 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 tickets the cheapest way. Train information is current for 2020.
Before you buy your
tickets...
Take a moment to read these tips for buying European train tickets. It answers all the usual questions, "Do I need to book in advance or can I just buy at the station?", "Can I stop off?", "Are there Senior fares?" and that old favourite, "Should I buy an $800 railpass or just buy a 35 point-to-point ticket online?". 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 Gdynia - 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 20 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 25 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.
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...
Krakow to Paris...
Option 1, by sleeper to Berlin then daytime trains...
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Step 1, travel from Krakow to Berlin by sleeper train as explained below, from 39.90 upwards including a comfy bed in the sleeper. Just make sure you allow at least an hour between trains in Berlin. Book this sleeper at either German Railways www.bahn.de or Austrian Railways www.oebb.at and print your own ticket.
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Step 2, travel from Berlin to Paris by high-speed train from 39.90 as explained in the Berlin to Paris section here. Book this at www.bahn.de and print your own ticket.
Option 2, 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 or InterCity Hotel are ideal as they are right next to Berlin Hbf and a 10-minute walk from the Reichstag or a 15-minute walk from the Brandenburg Gate, relatively inexpensive and get good reviews. If you want to push the boat out, try the famous & historic Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin right next to the Brandenburg Gate. If you're on a tight budget, try the cheaper Motel One Berlin-Hauptbahnhof just behind the station or see www.hostelworld.com.
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Step 2, travel from Berlin to Paris by high-speed train from 39.90 as explained here.
Krakow to Brussels...
Option 1, by sleeper to Prague then day trains to Brussels - the cheapest option from 58...
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Step 1, take the sleeper train from Krakow to Prague, leaving Krakow Glowny at 22:42 and arriving Prague Hlavni at 07:56 next morning.
This train has a safe & comfortable air-conditioned sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed sleepers with washbasin, and a couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments. Morning tea or coffee is included in the fare in the sleepers. Have a full breakfast in Prague.
Fares start at 29 including a couchette in 6-berth, 39 with couchette in 4-berth, 39 with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper or 49 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or around 75 with a single-bed sleeper all to yourself.
Book this train online at www.oebb.at and print your own ticket. If you have any problems booking online, order from reliable Polish agency www.polrail.com and collect tickets in Krakow.
Alternatively, you could take the daytime train from Krakow to Prague Hlavni & stay overnight in Prague, see the Krakow-Prague timetable here.
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Step 2, travel from Prague to Brussels by train. You don't get much control over the trains or route, it involves 3 changes and takes a day, but it's true. You can go from central Prague to central Brussels in comfort by train for as little as 29.
Prague Hlavni depart 10:43, change Cheb, Nuremberg & Frankfurt arriving Brussels Midi at 21:35.
Simply use the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz to book from Prague to Brussel, but (and this is the important bit) you must click More options then click Travel via and put Cheb in the via box. You'll see fares from as little as 29 (about 757 Czech Koruna) via a route with 3 changes at Cheb, Nuremberg & Frankfurt. Or treat yourself to first class from 43, about 1096 Koruna. You print your own ticket.
There's nothing cut-rate about the trains: You travel on a swish air-conditioned regional train from Prague to Cheb and from Cheb to Nuremberg, then by top-quality high-speed ICE train from Nuremberg to Frankfurt and Frankfurt to Brussels, complete with bistro-restaurant cars and beer on tap, see the photos here.
Option 2, 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 or InterCity Hotel are ideal as they are right next to Berlin Hbf and a 10-minute walk from the Reichstag or a 15-minute walk from the Brandenburg Gate, relatively inexpensive and get good reviews. If you want to push the boat out, try the famous & historic Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin right next to the Brandenburg Gate. If you're on a tight budget, try the cheaper Motel One Berlin-Hauptbahnhof just behind the station or see www.hostelworld.com.
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Step 2, travel from Berlin to Brussels or Bruges as explained here.
Krakow to Amsterdam...
Option 1, by sleeper to Berlin then daytime trains...
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Step 1, travel from Krakow to Berlin by sleeper train as explained below, leaving Krakow at 00:06 and arriving Berlin Hbf at 09:48.
Fares start at from 39 including a comfy bed in the sleeper. Just make sure you allow at least an hour between trains in Berlin. Book this sleeper at either German Railways www.bahn.de or Austrian Railways www.oebb.at and print your own ticket.
Tip: To avoid having to stay up until 00:06 to board the sleeper in Krakow, why not book an early evening Intercity or TLK train from Krakow to Tarnow for a few euros at the Polish Railways website www.intercity.pl? Have dinner in Tarnow, then board the sleeper to Berlin in Tarnow at the more civilised hour of 22:16. Booking the sleeper from Tarnow rather than Krakow to Berlin makes no difference to the price. About the city of Tarnow.
