Train Budapest-Prague safety

Never heard about any danger on that train. They are not allowed to travel without documents. What you heard was probably story about local gypsies. Police is ready. They call them black sheriffs. They are white big guys but their clothes are black. Few times I saw them on the train pacifying unruly gypsies using police batons which we used to call beating heart of communist party.

I'm not sure why Ilja supports the beating of ethnic minorities? Pretty sick.

But to the question, two years ago the trains, especially out of Budapest and moving North, were a mess. They were packed with migrants as were the stations, but I have never heard of any violence; but it wasn't pleasant traveling. New controls have pretty much completely solved that problem and the train station has been cleaned and put back in order.

As for the Roma, I can't recall having seen any passengers in Roma dress in my half dozen or so train trips north out of Budapest. Unlike Vienna and Prague the criminal element part of the Roma culture isn't very active in Budapest. Never met a tourist in Budapest that had his pocket picked. I have known people who have been hit in Prague, so be a tiny bit more aware in crowded places.

While you are in Budapest you might want to take a tour of the Roma district and get some better understanding of the culture as a whole.

Finally :-) Don't spend all that time on a train. Fly Czech Airlines. Generally $100 to $150.

James, I am against beating of any ethnic minority and more than that - against beating anyone. I saw that, I did not support it, that's a difference. Besides the emphasis is on the word unruly - and in this case it happened to be gypsies. I know that police is randomly present on the train Budapest - Prague. The episode I was describing happened not on this train but on train Kosice - Praha (Prague). I heard some people to complain about their experiences on that particular train but personally I had no negative experience and was never bothered. And I used to travel on that rail line often.

G*ypsy is a slur. I am Romani and going to Budapest for the first time in August, I hope I don't run into many with that opinion!

Most likely you will only see American college students, families traveling with children, and businessmen on your train.

np09; really? Someone needs to discuss that with these guys: http://www.100violins.com/