Budapest to Krakow by train

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.