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Step 2, travel from Berlin to Amsterdam by InterCity train leaving Berlin Hbf at 11:22 arriving Amsterdam Centraal at 19:00.
Fares start at 39.90 in 2nd class or 69.90 in 1st class.
Book at www.bahn.de and print your own ticket or load it into the DB Navigator app and show on your smartphone. By all means spend a few hours in Berlin and take a later train, see the Berlin to Amsterdam page for schedules and more information about these trains.
Option 2, 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 or InterCity Hotel are ideal as they are right next to Berlin Hbf and a 10-minute walk from the Reichstag or a 15-minute walk from the Brandenburg Gate, relatively inexpensive and get good reviews. If you want to push the boat out, try the famous & historic Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin right next to the Brandenburg Gate. If you're on a tight budget, try the cheaper Motel One Berlin-Hauptbahnhof just behind the station or 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, travel from Krakow to Vienna by EuroNight sleeper train leaving Krakow at 22:42 & arriving Vienna Hbf at 07:00.
Book this at www.trainline.eu (easy to use, accepts overseas payment cards no problem) or www.oebb.at Austrian Railways (a little more fiddly from 39 with couchette, 69 with a bed in a cosy 2-bed sleeper, or 119 in a single-bed sleeper all to yourself. See the Krakow to Vienna section for more details.
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Step 2, from Vienna to Zurich by smart Austrian railjet train leaving Vienna Hbf at 09:30 and arriving Zurich HB at 17:20.
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. Change in Zurich for all other destinations in Switzerland.
Fares start at 29 in 2nd class, 44 in 1st class and 59 in business class.
Book at www.trainline.eu (easiest to use, overseas payment cards no problem) or Austrian Railways' own site www.oebb.at (same prices, but more fiddly). You print your own ticket.
Step 1, Krakow to Vienna by comfortable sleeping-car...
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Standard sleeper in evening/morning mode with seats folded out. |
Standard sleeper set up as a 3-berth. It can also be sold as a single or double. |
Deluxe sleeper, set up as a double, showing TV & wardrobe. |
Deluxe sleeper: En suite shower & toilet... |
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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 a 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 Liechtenstein, passing non-stop through the little station of Schaan-Vaduz. 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, by comfortable EuroCity train, leaving Krakow at 13:07 and arriving Vienna Hbf at 19:49.
The train consists of comfortable Austrian coaches, some with compartments, some open plan. A restaurant car runs in the train between Bohumin and Vienna. Book this journey through reliable agency www.polrail.com, you collect tickets in Krakow.
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Step 2, travel from Vienna to Zurich by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 21:25 and arriving Zurich HB at 08:20 next morning.
Fares start at 49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, 59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, 69.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, 89.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or 139.90 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.
Book from Vienna to anywhere in Switzerland via this train at www.trainline.eu (easiest to use, overseas payment cards no problem) or Austrian Railways' own site www.oebb.at (same prices, but more fiddly). You print your own ticket.
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4-berth couchettes, ideal for families. |
2-berth standard sleeper with washbasin. |
Double-deck sleeping-car on the Nightjet from Vienna, arrived at Zurich. Courtesy DiscoverbyRail.com. |
Option 3, by daytime trains with overnight stop...
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Day 1, travel from Krakow to Vienna by direct EuroCity train, leaving Krakow Glowny at 13:07 arriving Vienna Hbf at 19:49.
Book through reliable agency www.polrail.com or buy at the station, you cannot book online.
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Stay overnight in Vienna. Hotels near the station with good or great reviews include the Motel One Vienna Hbf, Graetzl Hotel, Hotel Schani Wien.
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Day 2, take a smart Austrian railjet train from Vienna to Zurich in 7h50 from 29 in 2nd class, 44 in 1st class or 59 in business class. 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 Arlberg Pass, see the Arlberg Pass scenery video here. You can book from Vienna through to almost any station in Switzerland at www.trainline.eu (easiest to use, overseas payment cards no problem) or Austrian Railways' own site www.oebb.at (same prices, but more fiddly). You print your own ticket.
Krakow to Venice, Florence, Rome & Italy
Option 1, by afternoon train to Vienna and sleeper to Venice - a time-effective option...
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Step 1, travel from Krakow to Vienna by EuroCity train, leaving Krakow Glowny at 13:07 and arriving Vienna Hbf at 19:49. Book through reliable agency www.polrail.com or buy at the station, this train cannot be booked online.
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Step 2, travel from Vienna to Venice by excellent Austrian Nightjet train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 21:27 & arriving Venice Santa Lucia at 08:34.
Fares start at 49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, 59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, 69.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, 89.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or 139.90 in a single-bed sleeper. Deluxe sleepers with en suite shower & toilet are also available. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment, see the Nightjet information page.
