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Cosy 2-berth sleeper in the Prague-Krakow sleeping-car. |
Prague to Krakow from 13.70
Two comfortable EuroCity trains named Silesia & Cracovia and a EuroNight sleeper train named Chopin link Prague and Krakow, centre to centre. There's also a privately-run Leo Express train on certain days each week, due to become daily at some point. The EuroCity trains have air-conditioning, power sockets, free WiFi & a bistro car serving drinks & snacks with draught beer on tap, with fares from 15. The safe & cosy sleeper train saves a hotel bill, too. The Leo Express train has air-con, power sockets, free WiFi, and complimentary wine, water & coffee in Business & Premium classes. These trains also call at Oswiecim, more notorious by its German name, Auschwitz. This page explains what these trains are like & how to buy tickets.
Option 1, by EuroCity train
Silesia or Cracovia
Option 2, by privately-run Leo
Express
Option 3, by EuroNight sleeper train
Trains from Prague to
other destinations
Trains from Krakow to
other destinations
Train times 2026
Notes for timetable
Check times for your specific date of travel at www.cd.cz or (for Leo Express) www.leoexpress.com as times can vary due to trackwork.
Oswiecim = Polish name for Auschwitz. Regular local trains link Krakow & Oswiecim, with turn-up-and-go ticketing.
From 14 December 2025 the Prague-Krakow portion only has a couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments, no sleeping-car, see below.
The Leo Express train runs twice a week, but planned to go daily at some point.
Prague to Krakow is 474 km (295 miles) by train.
Route map
Click for larger map Highlighted = Prague to Krakow train route. Green = scenic sections of line.
Reproduced from the excellent European Rail Map with kind permission of the European Rail Timetable people. I recommend buying the European Rail Map for your travels and a copy of the European Rail Timetable, www.europeanrailtimetable.eu with shipping worldwide.
Option 1, by EuroCity trains Silesia or Cracovia
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The Cracovia is a comfortable air-conditioned EuroCity train run jointly by national rail operators CD (Czech Railways) and PKP (Polish Railways), using Czech rolling stock.
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The Silesia consists of 2nd class through coaches between Prague & Krakow attached to a Prague-Warsaw EuroCity train.
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Eurail & Interrail passes are accepted on both these trains, a 3 seat reservation is necessary. EuroCity is a generic term for good-quality air-conditioned express trains used by many European train operators.
How much does it cost?
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Advance-purchase fares start at 19 in 2nd class or 37 in 1st class.
First Minute fares have limited availability at each price level, specified train only, no changes. Refundable less a service fee until the day before travel. There's no need to book months ahead, you'll usually find cheap fares even just days ahead. There's no 1st class on the Silesia, at least not in the Prague-Krakow portion.
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The full-price full-flex fare is around 55 in 2nd class, 83 in 1st class, bought from Czech Railways.
How to buy tickets
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Option 1, buy at the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz.
Change the Czech flag to the UK flag for English. Prices are in CZK.
It's a good idea to click More options then Connection parameters then Connections and tick the Direct connections only box.
Booking eastbound to Krakow opens up to 6 months ahead. Booking westbound from Krakow only opens up to 2 months ahead. There's absolutely no need to book further ahead that this, you can usually find the cheapest fares even booking just weeks ahead and there will be places available even on the day.
You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone. Only one name is needed to support a ticket, even if it's for two or more people.
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Option 2, buy from Omio.com.
Omio is a reliable European train booking agency that connects directly to CD's ticketing system. You can see prices in , £ or $, international credit cards no problem. It even offers seat selection on some routes from Prague. Small booking fee. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
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If you have an Interrail or Eurail pass you need a reservation, see the passholder reservations page for prices & how to reserve.
What are the Silesia & Cracovia like?
The Silesia runs between Prague and Warsaw, but conveys one 2nd class through car between Prague and Krakow. This air-conditioned 2nd class through carriage has classic 6-seat compartments, see the photos below. There's no 1st class in the Prague-Krakow portion, if you insist on 1st class you'll have to switch cars at Bohumin. A restaurant car is available between Prague & Bohumin, near the Polish border.
The Cracovia consists of modern air-conditioned Czech carriages with 1st & 2nd class and restaurant car, as shown in the photos below.
Tip: You can check the train formation, check car numbers & see features & photos of each car using www.vagonweb.cz. Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations and search for Silesia or Cracovia.
The EuroCity train Silesia boarding at Prague Hlavni. The Cracovia is similar.
