Budapest to Prague from 19 Prague to Budapest from 21 Prague to Bratislava from 15 Budapest to Bratislava from 14 Or take a RegioJet train between Prague & Budapest from 19.90 |
Prague - Budapest from 16
Comfortable air-conditioned EuroCity trains with restaurant car link Prague, Bratislava & Budapest every two hours, centre to centre with cheap tickets if you use the right website!
The trains are run jointly by Czech Railways (CD), Slovakian Railways (ZSSK) & Hungarian Railways (MAV). There's also a time-effective (and very comfortable) Prague-Budapest sleeper.
In 2020 these were joined by several competing RegioJet trains with 4 classes, free WiFi, cheap fares and excellent at-seat service.
Option 1, by EuroCity train from 21
- How to buy these cheap tickets
Option 2, by RegioJet from 19.90
Option 3, by sleeper train from 39
Budapest Nyugati station guide
Trains from Prague to other destinations
Trains from Bratislava to other destinations
Trains from Budapest to other destinations
Train times southbound 2025
Train times northbound 2025
EC = EuroCity train Metropolitan with modern Czech carriages, jointly run by Czech, Slovak & Hungarian Railways. 1st & 2nd class with restaurant car.
ECH = EuroCity train Hungaria with modern Hungarian carriages, run jointly Czech, Slovak & Hungarian Railways. 1st & 2nd class with restaurant car.
RegioJet = RegioJet train run by private operator RegioJet. Low cost, standard, relax & business classes. Buy tickets at www.regiojet.com.
Check times for your date of travel at www.cd.cz.
In addition what's shown here, RegioJet operates several competing Prague-Bratislava trains every day, see www.regiojet.com. More about RegioJet trains.
Prague to Budapest is 610 km (379 miles) by train. Prague to Bratislava is 396 km (246 miles) by train. Bratislava to Budapest is 214 km (133 miles).
Which train to choose?
-
The EuroCity trains run by the national train operators are fastest & most frequent, with air-conditioning, free WiFi & a restaurant car. Breakfast, lunch or dinner in the restaurant is one of life's pleasures! What are the EuroCity trains like?. Practical info for the EuroCity trains.
-
The sleeper train Metropol is the most time-effective option and it saves a hotel bill too. Safe & comfy in a nicely-refurbished Czech sleeper. Practical info for the sleeper option.
-
RegioJet is a private operator competing with the national operators, taking slightly longer as their trains go via Vienna rather than Bratislava. But it's the cheapest option, especially at short notice when RegioJet fares remain low. RegioJet's older cars offer old-school comfort, free WiFi, a reserved seat included in the price, excellent at-seat service with complimentary water & Illy coffee in 3 of the 4 classes, and a complimentary sparkling wine in business class. You won't regret choosing RegioJet! What are RegioJet trains like? Practical info for RegioJet.
Route map
Option 1, by EuroCity train
These are the regular express trains linking Prague, Bratislava & Budapest, run jointly by CD (Czech Railways), ZSSK (Slovakian Railways) and MAV (Hungarian Railways). They are comfortable, air-conditioned, have power sockets at seats and free WiFi, and a waiter-service restaurant car. Watch the video!
How much does it cost?
-
Prague <> Budapest starts at 21 in 2nd class or 37 1st class.
Advance-purchase fares booked with Czech Railways, no refunds, no changes, price varies like air fares, limited availability at each price level. On the day, the unlimited-availability full-flex fare is around 66 in 2nd class or 99 in 1st class.
-
Prague <> Bratislava starts at 15 in 2nd class or 28 1st class.
Advance-purchase fares booked with Czech Railways, no refunds, no changes, price varies like air fares, limited availability at each price level. On the day, the unlimited-availability full-flex fare is around 41 2nd class or 62 1st class.
-
Bratislava <> Budapest starts at 10 in 2nd class or 16 1st class.