Book at either www.trainline.eu (easiest) or the Austrian railways website www.oebb.at. You print your own ticket.
Tip: If you like, you can check the consist for these trains, check car numbers & see in what order cars for different destinations are marshalled using the excellent www.vagonweb.cz. Click en for English, click composition, then look under Austria & click nj.
Option 2, by sleeper to Vienna then scenic daytime train to Venice.
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Step 1, take the overnight sleeper train leaving Krakow at 22:42 and arriving Vienna Hbf at 07:00 as shown in the Krakow to Vienna section.
Book this at www.trainline.eu (easy to use, accepts overseas payment cards no problem) or www.oebb.at Austrian Railways (a little more fiddly) from 39 with couchette, 69 with a bed in a cosy 2-bed sleeper, or 119 in a single-bed sleeper all to yourself. See the Krakow to Vienna section for more details.
If you're interested, you can check the train formation at www.vagonweb.cz. Click for English then composition then look under Poland and TLK - the train is called the Chopin which leaves Warsaw cars for Vienna, Prague & Budapest.
You've time to have a look around Vienna. If you have a 1st class onward ticket you can use the ΦBB first class lounge at Vienna Hbf in the hour before your onward train, with complimentary tea, coffee & soft drinks.
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Step 2, travel from Vienna to Venice by swish modern railjet train leaving Vienna Hbf at 12:25 and arriving Venice Santa Lucia right on the banks of the Grand Canal in central Venice at 20:05.
The air-conditioned railjet train has a bistro-restaurant, free WiFi & power sockets at all seats. It takes the beautifully scenic UNESCO-listed Semmering route from Vienna to Graz, a real treat - see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semmering_railway. Treat yourself to lunch with wine as the mountains glide by. See the Vienna to Venice page for more photos, tips, and a video of the journey.
Fares start at 29 in 2nd class, 39 in 1st class or 54 in super-swish Business Class.
Book this train at www.trainline.eu (easiest to use, overseas payment cards no problem) or Austrian Railways' own site www.oebb.at (same prices, but more fiddly). You print your own ticket.
Option 3, by sleeper train, a free day in Vienna, then sleeper train...
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Step 1, take the overnight sleeper train leaving Krakow at 22:42 and arriving Vienna Hbf at 07:00 as shown in the Krakow to Vienna section.
Book this at www.trainline.eu (easy to use, accepts overseas payment cards no problem) or www.oebb.at Austrian Railways (a little more fiddly) from 39 with couchette, 69 with a bed in a cosy 2-bed sleeper, or 119 in a single-bed sleeper all to yourself. See the Krakow to Vienna section for more details.
If you're interested, you can check the train formation at www.vagonweb.cz. Click for English then composition then look under Poland and TLK - the train is called the Chopin which leaves Warsaw cars for Vienna, Prague & Budapest.
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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 and arriving Bologna Centrale 05:20, Florence SMN 06:19 & Rome Termini 09:2) with a portion to Milan Porta Garibaldi arriving 08:10, or the other Nightjet sleeper train leaving Vienna Hbf at 21:27 and arriving Venice Santa Lucia at 08:34, as shown on the trains from Vienna to Italy section.
Fares start at 49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, 59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, 69.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, 89.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or 139.90 in a single-bed sleeper all to yourself.
You can book the Nightjet train at www.trainline.eu (easiest to use, overseas payment cards no problem) or Austrian Railways' own site www.oebb.at (same prices, but more fiddly). You print your own ticket.
Option 4, by daytime trains with overnight stop in Vienna...
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Day 1, travel from Krakow to Vienna by EuroCity train, leaving Krakow Glowny at 13:07 and arriving Vienna Hbf at 19:49. Book through reliable agency www.polrail.com or buy at the station, this train cannot be booked online.
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Stay overnight in Vienna. Hotels near the station with good reviews include the Motel One Vienna Hbf , GraetzlHotel Hotel Schani Wien .
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Day 2, travel from Vienna to Venice by railjet train through the wonderfully scenic Semmering route, leaving Vienna Hbf at 06:25 and arriving Venice Santa Lucia around 14:05, or there's a later departure at 12:25. The railjet has a bistro-restaurant car, free WiFi & power sockets at all seats, see the railjet information page
Fares start at 29 in 2nd class, 39 in 1st class or 54 in business class (= premium 1st class).
Book at www.trainline.eu (easiest to use, overseas payment cards no problem) or Austrian Railways' own site www.oebb.at (same prices, but more fiddly).
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Railjets are 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... |
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 08:45 Warsaw-Berlin EuroCity train & onward ICE train, arriving Cologne Hbf around 21:15.
Book from Warsaw to Cologne from 39.90 in 2nd class or 69.90 in 1st class at the German Railways website www.bahn.de. Again, you print your own ticket.