1st class. The Cracovia has one first class car like this one, marshalled next to the restaurant car. Seats are arranged 2+1 across the car width, a few face to face, most face to back, with a few tables for 4, and a few tables for 2. There are power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Restaurant car. The Cracovia has restaurant car like this one serving inexpensive snacks, drinks and meals. Lunch or dinner as the train canters through the beautiful countryside is a real treat. Euros, Koruna & credit cards are accepted, although cash can be better as card machines rely on mobile reception. There are no table reservations, just go along and sit down. There's a separate counter if you want to take snacks or drinks back to your seat.
2nd class seats on the Cracovia are mostly in classic 6-seat compartment cars as shown above, as are the seats in the single Prague-Krakow through car attached to the Silesia. The Cracovia also includes one multi-function car with a limited amount of 2nd class open-plan seating, a baggage area, bicycle rack, wheelchair ramps, wheelchair spaces & accessible toilet, usually next to the restaurant car.
Option 2, by Leo Express
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Leo Express is a private open-access operator which operates a comfortable Prague-Krakow train, increased to daily for 2026, with a second train on two days a week. It's a modern air-conditioned electric unit with 3 classes, Economy, Business & Premium.
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The Czech Republic was one of the first countries in Europe to open up their state-run railways to private competition under EU laws that allow anyone with the necessary licences to run a train service. Leo Express was founded by Leo Novotnύ in 2010, and they ran their first trains in 2012 and this is their first foray into Poland. I have yet to try Leo Express services myself, but they have a good reputation.
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The Man in Seat 61 says, "This is an excellent service in any class, but if you can afford a superb premium class seat, go for it. Possibly the most comfortable European first class seat I have yet found!" See video showing all 3 classes on Leo Express.
How much does it cost?
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Economy class starts at 13.70, Business class at 32.50, Premium class at 52.50.
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All tickets come with a reserved seat.
How to buy tickets
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Buy tickets at www.thetrainline.com, www.omio.com or www.leoexpress.com.
Make sure you select a train not a bus. You print your ticket or show it on your phone.
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Eurail & Interrail passes are now accepted on Leo Express, reservation required see the passholder reservations page.
What is the Leo Express train like?
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The train is modern and air-conditioned with 3 or 4 classes, see www.leoexpress.com for more details and photos, and see the video.
Economy = comfy seats, power sockets & free WiFi. Food and drink can be bought from the refreshment trolley. Most of the train consists of economy class. Seats are arranged 2+2 across the car width, like 2nd class on regular trains.
Economy Plus = same leather seats as Business class with the same business class food & drink included, but less legroom and no partition between it and the rest of economy, so not as quiet as Business class. Economy Plus is new, being progressively fitted to trains during 2020,
Business = leather seats with extra leg-room, power sockets & free WiFi, complimentary water & coffee. Business class consists of two-thirds of a car at one end of the train. Seats are arranged 2+1 across the car width, like 1st class on regular trains. On journeys over 50 minutes, 1 alcoholic drink is included in the fare,
Premium = there are just 6 premium class seats located at one end of the train. Excellent reclining leather seats with leg-rests so you can put your feet up, power sockets & free WiFi, complimentary water & coffee. On journeys over 50 minutes, 2 alcoholic drinks and a simple meal are included in the fare.
The Man in Seat 61 says, "In my opinion, the Leo Express premium seats are the most comfortable train seat in Europe. You sink into that leather, with power-recline to 40 degrees and a legrest. Treat yourself to premium class if you get the chance!"
Leo Express train, arrived in Prague.
Option 3, by EuroNight sleeper train
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The EuroNight sleeper train is run jointly by national rail operators CD (Czech Railways) and PKP (Polish Railways), using a Czech couchette car. EuroNight is a generic term for good-quality air-conditioned overnight trains used by many European train operators.
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From 14 December 2025, the Prague-Krakow -Warsaw sleeper train is split into separate portions for Warsaw and for Krakow. Unfortunately, the Prague-Warsaw portion gets the sleeping-car, the Prague-Krakow portion will now only have a couchette car with 4 & 6 bunk compartments. However, you can book a whole couchette compartment for single or double occupancy if you ike.
How much does it cost?
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Advance-purchase fares
Advance-purchase fares start at 29 with couchette in 6-berth, 39 with couchette in 4-berth. Fares vary like air fares.
You can book a whole private couchette compartment for single or double occupancy if you like, the fare varies but typically 140 for one person, 170 for two people.
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Regular flexible price
Bought from the Czech Railways, a basic Prague-Krakow 2nd class ticket costs around 55.
Bought from Polish Railways, a basic Krakow-Prague 2nd class ticket costs around 70. Don't ask me why it costs more in Poland!
You then need to add the supplement for a sleeping-berth: For a couchette, 11 in a 6-berth compartment or 15 in a 4-berth compartment.
