 Safe & comfortable sleeper trains run from Krakow to Prague, Budapest & Vienna... |
This page explains how to travel by train from Krakow to other key European cities, and how to buy the cheapest fares, usually direct from the relevant operator with print-your-own tickets.
Before you buy your
tickets...
I recommend taking a moment to read these important tips for buying European train tickets. It answers all the usual questions, such as "Do I need to book in advance or can I just turn up & buy at the station?", "Can I stop off?", "Are there Senior fares?" and that old favourite, "Should I buy an $800 railpass or just go online & buy a 35 point-to-point ticket?". And most important, click here to understand how far ahead you can buy train tickets.
European train travel
FAQ...
Krakow to Warsaw & other destinations in Poland...
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You can book Polish domestic trains such as Krakow to Warsaw at www.intercity.pl. You print your own ticket.
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The English button is top right, and you may need to use the Polish spellings of cities such as Krakow and Warszawa. You pay online with a credit card and print out your own ticket. A number of seat 61 correspondents have successfully booked this way.
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The best trains are the EIP (Express InterCity Premium) used mainly on the Gydnia - Warsaw - Krakow route, these are new bullet-nosed high-speed pendolino trains. EIC (Express InterCity) and IC (InterCity) trains are the next best trains, with modern air-conditioned carriages hauled by a separate locomotive. TLK trains - Twoje Linie Kolejowe - are ordinary express trains usually using older carriages. Seat reservation is compulsory on all EIP, EIC, IC & TLK trains, this comes included in the ticket.
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Alternatively, you can arrange Polish train tickets through highly-recommended Polish train ticketing agency www.polrail.com who can arrange train tickets for travel within Poland, or for international trains starting in Poland, for example Warsaw to Moscow, or Krakow to Prague.
Krakow to Oswiecim (Auschwitz)
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Local trains run from Krakow Glowny to Oswiecim every hour or two taking 1h40 or so, fare around 16 zlotys (3.60) each way.
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Use www.bahn.de (easiest) or use Polish Railways regional site http://rozklad-pkp.pl to check train times - on http://rozklad-pkp.pl you can also check fares.
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No reservation is necessary or possible for these local trains, you can just turn up, buy a ticket and hop on. They cannot sell out. Easy!
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In Oswiecim, Auschwitz I is an ex-Polish army barracks in the town itself about 10 minutes walk from the station - turn right outside the station then steer left.
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Auschwitz-Birkenau II was a purpose-built concentration camp outside the town, about 30 minutes walk from the station - turn right, then turn right again at the first major road bridge across the railway.
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There are also regular buses between Krakow and Oswiecim, www.pksoswiecim.pl/strona.php?grupa=9.
EIP trains: Krakow to Warsaw in 2h19 at up to 200km/h (125 mph)...
Introduced in 2014, these are the very best trains on the Polish network are modern bullet-nosed pendolinos like this. They operate on the Krakow-Warsaw-Gdynia route at up to 125mph, with faster operation planned in the future. Reservation is compulsory and they have a bar-bistro car - for more photos see www.vagonweb.cz/fotogalerie/PL/PKP_ED250.php. Above right, 2nd class seats. Buy tickets at www.intercity.pl.
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An EIP train... Photos courtesy of www.vagonweb.cz |
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2nd class seats... |
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Clean & electric EIP train... |
Bar car... |
1st class table for two... |
EIC & IC trains...
EIC & IC trains are the next rank down, with modern air-conditioned carriages and usually a bistro-bar. Below right, a first class compartment. Some seats are open-plan, some in compartments like this. Below EIC & IC, the next rank is TLK which are slower and use older non-air-conditioned cars.
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Krakow to London...
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See the London to Poland page for train times, fares and how to buy tickets.
Krakow to Paris or Brussels...
By day trains with overnight stop in Berlin...
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Step 1, travel from Krakow to Berlin by day via Warsaw as explained above.
