Trains from Krakow to other European cities

Safe & comfortable sleeper trains link Krakow with Prague, Budapest & Vienna.

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This page explains how to travel by train from Krakow to other key European cities, and how to buy tickets the cheapest way. Information current for 2024.

Before you buy your tickets

Take a moment to read these tips for buying European train tickets. It answers all the usual questions, "Do I need to book in advance or can I buy at the station?", "Can I stop off?", "Are there Senior fares?" and that old favourite, "Should I buy an $800 railpass or a €35 point-to-point ticket?". How far ahead can you buy train tickets?

European train travel FAQ

An introduction to European train travel	Senior fares (over 60)	Guide to Eurail passes (overseas visitors)
Important tips for buying European train tickets	Youth fares (under 26)	Guide to Interrail passes (for Europeans)
How to check European train times	Child fares & child age limits	Couchettes & sleepers on night trains
Do I need to book in advance?	Luggage on European trains	Train seat numbering plans
How far ahead can I book?	Luggage storage at stations	Wheelchairs & special needs
Can I stop off on the way?	Taking a bike by train	Real-time service updates
Should I travel 1st or 2nd class?	Taking a car by train	Hotels & accommodation
How long to allow for connections?	Taking dogs & pets by train	Changing stations in Paris by metro or taxi
How early to arrive at the station?	Maps of the European rail network	What to do when things go wrong...

Krakow to Warsaw & other destinations in Poland

Polish Railways - Polskie Koleje Państwowe (PKP) - has been split into two separate companies, PKP Intercity (www.intercity.pl) for long-distance trains and Przewozy Regionalne (Polregio) (polregio.pl) for regional trains.
You can book Polish domestic mainline trains such as Krakow to Warsaw at www.intercity.pl.
English button top right, and you'll need to use the Polish spellings of cities such as Krakow and Warszawa. You print your own ticket.

EIP (Express InterCity Premium) are the best trains, used mainly on the Gdynia - Warsaw - Krakow route. They are bullet-nosed high-speed pendolino trains, although in Poland they don't tilt into curves.
EIC (Express InterCity) and IC (InterCity) trains are the next best, with modern air-conditioned carriages hauled by a separate locomotive or sometimes fast electric units with restaurant car.
TLK trains (Twoje Linie Kolejowe, which means Your Railway Lines) are ordinary express trains usually using older carriages.

Seat reservation is compulsory on all EIP and most EIC, IC & TLK trains, this comes included in the ticket.

Alternatively, you can book Polish trains with reliable Polish train ticketing agency www.polrail.com who can arrange tickets for travel within Poland or for international trains starting in Poland, for example Warsaw to Moscow, or Krakow to Prague.

What are the trains like?

EIP trains: Krakow to Warsaw in 2h19 at up to 200 km/h

Introduced in 2014, the very best trains on the Polish network are modern bullet-nosed pendolinos, although in Poland they don't tilt into the curves as they do elsewhere. They operate on the Krakow-Warsaw-Gdynia route at up to 200 km/h (125 mph), with faster operation planned in the future. Reservation is compulsory and they have a bar-bistro car.


An EIP train. Photos courtesy of www.vagonweb.cz		2nd class seats.


Clean & electric EIP train.		Bar car.		1st class table for two.

EIC & IC trains

EIC & IC trains are the next rank down. Many are now operated by modern electric units like this.


Intercity train at Krakow Glowny.		2nd class seats.


1st class seats. Photos courtesy of DiscoverByRail.com.		Bistro-bar, run by caterers WARS.

EIC & IC trains, classic type

Other IC and EIC trains consist of comfortable locomotive hauled carriages like this, some open-plan, some with classic 6-seat compartments and side corridor.

A Warsaw to Krakow InterCity train at warsaw Centralna

A 6-seat compartment on a Warsaw to Krakow train

Krakow to Oswiecim (Auschwitz)

Local trains run from Krakow Glowny to Oswiecim every couple of hours taking 1h30 or so for the 64 km, fare 15 zlotys (€3.50) each way.
Use Polish Railways timetable site rozklad-pkp.pl (click EN for English) or the Polregio site polregio.pl to check train times & fares. Tip: There are some 3-hour gaps in the timetable, so check your train times beforehand!
No reservation is necessary or possible for these local trains, you can just turn up, buy a ticket and hop on. They can't sell out. Easy! Alternatively, just to save time, you can buy online at polregio.pl.
Auschwitz I is an ex-Polish army barracks in the town of Oswiecim itself about 20 minutes walk from the station - turn right outside the station then steer left into town. The infamous Arbeit Macht Frei sign is here.
Auschwitz-Birkenau II was a purpose-built concentration camp outside the town, about 25 minutes walk from the station - turn right, then turn right again at the first major road bridge across the railway.
The museum's website is auschwitz.org.

Krakow to London

See the London to Poland page for train times, fares and how to buy tickets.

Krakow to Paris from €66.90

Option 1, Krakow to Paris in a single day, possible daily except Saturdays from 10 December 2023

Remarkably, it's possible to travel from Krakow to Paris in a single day, daily except Saturdays, if you don't mind an early start.
Step 1, travel from Krakow to Berlin by EuroCity train Oder leaving Krakow Glowny at 04:13 arriving Berlin Hbf 12:06.

The EuroCity train is a comfortable air-conditioned Polish train with a restaurant car serving drinks, snacks & meals. It's an early departure, but treat yourself to a Polish cooked breakfast in the restaurant car! More about this EuroCity train.
Step 2, travel from Berlin to Paris, leaving Berlin Hbf at 13:26, change at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf, arriving Paris Gare de l'Est at 22:54.

Times and interchange station may vary. The journey involves superb high-speed ICE trains with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi from Berlin to Frankfurt and Frankfurt to Paris. At Frankfurt (Main) Hbf you've time for a coffee or a beer between trains, see my suggested places.
How much does it cost?

Krakow to Berlin starts at €27.90 in 2nd class or €37.90 in 1st class.

Berlin to Paris starts at €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.

Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

How to buy tickets
Buy tickets at the German Railways website int.bahn.de. Do a dry run first to check times and prices for both sectors.

Step 1, use int.bahn.de to book from Krakow to Berlin. Booking for Poland-Berlin trains only opens 60 days ahead.

Step 2, use int.bahn.de to book from Berlin to Paris, but before running the enquiry, click Stopovers and enter Frankfurt (Main) Hbf with a 40 minute stopover duration. If that doesn't produce a convenient 1-change option, repeat with Mannheim added instead.

Booking for this opens up to 6 months ahead, look for a journey with 1 change. You print your own tickets or can show them on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

Option 2, Krakow to Paris using the Berlin-Paris sleeper - 3 times a week, starting 10 December 2023

Step 1, travel from Krakow to Berlin on the EuroCity train Wawel, leaving Krakow Glowny at 10:00 & arriving Berlin Hbf at 17:06.

This EuroCity train is a comfortable air-conditioned Polish train with restaurant car serving drinks, snacks & meals. Treat yourself to an inexpensive lunch and a beer or two, I recommend the excellent Zurek soup & Kotlet Schabowy. More about this EuroCity train.

Fares start at €37.90 in 2nd class or €56.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Buy a ticket at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

Booking opens 60 days months ahead, you can book the sleeper and leave this until later if necessary. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone. I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets.

In Berlin, you've time for an evening stroll to the Reichstag & Brandenburg Gate, just 17 minutes walk from Berlin Hbf. Have dinner in Berlin, there are plenty of eateries at the station. The bar of the Steigenberger Hotel just outside the station makes an excellent VIP waiting room, it offers both drinks and food.
Step 2, a Nightjet sleeper leaves Berlin Hbf at 20:18 on Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays, arriving Paris Gare de l'Est 10:24.
This comfortable Austrian Nightjet sleeper train has an air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-car with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There are toilets & a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers. The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu. The train has a couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and an ordinary seats car. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment. See the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video.

This train is expected to become daily from autumn 2024.

Fares start at €49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, €59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, €89.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €109.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €159.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Buy tickets at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in plain English, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or Austrian Railways www.oebb.at (more fiddly, in €, same fares). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket.

Step 1, Krakow to Berlin on the EuroCity Wawel seen here at Krakow Glowny. Photo courtesy of Rob Romans.


2nd class. Some seats are in compartments.		1st class seats on the Wawel.

The restaurant car of the type used on the Wawel. You don't need to reserve a table, just go along and sit down. A steward will take your order.


Zurek soup - an excellent tasty starter.		Kotlet schabowy, served on proper china.

Step 2, Berlin to Paris by Nightjet sleeper train. More about Nightjets.


Deluxe sleeper. Each compartment can be used as a 1, 2 or 3-bed room. Larger photo. Video of deluxe room		Same deluxe sleeper in evening/morning mode with beds folded away, seats folded out. Larger photo.		Deluxe rooms have a compact shower & toilet, towels & hair/body wash provided. Larger photo.		Standard sleeper set up as 2-berth, washstand open. It can be used as a 1, 2 or 3 berth. Larger photo.


6-berth couchettes.		4-berth couchettes.		Nightjet couchette car.

Option 3, Krakow to Paris using the Krakow-Munich sleeper then high-speed trains to Paris - daily departures, from 10 December 2023

Step 1, travel from Krakow to Munich by sleeper train Chopin, leaving Krakow Glowny at 22:39 and arriving Munich Hbf at 10:01.
The EuroNight sleeper train Chopin has two comfortable air-conditioned Polish sleeping-cars with 1, 2 or 3 beds per compartment. Each car also has two 1 or 2 bed deluxe compartments with shower & toilet, see the photos below. It also has ordinary seats, but no couchettes. In the sleepers, a light breakfast with tea or coffee is included.
Fares start at €53.50 in a 3-bed sleeper, €68.20 in a 2-bed sleeper, or €126.70 with a single-bed sleeper all to yourself. All prices per person per bed as berths are sold individually. Prices vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book the sleeper at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, more fiddly, same prices). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket.

Tip: For dinner in Krakow before you board the sleeper, see suggested restaurants here.

Step 2, travel from Munich to Paris.
You leave Munich Hbf at 11:48 by ICE train arriving Stuttgart Hbf at 13:59. Change trains. You leave Stuttgart Hbf at 14:52 and arriving Paris Gare de l'Est at 18:16. Both ICE trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Fares start at €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book Munich to Paris at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
I recommend changing Transfer time from normal to 45 minutes.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

The modern Polish air-conditioned sleeping-car on the sleeper train Chopin.


Standard sleeper in evening/morning mode with seats folded out.		Standard sleeper in 3-berth mode, can also be set up as a single or double.		Deluxe sleeper, set up as a 2-berth, showing TV & wardrobe.		Deluxe sleeper: En suite shower & toilet. Click the photos for larger images.

Option 5, Krakow to Paris with overnight stop in Berlin

Step 1, travel from Krakow to Berlin on the EuroCity train Wawel, leaving Krakow Glowny at 10:00 & arriving Berlin Hbf at 17:06.
The EuroCity train is comfortable and air-conditioned with restaurant car, treat yourself to lunch and a beer or two.
Fares start at €27.90 in 2nd class, or €39.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
Booking from Poland opens 60 days ahead. You print your own ticket or show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

Step 2, travel from Berlin to Paris, for example leaving Berlin Hbf 07:26, changing at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf, arriving Paris Gare de l'Est 16:54.
By all means book a later departure, check times for your date at int.bahn.de.
Berlin to Frankfurt is by ICE train with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. Frankfurt-Paris is by impressive 320 km/h double-deck TGV Duplex with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Fares start at €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Buy a Berlin-Paris ticket at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
Change Transfer time from normal to 30 minutes to get a more robust connection, and look for a journey with only 1 change.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

Krakow to Berlin on the EuroCity Wawel seen here about to leave Krakow Glowny. Photo courtesy of Rob Romans.


2nd class. Some seats are in compartments.		1st class seats on the Wawel.

The restaurant car of the type used on the Wawel. You don't need to reserve a table, just go along and sit down. A steward will take your order.

Zurek soup - an excellent tasty starter.

Kotlet schabowy, served on proper china.

Krakow to Nice, Cannes, Monte-Carlo

Option 1, Krakow to Cannes or Nice using the Berlin-Paris sleeper

Day 1, travel from Krakow to Paris by Krakow-Berlin EuroCity train & Berlin-Paris sleeper, as explained in the Krakow-Paris section above.

Change stations in Paris by metro or taxi from the Gare de l'Est to Gare de Lyon.

Day 2, travel from Paris Gare de Lyon to Cannes or Nice by TGV Duplex, see timetable here.

Allow at least 2 or 3 hours between trains in Paris.

Book this at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, no booking fee).

Option 2, Krakow to Monaco, Nice or Cannes using the Vienna-Venice sleeper

Day 1, travel from Krakow to Vienna by EuroCity train, leaving Krakow Glowny at 14:06 arriving Vienna Hbf at 19:49.
The train consists of comfortable Austrian coaches, some with compartments, some open plan. A restaurant car runs in the train between Bohumin (around 16:40) and Vienna.
Fares start at €32.90 in 2nd class or €42.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book this train at the Polish Railways website www.intercity.pl.

Booking from Poland opens 60 days ahead. You print your own ticket.

If you have any problems, you can also book with reliable agency www.polrail.com for a small fee.
Day 1, travel from Vienna to Venice by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 21:40 & arriving Venice Santa Lucia at 08:34.
This comfortable Austrian Nightjet train has an air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-car with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There are toilets & a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers. The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu. The train has couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment. See the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video.

Fares start at €49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, €59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, €69.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €89.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €139.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, more fiddly, same prices). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.
Tip: If you like, you can check the formation of this train, check car numbers & see in what order cars for different destinations are marshalled using the excellent www.vagonweb.cz. Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations, scroll down to Austria & click nj.
Enjoy a few hours in Venice - St Mark's Square is only 25 minutes walk from Venice Santa Lucia station, via the Rialto bridge.

Day 2, travel from Venice to Ventimiglia on the French border, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 11:48, changing at the magnificent Milan Centrale onto a Intercity train, arriving Ventimiglia at 18:54.
It's a lovely scenic ride along the Italian Riviera between Genoa and Ventimiglia, through Savona and San Remo.

Fares start at €38.90 in 2nd class or €59.80 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book this journey at either www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, this keeps all your bookings together in one place, small booking fee). It's ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone. You can also book at www.trenitalia.com, but you'll need to use Italian-language city names.

Day 2, travel from Ventimiglia to Menton, Monte Carlo, Nice, Antibes or Cannes by TER local train, leaving Ventimiglia at 19:16, arriving Monte Carlo at 19:47, Nice Ville at 20:11 & Cannes at 20:52.
The fare is a fixed-price €8, though promotional fares of €5 or €7.50 are sometimes available. 2nd class only.

Buy a ticket at www.thetrainline.com, www.raileurope.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee) or the French Railways website, www.sncf-connect.com (in €, no booking fee).

Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show a mobile ticket on your phone.
You'll find details of the journey from Verona & Milan to Nice with photos & tips on the Nice to Italy by train page.

