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This page explains how to travel by train from Budapest to other cities all over Europe, and how to buy tickets the cheapest way. Train information is current for 2019.
Minimal disruption due
to refugees...
The Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu is the place the check for any updates. Trains resumed running all the way to Vienna, Salzburg & Munich in late 2015. Trains to Zagreb & Croatia resumed in March 2016. Most routes are 100% normal, you may not even see any refugees when you travel, whatever you see on the 'news'. So stop worrying!
Before you buy your
tickets...
Take a moment to read these important tips for buying European train tickets. They answer all the usual questions, such as "Do I need to book in advance or can I just buy at the station?", "Can I stop off?", "Are there Senior fares?" and that old favourite, "Should I buy an $800 railpass or just go online & buy a 35 point-to-point ticket?". And most important, click here to understand how far ahead you can buy train tickets.
European train travel
FAQ...
Budapest to other destinations in Hungary...
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Domestic Hungarian train tickets are easily and cheaply bought at the station in Hungary, or you can buy them online at www.mavcsoport.hu.
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See advice on how to use mavcsoport.hu & how you collect your tickets.
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Over 65? Any EU citizen over 65 years old can travel FREE anywhere on the Hungarian Railways domestic network. Yes, unlimited free travel in Hungary! You still need to go to the ticket office and get a free ticket to your chosen destination, and you must still pay any fast train supplement. Or you can book online at www.mavcsoport.hu, looking for the 'Reduction' drop-down menu and selecting 'Person over 65'. If you want 1st class you must pay the difference between 1st and 2nd class fares before boarding. Trams and buses are also free if you're over 65. The free travel only applies to EU citizens.
Budapest to London...
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See the London to Hungary page for train times, fares & how to buy train tickets between Budapest & London in either direction.
Budapest to Paris from 79...
Option 1, by Hungarian sleeper train to Zurich and high-speed TGV-Lyria to Paris. This is the fastest & most time-effective option, & saves a hotel bill too...
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Step 1, travel from Budapest to Zurich by excellent Hungarian sleeper train, leaving Budapest Keleti at 20:40 and arriving Zurich HB at 08:20 next morning. See the sleeper video as this train is identical to the Budapest-Munich one.
Fares start at 59 with a couchette in 6-berth, 69 with a couchette in 4-berth, 99 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper with washbasin or 129 in a single-bed sleeper with washbasin.
You can book this train at either the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (you print your own ticket) or at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu (see advice on how to use mavcsoport.hu & how you collect your tickets in Budapest - don't worry if the MAV website doesn't seem to recognise Zurich, just type it in and run the enquiry anyway).
Tip: If you like, you can check the consist for this train, check car numbers & see in what order cars for different destinations are marshalled using the excellent www.vagonweb.cz. Click the UK flag for English, click composition, then look under Hungary, click EN and look for Kalman Imre.
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Step 2, now travel from Zurich to Paris by 200 mph TGV-Lyria high-speed train, leaving Zurich HB at 09:34 and arriving Paris Gare de Lyon at 13:37, booked at www.trainline.eu from 29 in 2nd class or 51 in 1st class. In winter a additional quick change in Basel may be needed.
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2-berth sleeper. Larger photo. |
Step 1, Budapest to Zurich by sleeping-car, seen here, at Budapest Keleti. Watch the sleeping-car video... Photos courtesy of Matthew Williams. |
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The sleeper from Budapest, arrived in Zurich... |
4-berth couchettes |
6-berth couchettes. |
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Step 2, TGV-Lyria from Zurich to Paris. There's no check-in, just walk up & get on. |
The cafe-bar, serving tea, coffee, beer, wine, hot & cold snacks & microwaved hot dishes. Larger photo. |
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2nd class (standard class) with a mix or unidirectional seats & tables for 4. Seats are 2+2 across car width. 360Ί photo. |
1st class seats, used for standard premiθre and business premiθre. Seats are arranged 2+1 across the car width. 360Ί photo. |
Option 2, by Hungarian sleeper train to Munich and high-speed TGV to Paris. Similar to option 1, but via Munich, and it takes a little longer.
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Step 1, travel from Budapest to Munich by excellent Hungarian sleeper train leaving Budapest Keleti at 20:40 and arriving Munich Hbf at 06:10 next morning. Book this train at www.bahn.de with fares from 49 in a 6-berth couchette, 59 in a 4-berth couchette, 79 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or 139 in a single-bed sleeper, see sleeper video.
Book this sleeper train at www.trainline.eu and print your own ticket. You can also book at www.bahn.de, and it can also be booked at the Hungarian Railways site www.mavcsoport.hu with ticket collection in Budapest although it can be more fiddly than using trainline.eu or bahn.de, see advice on how to use mavcsoport.hu & how you collect your tickets.
Tip: If you like, you can check the consist for this train, check car numbers & see in what order cars for different destinations are marshalled using the excellent www.vagonweb.cz. Click the UK flag for English, click composition, then look under Hungary, click EN and look for Kalman Imre.
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Step 2, now travel from Munich to Paris by ICE train & double-deck high-speed TGV Duplex, leaving Munich Hbf at 07:28 and arriving Paris Gare de l'Est at 14:05 with one easy change at Stuttgart, also booked at www.bahn.de from 39.90 in 2nd class or 69.90 in 1st class. I recommend an upper deck seat for the best views.
Bahn.de may initially suggest the 08:28 from Munich with a tight connection in Stuttgart, but I recommend using the Adjust transfer time feature to get an earlier departure from Munich for a more robust connection. There's a direct TGV to Paris leaving Munich at 06:46 (06:23 on Sundays), but I'd ignore it as it's too tight to be a robust connection. You print your own ticket for this part of the journey.
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Step 1, Budapest to Munich on the Kalman Imre... Watch the sleeping-car video. |
2-bed sleeper. Larger photo |
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6-berth couchettes... |
4-berth couchettes |
Hungarian couchette car at Munich |
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Step 2, by 200mph double-deck TGV Duplex to Paris. This is a TGV Duplex at Paris Gare de l'Est. |
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Cafe-bar on upper deck in car 4 (or 14), serving tea, coffee, soft drinks, wine, beer, snacks & microwave-style hot dishes. |
2nd class seats on upper deck. There's a mix or tables for 4 and unidirectional seating. 360Ί photo. |
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1st class seats on upper deck, a 'club duo' on the left, a 'club quatre' on the right. 360Ί photo. |
A TGV Duplex in Paris. The red near the door indicates 1st class, pale green indicates 2nd class. |
Option 3, by railjet from Budapest to Munich, overnight stop, TGV from Munich to Paris. This is the fastest & cheapest all-daytime option.
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Day 1: Travel from Budapest to Munich by smart Austrian railjet train, for example the 15:40 from Budapest Keleti arriving Munich Hbf 22:31, but they run every 2 hours so by all means take an earlier one to spend a pleasant evening in Munich. Railjet trains have a bistro-restaurant, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see the railjet information page.
Fares start at 39.90 in 2nd class or 69.90 in 1st class booked online at www.bahn.de with tickets sent to any address worldwide for a small fee. You can also book at Hungarian Railways www.mavcsoport.hu with tickets collected from the yellow self-service machines in Budapest.
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Stay overnight in Munich, search here for hotels. Hotels right next to the station with good or great reviews include the Sofitel Munich Beyerpost, Eden Hotel Wolff, InterCity Hotel or (if you're on a budget) the Pension Locarno. For dinner in Munich I suggest the Augustinerkeller, www.augustinerkeller.de a few minutes walk from the station.
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Day 2: Travel from Munich to Paris by TGV Duplex leaving Munich Hbf at 06:46 (06:23 on Sundays) arriving Paris Est at 12:33 (12:05 on Sundays) - but by by all means have a leisurely breakfast and take the 08:28 ICE from Munich to Stuttgart where you change onto a TGV Duplex to Paris, arriving 16:05.
Fares from 39 in 2nd class or 69 in 1st class booked online at www.bahn.de with print-at-home tickets. A direct 200 mph TGV Duplex The TGV Duplex has a cafe-bar & power sockets at all seats, book an upper deck seat for the best views (= any seat number >60).
Option 4, by railjet from Budapest to Zurich via the scenic Arlberg Pass, overnight stop, then TGV-Lyria to Paris. This is the scenic route!
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Day 1: Travel from Budapest to Zurich by air-conditioned railjet train, leaving Budapest Keleti at 06:40 and arriving at Zurich HB at 17:20.
A bistro-restaurant car is available, so treat yourself to breakfast and lunch - in first & business class, a stewardess will take your order and serve your food at your seat. There are power sockets at all seats and free WiFi, see more pictures & information about railjet trains.
It's a really scenic ride - the train travels via Vienna, past Salzburg's impressive citadel, through the Austrian Tirol, snakes through the scenic Arlberg Pass in the Alps (see the Arlberg Railway page & watch the video), then along the Walensee and Zόrichsee lakes to Zurich. For views of Salzburg castle, the Zόrichsee lake and most of the Arlberg valley, find an unreserved seat on the left-hand side of the train leaving Budapest (this advice allows for the change of direction at Buchs!).
Fares start at 39 in 2nd class or 59 in 1st class.
Buy a ticket at the Hungarian railways website www.mavcsoport.hu, see tips for using mavcsoport.hu & how to collect your tickets.
Note that you can't book business class using www.mavcsoport.hu, although you could buy a cheap 1st class ticket then buy the business class upgrade separately at the station, or make a reservation-only booking from Budapest to Feldkirch at Austrian Railways www.oebb.at by fin ding and selecting the train, then clicking More services and Ticket already exists. There is only a tiny chance someone will be reserved in your seat for the last 90 minutes from Feldkirch!
If you have any problems getting mavcsoport.hu to sell a Budapest-Zurich ticket for this train, the workaround is to use the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at to first book Budapest-Feldkirch and then book Feldkirch-Zurich on the same train (RJ162). You can then print your own ticket for both segments and can also book business class, although of course this means you're paying the 15 business class upgrade twice!
If you have a first or business class ticket, you can use the business lounge in Budapest near platform 9, open 06:00-21:30 daily open for anyone with a 1st class international ticket to, from or via Budapest.
