Prague to Budapest - 13 Best Ways to Travel in 2024

The train is a popular and comfortable way to travel from Prague to Budapest. There are seven direct daily trains between the two cities, with connections available approximately every two hours between 5:24 and 15:24. Additionally, there is one overnight train. The daytime travel time from Prague to Budapest by train is approximately seven hours, and you will pass through Slovakia on your journey from the Czech Republic to Hungary.

Train stations in Prague and Budapest
Most trains depart from the main train station in Prague, Praha hlavni nadrazi, located in the central part of the city and well-connected to all areas within the capital by public transport. The best way to reach the station is by taking the red line C of the metro and getting off at the "Hlavní nádraží" stop. Some trains depart from Praha Holesovice station, which is only three metro stops away from the central train station. To reach Holesovice station, you can also take the red line C of the metro and alight at the "Nádraží Holešovice" stop. Both train stations are served by numerous trams and buses. In Budapest, all trains arrive at Nyugati train station, situated in the city center and well-connected to other parts of the Hungarian capital by trams, buses, and the blue line 3 of the metro at the "Nyugati pályaudvar" station.

Train tickets from Prague to Budapest
The price for a Prague to Budapest train ticket starts at €20 if purchased in advance but can increase to €31 on the day of departure. Tickets can be bought online from either the Czech or Hungarian Railways websites, and it's worth checking both as prices may vary slightly. If you prefer to buy the ticket in person, you can visit the customer center located on the ground floor of Praha Hlavni Nadrazi. For last-minute purchases, it is advisable to arrive at the train station with extra time as the customer center may be busy. However, it is generally not recommended to buy tickets at the last minute, as trains are a popular mode of transportation in the Czech Republic and tickets may be sold out.

Prague to Budapest trains provide comfort, which is essential for a long journey. Each seat is equipped with power sockets, and free Wi-Fi is available. If you feel hungry during the trip, you can visit the dining car to purchase snacks, drinks (including beer), or try some traditional Czech dishes at an affordable price. If you find the seven-hour journey too long, you can consider making a stop in Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, along the way to do some sightseeing before continuing your trip to Hungary.

For a time-saving option when traveling from Prague to Budapest by train, consider the night connection. The train departs from Praha Hlavni Nadrazi station at 22:43 and arrives at Budapest Nyugati at 8:49. In addition to the regular second-class carriage, there is also a sleeping car available. You can choose between 1-, 2-, and 3-bed compartments and enjoy a good night's sleep while traveling from Prague to Budapest.

Apart from the trains operated by the national Czech/Hungarian Railways, there are also two daily RegioJet trains from Prague to Budapest, operated by a private company. These trains depart from Prague central station at 5:45 and 12:45 and arrive at Budapest Deli train station exactly 7 hours and 13 minutes later. Tickets for these trains can be purchased directly from the RegioJet website, with prices starting at €21. It is recommended to buy tickets in advance, as RegioJet trains often sell out. Upon arrival at Budapest's Deli station, you can continue your journey to your final destination within the city by taking the red metro line 2.

Since you will be spending a few solid hours traveling from Prague to Budapest, why not maximize your travel day and see some interesting places along the way? The best way to do it is with a Prague to Budapest Transfer Tour. For only €95, you can join this small group tour and travel comfortably and smoothly in an air-conditioned van with a knowledgeable local guide who will answer all your questions about the fascinating region of Central Europe.

Stop 1: Lednice Chateau
After breakfast, start your tour at 8 in the morning in the center of Prague. You will drive for approximately 2.5 hours until you reach your first stop of the day - the stunning Lednice Chateau, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This is one of the best examples of English Gothic style in Continental Europe, and its beauty will take your breath away. After a walk around the stunning gardens surrounding the Lednice Chateau, you will continue your tour across the border to Slovakia, where you will visit the country's capital - Bratislava.

Stop 2: Bratislava
The city is often overshadowed by more popular nearby capitals such as Prague, Vienna, and Budapest, but it offers plenty of attractions. The medieval Old Town is charming, with its winding lanes, picturesque corners, and beautiful houses. Once you explore the highlights of Bratislava, you will have time for lunch - a perfect opportunity to try some traditional Slovak dishes that are a bit different from Czech cuisine. From Bratislava, it's a short drive across another border to Hungary.

Stop 3: Györ
Györ is your last stop of the day. As one of the oldest cities in the region, it is also known as the Baroque Jewel on the Danube, and you will quickly see why when strolling through the historic center of the town. You will also see one of Hungary's most beautiful town halls - a monumental masterpiece from the beginning of the 20th century. After visiting Györ, it's approximately two more hours of driving to reach your final destination of the day - Budapest. You will be dropped off in the very center of the Hungarian capital, at Erzsebet Square. If you book the private option of the Prague to Budapest sightseeing transfer, pick-up and drop-off will be included.