Step 1, Krakow to Vienna by EuroCity train, seen here at Vienna Hbf.


2nd class seats in an open-plan saloon. One of the two Austrian Krakow-Vienna cars is like this. Larger photo.		2nd class seats in a compartment. The other Austrian Krakow-Vienna car is like this. Larger photo.

Step 2, Vienna to Venice by Nightjet: A Nightjet sleeper train boarding at Vienna Hbf. More about Nightjets.


Deluxe sleeper. Each compartment can be used as a 1, 2 or 3-bed room. Larger photo. Video of deluxe room		Same deluxe sleeper in evening/morning mode with beds folded away, seats folded out. Larger photo.		Deluxe rooms have a compact shower & toilet, towels & hair/body wash provided. Larger photo.		Standard sleeper set up as 2-berth, washstand open. It can be used as a 1, 2 or 3 berth. Larger photo.


6-berth couchettes.		4-berth couchettes.		Nightjet couchette car.

Sunrise as the sleeper train crosses the causeway into Venice

Sunrise as the Nightjet crosses the causeway over the lagoon into Venice. Courtesy of Andreas Wiedenhoff.

Step 3, Venice to Milan and on to Ventimiglia by Intercity train. Above, an Intercity at the magnificent Milan Centrale.


2nd class. Larger photo.		1st class. Larger photo.

Step 4, Ventimiglia to Monaco, Nice & Cannes by TER local train. Here, a TER rolls into Juan les Pins station, between Nice & Cannes.

Coastal scenery between Nice & Ventimiglia

Coastal scenery from the upper deck of the TER from Ventimiglia to Nice & Cannes.

Krakow to Brussels from €49.90

Option 1, Krakow to Brussels in a single day - possible from 10 December 2023

Step 1, travel from Krakow to Berlin by EuroCity train Oder, leaving Krakow Glowny at 04:13, arriving Berlin Hbf 11:06.

This EuroCity train is a comfortable air-conditioned Polish train with a restaurant car serving drinks, snacks and meals. It's an early start, but the Polish restaurant car does a great cooked breakfast. More about this EuroCity train.

Step 2, travel from Berlin to Brussels, leaving Berlin Hbf at 12:56, changing at Cologne Hbf to arrive Brussels Midi 19:35.
You travel on superb German ICE trains with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

Fares start at €49.90 in 2nd class or €79.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book from Krakow to Brussels at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
To get the option shown above, click Stopovers and enter Berlin Hbf with a length of stay of 1 hour.
Booking to Poland normally opens 60 days ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

Step 1, Krakow to Berlin by EuroCity train, seen here at Krakow Glowny. Photo courtesy of Rob Romans.

2nd class. Some seats are in compartments.

1st class seats.

Restaurant car. You don't need to reserve a table, just go along and sit down. A steward will take your order.

Zurek soup - an excellent tasty starter

Kotlet schabowy, served on proper china.

Step 2, Berlin to Cologne & Cologne to Brussels by ICE. ICEs have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. This is an ICE3 at Cologne Hbf. More about ICE trains.

2nd class seats on an ICE3M. Larger photo.

1st class seats on an ICE3M. Larger photo.

Proper china, metal cutlery. I recommend the Erdinger Weissbier! See current month's menu.

Restaurant car: This is the small 12-seat restaurant area on an ICE3M. Larger photo.

Option 2, Krakow to Brussels using the Berlin-Brussels European Sleeper - 3 times a week

Step 1, travel from Krakow to Berlin on the EuroCity train Wawel, leaving Krakow Glowny at 10:00 & arriving Berlin Hbf at 17:06.

This EuroCity train is a comfortable air-conditioned Polish train called the Wawel with restaurant car serving drinks, snacks and meals. Treat yourself to an inexpensive lunch and a beer or two, I recommend the excellent Zurek soup & Kotlet Schabowy. More about this EuroCity train.

Fares start at €37.90 in 2nd class or €56.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Buy a ticket at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

Booking opens 60 days months ahead, you can book the sleeper and leave this until later if necessary. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone. I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets.

Have dinner in Berlin, there are plenty of eateries at Berlin Hbf. The bar of the Steigenberger Hotel just outside the station makes an excellent VIP waiting room, it offers both drinks and food. You've time for an evening stroll to the Reichstag and Brandenburg Gate, just 17 minutes walk from the station.

Step 2, travel from Berlin to Brussels by European Sleeper, leaving Berlin Hbf 22:56 on Tuesdays, Thursdays & Sundays arriving Brussels Midi 09:27. In winter from 7 November 2023 to 24 March 2024 it won't usually run on Thursdays, see the European Sleeper page.

The European Sleeper has a comfortable sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed rooms with washbasin, economical couchette cars with 5 & 6 berth compartments and ordinary seats. Check times at www.europeansleeper.eu as they can vary. More about the European Sleeper.
Fares start at €49 in a seat, €79 with a couchette in 6-berth, €99 with a bed in 4-berth, €109 with a bed in 3-bed sleeper, €129 with a bed in 2-bed sleeper, €159 with a bed in single-bed sleeper. All per person per berth. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book the sleeper at www.europeansleeper.eu.

Booking opens up to 6 months ahead although this can vary. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

Step 1, Krakow to Berlin on the EuroCity Wawel seen here at Krakow Glowny. Courtesy of Rob Romans.

2nd class. Some seats are in compartments.

1st class seats on the Wawel.

The restaurant car of the type used on the Wawel. You don't need to reserve a table, just go along and sit down. A steward will take your order.

Zurek soup - an excellent tasty starter

Kotlet schabowy, served on proper china.

Step 2, Berlin to Brussels by European Sleeper. This is the stainless-steel sleeping-car about to leave Berlin Hbf. Click the interior photos for larger images.

1, 2 or 3 bed sleeper, set up as a single.

5-berth couchette compartment.

Option 3, Krakow to Brussels using the Berlin-Brussels Nightjet sleeper - 3 times a week, starting 10 December 2023

Step 1, travel from Krakow to Berlin on the EuroCity train Wawel, leaving Krakow Glowny at 10:09 & arriving Berlin Hbf at 17:05.

This EuroCity train is a comfortable air-conditioned Polish train called the Wawel with restaurant car serving drinks, snacks and full meals. Treat yourself to an inexpensive lunch and a beer or two, I recommend the excellent Zurek soup & Kotlet Schabowy. More about this EuroCity train.

Fares start at €37.90 in 2nd class or €56.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Buy a ticket at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

Booking opens 60 days months ahead, you can book the sleeper and leave this until later if necessary. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone. I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets.

Have dinner in Berlin, there are plenty of eateries at Berlin Hbf. The bar of the Steigenberger Hotel just outside the station makes an excellent VIP waiting room, it offers both drinks and food. You've time for an evening stroll to the Reichstag and Brandenburg Gate, just 17 minutes walk from the station.

Step 2, a Nightjet sleeper leaves Berlin Hbf at 20:18 on Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays, arriving Brussels Midi 09:56.
This comfortable Austrian Nightjet sleeper train has an air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-car with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There are toilets & a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers. The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu. The train has a couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and an ordinary seats car. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment. See the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video.

This train is expected to become daily from autumn 2024.

Fares start at €49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, €59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, €89.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €109.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €159.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Buy tickets at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in plain English, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or Austrian Railways www.oebb.at (more fiddly, in €, same fares). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket.

Step 1, Krakow to Berlin on the EuroCity Wawel seen here at Krakow Glowny. Courtesy of Rob Romans.

2nd class. Some seats are in compartments.

1st class seats on the Wawel.

The restaurant car of the type used on the Wawel. You don't need to reserve a table, just go along and sit down. A steward will take your order.

Zurek soup - an excellent tasty starter

Kotlet schabowy, served on proper china.

Step 2, Berlin to Brussels by Nightjet. Above, a Nightjet sleeper at Berlin Hbf.


Deluxe sleeper. Each compartment can be used as a 1, 2 or 3-bed room. Larger photo. Video of deluxe room		Same deluxe sleeper in evening/morning mode with beds folded away, seats folded out. Larger photo.		Deluxe rooms have a compact shower & toilet, towels & hair/body wash provided. Larger photo.		Standard sleeper set up as 2-berth, washstand open. It can be used as a 1, 2 or 3 berth. Larger photo.


6-berth couchettes.		4-berth couchettes.		Couchette car.

Option 4, Krakow to Brussels by daytime trains with overnight stop in Berlin - departures every day

Step 1, travel from Krakow to Berlin on the EuroCity train Wawel, leaving Krakow Glowny at 10:00 & arriving Berlin Hbf at 17:06.
This EuroCity train is a comfortable air-conditioned Polish train called the Wawel with restaurant car serving drinks, snacks and meals. Treat yourself to an inexpensive lunch and a beer or two, I recommend the excellent Zurek soup & Kotlet Schabowy. More about this EuroCity train. Enjoy an evening in Berlin.
Stay overnight in Berlin. Top choice here is the InterCity Hotel Berlin Hbf (my favourite), only 200m from Berlin Hbf's main entrance, relatively inexpensive with great reviews, or if you're in the money, the excellent 5-star Steigenberger Hotel just outside the station. If you're on a budget, the cheaper 3-star Motel One Berlin-Hbf is behind the station or use www.hostelworld.com. Of course, if you really want to push the boat out, the famous Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin is next to the Brandenburg Gate just 17 minutes walk away.
Step 2, travel from Berlin to Brussels, for example leaving Berlin Hbf at 06:56, changing at Cologne Hbf and arriving Brussels Midi at 13:35.
But by all means have a leisurely breakfast and book the later 08:56 or 10:57 departures. You travel on superb ICE trains with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. Exact times may vary.

How much does it cost?
Krakow to Brussels starts at €46.90 in 2nd class, €79.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

How to buy tickets
Buy tickets at German Railways website int.bahn.de.
To get the overnight stop in Berlin, click Stopovers, enter Berlin Hbf and a suitable length of stay, say 14 hours. Set a 10:00 departure time, increase or decrease the length of stay to get the train you want from Berlin to Brussels.
Booking from Poland opens 60 days ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

Krakow to Amsterdam from €49.90

Option 1, Krakow to Amsterdam in a single day - possible from 10 December 2023

Step 1, travel from Krakow to Berlin by EuroCity train Oder, leaving Krakow Glowny at 04:13, arriving Berlin Hbf 11:06.

This EuroCity train is a comfortable air-conditioned Polish train with a restaurant car serving drinks, snacks and meals. It's an early start, but the Polish restaurant car does a great cooked breakfast. More about this EuroCity train.

Step 2, travel from Berlin to Amsterdam by Intercity train, leaving Berlin Hbf at 12:06, & arriving Amsterdam Centraal 18:00.
The Intercity train has power sockets all seats & a refreshment trolley.

Fares start at €49.90 in 2nd class or €79.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book from Krakow to Amsterdam at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
Click Stopovers and enter Berlin Hbf with a length of stay of 1 hour.
Booking to Poland normally opens 60 days ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

Step 1, Krakow to Berlin by EuroCity train seen here at Krakow Glowny. Photo courtesy of Rob Romans.

2nd class. Some seats are in compartments.

1st class seats.

Restaurant car. You don't need to reserve a table, just go along and sit down. A steward will take your order.

Zurek soup - an excellent tasty starter.

Kotlet schabowy, served on proper china.

Step 2, Berlin to Amsterdam by Intercity train. More about these Intercity trains.

1st class compartment.

2nd class.

Option 2, Krakow to Amsterdam using the Berlin-Amsterdam European Sleeper - runs 3 times a week

Step 1, travel from Krakow to Berlin on the EuroCity train Wawel, leaving Krakow Glowny at 10:00 & arriving Berlin Hbf at 17:06.

This EuroCity train is a comfortable air-conditioned Polish train called the Wawel with restaurant car serving drinks, snacks and full meals. Treat yourself to an inexpensive lunch and a beer or two, I recommend the excellent Zurek soup & Kotlet Schabowy. More about this EuroCity train.

Fares start at €37.90 in 2nd class or €56.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Buy a ticket at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

Booking opens 60 days months ahead, you can book the sleeper and leave this until later if necessary. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone. I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets.

Have dinner in Berlin, there are plenty of eateries at Berlin Hbf. The bar of the Steigenberger Hotel just outside the station makes an excellent VIP waiting room, it offers both drinks and food. You've time for an evening stroll to the Reichstag and Brandenburg Gate, just 17 minutes walk from the station.

Step 2, travel from Berlin to Amsterdam by European Sleeper, leaving Berlin Hbf at 22:56 on Tuesdays, Thursdays & Sundays arriving Amsterdam Centraal 06:31. In winter from 7 November 2023 to 24 March 2024 it won't usually run on Thursdays, see the European Sleeper page.

The European Sleeper has a comfortable sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed rooms with washbasin, economical couchette cars with 5 & 6 berth compartments and ordinary seats. Check times at www.europeansleeper.eu as they can vary. More about the European Sleeper.
Fares start at €49 in a seat, €79 with a couchette in 6-berth, €99 with a bed in 5-berth, €109 with a bed in 3-bed sleeper, €129 with a bed in 2-bed sleeper, €159 with a bed in single-bed sleeper. All per person per berth. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book the sleeper at www.europeansleeper.eu.

Booking opens up to 6 months ahead although this can vary. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

Step 1, Krakow to Berlin on the EuroCity Wawel seen here at Krakow Glowny. Courtesy of Rob Romans.

2nd class. Some seats are in compartments.

1st class seats on the Wawel.

The restaurant car of the type used on the Wawel. You don't need to reserve a table, just go along and sit down. A steward will take your order.

Zurek soup - an excellent tasty starter

Kotlet schabowy, served on proper china.

Step 2, Berlin to Amsterdam by European Sleeper. This is the stainless-steel sleeping-car about to leave Berlin Hbf. Click the interior photos for larger images.

1, 2 or 3 bed sleeper, set up as a single.

5-berth couchette compartment.

Option 3, Krakow to Amsterdam with overnight stop in Berlin - if you prefer day trains & hotel to sleepers, departures every day

Day 1, travel from Krakow to Berlin on the EuroCity train Wawel, leaving Krakow Glowny at 10:00 & arriving Berlin Hbf at 17:06.
The EuroCity train is comfortable and air-conditioned with restaurant car, treat yourself to lunch and a beer or two. Enjoy an evening in Berlin.

Stay overnight in Berlin. Top choice here is the InterCity Hotel Berlin Hbf (my favourite), only 200m from Berlin Hbf's main entrance, relatively inexpensive with great reviews, or if you're in the money, the excellent 5-star Steigenberger Hotel just outside the station. If you're on a budget, the cheaper 3-star Motel One Berlin-Hbf is behind the station or use www.hostelworld.com. Of course, if you really want to push the boat out, the famous Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin is next to the Brandenburg Gate just 17 minutes walk away.

Day 2, travel from Berlin to Amsterdam by InterCity train, leaving Berlin Hbf at 06:06 arriving Amsterdam Centraal 12:00.
Or leave Berlin Hbf at 08:06 arriving Amsterdam Centraal at 14:00.

