Prague to Budapest (Round Trip)

The train ride is about 7 hours. Neither the budget flights nor train tickets usually reward roundtrip purchase, so you could use a different transport in each direction. Try www.skyscanner.com to find flights. These train tickets are not likely to go on sale more than 60 days ahead, especially since railways are busy to prepare the Dec. 10 schedule change. See https://www.seat61.com/trains-and-routes/prague-to-budapest-by-train.htm#How_to_buy_tickets for advice on using the Czech railways web site.

Thank you, Laura!

They both work and for no drastic difference in price. So the choice is sitting 7 hours on a train and dealing with all the luggage yourself or 1.5 hours on a plane without the hassle of luggage. Door to door, 8 to 8.5 hours vs 3.5 to 4 hours.

Hi from Wisconsin,
I would take the train. Actually, I have taken that train. Who really wants to fly these days anyway? Prague airport is small so that is nice, but get to your flight two hours early it is at least a half hour ride out there plus flight time, and then you end up in the Budapest airport, a 40-45 minute bus ride from the city center. Ah and airport security...don't get me started. All I can say is read the web site about what you can or can't check, it seems to change every time I fly. And if you are taking a 'discount' flight, be ready for making sure you printed your ticket on the correctly sized paper or the price goes up.

Train: it is in the city center, chances are you could walk there. Buy your ticket and get on the train. Settle in for a nice smooth ride, have a drink, eat a little, get off at a Budapest city center train station. And in between you get to see the countryside. To me it is a no brainer.

Enjoy the ride.

wayne iNWi

There is no wrong answer, but a few clairifications, Fly Czech Air and there will be no ticket issues (I've never had the issues with Wizzair either for that matter). Arrive at the Prague airport 1.5 hours early and use the time to eat or plan for Budapest. Take a taxi from the Budapest airport and be at your hotel in about 35 minutes for about $25. Or the bus, but more accurately figure an hour to your hotel with a little walk time thrown in.

A couple of years ago my wife and I took the train from Prague to Budapest. Starting with the Man in Seat 61 it was not that big of a deal. I think that the suggestion to to take the train one way and flying the other way is excellent.

I'd take the overnight sleeper train from Prague to Budapest and fly back in the other direction.

I would take a train. IMHO little time saved by flying it's not worth the hassle. Besides I like to watch the countryside even if it's not particularly spectacular. The best scenery on that ride is between stations Chocen (few km east of Pardubice, most express trains don't stop in Chocen) and Brno.

We've just written a blog post on the best way to get from Budapest to Prague, where we compared the options, listed the relative pros and cons, and highlighted some of the pitfalls. I hope you find it useful.

Marcus, The Prague airport is about 30 minutes from Old Town, and there isn't a tourist hotel in Pest that is more than 45 minutes from the airport - worst case. So, fine, use 1.5 hours for both - combined to be on the safe side. Arrive 1.5 hours early and add a 1.5 hour flight (Ryan air is 1:10) and 30 minutes for baggage claim and 30 minutes for incidentals and you have no more than 5 hours door to door.

Now for the train, 6.5 hour travel time and one hour on the departure end to get there and sort out which track, etc; and 30 minutes at the arrival end for getting to your hotel. So 8 hours minimum door to door.

Difference in price? 20 to 50 euro.