How to buy tickets
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Option 1, book at Czech Railways www.cd.cz
You can book online in either direction at the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz. Change the Czech flag to the UK one for English.
Booking usually opens 60 days before departure, less than this for dates after the mid-December timetable change. There's absolutely no need to book further ahead that this, you can usually find cheap fares even booking weeks ahead and are usually places available even on the day.
You can book one berth in a 6-berth or 4-berth, or it'll offer a price for a whole compartment for private occupancy.
Tip: Click More options then Connection parameters then Connections and tick the Direct connections only box.
You print out your own ticket and can board the train. You must print your ticket, it cannot be shown on a mobile device.
Only one passenger name is needed to support your self-print ticket, even if that ticket is for two or more people.
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Option 2, buy from www.polrail.com
If your journey starts in Krakow, you can order tickets online through reliable and highly-recommended Polish ticketing agency www.polrail.com - you can collect tickets in Krakow. The fare shown on their site is the full price, but I've been told that if cheap advance-purchase fares turn out to be available, they'll offer you those instead when they contact you.
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Option 3, buy from Czech agency www.czech-transport.com
If your journey starts in Prague, you can also buy from www.czech-transport.com. This method always works, but the downside is that (a) you can't buy cheap advance fares through them, only full-flex standard price tickets and (b) of course they add a fee. Tickets can be collected from their offices or sent to your hotel in Prague or to your home address for an additional fee. If you use them, feedback would be appreciated.
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Option 4, buy at the station
You can of course book in person at the station, there are normally places available even on the day, but on the busiest dates in summer it can leave fully-booked, so booking ahead is recommended.
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If you have an Interrail or Eurail pass
If you have a Eurail or Interrail pass, you can make couchette reservations at the Czech Railways website as explained here, using method 1.
What's the couchette car like?
The Czech couchette car has 9 compartments, each of which can be used as 4-berth or 6-berth. Clean sheets and a pillow are provided, the doors have a normal lock and security lock or chain. Toilets and washrooms at the end of the corridor. Couchette compartments are not segregated by gender, as you do not normally get fully undressed. See generic couchette car numbering plan. See larger couchette photo.
Travel tips
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Is the overnight train safe?
Yes. In a couchette it's comfortable and safe for families, solo females, or anyone. Couchette compartments have a normal lock (which can be opened from outside with a staff key) and a security lock or chain which can't be unlocked from outside - just make sure you use that bolt or chain as well as the normal lock. In couchettes I usually put my daypack with any valuables by my pillow. An attendant is on duty in the couchette car throughout the journey. You'll share with other passengers just like you, often fellow tourist or Interrailers or Eurailers. Couchettes are usually mixed gender as you don't normally get fully undressed.
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Finding & boarding your train
As with virtually all European trains, there's no check-in. Just stroll into the station, find your train and get on, any time before it leaves. And yes, Prague and Krakow stations are both safe at night, with plenty of people around. Prague Hlavni station guide. Krakow Glowny station guide.
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Dinner before you board?
There's no catering car, so eat before you board.
In Prague, consider the famous Restaurant Vytopna, www.vytopna.cz, where food & beer are delivered by model train, a 7-minute 550m walk from the station. Or the Restaurant Zvonice (www.restaurantzvonice.cz), on the 7th & 8th floors of a historic gate-tower housing a bell that dates from 1518. It's a 6-minute 450m walk from the station. Don't worry, there's a lift! It's open until late so ideal if you're catching a sleeper. Expensive by Czech standards, but not by western standards, food & wine are great.
In Krakow, see suggested restaurants here.
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Early arrival in Krakow? Breakfast on arrival
The sleeper arrives quite early in Krakow. Exit the station through the shopping centre and you'll find the Hotel Puro Stare Miasto on the other side of the road and to the right. They'll let you join their excellent breakfast buffet from 7am for around 16. Of course, your own hotel may let you join their breakfast buffet on the morning of arrival. Suggested hotels in Krakow.
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Luggage
You take your luggage with you onto the train and simply stick it on the luggage racks above the window, over the door to the corridor or under the lower berth. Nobody weighs it, measures it, or worries about how much you take. More about luggage on European trains.
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Power & WiFi
There should now be free WiFi in the Czech couchette car. Compartments should have at least one power socket, standard European 230v 2-pin type, beneath the head end of the bed. Mobile data reception should work fine for most of the journey.
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Suggested hotels in Prague old town or near the station. If your budget will stretch, consider the luxurious Hotel Carlo IV, 3 minutes stroll from the station, 10 minutes walk from all the city sights. Thanks to Czech prices, it's not as expensive as such a hotel would be further west!