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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, leaving Cologne Hbf at 08:44 by Thalys high-speed train to Paris Gare du Nord, changing stations by taxi or metro, then taking the 15:08 TGV Duplex from Paris Gare de Lyon to Barcelona Sants arriving 21:46. How about lunch at the amazing Train Bleu restaurant at the Gare de Lyon between trains?
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Stay overnight in Barcelona 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 Raileurope.co.uk (in , £ or $, very easy to use, small booking fee), www.petrabax.com (in $, also easy to use, with small mark-up) or Spanish Railways' own site www.renfe.com (in , much more fiddly to use, but no booking fee). 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 direct sleeper as explained above.
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If you travel by day, stay overnight in Berlin. The 3-star Meininger Hotel or InterCity Hotel are ideal as they are right next to Berlin Hbf and a 10-minute walk from the Reichstag or a 15-minute walk from the Brandenburg Gate, relatively inexpensive and get good reviews. If you want to push the boat out, try the famous & historic Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin right next to the Brandenburg Gate. If you're on a tight budget, try the cheaper Motel One Berlin-Hauptbahnhof just behind the station or see www.hostelworld.com.
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Step 2, travel from Berlin to Copenhagen by high-speed train from 39.90 in 2nd class or 69.90 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, Cologne, Hamburg & Northern Germany from 39.90...
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Busse? Nein Danke!Book a train from 39 |
Option 1, by daytime trains via Warsaw from 39.90...
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Due to long-term track rebuilding work, there is no longer a direct daytime train from Krakow to Berlin (although there's now a direct sleeper, see option 2). German railways run a bus, but the nightmare of 8 hours in a bus is to be avoided. If you want to travel by daytime train, you can travel via Warsaw 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 Glowny to Warsaw Centralna in as little as 2h19.
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Step 2, now take a comfortable EuroCity train with bistro car from Warsaw Centralna to Berlin Hbf in 5h30. I recommend allowing at least 40 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 39.90.
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 29.90, 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, Frankfurt, Dusseldorf, Cologne - 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 EuroCity train 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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1st class compartment car... |
2nd class open-plan car. Some seats are in compartments. |
Option 2, by direct sleeper train to Berlin. Safe, comfortable, time-effective...
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A direct sleeper train leaves Krakow Glowny at 00:06 and arrives Berlin Hbf at 09:48. This train starts back in Przemysl. The train has a Polish sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin plus two deluxe compartments with 1 or 2 berths & en suite toilet & shower. There are also seats cars, but no couchettes.
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Prices start at 39 with a bed in a 3-berth, 54 with a bed in a 2-berth or 79 with a single-bed sleeper all to yourself, a bargain!
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You can book at the German Railways website www.bahn.de and print your own ticket. You'll see this train in the search results twice, once marked EC (EuroCity = seats) and once marked EN (EuroNight = sleeper), you must select the one marked EN.
If you have any problems at www.bahn.de you can also book this sleeper with Austrian Railways at www.oebb.at & print your own ticket.
If you still have any problems, book with reliable Polish agency www.polrail.com who can arrange ticket collection in Krakow.
Tip: It's not possible to book a deluxe sleeper. PKP have found they cannot always guarantee this type of sleeper, sometimes operating a nicely refurbished sleeper with regular compartments and no deluxes, so they play safe and book all compartments as standard with washbasin. If you end up in a deluxe it's a bonus!
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Tip: To avoid having to stay up until 00:06 to board the sleeper in Krakow, why not book an early evening Intercity or TLK train from Krakow to Tarnow for a few euros at the Polish Railways website www.intercity.pl? Have dinner in Tarnow, then board the sleeper to Berlin in Tarnow at the more civilised hour of 22:16. Booking the sleeper from Tarnow rather than Krakow to Berlin makes no difference to the price. About the city of Tarnow.
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Change in Berlin for Hamburg, Frankfurt, Dusseldorf, Cologne - you can book from Berlin to anywhere in Germany at www.bahn.de. I'd allow at least an hour between the scheduled arrival of the sleeper and any onward train.
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Modern Polish sleeping-car of the type used Krakow-Berlin. Photo courtesy of WieselFahrer... |
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Standard sleeper in evening/morning mode with seats folded out. |
Standard sleeper set up as a 3-berth. It can also be sold as a single or double. |
Deluxe sleeper, set up as a 2-berth, showing TV & wardrobe. |
Deluxe sleeper: En suite shower & toilet... |
Option 3, 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 Glowny around 23:00 and arriving Poznan at 05:09 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 EuroCity train, leaving Poznan at 07:26 Monday-Saturday arriving at Berlin Hbf at 10:16, 2-4 hours later on Sunday, see the timetable here. By all means see something of Poznan's pleasant old town and take a later train to Berlin leaving at 11:26 or 12:26 or 15:26. Fares from 19.90 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 4, by overnight sleeper train via Stettin - a variation on option 3 above...
