Train service
Flixbus
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České dráhy
České dráhy (ČD) is the Czech national rail operator, offering regional and international train services across Central Europe.
OBB
ÖBB is Austria’s national rail operator, known for its Railjet trains and Europe’s largest night train network, Nightjet.
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Key facts
There is no year-round direct train from Prague to Rijeka. The most practical single-mode option for most travellers is the overnight bus, which runs direct and takes around 12 to 13 hours. If you want to travel by train, two approaches are worth knowing: a seasonal overnight service through Moravia that runs in summer 2026, and a year-round connecting route via Austria and Slovenia that takes well over 12 hours and requires two changes.
Neither train option departs from Praha hlavní nádraží directly to Rijeka. Both require planning around that constraint.
Route overview
Prague and Rijeka are roughly 600 km apart as the crow flies, closer to 685 km by any overland route. The journey crosses Czech, Austrian, Slovenian, and Croatian territory, depending on which routing you take.
The two train-based options divide neatly by season and convenience:
- Summer 2026 (Adriatic Express): A seasonal overnight train runs from Warsaw through Czech Moravia and Silesia to Rijeka, operating six times per week from 26 June to 31 August 2026. Prague travellers reach it by taking a domestic Czech train to one of the Moravian boarding cities first.
- Year-round (connecting trains): Trains run from Praha hlavní nádraží toward Vienna, then south through Villach, Ljubljana, and on to Rijeka. The full journey takes roughly 14 hours or more according to multi-modal search tools, with at least two changes.
The Adriatic Express: summer 2026 seasonal night train
What it is
The Adriatic Express (train numbers EN 1277 and EN 1276) runs from Warsaw to Rijeka, operated by PKP Intercity with České dráhy (ČD) responsible for operations on Czech territory. ČD also handles ticket sales for the Czech segment and beyond.
The train runs six times per week between 26 June and 31 August 2026. For the first time in 2026, it also serves Koper in Slovenia: a carriage detaches at Ljubljana and continues to the Slovenian port city, making this train relevant to travellers heading to Istria as well as Rijeka.
Rolling stock includes couchette cars and second-class seating carriages. The train travels overnight, arriving in Rijeka the following morning. Couchette pricing has not been confirmed in available sources; check cd.cz for current accommodation options and fares.
Why Prague travellers need a connection
The Adriatic Express originates in Poland and enters the Czech Republic from Poland at Bohumín. Praha hlavní nádraží is not a stop on this service.
The confirmed Czech stops are: Bohumín, Ostrava hlavní nádraží, Ostrava-Svinov, Hranice na Moravě, Přerov, Otrokovice, Staré Město u Uherského Hradiště, Hodonín, and Břeclav.
To board the Adriatic Express, Prague travellers need to take a domestic Czech train to one of these cities first. Ostrava, Přerov, and Břeclav are the most logical options for those coming from Prague, but any of the listed Moravian stops will work. The domestic Prague-to-Ostrava journey takes roughly 3 to 4 hours depending on the service; check the current ČD timetable at cd.cz for exact times and connections on your travel date.
This means the total journey from Prague to Rijeka via the Adriatic Express involves at least two legs: a domestic train to a Moravian boarding city, then the overnight express to Rijeka.
Fares
Fares quoted below apply to boarding at Moravian departure cities such as Ostrava, Přerov, or Břeclav. They do not include the cost of a domestic Czech train from Prague to your boarding city.
- Promotional (advance) fare: around 1,367 CZK one-way; on some weekday departures, under 1,000 CZK
- Standard fare: around 2,864 CZK one-way
These figures were reported in Czech press coverage dated May 2026 and reflect fares from Moravian boarding cities. A Prague traveller's total rail cost will be higher by the price of the domestic leg to the boarding city. Do not treat the 1,367 CZK figure as a Prague-to-Rijeka fare.
Booking
Tickets are sold through the ČD online shop at cd.cz, via the Můj vlak mobile app, and at ČD ticket offices. Whether ČD sells a Prague-to-boarding-city connecting ticket as a single booking alongside the Adriatic Express has not been confirmed; check cd.cz directly for the latest booking options.
Sales for summer 2026 opened in early May; by mid-May, popular summer dates were already selling out. If you are travelling in July or August, check availability soon.
Exact departure times from Czech stops are not reproduced here because they can change. Check cd.cz for the current timetable on your specific travel date.
Year-round connecting trains
If you are travelling outside the Adriatic Express season, or if the Moravian connection does not suit your itinerary, you can reach Rijeka by train year-round using a multi-segment route through Austria and Slovenia.
The general routing is: Praha hlavní nádraží to Villach, then south to Ljubljana, then east to Rijeka on Croatian Railways (HŽ). This crosses four countries and involves multiple operators: ČD or RegioJet for the Czech and Austrian legs, ÖBB for the Austrian-Slovenian segment, and HŽ for the final leg from Ljubljana to Rijeka.
Total journey time by this route is roughly 14 hours or more, with at least two changes, according to multi-modal search tools. These estimates are illustrative and should be verified against current operator timetables before travel. Fares across all segments, booked separately, fall in a broad range depending on date, fare class, and advance purchase.
There is no confirmed single through-ticket from Prague to Rijeka on this itinerary. Book each segment separately. Check current timetables and prices on cd.cz for the Czech leg, and on the ÖBB and HŽ websites for onward segments.
Stations
Praha hlavní nádraží
Prague's main railway station sits in central Prague at Wilsonova 300/8, Praha 2. It is the departure point for domestic ČD trains to Ostrava, Přerov, Brno, and Břeclav, and for international trains heading toward Vienna and beyond. The station is served by metro line C (Hlavní nádraží station) and is well connected to the city centre.
