Budapest is arguably one of the most beautiful capitals in all of Europe. It’s also a very popular city to visit for backpackers, students, and travellers alike. If you’re trying to get from Prague to Budapest, there are a few different ways you can do it.
One thing we love about travelling around Europe is how great public transport is and how easy it is to travel between cities. It makes it possible to go from Prague to Budapest for a long weekend for example. And if you’re travelling around Europe it is also just super convenient to get from one big city to the other.
Let’s get right into all the different options on how to get from Prague to Budapest. In this post, you will find the different options, ticket prices, links to sites where you can book from, and reasons why we recommend each option.
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The 4 Best Ways to get from Prague to Budapest
Prague to Budapest is quite a common trip for locals and expats to take. Since it’s a popular route, there are plenty of different options to get between the two cities. Below you can find the different options and select your mode of transport based on how much time and the amount of money you want to spend, as well as the convenience of your trip.
Prague to Budapest by bus:
Price: Starting from $24
Average time: 7 to 7.5-hour bus ride
Convenience: 3/5
Frequency: 10 times a day
Where to book: Omio (previously known as GoEuro)
Taking the bus from Prague to Budapest is definitely one of the cheaper options if you have enough time. Taking the bus is a great option for you if you want to just sit back, relax, listen to your favourite podcast, and enjoy a peaceful trip. The ride is quite smooth and the main highway from Prague to Budapest is good. Traffic can delay your trip but usually, it’s just a short delay if that happens.
It is also possible to take an overnight bus from Prague to Budapest.
The nice thing about taking the bus from Prague is that the bus station is quite central and easy to get to. It’s the same case when you get to Budapest. The bus will drop you off quite centrally so you don’t have to go anywhere far.
One other thing we wanted to mention is that busses do run every few hours so if you miss one there should be another one you can hop on. We do recommend booking in advance though to guarantee a seat!
Book your bus ticket to Budapest here.
Prague to Budapest by train:
Price: Starting from $20
Average time: 7.5-hour direct train ride
Convenience: 3.5/5
Frequency: Twice a day
Where to book: Omio
We love trains and love relaxing inside the train carriage, getting work done, and looking outside as the train rolls through different areas of the country. It takes the same amount of time as a bus but we find taking the train from Prague to Budapest is much more pleasant. The scenery is beautiful taking the train is the only way to properly experience it.
The trip leaves from Prague’s main train station and drops you off close to downtown Budapest so it’s super convenient. The train from Prague to Budapest runs a few times a day. If you’re looking for a nice and relaxing trip to Budapest we’d say hop on a train.
Book your train ticket to Budapest here.
Prague to Budapest by rental car:
Average price: Anywhere from $25-$50 a day + gas
Average time: 2.5 to 3 hours by car
Convenience: 4/5
Where to book: Rentalcars.com
If there are 2+ of you then renting a car may be your best option. That way you can make some stops along the way. It’s definitely the most expensive option out of the 4 options but if there’s a few of you heading to Budapest together this is a good option.
We recommend renting a car through Rentalcars.com and then picking it up from the Prague Airport since it’s usually the cheapest option. We like using Rentalcars.com because it compares the different rental companies and shows you the cheapest and best options!
Another good tip is that the further you book the car rental in advance the more likely you are to get a better discount!
*Note where the drop-off location is. Some rental cars can only be dropped off at the pickup location so if you’re not returning to Prague again, please keep that in mind.
Book your rental car from Prague Airport here.
Prague to Budapest by plane:
Average price: $35 to +$200 for a return ticket
Average time: 1-hour and 10-minutes flight (+ extra time to the airport, waiting at the airport, etc)
Convenience: 5/5
Where to book: Kiwi.com
This method is probably better if you book this in advance because prices for plane tickets can fluctuate quite a lot. Buying a plane ticket last minute can be a little expensive. But it doesn’t hurt to look if there’s a last-minute deal by chance. Especially since flying takes just over an hour and the airport in Prague is quite easy to get to from the center of the city.
Flying from Prague to Budapest is by far the fastest method – even when you add the wait time at the airport and getting to and from the airport in both cities. However, the prices can fluctuate quite a bit depending on when you buy, when you fly, etc.
You might also want to keep in mind the impact on the environment flying has. If you want a greener method to get from Prague to Budapest you might want to consider taking the bus or the train instead.
Book your flight ticket from Prague to Budapest here.
You may also like…
- 35 Exciting Things to Do in Prague on a Budget
- 11 Must Do Weekend Trips from Prague
- 8 Awesome Day Trips From Prague You Need to Do
We hope you have the best trip to Budapest and enjoy all the fun attractions and activities you do. We love how close it is to Prague and how easy it is to visit other countries and cities from Prague. This is just one of the many reasons why we love living in Prague.
Have fun!
Dom & Jo
Red White Adventures
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