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Step 1, travel overnight by sleeper train leaving Krakow Glowny around 23:00 and arriving Szczecin Glowny at 08:55 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 10:06 and arriving Berlin Gesundbrunnen at 11:53.
By all means see something of Stettin and take a later train. The fare is around 29, even bought at the station on the day, if you use a Brandenburg-Berlin Ticket. You can check times & prices using www.bahn.de.
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Polish sleeping-car... |
2-bed sleeper in day mode. |
Krakow to Munich, Frankfurt, Nuremberg, Stuttgart, & Southern Germany...
Option 1, using the Krakow-Prague sleeper...
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Step 1, travel from Krakow to Prague by EuroNight sleeper train leaving Krakow Glowny at 22:42 and arriving Prague Hlavni at 07:56.
This train has a modern air-conditioned Polish sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, plus two deluxe 1 or 2 bed compartments with en suite toilet & shower, see the photos below. It also has a couchette car with economical 4 & 6 bunk compartments.
Book this via reliable agency www.polrail.com with ticket collection in Krakow.
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Step 2 for Munich, travel from Prague to Munich by air-conditioned express leaving Prague Hlavni at 09:43 and arriving Munich Hbf at 15:18. Book this from 15 in 2nd class or 35 in 1st class at www.cd.cz and print your own ticket. Have dinner in Prague. By all means spend a morning in Prague and take a later train, see the Prague to Munich timetable here.
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Step 2 for Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Nuremberg or Stuttgart: Book from Prague to your German destination at Czech Railways www.cd.cz and print your own ticket. Top tip: Click More options, click Travel via and enter Cheb in the via box to see cheap fares and avoid travel by bus. I'd allow at least 1 hour in Prague between trains just in case of any delay.
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Modern Polish sleeping-car of the type used Warsaw-Krakow-Prague. Photo courtesy of WieselFahrer... |
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Standard sleeper in evening/morning mode with seats folded out. |
Standard sleeper set up as a 3-berth. It can also be sold as a single or double. |
Deluxe sleeper, set up as a 2-berth, showing TV & wardrobe. |
Deluxe sleeper: En suite shower & toilet... |
Option 2, by daytime trains with overnight stop in Prague...
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Step 1, travel from Krakow to Prague by air-conditioned express Cracovia, leaving Krakow Glowny at 09:38 and arriving Prague Hlavni at 17:40. The train has a bistro car with draught beer on tap and power sockets at all seats, see the Krakow to Prague page for photos & information.
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Stay overnight in Prague. Hotels near the station with good reviews include the Esplanade Hotel (5-star), Falkensteiner Hotel Maria (4-star), Chopin Hotel (3-star). To stay in the old town, try the Ventana Hotel or Old Town Square Hotel (both 5-star), Grand Hotel Prague, Hotel Rott (both 4-star), Zlatύ kůň Golden Horse (3-star). For dinner in Prague, consider a 6 minute 550m walk to the Restaurant Zvonice (www.restaurantzvonice.cz) which gets great reviews, see walking map. It's usually open until midnight, ideal if you're catching a sleeper. Feedback appreciated.
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Step 2 for Munich, book from Prague to Munich at Czech Railways www.cd.cz from 15 and print your own ticket.
Look for a direct train marked No transfers (Ex) and avoid anything marked Bus. The first train leaves Prague Hlavni at 05:43 arriving Munich Hbf at 11:18, they run every two hours so by all means have a leisurely breakfast and take a later train, see the Prague to Munich timetable here.
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Step 2 for Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Nuremberg or Stuttgart, book from Prague to Munich, Stuttgart, Frankfurt or Nuremberg at Czech Railways www.cd.cz and print your own ticket. Top tip: Click More options, click Travel via and enter Cheb in the via box to see cheap fares and avoid travel by bus. I'd allow at least 1 hour in Prague between trains just in case of any delay. More information here.
Krakow to Vienna, Salzburg & Austria from 39 in couchettes, 69 in a 2-bed sleeper...
Option 1, by EuroCity train - the daytime option...
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There is now a direct EuroCity train from Krakow to Vienna, leaving Krakow Glowny at 13:07 and arriving Vienna Hbf at 19:49.
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Book through reliable agency www.polrail.com with tickets collected in Krakow. This train cannot be booked online.
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2nd class seats in an open-plan saloon. One of the two Austrian Krakow-Vienna cars is like this. See larger photo. |
2nd class seats in a compartment. The other Austrian Krakow-Vienna car is like this. See larger photo. |
Option 2, by EuroNight sleeper train to Vienna - the safe, comfortable & time-effective way...
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A safe & comfortable EuroNight sleeper train called the Chopin leaves Krakow Glowny at 22:42 every night arriving Vienna Hbf at 07:00.
