Budapest to Prague transfer – straight to the Czech capital

Route

Budapest to Prague by car: the route, section by section

The journey to Prague runs almost entirely on motorways and divides neatly into sections. This not only makes planning easier but also helps you know where it is worth stopping.

1. Budapest – Mosonmagyaróvár – Rajka (M1, M15)
   West on the M1 motorway, past Tatabánya and Győr, then turning north at Mosonmagyaróvár onto the 15-kilometre M15, we reach the Slovak border at Rajka.
2. Čunovo – Bratislava – Kúty (Slovak D2)
   The Slovak D2 motorway begins at Čunovo (Dunacsún), crosses Bratislava, then heads north past Malacky across the Záhorie lowland. This section of around 80 kilometres reaches the Czech border at Kúty.
3. Lanžhot – Břeclav – Brno (Czech D2)
   On the Czech side of the border, at Lanžhot, the Czech D2 motorway takes over. This 61-kilometre section runs past Břeclav and Hustopeče, through the vineyards of South Moravia, to Brno.
4. Brno – Jihlava – Prague (D1)
   From Brno, the D1 – the Czech Republic’s longest and busiest motorway – carries you on across the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands, past Jihlava. The stretch of around 200 kilometres between Brno and Prague is the final third of the journey.

Distances and travel times are approximate, for normal traffic and without breaks.

Two borders, both within Schengen

On the way you cross two internal Schengen borders: the Hungarian–Slovak border at Rajka and the Slovak–Czech border at Kúty. All three countries have been members of the Schengen Area since 2007, so under normal circumstances there is no need to stop at either. When temporary checks are in place, however, there may be a shorter or longer wait, so every passenger – children included – should carry a valid identity card or passport.

Vignettes in three countries

In all three countries the route runs on motorways and expressways that require a vignette: an e-vignette in Hungary, and in Slovakia and the Czech Republic – in the latter since 2021 – an electronic vignette only. These are general rules that apply to the vehicle; as a passenger, there is nothing you need to do.

When the journey is slower

Journey times are affected most by the sections near the big cities: the M1 out of Budapest on Monday mornings and Friday afternoons, the crossing through Bratislava at rush hour, and the D1 before Prague in the afternoons can all be congested. Roadworks on the D1 can also slow things down from time to time. If you need to arrive by a fixed time – before an evening event or a meeting the next morning – it is worth leaving earlier and telling us, when you request your quote, what time you need to be in Prague.

The destination

Prague, your destination – sights between meetings

Prague’s historic centre – the Old Town, the Lesser Town and the New Town – has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1992. If you have a few free hours alongside your programme, these are the places worth visiting:

Prague Castle and Hradčany

According to Guinness World Records, it is the largest ancient castle complex in the world: it covers around 70,000 square metres and is about 570 metres long. Construction began in the 9th century; within its walls stand the Gothic St Vitus Cathedral, the Romanesque Basilica of St George and Golden Lane, and today it is the official seat of the President of the Czech Republic. It is best to start at the top and walk down towards the Lesser Town – arriving by car near the castle, this is the most comfortable order.

The Lesser Town (Malá Strana)

The quarter below the castle was founded by King Ottokar II in 1257; today it is characterised by Baroque palaces, churches and quiet gardens. Here you will find the Church of St Nicholas, designed by the Dientzenhofers, the Wallenstein Palace, now the seat of the Czech Senate, and the Church of Our Lady Victorious with the statue of the Infant Jesus of Prague. Above the Lesser Town rises Petřín Hill with its lookout tower.

Charles Bridge

King Charles IV began building the stone bridge over the Vltava in 1357, linking the Old Town with the Lesser Town. Around 516 metres long, the bridge is adorned with thirty statues, most of them Baroque, and is closed to motor traffic. It is at its most beautiful early in the morning or late in the evening, when fewer people are about.

Old Town Square and the Orloj

The Gothic and Baroque façades of Old Town Square form Prague’s signature view. The oldest part of the astronomical clock on the wall of the Old Town Hall, the Orloj, dates from 1410; it comes to life every hour on the hour, and the procession of the Apostles still draws crowds of visitors. A few minutes’ walk from the square is Josefov, the historic Jewish Quarter, with its synagogues and the Old Jewish Cemetery.

Vyšehrad

This fortress on a steep rock on the east bank of the Vltava lies south of the city centre – in the 11th century it rivalled Prague Castle as the seat of power. Today it is a park and viewpoint, with the neo-Gothic Basilica of St Peter and St Paul and the national cemetery, where Antonín Dvořák, Bedřich Smetana, Karel Čapek and Alfons Mucha, among others, are buried. It is less crowded than the city centre, and the view over the Vltava from here is breathtaking too.

Prague also features in our leisure programmes: we can arrange your journey for sightseeing, a company outing or a special dinner. If you would like to add a detour to Vienna or Bratislava to your days in Prague, the Budapest to Vienna transfer page introduces the other major destination to the west.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions