 Safe & comfortable sleeper trains link Krakow with Prague, Budapest & Vienna. |
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 2025.
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
Krakow to Warsaw & other destinations in Poland
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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.
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You can book Polish 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.
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EIP (Express InterCity Premium) are PKP Intercity's premier 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.
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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). Reservation is compulsory and they have a bar-bistro car.
EIC & IC trains
EIC & IC trains are the next rank down. Many are now operated by modern electric units like this.
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.
Krakow to Oswiecim (Auschwitz)
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Local trains link Krakow Glowny with Oswiecim every hour or two taking 1h30 for the 64 km, fare 15 zlotys (€3.50) each way.
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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!
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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, you can buy online at polregio.pl.
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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.
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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.
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The museum's website is auschwitz.org.
Krakow to London
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See the London to Poland page for times, fares & tickets in either direction.
Krakow to Paris from €87.98
Option 1, Krakow to Paris in a day, daily except Saturdays
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If you don't mind an early start, you can travel from Krakow to Paris in a single day, daily except Saturdays.
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Step 1, travel from Krakow to Berlin by EuroCity train, leaving Krakow Glowny at 04:20, arriving Berlin Hbf 11:06.
The EuroCity train Oder 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.
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Step 2, travel from Berlin to Paris, leaving Berlin Hbf at 13:26, change at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf, arriving Paris Gare de l'Est 22:52.
You travel on superb high-speed ICE trains with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. At Frankfurt (Main) Hbf you've time for a coffee or a beer between trains, see my suggested places.
Incidentally, tempting as it may be, I wouldn't risk a connection with the direct 11:54 Berlin-Paris ICE.
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How much does it cost?
Krakow to Berlin starts at €27.99 in 2nd class or €37.99 in 1st class.
Berlin to Paris starts at €59.99 in 2nd class or €89.99 in 1st class.
Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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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 this doesn't produce a convenient 1-change option, repeat with Mannheim added instead.
Booking for this opens up to 6 months ahead. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check or re-print tickets at any time. You print your own tickets or can show them on your phone.
Option 2, Krakow to Paris using the Berlin-Paris sleeper - 3 times a week
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Step 1, travel from Krakow to Berlin by EuroCity, leaving Krakow Glowny at 11:56, arriving Berlin Hbf 19:06.
The EuroCity train Galicija is a comfortable air-conditioned Polish train with restaurant car. Treat yourself to an inexpensive lunch and a beer or two, I recommend the excellent zurek soup & kotlet schabowy. Earlier trains are available, see the timetable here.
Fares start at €27.99 in 2nd class, or €39.99 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. I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
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.
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Step 2, travel from Berlin to Paris by Nightjet, leaving Berlin Hbf at 19:06 on Tuesdays, Thursdays & Sundays, arriving Paris Gare de l'Est 09:39.
This comfortable Austrian Nightjet sleeper train has two air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-cars each 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 two couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes. See the guide to Nightjet accommodation.
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 $, international 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.
Option 3, Krakow to Paris using the Krakow-Munich sleeper then high-speed trains to Paris - daily departures
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Step 1, travel from Krakow to Munich by sleeper train, leaving Krakow Glowny at 22:44, arriving Munich Hbf 10:24.
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 $, international 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.
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Step 2, travel from Munich to Paris.
You leave Munich Hbf at 11:48, change at Stuttgart Hbf, arriving Paris Gare de l'Est 18:15.
You travel on superb German ICE trains with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Fares start at €39.99 in 2nd class or €69.99 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
Change Transfer time from normal to 45 minutes and look for a 1-change journey in the search results.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check or re-print tickets at any time. You print your own ticket or show it on your phone.
Option 5, Krakow to Paris with overnight stop in Berlin
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Day 1, travel from Krakow to Berlin on the EuroCity, leaving Krakow Glowny at 11:56, arriving Berlin Hbf 19:06.
The EuroCity train Galicija is comfortable and air-conditioned with restaurant car, treat yourself to lunch and a beer or two.
Earlier trains are available, see the timetable here.
Fares start at €27.99 in 2nd class, or €39.99 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. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check or re-print tickets at any time. You print your own ticket or show it on your phone.
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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.
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Day 2, travel from Berlin to Paris by ICE, leaving Berlin Hbf at 11:54, arriving Paris Gare de l'Est 19:55.
This is a direct ICE3 train with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. In 1st class, a steward takes food & drink orders and serves you at your seat. But if you prefer, there are earlier departures with a change of train:
Leave Berlin Hbf 07:57, change at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf, arriving Paris Gare de l'Est 16:52.
Leave Berlin Hbf 08:29, change at Karlsruhe, arriving Paris Gare de l'Est 18:15.
Fares start at €59.99 in 2nd class or €89.99 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Buy a ticket at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
If you're not planning to take the direct train, change Transfer time from normal to 40 minutes to get a more robust connection.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check or re-print tickets at any time. You print your own ticket or show it on your phone.
Krakow to Nice, Cannes, Monte-Carlo
Option 1, Krakow to Cannes or Nice using the Berlin-Paris sleeper
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Day 1, travel from Krakow to Paris by EuroCity train & Berlin-Paris sleeper, as explained in the Krakow-Paris section.
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Change stations in Paris by metro or taxi from the Gare de l'Est to Gare de Lyon.
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Day 2, travel from Paris Gare de Lyon to Cannes or Nice by TGV Duplex, see the 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 $, international 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
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Day 1, travel from Krakow to Vienna by EuroCity train, leaving Krakow Glowny at 13:57, arriving Vienna Hbf 19:49.
The EuroCity train Porta Moravica uses 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. Exact departure time may vary.
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 www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee). It can also be booked at www.oebb.at (a bit more fiddly, same prices, in €) or the Polish Railways website www.intercity.pl (in zlotys, a lot more fiddly).
Booking from Poland opens 60 days ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
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 and search for Porta Moravica.
Tip: If you'd like an afternoon in Vienna, an earlier EuroCity train leaves Krakow Glowny at 06:32, arriving Vienna Hbf 11:49.
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Day 1, travel from Vienna to Venice by Nightjet, leaving Vienna Hbf at 21:39, arriving Venice Santa Lucia 08:34.
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 couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes. See the guide to Nightjet accommodation.
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 $, international 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.
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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 18:59.
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 $, international 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.
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Day 2, travel from Ventimiglia to Menton, Monte Carlo, Nice, Antibes or Cannes by TER local train, leaving Ventimiglia at 19:48, arriving Monte Carlo at 20:19, Nice Ville at 20:45 & Cannes at 21:25.
The fare is a fixed-price €9.20, 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 it 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.
Krakow to Brussels from €49.99
Option 1, Krakow to Brussels in a single day
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Step 1, travel from Krakow to Berlin by EuroCity, leaving Krakow Glowny at 04:20, arriving Berlin Hbf 11:06.
This EuroCity train Oder 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.
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Step 2, travel from Berlin to Brussels, leaving Berlin Hbf at 12:57, change at Cologne Hbf, arriving Brussels Midi 19:35.
You travel on superb German ICE trains with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
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Fares start at €49.99 in 2nd class or €79.99 in 1st class.
Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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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. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check or re-print tickets at any time. You print your own ticket or show it on your phone.
Restaurant car. You don't need to reserve a table, just go along and sit down. A steward will take your order.
Step 2, Berlin to Cologne & Cologne to Brussels by ICE. Above, an ICE3neo at Brussels Midi. More about ICEs. Photo courtesy of Christian Hunt.
Option 2, Krakow to Brussels using the Berlin-Brussels European Sleeper - 3 times a week
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Step 1, travel from Krakow to Berlin by EuroCity, leaving Krakow Glowny at 11:56, arriving Berlin Hbf 19:06.
This EuroCity train Galicija is a comfortable air-conditioned Polish train with restaurant car. Treat yourself to an inexpensive lunch and a beer or two, I recommend the tasty zurek soup & kotlet schabowy. Earlier trains are available if you'd like an afternoon in Berlin, see the timetable here.
Fares start at €27.99 in 2nd class or €39.99 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. I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
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, with drinks & food. You've time for an evening stroll to the Reichstag and Brandenburg Gate, just 17 minutes walk from the station.
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Step 2, travel from Berlin to Brussels by European Sleeper, leaving Berlin Hbf at 22:56 on Tuesdays, Thursdays & Sundays, arriving Brussels Midi 09:27.
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 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.
Option 3, Krakow to Brussels using the Berlin-Brussels Nightjet sleeper - 3 times a week
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Step 1, travel from Krakow to Berlin by EuroCity, leaving Krakow Glowny at 08:02, arriving Berlin Hbf 15:06.
The EuroCity train Wawel is a comfortable air-conditioned Polish train with restaurant car. Treat yourself to an inexpensive lunch and a beer or two, I recommend the excellent zurek soup & kotlet schabowy.
Fares start at €37.99 in 2nd class or €56.99 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. I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
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.
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Step 2, travel from Berlin to Brussels by Nightjet, leaving Berlin Hbf at 19:06 on Tuesdays, Thursdays & Sundays, arriving Brussels Midi 09:55.
This comfortable Austrian Nightjet sleeper train has two air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-cars each 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 two couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes. See the guide to Nightjet accommodation.
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 $, international 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.
Option 4, Krakow to Brussels by daytime trains with overnight stop in Berlin - departures every day
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Day 1, travel from Krakow to Berlin by EuroCity, leaving Krakow Glowny at 11:56, arriving Berlin Hbf 19:06.
The EuroCity train Galicija is a comfortable air-conditioned Polish train with restaurant car. Treat yourself to an inexpensive lunch and a beer or two, I recommend the excellent zurek soup & kotlet schabowy. Enjoy an evening in Berlin.
Earlier trains are available if you'd like an afternoon in Berlin, see the timetable here.
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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.
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Day 2, travel from Berlin to Brussels, for example leaving Berlin Hbf at 06:57, change at Cologne Hbf, arriving Brussels Midi 13:35.
By all means have a leisurely breakfast and book the later 08:57 or 10:57 departures. You travel on superb ICE trains with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. Exact times may vary.
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How much does it cost?
Krakow to Brussels starts at €46.99 in 2nd class, €79.99 in 1st class.
Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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How to buy tickets
Buy tickets at German Railways website int.bahn.de.
To get the overnight stop, click Stopovers and enter Berlin Hbf with 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. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check or re-print tickets at any time. You print your own ticket or show it on your phone.
Krakow to Amsterdam from €49.99
Option 1, Krakow to Amsterdam in a single day
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Step 1, travel from Krakow to Berlin by EuroCity, leaving Krakow Glowny at 04:20, arriving Berlin Hbf 11:06.
The EuroCity train Oder is a comfortable air-conditioned Polish train with a restaurant car. It's an early start, but the Polish restaurant car does a great cooked breakfast. More about this EuroCity train.
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Step 2, travel from Berlin to Amsterdam by Intercity train, leaving Berlin Hbf at 12:06, arriving Amsterdam Centraal 17:59.
The Intercity train has power sockets all seats & a refreshment trolley.
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Fares start at €49.99 in 2nd class or €79.99 in 1st class.
Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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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. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check or re-print tickets at any time. You print your own ticket or show it on your phone.
Option 2, Krakow to Amsterdam using the Berlin-Amsterdam European Sleeper - runs 3 times a week
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Step 1, travel from Krakow to Berlin by EuroCity, leaving Krakow Glowny at 11:56, arriving Berlin Hbf 19:06.
The EuroCity train Galicija is a comfortable air-conditioned Polish train with restaurant car. Treat yourself to an inexpensive lunch and a beer or two, I recommend the excellent zurek soup & kotlet schabowy.
Earlier trains are available if you'd like an afternoon in Berlin, see the timetable here.
Fares start at €27.99 in 2nd class or €39.99 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 first and leave this until later if necessary. I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
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, with drinks & food. You've time for an evening stroll to the Reichstag and Brandenburg Gate, 17 minutes walk from the station.
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Step 2, travel from Berlin to Amsterdam by European Sleeper, leaving Berlin Hbf at 22:56 on Tuesdays, Thursdays & Sundays arriving Amsterdam Centraal 06:26.
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 couchette 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 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.
Option 3, Krakow to Amsterdam with overnight stop in Berlin - if you prefer day trains & hotel to sleepers, departures every day
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Day 1, travel from Krakow to Berlin by EuroCity, leaving Krakow Glowny at 11:56, arriving Berlin Hbf 19:06.
The EuroCity train Galicija is a comfortable air-conditioned Polish train with restaurant car. Treat yourself to an inexpensive lunch and a beer or two, I recommend the excellent zurek soup & kotlet schabowy. Enjoy an evening in Berlin.
Earlier trains are available if you'd like an afternoon in Berlin, see the timetable here.
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 11:59.
Or leave Berlin Hbf at 08:06 arriving Amsterdam Centraal 13:59.
Or book a later train, they leave every 2 hours, see the timetable here.
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How much does it cost?
Krakow to Amsterdam starts at €49.99 in 2nd class or €63.99 in 1st class.
Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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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 11:00, increase or decrease the length of stay to get the train you want from Berlin to Amsterdam.
Booking from Poland opens 60 days ahead. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check or re-print tickets at any time. You print your own ticket or show it on your phone.
Krakow to Luxembourg from €37.99
Option 1, Krakow to Luxembourg in a single day
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Step 1, travel from Krakow to Berlin by EuroCity, leaving Krakow Glowny at 04:20, arriving Berlin Hbf 11:06.
The EuroCity train Oder 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.
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Step 2, travel from Berlin to Luxembourg, leaving Berlin Hbf at 12:49, 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. Exact times may vary.
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Fares start at €49.99 in 2nd class or €79.99 in 1st class.
Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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Book from Krakow to Luxembourg at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
Before running the enquiry, (a) click Stopovers and enter Igel, leaving length of stay 00:00. This eliminates buses from the search results, as trains call at Igel, buses don't! Then (b) change Transfer time from normal to 15 minutes to avoid 7-minute connections.
Booking to Poland normally opens 60 days ahead. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check or re-print tickets at any time. You print your own ticket or show it on your phone.
Option 2, Krakow to Luxembourg using the Krakow-Munich sleeper & onwards trains
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Step 1, travel from Krakow to Munich by sleeper train, leaving Krakow Glowny at 22:44, arriving Munich Hbf 10:24.
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 $, international 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.
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Step 2, travel from Munich to Luxembourg, leaving Munich Hbf at 11:56 by ICE, change at Nuremberg onto another ICE and at Koblenz onto a regional train, arriving Luxembourg 20:23.
Other departures are available, but I'd allow at least 90 minutes between trains in Munich.
The ICE trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Fares start at €25.99 in 2nd class or €35.99 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
Before running the enquiry, click Stopovers and enter Igel with length of stay left 00:00. This eliminates buses from the search results as the trains call at Igel, the buses don't. It's also a good idea to change Transfer time from normal to 20 minutes.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check or re-print tickets at any time. You print your own ticket or show it on your phone.
Option 3, Krakow to Luxembourg with an overnight stop in Berlin - if you prefer day trains & hotel to a sleeper train
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Step 1, travel from Krakow to Berlin by EuroCity, leaving Krakow Glowny at 11:56, arriving Berlin Hbf 19:06.
The EuroCity train Galicija is a comfortable air-conditioned Polish train with restaurant car. Treat yourself to an inexpensive lunch and a beer or two, I recommend the excellent zurek soup & kotlet schabowy. Enjoy an evening in Berlin.
Earlier trains are available if you'd like an afternoon in Berlin, see the timetable here.
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.
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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 15:23. By all means have a leisurely breakfast and book a later departure.
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How much does it cost?
Krakow to Luxembourg starts at €37.99 in 2nd class or €69.99 in 1st class.
Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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How to buy tickets
Book at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
To get the overnight stop, click Stopovers and enter Berlin Hbf as stopover 1 with a suitable length of stay, say 14 hours. Then enter Igel as stopover 2 with length of stay left 00:00, this eliminates buses from the search results as they don't call at Igel, all the trains do.
Set departure time to 11:00 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. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check or re-print tickets at any time. You print your own ticket or show it on your phone.
Krakow to Zurich & Switzerland
Option 1, Krakow to Switzerland using the Krakow-Salzburg sleeper
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Step 1, travel from Krakow to Salzburg by sleeper train, leaving Krakow Glowny at 22:44, arriving Salzburg Hbf 08:30.
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 $, international 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.
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Step 2, travel from Salzburg to Zurich by railjet, leaving Salzburg Hbf at 09:56, arriving Zurich HB 15:20.
The smart Austrian 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's a relaxing and scenic journey through the wonderful Arlberg Pass, see the Arlberg Pass photos & 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 $, international 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.
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.
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.
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
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Step 1, travel from Krakow to Vienna by EuroCity, leaving Krakow Glowny at 13:57, arriving Vienna Hbf 19:49.
The EuroCity train Porta Moravica uses 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. Exact departure time may vary.
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 www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee). It can also be booked at www.oebb.at (a bit more fiddly, same prices, in €) or the Polish Railways website www.intercity.pl (in zlotys, much more fiddly).
Booking from Poland opens 60 days ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
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 and search for Porta Moravica.
Tip: If you'd like an afternoon in Vienna, an earlier EuroCity train leaves Krakow Glowny at 06:32, arriving Vienna Hbf 11:49.
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Step 2, travel from Vienna to Zurich by Nightjet, leaving Vienna Hbf at 21:39, arriving Zurich HB 08:20.
This comfortable Austrian Nightjet sleeper 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. See the Nightjet page for a guide to accommodation.
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 $, international 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.
Option 3, Krakow to Switzerland with an overnight stop in Vienna
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Day 1, travel from Krakow to Vienna by EuroCity train, leaving Krakow Glowny at 13:57, arriving Vienna Hbf 19:49.
The EuroCity train Porta Moravica uses 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. Exact departure time may vary.
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 www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee). It can also be booked at www.oebb.at (a bit more fiddly, same prices, in €) or the Polish Railways website www.intercity.pl (in zlotys, much more fiddly).
Booking from Poland opens 60 days ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
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 and search for Porta Moravica.
Tip: If you'd like an afternoon in Vienna, an earlier EuroCity train leaves Krakow Glowny at 06:32, arriving Vienna Hbf 11:49.
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Stay overnight in Vienna. Hotels near the station with good reviews include the Motel One Vienna Hbf, Graetzl Hotel, Hotel Schani Wien.
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Day 2, travel from Vienna to Zurich by railjet, for example leaving Vienna Hbf at 09:28, arriving Zurich HB 17:20.
The smart Austrian railjet trains have 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's a relaxing and scenic journey through the Arlberg Pass, see the Arlberg Pass photos & video.
Earlier or later departures are possible, these trains run every 2 hours. 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, international 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 or can show it on your phone.
Krakow to Venice, Florence, Rome & Italy
Option 1, Krakow to Venice using the Vienna-Venice sleeper - a time-effective option
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Step 1, travel from Krakow to Vienna by EuroCity train, leaving Krakow Glowny at 13:57, arriving Vienna Hbf 19:49.
The EuroCity train Porta Moravica uses 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. Exact departure time may vary.
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 www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee). It can also be booked at www.oebb.at (a bit more fiddly, same prices, in €) or the Polish Railways website www.intercity.pl (in zlotys, much more fiddly).
Booking from Poland opens 60 days 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 and search for Porta Moravica.
Tip: If you'd like an afternoon in Vienna, an earlier EuroCity train leaves Krakow Glowny at 06:32, arriving Vienna Hbf 11:49.
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Step 2, travel from Vienna to Venice by Nightjet, leaving Vienna Hbf at 21:39, arriving Venice Santa Lucia 08:34.
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 couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes. See the guide to Nightjet accommodation.
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 $, international 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.
Option 2, Krakow to Florence & Rome using the Vienna-Florence-Rome sleeper - with an afternoon in Vienna
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Step 1, travel from Krakow to Vienna by EuroCity train, leaving Krakow Glowny at 06:32, arriving Vienna Hbf 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 www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee). It can also be booked at www.oebb.at (a bit more fiddly, same prices, in €) or the Polish Railways website www.intercity.pl (in zlotys, a lot more fiddly).
Booking from Poland opens 60 days 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 and search for Danubius.
Enjoy an afternoon in Vienna. Left luggage lockers are available.
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Step 2, travel from Vienna to Italy by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 19:18.
One portion arrives Bologna Centrale 05:36, Florence SMN 06:52 & Rome Tiburtina 11:05.
Another portion arrives Verona P. Nuova 05:51, Milan Rogoredo 07:42, Genoa Piazza Principe 09:38 & La Spezia 11:10.
The portion to Bologna, Florence & Rome is a new generation Nightjet with 1 & 2 bed sleepers with shower & toilet, 4-berth comfort couchettes, individual mini cabins and ordinary seats, see the new generation Nightjet page for a guide to accommodation. The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu. A light breakfast is included in sleepers, couchettes & mini cabins.
The portion to Milan, Genoa & La Spezia 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. See the guide to Nightjet accommodation.
Fares for the new-generation Nightjet start at €59.90 in a mini cabin or 4-berth couchettes, €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.
Fares for the original Nightjets 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 $, international 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.
Munich to Florence & Rome by new-generation Nightjet. More about new-generation Nightjets.
Option 3, Krakow to Venice using the Krakow-Vienna sleeper
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Step 1, travel from Krakow to Vienna by sleeper train, leaving Krakow Glowny at 22:44, arriving Vienna Hbf 05:25.
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 $, international 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.
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Step 2, travel from Vienna to Venice by railjet, leaving Vienna Hbf at 06:24, arriving Venice Santa Lucia 14:14.
The air-conditioned Austrian 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 $, international 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.
Option 4, Krakow to Italy by daytime trains with an overnight stop in Vienna
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Day 1, travel from Krakow to Vienna by EuroCity train, leaving Krakow Glowny at 13:57, arriving Vienna Hbf 19:49.
The EuroCity train Porta Moravica uses 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. Exact departure time may vary.
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 www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee). It can also be booked at www.oebb.at (a bit more fiddly, same prices, in €) or the Polish Railways website www.intercity.pl (in zlotys, much more fiddly).
Booking from Poland opens 60 days 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 and search for Porta Moravica.
Tip: If you'd like an afternoon in Vienna, an earlier EuroCity train leaves Krakow Glowny at 06:32, arriving Vienna Hbf 11:49.
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Stay overnight in Vienna. Hotels near the station with good reviews include the Motel One Vienna Hbf, GraetzlHotel & Hotel Schani Wien.
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Day 2, travel from Vienna to Venice by railjet, leaving Vienna Hbf at 06:24, arriving Venice Santa Lucia 14:14.
Or have a leisurely breakfast and take the afternoon railjet leaving Vienna Hbf at 12:24, arriving Venice Santa Lucia 20:04.
The swish Austrian 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 photos, tips & video.
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 $, international 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.
Krakow to Barcelona & Spain
Option 1, Krakow to Spain using the Berlin-Paris Nightjet sleeper train, 3 times a week - the time-effective option
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Day 1, travel from Krakow to Berlin by EuroCity, leaving Krakow Glowny at 08:02, arriving Berlin Hbf 15:06.
The EuroCity train Wawel is a comfortable air-conditioned Polish train with restaurant car. Treat yourself to an inexpensive lunch and a beer or two, I recommend the excellent zurek soup & kotlet schabowy.
Fares start at €37.99 in 2nd class or €56.99 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. I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
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, with drinks & food. You've time for an evening stroll to the Reichstag and Brandenburg Gate, just 17 minutes walk from the station.
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Day 1, travel from Berlin to Paris by Nightjet, leaving Berlin Hbf at 19:06 on Tuesdays, Thursdays & Sundays, arriving Paris Gare de l'Est 09:39.
