An undoubted advantage for travelers is the close location of European countries from each other, so you can visit several states and their main cities in a short period of time. Czech Republic and Poland are neighboring countries that are visited by many tourists. In this article, we will consider the fastest and most comfortable ways to get from Prague to Krakow.
Comparative table of all methods
Let's first compare all the methods.
| Way | Cost, in euros | Travel time | Notes (edit) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Train | Adult ticket - 19.53, reduced ticket - 9.14 | 6:51 or 8:06 | Direct train runs 2 times a day |
| Flixbus buses | From 17.90 to 25-30 | 7:30–8:20 | |
| Regabus buses | 19 to 27 | 6:20–7:25 | |
| Airplane | 25 (price may be lower if discount is available) | 1:10 | Flights are operated only on certain days, depending on the time of year |
| Own car | For gasoline - 77, for diesel - 75 | ||
| Car rent | From 740 (including the refundable amount of insurance) | 5: 30-6: 05 (time depends on the route) | + fuel costs |
| Transfer | For 3 people - 240, for 8 people - 293 | 5:21 | It is profitable to order if a group of people is traveling |
| A fellow traveler | 18 to 28 | 6:00 |
How to get from Prague to Krakow by train
Rail transport is one of the main means of transportation in the Czech Republic and neighboring countries. Due to the fact that the railways in the Czech Republic provide high-quality and cost-effective services, railway transport is in demand among both local residents and tourists.
Czech railways are represented by the only state monopoly, České dráhy.
To purchase a ticket online, use the official website of the carrier. It has versions in several languages, including English.
Go to the website and enter the required travel information in the fields and click “Search Tickets”.
We recommend choosing flights that have the designation no transfers - no transfers.
Direct trains from Prague to Krakow run daily. The first one departs at 10:24 and arrives at 17:15. The second train, a night train, leaves at 10:19 pm and arrives at 6:25 am the next day.
According to the information on the website, the distance between the cities of Prague and Krakow is 500 km.
In the first case, the travel time is 6 hours 51 minutes, and in the second - 8 hours 6 minutes.
The ticket price for a passenger aged 15 to 64 is 500 CZK or 19.53 euros. For children under 15 and for seniors over 65, the ticket price is halved and amounts to 234 CZK or 9.14 euros.
Trains leave from Praha hlavní nádraží station, which can be reached by buses numbered 225, 191 or AE, as well as the red and yellow metro lines to the Hlavní Nádraží stop.
You can also get to the station by taxi, which will cost 20-25 euros. Taxis in the Czech Republic can be ordered online using the following services: kiwitaxi.ru, gettransfer.com.
In Krakow, trains arrive at the Kraków Główny train station. The easiest way to get from the station to the historic city center is on foot, which will take approximately 15–20 minutes.
How to get by bus from Prague to Krakow
You can get from Prague to Krakow by bus. To do this, you should use the services of one of the European carriers, for example, Flixbus. On the carriers' websites, you can not only find out the flight schedule, ticket prices, but also book or buy a travel card.
Buses in the Czech Republic are popular, as they are comfortable transport that provides services at loyal prices.
When searching on the Flixbus carrier's website, be sure to filter flights by selecting options such as Direct Flights and Bus.
Direct Flixbus flights from Prague to Krakow run daily in the morning and at night.
The buses, which operate in the morning, leave at 11:20 and 11:30 and arrive at 19:40. Night buses depart at 23:30, 23:45 and 02:25, arriving at their destination at 7:10, 7:40 and 10:15, respectively.
Travel time varies from 7 hours 30 minutes to 8 hours 20 minutes.
Ticket prices start at € 17.90 and can go up to € 25-30.
Another carrier, Regabus, also offers daily flights to our destination.
The first Regabus flight leaves Prague at 10:00. Then there is a long break. The next flight departs at 15:15, then there are three more flights at 16:00, 16:15 and 17:00.
You can get from Prague to Krakow by buses of this carrier in the least amount of time: 6 hours 20 minutes or 7 hours 25 minutes.
The cost of the passes varies from 500 to 690 CZK, that is, from 19 to 27 euros.
How to get from Prague to Krakow by plane
You can fly from Prague to Krakow using the services of the low-cost carrier Ryanair. Official website of the company. You can also book a hotel room on the airline's website.
| Day of week | Departure time | Arrival time |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 14:20 | 15:30 |
| Thursday | 12:20 | 13:30 |
| Friday | 12:55 | 14:05 |
| Sunday | 12:10 | 13:20 |
Direct flights from Prague to Krakow from April to October operate only on Mondays and Fridays. From November to March, flights are on Thursday and Sunday.
The flight duration is 1 hour 10 minutes.
The cost of an economy class air ticket is usually 651 CZK or 25 euros. Quite often, when purchasing a ticket on the Ryanair website, you can get a significant discount.
Prague Airport is located 20 km from the city. You can get to it from the city center either by public transport or by taxi.
A taxi ride is quite an expensive pleasure, which will cost from 17 euros.
Public transport will become a more cost-effective alternative. You can get to the airport by buses No. 100 or No. 119 (for 1.50–2 euros); by Aeroexpress (for 2.35 euros) or by the CEDAZ shuttle (for 5.86 euros). The journey will take about 30 minutes.
Arriving at the airport in Krakow, you can get to the city center by buses No. 292 and No. 208, or by the train that runs from the airport to the main railway station.
Get from Prague to Krakow by car
There are several options for how to get from the Czech Republic to Poland by car, including driving your own car, renting a car, transferring or searching for fellow travelers.
Get there by your own car
To get from Prague to Krakow by your own car, you need to travel approximately 500 kilometers, depending on the route chosen.
The shortest route by car is 535 km long and takes 5 and a half hours. It runs along highways D1, E462, A1, DK7, DK79. Major cities such as Brno, Ostrava and Katowice are along the way.
A slightly longer route (6 hours 5 minutes) and less mileage (511 km) is the route via E65, D11, E442, D1. In this case, you will drive through Pardubice and Olomouc.
To overcome this route, you will need 50-60 liters of fuel. Taking into account the prices for different types of fuel, in the Czech Republic and Poland for September 2021, gasoline will cost 77 euros, and diesel - 75 euros.
Rent a car for a trip from Prague to Krakow
You can rent a car for a trip in advance on the website economybookings.com.
Car rental prices start at 740 euros. This includes the refundable accident or theft insurance coverage.
Transfer from Prague to Krakow
Using the Gettransfer service, you can order a car with a driver.
Ordering an economy class transfer for three people will cost from 240 euros, that is, 80 euros per person. A minivan for 8 people can be ordered for 293 euros, that is, for each passenger at 36.7 euros.
Get there by fellow traveler
You can find profitable travel options on the website: blablacar.ru. A travel companion from Prague to Krakow can be reached in 6 hours. The cost of the trip varies from 18 to 28 euros.
Conclusion
You can get from Prague to Krakow in a variety of ways. In this article, we examined each of them in detail, paying special attention to the two most important factors: the time spent on the road and the cost of the trip. Knowing all the details and details, you can choose the most suitable type of transport for yourself.
