Vienna to Budapest by train

The Railjet connects Vienna Hauptbahnhof (Wien Hbf) and Budapest Keleti in approximately 2 hours 37 minutes to 2 hours 40 minutes, with direct trains running roughly every hour throughout the day. Advance fares on ÖBB start from around €9 on Sparschiene pricing; flexible walk-up tickets run from approximately €52 in second class. The route covers 244 km and is operated by ÖBB and MÁV on Railjet and EuroCity services, with RegioJet providing a privately operated alternative.

Direct trains require no connection. ÖBB Railjet services operate at up to 230 km/h on upgraded conventional track. Tickets are sold on oebb.at, jegy.mav.hu, and regiojet.com; EveryRail’s fare calendar lets you compare dates and operators before going to the operator site to buy.

Key Takeaways

• Distance: 244 km

• Typical direct journey time: approximately 2 hours 37 minutes to 2 hours 40 minutes

• Direct services per day: approximately hourly throughout the operating day; check your exact date before booking for date-specific counts

• Departure window: first departure from Vienna approximately 07:42; last approximately 21:40; check your exact date before booking

• Lowest advance fare: from approximately €9 on ÖBB Sparschiene; RegioJet from approximately €7.90; check current prices on regiojet.com before booking

• Flexible walk-up fare: approximately €52 second class, €86 first class, €106 Business class on ÖBB; check current prices on oebb.at before booking

• Eurail and Interrail passes: valid on ÖBB and MÁV services; a seat reservation fee applies; check the current fee on oebb.at before booking

• RegioJet: does not accept Eurail or Interrail passes

• Vienna departure: Wien Hauptbahnhof (Wien Hbf)

• Budapest arrival: Budapest Keleti (ÖBB and MÁV services); Budapest-Kelenfold and Budapest-Deli (RegioJet services)

Route Overview

The Vienna to Budapest corridor is one of Central Europe’s busiest international rail links. ÖBB and MÁV jointly operate the primary Railjet and EuroCity services, while RegioJet runs a direct budget-positioned alternative on the same corridor.

Route Summary

Operators on This Route

ÖBB (Österreichische Bundesbahnen) is the Austrian national operator and the primary carrier on this route. ÖBB runs both Railjet (RJ) and EuroCity (EC) services between Wien Hbf and Budapest Keleti. Tickets are sold on oebb.at in euros.

MÁV-START is the Hungarian national rail operator and co-operates services with ÖBB on this corridor. MÁV sells tickets in Hungarian forints (HUF) via jegy.mav.hu and is the primary booking source for travelers originating in Budapest. Pull the current HUF fare directly from jegy.mav.hu at the time of booking, as it reflects the native pricing structure and fluctuates with exchange rates.

RegioJet is a Czech private operator running direct services on this route. RegioJet fares are separate from ÖBB and MÁV ticketing systems, Eurail and Interrail passes are not accepted, and RegioJet services terminate at Budapest-Kelenfold and Budapest-Deli rather than Budapest Keleti. Travelers expecting to arrive at Keleti on a RegioJet ticket will need onward metro or tram transport from those stations.

Train Types and On-Board Experience

Railjet (ÖBB / MÁV)

The Railjet is the flagship service on this route. It operates at up to 230 km/h and runs on upgraded conventional track rather than a dedicated high-speed corridor. Journey times reflect track conditions and intermediate stops.

Railjet offers three classes: Economy (second class), First, and Business. Business class includes a complimentary meal or snack service and a drink; check the current offer on oebb.at before booking. Free Wi-Fi is available on board. Power sockets are provided at seats. Luggage travels in overhead racks and end-of-car storage without an additional booking requirement. Bicycles can be carried with a reservation; check ÖBB’s international bike policy for current fees and availability.

EuroCity (ÖBB / MÁV)

EuroCity services, branded EC on timetables, are the standard international intercity offering on this corridor. Journey times are broadly comparable to Railjet for equivalent stopping patterns; check specific departure times when booking. EC services operate in first and second class. Some EC trains carry a bistro or restaurant car; confirm this for a specific departure on oebb.at if dining on board matters to your journey. Eurail and Interrail passes are valid on EC services, with the same reservation requirement as Railjet.

RegioJet

RegioJet runs direct services between Wien Hbf and Budapest-Kelenfold / Budapest-Deli. The service typically includes seat-to-seat amenities such as snacks and drinks; check regiojet.com to confirm what is included on the Vienna to Budapest rail service specifically, as the offer can vary by route. Tickets are booked on regiojet.com only; there is no interoperability with ÖBB or MÁV tickets. Eurail and Interrail passes are not valid on RegioJet services.

Journey Time

Direct Railjet and EuroCity services complete the Vienna to Budapest journey in approximately 2 hours 37 minutes to 2 hours 40 minutes. Check the exact time for your chosen departure on the ÖBB timetable before booking.

Railjet’s operating speed of 230 km/h does not translate into a dramatically shorter journey compared to EuroCity services, because both trains are subject to the same track conditions and station stops along the corridor. The route does not use a dedicated high-speed line.

Indirect connections exist but typically add over 50 minutes to the journey time and provide no pricing advantage when direct services are available.