Or book a later train, they leave every 2 hours, see the Berlin-Amsterdam timetable here.

How much does it cost?
Krakow to Amsterdam starts at €49.90 in 2nd class or €63.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

How to buy tickets
Buy tickets at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
To get the overnight stop in Berlin, click Stopovers, enter Berlin Hbf with a suitable length of stay, say 14 hours. Set departure time to 10:00, increase or decrease the length of stay to get the train you want from Berlin to Amsterdam.
Booking from Poland opens 60 days ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

Krakow to Luxembourg from €37.90

Option 1, Krakow to Luxembourg in a single day - possible from 10 December 2023

Step 1, travel from Krakow to Berlin by EuroCity train Oder, leaving Krakow Glowny at 04:13, arriving Berlin Hbf 11:06.

This EuroCity train is a comfortable air-conditioned Polish train with a restaurant car serving drinks, snacks and meals. It's an early start, but the Polish restaurant car does a great cooked breakfast. More about this EuroCity train.

Step 2, travel from Berlin to Luxembourg, leaving Berlin Hbf at 11:41, change at Cologne Hbf & Koblenz, arriving Luxembourg 21:29.
You travel on superb German ICE trains with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, then a double-deck CFL (Luxembourg Railways) regional train from Koblenz to Luxembourg.

Fares start at €49.90 in 2nd class or €79.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book from Krakow to Luxembourg at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
Before running the enquiry, change Transfer time from normal to 30 minutes.
Booking to Poland normally opens 60 days ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

Option 2, Krakow to Luxembourg using the Krakow-Munich sleeper & onwards trains - from 10 December 2023

Step 1, travel from Krakow to Munich by sleeper train Chopin, leaving Krakow Glowny at 22:39 and arriving Munich Hbf at 10:01.
The EuroNight sleeper train Chopin has two comfortable air-conditioned Polish sleeping-cars with 1, 2 or 3 beds per compartment. Each car also has two 1 or 2 bed deluxe compartments with shower & toilet, see the photos below. It also has ordinary seats, but no couchettes. In the sleepers, a light breakfast with tea or coffee is included.
Fares start at €53.50 in a 3-bed sleeper, €68.20 in a 2-bed sleeper, or €126.70 with a single-bed sleeper all to yourself. All prices per person per bed as berths are sold individually. Prices vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book the sleeper at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, more fiddly, same prices). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket.

Tip: For dinner in Krakow before you board the sleeper, see suggested restaurants here.

Step 2, travel from Munich to Luxembourg, leaving Munich Hbf at 11:56 by ICE train, changing at Nuremberg onto another ICE train and at Koblenz onto a regional train, arriving Luxembourg at 20:22.
Other options are possible, but I'd allow at least 90 minutes between trains in Munich.
Fares start at €25.90 in 2nd class or €35.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
Tip: Click Stopovers and enter Igel as a via station with length of stay zero, this eliminates rail replacement buses from the search results, as the trains call at Igel, the buses don't.
Tip: It's also a good idea to change Transfer time from normal to 30 minutes.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

Option 3, Krakow to Luxembourg with an overnight stop in Berlin - if you prefer day trains & hotel to a sleeper train

Day 1, travel from Krakow to Berlin on the EuroCity train Wawel, leaving Krakow Glowny at 10:00 & arriving Berlin Hbf at 17:06.
The EuroCity train is comfortable and air-conditioned with restaurant car, treat yourself to lunch and a beer or two. Enjoy an evening in Berlin.

Day 2, travel from Berlin to Luxembourg with a range of possible departures, for example leaving Berlin Hbf 07:45, changing at Cologne Hbf and Koblenz arriving Luxembourg at 15:23. But by all means have a leisurely breakfast and book a later train.
How much does it cost?

Krakow to Luxembourg starts at €37.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
How to buy tickets

Book at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
To get the overnight stop in Berlin, click Stopovers and enter Berlin Hbf with a suitable length of stay, say 14 hours. Set departure time to 10:00 and increase or decrease the length of stay to get the train you want from Berlin to Luxembourg.
Booking from Poland opens 60 days ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

Krakow to Zurich & Switzerland

Option 1, Krakow to Switzerland using the Krakow-Salzburg sleeper - from 10 December 2023

Step 1, travel from Krakow to Salzburg by sleeper train Chopin, leaving Krakow Glowny at 22:39 and arriving Salzburg Hbf at 07:44.
The EuroNight sleeper train Chopin has two comfortable air-conditioned Polish sleeping-cars with 1, 2 or 3 beds per compartment. Each car also has two 1 or 2 bed deluxe compartments with shower & toilet, see the photos below. It also has ordinary seats, but no couchettes. In the sleepers, a light breakfast with tea or coffee is included.
Tip: For dinner in Krakow before you board the sleeper, see suggested restaurants here.

Tip: If you have an onward 1st or business class ticket you can use the ÖBB Lounge at Salzburg Hbf, with complimentary tea, coffee & WiFi.
Fares start at €53.50 in a 3-bed sleeper, €68.20 in a 2-bed sleeper, or €126.70 with a single-bed sleeper all to yourself. All prices per person per bed as berths are sold individually. Prices vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book the sleeper at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, same prices). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket.

Step 2, travel from Salzburg to Zurich by smart Austrian railjet train, leaving Salzburg Hbf at 09:56 & arriving Zurich HB at 15:20.
This is a relaxing and scenic journey through the wonderful Arlberg Pass on a train with a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see the Arlberg Pass scenery video here. Change in Buchs for St Moritz, change in Zurich for other destinations all over in Switzerland.
Fares start at €29.90 in 2nd class, €44.90 in 1st class or €59.90 in business class (= premium 1st). Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (same prices, in €). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead, you print your own ticket.

Step 1, Krakow to Salzburg by sleeping-car. This is the modern Polish sleeping-car on the Chopin.


Standard sleeper in evening/morning mode with seats folded out.		Standard sleeper in 3-berth mode, can also be set up as a single or double.		Deluxe sleeper, set up as a double, showing TV & wardrobe.		Deluxe sleeper: En suite shower & toilet. Click the photos for larger images.

Step 2, Salzburg to Zurich by railjet via the Arlberg Pass.


Business class. About business class.		Restaurant. In 1st & business, you're served at your seat.


First class.		Economy class.

View of Salzburg as the train crosses the River Salzach

Crossing the Salzach at Salzburg: View of the Fortress Hohensalzburg on the left hand side as the railjet crosses the river after leaving Salzburg Hbf.

Cutting across Germany: From Salzburg to Kufstein the train takes a short cut through Germany without stopping, see the route map here. All fast Vienna-Salzburg-Innsbruck trains do this, they're still considered Austrian domestic trains even they spend an hour on German territory! Such a train is called a Korridorzug.

Lunch is served at your seat in first & business classes

Kufstein: The train stops at Kufstein, where the castle towers above the station.

Above right, lunch is served. In railjet first & business class, the steward takes your order & serves lunch at your seat.

Mountains near Innsbruck. The train calls briefly at Innsbruck Hbf.

River Inn: Running alongside the river Inn in the Tirol, somewhere between Ötzal & Landeck.

Arlberg Pass: Above, brooding skies over the Arlberg pass. The pass itself is long, narrow and curvaceous with the train snaking along the valley sides, often high above the valley floor.

Arlberg Tunnel: Between St Anton am Arlberg & Bludenz the train passes through the Arlberg Tunnel, 6.2 km (6.3 miles) long and opened in 1884. See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arlberg_Railway_Tunnel.


Liechtenstein: The train cuts across Liechtenstein, passing non-stop through Schaan-Vaduz station.		Sargans castle: Watch out for hilltop castles, this is the one at Sargans.

The lakes between the Austrian border and Zurich

Swiss lakes: Between Sargans & Zurich the railjet runs alongside the shore of the Walensee and then the Zürichsee.

Option 2, Krakow to Switzerland using the Vienna-Zurich sleeper

Step 1, travel from Krakow to Vienna by comfortable EuroCity train, leaving Krakow Glowny at 14:06 & arriving Vienna Hbf at 19:49.
The train consists of comfortable Austrian coaches, some with classic 6-seat compartments, some with open plan seating. A restaurant car runs in the train between Bohumin (around 16:40) and Vienna.
Fares start at €32.90 in 2nd class or €42.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book this train at the Polish Railways website www.intercity.pl.

Booking from Poland opens 60 days ahead. You print your own ticket.

If you have any problems, you can also book with reliable agency www.polrail.com for a small fee.

Step 2, travel from Vienna to Zurich by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 21:39 and arriving Zurich HB at 08:20 next morning.
This comfortable Austrian Nightjet train has two double-deck sleeping-cars with compact 1 or 2-berth compartments with washbasin, larger 1 or 2 berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet, and several 3-berth compartments with washbasin. The sleeper attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu. The train has couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment. See the Nightjet page for a guide to accommodation, travel tips & photos.

Fares start at €49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, €59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, €69.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €89.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €139.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easiest to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, same fares, more fiddly). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket.

Step 1, Krakow to Vienna by EuroCity train, seen here at Vienna Hbf.


2nd class seats in an open-plan saloon. One of the two Austrian Krakow-Vienna cars is like this. Larger photo.		2nd class seats in a compartment. The other Austrian Krakow-Vienna car is like this. See larger photo.

Double-deck sleeping-car on a Nightjet at Zurich

Step 2, Vienna to Zurich by Nightjet, overnight while you sleep. This is a double-deck sleeping-car arrived at Zurich. Courtesy of DiscoverbyRail.com.


2-berth sleeper on lower deck.		Stairs to pair of lower compartments		1 or 2-bed sleeper on lower deck with washbasin, viewed through window. Set up as 1-bed. Note how compact it is.


Nightjet couchette car.		6-berth couchettes.		4-berth couchettes.

Option 3, Krakow to Switzerland with an overnight stop in Vienna

Day 1, travel from Krakow to Vienna by EuroCity train, leaving Krakow Glowny at 14:06 arriving Vienna Hbf at 19:49.
The train consists of comfortable Austrian coaches, some with classic 6-seat compartments, some with open plan seating. A restaurant car runs in the train between Bohumin (around 16:40) and Vienna.
Fares start at €32.90 in 2nd class or €42.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book this train at the Polish Railways website www.intercity.pl.

Booking from Poland opens 60 days ahead. You print your own ticket.

If you have any problems, you can also book with reliable agency www.polrail.com for a small fee.

Stay overnight in Vienna. Hotels near the station with good reviews include the Motel One Vienna Hbf, Graetzl Hotel, Hotel Schani Wien.
Day 2, travel from Vienna to Zurich by smart Austrian railjet train, for example leaving Vienna Hbf at 09:28 arriving Zurich HB at 17:20.
Earlier or later departures are also possible, trains run every 2 hours. It's a relaxing and scenic journey through the Arlberg Pass, see the Arlberg Pass scenery video. Change in Zurich for all other destinations in Switzerland.

Fares start at €29.90 in 2nd class, €44.90 in 1st class or €59.90 in business class (= premium 1st). Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book from Vienna to any station in Switzerland at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, overseas credit cards no problem) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, same prices, more fiddly).
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket.

Krakow to Venice, Florence, Rome & Italy

Option 1, Krakow to Venice using the Vienna-Venice sleeper - a time-effective option

Step 1, travel from Krakow to Vienna by EuroCity train, leaving Krakow Glowny at 14:06 arriving Vienna Hbf at 19:49.
The train consists of comfortable Austrian coaches, some with compartments, some open plan. A restaurant car runs in the train between Bohumin (around 16:40) and Vienna.
Fares start at €32.90 in 2nd class or €42.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book this train at the Polish Railways website www.intercity.pl.

Booking from Poland opens 60 days ahead. You print your own ticket.

If you have any problems, you can also book with reliable agency www.polrail.com for a small fee.

Tip: If you'd like an afternoon in Vienna, an earlier EuroCity train leaves Krakow Glowny at 06:37 arriving Vienna Hbf at 11:49.

Step 2, travel from Vienna to Venice by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 21:40 & arriving Venice Santa Lucia at 08:34.
This comfortable Austrian Nightjet train has an air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-car with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There are toilets & a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers. The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu. The train has couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment. See the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video.

Fares start at €49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, €59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, €69.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €89.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €139.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, more fiddly, same prices). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket.
Tip: You can check the formation of this train, check car numbers & see in what order cars for different destinations are marshalled using www.vagonweb.cz. Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations, scroll down to Austria & click nj.

Step 1, Krakow to Vienna by EuroCity train, seen here at Vienna Hbf.


2nd class seats in an open-plan saloon. One of the two Austrian Krakow-Vienna cars is like this. Larger photo.		2nd class seats in a compartment. The other Austrian Krakow-Vienna car is like this. Larger photo.

Step 2, Vienna to Venice by Nightjet sleeper train. More about Nightjets.


Deluxe sleeper. Each compartment can be used as a 1, 2 or 3-bed room. Larger photo. Video of deluxe room		Same deluxe sleeper in evening/morning mode with beds folded away, seats folded out. Larger photo.		Deluxe rooms have a compact shower & toilet, towels & hair/body wash provided. Larger photo.		Standard sleeper set up as 2-berth, washstand open. It can be used as a 1, 2 or 3 berth. Larger photo.


6-berth couchettes.		4-berth couchettes.		Couchette car.

Sunrise as the Nightjet crosses the causeway over the lagoon into Venice. Courtesy of Andreas Wiedenhoff.

Option 2, Krakow to Florence & Rome using the Vienna-Rome sleeper - with an afternoon in Vienna

Step 1, travel from Krakow to Vienna by EuroCity train, leaving Krakow Glowny at 06:37 and arriving Vienna Hbf at 11:49.
Fares start at €32.90 in 2nd class or €42.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book this train at the Polish Railways website www.intercity.pl.

Booking from Poland opens 60 days ahead. You print your own ticket.

If you have any problems, you can also book with reliable agency www.polrail.com for a small fee.

Enjoy an afternoon in Vienna. Left luggage lockers are available.

Step 2, travel from Vienna to Italy by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 19:18, one portion for Verona P. Nuova 05:51, Milan Rogoredo 07:42, Genoa Piazza Principe 09:38, La Spezia 11:10, another portion for Bologna Centrale 05:15, Florence 06:52, Rome Termini 09:10.
In 2024, arrival in Florence & Rome varies: Monday-Thursday mornings it arrives Florence Campo di Marte 06:52 & Rome Termini 09:10. Friday & Sunday mornings it arrives Florence SMN 06:57, Rome Termini 10:30. Saturday mornings it arrives Florence SMN 06:18, Rome Termini 09:10.
Update: Due to trackwork, the portion of this Nightjet going to Bologna, Florence & Rome won't run from 8 June to 7 September 2024.
Each portion of this comfortable Austrian Nightjet train has an air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-car with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There are toilets & a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers. The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu. The train has couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment. See the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video.

Fares start at €49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, €59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, €69.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €89.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €139.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, a bit more fiddly, same prices). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.