This comfortable Austrian Nightjet sleeper train has two air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-cars each 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 two couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes. See the guide to Nightjet accommodation.
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 $, international 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.
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Day 2, travel from Paris to Barcelona by TGV Duplex, leaving Paris Gare de Lyon at 14:42, arriving Barcelona Sants 21:29.
The impressive 320 km/h (199 mph) double-deck TGV Duplex has 1st & 2nd class, a café-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. Book an upper deck seat for the best views, any seat number above 60 is upper deck.
The train speeds along the Rhône valley past pretty villages & picturesque churches, then past Béziers cathedral, flamingos on the étangs (lakes) in southern France, the Fort de Salses approaching Perpignan and the imposing 2,784m Mt Canigou in the Pyrenees. More about the 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 it on your phone.
Tip: See advice about sometimes getting a cheaper fare by split-ticketing at Perpignan.
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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.
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Day 3, travel from Barcelona to other destinations in Spain:
For Madrid: AVE S103 high-speed trains link Barcelona Sants & Madrid Atocha every hour or two in as little as 2h30.
For Granada: Leave Barcelona Sants at 06:45 by AVE 112 high-speed train, arriving Granada at 13:11.
For Malaga: Leave Barcelona Sants at 08:35 by AVE S103 high-speed train, arriving Malaga Maria Zambrano 15:05.
For Cordoba & Seville: Leave Barcelona Sants at 08:35 by AVE S103 high-speed train, arriving Cordoba 13:27 & 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 Coruña & Vigo, there's a morning Alvia train to Galicia, see details here.
Check times & buy tickets using 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).
Booking for Spanish trains opens anything from 15 days to 9 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
Option 2, Krakow to Barcelona with an overnight stop in Cologne
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Day 1, travel from Krakow to Cologne, leaving Krakow Glowny at 08:02, change at Berlin Hbf, arriving Cologne Hbf 20:12.
You travel from Krakow to Berlin by EuroCity train Wawel, comfortable and air-conditioned with restaurant car, treat yourself to lunch and a beer or two, I recommend the zurek soup and kotlet schabowy. The ICE train has a restaurant car, power sockets at seats & free WiFi.
Fares start at €37.99 in 2nd class, or €49.99 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 a journey with just 1 change.
Booking from Poland opens 60 days ahead. I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
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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.
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Day 2, travel from Cologne to Paris by Eurostar (formerly Thalys), leaving Cologne Hbf at 08:44, arriving Paris Gare du Nord 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.
Book this at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (in €, £ or $, both very easy to use, small booking fee) or the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, no booking fee). You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
Cross Paris by taxi or metro to the Gare de Lyon and perhaps have lunch at the famous Train Bleu restaurant.
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Day 2, travel from Paris to Barcelona by TGV Duplex, leaving Paris Gare de Lyon at 14:42, arriving Barcelona Sants 21:29.
The impressive 320 km/h (199 mph) double-deck TGV Duplex has 1st & 2nd class, a café-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. Book an upper deck seat for the best views, any seat number above 60 is upper deck.
The train speeds along the Rhône valley past pretty villages & picturesque churches, then past Béziers cathedral, flamingos on the étangs (lakes) in southern France, the Fort de Salses approaching Perpignan and the imposing 2,784m Mt Canigou in the Pyrenees. More 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.
Book this at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (in €, £ or $, both very easy to use, small booking fee) or the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, no booking fee). You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
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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.
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Day 3, travel from Barcelona to other Spanish cities by high-speed train.
For Madrid: AVE S103 high-speed trains link Barcelona Sants & Madrid Atocha every hour or two in as little as 2h30.
For Granada: Leave Barcelona Sants at 06:45 by AVE 112 high-speed train, arriving Granada at 13:11.
For Malaga: Leave Barcelona Sants at 08:35 by AVE S103 high-speed train, arriving Malaga Maria Zambrano 15:05.
For Cordoba & Seville: Leave Barcelona Sants at 08:35 by AVE S103 high-speed train, arriving Cordoba 13:27 & 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 Coruña & 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).
Booking for Spanish trains opens anything from 15 days to 9 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
Option 3, Krakow to Barcelona via Geneva
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Day 1, travel from Krakow to Salzburg by sleeper train, leaving Krakow Glowny at 22:44, arriving Salzburg Hbf 08:30.
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 €53.90 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 $, international 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.
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.
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Day 2, travel from Salzburg to Geneva, leaving Salzburg Hbf at 09:56 by railjet, 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 $, international 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.
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Stay overnight in Geneva. Hotels with good reviews near the station include Hotel Cornavin Genève, Hotel Les Arcades, ibis Styles Geneva Gare. 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.
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Day 3, travel from Geneva to Lyon by TER regional train, leaving Geneva at 09:30, arriving Lyon Part Dieu 11:22.
It's a pleasant journey on spacious former inter-city cars along the river Rhône.
The fare is a fixed-price €33.40 in 2nd class, €50.80 in 1st class.
Book this at www.thetrainline.com or 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 it on your phone.
Have dinner in Lyon, see suggested restaurants near the station.
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Day 3, travel from Lyon to Barcelona by AVE, leaving Lyon Part Dieu at 14:35, arriving Barcelona Sants 19:33.
This comfortable AVE S100 high-speed train has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
It passes Béziers cathedral, flamingos on the étangs (lakes) in southern France, the Fort de Salses approaching Perpignan. Look out for the imposing 2,784m Mt Canigou as the train rounds the southern end of the Pyrenees. More about the journey.
Fares start at €39 in 2nd class or €59 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this train at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.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).
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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.
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Day 4, travel from Barcelona to other destinations in Spain:
For Madrid: AVE S103 high-speed trains link Barcelona Sants & Madrid Atocha every hour or two in as little as 2h30.
For Granada: Leave Barcelona Sants at 06:45 by AVE 112 high-speed train, arriving Granada at 13:11.
For Malaga: Leave Barcelona Sants at 08:35 by AVE S103 high-speed train, arriving Malaga Maria Zambrano 15:05.
For Cordoba & Seville: Leave Barcelona Sants at 08:35 by AVE S103 high-speed train, arriving Cordoba 13:27 & 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 Coruña & Vigo, there's a morning Alvia train to Galicia, see details here.
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 opens anything from 15 days to 9 months ahead.
Krakow to Lisbon & Portugal
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Days 1 & 2, travel from Krakow to Barcelona as shown above.
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Day 3, travel from Barcelona to Madrid in 2h40 by AVE high-speed train.
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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.
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Day 4, travel from Madrid to Lisbon by train as shown in detail on the Madrid to Lisbon page.
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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
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Three EuroCity trains now link Krakow with Berlin every day:
Leave Krakow Glowny 04:20 on the EuroCity train Oder, arriving Berlin Hbf 11:06.
Leave Krakow Glowny 08:02 on the EuroCity train Wawel, arriving Berlin Hbf 15:06.
Leave Krakow Glowny 11:56 on the EuroCity train Galicija, arriving Berlin Hbf 19:06.
Change in Berlin for onward trains to Hamburg, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt & Cologne, using either departure.
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Fares start at €27.99 in 2nd class or €39.99 in 1st class.
Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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Buy tickets from Krakow to anywhere in Germany at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
Booking from Poland opens 60 days ahead. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check or re-print tickets at any time. You print your own ticket or show it on your phone.
Tip: If you'd like an overnight stop in Berlin before travelling onwards to Cologne, Düsseldorf, Hamburg & so on, click Stopovers and enter Berlin Hbf with a length of stay of (say) 12 hours.
Option 2, Krakow to Berlin via Warsaw from €37.99
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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.
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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.
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Fares start at €37.99 in 2nd class, €56.99 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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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.
Option 3, Krakow to Berlin by sleeper train via Stettin
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Step 1, travel from Krakow to Stettin by sleeper, leaving Krakow Glowny around 22:24, arriving Szczecin Glowny 07:27.
Times vary 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.
