Trains to Budapest

Train service

OBB

ÖBB è l'operatore ferroviario nazionale austriaco, noto per i treni Railjet e per Nightjet, la più ampia rete europea di treni notturni.

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Deutsche Bahn

Deutsche Bahn (DB) is Germany’s national railway company, operating long-distance, regional, and international train services across Europe.

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Train tickets

Omio

Omio connects you with over 1,000 transport providers - trains, buses, flights, and more - to simplify your travel planning.

Trainline

Trainline sells rail and coach tickets worldwide on behalf of major UK and European transport companies.

Raileurope

Rail Europe is a leading travel tech company specializing in European train bookings for over 15,000 travel professionals worldwide.

Budapest sits at the centre of Central Europe’s rail network, and it shows. Direct trains run from Vienna, Bratislava, and Prague, and the ÖBB Railjet has made the Vienna connection the fastest and most frequent of the lot. Almost all international trains pull into Budapest Keleti. That is your station.

Budapest has three main stations, and getting the wrong one is a genuine booking mistake. Keleti handles international services. Nyugati covers some domestic and regional routes. Déli is mainly for trips within Hungary, including Lake Balaton. For anyone arriving from abroad, Keleti is the answer — but check the station name in your booking before paying, as a small number of services use Nyugati instead.

Direct trains to Budapest

The most useful connections run from Vienna, Bratislava, and Prague.

Vienna is the busiest corridor. ÖBB Railjet and ComfortJet services run several times a day between Wien Hauptbahnhof and Budapest Keleti, with fastest journey times of around 2 hours 40 minutes. Advance fares on ÖBB can start from around €19, though prices move with demand and how early you book. For the best fare range, book directly through ÖBB (oebb.at). Trainline, Omio, and Rail Europe also cover this route.

Bratislava is one of the most frequent international routes from Budapest — under 2 hours 30 minutes by direct EuroCity train, with several departures daily. Tickets are reasonably priced. Worth knowing if you are connecting through Slovakia.

Prague is around 7 hours by direct train, with most services running via Bratislava. Advance fares can start from around €30. Journey time varies by service, so check your specific departure when booking.

Munich does not have a direct train. The standard route is Railjet to Vienna, then a change for Munich — total journey time of roughly 7.5 to 8.5 hours depending on the connection. There are several options through the day.

Belgrade and Zagreb are both reachable with daily direct services, at around 8 hours and 6 hours 30 minutes respectively.

Fares in the table are advance starting prices in the operator’s booking currency. They shift with date, demand, and booking window. Always check live fares before committing.

Night trains to Budapest

ÖBB Nightjet services link Budapest to Vienna, Zürich, and Berlin overnight. Reservations are compulsory, and accommodation options range from a seat to a couchette or private sleeper. Book the sleeper or couchette categories early — they go before seats on popular departures.

The pass-holder reservation fee on Nightjet depends on the accommodation type. If you hold an Interrail or Eurail pass, you still need to reserve and pay the accommodation fee separately.

Budapest train stations

Three stations, three different parts of the city. The wrong booking is not always obvious on a booking platform that shows only “Budapest.”

Budapest Keleti is the main international station. ÖBB Railjet, ComfortJet, and EuroCity services all arrive here, along with most long-distance trains. The station is at Kerepesi út 2-4, connected to Metro Lines M2 and M4 — a five-minute metro ride to the city centre. Facilities include luggage storage, fast food, and a supermarket. First-class Eurail pass holders can check lounge access at Keleti, though it is worth confirming availability before relying on it.

Budapest Nyugati handles some domestic and a few regional international services. It is not the arrival station for Vienna or Prague trains. If your booking shows Nyugati, verify the route — you may need to travel from a different part of the city.

Budapest Déli is for domestic trains, primarily to Lake Balaton. Metro Line M2 serves it. International arrivals rarely need Déli unless they are heading straight to the lake.

If a booking page shows only “Budapest” without a station, open the full train details and confirm the station or station code before paying.

Booking tickets

For Vienna–Budapest, ÖBB (oebb.at) is the most direct booking option. It shows all Railjet departures and usually has the best range of advance fares. MÁV handles ticket sales for journeys originating in Budapest, including domestic routes. For international bookings from the UK or elsewhere, Trainline, Rail Europe, and Omio all cover the main Budapest connections.

Seat reservations are required on ÖBB Railjet services. On some other international trains, reservations are recommended but not always compulsory. Check the specific service before you travel.

Rail passes and Budapest

Interrail (for European residents) and Eurail (for non-European residents) both cover Hungary and the main international routes.

Do not assume the pass is enough to board a Railjet. You still need a seat reservation, booked separately. The pass-holder reservation fee for a Railjet seat is typically a few euros — book it through ÖBB, through the Interrail or Eurail booking tools, or at the station. Without a reservation, you are not guaranteed a seat.

MÁV domestic trains are also covered by both passes. Some InterCity services within Hungary require a small reservation fee; check before boarding.

Both the Interrail Global Pass and Eurail Global Pass include Hungary alongside other European countries. A Hungary-only pass is available but makes sense mainly for travellers spending most of their time on domestic routes.

Trains within Hungary

MÁV runs Hungary’s national rail network. As of 2026, children under 14 and adults aged 65 and over travel free on MÁV trains and Budapest public transit.

Budapest to Lake Balaton

The lake is easily reached from Budapest. Trains leave from Déli and Keleti, with journey time depending on which part of the lake you are heading to.

Check your specific destination before boarding. Some trains divide at Balatonszentgyörgy, and passengers in the wrong section end up at the wrong end of the lake.

Budapest to Debrecen

InterCity trains cover the Budapest–Debrecen route in around 2 hours 15 minutes. Around 6 to 8 InterCity services run daily, plus slower regional trains. MÁV tickets are priced in HUF and can be bought at ticket machines, the station counter, or through the MÁV website. The actual fare depends on ticket type and booking method.

Budapest to Szeged

Szeged is around 2 hours 10 minutes from Budapest by InterCity, with about 17 daily services in a mix of InterCity and regional trains.