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Spend the night in a hotel in Zurich. Search Zurich hotels at Booking.com. For something special, look no further than the superb Hotel Schweizerhof, located right next to Zurich HB. One of my favourite hotels, they'll even send a uniformed commissionaire to meet you at the station and carry your bags across the road. For something cheaper but also near the station, try the Hotel du Thιatre or Hotel St Gotthard.
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Day 2, travel from Zurich to Paris in 4h03 by any TGV-Lyria high-speed train you like. For example, the 07:34 from Zurich HB arrives Paris Gare de Lyon at 11:37 or the 09:34 from Zurich HB arrives Paris Gare de Lyon at 13:37.
Fares start at 29 in 2nd class (standard) or 51 in 1st class (standard premiθre). Fares work like air fares, cheap if booked 2-3 months ahead, much more expensive bought on the day.
Buy a ticket for this train at either www.loco2.com or www.trainline.eu and again you'll get a print-at-home ticket.
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A railjet train pauses at Vienna... |
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Railjet first class, with black leather seats... |
Business class... |
The restaurant... |
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A railjet arrived at the impressive modern Vienna Hbf spot on time. More photos & information about railjet trains |
Economy class on railjet, in open saloons with large windows. Some seats around tables, most unidirectional. |
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The mountains of Austria... |
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In the Arlberg pass itself, the railway hugs the valley side, past fir forests and meadows... |
In railjet first & business class, the stewardess takes your order & serves lunch at your seat... |
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The railjet clips a corner of Liechtenstein, passing non-stop through the little station of Schaan-Vaduz. Once in Switzerland, the railjet runs alongside the Zόrichsee, then along the Walensee... |
Budapest to Nice, Cannes, Monaco, Marseille, Avignon...
Option 1, using the Vienna-Milan sleeper then a scenic coastal ride...
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Step 1, travel from Budapest to Vienna by swish modern railjet train leaving Budapest Keleti at 15:40 arriving Vienna Hbf 18:21. Trains leave every hour or two, so by all means book an earlier one and have dinner in Vienna. Fares start at 13 booked at www.mavcsoport.hu or from 19 booked at www.trainline.eu or www.oebb.at, buy from whichever is cheaper. You print your own ticket at trainline.eu or oebb.at, or collect tickets in Budapest if you use mavcsoport.hu. By all means book an earlier train and have an afternoon in Vienna. See tips for using mavcsoport.hu & how to collect your tickets.
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Step 2, travel from Vienna to Milan by Nightjet sleeper train leaving Vienna Hbf every day at 19:23 and arriving Milan Centrale at 09:12. Fares from 59 with a couchette in 6-berth, 69 with a couchette in 4-berth, 99 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or 139 in a single-bed sleeper, deluxe sleepers with shower & toilet are also available. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment. Book at either www.trainline.eu (easiest) or Austrian Railways' own website www.oebb.at and print your own ticket.
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Step 3, travel from Milan to Monte Carlo & Nice by comfortable Thello train from just 15, leaving Milan Centrale at 11:10 arriving Nice Ville at 16:00. Buy tickets for this train at www.loco2.com or www.trenitalia.com. It's ticketless, you just quite the booking reference on board. Note that on Trenitalia, Monte Carlo is listed as Monaco-Monte Carlo. Plain Monaco is Italian for Munich! It's a lovely scenic ride along the Italian Riviera between Genoa and Nice.
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Change in Nice for frequent trains to Antibes, Cannes, Marseille, Avignon. Check times & buy tickets at www.loco2.com or buy at Nice station.
Option 2, by direct Russian sleeper train every Friday...
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Take a railjet train from Budapest Keleti to Vienna Hbf from 19 booked at www.trainline.eu or www.oebb.at. You print your own ticket. Allow plenty of time in Vienna.
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The Moscow-Nice express enables you to leave Vienna Hbf every Friday around 22:44 arriving Nice 18:30 next day. Clean and modern 2 & 4 berth sleepers with washbasin, shower at the end of the corridor, 1 & 2 bed deluxe sleepers with toilet and shower, restaurant car, it's identical to the excellent Paris-Moscow train shown here. Book online at Russian Railways www.rzd.ru - see advice on using it.
Budapest to Brussels & Bruges from 56...
Option 1, by sleeper train to Munich, then daytime trains to Brussels...
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Step 1, travel by excellent Hungarian sleeper train Kalman Imre leaving Budapest Keleti at 20:40 and arriving Munich Hbf at 06:10 next morning.
Book this train at www.bahn.de with fares from 49 in a 6-berth couchette, 59 in a 4-berth couchette, 79 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or 139 in a single-bed sleeper, see sleeper video and see the couchette & sleeper photos above. You usually print your own ticket.
You can also book at www.trainline.eu, which connects to the Austrian system so might have cheaper prices, you also print your own ticket. Or you can book at Hungarian Railways www.mavcsoport.hu with ticket collection in Budapest, although it can be more fiddly than using bahn.de, see advice on how to use mavcsoport.hu & how you collect your tickets.
Tip: If you like, you can check the consist for this train, check car numbers & see in what order cars for different destinations are marshalled using the excellent www.vagonweb.cz. Click the UK flag for English, click composition, then look under Hungary, click EN and look for Kalman Imre.
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Step 2, now travel from Munich to Brussels on luxurious ICE trains with bistro-restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, also booked at www.bahn.de from 39.90 in 2nd class or 69.90 in 1st class with print-at-home tickets. There are various options to choose from, for example you can usually leave Munich Hbf at 06:48, change at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf, arrive Brussels Midi at 13:35. Change in Brussels for half-hourly trains to Bruges.
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Budapest to Munich on the Kalman Imre. Watch the sleeping-car video. |
2-bed sleeper. Larger photo |
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6-berth couchettes... |
4-berth couchettes |
Hungarian couchette car at Munich |
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Munich to Frankfurt & Brussels by ICE... |
ICE3 2nd class seats. Larger photo. |
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ICE3 1st class, with leather seats. Larger photo. |
ICE3 bistro car. See sample menu. |
Option 2, by day train to Munich, the Vienna-Cologne Nightjet sleeper train, then day train to Brussels......
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Step 1, travel from Budapest to Vienna by smart modern railjet train leaving Budapest Keleti at 15:40 and arriving Vienna Hbf at 18:21. The railjet has a bistro-restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Book this online from 13 in 2nd class or 29 in 1st class at Hungarian Railways www.mavcsoport.hu. See tips for using mavcsoport.hu & how to collect your tickets.
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Step 2, now travel from Vienna to Cologne on the excellent Austrian Nightjet sleeper train leaving Vienna Hbf at 20:41 and arriving at Cologne Hbf at 08:15 next morning. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment, see the Nightjet information page.
You can book this sleeper train at either the German site www.bahn.de or www.trainline.eu with fares from 59 with a couchette in 6-berth, 69 with a couchette in 4-berth, 99 in a 2-bed sleeper or 139 in a single-bed sleeper. Deluxe sleepers with en suite shower & toilet are also available.
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Step 3, now travel from Cologne to Brussels by high-speed ICE3 train leaving Cologne Hbf at 09:43 and arriving Brussels Midi at 11:35. The ICE has a bistro-restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Book this at www.bahn.de, fares from 19.90 in 2nd class or 49.90 in 1st class. You can book through to Bruges or anywhere in Belgium at www.bahn.de as one transaction for one inclusive price.
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Step 1, take a smart railjet train from Budapest to Vienna. This is a railjet train at Budapest Keleti station... |
Business class costs 15 more than normal 1st class... |
Economy class on railjet, comfortable open saloons with large picture windows. Some seats around tables, some unidirectional. |
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2-berth regular sleeper with washstand. Larger photo. |
The toilet & shower in a deluxe sleeper... |
Step 2, travel overnight from Vienna to Cologne by comfortable Nightjet train. More information about Nightjet trains... |
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Austrian couchette car or liegewagen. Couchettes are the economical option, flat bunks with rug & pillow. |
6-berth couchettes, the cheapest option... |
4-berth couchettes, ideal for families. Larger photo. |
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Step 3, Cologne to Brussels by ICE3... |
ICE3 2nd class seats. Larger photo. |
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ICE3 1st class, with leather seats. Larger photo. |
ICE3 bistro car. See sample menu. |
Option 3, by day trains with overnight stop in Munich...
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Step 1, travel from Budapest to Munich by smart Austrian railjet train leaving Budapest Keleti at 15:40 and arriving Munich Hbf around 22:42. The railjet has a bistro-restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. By all means take an earlier train, they run every couple of hours.
Book this train at the German Railways website www.bahn.de with fares from 39 in 2nd class or 69 in 1st class. Tickets are sent to any address worldwide for a small fee. You can also book at Hungarian Railways www.mavcsoport.hu with tickets collected from the yellow machines in Budapest.
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Stay overnight in Munich, search here for hotels. Try the Sofitel Munich Beyerpost, Eden Hotel Wolff, InterCity Hotel or (budget) the Pension Locarno, all right next to the station with great reviews.
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Step 2, now travel from Munich to Brussels on comfortable ICE trains, for example leaving Munich Hbf at 06:48, changing at Cologne Hbf, arriving Brussels Midi at 13:35 - but by all means have a leisurely breakfast and take a later train. ICE trains also have bistro-restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Fares start at 39.90 in 2nd class or 69.90 in 1st class. Book this at www.bahn.de and print your own ticket. There are lots of options to choose from.
Option 4, by sleeper to Prague then day trains to Brussels - the cheapest option from 56!
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OK, so this isn't the fastest option. But an amazing 21 fare between Prague & Brussels from Czech Railways plus a 35 fare from Budapest to Prague including a bed for the night makes it the cheapest! The trains are just as good quality as other routes, too, see the photos here.
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Step 1, take the sleeper train Metropol from Budapest to Prague, leaving Budapest Keleti at 19:25 and arriving Prague Hlavni at 08:07 next morning. This train has a modern air-conditioned sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed sleepers with washbasin also several deluxe compartments with en suite toilet & shower, and a couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments. Morning tea or coffee is included in the fare in the sleepers. Have a full breakfast in Prague.
Book this train from 35 with couchette, 46 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or 71 with a single-bed sleeper all to yourself at Czech Railways www.cd.cz & print your own ticket. Or book at Hungarian Railways www.mavcsoport.hu with ticket collection from the yellow ticket machines.