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Stay overnight in Berlin, the 3-star Meininger Hotel is ideal as it's right next to Berlin Hauptbahnhof and a 10-minute walk from the Reichstag or a 15-minute walk from the Brandenburg Gate, it's inexpensive and gets good reviews. If you want to push the boat out, try the famous Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin is right next to the Brandenburg Gate, 15 min walk from the station. More hotels in Berlin. If you're on a tight budget, see www.hostelworld.com.
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Step 2, travel from Berlin to Paris by high-speed train from 39 as explained here, or from Berlin to Brussels or Bruges as explained here.
Krakow to Amsterdam, Dόsseldorf & Cologne...
By day trains with overnight stop in Berlin...
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Step 1, travel from Krakow to Berlin by day via Warsaw as explained above.
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Stay overnight in Berlin, the 3-star Meininger Hotel is ideal as it's right next to Berlin Hauptbahnhof and a 10-minute walk from the Reichstag or a 15-minute walk from the Brandenburg Gate, it's inexpensive and gets good reviews. If you want to push the boat out, try the famous Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin is right next to the Brandenburg Gate, 15 min walk from the station. More hotels in Berlin. If you're on a tight budget, see www.hostelworld.com.
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Step 2, travel from Berlin to Amsterdam, Cologne or Dusseldorf as explained here.
Krakow to Zurich & Switzerland...
Option 1, by sleeper then day train...
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Step 1, take the overnight sleeper train leaving Krakow at 22:02 and arriving Vienna Hbf around 06:55 as shown below. You can book this through agency www.polrail.com. It has safe & comfortable sleeping-car and couchettes.
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Step 2, allowing at least an hour to change in Vienna, take a smart Austrian Railjet train from Vienna to Zurich in 7h44 from 29 in 2nd class, 44 in 1st class and 59 in Business Class booked at Austrian Railways www.oebb.at. You print your own ticket. You'll usually find a Railjet leaving Vienna Hbf at 09:30 arriving Zurich HB at around 17:20. Change in Zurich for all other destinations in Switzerland.
This is a relaxing and scenic journey through the wonderful Arlberg Pass on a train with a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats and free WiFi, see the Arlberg Pass scenery video here.
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Step 1, Krakow to Vienna by safe & comfortable sleeper... |
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Step 2. Vienna-Zurich by Railjet, ΦBB's (Austrian Railways) premier trains... More photos, video & information about Railjets. |
Economy class on RailJet, in open saloons with picture windows. Some seats around tables, most unidirectional. |
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Railjet first class, with black leather seats... |
Business class... |
Bistro-restaurant car... |
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The mountains of Austria... |
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In the Arlberg pass itself, the railway hugs the valley side, past fir forests and meadows... |
In Railjet first & business class, the stewardess takes your order & serves lunch at your seat... |
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The Railjet clips a corner of Lichtenstein, passing non-stop through the little station of Schaan-Lichtenstein. Once in Switzerland, the Railjet runs alongside the Zόrichsee, then along the Walensee... |
Option 2, by day train then sleeper...
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Step 1, travel from Krakow to Vienna, leaving Krakow around 13:00 by local train to Katowice to connect with a smart comfortable EuroCity train with restaurant car to Vienna Hbf arriving around 19:50. Check times and book this journey through reliable agency www.polrail.com.
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Step 2, travel from Vienna to Zurich by direct sleeper train Wiener Walzer, leaving Vienna Hbf at 21:25 and arriving Zurich at 08:20 next morning. Fares from 59 with a couchette or 99 with a bed in a cosy 2-bed sleeper or 129 in a single bed sleeper. Deluxe sleepers with en suite shower & toilet are also available. Breakfast is included in the sleepers, served in your compartment. You can book from Vienna to anywhere in Switzerland via this train at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at. You print your own ticket.
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The Vienna-Zurich train has double-deck sleeping-cars. |
2-berth sleeper. |
4-berth couchettes. |
Option 3, by daytime trains with overnight stop...
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Day 1, travel from Krakow to Vienna, leaving Krakow around 13:00 by local train to Katowice to connect with a smart comfortable EuroCity train with restaurant car to Vienna Hbf arriving around 19:50. Check times and book this journey through reliable agency www.polrail.com.
