Krakow to Budapest - 13 Best Ways to Travel in 2026

For many people, the train is a preferred way to travel around Europe, but it isn't the most practical option for the Krakow to Budapest trip. Even though the cities are relatively close - less than 400 km apart - the route loops slightly out of the way, taking a detour via the Czech Republic.

There are two direct trains from Krakow to Budapest: a daytime train and a night train. The daytime train leaves Krakow shortly before noon and arrives in Budapest in the evening, with a travel time of eight hours and forty minutes. The night train takes about an hour longer, departing Krakow late in the evening and reaching Budapest in the morning.

If those connections don't work for you, you can also travel from Krakow to Budapest with a change. Depending on the connection you choose, the trip requires at least one transfer in Breclav (Czech Republic). Even with a change along the way, the total travel time is similar to the direct train.

Krakow to Budapest trains are usually comfortable, with power sockets by each seat and complimentary Wi-Fi (though it might not always work). Unfortunately, they often don't have a dining car, so it's a good idea to bring enough snacks and drinks-you'll be traveling for many hours before you reach Budapest.

Krakow to Budapest night train
If you're traveling by train from Krakow to Budapest, we recommend taking the night train. It lets you save time on travel and spend less on overnight accommodation. Since Poland and Hungary, as well as the countries along the route, are part of the Schengen Zone, there's no border control during the trip, so you can enjoy a few solid hours of uninterrupted sleep.

The train offers sleeper compartments with one, two, or three beds for maximum comfort. You can also choose a cheaper second-class carriage, though the overnight journey may be a bit more challenging.

Krakow to Budapest train tickets
Krakow to Budapest ticket prices depend on when you buy them. If you plan ahead, you can find second-class tickets starting at €20 for the day train and €25 for the night connection. These cheaper fares are non-refundable. If you want a flexible option, expect to pay €91.

Sleeper compartments cost more (but are still worth considering). Prices start at €50 for a promo ticket and €110 for a flexible one.

The best way to buy your ticket is online, directly from the Polish or Hungarian railways. It's also worth checking the Czech or Slovak railways, as prices can vary-sometimes significantly-depending on the website.

You can also buy tickets at Krakow's train station. The ticket desks are in the underground part of the station, in the corridor behind the shops. Keep in mind this is one of Poland's busiest stations, so don't leave it until the last minute-lines can be long, and you don't want to risk missing your train.

Krakow to Budapest train with a travel pass
If you're traveling around Europe with a rail pass like Interrail or Eurail, you can use it on Krakow to Budapest trains, both direct services and connections with a change. You only need to buy a seat reservation for €3, which you can easily arrange online through one of the websites.

Train stations in Krakow and Budapest
Krakow's main station, Kraków Główny, sits on the edge of the Old Town, about a 15-minute walk from the Main Square. It's also easy to reach by public transport, as many trams and buses stop nearby. The most convenient stops are Dworzec Główny Tunel, Dworzec Główny Zachód, and Teatr Słowackiego.

In Budapest, trains arrive at Nyugati station. It's on the blue metro line 3, and you can also take trams (no 4 or 6) or buses from there to reach your destination in Hungary's capital.

The most efficient and also the most interesting way to travel between the two cities is the Krakow to Budapest Transfer Tour. Not only will you get there comfortably and hassle-free, but you will also enjoy sightseeing stops in some amazing places along the way.

If you would like to see more than just the popular highlights during your European trip, this is the option for you. Along with visiting three wonderful yet underrated places, you will also learn more about the history, culture, and customs of Central Europe during the tour. You will travel in a modern, air-conditioned car in a small group of up to eight people, together with a tour guide who will share insights about the places you pass and answer all your questions.

Stop 1: Vlkolinec
First stop is the UNESCO World Heritage Site village of Vlkolinec. This is one of the best-preserved folk villages in Central Europe and is known for its traditional wooden architecture. Here, you will stroll through picturesque, winding lanes, admire authentic Slovak rural buildings, and visit some of them to get a glimpse of everyday life in the past. You will also have time for a lunch break during this stop (not included in the tour).

Stop 2: Banská Štiavnica
The second sightseeing stop of the day is another UNESCO-listed destination, the charming town of Banská Štiavnica, around an hour and a half from Vlkolinec. With its colorful medieval streets, historic landmarks, and beautiful views from the surrounding hills, the town looks like it is straight out of a fairy tale. During your stop here, you will be able to discover what Banská Štiavnica has to offer and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of this lovely small town.

From Banská Štiavnica, you will travel directly to Budapest. The drive should take about 2.5 hours. You will be dropped off in the central part of the city near Astoria metro station, from where you can easily reach your accommodation in Budapest by public transport.

Overall, the Krakow to Budapest Transfer Tour takes around ten hours. Prices start at €99 per person for a group tour, and private tours are available as well. Compared to other modes of transportation, this is a good option, especially considering you can also visit these amazing places along the way that are usually difficult to reach by public transport. 

A much better option for traveling from Krakow to Budapest is the bus. You'll find more direct connections to choose from - between 5 and 13, depending on the day of the week. Travel time is also generally faster than by train, though it varies by connection, so keep that in mind when planning your trip.

According to the timetable, the fastest bus from Krakow to Budapest takes just 6 hours and 20 minutes, but some services take around two hours longer. Along the way, the bus makes a few stops in Poland, Slovakia, and Hungary.

All buses on the Krakow to Budapest route are operated by Flixbus, a well-known company with comfortable vehicles that offer plenty of legroom, power sockets by each seat, and complimentary Wi-Fi to keep you entertained during the ride.

Krakow to Budapest bus tickets
To find connections and book your Krakow to Budapest bus ticket, visit the Flixbus website. Prices depend on the travel date and how early you buy, with the cheapest tickets starting at €20 and rising to €70 closer to departure.

All tickets include hand luggage to take on board, plus a larger bag stored in the compartment underneath the bus.

Bus stations in Krakow and Budapest
All buses depart from the MDA bus station in Krakow, next to the main train station (on the opposite side from the Galeria Krakowska shopping center).

In Budapest, you can choose from three stops: Nepliget (on blue metro line no. 3), Kelenföld (on green metro line no. 4), and Mexikói út (closest to the center, on the yellow metro line no. 1). Make sure to pick the most convenient stop, as the time difference between them can be up to an hour.

If your schedule is tight and you don't want to deal with busy and sometimes confusing public transport, a Krakow to Budapest private transfer can be a great choice. It's a hassle-free option you can tailor to your needs, with pick-up and drop-off points selected by you.

Of course, this convenience comes at a higher cost, with prices for a Krakow to Budapest transfer starting at €430 for a car with an English-speaking driver. For an additional fee, you can also add sightseeing stops along the way. The most popular options include the impressive Orava Castle, the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Vlkolínec, Kalwaria Zebrzydowska, and Banská Štiavnica, as well as Košice, Slovakia's second-largest city.

Unfortunately, there are no direct flights from Krakow to Budapest. However, you can find convenient connections with a short change in Warsaw, which may be worth considering. The fastest flight itinerary from Krakow to Budapest takes three and a half hours, so even after factoring in travel to and from the airport, the total travel time is similar to the bus and faster than the train.

The best way to fly from Krakow to Budapest is via Warsaw with LOT Polish Airlines. This keeps the entire journey on a single reservation, and if delays happen, you'll be rebooked on the next flight at no extra charge. You can also bring a large cabin bag and a personal item on board at no additional cost.

Krakow to Budapest plane tickets
The cheapest Krakow to Budapest plane tickets (via Warsaw) start at €120 when booked in advance, with prices rising to around €300 for next-day departures. To book, visit the LOT Polish Airlines website.

You can also fly from Krakow to Budapest via other European airports with low-cost airlines such as Wizz Air or Ryanair. Prices can be much lower - you may find tickets for €40 for the whole trip, but if anything goes wrong along the way or you miss a flight, you'll need to buy a new ticket.

Airports in Krakow and Budapest
Kraków Airport is located about 15 km from the city center. It's well connected to the main station by train, with departures twice per hour and a journey time of just 18 minutes. A ticket for the airport train costs €5, and you can buy it online, at the train station, or on the train.

In Budapest, you have two main options for getting from the airport to the city center (aside from taking a taxi). You can take the direct bus no. 100E to Deak Ferenc ter (a bit more expensive), or bus no. 200E to Kőbánya-Kispest metro station, where you can transfer to the blue metro line 3 (a regular public transport ticket works here). Both buses depart from in front of the arrivals hall.

A comfortable and flexible way to travel from Krakow to Budapest is by car. The distance between the cities is around 400 km. However, since the route crosses a mountainous area in Poland and Slovakia, you should expect a driving time of about 6.5 hours (excluding breaks).