It has a sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin plus two deluxe compartments with en suite toilet & shower, see the photos below. In summer June-August and at Easter, Christmas & New Year it also has a couchette car with 4 & 6 bunk compartments. In the sleeping-car or couchettes this train is a very comfortable, safe and time-effective option.
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Krakow to Vienna starts at 19, this is the cheapest possible advance-purchase sparschiene fare, the price varies with limited availability at each price level. You then need to add one of the following supplements to get a bed:
20 for a couchette in 6-berth, 30 for a couchette in 4-berth, 35 for a bed in a 3-bed sleeper, 50 for a bed in a 2-bed sleeper, 100 for a bed in a single-bed sleeper, 70 for a bed in a 2-berth deluxe sleeper with shower & toilet, or 120 for a single-bed deluxe sleeper with shower & toilet (all per person, berths are sold individually).
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This train can now (as of 2018) be booked online at www.trainline.eu (easy to use, accepts overseas payment cards no problem) or the Austrian Railways site www.oebb.at (same prices, but a bit more fiddly) with print-your-own tickets, but you must physically print the ticket on A4 or letter size paper, it cannot be shown on a smartphone screen.
Tip: If using www.trainline.eu and no sleepers appear, click Semi-flex at the top instead of Cheapest. If using oebb.at and it says Please choose a different service when trying to select a couchette or sleeper, scroll back up to the fares section, click More services and select the higher-priced fare instead of the cheapest sparschiene price. It means couchettes and/or sleepers are no longer available in conjunction with the cheapest sparschiene rates.
Alternatively, you can book through reliable booking agency www.polrail.com - their booking system is at http://booking.polrail.com. You can then collect tickets in Warsaw. Polrail always shows full price, but tell me they will offer the cheap advance-purchase fares if they find them available.
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If you're interested, you can check the train formations at www.vagonweb.cz. Click en for English then composition then look under Poland and EIC - the trains is called the Chopin.
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Change in Vienna for fast railjet trans to Salzburg, Graz, Innsbruck. Book this at www.trainline.eu (easiest to use, overseas payment cards no problem) or Austrian Railways' own site www.oebb.at (same prices, but more fiddly) and print your own ticket. Or for Salzburg, hop on the hourly Westbahn train from Vienna Hbf to Salzburg and simply pay the 27 fare to the conductor on board, see the Vienna to Salzburg page for photos & details.
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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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Modern Polish sleeping-car of the type used Warsaw-Krakow-Vienna. Courtesy of WieselFahrer... |
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Standard sleeper in evening/morning mode with seats folded out. |
Standard sleeper set up as a 3-berth. It can also be sold as a single or double. |
Deluxe sleeper, set up as a 2-berth, showing TV & wardrobe. |
Deluxe sleeper: En suite shower & toilet... |
Krakow to Prague for 89...
Option 1, by direct sleeper train, see the Prague to Krakow by train page...
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There is a safe, comfortable & convenient sleeper train from Krakow to Prague, leaving Krakow every night at 22:42 and arriving at Prague Hlavni station at 07:56 next morning. In the comfort of a sleeper this is a time-effective and recommended option, see the Krakow to Prague sleeper train page for full details & photos.
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Krakow to Prague by sleeping-car. Photo courtesy of Shaiq Ali Khan |
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Standard sleeper set up as a 2-berth, with blind down & washstand open. Each room can be used with 1, 2 or 3 beds. Enlarge photo. |
The same sleeper with berths folded away & seats folded out, washstand closed. Very similar to a deluxe, but without the shower & toilet. |
Deluxe sleepers are similar to standard ones, but with a bit more floorspace & compact shower & toilet instead of washstand. |
Just like a hotel, the corridor in a Comfortline sleeping-car. There's a shower at end of the corridor for standard sleeper passengers. |
Option 2, Krakow to Prague by new direct daytime train Cracovia. See the Prague to Krakow by train page...
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A direct Krakow-Prague daytime train called the Cracovia leaves Krakow Glowny every day at 09:38, arriving Prague Hlavni at 17:40.
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Fare 89 full-price booked at www.polrail.com, although limited-availability advance-purchase fares of 19 or 29 may be available. If making a round trip from Prague, book at www.cd.cz from 19 each way but tickets must be stamped by a CD conductor or ticket office before they are valid in Poland.
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It has comfortable air-conditioned carriages with power sockets, and a bistro car with draught beer on tap, or by all means take your own picnic and wine or beer, see the Prague to Krakow by train page for full details & photos
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There's no online booking for this route, so buy tickets through reliable Polish ticketing agency www.polrail.com.
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The Cracovia calls at Ostrava... Courtesy of DiscoverByRail.com |
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Draught beer on tap! The bistro car on the Cracovia has Urquell draught beer on tap. You don't get that on a bus... |
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Option 3, Krakow to Prague Leo Express day train from 13.70. See the Prague to Krakow by train page...
