# Budapest to the High Tatras: how to get there Source: https://taply.sk/budapest-to-high-tatras/ (Taply, updated 2026-10-12) The easiest way from Budapest to the High Tatras is a pre-booked private transfer, and Welcome Pickups is our top pick: one driver, no changes, straight to your resort. The classic public route is a EuroCity train from Budapest to Košice, then a train to Poprad-Tatry and the mountain railway. EuroCity trains link Košice with Budapest via Hidasnémeti, and Poprad-Tatry station sits on the Košice to Žilina line with the Tatra Electric Railway starting there. That makes rail a workable option, but it means at least one change and a long day. Both countries are in Schengen, so there is no border queue. Check live timetables, as services change by season. ## Key points - The rail route usually goes Budapest to Košice, then to Poprad-Tatry, then by the Tatra Electric Railway. - A private transfer avoids the changes and carries ski gear or hiking bags easily. - Allow a full day by public transport and book seats early for weekends. - Check Poprad-Tatry Airport too: It has limited scheduled service. ## Quick facts - Rail route: via Košice and Poprad-Tatry - Border check: none (Schengen) - Currency: Hungarian forint, then euro - Planning: full day, check timetables ## Best ways to get from Budapest to the High Tatras, ranked 1. **Private pickup with Welcome Pickups** (best for Groups and families): Welcome Pickups matches you with local drivers and vehicle classes. For a long international ride, check the price, the maximum luggage and whether waiting time is included, then confirm the resort address. 2. **Train via Košice (MÁV, ZSSK)** (best for Rail travellers): Take a EuroCity train to Košice, then a train to Poprad-Tatry and the metre gauge Tatra Electric Railway to the resorts. Buy tickets for each leg on the national sites or a journey planner. 3. **Transfer with Kiwitaxi** (best for Price comparison): Kiwitaxi sells private transfers between cities. Compare its quote for this route against Welcome Pickups before you decide. 4. **Offers on GetTransfer** (best for Flexible plans): Post the route and let drivers quote. Handy if you want to stop in Košice or Levoča on the way. 5. **Coach with a change** (best for Budget): Coach options on this long route may need a change. Search live schedules before you plan around one. ## Comparison at a glance Option | Changes | Cost level | Best for | Private transfer | None | Highest, split by car | Groups, ski gear | Train via Košice | At least one | Medium | Rail travellers | Driving | None | Fuel, tolls, parking | Stops on the way | Coach | Possible | Lowest | Budget | ## Step by step: the rail route - Search for Budapest to Poprad-Tatry on a journey planner. - Take the EuroCity to Košice. - Change to a train on the Košice to Žilina line towards Poprad-Tatry. - From Poprad-Tatry, take the Tatra Electric Railway to the resorts, or a bus. - Keep tickets for each leg handy. ## By air to Poprad Poprad-Tatry Airport is the closest airport to the mountains. Scheduled flights are limited, so check current routes first. See [Poprad Airport to the High Tatras](https://taply.sk/poprad-airport-to-high-tatras/) and [flights to Poprad-Tatry](https://taply.sk/flights-to-poprad-tatry/). ## Driving yourself A hire car gives freedom in the mountains. Check cross-border terms, then see [car rental in Poprad](https://taply.sk/car-rental-poprad/), [Slovakia vignette](https://taply.sk/slovakia-vignette/) and [driving in Slovakia](https://taply.sk/driving-in-slovakia/). ## When you arrive See [the High Tatras guide](https://taply.sk/high-tatras/), [Štrbské Pleso](https://taply.sk/strbske-pleso/) and [best hikes](https://taply.sk/best-hikes-in-the-high-tatras/). Mountain weather changes fast, so read [hiking insurance](https://taply.sk/hiking-insurance-high-tatras/). ## Seasons and what to expect In summer, trains and trailheads are busy and mountain huts fill up, so book your transport and bed early. In winter, the ski season brings crowds on weekends, and snow can slow roads and the final leg to the resorts. Check conditions before you travel and keep time in reserve for arrival day. Spring and autumn are quieter, but some mountain services run on reduced timetables, so check the Tatra Electric Railway and bus times. ## Who should skip which option - Skip the train if you carry skis and boots and hate changes. - Skip the private car if you travel alone and do not mind a long day on the rails. - Skip the flight idea unless you