Advance-purchase fares booked with Hungarian Railways, no refunds, no changes, price varies like air fares, limited availability at each price level. Alternatively, it costs 17.50 in 2nd class bought on the day at the station, good for any train, a permanent unlimited-availability round trip special offer which is cheapest even for a one-way trip. However, there is no 1st class version.
-
But you must buy tickets as shown below...
To get these prices, you must book direct with the Czech or Hungarian Railways. Resellers such as Rail Europe, Trainline or Omio have so far not connected to the Czech, Hungarian or Slovakian ticketing systems and cannot access these prices.
How to buy tickets
-
Do you need to buy in advance?
Yes, if you want a cheap advance-purchase fare, limited or no refunds or changes to travel plans, limited availability at each price level.
No, if you are happy paying the full-flex price. Full-flex tickets have unlimited availability so can never sell out, you can always buy one at the station and catch the next train, sitting in any empty unreserved seat.
-
When does booking open?
Booking usually opens 60 days before departure, although this shrinks to less than this for dates after the mid-December timetable change. There is absolutely no need to book further ahead that this, you can usually find the cheapest fares even booking just weeks ahead. More about when European train bookings open.
Tip: If you don't see any green button with prices, only Check price - By email at www.cd.cz, booking isn't open yet, wait!!
-
To buy tickets starting in Prague
Use the Czech Railways (CD) website www.cd.cz, see my tips for using it.
You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone. The cheap advance-purchase fares are called First Minute.
Tip: If you don't see green buttons with prices on in the search results, only Check price - By email then booking isn't open yet, just wait. You only need to book a few weeks ahead to get cheap prices, not months and months.
Tip: Only one name & passport number is needed to support one print-at-home ticket, even if that ticket covers several people.
Tip: If going to Bratislava, check times & prices for the several daily competing RegioJet trains at www.regiojet.com.
-
To buy tickets starting in Budapest
Option 1, if going from Budapest to Prague you can buy tickets at the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz, see my tips for using it.
This is the easier website to use. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone. The advance-purchase fares are called First Minute.
Tip: If you don't see green buttons with prices on, just Check price - By email then booking isn't really open yet, just wait. You only need to book a few weeks ahead to get cheap prices, not months and months.
Tip: Only one name & passport number is needed to support a one ticket, even if it's for several people.
Option 2, if going from Budapest to either Bratislava or Prague you can use the Hungarian Railways (MAV) site www.mavcsoport.hu, see my tips for using it. You print your own ticket or can show it in the MAV app on your phone.
-
To buy tickets starting in Bratislava
For Bratislava to Prague, book at the Czech Railways site www.cd.cz and print your own ticket or show it on your phone.
You can also book at the Slovakian Railways website www.zssk.sk, but the Czech Railways website is much easier to use. Tip: Also check times & prices for the several daily competing RegioJet trains at www.regiojet.com.
For Bratislava to Budapest, book at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu, see my advice for using it.
This sells cheap advance-purchase tickets, you print your own ticket or can show it in the MAV app on your phone. Alternatively, a 17.50 promotional 2nd class return ticket can be bought at the station, this isn't a problem as that fare has unlimited availability and cannot sell out. You can now also try booking at the Slovakian Railways website www.zssk.sk.
-
To book the sleeper train, see the sleeper section below.
What are the EuroCity trains like?
Most Prague-Bratislava-Budapest EuroCity trains are branded Metropolitan and use comfortable Czech (CD) rolling stock as shown below. There are one or two exceptions, for example the EuroCity Hungaria uses Hungarian (MAV) rolling stock. Watch the video. Click the interior images below for larger photos.
The usual formation of the Metropolitan-branded trains is: 2nd class open plan car, 3 x 2nd class compartment cars, multi-function car (bike racks, wheelchair spaces, baggage area, some 2nd class seats), restaurant car, 1st class open-plan car. However, extra cars can be added at peak times, and formations vary.
The 1st class car is normally at the back in the Prague>Bratislava>Budapest direction, at the front when going Budapest>Bratislava>Prague.