The Nightjet sleeper to Florence & Rome, boarding at Vienna Hbf. More about Nightjets.


Deluxe sleeper. Each compartment can be used as a 1, 2 or 3-bed room. Larger photo. Video of deluxe room		Same deluxe sleeper in evening/morning mode with beds folded away, seats folded out. Larger photo.		Deluxe rooms have a compact shower & toilet, towels & hair/body wash provided. Larger photo.		Standard sleeper set up as 2-berth, washstand open. It can be used as a 1, 2 or 3 berth. Larger photo.


6-berth couchettes.		4-berth couchettes.		Nightjet couchette car.

Option 3, Krakow to Venice using the Krakow-Vienna sleeper

Step 1, travel from Krakow to Vienna by sleeper train Chopin, leaving Krakow Glowny at 22:39 and arriving Vienna Hbf at 04:49.
The EuroNight sleeper train Chopin has two comfortable air-conditioned Polish sleeping-cars with 1, 2 or 3 beds per compartment. Each car also has two 1 or 2 bed deluxe compartments with shower & toilet, see the photos below. It also has ordinary seats, but no couchettes. In the sleepers, a light breakfast with tea or coffee is included.
Tip: For dinner in Krakow before you board the sleeper, see suggested restaurants here.

Fares start at €43.80 in a 3-bed sleeper, €58.50 in a 2-bed sleeper, or €117 with a single-bed sleeper all to yourself. All prices per person per bed as berths are sold individually. Prices vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book the sleeper at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, more fiddly, same fares). Booking usually opens 90 days ahead. You print your own ticket.

You can check the train formation at www.vagonweb.cz. Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations, scroll down to Poland, click IC - the train is called the Chopin which leaves Warsaw with cars for Vienna, Prague & Budapest.

It's an early arrival in Vienna, but you can have a full breakfast on the railjet to Venice.

Step 2, travel from Vienna to Venice by railjet train leaving Vienna Hbf at 06:24 and arriving Venice Santa Lucia at 14:05.
The air-conditioned railjet train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. In 1st & business class, a steward takes food & drink orders and serves you at your seat.
It takes the beautifully scenic UNESCO-listed Semmering route from Vienna to Graz, a real treat - see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semmering_railway. Treat yourself to lunch with wine as the mountains glide by. See the Vienna to Venice page for more photos, tips, and a video of the journey.
Fares start at €28.30 in 2nd class, €56.60 in 1st class or €71.60 in business class (= premium 1st). Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, same fares). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket.

Step 1, Krakow to Vienna by sleeper train. This is the modern Polish sleeping-car on the EuroNight train Chopin.


Standard sleeper in evening/morning mode with seats folded out.		Standard sleeper set up as a 3-berth, can also be set up as a single or double.		Deluxe sleeper, set up as a 2-berth, showing TV & wardrobe.		Deluxe sleeper: En suite shower & toilet. Click the photos for larger images.

Step 2, Vienna to Venice by railjet. This is the afternoon railjet to Venice about to leave Vienna Hbf. More about Vienna-Venice railjets.


Restaurant. In 1st & business you're served at your seat.		Business class. About business class.


First class.		Economy class.

The railjet travels over the famous Semmering Railway, opened in 1854 and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. See the Vienna to Venice page for more information, photos & video.

Option 4, Krakow to Italy by daytime trains with an overnight stop in Vienna

Day 1, travel from Krakow to Vienna by EuroCity train, leaving Krakow Glowny at 14:06 and arriving Vienna Hbf at 19:49.
The train consists of comfortable Austrian coaches, some with compartments, some open plan. A restaurant car runs in the train between Bohumin (around 16:40) and Vienna.
Fares start at €32.90 in 2nd class or €42.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book this train at the Polish Railways website www.intercity.pl.

Booking from Poland opens 60 days ahead. You print your own ticket. If you have any problems, you can also book with reliable agency www.polrail.com for a small fee.

Stay overnight in Vienna. Hotels near the station with good reviews include the Motel One Vienna Hbf, GraetzlHotel & Hotel Schani Wien.
Day 2, travel from Vienna to Venice by railjet train via the lovely scenic Semmering route, leaving Vienna Hbf at 06:24 and arriving Venice Santa Lucia 14:05, or there's a later departure leaving Vienna Hbf at 12:24 arriving Venice Santa Lucia 20:05.
The railjet has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. More about railjets.
Fares start at €28.30 in 2nd class, €56.60 in 1st class or €71.60 in business class (= premium 1st). Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, same prices). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket.

The afternoon railjet to Venice, about to leave Vienna Hbf. More about Vienna-Venice railjets.


Restaurant. In 1st & business you're served at your seat.		Business class. About business class.


First class.		Economy class.

The railjet travels over the famous Semmering Railway, opened in 1854 and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. See the Vienna to Venice page for more information, photos & video.

Krakow to Barcelona & Spain

Option 1, Krakow to Spain using the Berlin-Paris Nightjet sleeper train, 3 times a week - the time-effective option, starts 10 December 2023

Day 1, travel from Krakow to Berlin on the EuroCity train Wawel, leaving Krakow Glowny at 10:00 & arriving Berlin Hbf at 17:06.

This EuroCity train is a comfortable air-conditioned Polish train with restaurant car serving drinks, snacks & meals. Treat yourself to an inexpensive lunch and a beer or two, I recommend the excellent Zurek soup & Kotlet Schabowy. More about this EuroCity train.

Fares start at €37.90 in 2nd class or €56.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Buy a ticket at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

Booking opens 60 days months ahead, you can book the sleeper and leave this until later if necessary. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone. I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets.

In Berlin, you've time for an evening stroll to the Reichstag & Brandenburg Gate, just 17 minutes walk from Berlin Hbf. Have dinner in Berlin, there are plenty of eateries at the station. The bar of the Steigenberger Hotel just outside the station makes an excellent VIP waiting room, it offers both drinks and food.

Day 1, travel from Berlin to Paris by Nightjet sleeper leaves Berlin Hbf at 20:18 on Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays, arriving Paris Gare de l'Est 10:24. This new sleeper starts running from 10 December 2023.
This comfortable Austrian Nightjet sleeper train has an air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-car with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There are toilets & a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers. The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu. The train has a couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and an ordinary seats car. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment. See the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video.

It's planned to increase frequency to daily from autumn 2024.

Fares start at €49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, €59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, €89.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €109.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €159.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Buy tickets at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in plain English, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or Austrian Railways www.oebb.at (in €, same fares). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket.

Change stations in Paris by metro or taxi. Have lunch in Paris, perhaps at the famous Train Bleu restaurant at the Gare de Lyon.

Day 2, travel from Paris to Barcelona by TGV Duplex, leaving Paris Gare de Lyon at 14:42 and arriving Barcelona Sants at 21:27.

This impressive 320 km/h (199 mph) double-deck TGV Duplex has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. It's a comfortable & scenic journey, I recommend an upper deck seat for the best views. More about the Paris-Barcelona journey.

Fares start at €39 in 2nd class or €59 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book this at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee) or www.sncf-connect.com (in €, no booking fee). Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show a mobile ticket on your phone.

Tip: See advice about sometimes getting a cheaper fare by split-ticketing at Perpignan.
Stay overnight in Barcelona. The Hotel Barcelo Sants is the top choice here, it's part of Barcelona Sants station so easy to use when arriving & departing by train, with great reviews & good feedback from Seat61 users. See other suggested hotels near the station.
Day 3, travel from Barcelona to Madrid, Valencia, Alicante, Cordoba, Seville, Malaga & other destinations in Spain.

Check times & buy tickets using either www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee) or Spanish railways own site www.renfe.com (in €, much more fiddly, may reject some overseas credit cards, see advice on using it) or www.petrabax.com (in $, small mark-up). You print your own ticket. Booking for Spanish trains normally opens only 60 days ahead, but this varies.

Berlin to Paris by Nightjet sleeper train. More about Nightjets.


Deluxe sleeper. Each compartment can be used as a 1, 2 or 3-bed room. Larger photo. Video of deluxe room		Same deluxe sleeper in evening/morning mode with beds folded away, seats folded out. Larger photo.		Deluxe rooms have a compact shower & toilet, towels & hair/body wash provided. Larger photo.		Standard sleeper set up as 2-berth, washstand open. It can be used as a 1, 2 or 3 berth. Larger photo.


6-berth couchettes.		4-berth couchettes.		Nightjet couchette car.

Paris to Barcelona by TGV. Here, a TGV Duplex is boarding at Paris Gare de Lyon. More about the Paris-Barcelona train journey.


Cafe-bar on upper deck in car 4, serving tea, coffee, soft drinks, wine, beer, snacks & microwave-style hot dishes.		2nd class seats on the upper deck. There's a mix or tables for 4 and unidirectional seating. 360º photo.


1st class upper deck seats, club duo on the left, a club quatre on the right. 360º photo.		A TGV Duplex. The 1 near the door indicates 1st class, a 2 indicates 2nd class.


Dinner from the cafe-bar.		View from the train, passing Béziers.

Mt Canigou & the Pyrenees. One of the highest peaks in the mighty Pyrenees, the 2,784m (9,137 feet) high Mt Canigou dominates the skyline on the right all the way from Perpignan to Girona, see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canigou.

Option 2, Krakow to Barcelona with an overnight stop in Cologne

Day 1, travel from Krakow to Berlin on the EuroCity train Wawel, leaving Krakow Glowny at 10:00 & arriving Berlin Hbf at 17:06, change in Berlin for a high-speed ICE train to Cologne, arriving 22:09.

The EuroCity train is comfortable and air-conditioned with restaurant car - treat yourself to lunch and a beer or two. The ICE has a restaurant car, power sockets at seats & free WiFi.

Fares from Krakow to Cologne start at €37.90 in 2nd class, or €49.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book from Krakow to Cologne at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
I recommend changing Transfer time from normal to 30 minutes. Look for journeys with just 1 change.
Booking from Poland opens 60 days ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets.
Stay overnight in Cologne. Starting with the cheapest, hotels near to Cologne Hauptbahnhof with good reviews include the Breslauer Hof Am Dom, Hotel Domspitzen, CityClass Hotel Europa am Dom, Hilton Cologne, Excelsior Hotel Ernst am Dom.

Day 2, travel from Cologne to Paris by Eurostar (formerly Thalys), leaving Cologne Hbf at 08:44 arriving Paris Gare du Nord at 12:05.

Eurostar trains have 3 classes, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. More about Eurostar (formerly Thalys).

Fares start at €35 in 2nd class or €72 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Cross Paris to the Gare de Lyon and perhaps have lunch at the celebrated Train Bleu restaurant inside the Gare de Lyon.

Day 2, travel from Paris to Barcelona by TGV Duplex, leaving Paris Gare de Lyon at 14:42 and arriving Barcelona Sants at 21:27.

This impressive 320 km/h (199 mph) double-deck TGV Duplex has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. I recommend an upper deck seat for the best views, any seat number >60 is upper deck.

It's a scenic ride, the train passes Beziers cathedral, flamingos on the lakes between Montpelier & Narbonne, the historic Fort de Salses right by the tracks before Perpignan, with great views of the imposing 2,784m Mt Canigou as the train rounds the southern end of the Pyrenees, see more photos & information about the journey.

Fares start at €39 in 2nd class or €59 in 1st class. Again, fares vary like air fares, so book ahead for the cheapest prices.

Stay overnight in Barcelona. The Hotel Barcelo Sants is the top choice here, it's part of Barcelona Sants station so easy to use when arriving & departing by train, with great reviews & good feedback from Seat61 users. See other suggested hotels near the station.

Day 3, travel from Barcelona to other Spanish cities by high-speed train.
For Madrid: AVE-S103 high-speed trains link Barcelona Sants with Madrid Atocha every hour or two in as little as 2h30 from €35.

For Granada: Leave Barcelona Sants at 06:45 by AVE S112 high-speed train arriving Granada at 13:10.

For Malaga: Leave Barcelona Sants at 08:35 by AVE-S112 high-speed train arriving Malaga Maria Zambrano at 14:51.

For Cordoba & Seville: Leave Barcelona Sants at 08:35 by AVE-S112 high-speed train arriving Cordoba 13:42 & Seville Santa Justa 14:32.

For Valencia & Alicante: EuroMed trains link Barcelona Sants with Valencia & Alicante regularly through the day, for example one leaves Barcelona Sants at 07:15 Mondays-Saturdays arriving Valencia Joaquin Sorolla 10:10 & Alicante 12:38 or at 10:15 every day arriving Valencia Joaquin Sorolla 13:13 & Alicante 15:32.

For Santiago de Compostela, A Coruna & Vigo, there's a morning Alvia train to Galicia, see details here.

Book this at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (in €, £ or $, both very easy to use, small booking fee), www.petrabax.com (in $, also easy to use, small mark-up) or Spanish Railways' own site www.renfe.com (in €, much more fiddly, see this advice on using it). You'll find cheap Promo and Promo+ fares if you book in advance. You print your own ticket.

Option 3, Krakow to Barcelona via Geneva

Day 1, travel from Krakow to Salzburg by sleeper train Chopin, leaving Krakow Glowny at 22:39 and arriving Salzburg Hbf at 07:44.
The EuroNight sleeper train Chopin has two comfortable air-conditioned Polish sleeping-cars with 1, 2 or 3 beds per compartment. Each car also has two 1 or 2 bed deluxe compartments with shower & toilet, see the photos below. It also has ordinary seats, but no couchettes. In the sleepers, a light breakfast with tea or coffee is included.
Tip: For dinner in Krakow before you board the sleeper, see suggested restaurants here.
Tip: If you have an onward 1st or business class ticket you can use the ÖBB Lounge at Vienna Hbf, with complimentary tea, coffee & WiFi.
Fares start at €53.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €68.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €126.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book the sleeper at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, same prices). Booking usually opens 90 days ahead. You print your own ticket.

Day 2, travel from Salzburg to Geneva, leaving Salzburg Hbf at 09:56 by railjet train, change at Zurich HB, arriving Geneva 18:47.
This is a relaxing and scenic journey through the wonderful Arlberg Pass on a train with a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see the Arlberg Pass scenery video. Zurich to Geneva is by Swiss Intercity train with restaurant car.
Fares start at €39.90 in 2nd class, €54.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book from Vienna to Geneva at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, same prices). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.

Stay overnight in Geneva. Hotels with good reviews near the station include Hotel Cornavin Genève, Hotel Les Arcades, ibis Styles Geneva Gare. Hotels in Switzerland can be expensive, if you're on a budget you can book budget private rooms in a one-star hotel or backpacker hostel near the station using www.hostelworld.com.

Day 3, travel from Geneva to Barcelona, leaving Geneva at 07:14, change Lyon Part Dieu & Montpelier St-Roch, arriving Barcelona Sants 16:31.
Geneva to Lyon is by TER regional train along the river Rhône, Lyon to Montpelier is by TGV with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, Montpelier to Barcelona is by TGV Duplex also with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
The TGV Duplex passes Beziers cathedral, flamingos on the lakes between Montpelier & Narbonne, the historic Fort de Salses right by the tracks before Perpignan, with great views of the imposing 2,784m Mt Canigou as the train rounds the southern end of the Pyrenees, see more photos & information about the journey.