Alternatively, you could take any daytime train you like from Budapest Nyugati to Prague Hlavni from 20, see the timetable here. Then stay overnight in Prague: Hotels with good reviews next to the station include the Esplanade Hotel (a good choice, I've stayed there myself), Falkensteiner Hotel Maria, Chopin Hotel. Budapest to Brussels from just 41...
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Step 2, travel from Prague to Brussels by train. You don't get much control over the trains or route, it involves 3 changes and takes a day, but it's true. You can go from central Prague to central Brussels in comfort by train for as little as 21. For example:
Prague Hlavni depart 10:45, change Cheb, Nuremberg & Frankfurt (Main) Hbf arriving Brussels Midi at 21:35.
Simply use the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz to book from Prague to Brussel, but (and this is the important bit) you must click More options then click Travel via and put Cheb in the via box. You'll see fares from as little as 21 (about 560 Czech Koruna) via a route with 3 changes at Cheb, Nuremberg & Frankfurt. Or treat yourself to first class from 40, about 1076 Koruna. You print your own ticket.
There's nothing cut-rate about the trains: You travel on a swish air-conditioned regional train from Prague to Cheb and from Cheb to Nuremberg, then by top-quality high-speed ICE train from Nuremberg to Frankfurt and Frankfurt to Brussels, complete with bistro-restaurant cars, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see the photos here.
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Budapest to Prague by sleeping-car. Photo courtesy of Shaiq Ali Khan |
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Standard sleeper set up as a 2-berth, with blind down & washstand open. Each room can be used with 1, 2 or 3 beds. Enlarge photo. |
The same sleeper with berths folded away & seats folded out, washstand closed. Very similar to a deluxe, but without the shower & toilet. |
Deluxe sleepers are similar to standard ones, but with a bit more floorspace & compact shower & toilet instead of washstand. |
Just like a hotel, the corridor in a Comfortline sleeping-car. There's a shower at end of the corridor for standard sleeper passengers. |
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Scenery between Nuremberg & Cheb. Courtesy of Arnaud Loneux. |
Hills & forest between Cheb & Prague. Courtesy of Arnaud Loneux. |
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Easy & relaxed interchange at Cheb... The blue train on the right is the Czech train to & from Prague, the red train on the left is the German regional train to & from Nuremberg. Photo courtesy of Lennart Verbraeken. |
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ICE3 from Frankfurt to Brussels, at Brussels Midi. |
ICE3 2nd class seats. Larger photo. |
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ICE3 1st class, with leather seats. Larger photo. |
ICE3 bistro. See sample menu. |
Budapest to Amsterdam from 98...
Option 1, using the Vienna-Cologne Nightjet sleeper train...
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Step 1, travel from Budapest to Vienna by smart modern railjet train leaving Budapest Keleti at 15:40 and arriving Vienna Hbf at 18:21. The railjet train has a bistro-restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. Book this online from 13 in 2nd class or 29 in 1st class at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu. See tips for using mavcsoport.hu & how to collect your tickets. Have dinner in Vienna.
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Step 2, now travel from Vienna to Cologne on the excellent Austrian Nightjet sleeper train leaving Vienna Hbf at 20:41 and arriving at Cologne Hbf at 08:15 next morning. You can book this sleeper train at either the German site www.bahn.de or www.trainline.eu with fares 59 with a couchette in a 6-berth compartment, 69 with a couchette in a 4-berth compartment, 99 in a 2-bed sleeper with washbasin or 139 in a single bed sleeper with washbasin. Deluxe sleepers with en suite shower & toilet are also available. The sleeper & couchette fares include a light breakfast served in your compartment, see the Nightjet information page.
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Step 3, now travel from Cologne to Amsterdam by high-speed ICE3 train leaving Cologne Hbf at 08:41 and arriving Amsterdam Centraal at 11:28. The ICE has a bistro-restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. Book this at www.bahn.de, fares from 19.90 in 2nd class or 49.90 in 1st class. You can book through to anywhere in the Netherlands.
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Step 1, take a smart Austrian railjet train from Budapest to Vienna. This is a railjet train at Budapest Keleti station... |
Business class costs 15 more than normal 1st class... |
Economy class on railjet, comfortable open saloons with large picture windows. Some seats around tables, some unidirectional. |
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2-berth regular sleeper with washstand. Larger photo. |
The toilet & shower in a deluxe sleeper... |
Step 2, travel overnight from Vienna to Cologne by comfortable Austrian Nightjet train. More information about Nightjet trains... |
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Austrian couchette car or liegewagen. Couchettes are the economical option, flat bunks with rug & pillow. |
6-berth couchettes, the cheapest option... |
4-berth couchettes, ideal for families. Larger photo. |
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Step 3, Cologne to Amsterdam by ICE3... |
ICE3 2nd class seats. Larger photo. |
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Option 2, by sleeper train to Munich, then daytime trains to Amsterdam...
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Step 1, travel by excellent Hungarian sleeper train Kalman Imre leaving Budapest Keleti at 20:40, arriving Munich Hbf at 06:10 next morning.
Book this train at www.bahn.de with fares from 49 in a 6-berth couchette, 59 in a 4-berth couchette, 79 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or 139 in a single-bed sleeper, see the sleeper video and couchette & sleeper photos here. You usually print your own ticket.
You can also book at www.trainline.eu, which connects to the Austrian system so might have cheaper prices, you also print your own ticket. You can also book at the Hungarian Railways site www.mavcsoport.hu with ticket collection in Budapest, although it can be more fiddly than using bahn.de or trainline.eu, see advice on how to use mavcsoport.hu & how you collect your tickets.
Tip: If you like, you can check the consist for this train, check car numbers & see in what order cars for different destinations are marshalled using the excellent www.vagonweb.cz. Click the UK flag for English, click composition, then look under Hungary, click EN and look for Kalman Imre.
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Step 2, now travel from Munich to Amsterdam on luxurious ICE trains, also booked at www.bahn.de from 39.90 in 2nd class or 69.90 in 1st class with print-at-home tickets. There are lots of options to choose from: For example, you could leave Munich Hbf at 07:52, change at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf, arrive Amsterdam Centraal at 15:28. ICE trains have a bistro-restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
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1. Budapest to Munioch by sleeper. This is the Kalman Imre at Munich. Watch the sleeping-car video |
2-bed sleeper. Larger photo |
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6-berth couchettes... |
4-berth couchettes |
Hungarian couchette car at Munich |
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2. Munich to Amsterdam by ICE... |
ICE3 2nd class seats. Larger photo. |
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ICE3 1st class, with leather seats. Larger photo. |
ICE3 bistro car. See sample menu. |
Option 3, by day trains with overnight stop in Munich... If you prefer daytime trains and a hotel...
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Day 1, travel from Budapest to Munich by smart Austrian railjet train leaving Budapest Keleti at 15:40 and arriving Munich Hbf around 22:42. The railjet train has a bistro-restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. By all means take an earlier train, they run every couple of hours. Book this train at www.bahn.de with fares from just 39.90 in 2nd class or 69.90 in 1st class. Tickets are sent to any address worldwide for a small fee.
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Stay overnight in Munich, search here for hotels. Hotels right next to the station with good or great reviews include the Sofitel Munich Beyerpost, Eden Hotel Wolff, InterCity Hotel or (if you're on a budget) the Pension Locarno.
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Day 2, travel from Munich to Amsterdam on luxurious ICE trains from 39.90 in 2nd class or 69.90 in 1st class. Book this journey at www.bahn.de and print your own ticket. There are lots of options to choose from: For example, you could leave Munich Hbf at 07:52, change at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf, arrive Amsterdam Centraal at 15:28, but by all means take a later train such as the 09:28 from Munich, change at Cologne Hbf, arriving Amsterdam Centraal at 17:28. All ICE trains have a bistro-restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Budapest to Zurich & Switzerland from 39...
Option 1, by sleeper train - the safe, comfortable & time-effective option...
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A direct sleeper train leaves Budapest Keleti at 20:40, arriving Zurich HB at 08:20 next morning. The sleeping-car is identical to the one shown in this video and the sleeper & couchettes are identical to the ones shown in the photos above.
Fares start at 59 with a couchette in 6-berth, 69 with a couchette in 4-berth, 99 in a 2-bed sleeper with washbasin or 139 in a single-bed sleeper with washbasin.
You can easily book this train at either the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (you print your own ticket) or at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu (see advice on how to use mavcsoport.hu & how you collect your tickets in Budapest - don't worry if the MAV website doesn't seem to recognise Zurich, just type it in and run the enquiry anyway). Check both sites to see which is cheapest!
Tip: If you like, you can check the consist for this train, check car numbers & see in what order cars for different destinations are marshalled using the excellent www.vagonweb.cz. Click the UK flag for English, click composition, look under Hungary, click EN & look for Kalman Imre.
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Check onward trains from Zurich to anywhere in Switzerland and buy print-at-home Swiss tickets at www.sbb.ch, or just buy at the station in Zurich as no reservation is necessary for Swiss domestic trains.
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2-berth sleeper. Larger photo. |
The sleeping-car to Zurich, at Budapest Keleti. Watch the Hungarian sleeping-car video... Photos courtesy of Matthew Williams. |
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The sleeper from Budapest, arrived in Zurich... |
4-berth couchettes |
6-berth couchettes. |
Option 2, by daytime train from 39 - the scenic option, through the wonderful Arlberg Pass...
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A direct daytime railjet train links Budapest with Zurich, leaving Budapest Keleti at 06:40 and arriving Zurich HB at 17:20 after a fabulous scenic journey through the wonderful Arlberg Pass, watch the Arlberg Pass railjet video and you'll see what I mean. There's a bistro-restaurant car for breakfast & lunch, or in 1st & business class your order will be taken and food & drink served at your seat. There are power sockets at all seats & free WiFi in all classes.
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Fares start at 39 in 2nd class or 59 in 1st class.
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The Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu can now book this train, see tips for using mavcsoport.hu & how to collect your tickets.
Note that you can't book business class using www.mavcsoport.hu, although you could buy a cheap 1st class ticket then buy the business class upgrade separately at the station, or make a reservation-only booking from Budapest to Feldkirch at Austrian Railways www.oebb.at by fin ding and selecting the train, then clicking More services and Ticket already exists - There is only a tiny chance someone will be reserved in your business class seat for the last 90 minutes from Feldkirch!
