Transport (Train/Bus) from Budapest to Krakow

Those two cities are almost 400 km apart. I would recommend a 2+ hour flight with a budget carrier like Wizz Air unless you don't mind a really long journey. Or you can look into a night train option:

http://czech-transport.com/index.php?id=18505

If you are traveling long distance within Poland, try the Polski Bus.
http://www.polskibus.com/en

It's a lot of time on a bus. http://orangeways.com/hu/budapest-krakko-buszjegy-buszjarat

If you had the time I would suggest that you take a few days to get there and visit Slovakia on the way.

Train and bus are both reliable and relatively cheap. There is only one direct train from B. to K. and that one is overnight. Not good for light sleepers. Many stops. In Breclav and then in Bohumin a lot of connecting and disconnecting carriages to and from the train. Bus ride is scenic but too long. I would consider two other options: either to fly (which is probably not very cheap) or take more days for the journey. Budapest - Eger - Kosice - High Tatras (Strbske Pleso, hotel Kempinski) - Zakopane -
Krakow. For staying overnight consider at least Eger and High Tatras.

Ilja, you know you took the words right out of my mouth."Budapest - Eger - Kosice - High Tatras (Strbske Pleso, hotel Kempinski) - Zakopane - Krakow. For staying overnight consider at least Eger and High Tatras." With less time you could skip Eger and spend a night in Kosice and another at the Kempinski. The Kempinski is one of my favorite hotels in the world. I could go back and back and back..................

I haven't made it to Krakow yet. Tried a couple times but keep getting sidetracked in the High Tatras (fishing). I really do enjoy it there. Will be back with fly rod in about a week..

Regarding night trains. When I was young I had different standards. Couldn't do it now. It works like this.

1. Get up at 8 am, shower and head off sight seeing
2. Return by check out time, pack and leave your bag at the front desk
3. Sight seeing all day long
4. pick up your bag in the evening and head to the train station
5. the first hour or maybe 2 is the novelty of the trip so you don't sleep
6. constant stop and swapping of cars pretty much keeps you up till the last 2 hours stretch to the final destination; or maybe just the heat and stuffiness keeps you awake.
7. you wake up in a panic wondering if you missed your stop and are on your way to Uzbekistan
8. finally arrive a some ung-dly hour of the morning
9. head for your hotel. Checkin time is at 2pm, its now 7 am.

10. Leave your bag and go sight seeing
11. Return to hotel at 2 pm
12. Check in and take your first shower in 30 hours.

Hi,

Keep in mind as you decide that either way day or night train the duration is over ten hours but the night train is direct going from Budapest to Krakow, which is not the case when going by day. Since I prefer not transferring with luggage, I would take the night train option. The Krakow train station area has one of the very best hostels and hotels just a couple of minutes away literally. I stayed in one of them in 2001.

Yes, worldinbetween, the daytime route did get broken up to require two or more connections.

Thanks everyone! Appreciate the info!

Just returned to Budapest from a few days of fishing in the High Tatras. Still one of my favorite places in the world.

Hi guys,

Just received a mail from Hungarian Railway mail ID : The price one way between Budapest-Krakow on the overnight train is ~90 Eur (almost double as that shown before June 12) ! Not sure whether this is for a bed or a couchette(Have to confirm again form them)And it is not possible to book online for July.

I don't think we have any cheaper train options right?
Thanks!

How many of you are there?

Hello James, it's just me solo!
How does Eurolines sound? I lose half a day though instead of overnight!

Arif, and Orangeways once and maybe still does make the trip. Longer than I could endure. We make 3/4ths of the journey every year or two when we go fishing in Slovakia. And in a car, even that's a long haul. If there is anyway you can break up the trip I sure would. Slovakia is beautiful. But it sounds like you are on a pretty tight budget.

Yes James.
I am on a tight schedule and relatively tight budget.
Krakow and Warsaw are my last 2 stops .
I am planning to cover all or some of Munich Airport-Salzburg-Ljublana (Lake Bled, Bohinj, Triglav)-Split-Dubrovnik-Mostar-Zadar-Plitvice National Park-Zagreb (and then solo)-Budapest-Krakow-Warsaw(in 15 days!)
So bit worried abt reservations for Zagreb-Budapest and Budapest-Warsaw:-)
If I manage to save money till then - 100Euro for comfortable night journey is OK to save some time :-)

Hi James,
I booked a Eurolines bus from Budapest to Krakow (6 30 AM - 1 30 PM) (5900 HUF)
I guess there would be some nice Slovakian (Tartars ) scenery on the route during the day?
Thanks.

Actually yes, the bus will go through some pretty nice landscape. You might wish you could get out of the bus.