Its Skoda electric locomotive adding a Flash Gordon vibe, the EuroCity train from Prague to Budapest is ready to roll.
1st class. There's usually just one first class car at one end of the train, next to the restaurant. On the most departures, 1st class seats are in a spacious air-conditioned open-plan saloon, arranged 2+1 across the car width, a few face to face, most face to back, with some tables for 4, some tables for 2. There are power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
On one or two departures, the 1st class car is one with classic 6-seat compartments, you can check what type of car operates on your train by going to www.vagonweb.cz, select en for English, then click Train formations, look under Czechia and click EC / EuroCity.
Restaurant car. These trains have a restaurant car serving inexpensive snacks, drinks and meals, located between the 1st class car and the rest of the train. Lunch or dinner as the train canters through the beautiful countryside is a real treat. Euros, Koruna & credit cards are accepted, although cash can be better as card machines rely on mobile reception. There are no table reservations, just go along and sit down. There's a separate counter if you want to take snacks or drinks back to your seat.
2nd class seats on the Czech trains are mostly in classic 6-seat compartment cars like the photos above, with one car of open-plan seating as in the photos below. All cars are air-conditioned with power sockets at all seats and free WiFi. I personally prefer the open-plan cars as it's less confining and you get a better view through multiple windows. But if you're travelling in a small group you might like a compartment. Most open-plan cars have a large floor-standing luggage rack in the centre of the car, compartment cars only have above-seat racks, anything large needs to go on the floor.
These Czech trains also include one multi-function car with baggage area, bicycle rack, wheelchair ramps, wheelchair spaces & accessible toilet, usually marshalled next to the restaurant car.
A EuroCity train from Prague & Bratislava arrived on platform 6 at Budapest Nyugati.
Travel tips
-
1st or 2nd class?
2nd class is absolutely fine, there's no need to go 1st class unless you don't mind the extra cost. But see what prices you get because with dynamic pricing 1st class may not cost much more. 1st class simply means more leg and elbow room and a quieter environment. 1st class seats are arranged 2+1 across the car width, so there are solo seats and face-to-face tables-for-two on one side of the aisle, ideal for solo travellers & couples.
-
Power sockets, WiFi & toilets
There are power sockets at all seats in both classes. Each car has at least one toilet, usually two. There's reasonable mobile data reception along most of the route. Most CD (Czech Railways) cars have free WiFi with unlimited data in the Czech Republic, Slovakia & Hungary. The latest Hungarian cars on the EuroCity Hungaria also have free WiFi. The Slovakian cars used on a few trains may or may not have WiFi.
Pork cutlet & wine in a Czech dining-car.
Luggage is simple, you take it with you and put it on the racks.
-
Luggage
You can pretty much take what you like, nobody cares how much it weighs or what size it is. You take it onto the train and put it on the luggage racks, there's plenty of luggage space in both classes. The racks above your seat take anything up to backpack-size, the racks in each open-plan saloon car take large suitcases. In compartment cars, very large items just go on the floor. More about luggage on European trains.
-
Seat reservations
A seat reservation is optional on the Prague-Bratislava-Budapest route, except for the EuroNight sleeper train Metropol. If you choose not to reserve, you sit in any unreserved seat - a small paper label above each seat shows whether it is reserved or not. However, a seat reservation is strongly recommended especially in summer or on Friday or Sunday afternoons at any time of year. You can add a seat reservation when you book for around 3.
If you book at www.cd.cz you can choose your seat from a seat map for journey starting in Prague or Bratislava, although you can't choose a forward-facing seat as the reservation system can't predict which way round the carriage will be.
If you already have a ticket (or Eurail or Interrail pass) you can make a reservation-only booking for 3 per seat at www.cd.cz by running an enquiry, finding the train you want and changing Purchase a ticket to Purchase reservations only. This works for journeys to or from Prague.
