Going to Krakow from Prague in mid sept/05. Would prefer to fly since the trip is very long by train...cannot find any budget flights. Will not risk the night train, but there is an 11:00, arriving @ 19:00. Can someone give me more information about this trip; price of a 1st class ticket; train reliability; countryside beauty. Any comments would be helpful. Alicia
alicia. do not fear the train. i heard bad stories too and hesitant but let me tell you NO PROBLEMS. it is safe but obviously you take precautions...keep valuables on you as you should fall asleep..train leaves at 11 at night and time will quickly go by..you will not see much..as train is moving fast unless at station requested stop...trains are old but reliable..ONE THING YOU SHOULD ARRIVE TO FIND WHICH PLATFORM TRAIN DEPARTS BECAUSE IT WILL LEAVE PROMPTLY.. at polish border train officially stops for passport check, which at that time guards performed looking through notebook NO PC. feel like YOU in james bond movie. IT WAS NOTHING BUT A GOOD MEMORY. you should get your refreshments and any amenities before arriving at main staion in prague which is reached by metro easily after flood. i took a sleeper which was first class + berth. about $125 in 2002 but now with euro high more. best to buy in states through eurorail. also they have great web site for communication and storage of valuable traveling info: www.lonelyplanet.com. in summary GO BY TRAIN YOU WILL BE GLAD YOU DID. AND I LOVE PRAGUE. WHY LEAVE...i live in new jersey, USA leo
I am also taking the train from Prague to Krakow in March. After researching, I plan on buying my ticket in Prague a couple of days ahead of time from Cedok Travel Agency @ Na Prikope 18 in Prague as they speak english. I am taking the day train which leaves @ approx. 11:00 hours and arrives @ 19:00 in Krakow. There is a change of train in Katowice,Poland and I only have 17 minutes to catch the connection. However I am assured that there are many trains to Krakow from Katowice so if you miss one there is another leaving quite regularly. First class is approx. $103.00. Happy travels! John
please realize that you can get ticket at main station in prague at the office of raileurope. let me advise you that you have been ill advised: the train to krakow is direct...i was too advised that i had to switch trains...you better check with another source...THE TRAIN TO KRAKOW IS DIRECT ALTHOUGH MAKING STOPS ON REQUEST AND YOU SHOULD NOT THINK ABOUT A TRAIN CHNAGE...
To OYSTER According to rail europe the train DOES stop in Katowice( day train only) for a connection and also according to sources I talked to in Krakow and Prague. In fact, the day train makes approx. 12 stops on the way! The night train IS indeed straight through with no connections. As I mentioned, I am taking the DAY train which leaves @ 11:00 and arrives @ 19:00 in Krakow.
I have found that http://www.cdrail.cz is an excellent site for rail trip planning throughout much of Europe. Some other countries' rail sites are not very good at showing routes outside of the host country. Since I'm not very good at spoken Czech I print out the itineraries I'm interested in so I can simply show them to the ticket agent in any Czech station and request to buy that ticket.
Hello, I am Czech, well at the moment livimg in Switzerland. You can also find all the possible connections at idos.cz, should you have problems with the language, find help at slovnik.cz. . I also checked the train at 11 from Prague, there indeed is a change in Katowice. I do not want to oppose anyone, but that is the way it stands in the schedules. Greetings to all travellers in my home! Vitka
There is also another train leaving @ 4:30 in the morning...getting into Krakow @ approximately 1:30 in the afternoon. This is a much better choice...we'll have more time in Krakow!
Where did you find info. on train leaving Prague @ 04:30? The only day train I find is the one I mentioned earlier leaving Prague @ 11:00 hours.
Montana, go to www. vlak.cz (english site)...in connections put From: praha To: krakow. Then for the time put 4:00, which is 4 AM in the morning. Make sure you click "max. number of changes" then "search". Train arrives @ 13:06 (1:06 pm)