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Stay overnight in Vienna. Hotels near the station with good or great reviews include the Motel One Vienna Hbf, GraetzlHotel, Hotel Schani Wien.
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Day 2, take a smart Austrian Railjet train from Vienna to Zurich in 7h44 from 29. You'll usually find a Railjet leaving Vienna Hbf at 09:40 arriving Zurich HB at around 17:20. Change in Zurich for all other destinations in Switzerland. This is a relaxing and scenic journey through the Arlberg Pass, see the Arlberg Pass scenery video here. You can book from Vienna through to almost any station in Switzerland at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at. You print your own ticket.
Krakow to Venice, Florence, Rome & Italy
Option 1, by day train to Vienna then sleeper to Venice, Milan, Florence or Rome - the most time-effective option...
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Step 1, travel from Krakow to Vienna. If going to Milan, Florence or Rome, leave Krakow around 06:16 by IC train to Katowice to connect with a smart comfortable EuroCity train with restaurant car to Vienna Hbf arriving around 13:51. If going to Venice, leave Krakow around 13:00 by local train to Katowice to connect with a smart comfortable EuroCity train with restaurant car to Vienna Hbf arriving around 19:50. Check times and book this journey through reliable agency www.polrail.com.
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Step 2 for Milan, Florence or Rome, take the excellent Nightjet sleeper train leaving Vienna Hbf at 19:23 and arriving Milan Centrale at 09:10, Florence SMN at 06:19 and Rome Termini at 09:22. Fares from 59 with a couchette in 6-berth, 69 with a couchette in 4-berth, 99 with a bed in a cosy 2-bed sleeper or 139 with a bed in a single bed sleeper. Deluxe sleepers with shower & toilet are also available. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment.
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Step 2 for Venice, take the excellent EuroNight sleeper leaving Vienna Hbf at 21:27 and arriving Venice Santa Lucia at 08:24 next morning. Fares from 59 with a couchette in 6-berth, 69 with a couchette in 4-berth, 99 with a bed in a cosy 2-bed sleeper or 139 with a bed in a single bed sleeper. Deluxe sleepers with shower & toilet are also available. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment.
Option 2, by sleeper trains with day in Vienna...
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Step 1, take the EuroNight sleeper train leaving Krakow around 22:02 arriving Vienna Hbf around 06:55 as shown above. You can book this through agency www.polrail.com. It has safe & comfortable sleeping-car and couchettes.
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Spend the day in Vienna. Left luggage is available.
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Step 2, take the Nightjet sleeper train leaving Vienna Hbf at 19:23 to Florence SMN (arriving 06:19) and Rome Termini (arriving 09:22) with a portion to Milan Centrale (arriving 09:10), or the other Nightjet sleeper train leaving Vienna Hbf at 21:27 and arriving Venice Santa Lucia at 08:24, as shown on the trains from Vienna to Italy section. You can book this train at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at and print your own ticket.
Option 3, by day trains with overnight stop in Vienna...
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Step 1, travel from Krakow to Vienna, leaving Krakow around 13:00 by local train to Katowice to connect with a smart comfortable EuroCity train with restaurant car to Vienna Hbf arriving around 19:50. Check times and book this journey through reliable agency www.polrail.com. Or take an earlier train to have an afternoon in Vienna.
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Stay overnight in Vienna
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Hotels near the station with good or great reviews include the
Motel One Vienna Hbf,
GraetzlHotel,
Hotel Schani Wien.
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Step 2, travel from Vienna to Venice by EuroCity train through the wonderfully scenic Semmering route, leaving Vienna Hbf around 06:25 and arriving Venice Santa Lucia around 14:05. Fares from 29 booked at Austrian Railways www.oebb.at.
Krakow to Barcelona & Spain...
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Day 1, take an early EIP train from Krakow to Warsaw Centralna, leaving around 06:30, fare in region of 25 booked at Polish Railways www.intercity.pl. You print your own ticket. I'd allow at least 45 minutes in Warsaw between trains, just in case of delay.