-
Seat maps: Click here for train seat maps.
-
How to check your train formation: You can check the train composition and see the types of car used on each departure at www.vagonweb.cz. Select en for English, then click Train formations, look under Czechia and click EC / EuroCity. Then look for your train number or Metropolitan. You may find seat maps here if one is available, click the seat map icon under the relevant carriage.
-
First class lounges & where to wait for your train
In Budapest, there's no first class lounge at Budapest Nyugati.
In Prague, there's a CD Lounge at Prague Hlavni but it's somewhat underwhelming. The best place to wait for your train is either the excellent Fantova Kavαrna (Cafe Fanta) or the upmarket Foyer Cafe, both upstairs in the historic station building.
-
Boarding your train
As with virtually all European trains, there's no check-in. Just stroll into the station, find your train and get on, any time before it leaves. The doors may be closed a minute or so before departure.
-
Restaurant car
The restaurant car is open to everyone and having a waiter-service meal served on proper china as the scenery glides by is a real treat. There are no table reservations, just go along and sit down. You can use the counter at the other end of the car if you want to buy snacks or drinks to take back to your seat. On most departures it's a Czech restaurant car run by catering subsidiary JLV, you can see current menus by route at www.jidelnivozy.cz if you use Google translate and hunt around a bit. Euros and Koruna are accepted in the restaurant car, as are major credit cards - but take cash if you can, as their credit card machine relies on mobile phone reception. Czech restaurant cars have designated happy hours when the prices are lower!
-
Suggested hotels
Useful links
-
Map of Prague showing station - Map of Budapest showing stations.
-
Left luggage lockers in Budapest & Prague - General advice & tips for European train travel.
Option 2, by RegioJet
In July 2020, private operator RegioJet started running 2 daily Prague-Budapest trains in competition with the regular service run by the various national rail operators. RegioJet is a private Czech travel company, part of Student Agency which also operates bus services to, from and within the Czech Republic. Under EU law, any company with the necessary licences can operate international train services in competition with the national operators. These two trains were created by extending two of RegioJet's successful Prague-Vienna trains to Budapest, so they go via Vienna, not Bratislava. With air-conditioning, free WiFi, power sockets and 4 classes, RegioJet is a good choice. There's no restaurant, but there's at-seat service in Standard, Relax & Business classes with complimentary water & Illy coffee. Watch the RegioJet video.
How much does it cost?
-
Prague <> Budapest starts at 19.90 in Standard, 23.40 in Relax, 27.40 in Business class.
These prices increase a little as departure approaches and on busy dates & trains, but not hugely. For example as I write this, Standard class on tomorrow afternoon's train is only 33, Business class only 46, making RegioJet inexpensive even at short notice.
Tickets are only good for the specific train you book, but are fully refundable and can be cancelled or changed in their app up to 15 minutes before departure. Cheap and flexible!
-
Children under 6 free, children under 15 go at the child rate.
-
If you have an ISIC student card you get a 10% discount in Standard & Relax classes on RegioJet trains, but not in Business class.
How to buy tickets
-
Buy tickets for RegioJet trains at www.regiojet.com.
Booking opens several months ahead, but there's no need to book more than a few weeks ahead, days ahead is fine, in fact there are almost always seats available at cheap fares even on the day of travel.
All tickets come with a reserved seat, you can select from a seat map when booking at www.regiojet.com. So in theory tickets can sell out, in practice you'd be very unlucky not to find places available even on the day, you can buy in their app up to 15 minutes before departure.
Tip: When booking to or from Budapest, type Buda... and select Budapest - Deli pu. not the generic Budapest, Hungary. If you use the generic Budapest, Hungary it assumes you want the out-of-centre Budapest Kelenfold, you want Budapest Deli as that is one of the city's central termini.
You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop, tablet or phone.
You probably won't need to show it: There's no check-in, no ticket check, just free & open access from street to train, board up to 1 minute before departure. Once on board, conductors have a seat map on their tablets and know which seats are paid for, so don't need to disturb you.