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The other way to book this trip is to use the Austrian Railways site www.oebb.at as follows, which usually works out a bit more expensive but gives you more control over seating if you choose to reserve seats, it allows you to book luxurious business class seats and it's also useful if you have any trouble booking this train at the Hungarian Railways site:
Step 1, first use the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at to book the 06:40 from Budapest to Vienna (train RJ162) with fares from 19 in 2nd class or from 29 in 1st class or 44 in Business class.
Step 2, now use the www.oebb.at again to book exactly the same train (RJ162 leaving Vienna Hbf at 09:30) from Vienna to Zurich with fares from 29 in 2nd class, 49 in 1st class or 64 in Business class. You'll get a print-at-home ticket so you can just stay on board the train as it passes through Vienna.
Tip 1: Seat reservation is optional, for around 3 fee per seat (though a reserved seat is included automatically if you book a Business class ticket). You'll need to make good use of the ability to book specific seats from Vienna to Zurich so you book the same seats you were given for Budapest to Vienna, to save you having to switch seats in Vienna.
Tip 2: You can book through to any station in Switzerland, the ticket will then include an onwards Swiss train to Geneva, Basel, Interlaken, Zermatt, or wherever, at inclusive prices from 39 upwards - this will be significantly cheaper than buying a separate Swiss domestic ticket for an onward journey from Zurich, as these are expensive.
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Seat reservation is optional on railjet trains, but if you choose to make one you'll obviously pay the small fee twice (once for each booking on each website) and will probably have to switch seats in Vienna unless you can use the 'choose exact seat' feature on oebb.at to book the same seats in the same car on each leg. It's probably best not to bother reserving and just sit where you like, at 6am in Budapest where the train starts you'll have a choice of plenty of empty unreserved seats. The electronic display on the wall by each seat shows which seats are available and which are reserved.
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If you prefer a later departure from Budapest, you can take the 09:40 railjet train to Vienna and change there onto the 15:56 railjet train from Vienna Hbf to Zurich HB arriving at 21:20. This is booked at www.oebb.at in exactly the same way, by splitting the booking in Vienna.
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Economy class on railjet, in open saloons with picture windows. Some seats around tables, most unidirectional. |
A railjet at Budapest Keleti... More photos & information about railjet trains. |
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Railjet first class, with black leather seats... |
Business class... |
Bistro-restaurant car... |
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The mountains of Austria... |
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In the Arlberg pass itself, the railway hugs the valley side, past fir forests and meadows... |
In railjet first & business class, the stewardess takes your order & serves lunch at your seat... |
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The railjet clips a corner of Liechtenstein, passing non-stop through the little station of Schaan-Vaduz. Once in Switzerland, the railjet runs alongside the Zόrichsee, then along the Walensee... |
Budapest to Venice, Milan, Florence, Rome & Italy...
Option 1: By railjet train to Vienna & Nightjet sleeper train to Italy - the most time-effective option...
You can easily reach Italy using a smart Austrian railjet train to Vienna in just 2h41, then a Nightjet sleeper train from Vienna to Venice, Florence, Milan or Rome. It's a safe, comfortable & time-effective way to travel, from city centre to city centre with no airports and no flights...
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Step 1, travel from Budapest to Vienna by smart Austrian railjet train.
If you're going to Bologna, Florence, Rome or Milan, take the 15:40 railjet train from Budapest Keleti arriving Vienna Hbf 18:21.
If you're going to Venice, take the 17:40 railjet train from Budapest Keleti arriving Vienna Hbf at 20:21.
But why not book an earlier train and have a leisurely dinner in Vienna, or spend an afternoon or day there?!
Book your train from Budapest to Vienna at the Hungarian railways website www.mavcsoport.hu, booking opens 60 days ahead. See tips for using mavcsoport.hu & how to collect your tickets. Fares from 13 in 2nd class or 29 in 1st class.
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Step 2, now travel from Vienna to Italy overnight while you sleep aboard an excellent Austrian Nightjet sleeper train.
A Nightjet leaves Vienna Hbf at 19:23 for Florence SMN (arriving 06:19), Rome Termini (09:22) & Milan Centrale (09:12).
Another Nightjet leaves Vienna Hbf at 21:27 arriving Venice Santa Lucia in central Venice at 08:24.
Fares start at 59 with a couchette in 6-berth, 69 with a couchette in 4-berth, 99 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or 139 in a single-bed sleeper. Deluxe sleepers with en suite shower & toilet are also available. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment, see the Nightjet information page.
Book these Nightjet trains at either www.trainline.eu (easiest) or the Austrian railways website www.oebb.at - look for the cheap Sparscheine fares and print your own ticket. If you don't see the type of sleeper you want with the cheapest fare selected, try clicking on the semi-flexible fare option and see if the sleeper option appears.
Tip: If you like, you can check the consist for these trains, check car numbers & see in what order cars for different destinations are marshalled using the excellent www.vagonweb.cz. Click the UK flag for English, click composition, then look under Austria & click nj.
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Step 3, onward tickets from Rome to Naples or Sicily or from Milan to Genoa (for example) can be bought separately at either www.trainline.eu (easy to use, recognisees English place-names, no fee or mark-up) or www.italiarail.com (easy to use, recognises English place names, the small booking fee will be refunded if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com with your PNR) or Italian Railways own website www.trenitalia.com (more fiddly to use, requires Italian language place names, no booking fee, read this advice on using it first).
Budapest to Italy by train...
Simply hop on an afternoon railjet train from Budapest to Vienna, have dinner in Vienna, then board the sleeper to Italy.
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Step 1, take a smart Austrian railjet train from Budapest to Vienna. This is a RailJet train at Budapest's historic Keleti station... |
Business class costs 15 more than normal 1st class... |
Economy class on railjet, comfortable open saloons with large picture windows. Some seats around tables, some unidirectional. |
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Step 2, take the nightjet sleeper train from Vienna to Italy. This is the Vienna-Venice nightjet, arrived at Venice Santa Lucia. See more nightjet information, photos & video. |
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2-berth deluxe sleeper. More info about Nightjet trains. |
...en suite toilet & shower. |
4-berth couchettes... |
Option 2, Budapest to Venice in a single day from 42 - comfy & scenic, possible once more from December 2017...
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Step 1, travel from Budapest to Vienna by swish modern railjet train leaving Budapest Keleti at 07:40 and arriving Vienna Hbf at 10:21. The excellent air-conditioned railjet train has a bistro-restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Fares start at just 13 in 2nd class, 29 in 1st class or 44 in business class (= premium 1st class).
Book this train at either www.trainline.eu (easiest to use, you print your own ticket) or Hungarian Railways www.mavcsoport.hu (more fiddly but can sometimes be a bit cheaper, see my tips for using it and how to collect tickets from the self-service ticket machines.
If you have a 1st class ticket you can use the ΦBB first class lounge at Vienna Hbf between trains, with complimentary tea, coffee & soft drinks.
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Step 2, travel from Vienna to Venice by modern Austrian railjet train leaving Vienna Hbf at 12:25 and arriving Venice Santa Lucia right on the banks of the Grand Canal in central Venice at 20:05. See the Vienna to Venice by train page for more information, tips, photos & video.
The air-conditioned railjet train has a bistro-restaurant, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. It takes the beautifully scenic UNESCO-listed Semmering route from Vienna to Graz, a real treat - see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semmering_railway. Treat yourself to lunch with wine as the mountains glide by...
Fares start at just 29 in 2nd class, 44 in 1st class or 59 in business class (= premium 1st class, a real treat).
Book this train at either www.trainline.eu (easiest to use, you print your own ticket) or if you have any problems, Austrian Railways' own website www.oebb.at, also with print-your-own ticketing.
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The afternoon railjet to Venice, about to leave Vienna Hbf. More photos & info about Vienna-Venice railjets. |
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A railjet boarding at the impressive modern Vienna Hbf. |
Economy class on railjet... |
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Railjet first class, with black leather seats... |
Business class... |
The restaurant... |
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The railjet travels over the famous Semmering Railway, opened in 1854 and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. See the Vienna to Venice by train page for more information, photos & video. |
Option 3, by daytime trains with overnight stop - same as option 2, but an overnight stop breaks up the journey nicely...
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Day 1, travel from Budapest to Vienna in 2h41 by smart Austrian railjet train. Trains run every hour or two through the day, for example you can leave Budapest Keleti at 17:40 arriving at Vienna Hbf at 20:21, but by all means take an earlier train for an afternoon in Vienna. Railjet trains have a bistro-restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Fares start at just 13 in 2nd class, 29 in 1st class or 44 in business class.
Buy tickets at either www.trainline.eu (easiest to use, you print your own ticket) or the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu (more fiddly but can be cheaper, ticket collection in Budapest).
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Stay overnight in Vienna. Hotels near Vienna Hbf with good reviews include the Motel One Vienna Hbf, GraetzlHotel, Hotel Schani Wien.
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Day 2, travel from Vienna to Venice on the early morning railjet train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 06:25 and arriving at Venice Santa Lucia in central Venice on the banks of the Grand Canal at 14:05. It's an early start, but this train takes the wonderfully scenic UNESCO-listed Semmering route through Austria via Graz so sit back and enjoy the ride - see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semmering_railway. The railjet train has a bistro-restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. See the Vienna to Venice by train page for more information, tips, photos & video.
If you'd like a morning in Vienna, a second railjet train leaves Vienna Hbf at 12:25 arriving Venice Santa Lucia at 20:05.
Fares start at just 29 in 2nd class, 44 in 1st class or 59 in business class (= premium 1st class a real treat). Buy tickets at www.trainline.eu (easiest to use, you print your own ticket) or Austrian Railways' own website www.oebb.at, also with print-your-own tickets.
Budapest to Barcelona & Spain
Option 1, by daytime railjet train through the scenic Arlberg Pass, hotel in Zurich, then TGV...
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Step 1, a direct daytime railjet train links Budapest with Zurich, leaving Budapest Keleti at 06:40, arriving Zurich HB at 17:20 after a fabulous scenic ride through the Arlberg Pass, watch the Arlberg Pass scenery video. There's a restaurant car for breakfast & lunch, or in 1st & business class your order will be taken and food & drinks served at your seat.
Fares start at 39 in 2nd class or 59 in 1st class.
Buy a ticket at the Hungarian railways website www.mavcsoport.hu, see tips for using mavcsoport.hu & how to collect your tickets.
Note that you can't book business class using www.mavcsoport.hu, although you could buy a cheap 1st class ticket then buy the business class upgrade separately at the station, or make a reservation-only booking from Budapest to Feldkirch at Austrian Railways www.oebb.at by fin ding and selecting the train, then clicking More services and Ticket already exists. There is only a tiny chance someone will be reserved in your seat for the last 90 minutes from Feldkirch!
If you have any problems getting mavcsoport.hu to sell a Budapest-Zurich ticket for this train, the workaround is to use the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at to first book Budapest-Feldkirch and then book Feldkirch-Zurich on the same train (RJ162). You can then print your own ticket for both segments and can also book business class, although of course this means you're paying the 15 business class upgrade twice!
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Stay overnight in Zurich or Geneva.
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Step 2, if staying in Zurich, take an early morning Swiss domestic train you like from Zurich HB to Geneva, times & prices & online tickets are at www.sbb.ch.
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Step 3, travel from Geneva to Barcelona by train. You'll usually find a TER regional train leaving Geneva at 11:31, change trains at Lyon Part Dieu (arrive 13:22, depart 14:24) onto a direct AVE-S100 high-speed train arriving Barcelona Sants at 19:30.
Fares start at around 69 in 2nd class.
Book this leg at www.loco2.com (anyone from any country, no booking fee, print-at-home tickets) or www.trainline.eu (anyone from any country, no booking fees, with seating options, print-at-home tickets) or www.petrabax.com (US$, small mark-up).
Between Valence & Barcelona you'll follow the same interesting route taken by the Paris-Barcelona TGVs, see the photos & video on the Paris to Barcelona page. You'll pass the Chateau de Montfaucon on the River Rhone, Bιziers cathedral, flamingos on the lakes in the South of France between Montpelier and Perpignan, the historic Fort de Salses right by the tracks, and get great views of the imposing Mt Canigou in the Pyrenees, visible all the way from Perpignan to Girona.
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If you're going further into Spain, stay overnight in Barcelona. Hotels close to Barcelona Sants station with good or great reviews: Hotel Barcelo Sants (4-star, situated directly above Barcelona Sants station itself, Gran Hotel Torre Catalunya (4-star, across the road from the station), Hotel Just Style, AC Hotel Sants by Marriott (4-star, just 50m from the station), Hotel Catalonia Roma (3-star), Hostal Baler (2-star), Hotel Transit (1-star).
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Step 4, take a high-speed train from Barcelona Sants to any Spanish destination next morning, check times & book at www.loco2.com.
For Madrid: AVE-S103 high-speed trains link Barcelona Sants with Madrid Atocha every hour or two in as little as 2h30 from 35.
For Cordoba & Malaga: An AVE-S112 high-speed train leaves Barcelona Sants at 06:50 arriving Cordoba 11:37 & Malaga at 12:50.
For Cordoba & Seville: An AVE-S112 high-speed train leaves Barcelona Sants at 08:30 arriving Cordoba 13:12 & Seville Santa Justa at 14:02.
Alternatively, or why not spend a morning in Barcelona and take the afternoon 15:50 AVE S112 high-speed train to Cordoba, Seville & Malaga arriving in the evening? Fares for all these trains start at 45.
For Granada: A direct AVE S112 high-speed train leaves Barcelona Sants at 06:50 arriving Granada at 13:15.
For Valencia & Alicante: EuroMed & Talgo trains link Barcelona with Valencia & Alicante regularly, check times at www.loco2.com.
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Mt Canigou & the Pyrenees... One of the highest peaks in the mighty Pyrenees, the 2,784m (9,137 feet) high Mt Canigou dominates the skyline on the right of the train all the way from Perpignan to Girona, see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canigou. More photos of what to see on the Paris-Barcelona train journey. |
Budapest to Lisbon & Portugal
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There are many options and permutations, but here is a suggested option taking 2 days, 3 nights with a pleasant evening in Marseille included. By all means stop off on the way wherever you like.
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Day 1, take the direct EuroNight sleeper train leaving Budapest Keleti at 20:40, arriving Zurich HB at 08:20 next morning. The sleeping-car is identical to the one shown in this video.
Fares start at 49 with a couchette or from 89 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper.
This train can be booked online at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu. See tips for using mavcsoport.hu & how to collect your tickets. You can also book it at Austrian Railways www.oebb.at.
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Day 2, travel by high-speed TGV leaving Zurich HB 09:34 changing at Mulhouse and arriving Marseille St Charles 17:16, with fares from around 60. Times vary, check for your date online.
Book this journey at either www.loco2.com (in , £ or $) or www.trainline.eu (in ).
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Spend a pleasant evening in Marseille & stay overnight. Inexpensive hotels with good reviews just outside Marseille St Charles station include the Ibis Marseille Centre Gare St Charles, Holiday Inn Express Marseille St Charles.
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Day 3, travel from Marseille to Madrid by direct AVE-S100 high-speed train, leaving Marseille St Charles at 08:01 and arriving Madrid Atocha at 15:45, with fares from 39 in 2nd class or 59 in 1st class.
Book this train at either www.loco2.com (in , £ or $) or www.trainline.eu (in ).
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Day 3, transfer from Madrid Atocha to Madrid Chamartin by local train and take the trainhotel Lusitania sleeper train from Madrid to Lisbon overnight, leaving Madrid Chamartin at 21:50 and arriving Lisbon Oriente at 07:20 and Lisbon Santa Apolonia for the city centre at 07:30.
The Lusitania has cosy shared 4-berth sleepers, 1 & 2 bed private sleepers with washbasin, and Gran Clase 1 & 2 bed sleepers with en suite shower & toilet, plus a cafe-bar serving drinks, snacks and hot meals.
Book this train at www.loco2.com (easy to use, prices in , £ or $) or www.renfe.com (fiddly to use, in ) or www.petrabax.com (easy, prices in US$, with a small mark-up). Booking usually opens 60 days ahead, sometimes less.
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Change in Lisbon for trains from Lisbon Santa Apolonia to Porto or from Lisbon Oriente to Faro, Albufeira and the Algarve, book this at Portuguese Railways www.cp.pt.
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Gran Clase sleeper, in evening mode with the seats folded out... |
...return from the cafe-bar to find the beds made up... |
Gran Clase sleepers have a toilet & shower... |
The trainhotel from Madrid to Lisbon is an articulated Spanish Talgo train. Seen here at Madrid Chamartin station. |
Budapest to Copenhagen, Stockholm, Gothenburg, Oslo & Scandinavia...
Option 1, by daytime trains with overnight stop in Hamburg...
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Day 1, travel from Budapest to Hamburg on a comfortable air-conditioned EuroCity train with restaurant car called the Hungaria with fares from just 39.90 in 2nd class or 69.90 in 1st class booked at www.bahn.de. It leaves Budapest Nyugati at 07:41 arriving Hamburg Hbf at 21:15.
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Stay overnight in Hamburg. Suggested hotels in Hamburg next to the Hauptbahnhof with good reviews include (starting with the cheapest) the Hotel Continental Novum, Hotel Furst Bismarck, Hotel Europaischer Hof, Hotel Atlantic Kempinski.
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Day 2 if you're going to Copenhagen: Travel from Hamburg to Copenhagen by Danish EuroCity train from 29.90 booked at www.bahn.de. There are various departures, for example at 09:28 arriving Copenhagen at 14:26.
The Hamburg to Copenhagen EuroCity train goes onto a ferry between Puttgarden & Rψdby, one of the few places in Europe where trains still get shunted onto ships. It's an interesting experience in its own right - have your camera ready. You must leave the train and go upstairs into the ship's passenger accommodation during the crossing. See photos, tips & information for the Hamburg to Copenhagen journey.
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Day 2 if you're going to Stockholm, Gothenburg or Malmo: Travel from Hamburg to Copenhagen by comfortable EuroCity train then from Copenhagen to Stockholm by X2000 train (or from Copenhagen to Malmo or Gothenburg by Φresund Link local train) all from 39.90 booked as one through journey at www.bahn.de. The Hamburg to Copenhagen train goes onto a ferry between Puttgarden & Rψdby, one of the few places in Europe where trains still get shunted onto ships. It's an interesting experience in its own right - you must leave the train and go upstairs into the ship's passenger accommodation during the crossing. For example, the 09:28 from Hamburg arrives Copenhagen at 14:26 and will get you onto the 16:23 X2000 from Copenhagen arriving Stockholm at 21:37 - book Hamburg to Stockholm departing 09:28 using this link.
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Day 2 if you're going to Oslo or Norway: Travel from Hamburg to Copenhagen from 29.90 booked at www.bahn.de, using the 09:28 EuroCity train arriving Copenhagen at 14:26. The Hamburg to Copenhagen trains go onto a ferry between Puttgarden & Rψdby, one of the few places in Europe where trains still get shunted onto ships. It's an interesting experience in its own right - you must leave the train and go upstairs into the ship's passenger accommodation during the crossing. Then travel from Copenhagen to Oslo by cruise ferry with a comfortable cabin reserved, and bars and restaurants on board. She sails from Copenhagen daily around 16:30, arriving in Oslo around 09:45, see www.dfds.co.uk for times, prices & online tickets. Highly recommended! Alternatively, stay the night in Copenhagen and travel from Copenhagen to Oslo by train the following day, from 46 booked at Swedish Railways www.sj.se.
Option 2, by daytime trains with overnight stop in Berlin...
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Day 1, travel from Budapest to Berlin by comfortable air-conditioned EuroCity train with restaurant car from just 39.90 booked at www.bahn.de. There are occasional direct trains and other options with a change in Prague. For example the direct 07:41 from Budapest Nyugati arrives Berlin Hbf at 18:41. You can also try booking this at www.mavcsoport.hu.