Geneva-Lyon costs a fixed-price €33.40. Lyon-Barcelona starts at €39 in 2nd class or €59 in 1st class, book ahead for the cheapest prices.
Book from Geneva to Barcelona at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee) or the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, no booking fee). Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your own tickets or can show a mobile ticket on your phone.

Day 3, travel from Barcelona to Madrid, Valencia, Alicante and so on by high-speed train.

A high-speed AVE leaves Barcelona Sants at 18:25, arriving Madrid Atocha 20:55, with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

A fast EuroMed train leaves Barcelona Sants at 18:15 arriving Valencia Joaquin Sorolla 21:07 & Alicante 23:40.

For Granada, Seville, Cordoba & Malaga, stay in Barcelona overnight, I recommend the Hotel Barcelo Sants inside the station. Next morning direct high-speed AVE trains leave Barcelona Sants at 06:45 for Granada and 08:35 for Cordoba, Seville Santa Justa & Malaga Maria Zambrano.

Check times & buy tickets using either www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee) or Spanish railways own site www.renfe.com (in €, much more fiddly, may reject some overseas credit cards, see advice on using it) or www.petrabax.com (in $, small mark-up). You print your own ticket.

Booking for Spanish trains normally opens only 60 days ahead, but this varies. Allow at least 60 minutes between trains in Barcelona.

Krakow to Lisbon & Portugal

Days 1 & 2, travel from Krakow to Barcelona as shown above.
Day 3, travel from Barcelona to Madrid in 2h40 by AVE high-speed train.

Stay overnight in Madrid. The classic Hotel Mediodia is across the road from Atocha with good reviews, or try the NH Hotel Madrid Atocha or Only YOU Hotel Atocha, also across the road from the station.

Day 4, travel from Madrid to Lisbon by train as shown in detail on the Madrid to Lisbon page.

Change in Lisbon for trains to Porto or Faro & the Algarve, booked separately at the Portuguese Railways website www.cp.pt.

Krakow to Berlin, Cologne, Frankfurt, Hamburg & Germany

Option 1, Krakow to Berlin by EuroCity train - the recommended daytime option

Two EuroCity trains now link Krakow with Berlin every day:
Leave Krakow Glowny at 04:13 every day on the EuroCity train Oder, arriving Berlin Hbf 11:06.
Leave Krakow Glowny at 10:00 every day on the EuroCity train Wawel, arriving Berlin Hbf 17:06.
Change in Berlin for onward connections to Hamburg, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt & Cologne, using either departure.

Fares start at €27.90 in 2nd class or €39.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Buy tickets from Krakow to anywhere in Germany at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
Booking from Poland opens 60 days ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.
Tip: If you'd like an overnight stop in Berlin before travelling onwards to Cologne, Dusseldorf, Hamburg & so on, click Stopovers and enter Berlin Hbf with a length of stay of (say) 12 hours.

The Wawel from Krakow to Berlin, about to leave Krakow Glowny. Photos courtesy of Rob Romans.


2nd class. Some seats are in compartments.		1st class seats on the Wawel.

The restaurant car of the type used on the Wawel. You don't need to reserve a table, just go along and sit down. A steward will take your order.

Zurek soup - an excellent tasty starter.

Kotlet schabowy, served on proper china.

The Wawel at Berlin Hbf.

Option 2, Krakow to Berlin via Warsaw from €37.90

This takes significantly longer - and usually costs a bit more - than taking the direct Krakow-Berlin Wawel. However, if you absolutely have to leave Krakow an hour or two later than the Wawel leaves, it's an option.
You take a fast InterCity Express (EIC) or bullet-nosed InterCity Express Premium (EIP) or older TLK train from Krakow Glowny to Warsaw Centralna in as little as 2h19, then a comfortable EuroCity train from Warsaw Centralna to Berlin Hbf in around 5h30. I recommend allowing at least 40 minutes in Warsaw between trains in case of any delay.
Fares start at €37.90 in 2nd class, €56.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
To find times and buy tickets, use the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

Booking from Poland opens 60 days ahead.

Why not stop off for a few hours in Warsaw? Perhaps have lunch in the old town between trains. Click Stopovers, enter WARSAW and the length of stay you want in hours. The Palace of Culture is just across the road from Warsaw Centralna station, and Warsaw's old town square is just 20 minutes walk away. For lunch, I heartily recommend the U Fukiera restaurant on the inner square, www.ufukiera.pl.


Step 1, by EIP train Krakow to Warsaw. Courtesy of www.vagonweb.cz		2nd class seats on a bullet-nosed EIP.


EIP train.		The on board cafe-bar.		1st class.

Step 2, by EuroCity train from Warsaw to Berlin with air-conditioned 1st & 2nd class coaches, most with compartments and side corridor like this, others with open-plan seating.


1st class compartment.		2nd class. Some seats are in compartments.

Option 3, Krakow to Berlin by sleeper train via Stettin

Step 1, travel overnight by sleeper train leaving Krakow Glowny around 23:10 and arriving Szczecin Glowny at 07:38 next morning.
Times vary significantly so check your date online.
The basic fare is 88 zlotys (€20) plus around 59 zlotys (€14) for a couchette or around €50 for a bed in a 2-bed sleeper.
Book this train at the Polish Railways website www.intercity.pl.
Booking in Poland opens 30 days ahead. You print your own ticket.
Tip: For dinner in Krakow before you board the sleeper, see suggested restaurants here.

Step 2, travel from Stettin (Szczecin) to Berlin on bus+regional train, leaving Stettin Glowny at 11:06, change Angermünde arriving Berlin Hbf 13:28. The Stettin-Angermunde part of this journey is currently a rail replacement bus due to major longer-term trackwork.
You may prefer to leave Stettin Glowny at 11:01 by regional train, change at Pasewalk onto another regional train, arriving Berlin Hbf 13:28. To get this route you have to enter Pasewalk as a via.
By all means see something of Stettin and take a later train. The fare is around €13.80, even bought at the station on the day, if you use a VBB Ticket - VBB is the Berlin transport authority. You can check times & prices at the VBB website www.vbb.de/fahrinfo.


Polish sleeping-car.		2-bed sleeper, day mode.

Krakow to Munich, Stuttgart, Nuremberg & Southern Germany

Option 2, Krakow to Munich by sleeper train - the time-effective option, starting 10 December 2023

The EuroNight sleeper train Chopin leaves Krakow Glowny at 22:39, arriving Munich Hbf at 10:01.
The EuroNight sleeper train Copin has two comfortable air-conditioned Polish sleeping-cars with 1, 2 or 3 beds per compartment. Each car also has two 1 or 2 bed deluxe compartments with shower & toilet, see the photos below. It also has ordinary seats, but no couchettes. In the sleepers, a light breakfast with tea or coffee is included.
Fares start at €53.50 in a 3-bed sleeper, €68.20 in a 2-bed sleeper, or €126.70 with a single-bed sleeper all to yourself. All prices per person per bed as berths are sold individually. Prices vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, same prices). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.
Change in Munich for onward trains to other destinations in southern Germany, for example Stuttgart. I'd allow at least 1 hour between trains in Munich. Book onward trains at the German Railways website int.bahn.de. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

Warsaw & Krakow to Munich by sleeper train. This is the modern Polish sleeping-car on the EuroNight train Chopin at Vienna Hbf.


Standard sleeper in evening/morning mode with seats folded out.		Standard sleeper set up as 3-berth, can also be set up as a single or double.		Deluxe sleeper, set up as a 2-berth, showing TV & wardrobe.		Deluxe sleeper: En suite shower & toilet. Click the photos for larger images.

Option 3, Krakow to Germany with overnight stop in Prague

Step 1, travel from Krakow to Prague on the Cracovia, leaving Krakow Glowny at 11:12 and arriving Prague Hlavni at 17:36.

The Cracovia has a bistro car with draught beer on tap and power sockets at all seats, see the Krakow to Prague page.

Fares start at €15 in 2nd class or €35 in 1st class. These are limited-availability advance -purchase fares.
Book at the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz.
Booking normally opens 60 days ahead. You print your own ticket.
Stay overnight in Prague. Hotels near the station with good reviews include the Esplanade Hotel (5-star), Falkensteiner Hotel Maria (4-star), Chopin Hotel (3-star). To stay in the old town, try the Ventana Hotel or Old Town Square Hotel (both 5-star), Grand Hotel Prague, Hotel Rott (both 4-star), Zlatý kůň Golden Horse (3-star). For dinner in Prague, consider a 6 minute 550m walk to the Restaurant Zvonice (www.restaurantzvonice.cz) which gets great reviews, see walking map. It's usually open until midnight, ideal if you're catching a sleeper. Feedback appreciated.
Step 2 for Munich: Travel from Prague to Munich by air-conditioned express train, the first one leaves Prague Hlavni at 05:35 arriving Munich Hbf 11:18, but they run every two hours so by all means take a later one, see the Prague-Munich timetable here.
Fares start at €16 in 2nd class or €39 in 1st class, not that there's much difference between classes on these trains, I'd stick with 2nd. These are limited-availability advance -purchase fares.
Book at the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz.
Booking normally opens 90 days ahead. You print your own ticket.

Step 2 for Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Nuremberg: Book from Prague to Frankfurt, Stuttgart or Nuremberg at the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz. Booking normally opens 90 days ahead. You print your own ticket or show it on your phone. Tip: Click More options, click Travel via and enter Cheb in the via box to see cheap fares and avoid travel by bus. More information here.

Krakow to Vienna, Salzburg & Austria from €32.90

Option 1, Krakow to Vienna by daytime train - the leisurely daytime option

06:37 departure:
From 10 December 2023 there's a second direct daytime EuroCity train from Krakow to Vienna called the Danubius, leaving Krakow Glowny at 06:37 and arriving Vienna Hbf at 11:49.

The Danubius has one Austrian 1st class car with open-plan seating and two Polish 2nd class cars with 6-seat compartments. Refreshments available.

Change at Vienna Hbf for Linz, Salzburg & Innsbruck.

14:06 departure:
A EuroCity train called the Porta Moravica leaves Krakow Glowny at 14:06 every day, arriving Vienna Hbf 19:49.
The train consists of comfortable Austrian coaches, some with compartments, some open plan. A restaurant car runs in the train between Bohumin (leaving around 16:40) and Vienna. Change at Vienna Hbf for Salzburg Hbf.
Change at Vienna Hbf for Linz & Salzburg.

You can check the train formation & see photos of the cars inside and out if you go to www.vagonweb.cz, Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations, scroll down to Austria, click EC then locate your specific train, EuroCity EC105 Porta Moravica.
Tip: Most people prefer open-plan saloon seating cars. If you are a group of 5 or 6 family or friends you may prefer a compartment car.
Tip: The one and only 1st class car (car 352) on this train is normally a Swiss Railways panorama car on loan to ÖBB, a real treat. If there was ever a feature worth paying extra for 1st class, this is it!
Fares start at €32.90 in 2nd class or €42.90 in 1st class.
Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book at the Polish Railways website www.intercity.pl.

Unfortunately, ÖBB (Austrian Railways) cannot e-ticket these trains, so cannot sell tickets for them in this direction.

Booking from Poland opens 60 days ahead. You print your own ticket.

If you have any problems, you can also book with reliable agency www.polrail.com for a small fee.

The Krakow to Vienna Porta Moravica at Vienna Hbf.


2nd class seats in an open-plan saloon. One of the two Austrian Krakow-Vienna cars is like this. Larger photo.		2nd class seats in a compartment. The other Austrian Krakow-Vienna car is like this. Larger photo.

Option 2, Krakow to Vienna, Linz, Salzburg by sleeper train - the time-effective option, from 10 December 2023

The EuroNight sleeper train Chopin leaves Krakow Glowny at 22:39, arriving Vienna Hbf 04:49, Linz Hbf 06:21, Salzburg Hbf 07:44.
The EuroNight sleeper train Chopin has two comfortable air-conditioned Polish sleeping-cars with 1, 2 or 3 beds per compartment. Each car also has two 1 or 2 bed deluxe compartments with shower & toilet, see the photos below. It also has ordinary seats, but no couchettes. In the sleepers, a light breakfast with tea or coffee is included.
Tip: If you're going to Vienna, consider booking the sleeper to Linz or even Salzburg, have breakfast, then hop on a train back to Vienna taking 1h15 from Linz or 2h30 from Salzburg. See the Salzburg-Vienna information here. Or look at option 3, which can be cheaper.
Fares from Krakow to Vienna start at €43.80 in a 3-bed sleeper, €58.50 in a 2-bed sleeper, or €117 with a single-bed sleeper all to yourself.

Fares from Krakow to Salzburg start at €53.50 in a 3-bed sleeper, €68.20 in a 2-bed sleeper, or €126.70 in a single-bed sleeper.

All prices per person per bed as berths are sold individually. Prices vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, same prices). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.
Change at Salzburg Hbf for onward trains to Innsbruck or Graz.

Warsaw & Krakow to Austria by sleeper train. This is the modern Polish sleeping-car on the EuroNight train Chopin at Vienna Hbf.


Standard sleeper in evening/morning mode with seats folded out.		Standard sleeper set up as 3-berth, can also be set up as a single or double.		Deluxe sleeper, set up as a 2-berth, showing TV & wardrobe.		Deluxe sleeper: En suite shower & toilet. Click the photos for larger images.

Option 3, Krakow to Vienna using the Krakow-Bratislava sleeper train - often cheaper than option 2 and with a more civilised arrival time!

Day 1, travel from Krakow to Bratislava by EuroNight sleeper train, leaving Krakow Glowny at 22:39 and arriving Bratislava Hlavna 06:02.
The train has a modern air-conditioned Polish sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, and two deluxe compartments with en suite toilet & shower, see the photos below. It also has a couchette car with 4 & 6 bunk compartments, and ordinary seats. In the sleepers, a light breakfast with tea or coffee is included.
Fares start at €39 in couchettes or €74 in a 2-bed sleeper. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

To book, try using the Polish Railways website www.intercity.pl.

Booking opens 60 days ahead. You print your own ticket. They only enabled online booking for this route in 2022, so let me know how it goes if you book this way.

Alternatively, book through reliable Polish ticketing agency www.polrail.com (their booking system is at booking.polrail.com) who can arrange ticket collection in Krakow.
Day 2, travel from Bratislava to Vienna by regional express, leaving Bratislava Hlavna at 06:35 arriving Vienna Hbf 07:44.

These regional express trains run every hour. More about Bratislava to Vienna trains. Important: If travelling between 4 March & 14 December 2024, see the update here.

The fare is €11.60, fixed-price, unlimited availability.

Buy at the station on the day or at www.thetrainline.com or www.oebb.at.

