We will have three nights in each city for a total of nine nights. We will be flying from London to Budapest and back to London from Prague. What are the best options for travel from Budapest to Krakow and from Krakow to Prague? Rick has trains listed in his books but not the bus. We are thinking about taking the bus from Budapest to Krakow and then a night train from Krakow to Prague. Are there other options? We are budget travelers but do not share baths. We like the quaint places to stay rather than the cookie cutter chain hotels but again are looking for bargains. Any recommendations from RS travelers? We never go back to places because our motto is "how can you have a favorite place if you haven't seen them all?"
Posted by
Seattle
4637 posts
For bus go to www.orangeways.com . It takes 6 and half hours from Budapest to Krakow. Bus does not go every day. For train go to Deutsche Bahn website. There are many trains. But only one train (overnight) is direct. Otherwise you have to change once or twice. It takes almost 10 to 11 hours depending on train.
Posted by
Tel Aviv
15794 posts
I think you will have to share the toilet on the train. Try priceline.com for Prague. Last May I got the Hilton East for less than a 3-star hotel (with taxes, about $108/night). It wasn't right in the center, but only a short metro trip. I didn't try priceline for Budapest. I stayed at the Mercure Museum for a reasonable price, great location, all the amenities and extensive breakfast buffet.
Posted by
Ottawa
1446 posts
Check out the discount airline Wizz Air.
Posted by
SoCal, USA
8 posts
In 2009 I took the night train from Krakow to Budapest. Shared a couchette compartment with a group of wonderful graduate students from Poland who spoke great English and were very friendly. The train, though, was 4 or 5 hours late.
Posted by
the Island, Canada
173 posts
Hi Tommy, I was in Krakow in September. We took an overnight train from Vienna to Krakow and had a private sleeper. The bathroom was, however, shared. You are provided with several bottles of water and a sink within your "suite". We stayed in Hotel Polonia in Krakow and I wouldn't recommend it. Not because it was terrible, but because I think you could get a better value. Next time I would stay somewhere in Kazmierez, the former Jewish quarter. Good restaurants there as well, not just touristy places like in Stare Miasto.
Posted by
Clarksville, TN, USA
959 posts
Do they orangeways buses have bathrooms? (With all those free drinks, I'd need to go a lot! ;)
Posted by
Seattle
4637 posts
Yes. You can find answer to your question on their website: www.orangeways.com
Posted by
St. Paul, MN
45 posts
Night train from Krakow to Budapest was great - had a sleeper and the whole deal did not cost much more than a hotel room.
Posted by
Tel Aviv
15794 posts
I was going to take the bus from Budapest, but they only ran during the day. I ended up taking an evening train so I wouldn't use up my precious sight-seeing hours traveling between destinations.