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Day 1, now travel from Warsaw to Cologne on the 10:00 Berlin-Warszawa Express & onward Intercity train, arriving Cologne Hbf around 21:15.
Book from Warsaw to Cologne from 39 in 2nd class or 69 in 1st class at the German Railways website www.bahn.de. In this case, tickets are sent by post to anywhere worldwide for a small fee. Allow a week or two for them to arrive.
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Stay overnight in Cologne. Starting with the cheapest, hotels near to Cologne Hauptbahnhof with good reviews include the Breslauer Hof Am Dom, Hotel Domspitzen, CityClass Hotel Europa am Dom, Hilton Cologne, Excelsior Hotel Ernst am Dom.
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Day 2, travel from Cologne to Barcelona, taking the 08:44 Thalys high-speed train to Paris Nord, changing stations by taxi or metro, then taking the 14:07 TGV Duplex from Paris Gare de Lyon to Barcelona Sants arriving 20:34. How about lunch at the amazing Train Bleu restaurant at the Gare de Lyon between trains?
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Stay overnight in Barcelona
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see
suggested hotels near the station.
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Day 3, take an onward high-speed train from Barcelona to Madrid, Seville, Malaga, Valencia, Alicante and so on, booked at www.loco2.com (in or £, very easy to use), www.petrabax.com/renfe (in $, with a small mark-up, easy to use) or Spanish Railways' own site www.renfe.com (in , fiddly to use). You'll find cheap Promo and Promo+ fares if you book in advance and print your own ticket.
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Krakow to Lisbon & Portugal...
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Step 1, travel from Krakow to Barcelona in 2 days with an overnight stop in Cologne, as shown above.
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Step 2, travel from Barcelona to Madrid in 2h40 by AVE high-speed train then from Madrid to Lisbon by overnight trainhotel Lusitania as shown in detail on the Trains from Barcelona page.
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Change in Lisbon for trains to Porto or Faro & the Algarve, booked separately at www.cp.pt.
Krakow to Copenhagen, Gothenburg, Stockholm & Scandinavia...
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Step 1, travel from Krakow to Berlin by day via Warsaw or by sleeper via Poznan as explained above.
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If you travel by day, stay overnight in Berlin. The 3-star Meininger Hotel is ideal as it's right next to Berlin Hauptbahnhof and a 10-minute walk from the Reichstag or a 15-minute walk from the Brandenburg Gate, it's inexpensive and gets good reviews. If you want to push the boat out, try the famous Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin is right next to the Brandenburg Gate, 15 min walk from the station. More hotels in Berlin. If you're on a tight budget, see www.hostelworld.com.
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Step 2, travel from Berlin to Copenhagen by high-speed train from 39 in 2nd class or 69 in 1st class as explained here, from Berlin to Gothenburg or Stockholm as explained here, from Berlin to Oslo as explained here, or from Berlin to Helsinki as explained here.
Krakow to Berlin, Frankfurt, Hamburg & Germany from 39...
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Busse? Nein Danke!Book a train from 39 |
Option 1, by daytime trains via Warsaw from 39...
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Due to major track rebuilding work, there is no longer a direct Krakow to Berlin train. German railways have laid on a bus, but the nightmare of 8 hours in a bus is to be avoided. Instead, you can travel via Warsaw by comfortable modern train as follows:
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Step 1, take a fast InterCity Express (EIC) or bullet-nosed InterCity Express Premium (EIP) or older TLK train from Krakow to Warsaw in as little as 2h19.
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Step 2, now take an excellent Berlin-Warszawa Express with bistro car from Warsaw Centralna to Berlin in just 5h40 (a bit longer in this current timetable period). I recommend allowing at least 30 minutes in Warsaw between trains in case of any delay.
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You can usually buy a ticket from Krakow to Berlin at the German Railways website www.bahn.de covering both trains from as little as 39.
However, to see this route you need to click Add intermediate stops and enter Warsaw to force it to find these cheap fares via Warsaw by train not bus.
