--- title: "Trains from Budapest to Krakow | EveryRail" description: "Trains leave Budapest-Nyugati for Kraków Główny: about 8 to 9.5 hours by day, or about 11.5 hours in a through sleeping car." image: "https://everyrail.com/api/route-image/budapest-to-krakow/" --- [Home]()[Europe by train]()[Hungary]()Budapest to Krakow by train [Home]()[Europe by train]()[Hungary]()Budapest to Krakow by train **Share** - - [Share on WhatsApp]() - [Share on X]() - [Share on Facebook]() - [Share by email]() **On this page** - [About Budapest to Krakow by train]() - [Where to book]() - [Find places to stay in Krakow]() - [Frequently asked questions]() - [More routes]() [Book now]() Last updated November 2026 # Budapest to Krakow by train Trains leave Budapest-Nyugati for Kraków Główny: about 8 to 9.5 hours by day, or about 11.5 hours in a through sleeping car. ![St. Mary's Basilica on Kraków's Main Market Square under a blue sky]() Origin [Budapest]() Destination [Krakow]() Main stations Budapest-Nyugati to Kraków Główny Countries [Hungary](), [Poland]() Trains from [Budapest]() to [Krakow]() leave from Budapest-Nyugati and take about 8 to 9.5 hours by day or about 11.5 hours overnight. ## Through coach or one change The direct options here are through coaches, carriages that get coupled from one train to the next along the way. You keep the same seat to Krakow. In the current timetable, which runs until 12 December 2026, a second-class through coach leaves Budapest-Nyugati in the morning and reaches Kraków Główny in the early evening, about 9.5 hours later. It travels via Bratislava, Břeclav, Ostrava and Oświęcim. It runs on most days, not all. The other daytime trips need one change, at Břeclav or Bohumín, and take about 8 to 8.5 hours. They leave between early and late morning. Pick one of these if you want the faster journey. The through coach suits anyone who would rather not move bags mid-trip. ## Overnight in a sleeping car A through sleeping car leaves Budapest-Nyugati in the evening and reaches Kraków Główny early the next morning, about 11.5 hours later, before carrying on to Przemyśl. As far as Břeclav it runs as part of the Metropol EuroNight, then it is coupled to other trains for the rest of the way. Seats are also sold on this service. Compartments sleep one, two or three, each with a washbasin. [PKP Intercity]()'s international sleeping cars have a shower and serve breakfast. A reservation is compulsory. There is no sleeping car on 17, 18, 20 to 23, 29 and 30 November 2026. ## Start at Nyugati, not Keleti Trains to Krakow leave from Budapest-Nyugati. Budapest-Keleti is about 30 minutes away on foot. Give yourself that margin if you are staying near Keleti. ## Tickets and fares MÁV sells START Europa tickets from Budapest to Krakow from €30 in second class. They are limited and non-refundable. START Europa Plus tickets start from €38 and can be refunded before the day of travel, minus a 10% deduction. For the night train, START Night tickets start from €25.50 for a seat, €48.50 in a three-bed sleeper, €58.50 in a double and €95.50 in a single compartment. They are limited and non-refundable. MÁV sets international fares in euros, but you pay in forints online. For trips to Poland, the lowest prices are often at MÁV's international ticket offices or on intercity.pl rather than jegy.mav.hu. ## Interrail passes and reservations The route runs through Hungary, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Poland, so your Interrail pass needs to cover all four. PKP Intercity requires pass holders to buy a €3.50 seat reservation on international daytime trains to and from Poland. On the night train a reservation is always compulsory. The reservation fee depends on whether you book a seat or a berth, and a single compartment costs the most. ## Engineering works and the December timetable From 17 November to 1 December 2026, construction work between Břeclav and Bohumín moves some long-distance trains to different times or diverts them. Some also run with fewer seats and berths. The new timetable starts on 13 December 2026, and the through coaches are not yet confirmed for it. Check your date before booking for late December 2026 or 2027. ## Where to book ![]() ### Book with Omio Find times and prices for Budapest → Krakow. [Check times & prices]() ### Other places to book Ticket websites - [Rail Europe]() These links open the provider’s website. Search for your journey there. ### Train service - [MÁV]() MÁV's domestic InterCity and Railjet trains require seat reservations; Interrail and Eurail passes cover the journey but not the reservation fee. [Official website]() [Check times & prices]() - [PKP Intercity]() PKP Intercity runs Poland's long-distance