Krakow to Copenhagen, Gothenburg, Oslo, Stockholm & Scandinavia

Option 1, Krakow to Copenhagen in a single day - possible from 10 December 2023

Remarkably, you can now travel from Krakow to Copenhagen in a single day by train, if you don't mind an early start:
Leave Krakow Glowny at 04:13, change at Berlin Hbf & Hamburg Hbf arriving Copenhagen at 19:34.

You travel from Krakow to Berlin by Polish EuroCity train with restaurant car (this does a good cooked breakfast), then Berlin to Hamburg by ICE with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, then Hamburg to Copenhagen by Danish EuroCity train with power sockets at all seats & a refreshment trolley.

Fares start at €51.90 in 2nd class or €79.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book this train at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

Booking from Poland opens up to 60 days ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets.

For Malmö:

A same day connection is possible by Oresund train, these run from Copenhagen to Malmö Central 2 or 3 times an hour taking 39 minutes.

Book from Krakow to Malmö as one transaction at int.bahn.de, fares from Krakow to Malmö start at €56.90.

For Gothenburg:

A same day connection to Gothenburg is possible by Oresund train, these run 2 or 3 times an hour, journey time 39 minutes.

Book from Krakow to Gothenburg as one transaction at int.bahn.de. Gothenburg is listed as Göteborg Central. Fares from Krakow to Gothenburg start at €56.90.

Stay overnight in Copenhagen: The friendly Astoria Hotel is a 1930s design classic right outside Copenhagen station main entrance, see photos & information here. Other hotels near the station with good reviews include the Nimb Hotel (5-star luxe), Radisson Blu Royal Hotel (5-star), Axel Guldsmeden (4-star), Andersen Boutique Hotel, First Hotel Mayfair (3-star), Hotel Ansgar (3-star), City Hotel Nebo (2-star).

For Stockholm:

Next day, travel from Copenhagen to Stockholm by X2000 train leaving Copenhagen at 08:19 and arriving Stockholm Central 13:33.

Book this at www.sj.se or Omio.com. Or you can book from Krakow to Stockholm at int.bahn.de, clicking Stopovers and entering Copenhagen with a length of stay of around 12 hours to get the overnight stop. Fares from Krakow to Stockholm start at €56.90.

For Oslo & Norway:

Next day travel from Copenhagen to Oslo by train, leaving Copenhagen at 07:30, change at Gothenburg Central, arriving Oslo Sentral 15:47.

Earlier & later departures are available, see the Copenhagen-Oslo timetable & how to buy tickets here.

Alternatively, spend the day in Copenhagen and take the DFDS overnight ferry to Oslo with a comfortable private cabin with shower & toilet, sailing from Copenhagen at 16:30 (15:00 some days) and arriving Oslo at 10:00 on day 3, as shown here. This is remarkably affordable, and saves a hotel bill. Book the ferry at www.dfds.com.

Option 2, Krakow to Stockholm using the Hamburg-Stockholm sleeper train - the time-effective option

Step 1, travel from Krakow to Hamburg, leaving Krakow Glowny at 10:00, change at Berlin Hbf and arriving Hamburg Hbf at 19:22.
You travel from Krakow to Berlin by EuroCity train Wawel with restaurant car, then from Berlin to Hamburg by ICE train with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. Always allow at least an hour when connecting with a sleeper train you don't want to miss. Have dinner in Hamburg, see suggested restaurants near the station.

Fares start at €37.90 in 2nd class or €59.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book this train at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

Booking from Poland opens up to 60 days ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets.

Step 2, travel from Hamburg to Stockholm by sleeper train, leaving Hamburg Hbf at 22:03, arriving Stockholm Central 09:57 next morning.
Procured by the Swedish government and run by SJ (Swedish Railways), the train has sleeping-cars with compact 1 & 2 berth compartments with washbasin, several 1, 2 or 3 bed deluxe compartments with en suite toilet & shower, couchette cars with 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats. The sleeping-cars are former Austrian Railways AB32s, refurbished. More about the Hamburg-Stockholm sleeper train.
Fares start at €44.90 with a couchette in 6-berth, €69.90 with a couchette in 4-berth, €79.90 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or €164.90 with a single-bed sleeper all to yourself. All prices per person per bed, fares vary like air fares so book ahead.

Book tickets at SJ's website www.sj.se.

Booking opens several months ahead, You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

The inaugural Hamburg to Stockholm SJ EuroNight train in Hamburg on 1 September 2022. The author rode this first departure. More about this train.

6-berth couchettes.
Larger photo.

2-bed sleeper. Larger photo.

The inaugural train from Hamburg to Stockholm calls at Padborg, just after entering Denmark.

Typical Swedish scenery on the morning run into Stockholm.

Option 3, Krakow to Copenhagen, Malmö, Gothenburg, Oslo, Stockholm by train, with overnight stop in Berlin

Step 1, travel from Krakow to Berlin on the EuroCity train Wawel, leaving Krakow Glowny at 10:00 & arriving Berlin Hbf at 17:06.
The EuroCity train is comfortable and air-conditioned with restaurant car, treat yourself to lunch and a beer or two.

Step 2, travel from Berlin to Copenhagen, leaving Berlin Hbf at 06:38, changing at Hamburg Hbf, arriving Copenhagen at 13:34.
You travel from Berlin to Hamburg by ICE train with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, then Hamburg to Copenhagen by EuroCity train, there's no catering car so bring your own food & drink.
Later options are available if you're only going as far as Copenhagen, Malmö or Gothenburg, for example leaving Berlin Hbf 08:38, arriving Copenhagen at 15:34. If you're going to Oslo or Stockholm, stick with the earlier one.

Step 3, travel from Copenhagen to Sweden or Norway.

For Malmö, travel from Copenhagen to Malmö Central by Öresund train, these leave 2 or 3 times each hour taking 39 minutes, using the impressive Öresund fixed link.

For Gothenburg, travel from Copenhagen to Goteborg Central by Öresund train, these leave every hour taking 3h50, using the impressive Öresund fixed link.

For Stockholm, travel from Copenhagen to Stockholm by X2000 train leaving Copenhagen at 14:19 and arriving Stockholm Central at 19:37. The X2000 train crosses the water from Denmark to Sweden over the impressive Öresund fixed link.
Step 4 if you're going to Finland, stay overnight in Stockholm and travel from Stockholm to Helsinki as shown here.

How much does it cost?
Krakow to Copenhagen starts at €51.90 in 2nd class or €79.90 in 1st class.

Copenhagen to Stockholm starts at 195 SEK (€20).

Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
How to buy tickets

Book from Krakow to Copenhagen at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

To get the overnight stop in Berlin, click Stopovers, enter Berlin Hbf with a length of stay of 12 hours.

Booking from Poland opens 60 days ahead. You print your own ticket or show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

Book from Copenhagen to Malmo, Gothenburg (Goteborg Central) or Stockholm at Swedish Railways www.sj.se, or if you have any problems, Omio.com.

Hamburg to Copenhagen by EuroCity train. From June 2023, these trains are temporarily being operated by former German Railways intercity cars and a Danish electric locomotive, until new trains being built by Talgo arrive in 2024. The current trains have 1st & 2nd class, power sockets at seats, but no catering so bring your own food & drink. More about the Hamburg-Copenhagen journey.

2nd class seats are almost all open-plan like this. There are a handful of 6-seat 2nd class compartments in one of the coaches, but only a few.

The 1st class car has 6-seater compartments like this. Larger photo. Larger photo.

Copenhagen to Stockholm by tilting 200km/h X2000, seen at Stockholm Central. More about X2000 trains.


1st class on an X2000. Larger photo.		2nd class on an X2000. Larger photo.


Bistro seating on an X2000 train. Larger photo.		Bistro on an X2000 train. Larger photo.

Crossing the impressive Öresund bridge from Denmark to Sweden.

Option 4, Krakow to Copenhagen, Malmö or Stockholm by overnight ferry from Poland to Sweden

Step 1, travel from Krakow to Gdynia by air-conditioned Intercity train, in the afternoon.
The journey takes around 5h45, you'll typically find a train leaving Krakow Glowny around 11:45 with time for dinner in Gdynia.

Book at the Polish Railways site www.intercity.pl. You print your own ticket.

Tip: Book the ferry first and confirm ferry times, then book a train that arrives in Gydnia at least 2-3 hours before the ferry sails.

In Gdynia, the ferry terminal is 5.5 Km from Gdynia Glowna (main station), see station-port map, either take a taxi or use bus 150. Bus 150 leaves from bus stop 04 in Jana z Kolna, 5 minutes walk from the station, see walking map. Bus 150 runs every 15-20 minutes and takes 10 minutes, you pay the bus driver or can use the Jakdojade app.

Step 2, sail overnight from Gdynia to Karlskrona by Stena Line ferry.
There are typically 3 sailings a day, one daytime and two overnight. The most convenient overnight one leaves around 21:00 and arrives around 07:30, but there's usually a later one if you need to leave Warsaw later.

The ferry is a floating hotel with restaurants & bars, all passengers travel in a cosy private cabin with en suite toilet & shower.

Fares vary, you might pay €39 per passenger as basic fare plus €79-€89 per cabin for a private 1 or 2 bed room.

Book the ferry at www.stenaline.com and print your own ticket or show it on your phone.

Step 3, travel from Karlskrona to Copenhagen, Malmö or Stockholm by train.
In Karlskrona the ferry terminal is 10 Km from the city and station, see port-station map, either take a taxi or use bus 6. Bus number 6 runs 2 or 3 times an hour from a bus stop just outside the Stena Line ferry terminal (Verkö färjeterminalen) to Central Station, taking 23 minutes, blekingetrafiken.se. Buy a bus ticket from the ticket machine inside the ferry terminal.
Karlskrona to Copenhagen takes around 3h22 on the direct Öresund trains which leave every hour, you can reach Copenhagen by early afternoon. Tickets for these Öresund trains are fixed-price and good for any train, so buy a ticket at the station and hop on the next train.
Karlskrona to Malmö takes around 2h44 on the direct Öresund trains which leave every hour, you can reach Malmö by early afternoon. Tickets for these Öresund trains are fixed-price and good for any train, so buy a ticket at the station and hop on the next train.

Karlskrona to Stockholm takes around 4h55 with 2 changes, by local train & X2000. You reach Stockholm Central late afternoon. X2000 fares are dynamic like air fares and only good for the departure you're booked on, so I'd allow at least 2 hours between ferry and train. Book in advance for cheaper prices, in this case last minute tickets are expensive.

Book trains from Karlskrona C to Copenhagen H, Malmö or Stockholm C at www.sj.se and print your own ticket.

The ferry Stena Spirit, at Gdynia. Photos courtesy of railguideeurope.com.

2-berth cabin. Larger photo.

Krakow to Helsinki & Finland

Option 1, Krakow to Helsinki using the Finnlines ferry from Germany

Day 1, travel from Krakow to Stettin (Szczecin) by sleeper train, leaving Krakow Glowny at 21:38 and arriving Szczecin Glowny 08:54.
This is a Polish domestic sleeper train with comfy Polish sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, and 6-berth couchettes. Exact times vary.
The basic fare is around 88 zlotys (€20) plus 59 zlotys (€14) for a couchette or perhaps €50 for a bed in a 2-bed sleeper.
Book this at the Polish Railways website www.intercity.pl.
Booking opens 60 days ahead. You print your own ticket.
Day 2, travel from Stettin to Hamburg, leaving Szczecin Glowny at 11:01, changing at Bützow and arriving Hamburg Hbf at 16:16.
Later departures are possible if you'd like more time in Stettin.
Book this at the German Railways website int.bahn.de. and print your own ticket or show it on your laptop or phone.

Booking from Poland opens 60 days ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets.

Enjoy an afternoon in Hamburg.

Day 2, travel from Hamburg Hbf to Lübeck by regional train then take a bus to the Skandinavienkai ferry terminal in Travemünde.

Tip: Have dinner in Lübeck's old town, see suggested restaurant here.

Sail from Travemünde to Helsinki by Finnlines ferry. Finnlines sail from Travemünde to Helsinki every day, boarding at 23:30, sailing at 02:45 (the exact time varies) and arriving at Helsinki's Hansa Terminal in Vuosaari at 09:15 2 nights later (Day 4 from Krakow).

For full details of the transfer, check-in arrangements & ferry crossing, see the Hamburg page.

Book the ferry using the Direct Ferries website or at www.finnlines.com.

Finnlines operate the Finnstar, Finnmaid & Finnlady on the Travemünde-Helsinki route. Photo courtesy of Hubert Bartkowiak. Photos below courtesy of Chris Russell.

Standard cabin. Larger photo.

Gym with a view.

Sauna.

Option 2, Krakow to Helsinki by train to Stockholm then ferry

Step 1, travel from Krakow to Stockholm by train as shown above.
Step 2, travel from Stockholm to Helsinki either by direct overnight cruise ferry, or by daytime or overnight ferry to Turku and connecting train to Helsinki as shown on the Trains & ferries from Stockholm page.

Krakow to Prague from €15

Option 1, Krakow to Prague by sleeper train

There is a safe & comfortable sleeper train from Krakow to Prague, see the Krakow to Prague sleeper page.

Krakow to Prague by sleeper. Above, the Czech sleeping-car to Krakow boarding at Prague Hlavni. More about this train.


Standard sleeper set up as a 2-berth, with blind down & washstand open. Each room can be used with 1, 2 or 3 beds. Enlarge photo.		Same sleeper with berths folded away & seats folded out. Very similar to a deluxe, but without the shower & toilet.		Deluxe sleepers are similar to standard ones, but with a bit more floorspace & shower & toilet instead of washstand.		Just like a hotel, the corridor in a Comfortline sleeping-car. There's a shower at end of the corridor for standard sleeper passengers.

Option 2, Krakow to Prague by daytime train

A daytime train called the Cracovia leaves Krakow Glowny every day at 11:12, arriving Prague Hlavni at 17:36.

It has comfortable air-conditioned carriages with power sockets at all seats, and a bistro car with draught beer on tap, or by all means take your own picnic, see the Prague to Krakow by train page.
Fares start at €15 in 2nd class or €35 in 1st class. These are limited-availability advance -purchase fares.
Book at the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz.
Booking opens 60 days ahead. You print your own ticket.

The Cracovia's 1st class & bistro car. Courtesy of Philip Dyer-Perry.

1st class seats, in the bistro car on one side of the central kitchen

2nd class open-plan seats. There are also seats in classic 6-seat compartments.

Enjoy an inexpensive meal with wine in the bistro.

Option 3, Krakow to Prague Leo Express day train from €13.70

Leo Express (www.le.cz) runs a high-quality air-conditioned train between Krakow & Prague in competition with Czech and Polish Railways. It now runs 4 times a week, see the Prague to Krakow by train page. Book online at www.leoexpress.com.

Krakow to Budapest & Bratislava

Option 1, Krakow to Bratislava & Budapest by EuroCity train - the leisurely daytime option

A train leaves Krakow Glowny at 11:12 every day & arrives Bratislava Hlavna 17:04 & Budapest Nyugati 19:49.

The train consists of two 2nd class seats cars which leave Krakow attached to the Krakow-Prague Cracovia as far as Bohumin, then get coupled to the Warsaw-Budapest EuroCity train Batory.