-
At Prague Hlavni, RegioJet (Student Agency) has its own ticket office at the main entrance level.
-
Interrail & Eurail passes are now valid on RegioJet, 3 reservation fee in Standard, 5 in Relax, or (with a 1st class pass) 10 in Business.
What are RegioJet trains like?
-
RegioJet trains have 4 classes: Low cost, Standard, Relax & Business. All tickets include a specific reserved seat.
-
Low cost class
Low cost has basic air-conditioned seating and that's about all. Comfortable enough, but unlike the other 3 classes there's no free water or free coffee, in fact there is no catering of any sort, so bring your own food & drink.
The Man in Seat 61 says: Low cost is fine for short hops, but for longer journeys such as Prague to Vienna I recommend paying a fraction more to travel in standard class - the free water & coffee in standard class justifies the extra few euros!
-
Standard class
Standard class comes in two forms, regular and Astra. Regular standard class consists of seats in comfortable classic 6-seater compartments, with power sockets but without WiFi, see 360Ί photo.
Standard class Astra consists of open-plan seating in a positively glitzy open-plan car with leather seats, drop-down tables, power sockets, free WiFi and seat-back entertainment touch screens, see 360Ί photo. Seats in the Astra coach are arranged 2+2 across the car width. Incidentally, Astra is the name of the Romanian rolling stock manufacturer who modernised these cars.
In standard class you get complimentary Italian Illy coffee (Espresso, Lungo, Latte Macchiato, Cappuccino) & bottled water, newspapers and magazines. You can order wine, beer, snacks and even sushi at remarkably cheap prices from the staff. If you have kids, you can book seats in the children's compartment.
-
Relax class
Relax class offers leather seats in a spacious 1st class arrangement 2+1 across the car width, carpeted and air-conditioned with free WiFi and power sockets at each seat. There is complimentary Italian Illy coffee (Espresso, Lungo, Latte Macchiato, Cappuccino), mint tea & bottled water, newspapers and magazines. You can order wine, beer, snacks and even sushi at remarkably cheap prices from the staff. One carriage attendant serves every two cars. See 360° photo.
-
Business class
In Business class you get leather seats in classic 4-seat compartments, carpeted and air-conditioned with free WiFi and power sockets at each seat. There is complimentary Italian Illy coffee (Espresso, Lungo, Latte Macchiato, Cappuccino), Oxalis or mint tea, sparkling wine, orange juice & bottled water, newspapers and magazines. You can order wine, beer, snacks and even sushi at remarkably cheap prices from the staff. One carriage attendant serves every two cars. See 360° photo.
The Man in Seat 61 says, "I had a 4-seat business class compartment to myself on what was otherwise a very busy train. Staff were friendly and regularly popped their head around the door to ask if I needed anything from the menu. The complimentary Illy coffee was of course excellent (I'm a fan of Illy coffee) as was the complimentary Czech sparkling wine. Lunch was a tasty sushi set for a mere 3. Sushi on a train, who thought of that? Genius! A great journey, I can easily recommend RegioJet!"
A RegioJet train at Vienna Hbf.
Standard class Astra car. Larger photo. 360° photo.
RegioJet train at Prague Hlavni.
Option 3, by sleeper train Metropol
-
The safe & comfortable sleeper train Metropol links Prague with Bratislava & Budapest in both directions, a time-effective option.
-
The train has a comfortable air-conditioned Czech Railways sleeping-car with 1, 2 or 3-bed compartments with washbasin.
From early April until early September train also has one or occasionally two Czech couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments.
The Metropol also has ordinary seats cars which are fine for the evening Budapest-Bratislava or morning Bratislava-Budapest trip but not recommended for an overnight trip to or from Prague, always pay for a sleeper or couchette.
