Crossing the Tatra Mountains with Flixbus
Between southern Poland and the northeast of Slovakia, there is no viable route by train. Therefore, I crossed the Tatra Mountains with Flixbus and was rewarded with amazing views! In this post, I will tell you all about the route I took from Kraków, Poland to Poprad, Slovakia. I would definitely recommend this route if you’re looking to go hiking in Slovakia. Don’t forget to read a summary of my most important tips all the way at the bottom of this page.
Booking
I had an Interrail pass for my trip through Central Europe, but for this day I used Flixbus. This meant I needed to buy one day less on the Interrail pass. The coach journey through the Tatra Mountains only cost me about €15, so this saved me a lot of money. Travelling by train would not only have been more expensive, but also a massive detour via Bratislava. The booking process with Flixbus was straightforward, so I got hold of my ticket without in a couple of minutes. There are 3 options on most days: an early morning departure at 06:15, another one at 10:25 and an overnight journey from 21:50.
Departure and arrival
I initially had to search for an overview of departures at Kraków coach station. Once I realised there was another level of bus stops downstairs, I quickly found where I needed to be. The coach station where I arrived in Poprad was right next to the train station, which was convenient. My journey was scheduled to take 3 hours and 10 minutes. Due to travelling on a national holiday (equivalent to a UK bank holiday weekend), it was extremely busy on the roads. This caused a delay of approximately 1 hour. I suspect the coach would arrive on time on any normal day.
The views
The best part about crossing the Tatra Mountains with Flixbus are the views, for sure! After getting out of Kraków and driving on the motorway for a while, the coach heads towards the mountains. At first, there are views of fields with some houses dotted about. You can see hills in the background that gradually turn into mountains. Further along the journey, the surroundings become more forested. When the incline starts, you pass several wooden huts and see the mountain tops come into view. It felt like the coach struggled a bit with the uphill sometimes, but it didn’t cause any real problems. Once the coach makes it over the Tatra Mountains, it heads down into Slovakia. On this side of the border, there are a few stops at touristy mountain villages and ski resorts. After a final short stretch on the motorway, you reach Poprad.
Most important tips
- To be sure of a (cheap) ticket, book in advance. In the off-season, you can probably still find a last-minute ticket on the day.
- Factor in potential delays if you are changing onto another train or coach in Slovakia.
- Choose a seat on the righthand side of the coach for the best views.
- Download music, podcasts or e-books, as you may lose signal during some parts of the journey.
* This post includes an affiliate link. Booking any coach ticket with Flixbus through this link helps maintain The Sustainable Travel Guide, as I receive a small commission (at no extra cost to you). I only share affiliate links for brands that I support, consider sustainable, and buy from myself.