The Krakow-Bratislava-Budapest through cars are comfortable, modern & air-conditioned with 2nd class seats. One car has classic 6-seat compartments, the other has open-plan seating. If you insist on going 1st class you will have to switch trains at Bohumin at around 13:25 where the through car is switched between trains. I recommend sticking with 2nd class which is absolutely fine in these comfortable modern cars.

A Czech bistro car is available from Krakow to Bohumin and a Hungarian restaurant car is available from Bohumin to Budapest.
Fares start at €20 if booked in advance online. It is not possible to book 1st class online.
Buy tickets at the Polish Railways website www.intercity.pl.

Booking opens 60 days ahead. You print your own ticket.

You can also buy tickets from Krakow to Budapest at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu, see my advice for using it. You print your own ticket or can show it in the MAV app on your phone.

If you have any trouble you can book with recommended Polish ticketing agency www.polrail.com (their booking system is at booking.polrail.com) who can arrange ticket collection in Krakow.

The northbound Budapest-Krakow through cars at Katowice attached to the rear of the Prague-Krakow Cracovia.


One Budapest-Krakow car has 6-seat compartments like this. Click the images for larger photos.		...the other Budapest-Krakow car has open-plan seats, wheelchair space, bike compartment.

Option 2, Krakow to Bratislava & Budapest by sleeper train - safe, comfortable & time-effective

A EuroNight sleeper train leaves Krakow Glowny at 22:39 every night arriving Bratislava Hlavna at 06:02 & Budapest Nyugati at 08:29.

The Chopin has a modern air-conditioned Polish sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin plus two 1 or 2 bed deluxe compartments with en suite toilet & shower. It also has a couchette car with economical 4 & 6 bunk compartments. In the sleeping-car or couchettes this train is a comfortable, safe & time-effective option.

Bought at the station, full-price fares per person per bed are €92 in 6-berth couchettes, €96 in 4-berth couchettes, €96 in a 3-bed sleeper, €103 in a 2-bed sleeper, €173 in a single-bed sleeper.

Cheap SparNight fares are available in limited numbers from €39 in couchettes and €74 in a 2-bed sleeper, but must be booked more than 3 days before departure, preferably more. Fares vary like air fares.
To book, try using the Polish Railways website www.intercity.pl.

Booking opens 60 days ahead. You print your own ticket. They only enabled online booking for this route in 2022, so let me know how it goes if you try booking this way!

Alternatively, book through reliable Polish ticketing agency www.polrail.com (their booking system is at booking.polrail.com) who can arrange ticket collection in Krakow.

Update: PKP are short of sleeping-cars at the moment, so on this route they cannot guarantee that the latest type of sleeping-car with the two deluxe compartments as shown below won't be substituted by a regular sleeping-car without the two deluxe compartments. For this reason they've stopped taking bookings for the deluxe compartments, all compartments are booked as standard compartments, you may of course get lucky and end up in a deluxe!

Tip: In Krakow, look on the departure boards for a train shown as going to Bohumin, as that's where the various portions of this night train for Vienna, Budapest & Prague split up. For dinner in Krakow before you board the sleeper, see suggested restaurants here.

The modern Polish sleeping-car on the Warsaw-Krakow-Budapest train at Budapest Nyugati.


Standard sleeper in evening/morning mode with seats folded out.		Standard sleeper in 3-berth mode, can also be set up as a single or double.		Deluxe sleeper, set up as a 2-berth, showing TV & wardrobe.		Deluxe sleeper: En suite shower & toilet. Click the photos for larger images.

Polish couchette car on the Warsaw-Krakow-Budapest train with 4 & 6 berth compartments.

6-berth couchettes. Larger photo

Krakow to Brasov, Bucharest & Romania from €46.30

Option 1, Krakow to Romania using a sleeper from Budapest - fastest option

Step 1, travel from Krakow to Budapest by train, leaving Krakow Glowny at 11:12 & arriving Budapest Nyugati 19:49.

The train consists of two 2nd class seats cars which leave Krakow attached to the Krakow-Prague Cracovia as far as Bohumin, then get coupled to the Warsaw-Budapest EuroCity train Varsovia.

The Krakow-Bratislava-Budapest through cars are comfortable, modern & air-conditioned with 2nd class seats. If you insist on going 1st class you will have to switch trains at Bohumin at around 13:25 where the through car is switched between trains. I recommend sticking with 2nd class. A Czech bistro car is available from Krakow to Bohumin and a Hungarian restaurant car is available from Bohumin to Budapest.

Fares start at €20 if booked in advance online. It is not possible to book 1st class online.

Buy tickets at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu, see my advice for using it. Booking opens 60 days ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it in the MAV app on your phone.

If you have any trouble with www.mavcsoport.hu you can book with recommended Polish ticketing agency www.polrail.com (their booking system is at booking.polrail.com) who can arrange ticket collection in Krakow.

Transfer from Nyugati station to Keleti station by tram, metro or taxi.
Step 2, travel from Budapest to Romania on the Dacia Express, leaving Budapest Keleti at 22:45 arriving Sighisoara 09:13, Brasov 12:36 & Bucharest Gara de Nord 15:06.

The Dacia Express has a modern air-conditioned Romanian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin plus several with en suite shower & toilet, a Romanian couchette car with 4-berth & 6-berth compartments, and ordinary seats. There's wonderful almost Alpine scenery through the Carpathian mountains between Brasov and Bucharest, a real treat.

The Dacia Express also conveys a portion from Vienna to Cluj Napoca, also leaving Vienna Hbf at 19:42 and arriving Cluj Napoca at 10:47. This portion has a Romanian couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats.

Buy tickets at the Romanian Railways website bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro. Click EN top right for English. Booking opens up to 90 days ahead. For Bucharest type Bucuresti. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.

You can also buy tickets at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu, see my advice for using it. Booking opens 60 days ahead. You show your ticket in the MAV app on your phone.

Step 1, Krakow to Budapest by train. Above, these are the northbound Budapest-Krakow through cars seen at Katowice attached to the rear of the Prague-Krakow Cracovia.

One Budapest-Krakow car has 6-seat compartments like this. Click the images for larger photos.

...the other Budapest-Krakow car has open-plan seats, wheelchair space, bike compartment.

Step 2, Budapest to Romania by sleeper train Dacia Express. The Dacia Express has one or at peak times two air-conditioned Romanian sleeping-cars, seen here at Bucharest. You can check the train formation at www.vagonweb.cz. Courtesy of @PaliparanDotCom

Sleepers: Each compartment can be sold as a single, double (as here) or triple. Most compartments have a washbasin as shown, two compartments have a shower & toilet. Beds fold away to form a private sitting room for day use. Larger photo.

Couchettes: 4 & 6-berth, bedding is provided. Larger photo.

The Dacia Express has one couchette car, seen here at Bucharest. Courtesy of @PaliparanDotCom.

Transylvania: The Dacia Express crosses rural Transylvania. Courtesy of @PaliparanDotCom.

The Carpathian mountains: Almost Alpine scenery between Brasov & Bucharest. Courtesy of @PaliparanDotCom

Option 2, Krakow to Romania with an overnight stop in Budapest - if you prefer daytime trains & hotel to sleepers

Day 1, travel from Krakow to Budapest by train, leaving Krakow Glowny at 11:12 & arriving Budapest Nyugati 19:49.

The train consists of two 2nd class seats cars which leave Krakow attached to the Krakow-Prague Cracovia as far as Bohumin, then get coupled to the Warsaw-Budapest EuroCity train Varsovia.

The Krakow-Bratislava-Budapest through cars are comfortable, modern & air-conditioned with 2nd class seats. If you insist on going 1st class you will have to switch trains at Bohumin at around 13:25 where the through car is switched between trains. Just stick with 2nd class.

A Czech bistro car is available from Krakow to Bohumin and a Hungarian restaurant car is available from Bohumin to Budapest.

Fares start at €20 when booked in advance online. It is not possible to book 1st class online.

Buy tickets at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu, see my advice for using it.

Booking opens 60 days ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it in the MAV app on your phone.

If you have any trouble with www.mavcsoport.hu you can book with recommended Polish ticketing agency www.polrail.com (their booking system is at booking.polrail.com) who can arrange ticket collection in Krakow.

Transfer from Nyugati station to Keleti station by tram, metro or taxi.

Stay overnight in Budapest. Top choice for an inexpensive stay next to Budapest Keleti is the Intercity Hotel just across the square in front of the station. Also try the Royal Park Boutique Hotel, the inexpensive Baross City Hotel across the road or the Elit Hotel two minutes walk away. Of course, if you want to push the boat out, the luxurious Corinthia Hotel opened in 1896 was almost certainly the inspiration for the 2014 film The Grand Budapest Hotel, 20 minutes walk or 9 minutes by taxi from Keleti station. More hotels in Budapest.

Day 2, travel from Budapest to Romania by comfortable air-conditioned Intercity train. These link Budapest Keleti with Cluj, Timisoara, Craiova, Sibiu, Sinaia, Brasov & Ploesti. It's an all-day daytime run across Transylvania, see the Trains from Budapest page for details.

Fares start at €26.30 in 2nd class or (on trains which have 1st class) €40.50 in 1st class.

Buy tickets at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu, see my advice for using it.

Booking opens 60 days ahead. You show your ticket in the MAV app on your phone.

You can also book at the Romanian Railways website bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro. Click EN top right for English. Booking opens up to 90 days ahead. For Bucharest type Bucuresti. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.

The morning train from Budapest to Bucharest at Budapest Keleti, with modern air-conditioned Romanian carriages.

One of the three carriages includes a bar complete with bar stools.

Comfortable 2nd class seats in an air-conditioned Romanian carriage. Larger photo.

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Krakow to Ljubljana, Zagreb, Split & Dubrovnik

Option 1, Krakow to Vienna by sleeper, on to Ljubljana & Zagreb by daytime train. - time-effective and scenic

Step 1, travel from Krakow to Vienna by sleeper train Chopin, leaving Krakow Glowny at 22:39 and arriving Vienna Hbf at 04:49.
The EuroNight sleeper train Chopin has two comfortable air-conditioned Polish sleeping-cars with 1, 2 or 3 beds per compartment. Each car also has two 1 or 2 bed deluxe compartments with shower & toilet, see the photos below. It also has ordinary seats. In the sleepers, a light breakfast with tea or coffee is included.
Tip: For dinner in Krakow before you board the sleeper, see suggested restaurants here.
Tip: If you have a 1st class ticket for the onward train, you can use the ÖBB 1st class lounge at Vienna Hbf between trains, with free WiFi and complimentary tea & coffee.
Fares start at €43.50 in a 3-bed sleeper, €58.20 in a 2-bed sleeper, or €116.70 with a single-bed sleeper all to yourself. All prices per person per bed as berths are sold individually. Prices vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book the sleeper at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, more fiddly, same prices). Booking usually opens 90 days ahead. You print your own ticket.

Step 2, travel from Vienna to Ljubljana by EuroCity train Emona, leaving Vienna Hbf at 07:58 and arriving Ljubljana at 14:00. For Zagreb, change at Zidani Most and arrive Zagreb at 17:10.
The Emona has comfortable air-conditioned Slovenian and Austrian carriages and an elegant restaurant car serving snacks, meals, beer and wine. The journey is a treat, it travels via the beautiful UNESCO-listed Semmering route through the mountains between Vienna & Graz then passes through more great scenery into Slovenia.

Fares start at €29.90. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, more fiddly, same prices). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket.

Step 3 for Split & Dubrovnik: Stay overnight in Zagreb and take a train to Split next day, a lovely scenic ride. Then take a bus from Split to Dubrovnik. See the Trains from Zagreb page for details.

Option 2, Krakow to Ljubljana & Zagreb with an overnight stop in Vienna - if you prefer day trains and hotel to sleepers

Day 1, travel from Krakow to Vienna by comfortable EuroCity train, leaving Krakow Glowny at 14:06 and arriving Vienna Hbf 19:49.
The train consists of comfortable Austrian coaches, some with classic 6-seat compartments, some with open plan seating. A restaurant car runs in the train between Bohumin (around 16:40) and Vienna.
Fares start at €32.90 in 2nd class or €42.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book this train at the Polish Railways website www.intercity.pl.

Booking from Poland opens 60 days ahead. You print your own ticket.

If you have any problems, you can also book with reliable agency www.polrail.com for a small fee. Polrail can arrange ticket collection in Poland, or tickets can be sent overseas.

Stay overnight in Vienna. Hotels near the station with good reviews include the Motel One Vienna Hbf, Graetzl Hotel & Hotel Schani Wien.

Day 2, travel from Vienna to Ljubljana by EuroCity train Emona, leaving Vienna Hbf at 07:58 and arriving Ljubljana at 14:00.
For Zagreb, change at Zidani Most and arrive Zagreb at 17:10.
The Emona has comfortable air-conditioned Slovenian and Austrian carriages and an elegant restaurant car serving snacks, meals, beer and wine. The journey is a treat, it travels via the beautiful UNESCO-listed Semmering route through the mountains between Vienna & Graz then passes through more great scenery into Slovenia.

Fares start at €29.90. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, more fiddly, same prices). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket.

Step 3 for Split & Dubrovnik: Stay overnight in Zagreb and take a train to Split next day, a lovely scenic ride. Then take a bus from Split to Dubrovnik. See the Trains from Zagreb page for details.

Option 3, by daytime trains with an overnight stop in Budapest - an alternative to option 2, slightly slower but can be cheaper

Day 1, travel from Krakow to Budapest by train, leaving Krakow Glowny at 11:12 every day and arriving Budapest Nyugati 19:49.
The train consists of two 2nd class seats cars which leave Krakow attached to the Krakow-Prague Cracovia as far as Bohumin, then get coupled to the Warsaw-Budapest EuroCity train Varsovia.

The Krakow-Bratislava-Budapest through cars are comfortable, modern & air-conditioned with 2nd class seats. If you insist on going 1st class you will have to switch trains at Bohumin at around 13:25 where the through car is switched between trains. I recommend sticking with 2nd class. A Czech bistro car is available from Krakow to Bohumin and a Hungarian restaurant car is available from Bohumin to Budapest.

Fares start at €20 when booked in advance online. It is not possible to book 1st class online.

Buy tickets at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu, see my advice for using it.

Booking opens 60 days ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it in the MAV app on your phone.

If you have any trouble with www.mavcsoport.hu you can book with recommended Polish ticketing agency www.polrail.com (their booking system is at booking.polrail.com) who can arrange ticket collection in Krakow.

Stay overnight in Budapest. Top choice for an inexpensive stay next to Budapest Nyugati is the T62 Hotel just across the road, a traveller's favourite. Transfer from Nyugati to Deli station by metro or taxi.

Day 2, travel from Budapest Deli to Ljubljana or Zagreb by train as shown on the Trains from Budapest page.

Book this at the Hungarian Railways www.mavcsoport.hu, see my advice for using it. Booking opens 60 days ahead.