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Stay overnight in Berlin. The 3-star Meininger Hotel or InterCity Hotel are ideal as they are right next to Berlin Hbf and a 10-minute walk from the Reichstag or a 15-minute walk from the Brandenburg Gate, relatively inexpensive and get good reviews. If you want to push the boat out, try the famous & historic Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin right next to the Brandenburg Gate. If you're on a tight budget, try the cheaper Motel One Berlin-Hauptbahnhof just behind the station or see www.hostelworld.com.
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Day 2, travel from Berlin to Copenhagen from 39.90 booked at www.bahn.de. For example, you can leave Berlin Hbf at 07:06, change at Hamburg onto a Danish EuroCity train, arriving Copenhagen at 14:26, or there are later trains. Just avoid any journey which is shown in the search results with the word BUS.
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For Stockholm, you can travel from Berlin to Stockholm in a day from just 39.90 booked as one through journey at www.bahn.de. For example, depending on the day and date you could leave Berlin Hbf at 07:06 and arrive Stockholm at 20:37 with a change at Hamburg and Copenhagen, or there are later trains.
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A Danish IC3 train at Copenhagen station. IC3s now work all the Hamburg-Copenhagen trains. |
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A 125 mph X2000 train from Copenhagen to Stockholm.... |
2nd class seating on the X2000. All seats have power sockets for laptops & mobiles... |
Self-service buffet car on the X2000 to Stockholm. |
Budapest to Helsinki...
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Although you can travel to Stockholm then take a ferry to Helsinki, you'll probably find it easier to take a direct ferry from Germany to Helsinki.
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Step 1, check for Finnlines ferries from Travemόnde or Rostock to Helsinki at www.finnlines.com.
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Step 2, now use www.bahn.de to find connecting trains from Budapest to Travemόnde or Rostock. Allow plenty of time (2-3 hours) for a transfer to the ferry terminal and the ferry check-in.
Budapest to Munich from 39...
Option 1, by EuroNight sleeper train - the time-effective option...
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An excellent direct EuroNight sleeper train called the Kalman Imre leaves Budapest Keleti at 20:40 every night, arriving at Munich Hbf at 06:10.
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It has a comfortable air-conditioned Hungarian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, and an air-conditioned Hungarian couchette car with 4 & 6-bunk compartments, plus ordinary seats - but always book a couchette or sleeper for comfort & security. See the Hungarian sleeping-car video.
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Fares start at 49 in a 6-berth couchette, 59 in a 4-berth couchette, 79 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or 139 in a single-bed sleeper, morning tea or coffee included.
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You can buy tickets in either direction at the German Railways website www.bahn.de and you usually print your own tickets.
You can also book at www.trainline.eu, which connects to the Austrian Railways system so might have cheaper prices, you also print your own ticket.
In this direction you can also book at the Hungarian Railways site www.mavcsoport.hu with ticket collection in Budapest although it can be more fiddly than using bahn.de, see advice on how to use mavcsoport.hu & how you collect your tickets.
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The Kalman Imre, at Munich... See the Hungarian sleeping-car video |
2-bed sleeper. Larger photo |
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6-berth couchettes... |
4-berth couchettes |
Hungarian couchette car at Munich |
Option 2, by daytime railjet train...
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Smart modern Austrian railjet trains link Budapest Keleti with Munich Hbf every couple of hours in 6h51 with fares from 39.90 in 2nd class or 69.90 in 1st class.
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You can easily check times & buy tickets at the German Railways website www.bahn.de. Fares are dynamic, so book ahead for the cheapest prices.
Tickets for this train bought at bahn.de can't be printed at home, they are sent by regular post to anywhere worldwide. If you need to go at short notice or want a collect-at-station option you can book at www.mavcsoport.hu with ticket collection in Budapest, although it can be more fiddly than using bahn.de, see advice on how to use mavcsoport.hu & how you collect your tickets.
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You get a great view of Salzburg fortress on your left as you cross the River Salzach, soon after leaving Salzburg station.
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Railjet first class, with black leather seats... |
Business class... |
Bistro-restaurant car... |
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Economy class on railjet, in open saloons with picture windows. Some seats around tables, most unidirectional. |
A railjet about to leave Budapest Keleti. More photos & information about railjet trains. |
Budapest to Berlin from 39...
Option 1, by EuroCity train Hungaria - the leisurely daytime option...
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A comfortable air-conditioned EuroCity train called the Hungaria leaves Budapest Nyugati at 07:41 arriving Berlin Hbf at 18:41
The Hungaria uses Hungarian Railways' very latest air-conditioned cars with power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. It has a modern Hungarian waiter-service restaurant car serving inexpensive meals and beer or wine. Take a good book and enjoy a daytime ride across Europe through 4 countries with beautiful scenery along the Elbe River between Prague & Dresden, see the photos & video here.
If you like you can check the train formation & see what the carriages are like at www.vagonweb.cz - click the UK flag for English, click composition then look for Czech Republic and click EC then look for the Hungaria.
If you prefer there are also later departures at 09:41 and 11:41 with one easy change at Prague Hlavni.
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Fares start at just 39.90 in 2nd class or 69.90 in 1st class.
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You can buy tickets in either direction at German Railways site www.bahn.de.
Tickets for this train bought at bahn.de can't be printed at home, they are sent by regular post to anywhere worldwide. If you need to go at short notice or want a collect-at-station option you can book at www.mavcsoport.hu with ticket collection in Budapest, although it can be more fiddly than using bahn.de, see advice on how to use mavcsoport.hu & how you collect your tickets.
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The Berlin-Budapest Hungaria with the latest air-conditioned Hungarian cars. Photos courtesy of Siddhartha Verma. |
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2nd class seats on the Hungaria... |
Restaurant car on the Hungaria... |
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Between Prague & Dresden the train runs along the pretty river Elbe, or Labe in Czech. One of Europe's major rivers, the Elbe eventually flows into the North Sea at Cuxhaven near Hamburg. Watch for river boats, even the occasional paddle steamer. See the photos & video of this part of the journey here. |
Option 2, by EuroNight sleeper train Metropol - the time-effective overnight option, saves a hotel bill too...
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A comfortable air-conditioned EuroNight sleeper train called the Metropol leaves Budapest Keleti at 19:25 and arrives Berlin Hbf at 09:16 next morning.
The train has an air-conditioned sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, an air-conditioned couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and 2nd class seats. In the sleepers, a light breakfast is included in the fare.
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Fares start at 39 with a couchette in a 6-berth, 59 with a couchette in a 4-berth, 129 with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper, 139 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or 179 in a single-bed sleeper. The sleeper fare includes a light breakfast, served in your compartment.
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Book online at Austrian Railways www.oebb.at, you can also try German Railways www.bahn.de or at www.trainline.eu. You print your own ticket.
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Although operated by Hungarian Railways (MAV), for this train MAV hire in the sleeping-car & couchette car from the Slovakians, see photos of the sleeping-car here & photos of the couchette car here. The sleeping-car If you like, you can see the formation of this train at www.vagonweb.cz - click the UK flag top left, then click Composition then select EN against Hungary then select the Metropol.
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A request: If you get any good photos of this train inside or out in sleepers or couchettes, please let me know!
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A 2-bed double sleeper (above left) in the air-conditioned Slovakian sleeping-car on the Metropol from Budapest to Berlin. Above right, a morning view of the Budapest-Berlin couchette car (nearest the camera) and sleeping-car in the morning light... Each sleeper compartment is fitted with 3 beds so can be sold as a single, double or triple. Sleeper compartments convert to comfortable private sitting room for evening use. A light breakfast is included in the fare. See larger photo. See more photos of this type of sleeping-car. Photos courtesy Helmut Uttenthaler. |
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Budapest to Frankfurt, Cologne, Hamburg & Germany from 29...
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Smart modern railjet trains link Budapest Keleti with Munich Hbf every two hours 07:40 to 15:40 taking around 6h52 from 39.90 in 2nd class or 69.90 in 1st class, with onward connections for anywhere in Germany, sometimes changing in Munich, sometimes at Vienna.
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You can check times & prices and buy tickets from Budapest to anywhere in Germany at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.
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As well as buying tickets at www.bahn.de, you can also book at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu. See tips for using mavcsoport.hu & how to collect your tickets.
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For Hamburg, there's a direct EuroCity train from Budapest Nyugati at 07:41 arriving Hamburg Hbf at 21:15, with fares from 39.90 in 2nd class or 69.90 in 1st class, bookable at www.bahn.de. Or take a Budapest-Vienna railjet train booked as shown above then the Vienna to Hamburg Nightjet sleeper train, booked as shown on the Trains from Vienna page.
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For Hamburg, also consider taking the Budapest to Berlin EuroNight sleeper train as shown in the Budapest-Berlin section above, then a fast train from Berlin to Hamburg in just 1h45 more from 19.90, booked at www.bahn.de. That's the time-effective option!
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Direct Austrian railjet train from Budapest to Munich. This is a RailJet train at Budapest Keleti... More photos, video & information about Railjets |
Business class costs 15 more than normal 1st class... |
Economy class on railjet, comfortable open saloons with large picture windows. Some seats around tables, some unidirectional. |
Budapest to Vienna from 13...
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Modern Austrian railjet trains and the occasional air-conditioned Hungarian EuroCity train link Budapest with Vienna in only 2h40, leaving every hour or two through the day. It's easily the best way to travel between these cities. Fares from 13 in 2nd class, 29 in 1st class or 44 in super-duper business class.
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See the Budapest to Vienna by train page for timetable, fares, how to buy tickets & travel tips.
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Austrian railjet trains link Budapest with Vienna every 2 hours. This is a railjet at Budapest's historic Keleti station... |
Business class costs 15 more than regular 1st class... |
Economy class on railjet, comfortable open saloons with large picture windows. Some seats around tables, some unidirectional. |
Budapest to Salzburg...
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Smart modern railjet trains link Budapest Keleti with Salzburg every two hours through the day on their way to Munich, journey time just 5h12. The railjet trains have a bistro-restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, an excellent option, see the railjet information page.
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You can travel from Budapest to Salzburg for as little as 39.90 in 2nd class or from 59 in 1st class if you book in advance, or for 39 bought at the station on the day, if you follow the advice below.
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The easiest way to buy tickets online is at www.trainline.eu - booking opens up to 180 days ahead, although it may not be possible to add an optional seat reservation if you book more than 90 days ahead. To treat yourself to railjet business class, simply select 1st class then the 15 Business class upgrade. Once booked you simply print your own ticket. Easy!
