How to take a rail journey between the capital cities of Czechia and Hungary

Final Destination: Budapest-Nyugati

All trains also call at: Bratislava and Vác

Trains typically depart every other hour, in the odd hours, from around 05:45 to around 15:45.

Book early and save: Yes

Online bookings open: 2 months ahead of the travel date (generally though tickets may not be available more than 6 weeks ahead)

Our general guide to tickets for train journeys from Czechia/The Czech Republic is available here - and we have also published a guide to booking tickets on the CD website.

Seat reservations are available, but optional on this route, so you don't need to reserve if you will be travelling with a rail pass.

Between Praha and Breclav these trains, which usually depart at 06:15 and 13:15, take the same route across Czechia as the EC trains, but then instead of travelling via Bratislava, they follow a longer route via Wien.

Arriving in Budapest:

These trains call at Budapest-Kelenfold station around 15 mins before arriving at Budapest-Deli - a station which is located on the 'Buda' side of the River Danube.
Deli is served by line M2 of the Budapest Metro and it crosses to the centre of 'Pest' and stops at Deák Ferenc tér.

Though the end point of your journey in Budapest is on Metro Line 4, or has an easy connection from Line 4, then leave the train at Kelenfold station and transfer to the Metro there.

Book early and save: Yes*

Online bookings open: up to 4 weeks ahead

Though you will only save the equivalent of a couple of €s if you book in advance.

Rail pass users can now board the Regiojet trains

Departing from Prague/Praha/Prag:

This train is usually scheduled to depart from Praha hl.n station at 22:03 and arrive in Budapest at around 08:30, though note that it now mirrors the EC trains, by arriving into Budapest-Nyugati station, instead of Budapest-Keleti station.

On the departure screens at the station you MAY only see an IC train heading to Breclav, which also happens to be departing at 22:03.
That's because the couchette and sleeping coaches/cars are attached to an IC service between Praha and Breclav and then on arrival there, they're re-attached to a train which will then head off to Budapest.

This overnight train to Budapest from Prague, no longer also departs from Praha-Holesovice station.

Book early and save: Yes*

Online bookings open: 2 months ahead of the travel date

The train conveys:

- Compartment Seats (Sitzwagen)
- Couchettes (Liegewagen); 4 berths AND 6 berths
- Standard sleeping cars (Schlafwagen) with 3 bed, 2 bed and 1 cabins
- Deluxe sleeping cars with showers in the cabin  (Schlafwagen) with 3 bed, 2 bed and 1 cabins

*It's worth making the effort to book ahead if you want a bed in a sleeping cabin, but you'll save less than €10 compared to booking at the station if you want to travel in a seat or couchette.

A plus of booking online is that you will have ensured your place on the train. Your first choice of accommodation MAY be sold out if you don't book in advance.

There's much to be admired regarding the CD website, the online booking service of the Czech national rail operator, České dráhy, but how to book a berth in  a couchette, or a bed in a sleeping cabin isn't particularly obvious.

Hence our step-by-step guide to booking overnight accommodation on the CD website, which you can find HERE.

When you look up this journey on the CD website, the departure will be listed as an IC train.

The couchette and sleeping coaches/cars are attached to an IC service between Praha and Breclav and then on arrival there, they're re-attched to a train which will then head off to Budapest.

Travelling with a rail pass:

Rail pass users must reserve before boarding these trains, and reservations CAN be booked online - follow the same steps as for booking tickets, except when initially looking up the journey, select, 'I want a reservation' instead of 'Buy'

OR reservations can also be arranged and paid for at the CD Travel desk at Praha hl.n station - ideally do this when you first arrive in Prague/Praha hl.n on the preceding train on your itinerary.

The reservation desk does not remain open until late it in the evening, so it will be closed if you attempt to reserve just prior to boarding.