The Prague to Budapest Transfer Tour is the best way to travel between the cities. Not only will you have an easy and hassle-free trip, but you will also see more of what Central Europe has to offer and add a visit to one more country to your itinerary. Since the group is small, with up to eight people, you can expect a friendly and intimate atmosphere on the tour, easy interaction with other travelers, and a chance to learn a lot from your guide.

Another popular way to travel from Prague to Budapest is by bus. The two major companies operating on the Prague to Budapest route are Flixbus and Student Agency, both offering similar services. There are nine daily direct Flixbus buses from Prague to Budapest, and two more by Student Agency. The first bus departs from Prague at 4:00 (arriving in Budapest at 10:55), and the last bus is at 23:59 (arriving in Budapest at 5:55 the next day). The travel time on the Prague to Budapest bus route varies depending on the connection, ranging from five hours and 56 minutes to 7 hours and 40 minutes, so choose your bus wisely.

Bus stations in Prague and Budapest
In Prague, the buses depart from the main bus station, Florenc, located in the city center and accessible via the red line C of the metro at the "Florenc" stop. Some buses also stop at the central train station before continuing towards Hungary. Before reaching Budapest, the buses also make stops in Brno (the second-largest city in the Czech Republic) and Bratislava (the capital of Slovakia). If you want to take a break during your journey, these are good places to do so, especially since the bus stations are not too far from the Old Towns in both cities. In Budapest, the buses first stop at Kelenföld station before terminating at Nepliget bus station. Both bus stations are a bit away from the center of Budapest, so you will need to use public transport to reach your final destination. The best option is to take the metro - Kelenföld is on the green metro line 4, and Nepliget is on the blue metro line 3.

Bus tickets from Prague to Budapest
Tickets for both companies start at €20 for a one-way journey when purchased in advance. However, Student Agency usually offers more affordable prices closer to the date of departure. Last-minute tickets purchased shortly before your trip can cost up to €35. You can buy the tickets directly from the Flixbus and Student Agency websites.

If you want to travel quickly from Prague to Budapest, you have the option to fly. Ryanair, a low-cost airline, offers daily flights from Prague to Budapest, except on Saturdays. There is at least one flight per day, and on some days, there are two. The departure times vary depending on the day, so if you choose this option, you will need to plan your schedule around your flight time. The flight time from Prague to Budapest is one hour and ten minutes, but you should allow 4-5 hours in total, considering the time it takes to get to and from the airports and complete airport procedures.

Plane tickets from Prague to Budapest
Tickets for Prague to Budapest flights start at €16 for a one-way journey. However, since it is a low-cost airline, you will need to pay extra for additional services such as larger carry-on luggage, checked-in bags, and seat selection. The prices for desired travel dates on Ryanair can be unpredictable, but even a few days before the trip, you can usually find a Prague to Budapest plane ticket for around €21. While Ryanair does not offer luxury amenities, it provides a safe and efficient means of transportation from point A to point B, which is the most important aspect.

Airports in Prague and Budapest
To get to Prague Airport, besides taking a taxi, you can either take a direct bus from the central train station (although slightly more expensive) or use the metro (green line A) to reach Nádraží Veleslavín. From there, you will need to transfer to the local bus number 119, which will take you to the airport. As both the Czech Republic and Hungary are part of the Schengen Zone, and assuming you have already checked in online for your flight, you can proceed directly to the security control once you arrive at the airport. In Budapest, there are two options for getting from the airport to the city center, aside from taking a taxi. You can either take the direct bus number 100E to Deak Ferenc ter (although slightly more expensive) or take bus number 200E to Kőbánya-Kispest metro station and transfer to the blue metro line 3. Regular public transport tickets are valid for these options.

For those who prioritize comfort and flexibility while traveling, a private transfer from Prague to Budapest might be a good option. It is a slightly more expensive choice, with prices starting at around €450 for a car with an English-speaking driver, but it offers convenience and ease of travel. The direct route from Prague to Budapest typically takes around five hours, but for an additional fee, you can include exciting sightseeing stops along the way, such as Kutná Hora, Mikulov, Lednice Chateau, or Bratislava. This private transfer is also recommended if you are traveling with heavy luggage, as the door-to-door service will make managing your belongings much easier.

You also have the option to drive from Prague to Budapest yourself, giving you complete control over your journey. The quickest route is approximately 525 km long and can take around five to six hours, including rest stops. However, it's important to note that renting a car from Prague to Budapest for just one day can be expensive, costing up to €1,000 due to the need to return the car to a different location. It's advisable to extend your trip to a few days, which would only increase the rental cost by around €200, making it a more viable option. By taking a small detour, you can explore beautiful and interesting yet lesser-known places along the way, such as Trebic, Brno, Mikulov, Trencin, Trnava, or Gyor, among others.

