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How to get from Budapest to Krakow
Budapest and Kraków are about 400 km apart by road through Slovakia. Long-distance buses take roughly 7–8 hours for about €20–40, and a direct overnight train with sleeper and couchette cars saves a night's hotel. Driving takes about 5 h 30.
Best option: Train. The direct overnight train turns a long trip into a night's sleep and arrives in central Kraków in the morning.
All the ways to make the trip
| How | Time | How often | Price* | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| train Direct overnight train from Budapest (Keleti) to Kraków Główny through Slovakia, with seats, couchettes and sleepers | about 10 h overnight | usually once a night | about €30–60 for a seat or couchette, more for a sleeper | Check current timetables and book berths early. Daytime rail journeys need one or more changes and take longer. |
| bus Long-distance buses (e.g. FlixBus) from Budapest to Kraków bus station (MDA) next to Kraków Główny | about 7 – 8 h | a few a day, including overnight | about €20–40 | Cheapest option; route goes through Slovakia. |
| car M3 or M2 north from Budapest, across Slovakia (via the High Tatras area or Žilina) into Poland | about 5 h 30 – 6 h 30 | fuel plus motorway vignettes for Hungary and Slovakia | Buy Hungarian and Slovak e-vignettes before using their motorways; mountain roads in Slovakia can be slow in winter. |
*Approximate prices and times for 2026. Timetables change by season: check with the operator before you travel.
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Tips
- Book the night train early, especially couchettes and sleepers in summer.
- Kraków's bus station and Kraków Główny train station are side by side, a short walk from the Old Town.
- Drivers need Hungarian and Slovak e-vignettes; Polish motorway tolls apply on some sections.
- Driving lets you stop in the High Tatras or at Zakopane on the way.
Common questions
Is there a direct train from Budapest to Kraków?
Yes, an overnight train runs directly between Budapest and Kraków through Slovakia, with seats, couchettes and sleeping cars. It leaves in the evening and arrives the next morning. Daytime trips by rail need changes and take longer than the bus. Check current timetables, because departure times and car types can change between seasons.
What is the cheapest way from Budapest to Kraków?
Long-distance buses such as FlixBus are usually the cheapest, often about €20–40 if booked a few days ahead. A seat on the night train can be similar in price and saves a hotel night. Driving costs fuel plus Hungarian and Slovak motorway vignettes, so it is only cheaper when shared.
How long does it take to drive from Budapest to Kraków?
About 5 hours 30 minutes to 6 hours 30 minutes for roughly 400 km, crossing Slovakia. Routes go either via the High Tatras or via Žilina. You need e-vignettes for Hungarian and Slovak motorways, and some Polish motorway sections have tolls. Allow extra time in winter, when mountain roads can be snowy.
Is there a flight from Budapest to Kraków?
Direct flights between the two cities are rare and may not run at all in a given season, so check airline schedules before planning around them. For most travellers the overnight train or the bus is simpler, because both go from city to city without airport transfers and security queues.
Compiled by TonyPlan from operator and transport information and travel knowledge; updated 2026-10-05. Anything we could not confirm is marked as approximate.