-
Sleeping berths are sold individually, so you don't have to pay for sole occupancy if you're travelling solo. It's much cheaper to book one bed in a 2 or 3-bed sleeper and share with other civilised sleeper passengers of the same sex. General information about travel in a sleeper or couchette.
What's the sleeping-car like?
The Prague-Budapest night train has one (or at peak periods, two) comfortable Czech sleeping-cars, see the photos below. Car 363 runs all year, car 362 is additional at peak periods. Each air-conditioned sleeping-car has 10 compartments with washbasin, each of which can be sold as a single-berth, 2-berth or 3-berth. There are two toilets at the end of the corridor. All compartments have a security deadlock, and each compartment has a power socket for laptops & mobiles. Bottled water, soap & towels are provided, and there's free WiFi. A light breakfast with tea or coffee is included in the fare. In 2022, beautifully refurbished sleeping-cars like the one shown below were deployed on this route, these cars have a shower compartment at one end of the corridor.
The Czech sleeping-car from Budapest to Prague, boarding at Budapest Nyugati on a summer evening.
What's the couchette car like?
From early April until early September the train also has one (or occasionally two) comfortable Czech couchette cars with 9 compartments, each of which can be used as 4-berth or 6-berth. Clean sheets and a pillow are provided, the doors have a normal lock and security lock or chain. Toilets and washrooms at the end of the corridor. Couchette compartments are not segregated by gender, as you do not normally get fully undressed. See generic couchette car numbering plan. See larger couchette photo.
How much does it cost?
-
Advance-purchase First Minute fares from Prague to Budapest start at around 39 including a couchette, 49 including a bed in a 3-bed sleeper, 69 including a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or 80 in a single-bed sleeper.
These prices are only available direct from Czech Railways, booked online as explained below. Overseas agencies & websites such as Raileurope or Thetrainline can't access these cheap fares.
-
If you buy at the station on the day you need to buy a full-price travel ticket for around 55 plus around 10 berth supplement for a couchette in a 6-berth compartment, 15 for a couchette in a 4-berth compartment or 22 for a bed in a 2-bed sleeper. A bed in a single-bed sleeper requires a 1st class ticket for around 82 plus a 51 single-bed sleeper supplement.
How to buy sleeper tickets
-
Buy tickets in either direction at the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz and print your own ticket, see tips & advice for using cd.cz.
Booking usually opens 60 days ahead, less than this for dates immediately after the mid-June & mid-December timetable changes. There is no need to book further ahead that this. You can usually get the cheapest fares even booking just weeks ahead and can find places even on the day.
Go to www.cd.cz, select the UK flag top right for English and book between Prague hl.n. & Budapest in the direction you want.
Find the overnight EN (EuroNight) train shown as without transfers (EN) in the search results, click on Price in the next step.
It'll say Price in next step, click that. You should now see a 2nd class ticket price. Click Continue.
Tip: If you don't see a green Price in next step button, only Check price - By email, booking isn't open yet. Just WAIT!!!!
Now the important bit. Click modify against Free reservations and change Seat automatically to a couchette or sleeper. Then click the edit pencil symbol to change the type of sleeper from 3-berth to double or single, or the type of couchette from 6-berth to 4-berth.
You can check the berth numbers before you pay. If you book 2 beds in a double sleeper then yes, you'll get one whole 2-berth compartment to yourselves. See the sleeper berth numbering plan here or couchette berth numbering plan here this will reassure you that you are all booked in the same compartment in spite of the non-sequential numbers!
If you book this way you get a ticket with reservation included, which you print out and which is all you need to board the train. Don't forget the system only needs one name to support one ticket, even if that ticket is for 2 or more people. Got that? Good!
-
Important booking tip if this sleeper train doesn't appear with a Price in the next step button
You might find that this sleeper train shows up in the search results without a Price in the next step button, or that Price in the next step appears, but seat reservation cannot then be changed to couchette or sleeper.