trains, including Pendolino, Express InterCity, InterCity and TLK services. Some trains require reservations. [Official website]() [Check times & prices]() ## Find places to stay in Krakow [![Bright bedroom with white bedding and a breakfast tray on the bed]()**Browse stays in Krakow**Hotels and apartments via Booking.com]() ## Frequently asked questions ### Is there a direct train from Budapest to Krakow? Yes, as through coaches. A second-class daytime through coach runs on most days and a through sleeping car on most nights, both from Budapest-Nyugati to Kraków Główny. Other daytime trips need one change at Břeclav or Bohumín. ### Which Budapest station do trains to Krakow leave from? Budapest-Nyugati. The through coaches and the usual one-change trains do not leave from Budapest-Keleti, which is about 30 minutes from Nyugati on foot. ### How long is the train from Budapest to Krakow? About 8 to 8.5 hours on a daytime trip with one change, and about 9.5 hours in the daytime through coach. The overnight sleeping car takes about 11.5 hours and arrives early in the morning. ### How much is the train from Budapest to Krakow? MÁV's START Europa tickets start from €30 in second class for daytime trains, and START Night tickets from €25.50 for a seat or €48.50 for a berth in a three-bed sleeper. These cheaper tickets are limited and non-refundable, and prices rise when they sell out. ### Do I need a reservation with an Interrail pass? Yes. PKP Intercity requires a €3.50 seat reservation on international daytime trains to and from Poland. On the night train a reservation is compulsory and the fee depends on whether you book a seat or a berth. Your pass must cover Hungary, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Poland. ## More routes [![Hungarian Parliament Building lit up at dusk on the Danube]()![ÖBB]()![Deutsche Bahn]()Amsterdam to Budapest by trainThere is no direct Amsterdam to Budapest train; the fastest journey takes about 14 hours, or take the ÖBB Nightjet overnight to Vienna and continue to Budapest.]()[![Hungarian Parliament Building lit up at dusk on the Danube]()![MÁV]()Bratislava to Budapest by trainDirect international trains connect Bratislava hlavná stanica and Budapest-Nyugati in about 2 hours 26 minutes, with longer departures also available.]()[![Brandenburg Gate in Berlin at night]()![Deutsche Bahn]()![České dráhy]()Budapest to Berlin by trainThe direct Hungaria runs from Budapest-Nyugati to Berlin Hbf by day; the Metropol EuroNight leaves Budapest-Keleti and takes about 13 hours overnight.]()[![Bratislava Castle at sunset]()![ÖBB]()![MÁV]()![Deutsche Bahn]()Budapest to Bratislava by trainDirect trains from Budapest to Bratislava take about 2 hours 25 minutes, with around 13 daily services and advance fares from about €12.]()[![Tower Bridge in London at dusk]()![ÖBB]()![Eurostar]()Budapest to London by trainBudapest to London by train is not direct: connect via Paris or Brussels, then take Eurostar to London St Pancras. Fastest trips take around 17 hours.]()[![View of Oslo, Norway]()![Deutsche Bahn]()![České dráhy]()Budapest to Oslo by trainBudapest to Oslo by train takes two or three days with no direct service, usually via Berlin, Hamburg, Copenhagen and Sweden.]()[![Old Town Square and Church of Our Lady before Tyn in Prague]()![České dráhy]()Budapest to Prague by trainDirect EuroCity and railjet trains from Budapest-Nyugati to Prague take about 6 hours 53 minutes, with a EuroNight Metropol sleeper option.]()[![Statue detail at Rome's Vittoriano monument with St. Peter's dome in the distance]()![Trenitalia]()![ÖBB]()Budapest to Rome by trainBudapest to Rome has no direct train; rail journeys take around 14 to 17 hours via Vienna, with an ÖBB Nightjet overnight option.]() ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://everyrail.com/#organization", "name": "EveryRail", "url": "https://everyrail.com/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://everyrail.com/_astro/everyrail-logomark-2026.VJ4vNX1T.webp", "@id": "https://everyrail.com/#organization-logo-1" }, "sameAs": [ "https://www.instagram.com/everyrailtravel/", "https://www.facebook.com/everyrail", "https://www.threads.com/@everyrailtravel" ] }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://everyrail.com/#website", "name": "EveryRail", "url": "https://everyrail.com/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://everyrail.com/#organization" }, "inLanguage": "en" }, { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://everyrail.com/trains/budapest-to-krakow/#webpage", "name": "Trains from Budapest to Krakow | EveryRail", "description": "Train travel information for Budapest to Krakow. 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