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-   -   Transportation from Budapest to Krakow (https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/transportation-from-budapest-to-krakow-1095345/)

nancy_41pr Apr 16th, 2016 10:40 AM

Transportation from Budapest to Krakow
 
Hello I am planning to stay a few days in Budapest, Krakow Poland, Prague. I need help on best and economic way to travel from Budapest to Krakow and from Krakow to Prague.

Michael Apr 16th, 2016 11:39 AM

Type https://www.google.com/webhp?gws_rd=...pest+to+krakow in google and start searching. Bus is probably the cheapest way between the two cities.

thursdaysd Apr 16th, 2016 11:41 AM

Forget google. Use rome2rio.com for overall info. For train info, go to seat61.com.

Michael Apr 16th, 2016 11:47 AM

Just curious. Why would rome2rio.com be more reliable than the sites listed on the google search?

Christina Apr 16th, 2016 12:39 PM

It's convenient but rome2rio isn't always accurate.

Bus probably isn't cheapest but that doesn't make it best. If you do that, I'd recommend Eurolines rather than Orangeway which has a bad reputation. http://www.eurolines.hu/en/Destinations/Poland/Krakow

Bus would probably be about 20 euro. That's a very long trip, also, the train could be 10 hours (with changes) but the bus about 13. I can't even imagine spending 13 hours on a bus (actually, I can imagine as I did it once and would never do it again).

thursdaysd Apr 16th, 2016 01:54 PM

I don't use google because I don't like having my searches tracked. And rome2rio aggregates the info that would otherwise require checking multiple sites.

Whether or not the bus is cheapest the train will be more comfortable. From Budapest to Krakow I would book a sleeper on the night train. Ditto Krakow to Prague. See seat61.com for details.

mrsbolshie Apr 17th, 2016 06:42 AM

http://www.polskibus.com/en/index.htm

nancy_41pr Apr 17th, 2016 10:37 AM

I found Polrail service. The difference is significantly between bus and train. A bus $31.53 and $230.18 no sleeper for 2. About the time it indicates 7 hours not 13. By train 91/2 to 11 hours. I am aware by train you can move around or pay $100 more for a sleeper. mavcsoport.hu is not available when I search. Its probably because its exactly 60 days prior reservation.

PalenQ Apr 17th, 2016 10:44 AM

check www.seat61.comfor how to get discounted train tickets in those countries - and with an overnight train or bus you also save daytime travel time and the cost of an accommodation. for lots on night trains and central European trains in general check these other sites as well - www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com.

Anyway to me beats an all-day marathon ride on train or especially on a cramped bus where it is hard to stretch your legs if full as often the case.

Daken Apr 19th, 2016 06:53 AM

from Budapest to Krakow bus is much faster and almost always cheaper (companies on this line are Lux Express, Polskibus and Eurolines), however in case you want to save the time and travel overnight, then train is your option, especially since you can purchase discounted ticket for as low as 25 euro (but you should buy it from Hungarian railways and not some shady resellers/agencies)
from Krakow to Prague works best bus+train option (see Czech Railways, Leo Express and RegioJet)

PalenQ Apr 19th, 2016 09:31 AM

There is also an overnight train I think Krakow to Prague.

PalenQ Apr 19th, 2016 11:48 AM

however in case you want to save the time and travel overnight, then train is your option, especially since you can purchase discounted ticket for as low as 25 euro>

What do you get for 25 euro - a seat in a regular car - a couchette - cheapest is not always the best - at least make sure it is a place in a couchette with a door that locks from the inside- better yet a private compartment but that would cost a lot more - but you will be guaranteed privacy and safety and you still save on the cost of an overnight in a hotel.

Daken Apr 19th, 2016 01:04 PM

PalenQ, indeed there is an overnight train from Krakow to Prague, but trouble there is that polish railways still can't sell ticket for this connection online, thus one either have to purchase such ticket in Poland (=almost definitely all the discounted tickets will be sold out if you do it couple day before the journey) or use agency/reseller (=paying extra to a middle man).