I have set up this link with the necessary parameters, just enter your date of travel & passenger details.
Why not stop off for a few hours in Warsaw? Perhaps have lunch in the old town between trains... Simply click Add intermediate stops and enter the number of hours you want in the hh:mm box. The Palace of Culture is just across the road from Warsaw Centralna station, and Warsaw's old town square is just 20 minutes walk away. For lunch, I heartily recommend the U Fukiera restaurant on the inner square, www.ufukiera.pl.
If you don't see any cheap fares from Krakow to Berlin for any reason, assuming it's within 60 days of travel, simply book from Warsaw to Berlin at www.bahn.de from 39, allow at least 45 minutes in Warsaw between trains, then add a Krakow to Warsaw ticket separately for around 25 at Polish Railways www.intercity.pl.
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Change in Berlin for Hamburg or Frankfurt - you can book from Krakow to anywhere in Germany as one transaction at www.bahn.de. If you'd like an overnight stop in Berlin, simply click Add intermediate stops and enter Berlin with perhaps 9 or 10 hours stopover duration as a second stop.
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Step 1, by EIP train Krakow to Warsaw. Courtesy of www.vagonweb.cz |
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2nd class seats on a bullet-nosed EIP... |
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EIP train... |
The on board cafe-bar... |
1st class... |
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Step 2, by Berlin-Warszawa Express from Warsaw to Berlin with air-conditioned 1st & 2nd class coaches, most with compartments and side corridor like this, others with open-plan seating. |
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Option 2, by overnight sleeper train via Poznan - cheap, safe, comfortable, convenient & time-effective!
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Step 1, travel overnight by sleeper train leaving Krakow around 22:19 and arriving Poznan at 05:47 next morning. You can book this train using the Polish railways website www.intercity.pl. The basic fare is around 60 zlotys (15) plus 33 zlotys (8) for a couchette or 141 zlotys (33) for a bed in a 2-bed sleeper). Have breakfast in Poznan...
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Step 2, travel from Poznan to Berlin by Berlin-Warszawa Express, leaving Poznan at 08:31 and arriving at Berlin Hbf at 11:43. By all means see something of Poznan's pleasant old town and take a later train to Berlin leaving at 10:32, 12:33 or 17:29. Fares from 19 pre-booked at www.bahn.de.
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Change in Berlin for Hamburg or Frankfurt - you can book Poznan to anywhere in Germany as one transaction at www.bahn.de.
Option 3, by overnight sleeper train via Stettin - a variation on option 2 above...
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Step 1, travel overnight by sleeper train leaving Krakow around 22:37 and arriving Szczecin Glowny at 08:45 next morning. You can book this train using the Polish railways website www.intercity.pl. The basic fare is 62 zlotys (15) plus 33 zlotys (8) for a couchette or 141 zlotys (33) for a bed in a 2-bed sleeper).
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Step 2, travel from Stettin (Szczecin) to Berlin by regional train, leaving Stettin Glowny at 10:15, making a quick change at Angermόnde to arrive Berlin Hbf at 12:20. By all means see something of Stettin and take a later train. The fare is around 34, even bought at the station on the day. You can check times using www.bahn.de.
Krakow to Vienna, Salzburg & Austria, 81 in couchettes, 107 in a 2-bed sleeper...
Option 1, by direct sleeper train.
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A direct sleeper train leaves Krakow every night at 22:02 and arrives Vienna Hbf at 07:05. It has a sleeping-car all year round, and also a couchette car from 11 March to 1 November 2016 plus a few other dates. In the sleeping-car or couchettes this train is a very comfortable, safe and time-effective option. What's the Krakow to Vienna 1, 2 or 3 bed sleeping-car like? To book, either buy at the station (there are usually places available even on the day) or pre-book through reliable Polish agency www.polrail.com (their booking system is at http://booking.polrail.com). Bought at the station, full-price fares per person per bed are:
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81 in 6-berth couchettes, 88 in 4-berth couchettes, 94 in a 3-bed sleeper, 107 in a 2-bed sleeper, 196 in a single-bed sleeper.