That said, driving from Krakow to Budapest can be a real adventure - especially if you take your time and stop along the way to explore some amazing yet underrated places. This region is full of great destinations: you can visit the breathtaking Tatra Mountains on the border of Poland and Slovakia, the UNESCO-listed village and town of Vlkolinec and Banská Štiavnica, the Low Tatras and Velká Fatra National Parks, and towns along the Danube bend in Hungary. If you add a few detours on your drive from Krakow to Budapest, you'll discover even more standout attractions.

If you need to rent a car for the trip, keep in mind that one-way rentals (returning the vehicle in a different destination) are much more expensive. Unfortunately, it can be quite costly-you can expect to pay around €1,000 for a rental car, not including petrol and vignettes (which are required in Slovakia and Hungary).

If you're looking for an active holiday, cycling from Krakow to Budapest is an excellent option. You'll need a solid level of fitness for this trip, as much of the route leads through mountainous terrain. The effort is well worth it, though - this is one of the most beautiful yet overlooked parts of Central Europe, with stunning scenery, plenty of charming towns and villages (some of them on the UNESCO World Heritage List), impressive castles, and more. It's also a wonderful way to get a deeper feel for the region and learn about its culture, traditions, and history.

To complete the Krakow to Budapest cycling trip, you'll need at least five to six days, but we recommend allowing more time so you can fully enjoy and appreciate this fascinating area. There are several routes to choose from - some more challenging than others, but all of them offer great sightseeing opportunities along the way.

If you're short on money or you simply enjoy the thrill of adventure and unexpected travel, you can try hitchhiking from Krakow to Budapest. While the route itself is fairly straightforward, it can be challenging to find a car going all the way to Hungary, so you may need to split the journey into a few legs.

A good place to start your Krakow to Budapest hitchhiking adventure is just outside the city, in Mogilany. Take bus no. 285 from the Borek Falecki bus stop (it's outside the center, but you can get there by tram) and get off at "Mogilany Osrodek Zdrowia." This stop is on the main road toward Slovakia, so you can begin hitchhiking right away.

Unfortunately, bus no. 285 doesn't run very often, so you'll need to plan your timing accordingly. You can check the schedule on the website of Krakow's public transport company.

A good alternative to the usual modes of transportation is car sharing. It's a popular and budget-friendly way to travel around Europe, and although the Krakow-Budapest route isn't the most in-demand, there are usually a few rides available. All you need to do is log in to the BlaBlaCar website (the most popular car-sharing service), browse the available offers, and contact a driver to arrange the details.

Prices are set by the driver, and for a Krakow to Budapest car-sharing trip they typically range from €15 to €25. It's a great way to travel and meet locals, but be sure to check the fine print when booking as departure or arrival points may be outside the city center. In that case, you'll also need to plan how to get to and from the designated meeting point.

If you're traveling around Europe in a motorhome, a Krakow to Budapest RV trip can be an excellent idea. This region is packed with attractions, historical landmarks, beautiful nature, and scenic roads, so it's worth taking your time. Do not rush the journey. Explore the area and enjoy it to the fullest.

When planning your trip, keep in mind that wild camping is not allowed in Poland, Slovakia, or Hungary. Fortunately, there are plenty of designated areas and campsites along the route where you can stay overnight, relax, and plan another day full of adventures and sightseeing.

The fastest, but also the most expensive, way to travel from Krakow to Budapest is by private jet. The flight itself takes only about one hour, so even with travel to and from the airport and simplified security procedures, you can complete the trip in less than three hours. You can also tailor this luxurious option to your needs and itinerary.

Of course, this level of convenience comes at a price, as private jet flights from Krakow to Budapest start at around €5,000.

A more extreme way to get from Krakow to Budapest is on foot. It is challenging and time-consuming, but it also offers the most in-depth travel experience you can have. Plan your route carefully and include the best stops along the way, as there are many, so you can make the most of the journey.

You need at least two weeks to cover the approximately 370 km from Krakow to Budapest. We recommend allowing more time if possible. This way, you can fully enjoy the places you pass through, get to know the region properly, and give yourself time to recover every few days during such a long trip. Since parts of the route run through mountainous areas with beautiful views, you will need good endurance to complete the walk from Krakow to Budapest.

If you love the freedom of traveling by motorcycle, the ride from Krakow to Budapest is a real treat. The roads are often picturesque and winding, leading through hilly and sometimes mountainous landscapes that make the region ideal for motorbike travel. There is no point in rushing, especially since there are hardly any highways along the way. Take your time, enjoy the journey, and get to know this amazing yet underrated part of Central Europe.