Regarding Budapest-Krakow overnight, ticket+sleeper reservation (3 bed compartment) start from 54 euro, while those who want entire compartment for themselves - single sleeper is 74 euro

nancy_41pr Apr 19th, 2016 01:42 PM

Which Hungarian railways, please?

Daken Apr 20th, 2016 02:22 AM

official website of the Hungarian Railways (MAV)
http://elvira.mav-start.hu

PalenQ Apr 20th, 2016 07:40 AM

or use agency/reseller (=paying extra to a middle man)>

See www.seat61.com for suggested agencies I think.

Polrail Apr 22nd, 2016 10:19 PM

There are SparNight discount rates on this route, but they are extremely limited in quantity (2-3 tickets per night train). Contact Polrail Service directly, and they can check availability.

nancy_41pr Apr 30th, 2016 02:08 AM

It seems that http://elvira.mav-start.hu/ only shows two trips from Budapest to Krakow and no price. Both trips are with 2 to 4 stops which makes it not comfortable to wake up at night and change trains. These two trips are on June 16.

nancy_41pr Apr 30th, 2016 03:42 AM

They just answered me regarding purchasing tickets online.

Dear Passenger,

Thank you for your e-mail.

Due to a technical problem this relation is not available online. Now you can buy the ticket only personally at our interntional ticket offices in Hungary.

Thank you for your understanding.



Is there a possibility to find tickets the same day or can they run out?

nancy_41pr Apr 30th, 2016 03:46 AM

I love seat61 for the detail explanation on traveling by train but the prices are not near accurate!

nancy_41pr May 2nd, 2016 05:46 PM

I made a reservation from Budapest to Krakow through Polrail and I can see the transaction was made in my credit card. I received this email today. Please can anyone explain. Will I loose my tickets or will they be canceled? I am worried because tickets should be sent to my home in PR and I don't know if I will receive them on time. HELP!

Hello,

This is in regard to the above order for tickets from Budapest to Krakow on 16 June.

Due to a timetable revision taking place in early June, the rail carrier (MAV) has temporarily blocked reservations for all travel dates after 10 June.

It may be 2 or 3 weeks before reservations are released again.


On behalf of MAV, we apologize for the inconvenience.

Regards,

Customer Service Department
Polrail Service

HappyTrvlr May 2nd, 2016 07:55 PM

Have you considered dlying? It was very inexpensive when we flew to and from Krakow last year. www.skyscanner.com

Polrail May 4th, 2016 07:28 AM

nancy41_pr wrote: "Will I loose my tickets or will they be canceled?"

Of course not. The message clearly states that the train is blocked, and you will be ticketed as soon as it is unblocked by MAV.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact us directly, as our customer service department responds to all e-mail. We don't monitor these forums on a daily basis, so this is the least effective place to pose a question!

PalenQ May 4th, 2016 11:55 AM

I love seat61 for the detail explanation on traveling by train but the prices are not near accurate!>

did you miss the 'from' in front of prices - kind of a used car salesperson approach- still great info though unparalleled on any other site IME.

nancy_41pr May 5th, 2016 02:14 AM

Thank you for the response Polrail. Previous to posting in this forum I replied to the message received and yet no answer from Polrail service. Thank you

nancy_41pr May 10th, 2016 05:30 PM

Need to say that I just received my tickets from Polrail without any problems. I also was notified that I will receive a SparNight discount rate :-). That is great! Just a little confusion of my part in the reservation process but in general, good service from Polrail. Does anyone know how to find out from the ticket if there are train changes on the way? In the Polrail.com it does not say.