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Krakow to Belgrade & Montenegro

Option 1, Krakow to Belgrade with overnight stop in Zagreb

Step 1, take the overnight sleeper from Krakow to Vienna by sleeper train as explained above.

Step 2, spend a pleasant morning in Vienna, then take the afternoon EuroCity train Croatia from Vienna to Zagreb as explained here.

Stay overnight in Zagreb, I suggest the Esplanade Hotel, Palace Hotel or Central Hotel, all near the station with good reviews.

Step 3, travel from Zagreb to Belgrade by train, leaving Zagreb at 11:04 and arriving Novi Beograd 18:04 & Belgrade Centar at 18:12.
This train was suspended due to Covid-19 and remains suspended in 2024.

It's 2nd class only, with two comfortable Serbian air-conditioned cars. There's no catering car so bring your own food & drink.
The fare is around €29, buy at the station or pay on the train as this cannot be booked online.
While the train is suspended, take a bus from Zagreb to Belgrade
It's a 17-minute 1.3 km walk from Zagreb station to Zagreb bus station, see walking map.
A Flixbus leaves Zagreb bus station at 09:00, arriving Belgrade bus station at 14:30.
The fare is around €20, buy a ticket at www.flixbus.com.

Step 4 for Montenegro, take the sleeper train to Podgorica or Bar, see the Belgrade to Bar page.

Option 2, Krakow to Belgrade with overnight stop in Budapest - slower, but by train all the way

Day 1, travel from Krakow to Budapest by train, leaving Krakow Glowny at 11:12 & arriving Budapest Nyugati 19:49.

The train consists of two 2nd class seats cars which leave Krakow attached to the Krakow-Prague Cracovia as far as Bohumin, then get coupled to the Warsaw-Budapest EuroCity train Varsovia.

The Krakow-Bratislava-Budapest through cars are comfortable, modern & air-conditioned with 2nd class seats. If you insist on going 1st class you will have to switch trains at Bohumin at around 13:25 where the through car is switched between trains. Just stick with 2nd class.

A Czech bistro car is available from Krakow to Bohumin and a Hungarian restaurant car is available from Bohumin to Budapest.

Fares start at €20 when booked in advance online. It is not possible to book 1st class online.

Buy tickets at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu, see my advice for using it.

Booking opens 60 days ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it in the MAV app on your phone.

If you have any trouble with www.mavcsoport.hu you can book with recommended Polish ticketing agency www.polrail.com (their booking system is at booking.polrail.com) who can arrange ticket collection in Krakow.

Stay overnight in Budapest. The highly-recommended 3-star T62 Hotel is across the road from Budapest Nyugati and a traveller's favourite. The cheaper 3-star Star Inn Budapest Centrum is few minutes walk away. The 4-star Radisson Blu Béke Hotel is one block away.

Day 2, travel from Budapest to Belgrade as shown on the Budapest-Belgrade page.

You leave Budapest Nyugati at 05:50, change at Szeged, Subotica & Novi Sad, arriving Belgrade Centar at 20:27.

All direct Budapest-Belgrade mainline trains remain suspended until at least 2025 while the line is modernised for 200 km/h operation. However, in 2024 it's possible for the determined traveller to reach Belgrade on local trains via this somewhat round-about route. It's a long but interesting journey, with time for lunch in Subotica.

Serbian local train of the type used between Szeged & Subotica and Subotica & Novi Sad. They are air-conditioned, 2nd class only, with toilets. Courtesy of @AndyBTravels, DiscoverByRail.com.

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Krakow to Sofia

Option 1, Krakow to Sofia via Bucharest

Day 1, take the overnight sleeper from Krakow to Budapest, as shown above.

Day 2, travel from Budapest to Bucharest on the sleeper train Muntenia, leaving Budapest Keleti at 15:10 and arriving Bucharest Nord at 08:42.
The Muntenia has 4 & 6-berth couchettes and ordinary seats. A Romanian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments is attached from Arad (depart 21:04) to Bucharest. There's no catering car, so bring your own food & drink.

Fares start at €40 with a couchette in 6-berth or €47 with a couchette in 4-berth. These are limited-availability advance-purchase fares

Book this at the Romanian Railways international website bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro/en. You print your own ticket.

If you want the comfort & privacy of a proper sleeper from Arad to Bucharest, (1) book a 2nd class seat from Budapest to Arad from €17 using bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro/en. You print your own ticket. (2) Now book berths in a 1, 2 or 3-bed sleeper from Arad to Bucharest Nord at the Romanian domestic website bilete.cfrcalatori.ro and print your own ticket.

Day 3, travel from Bucharest to Sofia by daytime train as shown on the train from Bucharest page.
You leave Bucharest Nord at 10:55 and arrive Sofia Central at 20:10 after a pleasant day meandering across the Danube and through the river valleys of Bulgaria. In summer it's direct, in winter you have to switch trains at Ruse. There's no catering car, so bring your own food & drink.
The fare is around €34.

Book this at the Romanian Railways website bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro/en. You print your own ticket.

Option 2, Krakow to Sofia via Belgrade

Not currently viable while the Budapest-Belgrade, Zagreb-Belgrade and Belgrade-Sofia trains remain suspended.

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Krakow to Vilnius, Riga, Tallinn

Day 1, there's a daily train service from Krakow Glowny to Kaunas & Vilnius, see the Krakow & Warsaw to Vilnius page.

It's an early start, but this saves an overnight stop in Warsaw. It's a comfortable train, with a restaurant car - have a cooked breakfast!

Day 2, for onward travel from Vilnius to Riga in Latvia, see here.

Day 3, for onward travel from Riga to Tallinn in Estonia, see here.

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Krakow to Lviv & Kyiv

Option 1, Krakow to Lviv & Kyiv by Regiojet - running in spite of the war, comfortable, easily booked online

Private open-access train operator Regiojet runs a comfortable daily train service from Krakow to Lviv & Kyiv:
Leave Krakow Glowny at 05:05 every day, arriving Przemysl 07:33. Leave Przemysl at 09:35, arriving Lviv 12:27 & Kyiv at 19:57.

You travel from Krakow to Przemysl on a train run by Regiojet themselves (which starts in Prague), then from Przemysl to Lviv & Kyiv on a train run by partner UZ (Ukrainian Railways). Regiojet sell this combo online as a fully-integrated service, making it easy to book.

The Krakow-Przemysl train has comfortable air-conditioned seats with on-board refreshments, free bottled water, power outlets & free WiFi. The Przemysl-Lviv-Kyiv train is a smart air-conditioned Ukrainian intercity electric train, introduced in 2016, with 1st & 2nd class and cafe counter, although Regiojet only have a seat allocation in 2nd class.

Krakow to Lviv starts at €24.80
Krakow to Kyiv starts at €44.80

Fares vary by date, check your date online.

Book at www.regiojet.com.
Booking only opens a month or so ahead, so don't be impatient. You print your ticket or show it on your phone.

Option 2, by fast daytime train - comfortable and cheap, but needs to be booked on two websites

You can travel from Krakow to Lviv or Kyiv on a fast air-conditioned daytime connection:
Leave Krakow Glowny at 05:07, change at Przemysl (arrive 08:12, depart 09:35) arriving Lviv 12:27, Kyiv 19:57.

Leave Krakow Glowny at 09:35, change at Przemysl (arrive 12:10, depart 13:45) arriving Lviv 17:24, Kyiv 05:01.
The Krakow-Przemysl train is a comfortable Polish Intercity train.
The 09:45 Przemysl-Lviv-Kyiv train is a smart air-conditioned Ukrainian intercity electric train, introduced in 2016.
The 13:45 Przemysl-Lviv train is a classic Ukrainian sleeper train with 2-berth & 4-berth compartments.
First check current times for the Ukrainian train at www.uz.gov.ua/en/passengers/timetable (you may need a VPN set to a Ukrainian IP address). Then check times for a suitable Polish connecting train at Polish Railways www.intercity.pl.

Krakow to Przemysl costs around €9. Przemysl to Lviv costs around €8.

First book the Przemysl to Lviv train at Ukrainian Railways booking.uz.gov.ua/en - if it works for you (set your VPN to a Ukrainian IP address to access it). Then book the Krakow to Przemysl train at the Polish Railways website www.intercity.pl.
Alternatively, you can order Krakow to Lviv tickets through highly-recommended Polish train booking agency www.polrail.com. They charge a small fee, and either allow ticket pick up in Krakow or can send to any country worldwide.

Intercity train, Przemysl-Lviv-Kyiv.

1st class. Larger photo. Courtesy of DiscoverByRail.com.

2nd class. Larger photo. Courtesy of DiscoverByRail.

Cafe counter. Larger photo. Courtesy DiscoverByRail.

Option 3, Krakow to Kyiv via Warsaw

Take a fast InterCity train from Krakow to Warsaw (check times at www.intercity.pl) and pick up the overnight Kyiv Express from Warsaw to Kyiv, leaving Warsaw Wschodnia at 17:40 and arriving Kyiv at 12:17 next day.
This train has Ukrainian 1, 2 & 3 bed sleepers with washbasin.

Book the Warsaw-Kyiv sleeper via agency www.polrail.com with ticket collection in Warsaw. See more about the Kyiv Express and how to book it.

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Krakow to Moscow

Option 1, Krakow to Moscow via Warsaw & Belarus

An overnight sleeper train runs from Warsaw to Moscow every day, leaving Warsaw Centralna at 19:15 and arriving Moscow Belorussky at 16:58 next day. You can check times at the Russian Railways website www.rzd.ru.
Train was suspended due to Covid-19 and remains suspended due to sanctions & the war in Ukraine.

This train uses impressive Austrian-built sleeping-cars with 4-berth compartments built in 2014, see photos of this type of sleeper here & see panorama photo inside one of these modern sleepers. Each compartment can be sold as 1st class 1-berth, 1st class 2-berth or 2nd class 4-berth. The train consist of two or three sleeping-car which start their journey in Prague. There's a bistro car in Poland and a Russian restaurant car is attached between Brest (on the Polish/Belarus border) & Moscow.

You can book this train by contacting reliable Polish train ticketing agency www.polrail.com - their booking system is at booking.polrail.com. Tickets can be collected in Warsaw or (at extra charge) shipped to any address worldwide.
Alternatively, you can book with Russian Railways at www.rzd.ru although it's a little quirky and may not accept some overseas credit cards.
Don't forget to arrange both your Russian visa & Belarus transit visa as the train runs via Belarus. See my important update about travel to Russia through Belarus.

Then book a connecting ticket from Krakow to Warsaw at the Polish Railways website www.intercity.pl. I'd allow at least 2h in Warsaw between trains, just in case of delay.

Option 2, via Kyiv - avoids the need for a Belarus visa

Step 1, travel from Krakow to Warsaw on any train you like, check times & buy tickets at www.intercity.pl. You print your own ticket. I'd allow at least an hour between trains in Moscow, ideally a bit more as you're catching a once-a-day sleeper.

Step 2, travel from Warsaw to Kyiv overnight on the Kyiv Express, leaving Warsaw Wschodnia at 17:40 & arriving Kyiv at 12:17 next day, see details of fares & how to buy tickets here. Enjoy a day in Kyiv.

Step 3, travel from Kyiv to Moscow by overnight train leaving Kyiv at 19:36 arriving Moscow Kievskaya at 10:09 next morning, see details of fares & how to buy tickets here. These train were suspended due to Covid-19 and remain suspended due to the war in Ukraine.

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Krakow to Athens & Greece

Option 1, by train via Belgrade - not currently viable

There are currently no international trains to or from Greece.

Option 2, by ferry from Italy - these days, the only viable route

Step 1, travel from Krakow to Vienna by afternoon train and Vienna to Venice by Nightjet sleeper, as shown above.

Step 2, take a train from Venice to Bari, an overnight ferry to Patras, and bus+train combo to Athens as shown here.

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Krakow to Istanbul

Step 1, travel from Krakow to Bucharest as explained above. If necessary, stay overnight in Bucharest.

Step 2, travel from Bucharest to Istanbul by sleeper train as shown on the Bucharest to Istanbul page.

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Hotels in Krakow

Recommended hotels in Krakow

The 4-star Hotel Francuski is only 9 minutes walk from Krakow Glowny (main station) and 8 minutes walk from Krakow's old town square (Stare Miasto). It boats free WiFi, art nouveau grandeur and gets great reviews. The Hotel Unicus & Hotel Imperial are not far from the Hotel Francuski and similarly priced. For something slightly cheaper, try the Hotel Europejski, just 6 minutes walk from the station, 8 minutes from Krakow's old town square. For budget rooms, try B&B La Fontaine which is also well-located for the station and old town, or the Bubble Hotel which offers budget rooms and cheap beds in shared rooms.

My favourite hotel search: www.booking.com

Booking.com is my favourite hotel booking site and I generally use it to book all my hotels in one place. I've come to trust booking.com's review scores, you won't be disappointed with any hotel that scores 8.0 or more. Crucially, booking.com usually lets you book with free cancellation, which means you can confirm accommodation risk-free before train booking opens and/or you can hold accommodation while you finalise your itinerary and alter your plans as they evolve - a feature I use all the time when planning a trip. I never book hotels non-refundably!

Backpacker hostels

www.hostelworld.com: If you're on a tight budget, don't forget about backpacker hostels. Hostelworld offers online booking of cheap private rooms or dorm beds in backpacker hostels in most cities at rock-bottom prices.

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Zurek soup - an excellent tasty starter		Kotlet schabowy, served on proper china.


2nd class seats on an ICE3M. Larger photo.		1st class seats on an ICE3M. Larger photo.


Proper china, metal cutlery. I recommend the Erdinger Weissbier! See current month's menu.		Restaurant car: This is the small 12-seat restaurant area on an ICE3M. Larger photo.


1, 2 or 3 bed sleeper, set up as a single.		5-berth couchette compartment.


2-bed sleeper. Larger photo.		The inaugural train from Hamburg to Stockholm calls at Padborg, just after entering Denmark.


The ferry Stena Spirit, at Gdynia. Photos courtesy of railguideeurope.com.		2-berth cabin. Larger photo.


1st class seats, in the bistro car on one side of the central kitchen		2nd class open-plan seats. There are also seats in classic 6-seat compartments.


Polish couchette car on the Warsaw-Krakow-Budapest train with 4 & 6 berth compartments.		6-berth couchettes. Larger photo


Sleepers: Each compartment can be sold as a single, double (as here) or triple. Most compartments have a washbasin as shown, two compartments have a shower & toilet. Beds fold away to form a private sitting room for day use. Larger photo.				Couchettes: 4 & 6-berth, bedding is provided. Larger photo.


One of the three carriages includes a bar complete with bar stools.		*Comfortable 2nd class seats in an air-conditioned Romanian carriage. Larger photo.*


Intercity train, Przemysl-Lviv-Kyiv.		1st class. Larger photo. Courtesy of DiscoverByRail.com.


2nd class. Larger photo. Courtesy of DiscoverByRail.		Cafe counter. Larger photo. Courtesy DiscoverByRail.

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