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Cheap SparNight fares are available in limited numbers from 39 in couchettes and 69 in a 2-bed sleeper, but must be booked more than 3 days before departure, preferably more. However, in this direction they cannot be booked online, only at the station.
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If you're interested, you can check the train formations at www.vagonweb.cz. Click the UK flag then composition then look under Poland and TLK - the trains is called the Silesia.
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Change in Vienna for fast Railjet trans to Salzburg, Graz, Innsbruck. Book this at Austrian Railways www.oebb.at and print your own ticket.
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Travel tip: In Krakow, look on the departure boards for a train shown as going to Bohumin, as that's where the various portions of this night train for Vienna, Budapest & Prague split up.
Option 2, by daytime EuroCity train.
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You can also travel by daytime EuroCity trains with one easy change at Katowice.
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For example, Krakow depart 06:58, change Katowice, Vienna Hbf arrive 14:26. Or Krakow depart 13:15, change Katowice, Vienna Hbf arrive 20:26. You can check current times at www.bahn.de/en.
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PKP Polish Railways don't offer international online booking, but you can easily arrange tickets through reliable Polish ticketing agency www.polrail.com for 350 zlotys (around 83). Cheap advance-purchase fares exist on this route, but can't be booked online, you'll have to ask Polrail if they can book one.
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If you're interested, you can check the train formations at www.vagonweb.cz. Click the UK flag then composition then look under Poland and EC.
Krakow to Prague for 363 zlotys (87) in couchettes, 419 Zlotys (100) in a 2-bed sleeper...
Option 1, by direct sleeper train, see the Krakow to Prague sleeper train page...
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There is a safe, comfortable & convenient sleeper train from Krakow to Prague, leaving Krakow every night at 22:02 and arriving at Prague Hlavni station around 07:22 next morning. In the comfort of a sleeper this is a time-effective and recommended option, see the Krakow to Prague sleeper train page. Some sleeper compartments now even feature an en suite toilet & shower.
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A sleeper of the type now used on the Prague to Krakow route, with 9 standard compartments with washbasin and 3 deluxe compartments with en suite toilet & shower, see here for details...... |
Option 2, Krakow to Prague by new direct daytime train Cracovia, runs 14 April to 1 October 2017...
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A new direct Krakow-Prague daytime train called the Cracovia will run from 14 April to 1 October 2017, leaving Krakow Glowny every day at 10:42 or Oswiecim (Auschwitz) at 12:04, arriving Prague Hlavni at 17:39.
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Fare 54 full-price, although limited-availability advance-purchase fares of 19 or 29 may be available.
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It will have comfortable carriages with power sockets, refreshments available on board but by all means take your own picnic and wine or beer.
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There's no online booking for this route, so buy tickets through reliable Polish ticketing agency www.polrail.com.
Option 3, by daytime trains with one easy change at Katowice...
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There are no direct daytime trains, but you can travel by train in the daytime by taking a Polish domestic train to Katowice, then picking up a fast modern EuroCity train with restaurant car to Prague.
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The easiest way to check for daytime trains is using this special link to bahn.de/en. In the search results, look for options with just 1 change of train, ignore journeys with 2 changes. You'll usually find one very early departure around 05:15 arriving around 13:40, and an afternoon departure around 13:00 arriving around 21:40.
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There's no online booking for this route, so buy tickets through reliable Polish ticketing agency www.polrail.com - their online ordering system may or may not show all the train options. If you use their online system, look critically at the search results and avoid anything marked 'bus', including LEbus. As I write this, they are showing the 05:15 all-train option, but not the afternoon one, so you'd need to email them for this, rather than rely on their online system.
Krakow to Budapest & Bratislava, 92 in couchettes, 103 in a 2-bed sleeper...