Journey Time by Service Type

Schedule and Frequency

Direct trains depart Wien Hbf for Budapest roughly every hour throughout the operating day. The first departure is approximately 07:42 and the last is approximately 21:40, giving a broad operating window suitable for both day trips and flexible itineraries. Confirm all times against the ÖBB timetable before travel, as seasonal timetable changes apply.

The high frequency means you are not locked into a single departure if your plans change, but advance booking is still recommended for price rather than seat availability. Walk-up fares can reach more than five times the lowest advance fare on the same departure.

RegioJet departures run on a separate schedule from ÖBB and MÁV. Check regiojet.com directly for RegioJet-specific departure times.

Fares and Tickets

ÖBB Fare Classes

ÖBB sells tickets at several price points. The Sparschiene (saver) fare is the lowest available and starts from approximately €9 in second class on the Vienna to Budapest route, subject to availability. Sparschiene tickets are tied to a specific train and are non-refundable or carry a change fee; check the conditions on oebb.at at the time of booking.

Flexible walk-up fares are approximately €52 in second class, €86 in first class, and €106 in Business class; check oebb.at before booking, as fare structures are subject to revision.

Sparschiene fares are released in advance and sell from the cheapest allocation upward. Booking 30 to 60 days ahead gives the best chance of securing the lowest tiers, though availability depends on the specific departure and season.

MÁV Pricing in HUF

MÁV sells tickets in Hungarian forints via jegy.mav.hu. Because exchange rates fluctuate, pull the current HUF fare directly from jegy.mav.hu when booking. MÁV is the preferred booking channel for travelers originating in Budapest and for those who prefer to pay in the local currency.

RegioJet Pricing

RegioJet advertises fares from approximately €7.90 on this route; check the current price on regiojet.com before booking. RegioJet tickets are booked exclusively on regiojet.com and are not available through ÖBB, MÁV, or third-party rail aggregators that cover only ÖBB/MÁV inventory. Note that RegioJet’s website also sells bus routes; confirm you are searching for the rail service when comparing prices.

Advance Booking Summary

Rail Pass Validity and Reservation Requirements

Eurail Global Pass and Interrail Global Pass are valid on ÖBB Railjet and EuroCity services between Vienna and Budapest. A seat reservation is required; check the current fee on oebb.at before travel.

RegioJet does not accept Eurail or Interrail passes on this route. A pass provides no discount or free travel on RegioJet services; you must buy a separate RegioJet ticket.

When ÖBB Sparschiene advance fares are available from approximately €9, the cost of using a pass is only the reservation fee. For last-minute travel where the walk-up fare reaches €52 or more, a pass reservation represents substantial savings over buying a point-to-point ticket on the day. EveryRail’s pass value calculator can run this comparison for your specific travel dates and itinerary.

Stations

Vienna Hauptbahnhof (Wien Hbf)

Wien Hbf is Vienna’s main rail terminal and the departure point for all direct ÖBB, MÁV, and RegioJet services to Budapest. The station is served by U-Bahn line U1, tram routes, and S-Bahn connections. International ticket counters and self-service machines are available on site. Some Railjet services also call at Wien Meidling, a secondary stop south of the city center, before continuing to Budapest; check your specific ticket to confirm your boarding point.

Budapest Keleti

Budapest Keleti is Hungary’s principal international rail terminal and the arrival point for all ÖBB and MÁV services from Vienna. Keleti is served by metro lines M2 and M4, tram routes, and a broad range of bus connections into central Budapest.

Budapest-Kelenfold and Budapest-Deli (RegioJet)

RegioJet services terminate at Budapest-Kelenfold and Budapest-Deli, not Budapest Keleti. Both stations are within Budapest and have metro and tram connections. Travelers arriving on RegioJet who plan to continue to central Pest or the Keleti area should factor in the additional transit leg.

Day Trip Feasibility

A day trip from Vienna to Budapest by train is practical. With the first direct departure from Wien Hbf at approximately 07:42 and the last direct return from Budapest Keleti at approximately 21:40, a round trip gives roughly 10 to 12 hours in Budapest depending on which services you choose. Check your exact date before booking to confirm these times apply to your travel day.

The round-trip advance fare can be as low as approximately €18 if both legs are booked on Sparschiene pricing; availability is not guaranteed and fares should be confirmed before booking. Walk-up round-trip costs are approximately €104 in second class.

Budapest Keleti is connected to the city center by metro. A day is sufficient for a compact itinerary; an overnight stay allows more comfortable pacing.

How to Book

Tickets for ÖBB and MÁV services are sold on oebb.at (in euros) and jegy.mav.hu (in Hungarian forints). Both sites show the same trains; the choice of platform depends on preferred currency and payment method. RegioJet tickets are sold exclusively on regiojet.com.

EveryRail’s fare calendar allows you to compare prices across dates for this route before going to the operator site to complete the booking. EveryRail does not sell tickets directly.

Sparschiene and equivalent saver fares are released on a rolling basis and sell from the cheapest allocation upward. Searching 30 to 60 days in advance maximizes the chance of finding the lowest tiers. For flexible or last-minute travel, both ÖBB and MÁV sell standard and flexible fares up to and including departure day.