How to Book Train Travel From Budapest to Kosice

Kosice is the second largest city in Slovakia and is approximately 8 centuries old. Train travel to Budapest and back is easy to book and very frequent.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Hungarian currency
• Passport
• Internet connection

Prepare to Travel From Budapest to Kosice

1. Find out what Slovakia requires for entrance for your citizenship. Pack your passport somewhere accessible. U.S. citizens can enter Slovakia with only a passport and stay for up to 90 days without a visa.

2. Bring enough Hungarian currency to cover the cost of 2,000 forints per first-class ticket price. Only forints will be accepted at a Budapest train station.

3. Decide on a departure time. About 6 trains leave to Kosice daily from the Budapest-Keleti train station. The trip takes 3 to 5 hours. Some trips will not go directly from Budapest to Kosice and will make many stops in the country. This indirect route can take around 9 hours, so be sure to book one of the 3-to-5-hour variety. Official timetables can be found at Elvira, the railway's Web site (see Resources).

Book Your Ticket From Budapest to Kosice

4. Go to a train station or ticket office. The best option might be the Hungarian state railway's central ticket office, because the agents there usually speak English, but any train station will also work.

5. Find the friendliest looking ticketing agent and order your ticket as specifically as you can. Be sure to ask about discount fares: students, children and seniors travel at a discount on Hungarian state railways.

Tips & Warnings

• Go to Rail Europe's Web site to learn about the European East Pass. If you think you may want to take trains elsewhere in Eastern Europe, Rail Europe can save you money. To book a pass, you will have to purchase it prior to leaving your home country.
• Kosice is fairly small, with a population of 250,000. But the city is also a central railway hub for eastern Slovakia and a principle stop on trains going between Poland and Hungary, so its train station is surprisingly accommodating. All the normal conveniences will be readily available, and announcements will be made in English as well as Slovak.
• Book train travel from Budapest to Kosice through Rail Europe by visiting the Web site (see Resources) or by calling a North American agent at (888) 382-RAIL.
• Almost all trains to Kosice depart from the Budapest-Keleti train station. However, it is possible that a train to Kosice may depart from one of Budapest's 2 other train stations, so check your ticket to confirm the departure location.
• Anticipate delays, because trains between Hungary and Slovakia have a tendency to be late.