If you enjoy traveling on two wheels, cycling from Prague to Budapest can be a fantastic way to spend your holidays. It typically takes around 10-14 days to cover the distance of approximately 500 km and explore interesting places along the route. By making small detours, your Prague to Budapest cycling itinerary can be filled with attractions, including visits to four capitals, several UNESCO sites, and numerous charming towns and stunning natural spots. The route is generally straightforward, with only the initial part having some hilly terrain, but as you approach Budapest, the area becomes flatter.

Alternatively, you can join a Prague to Budapest bike tour, where all the practical aspects of the trip are taken care of for you. This way, you can still experience some of the region's best destinations and enjoy the journey from Prague to Budapest by bike in the company of like-minded individuals.

While car sharing is a popular option for traveling within Europe, it may not be the most convenient choice for the Prague to Budapest route. However, it's still worth considering. The most well-known website that connects passengers with drivers is BlaBlaCar. You can browse through the available rides and contact the driver once you find a suitable option. Keep in mind that the search results may also include regular bus connections, so double-check your choice.

It's important to read the details carefully, as the pick-up or drop-off locations may be located away from the city center, which could be inconvenient if you're unfamiliar with the area. Nonetheless, BlaBlaCar serves as a viable alternative to traditional travel options. It is particularly useful for last-minute trips, as rides can appear on the website shortly before departure. If you're unable to find a direct car-sharing trip from Prague to Budapest, you can try searching for trips from Prague to Brno/Bratislava/Vienna and then continuing on to Budapest.

If you enjoy the excitement and adventure of spontaneous travel and have extra time on your hands, you can consider hitchhiking from Prague to Budapest. To be honest, the chances of hitching a ride all the way to Hungary are slim but not impossible. It would be more realistic to aim for another destination first and then continue your journey towards Budapest.

You'll need to decide which route to take, either via Brno and Bratislava (a slightly shorter route) or through Vienna. Regardless of the route, your starting point from Prague will be the same, at motorway no 1. The best place to catch a ride heading south is at Újezd u Průhonic - the first petrol station along this road. To reach there, you can take the red C metro line to Opatov (the second-to-last stop in the direction of Haje) and then transfer to bus X122, which will take you to its final stop, K Sukovu. From there, it's just a short walk to the petrol station where you can begin hitchhiking.

This is an idea for adventurous travelers who believe that the sky is the only limit. If you have three weeks to spare and would like to fully immerse yourself in Central Europe, explore its finest destinations, and truly experience it, why not embark on a journey from Prague to Budapest on foot? Granted, this will be a long and challenging trek, covering a distance of over 500 km, but it will undoubtedly be an unforgettable adventure.

Only a small portion of the route is hilly, and what you will primarily need for this journey is endurance. However, the reward of reaching your destination will make it all worthwhile. You can plan your trip in advance to include the region's highlights or be spontaneous and decide your path as you go. Along the way, you'll encounter numerous breathtaking places, ensuring that no matter which direction you choose, you'll be treated to the true essence of Central Europe.

While it is not technically feasible to travel directly by boat from Prague to Budapest due to the absence of connecting rivers, there are delightful Danube River cruises available that incorporate the Czech capital into their itineraries. Once you have explored Prague, you will be transported by bus to Germany, where you will embark on the riverboat for the main portion of the Danube River cruise. The cruise will make stops in Austria and Slovakia before reaching its final destination of Budapest. Some cruise packages starting in Prague may include additional destinations along the Danube. After your visit to Budapest, you can choose to continue the journey towards Serbia, Bulgaria, and Romania.

With a distance of over 500 km and a travel time of at least 5 hours (or more if using public transport), embarking on a day trip from Prague to Budapest is not feasible. However, if Hungary is the next destination on your itinerary, you can turn the journey into a fun and exciting day trip. The best way to accomplish this is by utilizing the Prague to Budapest sightseeing transfer option we discussed earlier. This allows you to travel comfortably and without any hassle between the two cities, while also making stops at fantastic locations in three different countries along the way. Choosing this option is undoubtedly the optimal way to travel from Prague to Budapest!

Those who enjoy luxury and comfortable travel and would like to journey in style between the Czech and Hungarian capitals can choose the private jet option from Prague to Budapest. While it may not be the most economical choice, as chartering a plane from Prague to Budapest can cost a minimum of €7,500, it allows you to customize the entire trip according to your preferences. Additionally, it is the fastest mode of transportation between the two cities, with a travel time of approximately 3 hours, including the flight duration.