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There is a direct sleeper train from Krakow (depart 22:02) to Bratislava (arrive 05:36) & Budapest Keleti (arrive 08:35), with a sleeping-car & couchettes. In the sleeping-car or couchettes this train is a very comfortable, safe and time-effective option. What's the Krakow to Budapest 1, 2 or 3 bed sleeping-car like? To book, either buy at the station (there's almost always places available) or pre-book through reliable Polish agency www.polrail.com (their booking system is at http://booking.polrail.com).
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Bought at the station, full-price fares per person per bed are 92 in 6-berth couchettes, 96 in 4-berth couchettes, 96 in a 3-bed sleeper, 103 in a 2-bed sleeper, 173 in a single-bed sleeper.
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Cheap SparNight fares are available in very limited numbers (as few as one sleeper berth per train!) from 39 in couchettes and 74 in a 2-bed sleeper, but must be booked more than 3 days before departure, preferably more. However, in this direction they cannot be booked online, only at the station.
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If you're interested, you can check the train formations at www.vagonweb.cz. Click the UK flag then composition then look under Poland and TLK - the trains is called the Silesia.
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Travel tip: In Krakow, look on the departure boards for a train shown as going to Bohumin, as that's where the various portions of this night train for Vienna, Budapest & Prague split up.
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The Krakow to Budapest & Krakow to Vienna trains have smartly-refurbish Polish sleeping-cars like this, with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin... |
Cosy 2-bed sleeper with washbasin... |
Krakow to Ljubljana & Zagreb...
Option 1, via Vienna...
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Step 1, travel from Krakow to Vienna by direct sleeper train or by daytime train as shown above.
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Step 2, travel from Vienna to Ljubljana or Zagreb by direct EuroCity train as shown on the Trains from Vienna page, booked at Austrian Railways www.oebb.at with tickets collected from the Austrian Railways machines in Vienna. Make sure you allow at least an hour between trains in Vienna just in case of any delay.
Option 2, via Budapest...
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Step 1, travel from Krakow to Budapest by direct sleeper train as shown above.
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Step 2, travel from Budapest to Ljubljana or Zagreb by direct EuroCity train as shown on the Trains from Budapest page, booked at Hungarian Railways www.mavcsoport.hu with tickets collected from the Hungarian Railways machines in Budapest. Make sure you allow at least an hour between trains in Budapest just in case of any delay.
Krakow to Belgrade, Sofia & Montenegro...
Option 1, by sleeper then day train...
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Step 1, take the overnight sleeper from Krakow to Budapest as explained above, booked through www.polrail.com.
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Step 2, take the 12:05 EuroCity train Avala from Budapest to Belgrade booked at www.mavcsoport.hu for 15 as explained on the Trains from Budapest page.
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Step 3, if you're heading for Sofia spend the night in Belgrade - I recommend the historic Hotel Moskva - then take the daytime train to Sofia next day, leaving Belgrade station at 09:25 and arriving Sofia Central Station at 20:10. Buy this ticket at the station for around 30, there are always places available, even on the day. It cannot be booked online, and there's no need. 2nd class seats only. There's no catering car so bring your own picnic and wine or beer.
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Step 3 for Montenegro, stay overnight in Belgrade and take the daytime train or sleeper train to Podgorica or Bar next day, see the Belgrade to Bar page.
Krakow to Kaunas, Vilnius & Lithuania...
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Step 1, take a train from Krakow to Warsaw in 2h19 as shown above.
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Step 2, take comfortable trains from Warsaw to Kaunas & Vilnius as explained on the Warsaw to Vilnius page.
Krakow to Lviv & Kiev...
Option 1, by direct sleeper train from Krakow to Lviv - a comfortable & time-effective option...
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There is a comfortable daily sleeper train from Krakow to Lviv (or in Russian Lvov), leaving Krakow around 22:05 and arriving Lviv at around 07:15 next morning. It has safe and comfortable 1, 2 and 3 bed sleeper compartments with washbasin. For Kiev, change in Lviv and buy a separate onward ticket. How to buy train tickets in Ukraine.
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You cannot book this train online, although www.intercity.pl may give fares and confirm train times. To book, contact highly-recommended Polish train ticketing agency www.polrail.com - their booking system is at http://booking.polrail.com. They can arrange train tickets for international trains starting in Poland.
