Prague to Kosice to Budapest Itinerary?

Prague to Kosice to Budapest is a long distance travel and if you have only 3 days for it, it's not worth it. With only 3 days stop in Brno and Bratislava. Vienna is not on the main rail line from Prague to Budapest. Two days in Prague is certainly not too long, more appropriate would be to say too short. In Brno and Bratislava you will always find lodging. In the case that you are more into nature than big cities take at least two days from Budapest, go to the High Tatras and do some hiking there (see my post about High Tatras under Best destinations under Slovakia). Then to Budapest via Kosice. Train travel in that part of Europe is relatively cheap and I have a strong suspicion that point to point tickets will be cheaper than Rail pass.

I have had no trouble getting either trains or lodging in these countries on short notice, even in Prague. The European East pass costs $238 (plus shipping) and is very convenient to use, but does not save money for the routes mentioned.

Thanks. Do you really believe that getting tickets from Prague to Budapest, with some possible sidetracks, would be cheaper, for the same thing? If so, then approximately how much cheaper? Is it significantly cheaper?

Why go all the way to Budapest to go to the Tatras? Why not go straight across from Prague? Wouldnt it be shorter? Should I just take a direct train to the Tatras (to the extent possible) with no stops along the way, and spend time there? would the train ride be scenic?

mslaal: I guess the only problem I have is that the trains I found from Prague to Poprad or Kosice are all night trains. The Tatras are spectacular and should be seen, not slept through. Unless you find a better train schedule I would say take the train to Bratislava, spend the night, take a morning train to Poprad (or one of a few other places on the track) and do some sightseeing for a few days from that base (castles, mountains, river rafting, hiking, towns, villages - lots to do), after about three days on to Kosice for a night and then in to Budapest.

mslaal,
of course you don't have to go all the way to Budapest to get to Tatras and nobody was suggesting that. There are two direct trains from Prague to Poprad which go all the way to Kosice. One is a night train and another one leaves Prague at 9:11 (am) arriving to Poprad at 16:19. If you want to go to Strbske Pleso get off at Strba (one stop before Poprad). Not all trains stop there but this one does. If you want to go to Stary Smokovec or Tatranska Lomnica get off in Poprad. There are many other connections to Tatry from Prague quite shorter than to go via Bratislava. Buy ticket to Poprad and change trains in Zilina. There is a small airport in Poprad. Inquire in travel agency in Prague if there is direct flight there. Train ride to Poprad from Prague: between stations Chocen and Zabreh na Morave nice scenery, between Hranice na Morave and Poprad superb scenery getting better and better (for trains which go via Puchov like the one at 9:11 am, for those which go via Bohumin scenery start after station Jablunkov). Unless you will do much traveling around Hungary, point to point tickets will almost certainly be cheaper than pass.

Ilja is a champ

Probably next year I will go back to Slovakia (trip 3). I'll use the route Budapest to Eger to Kosice to Poprad to Bratislava to Gyor and back to Budapest. For the towns but mostly for fishing in Paradise National Park.

All: Thanks. Ilja, what do you think of the idea of taking an overnight sleeper to Poprad, and arriving in the morning? That would provide three full days in the area. What would some good activities be for three days that include some easy hiking and beautiful scenery? Is there a good base to operate from where you could do this without having to travel very far? You mentioned a few towns in the area, but do you have any suggestions about a centrally located place from which you can do several days trips into the mountains and parks? The higher in the mountains, the better, and reasonable prices would be good.

This isn't Europe through the back door, this is sort of like Europe through that casement window over the side door; so while there are really spectacular things to see and do you have to sort of hunt for information;

A good site for information: http://www.visitslovakia.com/beckov-castle/ poke around the links per your interests. Then plot them on a map.

Google Images for "Slovakia Paradise National Park" This is where we go fishing.

Another source to look up activities: http://www.slovakiatravels.com/en/leisure-and-relax/trekking.html

Ilja is the right person to ask where to stay. In the north we stayed at the Kempinski on the earlier trips. At 145 euro a night its a little pricy. Why? Well, that quality, that view, that surrounding, that service; would cost two or three times that any place else in the world. You can go to Slovakia for the decreased cost or you can go for the increased quality. Depends on how you look at it and both attitudes are great and make Slovakia an excellent choice. The other places we have stayed were all much further south form your route (the Banska towns - worth the time if you get that way)

Thanks James. Do you need a license to fish. do you keep the fish?

Yes and No.

mslaal,
if you are a good sleeper go for it. Train leaves Prague at 21:53, arrives in Poprad at 6:12 (am). Be ready to get off, it stops only for a short time. From Poprad you can take a little electric train (something between a train and tram) to Stary Smokovec, it continues to Strbske Pleso. This train leaves Poprad at 6:29, arrives in SS at 7:01, arrives SP at 7:42. Look for schedule at Deutsche Bahn website. You can stay either in Stary Smokovec or Strbske Pleso. Google for accommodations there and decide accordingly. Just few suggestions: SS: Grand Hotel, Tatrasport Zampa, Garni Hotel Tatrys, SP: Panorama, Solisko, Kempinski, Crocus, Toliar, FIS, Patria. Activities: hiking, climbing. Suggested hikes from S.P.: Rysy, Hincovo Pleso, Krivan, Bystre sedlo (this one is a loop). Rysy and Krivan are strenuous hikes but doable by reasonably fit people. From SS: take a funicular to Hrebienok and then you can do a loop via Mala Studena Dolina through Priecne Sedlo to Velka Studena Dolina and back to Hrebienok. This hike is also strenuous with a superb scenery certainly worth some exercise. One of the most beautiful hikes is across the main ridge of the High Tatras. Get off electric train in Tatranska Polianka (between SP and SS) up to Vielicke Pleso, Polsky Hrebien, down Bielovodska Dolina, Lysa Polana. From there back by bus to SS. Start early, it's a long hike. Read my post about High Tatras under Best destination under Slovakia. Enjoy your trip. High Tatras are very scenic and photogenic.