This is because www.cd.cz only sells special cheap advance-purchase fares for this train, it cannot sell regular full-price tickets. Sometimes the cheap fares for couchettes and sleepers on this route sell out or are simply not offered in the first place if the railways think they can sell them at full-price without the need to discount. Don't worry, here's the workaround.
In the search results, change Purchase a ticket to Purchase reservations only. Then click modify against seat reservation and change it to a couchette or sleeper and click the pencil symbol to change the type of sleeper from 3-berth to double or single, or the type of couchette from 6-berth to 4-berth. You are now making a reservation-only booking, paying the relevant couchette or sleeper supplement to safely book yourself on the train, with the necessary sleeper or couchette reservation but without the necessary travel ticket to go with it. However, this is no big deal as you can easily buy a ticket for around 61 at the station any time before departure, these full-price tickets have unlimited availability and cannot sell out.
-
In the Budapest to Prague direction you can also book this train at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu. By all means compare prices on cd.cz and mavcsoport.hu, it's quite possible one will be cheaper than the other for this same train!
Travel tips
-
Seat, couchette or sleeper?
Couchettes are cheap & comfortable enough, but a bed in the sleeper is a lot more comfortable for not a lot more money, so go for a sleeper. Never sit up all night in a seat, it's neither comfortable nor particularly secure, always book a safe & comfortable couchette or sleeper.
-
Is the overnight train safe?
Yes. In a sleeper or couchette it's both comfortable and safe for families, solo females, or anyone. Look at the sleeper corridor above and see how quiet and civilised it is. Compartments in the sleeping-car have a security deadbolt which can only be locked and unlocked from inside. Couchette compartments have a normal lock (which can be opened from outside with a staff key) and a security lock or chain which can't be unlocked from outside - just make sure you use that bolt or chain as well as the normal lock, plus the same common sense you'd use in any hotel room. In couchettes I usually put my daypack with any valuables by my pillow. An attendant is on duty in the sleeping-car and couchette car throughout the journey. Sharing isn't a problem, if you don't want to pay for a whole compartment to yourself. You'll share with other passengers just like you, often fellow tourist or Interrailers or Eurailers. Sleeper compartments are single-sex when not booked in their entirety by people travelling together. Couchettes are mixed sex as you don't normally get fully undressed.
-
How to check the train formation
You can see exactly which types of sleeper & couchette car are used on the Metropol to which destinations and in what order, using www.vagonweb.cz - select en for English, then click Train formations, then select EN next to Czech Republic then look for the Metropol.
-
Luggage
You take your luggage with you into your sleeper or couchette compartment and simply stick it on the luggage racks above the window, over the door to the corridor, or on the floor. Nobody weighs it, measures it, or worries about how much you take. More about luggage on European trains.
-
Power & WiFi
There should now be free WiFi in the Czech sleeping-cars, but probably not in the couchette car. Comfortline sleeper compartments have a power socket for laptops & mobiles, standard European 230v 2-pin type. It's located beneath the pillow end of the bed. Mobile data reception should work fine for most of the journey.
-
Food & drink
The sleeper attendant can serve a limited selection of food and drink in your compartment from a room service menu including tea, coffee, snacks, wine & beer. In the morning, the sleeper fare includes tea or coffee plus a simple breakfast box with rolls or bread, butter, jam & orange juice. You are of course free to bring your own supplies with you, including snacks for a midnight feast and perhaps a bottle of wine. I recommend having dinner before you board.
-
Dinner before you board?
In Prague, consider the remarkable Restaurant Zvonice (www.restaurantzvonice.cz), on the 7th & 8th floors of a historic gate-tower housing a bell that dates from 1518. It's a 5 minute 450m walk from the station, see a walking map. Don't worry, there's a lift! It's usually open until midnight so ideal if you're catching a sleeper. Expensive by Czech standards, but not by western standards, food & wine are great. Feedback appreciated.
-
Map of Prague showing station - Map of Budapest showing station - Luggage lockers in Budapest & Prague.
Video: Bratislava to Budapest by train