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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-Angermünde 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.
Krakow to Munich, Stuttgart, Nuremberg & Southern Germany
Option 2, Krakow to Munich by sleeper train - the time-effective option
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The EuroNight sleeper train Chopin leaves Krakow Glowny at 22:44, arriving Munich Hbf 10:24.
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.
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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.
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Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, international 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.
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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, ideally a bit more. Book onward trains at the German Railways website int.bahn.de. You print your ticket or can show it on your phone.
Option 3, Krakow to Germany with overnight stop in Prague
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Step 1, travel from Krakow to Prague on the Cracovia, leaving Krakow Glowny at 11:12, arriving Prague Hlavni 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.
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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.
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Step 2 for Munich: Travel from Prague to Munich by air-conditioned express, 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.
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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
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06:32 departure:
The EuroCity train Danubius leaves Krakow Glowny at 06:32 every day, arriving Vienna Hbf 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. Exact departure time may vary.
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13:57 departure:
The EuroCity train Porta Moravica leaves Krakow Glowny at 13:57 every day, arriving Vienna Hbf 19:49.
The EuroCity train Porta Moravica uses 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. Exact departure time may vary.
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!
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Fares start at €32.90 in 2nd class or €42.90 in 1st class.
Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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Buy tickets at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee). You can also book at www.oebb.at (a bit more fiddly, same prices, in €) or the Polish Railways website www.intercity.pl (in zlotys, much more fiddly).
Booking from Poland opens 60 days ahead. You print your own ticket.
Option 2, Krakow to Vienna, Linz, Salzburg by sleeper train - the time-effective option
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The EuroNight sleeper train Chopin leaves Krakow Glowny at 22:44, arriving Vienna Hbf 05:25, Linz Hbf 07:13, Salzburg Hbf 08:30.
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.
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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.
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Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, international 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.
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Change at Salzburg Hbf for onward trains to Innsbruck or Graz.
Option 3, Krakow to Vienna using the Krakow-Bratislava sleeper train - often cheaper than option 2 and with a more civilised arrival time!
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Day 1, travel from Krakow to Bratislava by EuroNight sleeper train, leaving Krakow Glowny at 22:44, arriving Bratislava Hlavna 05:54.
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. 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.
If that doesn't work, book from Krakow to Budapest using the Hungarian Railways website jegy.mav.hu, see my advice for using it. You then simply get off in Bratislava.
If that doesn't work, book through reliable Polish ticketing agency www.polrail.com (their booking system is at booking.polrail.com) who can arrange ticket collection in Krakow.
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Day 2, travel from Bratislava to Vienna by regional express, leaving Bratislava Hlavna at 06:50 arriving Vienna Hbf 07:46.
These regional express trains run every hour. More about Bratislava to Vienna trains.
Important: If travelling before 5 July 2025, see the update here.
The fare is €11, fixed-price, unlimited availability.
Buy at the station on the day or at www.thetrainline.com or www.oebb.at.
Krakow to Copenhagen from €49.99
Option 1, Krakow to Copenhagen in a day
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If you don't mind an early start, you can travel from Krakow to Copenhagen in a single day:
Leave Krakow Glowny at 04:20, change at Berlin Hbf & Hamburg Hbf, arriving Copenhagen 19:38.
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 & refreshment trolley. More about the Hamburg to Copenhagen journey.
The Hamburg-Copenhagen train also calls at Kolding (for Legoland) and Odense.
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Fares start at €51.99 in 2nd class or €79.99 in 1st class.
Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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Buy a ticket at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
Booking from Poland opens up to 60 days ahead. I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
Option 2, Krakow to Copenhagen with overnight stop in Berlin
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Day 1, travel from Krakow to Berlin by EuroCity, leaving Krakow Glowny at 11:56, arriving Berlin Hbf 19:06.
The EuroCity train Galicija is a comfortable air-conditioned Polish train with restaurant car. Treat yourself to an inexpensive lunch and a beer or two, I recommend the excellent zurek soup & kotlet schabowy. Enjoy an evening in Berlin.
Earlier trains are available if you'd like an afternoon in Berlin, see the timetable here.
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 Copenhagen, with a choice of departure:
Leave Berlin Hbf 06:36, change at Hamburg Hbf, arriving Copenhagen 13:38.
Leave Berlin Hbf 08:36, change at Hamburg Hbf, arriving Copenhagen 15:38.
Leave Berlin Hbf 10:36, change at Hamburg Hbf, arriving Copenhagen 17:38.
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. More about the Hamburg-Copenhagen journey.
How much does it cost?
Fares start at €49.99 in 2nd class or €79.99 in 1st class.
Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
How to buy tickets
Book this at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
To get the overnight stop, click Stopovers, enter Berlin Hbf with a suitable length of stay, say 10 hours. Adjust the length of stay to get the trains you want either side of Berlin. A little trial & error may be needed!
Booking normally opens 60 days ahead. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check or re-print your tickets at any time. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
Option 3, Krakow to Copenhagen with an overnight stop in Hamburg
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Day 1, travel from Krakow to Hamburg with a choice of departure:
Leave Krakow Glowny at 08:02, change at Berlin Hbf, arriving Hamburg Hbf 17:57.
Leave Krakow Glowny at 11:56, change at Berlin Hbf, arriving Hamburg Hbf 22:22.
You travel from Krakow to Berlin on a comfortable Polish EuroCity train, then Berlin to Hamburg by German ICE train with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. Earlier departures are available if you prefer.
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Stay overnight in Hamburg. The Hotel Reichshof Hamburg is top choice here, just across the road 100m from the station's Kirchenallee exit, with art deco-based design and great reviews. Other hotels near Hamburg Hbf with good or great reviews include (starting with the cheapest) the Hotel Continental Novum, Hotel Furst Bismarck, Hotel Europaischer Hof, Hotel Atlantic Kempinski. If you're on a budget, cheap private rooms in the A&O Hotel near Hamburg Hbf can be booked at www.hostelworld.com.
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Day 2, travel from Hamburg to Copenhagen by EuroCity, leaving Hamburg Hbf at 08:50, arriving Copenhagen 13:38.
The EuroCity train has power sockets at all seats & a refreshment trolley. More about the Hamburg-Copenhagen journey.
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How much does it cost?
Fares start at €49.99 in 2nd class or €79.99 in 1st class.
Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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How to buy tickets
Book this at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
To get the overnight stop, click Stopovers, enter Hamburg Hbf with a suitable length of stay, say 10 hours. Adjust the length of stay to get the trains you want either side of Hamburg. A little trial & error may be needed!
Booking normally opens 60 days ahead. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check or re-print your tickets at any time. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
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.
Option 4, Krakow to Copenhagen by overnight ferry from Poland to Sweden
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Step 1, travel from Krakow to Gdynia by air-conditioned Intercity train.
The journey takes around 5h30, you'll typically find a train leaving Krakow Glowny around 12:00 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.
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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.
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.
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Step 3, travel from Karlskrona to Copenhagen 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.
Book trains from Karlskrona C to Copenhagen H at www.sj.se and print your own ticket.
Krakow to Stockholm & Sweden
Option 1, Krakow to Stockholm using the Berlin-Stockholm sleeper train - the time-effective option
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Step 1, travel from Krakow to Berlin by EuroCity, leaving Krakow Glowny at 08:02, arriving Berlin Hbf 15:06.
The EuroCity train has a restaurant car, treat yourself to lunch and a beer or two, I recommend the zurek soup and kotlet schabowy. Allow at least an hour when connecting with a sleeper train, ideally more.
Fares start at €27.99 in 2nd class or €49.99 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. I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
In Berlin, the bar of the Steigenberger Hotel just outside the station makes an excellent VIP waiting room with drinks & food. You've time for a stroll to the Reichstag and Brandenburg Gate, just 17 minutes walk from the station.
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Step 2, travel from Berlin to Stockholm by sleeper, leaving Berlin Hbf at 18:34 (17:25 Saturdays), arriving Stockholm Central 09:55.
