Travel By Train From Prague to Budapest
One of the nice things about Prague being in the heart of Europe is that Prague is close to many great cities. One of them is Budapest. The trip takes just over eight hours. The trains are roomy with lots of luggage and leg room and compared to taking the cramped bus, it is a luxury cruise.
Should You Buy Your Tickets Online?
Lots of people have asked me where they should book their tickets online. I always have the same response: Why do you want to book your tickets online? It simply does not make sense to book tickets online. The best option is to purchase the tickets right at the Main (Hlavni) train station in Prague on the day you want to leave for Budapest.
Cost of Tickets - It Is Less Expensive To Buy Tickets in Prague
Ordering your tickets online is more expensive and sometimes a lot more. The cheapest approach is to simply walk up to the counter in the main station and buy your ticket. You can buy it for the next train or for any future train, the price is the same.
An hour ago I was at the Main (Hlavni) Train Station and I asked them how much it costs for the next train to Budapest. The price is 1400 CZK or about $68.00 US dollars for 2nd class. The price is the same regardless of what time of day the train leaves.
Then I checked a couple of popular online Train Ticket booking websites. Here is a comparison:
| Purchase Location | Train Ticket Cost US$ |
|---|---|
| Prague Main ('Hlavni') Train Station | $68.00 |
| Website 1 | $130.00 |
| Website 2 | $124.00 |
| Website 3 | $115.00 |
Buy Tickets in Prague - You Are Not Bound By a Train Schedule
Once you book your ticket online, then you are bound by a schedule. You will have to be at the train station at a specific time. You never know. Maybe when you arrive in Prague you will find something that you did not expect and you will want to change your plans. But you already bought the train ticket so you must go.
Instead of buying tickets from home before your vacation just wait and buy it in Prague. Your vacation should be based on your schedule – not by a ticket that you bought 3 weeks before.
Trains Go From Prague To Budapest Three Times a Day
A train leaves from Prague Main (Hlavni) Station to Budapest three times every day and seven days a week. If you miss a train, you can always catch the next one which leaves only a few hours later. I have been to Budapest twice and the train has never been sold out. Actually I arrive just minutes before it leaves and never have a problem purchasing the ticket and getting a seat on the train. Of course if you need a window seat then it is a good idea to come a little early so that you have a better selection of seats. But this approach does not always work because sometimes the train is only in the station ten minutes before it leaves again.
Here is the train schedule for trains leaving to Budapest from the Main (Hlavni) Train Station: (as of April 28, 2012)
Train leaves the station at:
0:42
5:28
21:40
The travel time is around 8 hours and 10 minutes.
Where is Prague And Budapest - Map
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Before You Arrive
- Prague History: A Story Of Bad Times And Good Times
- What Do You Really Need To Know About Prague?
- When Is The Best Season To Visit Prague?
- Is Prague Safe?
- Do People Speak English In Prague?
- What Are The Prices In Prague?
- Interesting Facts About Czech
Your First Day In Prague
- Arrive by Plane - Prague Airport
- Arrive by Train - Main Station (hlavni nadrazi)
- Prague Weather
- Currency - The Koruna And Where To Exchange
- Tipping In Prague - How Much To Tip
- Beware of the Prague Grandmothers Army
Transportation
- Prague Metro - Red, Green, Yellow
- Ride The Prague Tram
- Taxi's Won't Rip You Off - Most of the Time
- Walking (Hiking) Around Prague
- Prague River Cruise
- Prague to Budapest by Train
- Prague to Vienna by Train
Eating out
- Czech Traditional Foods
- Where Do The Locals Eat (and drink Beer) in Prague
- What Is The Service Level
Places Tourist's Must Visit In Prague
- Prague National Museum
- Charles Bridge (Stone Bridge)
- Prague Old Town Square
- Saint Wenceslas Square And The Good King
Where The Locals Go
Drink Your Beer Like A Prague Local