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Leo Express (www.le.cz) runs a high-quality air-conditioned train between Krakow & Prague in competition with Czech and Polish Railways. It now runs 4 times a week, see the Prague to Krakow by train page. Book online at www.le.cz.
Krakow to Budapest & Bratislava, 92 in couchettes, 103 in a 2-bed sleeper...
Option 1, by daytime train...
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A direct through car leaves Krakow Glowny every day at 09:38 attached to the Krakow-Prague Cracovia, at Bohumin it is attached to the Warsaw-Budapest EuroCity train Varsovia, arriving Bratislava Hlavna at 16:50 & Budapest Nyugati at 19:20.
The Krakow-Bratislava-Budapest through car is comfortable, modern & air-conditioned with 2nd class seats. If you insist on going 1st class you will have to switch trains at Bohumin at around 13:25 where the through car is switched between trains. A Czech bistro car is available Krakow-Bohumin and a Hungarian restaurant car is available Bohumin-Budapest.
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To book, either buy at the station (there's almost always places available) or pre-book through reliable Polish ticketing agency www.polrail.com (their booking system is at booking.polrail.com) who can arrange ticket collection in Krakow.
Option 2, by sleeper train. Safe, comfortable & time-effective...
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A direct EuroNight sleeper train leaves Krakow at 22:42 every night arriving Bratislava Hlavna at 05:50 & Budapest Keleti at 08:35. It has a modern air-conditioned Polish sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin plus two 1 or 2 bed deluxe compartments with en suite toilet & shower. It also has a couchette car with economical 4 & 6 bunk compartments. In the sleeping-car or couchettes this train is a very comfortable, safe and time-effective option.
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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.
Cheap SparNight fares are available in 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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To book, either buy at the station (there's almost always places available) or pre-book through reliable Polish ticketing agency www.polrail.com (their booking system is at booking.polrail.com) who can arrange ticket collection in Krakow.
Update: PKP are short of sleeping-cars at the moment, so on this route they cannot guarantee that the latest type of sleeping-car with the two deluxe compartments as shown below won't be substituted by a regular sleeping-car without the two deluxe compartments. For this reason they've stopped taking bookings for the deluxe compartments, all compartments are booked as standard compartments, you may of course get lucky and end up in a deluxe!
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If you're interested, you can check the train formations at www.vagonweb.cz. Select English then composition then look under Poland and EIC - the trains is called the Chopin.
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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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Modern Polish sleeping-car of the type used Warsaw-Krakow-Budapest. Courtesy of WieselFahrer... |
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Standard sleeper in evening/morning mode with seats folded out. |
Standard sleeper set up as a 3-berth. It can also be sold as a single or double. |
Deluxe sleeper, set up as a 2-berth, showing TV & wardrobe. |
Deluxe sleeper: En suite shower & toilet... |
Krakow to Ljubljana & Zagreb...
Option 1, via Vienna...
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Step 1, travel from Krakow to Vienna, either by sleeper train or 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 www.trainline.eu (easiest to use, overseas payment cards no problem) or Austrian Railways' own site www.oebb.at (same prices, but more fiddly). 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, or you can travel by direct daytime train and stay overnight in Budapest, also 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...
As the direct route via Budapest is blocked by major line upgrading, this looks the best option:
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Step 1, take the overnight sleeper from Krakow to Vienna by sleeper train as explained above.
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Step 2, spend a pleasant morning in Vienna, then take the afternoon EuroCity train Croatia from Vienna to Zagreb as explained here.
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Stay overnight in Zagreb, I suggest the Esplanade Hotel, Palace Hotel or Central Hotel, all near the station with good reviews.
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Step 3, travel from Zagreb to Belgrade by train. Until 4 October 2020 it leaves Zagreb at 11:03 and arrives Novi Beograd at 18:00 & Belgrade Centar at 18:07. From 5 October 2020 onwards it leaves Zagreb at 13:04 and arrives Novi Beograd at 20:17 & Belgrade Centar at 20:25. Fare around 29, buy at the station or pay on the train as this cannot be booked online. There's no catering car so bring your own supplies.
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Step 4, if you're heading for Sofia spend the night in Belgrade - I recommend the historic Hotel Moskva - and take the daily daytime train next day, see the Belgrade to Sofia page for full details.
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Step 4 for Montenegro, transfer to Topcider station and take the sleeper train to Podgorica or Bar, 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 & Kiev...
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There's a comfortable sleeper train leaving Krakow at 21:02 and arriving Lviv at 06:10 and Kiev at 17:14.
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The train has Ukrainian sleeping-cars with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments. The fare for a bed in a 3-berth is around 42 to Lviv or 69 to Kiev.