Run by SJ (Swedish Railways), this EuroNight sleeper train has one or two 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 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats. A bistro car is attached between Malmö and Stockholm. 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.
Option 2, Krakow to Stockholm & Sweden with overnight stop in Copenhagen
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Day 1, you can travel from Krakow to Copenhagen in a single day, if you don't mind the early start:
Leave Krakow Glowny at 04:20, change at Berlin Hbf & Hamburg Hbf, arriving Copenhagen 19:38.
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 & refreshment trolley. More about the Hamburg to Copenhagen journey.
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For Malmö, hop on the next Öresund train from Copenhagen to Malmö Central, these run every 15 minutes taking 40 minutes.
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For Gothenburg, a same day connection is usually possible by Öresund train, arriving after midnight. Or travel next day.
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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).
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For Stockholm:
Day 2, travel from Copenhagen to Stockholm by X2000, leaving Copenhagen at 08:21, arriving Stockholm Central 13:34.
SJ's X2000 trains have a bistro, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. They use the impressive Öresund fixed link from Sweden to Denmark.
Update 2025: Unfortunately, SJ is short of X2000s and until further notice you'll need to change at Malmö:
On Mondays-Fridays, leave Copenhagen 08:59, change at Malmö Central, arriving Stockholm Central 14:39.
On Saturdays & Sundays, leave Copenhagen 08:44, change at Malmö Central, arriving Stockholm Central 14:32.
Or there are earlier & later departures, check times at www.sj.se or Omio.com.
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How much does it cost?
Krakow to Copenhagen starts at €49.90 in 2nd class or €79.90 in 1st class.
Copenhagen to Stockholm starts at 280 SEK (€28).
There are through fares from Krakow to Malmö & Gothenburg from €56.99 in 2nd class, €79.99 in 1st class.
Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead for the cheapest prices.
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How to buy tickets
If you're going to Malmö or Gothenburg, book from Krakow to Malmö Central or Göteborg Central at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
If you're going to Stockholm, book from Krakow to Copenhagen using int.bahn.de. Then book Copenhagen to Stockholm for the following day using www.sj.se (in SEK) or using Omio.com (in SEK, €, £ or $, small booking fee).
In all cases I'd change Transfer time from normal to 40 minutes or more.
Booking normally opens 60 days ahead. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check or re-print your tickets at any time. You print your own tickets or can show them on your phone.
Option 3, Krakow to Stockholm & Sweden with overnight stop in Berlin
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Step 1, travel from Krakow to Berlin by EuroCity train, leaving Krakow Glowny at 11:56, arriving Berlin Hbf 19:06.
The EuroCity train Galicija is a comfortable air-conditioned Polish train with restaurant car. 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.
Earlier trains are available if you'd like an afternoon in Berlin, see the timetable here.
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.
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Day 2, travel from Berlin to Copenhagen, leaving Berlin Hbf at 08:36, change at Hamburg Hbf, arriving Copenhagen 15:38.
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. More about the Hamburg-Copenhagen journey.
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Day 2, travel from Copenhagen to Sweden:
For Malmö, catch an Öresund train to Malmö Central, these run every 15 minutes, taking 40 minutes.
For Gothenburg: Travel from Copenhagen to Gothenburg (Göteborg Central) by hourly Öresund train, journey time 3h50.
For Stockholm: Travel from Copenhagen to Stockholm by X2000, check times at www.sj.se or Omio.com. I'd allow at least 1 hour in Copenhagen.
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How much does it cost?
Krakow to Copenhagen starts at €49.99 in 2nd class or €79.99 in 1st class.
Copenhagen to Stockholm starts at 280 SEK (€28).
There are through fares from Krakow to Malmö & Gothenburg from €56.99 in 2nd class, €79.99 in 1st class.
Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead for the cheapest prices.
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How to buy tickets
If you're going to Malmö or Gothenburg, book from Krakow to Malmö Central or Göteborg Central at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
If you're going to Stockholm, book from Krakow to Copenhagen using int.bahn.de.
To get the overnight stop in Berlin, click Stopovers and enter Berlin Hbf with a suitable length of stay, say 10 hours. Adjust departure time and length of stay to get the trains you want either side of Berlin. A little trial & error may be needed!
In all cases I'd also change Transfer time from normal to 40 minutes or more.
Booking normally opens 60 days ahead. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check or re-print your tickets at any time. You print your own tickets or can show them on your phone.
Then book Copenhagen to Stockholm using www.sj.se (in SEK) or using Omio.com (in SEK, €, £ or $, small booking fee).
Option 4, Krakow to Stockholm & Sweden with overnight stop in Hamburg
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Day 1, travel from Krakow to Hamburg with a choice of departure:
Leave Krakow Glowny at 08:02, change at Berlin Hbf, arriving Hamburg Hbf 17:57.
Leave Krakow Glowny at 11:56, change at Berlin Hbf, arriving Hamburg Hbf 22:22.
You travel from Krakow to Berlin on a comfortable Polish EuroCity train, then Berlin to Hamburg by German ICE train with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. Earlier departures are available if you prefer.
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Stay overnight in Hamburg. The Hotel Reichshof Hamburg is top choice here, just across the road 100m from the station's Kirchenallee exit, with art deco-based design and great reviews. Other hotels near Hamburg Hbf with good or great reviews include (starting with the cheapest) the Hotel Continental Novum, Hotel Furst Bismarck, Hotel Europaischer Hof, Hotel Atlantic Kempinski. If you're on a budget, cheap private rooms in the A&O Hotel near Hamburg Hbf can be booked at www.hostelworld.com.
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Day 2, travel from Hamburg to Copenhagen by EuroCity train leaving Hamburg Hbf at 08:50, arriving Copenhagen 13:38.
The EuroCity train has power sockets at all seats and a refreshment trolley. More about this journey.
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Day 2, travel from Copenhagen to Sweden:
For Malmö, hop on the next Öresund train from Copenhagen to Malmö Central, these leave every 15 minutes taking 40 minutes.
For Gothenburg, hop on the next Öresund train from Copenhagen to Göteborg Central, these leave every hour taking 3h50.
For Stockholm, travel from Copenhagen to Stockholm by X2000, leaving Copenhagen at 14:19, arriving Stockholm Central 19:37.
SJ's X2000 trains have a bistro, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. They use the impressive Öresund fixed link from Sweden to Denmark,
Update 2025: Unfortunately, SJ is short of X2000s and until further notice you'll need to change at Malmö:
On Mondays-Fridays, leave Copenhagen 15:59, change at Malmö Central, arriving Stockholm Central 21:33.
On Saturdays & Sundays, leave Copenhagen 14:59, change at Malmö Central, arriving Stockholm Central 20:36.
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How much does it cost?
Krakow to Copenhagen starts at €49.90 in 2nd class or €79.90 in 1st class.
Copenhagen to Stockholm starts at 280 SEK (€28).
There are through fares from Krakow to Malmö & Gothenburg from €56.99 in 2nd class, €79.99 in 1st class.
Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead for the cheapest prices.
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How to buy tickets
If you're going to Malmö or Gothenburg, book from Krakow to Malmö Central or Göteborg Central at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
If you're going to Stockholm, book from Krakow to Copenhagen using int.bahn.de.
To get the overnight stop in Hamburg, click Stopovers and enter Hamburg Hbf with a suitable length of stay, say 10 hours. Adjust departure time and length of stay to get the trains you want either side of Hamburg. A little trial & error may be needed!
In all cases I'd also change Transfer time from normal to 40 minutes or more.
Booking normally opens 60 days ahead. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check or re-print your tickets at any time. You print your own tickets or can show them on your phone.
Then book from Copenhagen to Stockholm using www.sj.se (in SEK) or using Omio.com (in SEK, €, £ or $, small booking fee).
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.
Option 5, Krakow to Malmö or Stockholm by overnight ferry from Poland to Sweden
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Step 1, travel from Krakow to Gdynia by air-conditioned Intercity train.
The journey takes around 5h30, you'll typically find a train leaving Krakow Glowny around 12:00 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.
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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.
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.