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If you're interested, you can check the train formation at www.vagonweb.cz. Click the UK flag then 'composition' then look under 'Poland' and 'TLK' - the train is called the Lwow Express.
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The overnight train from Lviv to Krakow about to leave Lviv. Courtesy of James Galbraith. |
A safe & cosy 2-bed Polish sleeper on the Lviv-Krakow overnight train. Courtesy of James Galbraith. |
Option 2, new fast daytime train - comfortable and cheap...
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Step 1, travel from Krakow to Przemysl by Polish Intercity train, leaving Krakow at 09:44 and arriving Przemysl Glowny at 13:02 (times may vary). You can book this at the Polish Railways site www.intercity.pl and print your own ticket. The fare is as little as 9.
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Step 2, travel from Przemysl to Lviv & Kiev by fast air-conditioned Ukrainian train, leaving Przemysl Glowny at 14:26, arriving Lviv at 17:17 and Kiev at 22:33. This smart new train was introduced in December 2016, see the photos below.
The fare is just 7.10 to Lviv or 13.40 to Kiev including compulsory seat reservation.
This train cannot be booked online but can easily be ordered from reliable Polish agency www.polrail.com with collection at Krakow or Przemysl.
Update: It may now be possible to book the Przemysl to Lviv or Kiev train at Ukrainian Railways http://booking.uz.gov.ua/en with print at home tickets - if it works for you (or if it doesn't), do let me know.
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In the other direction, you leave Kiev at 06:45 or Lviv at 12:17, change at Przemysl, arriving Krakow at 17:54.
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The new express train from Przemysl to Lviv & Kiev, seen boarding at Przemysl. Photos courtesy of Nicholas Brooke. |
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Option 3, via Warsaw...
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Take a fast InterCity train from Krakow to Warsaw and pick up the overnight Kiev Express from Warsaw to Kiev, leaving Warsaw Centralna around 16:50 and arriving Kiev around 09:22 next morning. This train has Ukrainian 1, 2 & 3 bed sleepers with washbasin.
Krakow to Moscow...
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There is an overnight sleeper train called the Polonez from Warsaw to Moscow 3 times a week, leaving Warsaw around 15:50 and arriving Moscow around 11:00 next day - the arrival time can vary. It uses very smart modern air-conditioned 2 & 4 bed Russian sleeping-cars. You can easily catch an InterCity train from Krakow to Warsaw to pick it up.
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You can book the Warsaw to Moscow sleeper train through reliable Polish agency www.polrail.com (their booking system is at http://booking.polrail.com) then book a connecting Krakow-Warsaw ticket online at www.intercity.pl.
Krakow to Istanbul...
- Travel from Krakow to Budapest by overnight sleeper as explained above.
- In Budapest, pick up the journey to Istanbul explained in detail on the London to Istanbul page.
Hotels in Krakow & other cities
◄◄ Hotel search & price comparison. |
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www.hotelscombined.com checks all the main hotel booking sites at once to find the widest choice of hotels & the cheapest seller. It has been named as the World's Leading Hotel Comparison Site in the World Travel Awards and I highly recommend it, both to find hotels in even the smallest places and to check that another retailer isn't selling the same hotel at a cheaper rate. ►► My recommended booking site: www.booking.comwww.booking.com is my favourite hotel booking site, and unless HotelsCombined throws up major price differences I prefer doing my bookings in one place here. You can usually book with free cancellation - this allows you to confirm your accommodation at no risk before train booking opens. It also means you can hold accommodation while you finalise your itinerary, and alter your plans as they evolve - a great feature I use all the time when putting a trip together.
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Other hotel sites worth trying...
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www.tripadvisor.com is the place to find independent travellers' reviews of all the main hotels.
Backpacker hostels...
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www.hostelworld.com: If you're on a tight budget, don't forget about backpacker hostels. Hostelworld offers online booking of cheap private rooms or dorm beds in backpacker hostels in most cities at rock-bottom prices.
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