Praha / Prague / Prag to Košice / Kosice by train

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From Praha hl.n. to Košice

Journey Summary

Travel Time
7hr 16 min - 8hr 33min
Frequency
Daily
Tickets

Book early and save: Yes*

Online bookings open: Up to 8 weeks ahead (CD); 4 weeks ahead (RegioJet), 6 months ahead (Leo Express)

The train service between Praha/Prague and Košice is split between:

1.     The SuperCity tilting express trains, which are operated by the Czech national rail operator, České dráhy and tickets can therefore be booked on the CD website

·         Departs daily at 07:09 AND on Fridays only at 15:41

·         Journey time = 7hr 16min - 7hr 24min

·         On board entertainment portal

·         Free Wi-fi

·         Reservations included with ticket

·         Rail pass users must pay a reservation fee prior to boarding

Our general guide to Czech train tickets is available here - and we have also published a guide to booking tickets on the CD website.

2.      Privately operated RegioJet trains**,** provided by one of the companies that now competes with the Czech national rail operator - tickets can be booked on the Regiojet website

·         Journey time = 7hr 59min - 8hr 11min

·         Depart Praha hln. daily at 07:47 and 14:49

·         Complimentary hot/cold drinks

·         Free Wi-fi

·         Complimentary entertainment portal

·         Reservations included with ticket

·         Rail passes can now be used

3.      A privately operated Leo Express train, tickets can only be booked on the Leo Express website

·         Journey time = 8hr 33mins

·         Departs Praha hln.daily at 14:09

·         At seat drinks/light meal service in all classes (food/drink not included in ticket price)

·         Free WiFi

·         Reservations included with ticket

·         Rail passes can now be used

As will be seen, the only means of comparing ticket prices is to log on to the respective websites.

*Though 2nd/standard class prices vary across the operators by less than the equivalent of €5 and you will also save less than €5 by booking 2nd/standard class in advance online.

The prices on CD  will be in Czeck korunas (CZKs), but the prices on Regiojet and Leo Express are displayed in €s.

Alternative Connections:

Look up this journey on the CD website and up to 7 other connections per day will be available, which involve making a transfer between trains in Puchov OR Zilina.

Where to book
Ticket Provider Approximate Cost
cd.cz from 414 CZK

cd.cz Guide

CD is the national rail operator in Czechia and its very smart online booking service sells tickets for all express train services which it operates within Czechia, as well international journeys by EC, Railjet, SuperCity and overnight trains.
Some express trains, both within and to/from Czechia are operated by LeoExpress and Regiojet and these cannot be booked with CD.

CD also sells international tickets involving changes of train outside of Czechia for end-to-end journeys:

  • to Belgium
  • destinations in Germany not served by direct trains
  • to Paris
  • to Arhus, Copenhagen and Odense in Denmark
  • to destinations in Italy served by the overnight trains from Austria
  • to Luxembourg
  • to destinations in the The Netherlands, including Amsterdam, which are on the route of the direct trains from Berlin
  • to destinations in Romania, including Bucuresti served by the direct day and night trains from Budapest.

In addition to tickets, seat reservations, reservations for bicycles, plus reservations for couchettes and sleeping cabins, can also be booked online with CD, with no booking fees.

Regiojet from €10 approx

Regiojet Guide

Leo Express from €10

On this journey

Journey Features

Scenic - YesMountain views

Good to Know

Final Destination: Košice

These trains also call at: Poprad Tatry

Despite there being only four or five direct trains* per DAY between Prague/Praha and Kosice, three different train operators compete on this route.

So for the full range of ticket options, you ideally need to look up the journey on the three respective websites.
The Czech version of the Trainline website sells all three services, but seemingly doesn't offer the full range of tickets.

*Look up this journey on the CD website and up to 7 other journey options per day will be available.
Those other options all involve one change of train -  and those connections tend to have an end-to-end journey time of around 8hr 20mins

The overnight trains can also be booked on the CD website.

Though if you take these day trains, the final third of the journey is particularly scenic, as the trains take a passage through a series of mountain valleys.
A plus for taking one of the morning departures!

Final Destination: Košice

These trains also call at: Poprad Tatry

Despite there being only four or five direct trains* per DAY between Prague/Praha and Kosice, three different train operators compete on this route.

So for the full range of ticket options, you ideally need to look up the journey on the three respective websites.
The Czech version of the Trainline website sells all three services, but seemingly doesn't offer the full range of tickets.

*Look up this journey on the CD website and up to 7 other journey options per day will be available.
Those other options all involve one change of train -  and those connections tend to have an end-to-end journey time of around 8hr 20mins

The overnight trains can also be booked on the CD website.

Though if you take these day trains, the final third of the journey is particularly scenic, as the trains take a passage through a series of mountain valleys.
A plus for taking one of the morning departures!

From Praha hl.n. to Košice

Journey Summary

Travel Time
9hr 21 min - 10hr 8min (EuroNight)
Frequency
Nightly
Tickets

Book early and save: Yes*

Online bookings open: 2 months ahead of the travel date

The train conveys:

- Dayime style seats
- Couchettes
- Standard sleeping cars (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.

Where to book
Ticket Provider Approximate Cost
CD *

CD Guide

CD is the national rail operator in Czechia and its very smart online booking service sells tickets for all express train services which it operates within Czechia, as well international journeys by EC, Railjet, SuperCity and overnight trains.
Some express trains, both within and to/from Czechia are operated by LeoExpress and Regiojet and these cannot be booked with CD.

CD also sells international tickets involving changes of train outside of Czechia for end-to-end journeys:

  • to Belgium
  • destinations in Germany not served by direct trains
  • to Paris
  • to Arhus, Copenhagen and Odense in Denmark
  • to destinations in Italy served by the overnight trains from Austria
  • to Luxembourg
  • to destinations in the The Netherlands, including Amsterdam, which are on the route of the direct trains from Berlin
  • to destinations in Romania, including Bucuresti served by the direct day and night trains from Budapest.

In addition to tickets, seat reservations, reservations for bicycles, plus reservations for couchettes and sleeping cabins, can also be booked online with CD, with no booking fees.

On this journey

Journey Features

Night

Good to Know

An overnight train is usually scheduled to depart from Praha hl.m station nightly at 22:15, but for much of the year a second train departs at 23:47.

This second train has the faster journey time - though both of these trains are slower than the daytime services.

The 22:15 departure is named the 'Slovakia' and its final destination is Hummené - it is the only direct train from Praha/Prague to destinations in Slovakia to the east of Kosice

The 23:47 departure is named the 'Bohemia' and it travels no further than Kosice.

Final Destination: Košice or Hummené

These trains also call at: Poprad Tatry

Our general guide to taking European overnight trains is available HERE.

An overnight train is usually scheduled to depart from Praha hl.m station nightly at 22:15, but for much of the year a second train departs at 23:47.

This second train has the faster journey time - though both of these trains are slower than the daytime services.

The 22:15 departure is named the 'Slovakia' and its final destination is Hummené - it is the only direct train from Praha/Prague to destinations in Slovakia to the east of Kosice

The 23:47 departure is named the 'Bohemia' and it travels no further than Kosice.

Final Destination: Košice or Hummené

These trains also call at: Poprad Tatry

Our general guide to taking European overnight trains is available HERE.

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