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Step 3, travel from Karlskrona to 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 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 Malmö or Stockholm C at www.sj.se and print your own ticket.
Krakow to Oslo & Norway
Option 1, Krakow to Oslo with an overnight stop in Copenhagen
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Day 1, you can travel from Krakow to Copenhagen in a single day, if you don't mind the early start:
Leave Krakow Glowny at 04:20, change at Berlin Hbf & Hamburg Hbf, arriving Copenhagen 19:38.
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 & refreshment trolley. More about the Hamburg to Copenhagen journey.
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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).
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Day 2, travel from Copenhagen to Oslo, leaving Copenhagen at 07:30, change at Göteborg Central, arriving Oslo Sentral 15:47.
You travel from Copenhagen to Gothenburg by Öresund train over the impressive Öresund fixed link, then from Gothenburg to Oslo by Norwegian train. Earlier & later departures are available, see the timetable here.
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How much does it cost?
Krakow to Gothenburg starts at €56.90 in 2nd class or €79.99 in 1st class.
Gothenburg to Oslo starts at 249 Krone (€24) if you book a few weeks ahead.
Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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How to buy tickets
Step 1, book from Krakow to Göteborg Central using the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
To get the overnight stop, click Stopovers and enter Copenhagen with a suitable length of stay, say 10 hours. Adjust departure time and length of stay to get the trains you want either side of Copenhagen.
I'd also change Transfer time from normal to 30 minutes or more.
Booking normally opens 60 days ahead. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check or re-print your tickets at any time. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
Step 2, book the train from Göteborg Central to Oslo Sentral at Vy's website www.vy.no or at www.entur.no.
Option 2, Krakow to Oslo with an overnight stop in Hamburg
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Day 1, travel from Krakow to Hamburg with a choice of departure:
Leave Krakow Glowny at 08:02, change at Berlin Hbf, arriving Hamburg Hbf 17:57.
Leave Krakow Glowny at 11:56, change at Berlin Hbf, arriving Hamburg Hbf 22:22.
You travel from Krakow to Berlin on a comfortable Polish EuroCity train, then Berlin to Hamburg by German ICE train with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. Earlier departures are available if you prefer.
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Stay overnight in Hamburg. The Hotel Reichshof Hamburg is top choice here, just across the road 100m from the station's Kirchenallee exit, with art deco-based design and great reviews. Other hotels near Hamburg Hbf with good or great reviews include (starting with the cheapest) the Hotel Continental Novum, Hotel Furst Bismarck, Hotel Europaischer Hof, Hotel Atlantic Kempinski. If you're on a budget, cheap private rooms in the A&O Hotel near Hamburg Hbf can be booked at www.hostelworld.com.
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Day 2, travel from Hamburg to Gothenburg by EuroCity train & Öresund train:
Leave Hamburg Hbf 08:50, arriving Copenhagen 13:38. Leave Copenhagen at 14:30, arriving Göteborg Central 18:20.
The EuroCity train from Hamburg to Copenhagen has power sockets at all seats & a refreshment trolley. More about the Hamburg-Copenhagen journey. The Öresund train from Copenhagen to Gothenburg has power sockets & free WiFi, but bring your own food & drink.
Have an early dinner in Gothenburg.
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Day 2, travel from Gothenburg to Oslo by Norwegian train, leaving Göteborg Central at 20:10, arriving Oslo Sentral 23:47.
The smart modern Norwegian train is run by Vy, it has power sockets & free WiFi, but bring your own food & drink.
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How much does it cost?
Krakow to Gothenburg starts at €56.90 in 2nd class or €79.99 in 1st class.
Gothenburg to Oslo starts at 249 Krone (€24) if you book a few weeks ahead.
Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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How to buy tickets
Step 1, book from Krakow to Göteborg Central using the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
To get the overnight stop, click Stopovers and enter Hamburg Hbf with a suitable length of stay, say 10 hours. Adjust departure time and length of stay to get the trains you want either side of Hamburg.
I'd also change Transfer time from normal to 30 minutes or more.
Booking normally opens 60 days ahead. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check or re-print your tickets at any time. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
Step 2, book the train from Göteborg Central to Oslo Sentral at Vy's website www.vy.no or at www.entur.no.
Krakow to Helsinki & Finland
Option 1, Krakow to Helsinki using the Finnlines ferry from Germany
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Day 1, travel from Krakow to Stettin (Szczecin) by sleeper train, leaving Krakow Glowny at 22:17, arriving Szczecin Glowny 07:27.
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.
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Day 2, travel from Stettin to Hamburg, leaving Szczecin Glowny at 11:01, change at Bützow, arriving Hamburg Hbf 17:38.
Later departures are possible if you'd like more time in Stettin.
Book this at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
Click Stopovers and enter Bützow with length of stay 15 minutes.
It can also help to specify Hamburg Hbf as destination, not the generic HAMBURG.
Booking from Poland opens 60 days ahead. I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
Enjoy an afternoon in Hamburg.
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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, see the Hamburg page.
Book the ferry using the Direct Ferries website or at www.finnlines.com.
Option 2, Krakow to Helsinki by train to Stockholm then ferry
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Step 1, travel from Krakow to Stockholm by train as shown above.
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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
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There is a safe & comfortable sleeper train from Krakow to Prague, see the Krakow to Prague sleeper page.
Option 2, Krakow to Prague by daytime train
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A daytime train called the Cracovia leaves Krakow Glowny every day at 11:11, arriving Prague Hlavni 17:36.
It has comfortable air-conditioned carriages with power sockets at all seats, and a bistro car with draught beer on tap, or take your own picnic, see the Prague to Krakow by train page.
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Fares start at €15 in 2nd class or €35 in 1st class. These are limited-availability advance -purchase fares.
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Book at the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz.
Booking opens 60 days ahead. You print your own ticket.
Option 3, Krakow to Prague Leo Express day train from €13.70
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Leo Express (www.le.cz) runs a high-quality air-conditioned train between Krakow & Prague in competition with Czech and Polish Railways. It only runs a few 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
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A train leaves Krakow Glowny at 11:12 every day & arrives Bratislava Hlavna 17:05 & 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.
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Fares start at €20 if booked in advance online.
It's not possible to book 1st class online.
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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.
Option 2, Krakow to Bratislava & Budapest by sleeper train - safe, comfortable & time-effective
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A EuroNight sleeper train leaves Krakow Glowny at 22:44 every night arriving Bratislava Hlavna 06:02 & Budapest Nyugati 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.
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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.
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To book, try using the Polish Railways website www.intercity.pl.
If you have no joy with the Poles, try the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu, see my advice for using it. This can book Krakow to Budapest with sleepers & couchettes. For Bratislava, book to Budapest and simply get off in Bratislava.
Booking opens 60 days ahead. You print your own ticket.
If neither of these options work, 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!
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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.
Krakow to Brasov, Bucharest & Romania from €46.30
Option 1, Krakow to Romania using a sleeper from Budapest - fastest option
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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.
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Step 2, travel from Budapest to Romania on the Dacia Express, leaving Budapest Keleti at 23:05 arriving Sighisoara 09:17, Brasov 12:50 & Bucharest Gara de Nord 15:26.
The Dacia Express has a modern air-conditioned Romanian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin plus several deluxe with 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, arriving Cluj Napoca 10:44. 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 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.
Option 2, Krakow to Romania with an overnight stop in Budapest - if you prefer daytime trains & hotel to sleepers
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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.
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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.
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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 phone.
Krakow to Ljubljana, Zagreb, Split & Dubrovnik
Option 1, Krakow to Vienna by sleeper, on to Ljubljana & Zagreb by daytime train. - time-effective and scenic
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Step 1, travel from Krakow to Vienna by sleeper train, leaving Krakow Glowny at 22:44, arriving Vienna Hbf 05:25.
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.
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 $, international 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.
Tip: For dinner in Krakow before you board the sleeper, see suggested restaurants here.
Tip: If you have a sleeping-car ticket and/or a 1st class ticket for the onward train, you can use the ÖBB lounge at Vienna Hbf between trains, with complimentary refreshments & WiFi.
