Job Discussion Forums

[blaz44]

Has anyone taken a train from Krakow to Slovakia? Looking to do so with family in May, wondering about the route, how long? Will be headed to Ruzumberok, it looks like a 2 hour journey on the map but it probably will end up as 5.

[Tumteetum]

Try 8 - 10 hours

http://www.polrail.com/sections/travel/timetable.html

[JPM]

If at all possible, I'd take an autobus. They're generally quicker than the trains (eg bus from Krakow to Zakopane s about 1 1/2 hours whereas the train is supposed to be about 8!).

[phantombedwetter]

Hi JPM,
I live in Krakow and regularly use the international trains with my family.
My advice is the first class sleepers.
You can get a four bed, lockable cabin for the duration. Go overnight and wake up fresh as a daisy in Bratislava, Vienna, Prague or anywhere you wish.
You get woken up for a passport check so have them handy.
Ignore the buses, daytime trains, and shared cabins and have a good trip!

[dtomchek]

Hey:

Two years ago, I did that. If I recall, I took a bus to Zakopane. I then took another bus to Slovakia. I can't really remember the name of the town we stopped in Slovakia but we did transfer there to a train. We then took that train into Bratislava. We just took the opposite route back.

The reasons why we did it are two fold

1) Any reason to stop in Zakopane for a couple of days is a good thing

2) Any other route I researched required an international train which are bardzo drogo (very expensive)

Hope this helps!

[soapdodger]

The Krakow - Budapest - Bucharest train which goes through Slovakia is a classic. Best described as a toilet with wheels, this excuse for an international service shows PKP up for the shambles that it is. There are 2 trains that ply the route, one up and one down. The rolling stock hasn't been cleaned, let alone updated, for about 40 years, and we're talking the inside here. Joyous it is not. Getting a sleeper is highly advisable because this route is quite often a target for gangs of thieves who turn over sleeping travellers in compartments, usually between Bochnia and Novy Sacz. At least the sleeper carriages are locked and effectively off-limits to these scum. Booking in advance would be recommended for May as this is when hordes of spotty backpackers start to crowd the train doing the 25 European capitals in 10 days routine. Journey time; Krakow to Kosice, the only major Slovak station it hits with connections to the rest of the country - 6 to 7 hours. Do note that Krakow to border is about 5 hours, and after that it isn't really worth going back to sleep again, and there is a risk, if you're not in a sleeper where the attendant should ( note:should) wake you up in time for your stop, of opening your eyes in Hungary. Slovakia is small - blink and you'll miss it!

[spiral78]

No more stops for the passport check, guys!!

We always do the flight into Frankfurt, then train it into Prague and the wilds beyond (home ). No more border police. Hallelujah!! It was kind of disorienting. So I tried it last week CR - Vienna. Still works...Schengen zone is real