have confirmed a current schedule to Poprad-Tatry. Luggage and gear Hiking bags and ski bags fit a private car without fuss. On a train, check the carrier's rules for large items, and keep your valuables with you. See luggage storage in Košice if you break the trip there. Tips - Book seats on weekends. - Pack layers: the mountains are cooler than Budapest. - Budapest to Bratislava is a different trip: see [Budapest to Bratislava](https://taply.sk/budapest-to-bratislava/). ## Break the trip in Košice A long day is not the only way. Stopping a night in Košice splits the rail route into two shorter legs and gives you an evening in a handsome old town, see [Košice](https://taply.sk/kosice/) and [things to do in Košice](https://taply.sk/kosice-things-to-do/). The next morning continue by train, bus or transfer, see [Košice to the High Tatras](https://taply.sk/kosice-to-high-tatras/). If you arrive by air at Budapest and want to head east, [Budapest Airport to Košice](https://taply.sk/budapest-airport-to-kosice/) covers that leg. This plan costs a hotel night, but it protects you from a missed connection and a late arrival on a mountain road. ## Buying tickets across the border For the rail route you will usually deal with two operators: the Hungarian one for the Hungarian part and ZSSK or another Slovak operator for the Slovak part. Some journey planners sell a single through ticket, others sell each leg separately. Compare, then read the change and refund rules for every leg. Our guide [how to buy train tickets in Slovakia](https://taply.sk/how-to-buy-train-tickets-slovakia/) explains how Slovak operators sell tickets, and [trains in Slovakia](https://taply.sk/trains-in-slovakia/) describes the network. We have not verified fares or timetables, which change by season. ## Money, phone and border practicalities Hungary uses the forint and Slovakia uses the euro. Cards work widely in both, but small mountain places in Slovakia may prefer cash in euros, so bring a little, see [money in Slovakia](https://taply.sk/money-in-slovakia/). Both countries are in Schengen and there is normally no routine border check, but carry your passport or ID, since spot checks are possible. Data roaming rules depend on your plan, so check them or see [eSIM for Slovakia](https://taply.sk/esim-slovakia/) if you travel from outside the EU. A phone with a saved ticket and an offline map is more useful than paper alone. ## After Poprad: the last stretch Most rail routes finish at Poprad-Tatry. From there the Tatra Electric Railway climbs to the resorts, see [Tatra Electric Railway](https://taply.sk/tatra-electric-railway/). Choose your base before you travel, since each resort has a different feel, see [where to stay in the High Tatras](https://taply.sk/where-to-stay-in-the-high-tatras/). If you arrive late in the evening, check that you have a ticket or a transfer for the last leg, and consider staying in Poprad for the first night. ## Which option for which traveller Traveller | Likely best choice | Family with luggage | Private transfer or hire car | Solo, flexible | Train with a night in Košice | Hiker with a pack | Train, then the mountain railway | Skier | Transfer, or a car with a ski rack | Tight budget, long day acceptable | Coach or train with changes | If you rent a car, check cross-border permission with the supplier and pick up the vignette, see [Slovakia vignette](https://taply.sk/slovakia-vignette/). For group transfers compare quotes before booking, and for the Poprad area see [car rental in Poprad](https://taply.sk/car-rental-poprad/). ## FAQ **How do I get from Budapest to the High Tatras by train?** Usually a EuroCity to Košice, then a train to Poprad-Tatry and the Tatra Electric Railway. Check live timetables. **Is there a direct train from Budapest to Poprad?** Plan on a change in Košice, and check live timetables for any direct service. **Can I take a private transfer?** Yes. Providers such as Welcome Pickups, Kiwitaxi and GetTransfer offer long-distance rides. Compare quotes. **Do I need a passport?** No routine checks in Schengen, but carry your passport or ID card. **Which airport is nearest?** Poprad-Tatry Airport, though scheduled flights are limited. **Is it better to stay overnight in Košice?** It makes the trip easier by splitting it into two shorter legs and avoids a late arrival in the mountains, at the cost of a hotel night. **Do I need euros?** Yes once you are in Slovakia. Hungary uses the forint, so carry a small amount of euros for places that do not take cards.