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You can also buy tickets at Austrian Railways' own website www.oebb.at, a little more fiddly to use and the same price as Trainline, but it may allow specific seat selection from a carriage plan. It also gives print-your-own tickets and booking also opens up to 180 days ahead.
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You can also buy tickets at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu, but only a maximum of 60 days ahead, but it sometimes has cheaper fares available than oebb.at or Trainline for a given date and train. But this is important so listen up!
Here's what you don't do: You don't go to www.mavcsoport.hu and book one-way from Budapest to Salzburg, because all you'll see in the search results is a cheap fare for the 21:00 night train, not the daytime railjets. Why is this? Mavcsoport.hu only sells certain selected cheap advance-purchase tickets, not all tickets, and for some reason there are no special cheap one-ways on MAV's system for Budapest-Salzburg by daytime trains.
Here's what you do do... Go to www.mavcsoport.hu and book from Budapest to Munich from 29 2nd class or 45 1st class and simply get off in Salzburg, this is both straightforward and perfectly legitimate. It's as simple as that! All Budapest-Munich railjets call at Salzburg, by all means use mavcsoport.hu to check times for that. To book from Budapest to Munich, you must type its German name 'Munchen' into the destination box as it doesn't recognise the English name 'Munich'. Don't worry if it doesn't seem to recognise 'Munchen', just go with it. If you have any problems, you can also book Budapest to Munich tickets at the German Railways site www.bahn.de, although tickets will need to be posted to you for an extra 3.90 or so.
Incidentally, if you wanted a return ticket, no problem, www.mavcsoport.hu sells 4-day returns from Budapest to Salzburg from 39 in 2nd class (though there's no 1st class equivalent) valid on any train with unlimited availability. You can buy at this price at the station on the day, as long as you ask for the 4-day return ΦBB Austria Trip Ticket. It's perfectly legitimate to use it one way and throw away the return half.
See my tips for using mavcsoport.hu & how you collect your tickets.
Budapest to Innsbruck...
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There's one direct railjet train from Budapest Keleti to Innsbruck leaving at 06:40 but many later departures are available through the day with one easy change at Vienna Hbf or Salzburg. Journey time around 7h00 centre to centre. You can travel from Budapest to Innsbruck from as little as 32.
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The easiest way to buy tickets online is at www.trainline.eu - booking opens up to 180 days ahead, although it may not be possible to add an optional seat reservation if you book more than 90 days ahead. To treat yourself to railjet business class, simply select 1st class then the 15 Business class upgrade. Once booked you simply print your own ticket. Easy!
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You can also buy tickets at Austrian Railways' own website www.oebb.at, a little more fiddly to use and the same price as Trainline, but it may allow specific seat selection from a carriage plan. It also gives print-your-own tickets and booking also opens up to 180 days ahead.
Budapest to Graz, Hallstatt & other destinations in Austria...
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First, try buying tickets at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu, see tips for using mavcsoport.hu & how you collect your tickets. This may work for some destinations, for example Budapest to Graz.
For other destinations in Austria such as Klagenfurt, Villach, Hallstatt, Kitzbόhel or St Anton for example, book at either www.trainline.eu or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at. As a general rule, look for journeys with the fewest changes.
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See my tips for using mavcsoport.hu & how you collect your tickets.
Budapest to Prague from 19...
Option 1, by air-conditioned EuroCity train...
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Smart air-conditioned EuroCity trains with restaurant car leave Budapest Nyugati for Prague Hlavni every two hours taking 6h27 city centre to city centre. A very comfortable and civilised option!
Note that since December 2017 these trains have started from Budapest Nyugati station, not Keleti.
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For train times, fares, photos & travel tips, see the Budapest to Bratislava EuroCity train page.
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Fares start at 19 in 2nd class or 35 in 1st class if you book in advance at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu with ticket collection from the yellow ticket machines at the station in Budapest or you can now book at the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz/eshop with print-your-own tickets. Limited availability, no refunds, no changes. These cheap fares are often available even just a few days or a week or two ahead. The full-flex fare is around 67 in 2nd class if you buy on the day at the station.
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A EuroCity train from Prague to Budapest about to leave Prague Hlavni... |
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Restaurant car... |
2nd class open plan saloon seating... |
Option 2, by safe & comfortable sleeper train - the time-saving option
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A comfortable sleeper train leaves Budapest Keleti at 19:25 arriving Prague Hlavni at 08:07, with sleeping-car and couchettes.
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The sleeping-car is a modern air-conditioned Comfortline type with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, plus three deluxe 1,2 or 3 bed compartments with en suite toilet & shower. There's a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers, and morning tea or coffee is included in the fare. There is a couchette car with 4 & 6 bunk compartments.
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Standard sleeper set up as a 2-berth, with blind down & washstand open. Each room can be used with 1, 2 or 3 beds. Larger photo. |
The same sleeper with berths folded away & seats folded out, washstand closed. Very similar to a deluxe, but without the shower & toilet. |
Deluxe sleepers are similar to standard ones, but with a bit more floorspace & compact shower & toilet instead of washstand. |
Just like a hotel, the corridor in a Comfortline sleeping-car. There's a shower at end of the corridor for standard sleeper passengers. |
Budapest to Bratislava from 9...
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Air-conditioned EuroCity trains with restaurant car leave Budapest Keleti every hour or two for Bratislava Hlavna taking just 2h45. For train times, fares, photos & travel tips, see the Budapest to Bratislava EuroCity train page.
Note that since December 2017 these trains start from Budapest Nyugati station, not Keleti.
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You can buy Budapest-Bratislava tickets in advance from just 9 at the Hungarian Railways site www.mavcsoport.hu with ticket collection from the yellow ticket machines at the station in Budapest. Limited availability, no refunds, no changes.
If you want 1st class, here's what you must do: If you ask www.mavcsoport.hu for a 1st class ticket from Budapest to Bratislava you won't see any prices or tickets at all. So instead, ask for a one way 1st class ticket from Budapest to Brno and you'll see cheap 1st class advance-purchase fares from 29, limited availability, no refunds, no changes, just buy one of those. Brno is the first major stop beyond Bratislava, you simply get off in Bratislava when the train stops there as they all do. This is perfectly legitimate, so no worries.
If you want to stay flexible and buy tickets at the station on the day of travel, there's a permanent unlimited-availability round-trip special offer for 17.50 in 2nd class which is the cheapest on-the-day ticket even for a one-way trip. There are no 1st class cheap deals, so if you insist on 1st class and buy on the day, a full-flex full-price 1st class fare costs over 65.
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Lunch in the restaurant car... |
2nd class compartment |
1st class compartment |
Budapest to Warsaw from 19...
Option 1, by direct sleeper train...
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A safe & comfortable EuroNight sleeper train leaves Budapest Keleti at 19:25 every night, Warsaw Centralna at 09:14. It has economical couchettes in 4 & 6 bunk compartments and a comfortable, safe & civilised sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin or 1 & 2 bed deluxe compartments with en suite toilet & shower. A sleeper is the recommended option, you'll be safe and snug. The sleeper is of Polish Railways latest air-conditioned type, see the photos below.
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Fares from 29 with a couchette in 6-berth, 39 with a couchette in 4-berth, 59 with a bed in a safe & cosy 2-bed sleeper.
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You can now book this train online at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu. Booking opens 60 days ahead. See tips for using mavcsoport.hu & how to collect your tickets. For single occupancy, book 2 tickets in a 2-bed sleeper.
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If booking online at mavcsoport doesn't work - it sometimes says No offer available, either because the cheap fares are sold out or because MAV staff have forgotten to load the necessary data, or because they have decided to sell at full-price which their website doesn't sell - do one of the following:
Option 1, pick up the phone and book that way, although you'll only get full-flex tickets this way, not cheap advance-purchase fares as those are only sold direct by MAV. In the UK you can DB (German Railways) UK phone line on 08718 80 80 66. Alternatively, anyone from any country can order tickets from reliable Polish agency www.polrail.com and pay extra for tickets to be sent to you, although again, this will cost a lot more than buying a cheap advance-purchase ticket from Hungarian Railways direct. For cheapness, consider option 2 below...
Option 2, consider catching the 18:40 EuroCity train from Budapest Keleti to Vienna Hbf, then using using the 22:10 Vienna-Warsaw sleeper train instead, see times & fares here. Or by all means book an earlier train from Budapest and have dinner in Vienna! You can easily buy a cheap sparschiene fare in a couchette or sleeper from Vienna to Warsaw at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at with ticket collection from an ΦBB ticket machine in Vienna. Then buy a ticket from Budapest to Vienna at www.mavcsoport.hu or www.oebb.at. Simples!
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Modern Polish sleeping-car of the type used Budapest-Warsaw. Photo courtesy of WieselFahrer... |
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Standard sleeper in evening/morning mode with seats folded out. |
Standard sleeper set up as a 3-berth. It can also be sold as a single or double. |
Deluxe sleeper, set up as a 2-berth, showing TV & wardrobe. |
Deluxe sleeper: En suite shower & toilet... |
Option 2, by direct daytime EuroCity train from 19...
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A smart air-conditioned EuroCity train called the Varsovia with Polish seating cars and a Hungarian restaurant car leaves Budapest Nyugati at 08:40 and arrives Warsaw Centralna at 19:03.
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Book online at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu with fares from 19. Booking opens 60 days ahead. See tips for using mavcsoport.hu & how to collect your tickets.
Budapest to Krakow from just 54 including a bed in a 2-bed sleeper...
Option 1, by daytime train, new from 9 December 2018...
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A smart air-conditioned EuroCity train with restaurant car called the Varsovia leaves Budapest Nyugati every day at 08:40 bound for Warsaw, and from 9 December 2018 onwards it will convey a through car from Budapest to Krakow, arriving Krakow Glowny at 17:24.
The through car is comfortable, modern & air-conditioned with 2nd class seats. If you insist on going 1st class you will have to switch trains at Bohumin just after 14:00, where the through car is switched between trains. A Hungarian restaurant car is available Budapest-Bohumin and a Czech bistro car runs Bohumin-Krakow.
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Book online at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu with fares from 19. Booking opens 60 days ahead. See tips for using mavcsoport.hu & how to collect your tickets.