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You can book online at Ukrainian Railways, booking.uz.gov.ua/en/. Booking opens 30 days before departure. You can only book beds in 3-berth compartments, if you want sole occupancy (or dual occupancy for two of you) simply book 3 tickets. This is easy, as it asks you to select berths from a carriage plan when you book, so simply select three in one compartment. You print your own ticket.
Option 2, new fast daytime train - comfortable and cheap...
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You can travel from Krakow to Lviv or Kiev on one of two new fast air-conditioned daytime connections:
(1) Leave Krakow Glowny at 08:45, change at Przemysl (arrive 12:01, depart 13:10) and arriving Lviv at 16:02 and Kiev at 23:08.
(2) Leave Krakow Glowny at 11:01, change at Przemysl (arrive 14:01, depart 15:45) and arriving Lviv at 18:36 and Kiev at 23:53.
The Krakow-Przemysl trains are comfortable Polish TLK trains. The Przemysl-Lviv-Kiev trains are smart air-conditioned Ukrainian express electric trains, introduced in 2016. If you get any feedback or photos of this new train, please get in touch!
A 3rd connection is also available, this time using a conventional Ukrainian train between Przemysl & Lviv, en route to Odessa.
(3) Leave Krakow Glowny at 14:21, change at Przemysl (arrive 17:23, depart 18:39) and arriving Lviv at 22:39.
First check times for the Ukrainian train at www.uz.gov.ua/en/passengers/timetable. Then check times for a suitable Polish connecting train at Polish Railways www.intercity.pl.
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Krakow to Przemysl costs around 9. Przemysl to Lviv costs 7.10.
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You can order Krakow to Lviv tickets through highly-recommended Polish train booking agency www.polrail.com. They charge a small fee, and either allow ticket pick up in Krakow or can send to any country worldwide.
It may now be possible to book the Przemysl to Lviv train at Ukrainian Railways http://booking.uz.gov.ua/en - if it works for you (or if it doesn't), do let me know. You can then book the Krakow to Przemysl train at Polish Railways www.intercity.pl.
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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 (check times at www.intercity.pl) and pick up the overnight Kiev Express from Warsaw to Kiev, leaving Warsaw Centralna at 18:05 and arriving Kiev at 11:00 next morning. This train has Ukrainian 1, 2 & 3 bed sleepers with washbasin. Book the Warsaw-Kiev sleeper via agency www.polrail.com with ticket collection in Warsaw.
Krakow to Moscow...
Option 1, via Warsaw & Belarus
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An overnight sleeper train runs from Warsaw to Moscow every day, leaving Warsaw Centralna at 19:15 and arriving Moscow Belorussky at 16:58 next day. You can check times at the Russian Railways website pass.rzd.ru.
This train uses impressive Austrian-built sleeping-cars with 4-berth compartments built in 2014, see photos of this type of sleeper here & see panorama photo inside one of these modern sleepers. Each compartment can be sold as 1st class 1-berth, 1st class 2-berth or 2nd class 4-berth. The train consist of two or three sleeping-car which start their journey in Prague. There's a bistro car in Poland and a Russian restaurant car is attached between Brest (on the Polish/Belarus border) & Moscow.
You can book this train by contacting reliable Polish train ticketing agency www.polrail.com - their booking system is at http://booking.polrail.com. Tickets can be collected in Warsaw or (at extra charge) shipped to any address worldwide.
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Then book a connecting ticket from Krakow to Warsaw online at www.intercity.pl. I'd allow at least 2h in Warsaw between trains, just in case of delay.
Alternatively, you can book with Russian Railways at pass.rzd.ru although it's a little quirky and may not accept some overseas credit cards.
Don't forget to arrange both your Russian visa & Belarus transit visa as the train runs via Belarus. See my important update about travel to Russia through Belarus.
Option 2, via Kiev - avoids the need for a Belarus visa...
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Step 1, travel from Krakow to Warsaw on any train you like, check times & buy tickets at www.intercity.pl. You print your own ticket. I'd allow at least an hour between trains in Moscow, ideally a bit more as you're catching a once-a-day sleeper.
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Step 2, travel from Warsaw to Kiev overnight on the Kiev Express, leaving Warsaw Centralna at 18:05 and arriving Kiev at 11 :00 next day, see details of fares & how to buy tickets here. Enjoy a day in Kiev.
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Step 3, travel from Kiev to Moscow by overnight train leaving Kiev at 19:36 arriving Moscow Kievskaya at 10:09 next morning, see details of fares & how to buy tickets here.
Krakow to Istanbul...
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Travel from Krakow to Budapest by overnight sleeper or daytime train as explained above.
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In Budapest, pick up the journey to Istanbul explained in detail on the London to Istanbul page.
Hotels in Krakow & other cities
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.