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Step 2, travel from Vienna to Ljubljana by EuroCity train Emona, leaving Vienna Hbf at 07:58, arriving Ljubljana 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 a classic Slovenian 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 $, international 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.
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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
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Day 1, travel from Krakow to Vienna by EuroCity train, leaving Krakow Glowny at 13:57, arriving Vienna Hbf 19:49.
The EuroCity train Porta Moravica uses 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. Exact departure time may vary.
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 www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee). It can also be booked at www.oebb.at (a bit more fiddly, same prices, in €) or the Polish Railways website www.intercity.pl (in zlotys, much more fiddly).
Booking from Poland opens 60 days 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 and search for Porta Moravica.
Tip: If you'd like an afternoon in Vienna, an earlier EuroCity train leaves Krakow Glowny at 06:32, arriving Vienna Hbf 11:49.
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Stay overnight in Vienna. Hotels near the station with good reviews include the Motel One Vienna Hbf, Graetzl Hotel & Hotel Schani Wien.
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Day 2, travel from Vienna to Ljubljana by EuroCity train Emona, leaving Vienna Hbf at 07:58, arriving Ljubljana 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 $, international 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.
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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
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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. 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.
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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.
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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.
Krakow to Belgrade & Montenegro
Option 1, Krakow to Belgrade using the Krakow-Budapest sleeper train - due to start 8 December 2024 but postponed, see updates.
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Day 1, travel from Krakow to Budapest by sleeper train, leaving Krakow Glowny at 22:44, arriving Budapest Nyugati 08:29.
For details & how to buy tickets, see option 2 in the Krakow to Budapest section.
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Day 2, travel from Budapest to Belgrade, leaving Budapest Nyugati 11:50, changing at Szeged & Subotica, arriving Belgrade Centar 18:38.
You take a Hungarian Intercity train from Budapest to Szeged, a local train across the border to Subotica and a 200 km/h SOKO train to Belgrade, for details see the Budapest to Belgrade page.
Fares start at around €23, see more about fares.
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For onward trains to Montenegro, see the Belgrade to Podgorica & Bar page.
Option 2, Krakow to Belgrade by daytime trains with overnight stop - due to start 8 December 2024 but postponed, see updates.
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Day 1, travel from Krakow to Budapest by EuroCity train, leaving Krakow Glowny at 11:12, arriving Budapest Nyugati 19:49.
For details & how to buy tickets, see option 1 in the Krakow to Budapest section.
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Stay overnight in Budapest. For an affordable hotel close to Budapest Nyugati, look no further than the 3-star T62 Hotel just across the road, a traveller's favourite with funky interior design. The cheaper 3-star Star Inn Budapest Centrum is a few minutes walk away, also with good reviews. The 4-star Radisson Blu Béke Hotel is one block along the road from the station. 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.
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Day 2, travel from Budapest to Belgrade, leaving Budapest Nyugati 05:50, changing at Szeged & Subotica, arriving Belgrade Centar 12:38.
Or if you'd prefer a later departure, leave Budapest Nyugati 11:50, changing at Szeged & Subotica, arriving Belgrade Centar 18:38.
You take a Hungarian Intercity train from Budapest to Szeged, a local train across the border to Subotica and a 200 km/h SOKO train to Belgrade, for details see the Budapest to Belgrade page.
Fares start at around €23, see more about fares.
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For onward trains to Montenegro, see the Belgrade to Podgorica & Bar page.
Budapest to Belgrade on a connecting 3-train combo, starts 8 December 2024. This includes a 200 km/h double-deck Serbian SOKO train from Subotica to Belgrade Centar, with refreshments, toilets, power outlets at all seats & free WiFi. Soko is Serbian for falcon, hence the logo! Photo courtesy of Hugo van Vondelen.
Option 3, Krakow to Belgrade with overnight stop in Zagreb - currently involves a bus
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Step 1, take the overnight sleeper from Krakow to Vienna by sleeper train as explained above.
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Step 2, spend a pleasant morning in Vienna, then take the afternoon EuroCity train Croatia from Vienna to Zagreb as explained here.
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Stay overnight in Zagreb, I suggest the Esplanade Hotel, Palace Hotel or Central Hotel, all near the station with good reviews.
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Step 3, travel from Zagreb to Belgrade by train, leaving Zagreb at 11:04, arriving Novi Beograd 18:04 & Belgrade Centar 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 €21, buy a ticket at www.flixbus.com.
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Step 4 for Montenegro, take the sleeper train to Podgorica or Bar, see the Belgrade to Bar page.
Krakow to Sofia
Option 1, Krakow to Sofia via Bucharest
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Day 1, take the overnight sleeper from Krakow to Budapest, as shown above.
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Day 2, travel from Budapest to Bucharest on the sleeper train Muntenia, leaving Budapest Keleti at 15:10, arriving Bucharest Nord 09:36.
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 20:57) 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.
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Day 3, travel from Bucharest to Sofia by daytime train as shown in the Bucharest-Sofia section of the Trains from Bucharest page.
You leave Bucharest Nord at 10:47 and arrive Sofia Central at 20:35 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
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Not currently viable while the Budapest-Belgrade, Zagreb-Belgrade and Belgrade-Sofia trains remain suspended.
Krakow to Vilnius, Riga, Tallinn
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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!
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Day 2, for onward travel from Vilnius to Riga in Latvia, see here.
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Day 3, for onward travel from Riga to Tallinn in Estonia, see here.
Krakow to Lviv & Kyiv
Option 1, Krakow to Lviv & Kyiv by Regiojet - running in spite of the war, comfortable, easily booked online
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Private open-access train operator Regiojet runs a comfortable daily train service from Krakow to Lviv & Kyiv:
Leave Krakow Glowny at 05:01 every day, arriving Przemysl 07:35. 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.
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Krakow to Lviv starts at €24.80
Krakow to Kyiv starts at €44.80
Fares vary by date, check your date online.
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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
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You can travel from Krakow to Lviv or Kyiv on a fast air-conditioned daytime connection:
Leave Krakow Glowny 05:30, change at Przemysl (arrive 08:26, depart 09:35) arriving Lviv 12:27, Kyiv 19:57.
Leave Krakow Glowny 09:30, change at Przemysl (arrive 12:14, depart 13:45) arriving Lviv 17:24, Kyiv 05:01.
The Krakow-Przemysl train is a comfortable Polish Intercity train.
The 09:35 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.
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Krakow to Przemysl costs around €9. Przemysl to Lviv costs around €8.
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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.
Option 3, Krakow to Kyiv via Warsaw
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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 17:49, arriving Kyiv at 10:45 next day.
This train has Ukrainian 1, 2 & 3 bed sleepers with washbasin.
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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.
Krakow to Moscow
Option 1, Krakow to Moscow via Warsaw & Belarus
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An overnight sleeper train runs from Warsaw to Moscow every day, leaving Warsaw Centralna at 19:15, arriving Moscow Belorussky 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.
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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.
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.
Option 2, via Kyiv - avoids the need for a Belarus visa
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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.
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Step 2, travel from Warsaw to Kyiv overnight on the Kyiv Express, leaving Warsaw Wschodnia at 17:49, arriving Kyiv 10:45 next day, see details of fares & how to buy tickets here. Enjoy a day in Kyiv.
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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.
Krakow to Athens & Greece
Option 1, by train via Belgrade - not currently viable
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There are currently no international trains to or from Greece.
Option 2, by ferry from Italy - currently the most viable route
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Step 1, travel from Krakow to Vienna by afternoon train and Vienna to Venice by Nightjet sleeper, as shown above.
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Step 2, take a train from Venice to Bari, an overnight ferry to Patras, and bus+train combo to Athens as shown here.
Krakow to Istanbul
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Step 1, travel from Krakow to Bucharest as explained above. If necessary, stay overnight in Bucharest.
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Step 2, travel from Bucharest to Istanbul by sleeper train as shown on the Bucharest to Istanbul page.
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.
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.