krakow to Budapest, also, but not enough to matter (about 5 euro in a couchette).
those trains require reservations, so no, you can't just go sit in any seat as they are reserved. In theory, if it is empty, no one should stop you. But I agree, I don't understand how that would be better except I might prefer a seat to a 6 person couchette myself, I couldn't stand that, I'd feel claustrophobic. But I wouldn't book one in the first place.
Flights aren't quite as great as some cities as I don't think there are any direct flights between those two-- LOT will fly between Krakow and Vienna, of course, in only about an hour (and Austrian vice-versa). Their one-way fares seem pretty high (maybe US$200 if you book way in advance, but many are much worse), but they are more reasonable if you book a roundtrip (maybe, which you could do the direction you want and just not use the return). That would also probably be about $175-200. Which isn't really bad compared to what that sleeper train will cost you, that's about 100 euro for the cheapest couchette. But then you'd have to get to Vienna. There is no direct flight by Malev airline to Krakow. Or you could go by LOT through Warsaw if you'd rather not fool with the train, the entire trip is 2:50 with only a 40 minute layover. I'd probably do that.
I think the train cars will be about the same in both directions in terms of comfort/quality, but you may prefer one schedule over another. I'd prefer the one from Krakow to Budapest because it leaves at 10 pm and arrives at 8:35 am. The one from Budapest leaves at 8 pm and arrives at about 7 am -- you can't really do anything at 7 am. Even if you go to a hotel and they will keep your luggage (probably just as much as arriving at 9 am), there is nothing else to do at that hour. But if you had plans to immediately leave and go somewhere else, that might suit you. But if you got to your hotel at 9 am, left your bags, you could go out for a cup of coffee and then start doing something at that hour (museum, shop, whatever). Also, you'd get a better dinner by having to before you get on the train, most likely. But others might not want to go to a train station that late at night.
I think the cost is slightly cheaper to go from Krakow to Budapest, also, but not enough to matter (about 5 euro in a couchette).
those trains require reservations, so no, you can't just go sit in any seat as they are reserved. In theory, if it is empty, no one should stop you. But I agree, I don't understand how that would be better except I might prefer a seat to a 6 person couchette myself, I couldn't stand that, I'd feel claustrophobic. But I wouldn't book one in the first place.
Flights aren't quite as great as some cities as I don't think there are any direct flights between those two-- LOT will fly between Krakow and Vienna, of course, in only about an hour (and Austrian vice-versa). Their one-way fares seem pretty high (maybe US$200 if you book way in advance, but many are much worse), but they are more reasonable if you book a roundtrip (maybe, which you could do the direction you want and just not use the return). That would also probably be about $175-200. Which isn't really bad compared to what that sleeper train will cost you, that's about 100 euro for the cheapest couchette. But then you'd have to get to Vienna. There is no direct flight by Malev airline to Krakow. Or you could go by LOT through Warsaw if you'd rather not fool with the train, the entire trip is 2:50 with only a 40 minute layover. I'd probably do that.
Sep 16th, 2015, 03:12 PM
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There is also a bus/shuttle option - not saying *I* would be up for a long bus ride, and it doesn't seem to be cheap, but it could wind up being a practical way to go.
http://www.eurobusways.com/krakow-bu...l#.Vfn2YHUViko
http://www.eurobusways.com/krakow-bu...l#.Vfn2YHUViko
Sep 16th, 2015, 07:00 PM
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About five years ago I took the train from Krakow to Budapest. I really cannot remember the cost but I thought it was reasonable for a first class sleeper. I am going to say that it was about $60 per person. This was a special fare. They have so many, I understand.
Unless it has changed, you had to be in the first three cars because I understood that they broke off from the rest of the train during the journey.I could be mistaken about that.
I found the compartment (it was for two) very comfortable but small with luggage. But I have to tell you. I got absolutely no sleep. It may be because I am not used to train travel maybe.
The train stopped a lot! and every time it did it was very noisy. I remember when leaving our B&B that a gentleman there said take the bus. He was doing that the same night we took the train.
I will never know if I could have slept on the bus. Maybe it stopped a lot also.
Unless it has changed, you had to be in the first three cars because I understood that they broke off from the rest of the train during the journey.I could be mistaken about that.
