Eastern Europe by train

By the Viamo editorial team · Editor Terje Moy · Last updated July 2026 · 5 min read

Eastern Europe rewards train travellers with some of the best-value rail fares on the continent, a web of scenic routes through varied landscapes, and cities that are all the more impressive when you arrive at a grand old station rather than a budget airport. The network is varied — modern high-speed links in Poland sit alongside old-fashioned overnight trains crossing the Balkans — but with some planning, you can travel enormous distances slowly and cheaply.

Poland: the fastest-developing network in the east

PKP Intercity operates Poland's intercity network, with the flagship Express InterCity Premium (EIP) trains reaching up to 250 km/h on the Warsaw–Kraków and Warsaw–Gdańsk corridors. Warsaw to Kraków by EIP takes about 2 hours 15 minutes — genuinely fast and competitive with flying once you factor in airport time. Reservations are compulsory on all PKP Intercity services.

Poland also has an excellent budget long-distance coach network, but on routes with EIP trains, the train is usually the better choice in time and comfort. Book on the PKP Intercity website well in advance for the best Promo fares.

Czech Republic: compact and well-connected

České dráhy (ČD) runs the state network, while private operator RegioJet offers competitive services on key routes including Prague–Ostrava–Brno. ČD's SuperCity Pendolino links Prague and Ostrava in about 3 hours.

Prague's position at the heart of Central Europe makes it an excellent rail hub: trains connect directly to Vienna (roughly 4 hours), Berlin (about 4 hours), Bratislava (under 4 hours) and Warsaw (about 7 hours). RegioJet and its rival Leo Express compete vigorously on the Prague–Ostrava route with comfortable, low-fare trains that often beat the national operator on price.

Hungary: Budapest as a hub

MÁV (Magyar Állam Vasutak) runs the Hungarian network, with Budapest Keleti as the main international terminus. The domestic network is centred on Budapest, and intercity trains reach Lake Balaton, Pécs, Debrecen and Miskolc.

Internationally, Budapest is one of Eastern Europe's key rail nodes: ÖBB Railjet trains reach Vienna in about 2 hours 40 minutes several times a day, and night trains connect to cities including Berlin, Hamburg and Warsaw. The scenic route southeast to Sarajevo or Bucharest involves longer journeys but passes through remarkable landscapes — and old-fashioned sleeper trains still operate on some of these routes.

Romania and Bulgaria: the long-haul routes

CFR Călători operates Romania's national network, which covers an extensive country by European standards. The train from Bucharest to Cluj-Napoca takes around 7–9 hours depending on the service; Bucharest to Brașov is about 2 hours 30 minutes to 3 hours. Trains are slower and infrastructure less modern than in central Europe, but fares are correspondingly lower, and the mountain and Transylvania scenery more than compensates.

Bulgaria's BDZ network connects Sofia with Plovdiv, Varna, Burgas and the Romanian border at Ruse. Journey times are long relative to distances, but fares are among the cheapest in Europe. The route from Sofia to Plovdiv through the Maritsa valley takes about 2 hours and is one of the more pleasant shorter journeys in the Balkans.

The Balkans: Serbia, Croatia and beyond

Serbian Railways (Srbija Voz) connects Belgrade with Novi Sad, Niš and on toward North Macedonia and Greece. The journey from Belgrade to Bar in Montenegro — the Bar–Beograd railway — is one of the great rail adventures in Europe, climbing from the Serbian lowlands into the dramatic Montenegrin mountains in about 11 hours. Advance booking is recommended for sleeper berths.

Croatia's HŽ Putnički prijevoz connects Zagreb with Split in about 5 hours 30 minutes, but the coastal railway along the Dalmatian coast is limited — the coast itself is better explored by ferry or bus once you are south of Split. Zagreb connects to Budapest by direct train in about 6 hours.

Night trains across the region

One of Eastern Europe's great rail traditions is the overnight train. ÖBB's Nightjet network reaches Budapest, Prague, Warsaw and other eastern cities from Vienna, while domestic overnight services connect major cities within Poland, Romania and the Balkans. These are often the most practical way to cover long distances — you sleep and wake up in a new city without paying for accommodation.

See the guide to night trains in Europe for more on how sleeper trains work across the continent.

Booking tips for Eastern Europe

Booking systems vary considerably by country. PKP Intercity in Poland and RegioJet in the Czech Republic have reliable English-language websites that work well for advance booking. In Romania and Bulgaria, the national booking sites can be harder to navigate in English; third-party sites and booking aggregators can help. For Interrail and Eurail passholders, Eastern Europe offers good coverage with modest reservation fees on most services.

What to expect on board

Standards vary widely. Polish EIP trains are modern and comfortable, with quiet carriages and a bistro car. Czech RegioJet trains are well-regarded for their on-board service, including free coffee. At the other end of the spectrum, old rolling stock on regional routes in Romania or Serbia may offer harder seats and slower progress. This is not a complaint — it is part of the experience — but pack snacks and manage expectations if you are venturing off the main corridors.

Frequently asked questions

Is Eastern Europe easy to travel by train?

Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary are straightforward and well-organised. Further south and east — Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia — trains are slower and booking systems less polished, but travel is still very much possible and often rewarding. Plan more time and book in person or via a specialist site if online booking is unclear.

How do I book trains in Eastern Europe from the UK or Western Europe?

For Poland, the PKP Intercity website works well in English. For Czech trains, RegioJet and Leo Express have excellent English-language booking. For Romania, Bulgaria and the Balkans, The Man in Seat 61 has detailed country-by-country guidance on booking methods. Rail passes like Interrail simplify travel by reducing the number of tickets to buy.

Are night trains still running in Eastern Europe?

Yes. ÖBB Nightjet links Western Europe to Budapest, Prague and Warsaw. Within Eastern Europe, domestic overnight services connect cities in Poland, Romania, Serbia and elsewhere. They are slower than flights but can save on accommodation costs and cover long distances comfortably.

Is it cheaper to travel by train or bus in Eastern Europe?

Buses — particularly operators like FlixBus and national coach companies — are often the cheapest option in Eastern Europe and cover many routes where trains are slow or infrequent. On corridors with modern trains (Warsaw–Kraków, Prague–Brno), the train is usually fast enough to be worth the modest extra fare. In Romania and the Balkans, buses and minibuses often beat train times and match or undercut prices.