Rijeka railway station
Rijeka's station (Rijeka Glavni kolodvor) is operated by Croatian Railways (HŽ) and sits close to the city's port and waterfront, within walking distance of the centre. It opened in 1873. Onward travel from Rijeka toward the Croatian coast and islands requires a change to bus or ferry, as rail connections along the Dalmatian coast are limited.
Rail passes
An Interrail Global Pass (for European residents) or Eurail Global Pass (for non-European residents) covers all countries involved in both routing options: the Czech Republic (ČD), Poland (PKP), Slovenia (SŽ), Croatia (HŽ), and Austria (ÖBB).
A reservation is required on the Adriatic Express for pass holders. The specific 2026 reservation fee has not been confirmed in available sources; check cd.cz or the Interrail and Eurail reservation pages when you are ready to book.
For a standalone Prague-to-Rijeka trip, a point-to-point promotional ticket from a Moravian boarding city – around 1,000 to 1,367 CZK – will almost certainly be cheaper than buying a pass for this journey alone. That figure excludes the domestic Czech leg from Prague. A pass makes more sense if you are combining this trip with other Central European rail journeys.
Alternatives to the train
Direct overnight bus
For most travellers from Prague, the overnight bus is the fastest and most convenient way to reach Rijeka. Both RegioJet and FlixBus operate direct overnight services from Prague, taking around 12 to 13 hours.
| Operator | Fare from | Journey time |
|---|---|---|
| RegioJet | 990 CZK (late July) | ~12.5 hours |
| FlixBus | 1,269 CZK | ~12.5 hours |
These are seasonal services; peak dates sell out. Check current schedules and availability on the operator websites before your travel date.
The bus departs from Prague without requiring a Moravian connection, and at promotional fares is often cheaper than the Adriatic Express standard fare even before adding the domestic Czech leg. For a purely Prague-origin journey, the bus is the more straightforward option.
Flying
Flights from Prague to Rijeka are indirect and involve at least one change. A flight-and-transfer combination via Trieste can reach Rijeka in around 6 to 7 hours total, but this is typically more expensive than either bus or train and involves more complexity. Flights are worth considering only if speed is the overriding factor.
Practical tips
- Book the Adriatic Express early. Peak summer dates, particularly Friday departures and school holiday weeks, were selling out within days of tickets going on sale in May 2026.
- Plan your domestic connection carefully. Confirm the Adriatic Express boarding city and departure time at cd.cz before booking your domestic Czech ticket. Allow enough buffer time between the two legs; check this on the day, as platform assignments at large Czech stations are often posted late.
- Your total cost from Prague is higher than Adriatic Express fares suggest. The promotional fares around 1,000 to 1,367 CZK apply from Moravian boarding cities. Add your domestic Czech train ticket to get a realistic total.
- The year-round connecting route requires separate bookings. There is no confirmed single ticket from Prague to Rijeka across the Austrian, Slovenian, and Croatian segments. Allow adequate connection time at each change, particularly at Villach and Ljubljana.
- Rijeka has limited onward rail connections. If you plan to continue down the Croatian coast, factor in bus or ferry travel. The rail network south of Rijeka is sparse.
A brief history
Until September 16, 2023, RegioJet operated a seasonal direct overnight train from Prague to Rijeka, stopping at Kolín, Havlíčkův Brod, Žďár nad Sázavou, and Brno, among other cities. The journey took approximately 17 to 18 hours. RegioJet ended that service on September 16, 2023 and replaced it with bus-only service to Croatia from that point onward.
The Adriatic Express, which PKP Intercity operates as a Warsaw-origin service through Czech territory, is a separate train. It is not a revival of the RegioJet Prague service, though it serves some of the same onward corridor.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a direct train from Prague to Rijeka?
There is no year-round direct train. In summer 2026, the Adriatic Express seasonal night train runs through Czech Moravia to Rijeka, but Praha hlavni nadrazi is not a stop. Prague travellers must first take a domestic Czech train to a Moravian boarding city such as Ostrava, Prerov, or Breclav, then join the Adriatic Express there.
When does the 2026 Adriatic Express run?
Six times per week from 26 June to 31 August 2026, operated by PKP Intercity with Ceske drahy handling Czech territory operations and ticket sales.
How much does the Adriatic Express cost from Moravian boarding cities?
Promotional fares run from around 1,000 to 1,367 CZK one-way; some weekday departures are under 1,000 CZK. The standard fare is around 2,864 CZK. These figures apply from Moravian boarding cities and do not include the domestic Czech train from Prague. Check cd.cz for current availability.
How long does it take to travel from Prague to Rijeka by train?
There is no single verified total from Praha hlavni nadrazi. The domestic leg to a Moravian boarding city takes roughly 3 to 4 hours; the Adriatic Express then travels overnight to Rijeka. The year-round connecting route via Villach and Ljubljana takes roughly 14 hours or more in total, with at least two changes.
Where do I book Adriatic Express tickets?
Through the Ceske drahy online shop at cd.cz, via the Muj vlak mobile app, or at CD ticket offices. Popular summer 2026 dates were already selling out by mid-May 2026, so book early for July and August travel.
Can I use an Interrail or Eurail pass on this route?
Both passes cover all countries on any Prague-Rijeka routing: Czech Republic, Poland, Slovenia, Croatia, and Austria. A reservation is required on the Adriatic Express; the 2026 pass-holder fee has not been confirmed. For a standalone trip, a point-to-point promotional ticket from a Moravian boarding city will usually be cheaper than a pass purchased solely for this journey.