I found the compartment (it was for two) very comfortable but small with luggage. But I have to tell you. I got absolutely no sleep. It may be because I am not used to train travel maybe.
The train stopped a lot! and every time it did it was very noisy. I remember when leaving our B&B that a gentleman there said take the bus. He was doing that the same night we took the train.
I will never know if I could have slept on the bus. Maybe it stopped a lot also.
Sep 16th, 2015, 08:05 PM
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The sleeping-car is very comfortable, and this journey will be a unique European experience.
Go and sit in the seats if you find it uncomfortable? Why?? A flat bed with clean sheets in your own little room, uncomfortable? It's the most romantic way to travel, barring ocean liners, nestling in crisp clean sheets reading by your berth light as steel wheel swishes on steel rail beneath you.
Bring a bottle of wine with you (allowed on trains, where you are treated as an adult not a naughty child as on planes who can't be trusted) and have a blast in your sleeper.
The train is of course exactly the same either way - they don't rebuild it every night when it goes back the other way! ;0)
You can book the sleeper starting in Budapest online at www.mav-start.hu
You can book the sleeper starting in Krakow through reliable agency www.polrail.com
P.S If you're flying trans-Atlantic in business class and find the flat bed seats uncomfortable, don't worry, I'm sure the flight attendants will let you walk to the back of the plane and sit in the regular economy coach seats for the remainder of the journey ! ;0)
Go and sit in the seats if you find it uncomfortable? Why?? A flat bed with clean sheets in your own little room, uncomfortable? It's the most romantic way to travel, barring ocean liners, nestling in crisp clean sheets reading by your berth light as steel wheel swishes on steel rail beneath you.
Bring a bottle of wine with you (allowed on trains, where you are treated as an adult not a naughty child as on planes who can't be trusted) and have a blast in your sleeper.
The train is of course exactly the same either way - they don't rebuild it every night when it goes back the other way! ;0)
You can book the sleeper starting in Budapest online at www.mav-start.hu
You can book the sleeper starting in Krakow through reliable agency www.polrail.com
P.S If you're flying trans-Atlantic in business class and find the flat bed seats uncomfortable, don't worry, I'm sure the flight attendants will let you walk to the back of the plane and sit in the regular economy coach seats for the remainder of the journey ! ;0)
Sep 17th, 2015, 06:43 AM
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Thanks everyone for the input. The reason to move to an upright seat would be if the light sleeper among us wakes at 4a and knows it is for keeps, the seats are (I hope) more comfortable for sitting and not disturbing the sleeping traveling companion.
Sep 25th, 2015, 02:19 AM
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Hi,
I travelled from Katowice (it is about 80km from Kraków) to Budapest and generally you can bay discounted tickets - SparDay or SparNight option. It's cheaper but you can't return tickets (for example if you resign from travel).
The sleeping car was comfortable, everything was clean (as I remember it was Slovakian car) so probably you won't need to change it to normal seats
@PalenQ - I can imagine situation when you are not allowed to change your seat (in spite of the fact that you have more expensive tickets) - if the seats are reserved (in Intercity are reserved) you can't do during the travel
I travelled from Katowice (it is about 80km from Kraków) to Budapest and generally you can bay discounted tickets - SparDay or SparNight option. It's cheaper but you can't return tickets (for example if you resign from travel).
The sleeping car was comfortable, everything was clean (as I remember it was Slovakian car) so probably you won't need to change it to normal seats
@PalenQ - I can imagine situation when you are not allowed to change your seat (in spite of the fact that you have more expensive tickets) - if the seats are reserved (in Intercity are reserved) you can't do during the travel
Sep 25th, 2015, 06:25 AM
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If seats are vacant IME you always can go sit in them as long as you have a ticket for that class. Again to change to normal upright seats would be so so weird for train personnel that I can't fathom them objecting as long as the seat is not reserved down the line and is of course empty.
Sep 25th, 2015, 07:28 AM
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Those sleeping beds convert to regular seats if you want - of course both would have to want to sit in regular seats as you need I believe to take both down and convert them to two seats on the lower level.
Oct 26th, 2015, 12:27 AM
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Just came back from Krakow. We hired a driver to take us from Budapest. The trip took approximately 8 hrs with a love letter drive through Slovakia and a stop for lunch. We found it more convenient to go door to door and the price was comparable to plane fare for the two of us.