PalenQ May 11th, 2016 11:48 AM

Does anyone know how to find out from the ticket if there are train changes on the way?>

Go to www.bahn.de and put in Budapest to Krakow and the date and it will give you all the details you need - when I did this for a random date it said direct - no changes (stops a lot howeever) - a good way to learn about all the wonderful things www.bahn.de can tell you is to go to the home page of www.budgeteuropetravel.com and there is a lot of tips on using www.bahn.de that may not be apparent to first-time users - often telling you which platform a train may be on- types of accommodations on board - train # (EN = Euro Night)- where the train stops (good for knowing when your stop will come up, etc. Easy to print out the scheudles - see if train is on time, etc.

nancy_41pr May 11th, 2016 04:54 PM

I didn't purchase it from www.bahn.de I purchased it through Polrail.com. I can't figure out if there are any stops.

nancy_41pr May 22nd, 2016 06:42 PM

Hello, I have arranged transportation and almost all set for my trip. Any advise on what to see and visit in Budapest? I will be three days and two nights in Budapest. 4 days and three nights in Prague. Any advise here also?

PalenQ May 23rd, 2016 09:48 AM

I didn't purchase it from www.bahn.de I purchased it through Polrail.com. I can't figure out if there are any stops.>

Same train no matter where you bought it and www.bahn.de tells you there are 15 stops between Budapest and Krakow - the last stop being at Auschwitz (Polish name on schedule).

PalenQ May 23rd, 2016 02:00 PM

Curious as to what type of accommodation you booked and what you paid for it?

Thanks.

nancy_41pr May 24th, 2016 07:00 PM

Apartment un Budapest 2 nights € 82,32, hostel in Krakow 3 nights 180 zł, apartment in Prague 3 nights € 95.04. I already resolved the situation with Polrail. Can anyone give advise on what to see in Budapest, Krakow and Prague? Should I purchase any tickets online prior to my trip?

PalenQ May 25th, 2016 05:46 AM

Oh I was talking about accommodations on the train - how much did the train cost and what type of accommodations did you get?

Thanks

nancy_41pr May 28th, 2016 06:08 AM

Almost packing. Please can anyone give advise on what to see in Budapest, Krakow and Prague? Should I purchase any tickets online prior to my trip?

nancy_41pr May 28th, 2016 07:10 AM

Sorry PalenQ! First I think I made a mistake. Unexperienced I purchased through a third party Loco2 my trip from Frankfurt to Lauterbrunen $211.02 for two just seats, not sleeper (day). I think it was too much. From OBB $42.98 Zurich-Insbruck for 2 p with a 2 hour lay over as recommended in Seat61. $53.34 Insbruck- Wein for 2p and from Wein-Budapest $42.98. This trip will be done daytime and take the advantage of seeing the nice view. Through Polrail, Budapest- Krakow $226.19 sleeper 2 p compartment and $255.68 and Krakow- Praha sleeper 2 p compartment. I did my best in trying to search best price and options. Maybe not the best decisions but maybe yes. I will learn from my mistakes and repeat the one I did best. Thank you all for the help! I STILL NEED HELP IN MY QUESTION PRIOR TO THIS MESSAGE. Not much time left.

thursdaysd May 28th, 2016 08:13 AM

You could use the Destinations tab above.

You could buy some guidebooks - Lonely Planet will sell you chapters to download.

You could go here and put Budapest in the search box:

https://mytimetotravel.wordpress.com

PalenQ May 28th, 2016 09:40 AM

Thanks for the fare info! You did what you could - private sleepers are always high priced and I think rarely discounted very much but not sure - but the cost of a hotel is offset and you save time even over flying - daytime travel time that is.

Cheers - It's been too long since I've been in those three cities to answer the pre-booking question.

nancy_41pr May 28th, 2016 10:35 AM

My ticket From Budapest- Krakow was purchased $125.00 more but I received a SparNight discount rate afterwards YEAH!

tianere May 31st, 2016 10:44 AM

go from Budapest to Prague by train and then from Prague to Krakow....

tianere May 31st, 2016 10:46 AM

http://czech-transport.com/index.php?id=451
http://czech-transport.com/index.php?id=478


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