What is the easiest way to get between Prague, Budapest and Krakow? I’m looking at flights and trains and getting confused about the easiest (and cheapest and quickest) way to travel between the 3.
Does it make sense to use Vienna as a hub from which to pass through (either for flights or trains)? Say, fly to Vienna from Krakow and then take the train from Vienna to Budapest and/or Prague?
I don’t care in which order the cities are visited - just wondering about efficiency!
Easiest or Cheapest? These are some pretty long hauls Personally I would rather fly than take a train. But each to their own.
If it were me I would fly into Krakow from the states, then take the non-stop Ryan flight to Prague, then the non-stop Ryan flight to Budapest. Each is about 1:15 in flight time. The price depends on how you pack. $35 to $135 more or less each leg. That would be the fastest. Or you can do it with 6 to 7 hour train rides for under $50 a leg (i am guessing).
From the Man in Seat 61. Information is from Krakow. There will be another page each for Prague and Budapest departures.
https://www.seat61.com/international-trains/trains-from-Krakow.htm#Krakow_to_Budapest
It's likely that flying is the quickest and the train the cheapest. I would argue that the train is also the easiest, as it picks you up and deposits you in the city center. Getting to the airport, getting through security, (sometimes) getting out of the arrival airport and then getting to the city center adds time to an air trip that you don't have on a train. Obviously, I prefer a train for a variety of reasons.
I love these exercises.
By Train or Plane the most sensible is Budapest to Prague to Krakow (or reverse)
By train
Total Holiday travel time: 15:45
Total Holiday travel cost: 71 euro
That is 13:15+ hours sitting in what is essentially a airline Economy Plus seat that does not recline. Views? There are trains with great views and part of this trip coming out of Poland might be interesting. But mostly the vegetation is allowed to grow tall on both sides of the tracks to control noise pollution. In the cities there are generally walls on both sides for noise control. Pack food or see what the dining car has to offer.
By plane
Total Holiday travel time: 9:25
Total Holiday travel cost: 260 euro (close to half that if you go carry on only)
2:25+ hours sitting in an economy seat. The rest of the time you are in transit or moving around. Wouldn’t count on much in the line of food on the flight. Too short.
Train Trip Budapest to Prague
0:15 hours from Oktogon to train station for 7 euro.
0:30 hours early arrival.
6:45 hours Budapest to Prague by a direct train no less than 23 euro for 2nd class.
0:30 get off train, call taxi, transfer to accommodation in Old Town for 7 euro.
Total 8:00 hours and 37 euro
Train Trip Prague to Krakow
0:15 hours from Old Town to train station by taxi for 7 euro
0:30 hours early arrival
6:30 hours Prague to Krakow by a direct train no less than 20 euro
0:30 hours get off train, call taxi, transfer to accommodations 7 euro
Total 7:45 hours and 34 euro
Flight Budapest to Prague
0:30 hours transfer to airport 25 euro
2:00 hours early arrival
1:15 hours Budapest to Prague by direct flight no less than 80 euro with a checked bag.
0:30 hours deplane and claim bag
0:30 hours transfer to Old Town accommodations 35 euro
Total 4:45 hours and 140 euro
Flight Prague to Krakow
0:30 hours transfer to airport 35 euro
2:00 hours early arrival
1:10 hours Prague to Krakow by direct flight no less than 50 euro with a checked bag
0:30 hours deplane and claim bag
0:30 hours transfer to accommodations 35 euro
Total 4:40 hours and 120 euro
By the way, either train or plane, I think its a fantastic trip. I would count on not less than 3 full days in Prague, 4 full days in Krakow and 5 full days in Budapest.
Then, it you have more time, do take the train and a few shulttles so you can make stops inbetween cities. But that would add another 10 days to the trip maybe..
