Prague to Budapest Train

[NickyG]

I have got over the shock that the train from Prague to Budapest takes 7 hours (7 HOURS!!).....

So I have been trying to buy a ticket and it seems like they range from 56 euros down to 498 CZK (19 euros).  The only difference seems to be which website to use and whether to get a  paper or an e-ticket.  Obviously I want to pay the cheapest (19 euro) fare, but if you buy the wrong ticket the european railways have a nasty habit of hitting you with a massive penalty fare.

Does anyone have any knowledge of central Euro trains and pricing, or maybe you planning the same trip? Does a 19 euro fare sound right for a 7 hour journey?  This is the website  - http://www.cd.cz/en/default.htm

Any advice appreciated, Cheers

[Shush]

The time and the price sounds right to me. When I was in Prague once, I asked about trains to Krakow, about the same distance, that was 8 hours. I think they make sure the trains deviate to every possible town on the way. I can not remember the exact price, but it was next to nothing

[sam37]

I ordered Tickets for Prag to Budapest by czech-transport.com

I got for the train leaving Prag 09:39 three Tickets
Prag to Kuty 16 euro
Kuty to Sturovo 13.10 Euro
Sturovo to Budapest 10.80 Euro
Seatreservation 3 Euro and some bookingfee

Be caerfull that the 19 Euros is for the full trip, and not only for the Czech part.

[Bill B]

Hi NickyG. Cd.cz is the official Czech train company and €19 is indeed the price you pay for an advance ticket. I bought three a few weeks back. It goes up by a couple of quid with the seat reservation but still stonking good value. Difficult to believe against English prices for a 7 hour train journey but it is 100% kosher.
Cheers, Bill

NB there are a lot of companies / websites out there that will add a hefty 'commission' to the cd.cz price but cd.cz is the official site

[sam37]

Hey Nicky

if you take the 9:39 Train we can have some beers in the restaurant of the train....

[NickyG]

Yep I was looking at the train choices. The 9.39 gets to Budapest at about 4.40 which is pretty much ideal.

Before anyone who knows me jumps in, let me be the first to say that as a lightweight of the highest order, 7 hours of beers will finish me off – in a good way admittedly  - but I’m not planning on waking up in a siding in Albania or somewhere! But yes, definitely would be good to have some travel company – great suggestion Sam – also anyone else who’s on for the same journey?

Also doing Vienna the following night (it's only a couple of hours away I think, so it should be easy), but not doing Dresden – it was too complicated.

[Bill B]

No worries Nicky, good to have hopefully helped you out

[NickyG]

Yes many thanks - If its the official site there's no point paying more - I'm just going to go ahead with the 19 euro one.