Option 2, by sleeper train. Safe, comfortable & time-effective...
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A direct EuroNight sleeper train leaves Budapest Keleti at 19:25 every night, arriving Krakow at 06:17. It has economical couchettes in 4 & 6 bunk compartments and a comfortable, safe, civilised, carpeted sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin or 1 & 2 bed deluxe compartments with en suite toilet & shower. A sleeper is the recommended option, you'll be safe and snug. The sleeper is of Polish Railways latest air-conditioned type, see the photos below.
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You can usually book this train online at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu, although it won't book deluxe sleepers so just stick with regular ones. Booking opens 60 days ahead. See tips for using mavcsoport.hu & how to collect your tickets.
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Tip: If booking online at mavcsoport doesn't work - if it says No offer available, either because the cheap fares are sold out or because MAV staff have forgotten to load the necessary data, or because they have decided to sell at full-price which their website doesn't sell - try one of the following workarounds:
Option 1, It's reported that the MAV website only sells berths in triple sleepers, not in doubles - and from online checks this seems to be the case. So if you want to book 2 people in a 2-berth sleeper or 1 person in a single-berth sleeper, simply book 3 people in 3-berth instead, making sure you run the enquiry with 'own compartment' selected. This gets you sole occupancy of one whole sleeper compartment from 49 x 3 (which is still cheaper than paying full-whack for a double or single) and you can simply fold one or two of the three beds away to convert it into a double or single. Easy when you know!
Option 2, pick up the phone and book that way, although you'll only get full-flex tickets this way, not cheap advance-purchase fares as those are only sold direct by MAV. In the UK you can DB (German Railways) UK phone line on 08718 80 80 66. Alternatively, anyone from any country can order tickets from reliable Polish agency www.polrail.com and pay extra for tickets to be sent to you, although again, this will cost a lot more than buying a cheap advance-purchase ticket from Hungarian Railways direct. For cheapness, consider option 3 below...
Option 3, consider catching the 18:40 EuroCity train from Budapest Keleti to Vienna Hbf, then using using the 22:10 Vienna-Krakow sleeper train instead, see times & fares here - the Vienna-Krakow(-Warsaw) sleeper arrives at Krakow coupled to the Budapest-Krakow(-Warsaw), they are two portions of the same train. By all means book an earlier train from Budapest and have dinner in Vienna! You can easily buy a cheap sparschiene fare in a couchette or sleeper from Vienna to Krakow at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at with ticket collection from an ΦBB ticket machine in Vienna. Then buy a ticket from Budapest to Vienna at www.mavcsoport.hu or www.trainline.eu or www.oebb.at. Simples!
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Modern Polish sleeping-car of the type used Budapest-Krakow-Warsaw. Photo courtesy of WieselFahrer... |
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Standard sleeper in evening/morning mode with seats folded out. |
Standard sleeper set up as a 3-berth. It can also be sold as a single or double. |
Deluxe sleeper, set up as a 2-berth, showing TV & wardrobe. |
Deluxe sleeper: En suite shower & toilet... |
Budapest to Brasov & Bucharest from 29...
Option 1, by time-effective sleeper train...
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The safe & comfortable sleeper train Ister leaves Budapest Keleti at 19:10 arriving Brasov 09:30 & Bucharest Gara de Nord at 12:30 next day.
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The Ister has a comfortable, safe & civilised sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, and a couchette car with 6-berth compartments.
Take a picnic and bottle of wine as there may not be a bar car until the train gets to Romania. It's a really scenic journey in the morning, as the train passes through the Carpathian mountains between Brasov & Ploesti, have your camera to hand!
Tip: If you like, you can check the consist for this train, check car numbers & see in what order cars for different destinations are marshalled using the excellent www.vagonweb.cz. Click the UK flag for English, click composition, then look under Hungary, click IC and look for Ister.
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Fares start at 39 with a couchette, 59 with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper, 86 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper.
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Buy tickets online at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu, clicking EN for English top right & using Bucuresti for Bucharest.
Booking usually opens 90 days ahead. See tips for using mavcsoport.hu & how to collect your tickets from the yellow-self service machines.
Tip 1: If www.mavcsoport.hu won't offer tickets for a 2-bed or 1-bed sleeper, simply book three tickets in a 3-bed sleeper to get sole occupancy of a whole sleeper compartment. Simples!
Tip 2: If you're going to Brasov and it says No offers available, that just means they have forgotten to program in any allocation for Brasov. Try booking from Budapest to Bucuresti instead, you'll then often find places available, then you simply get off in Brasov.
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A 1, 2 or 3-bed sleeper with washbasin. Larger photo. |
The sleeping-car (vagon de dormit) of the Ister at Budapest Keleti. Sleepers convert from beds to private sitting rooms for day use. |
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The vagon cuseta (couchette car) on the Ister, at Budapest. Always book a couchette, not just a seat. Couchettes convert from bunks at night to seats for day use. |
4 or 6-berth couchettes. Larger photo. |
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Enjoy breakfast in the bar-bistro eastbound, or an evening beer westbound. The bar-bistro is attached between Simeria & Bucharest. Bar-bistro photos courtesy of Philip Dyer-Perry. |
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Option 2, by daytime train...
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There comfortable air-conditioned daytime trains between Budapest & Romania, an epic journey from Hungary into Transylvania
The comfortable air-conditioned InterCity train Traianus leaves Budapest Keleti daily at 07:10 and arrives Arad 12:44, Timişoara Nord 13:34 & Bucharest Nord at 23:44. A Romanian cafe-bar car is available for snacks & drinks.
Another air-conditioned IC train leaves Budapest Keleti 07:40 and arrives Brasov 23:44, running via Cluj. Another air-conditioned IC train leaves Budapest Keleti 09:10 via Simeria & Sibiu and arrives Brasov 23:38.
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Fares from Budapest to Brasov and other Romanian cities start at an unbelievably cheap 29 if you book in advance direct at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu. Booking opens 60 days ahead. See tips for using mavcsoport.hu & how to collect your tickets. For Bucharest, type Bucuresti.
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The morning train from Budapest to Bucharest at Budapest Keleti, with modern air-conditioned Romanian carriages... |
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On the left, the daytime train to Bucharest is about to leave Budapest Keleti... |
Comfortable 2nd class seats in an air-conditioned Romanian carriage. Larger photo. |
Budapest to Cluj, Timisoara, Sibiu, Sighişoara....
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The daytime and sleeper trains shown above call at various points within Romania, and there are also a couple of additional daily trains between Budapest and Cluj or Timisoara. The Dacia Express sleeper train links Budapest with Sighisoara.
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Simply use the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu to find train times and book your chosen journey. Booking opens 60 days ahead. See tips for using mavcsoport.hu & how to collect your tickets.
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Sometimes mavcsoport.hu won't book to some smaller destinations, and it will say 'no offers available'. But if you can identify that the train you want continues to Brasov or Bucharest using the online timetable at www.bahn.de/en, you can use www.mavcsoport.hu to book from Budapest to (say) Brasov and simply get off when the train stops at your chosen station. This is perfectly legitimate. Better to buy a 29 ticket from Budapest to Brasov and get off at Sibiu than to buy an expensive full-price ticket from Budapest to Sibiu.
Budapest to Belgrade for 15... Or to Montenegro for 35...
Option 1, by one of two daytime trains...
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The express train Ivo Andric leaves Budapest Keleti at 07:57 and arrives at Belgrade Centar station at 16:42. This train has two or three Serbian air-conditioned cars, hopefully the air-con will be working. 2nd class only, there's no catering car so bring your own supplies of food and beer.
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The EuroCity train Avala comes through from Vienna and leaves Budapest Keleti at 11:57 arriving Belgrade Centar station at 20:42. This has smart air-conditioned Hungarian coaches. This is the most comfortable train to take, with both 1st & 2nd class seats, but no catering car so bring your own supplies of food & beer.
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IMPORTANT UPDATE: From 1 February 2019 until December another section of this route is being rebuilt for 200km/h operation which will eventually reduce Budapest-Belgrade journey time to 3½ hours. Just one train per day will link Budapest with Belgrade during this period, the Ivo Andric leaving Budapest Keleti at 11:57 arriving Belgrade Centar at 20:42, 2nd class only. Important: See further details & read latest updates about this engineering work.
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If you like you can check the train formation & see what the carriages are like at www.vagonweb.cz - click the UK flag for English, click composition then look under Serbia, clicking EC and looking for the Avala, or clicking B and looking for Ivo Andric.
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Fare-wise, there's an unlimited special offer from Budapest to Belgrade of just 15, you can even buy this at the station on the day, or you can book it online at www.mavcsoport.hu with collection in Budapest. Booking opens 60 days ahead. See tips for using mavcsoport.hu & how to collect your tickets. Tip: When booking at www.mavcsoport.hu you must select Beograd Centar as your destination station.
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If you're heading for Montenegro, a daytime and overnight train link Belgrade with Podgorica and Bar over one of the most scenic lines in Europe, fare around 20 paid at the station on the day. For train times, fares & photos see the Belgrade to Montenegro page. Change at Podgorica for a bus to Budva or Kotor. If you need a hotel in Belgrade, try the historic Hotel Moskva.
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The Avala about to leave Budapest for Belgrade. The Avala uses comfortable air-conditioned Hungarian Railways cars Courtesy of Colin Wilby... |
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1st class 6-seat compartment on the Avala. |
2nd class seating on the Avala. Photos courtesy Colin Wilby... |
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The Ivo Andric uses Serbian cars, seen here about to leave Budapest Keleti. These cars are also comfortable and air-conditioned, although Serbian air-con has been known to fail... |
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Option 2, by overnight train...
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An overnight sleeper train called the Beograd leaves Budapest Keleti at 22:15 and arrives in Belgrade Centar station at 06:43.
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The train has an elderly Serbian couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments, although at least one refurbished car is now in service, see the photos below. There is now no sleeping-car as Serbian Railways is short of serviceable sleepers.
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The fare is just 15 (a permanently-available unlimited special offer) plus 8 supplement for a couchette in 6-berth or 10 for a couchette in 4-berth. I recommend 4-berth as there is much more space per passenger. A clean sheet, pillow and blanket are provided for each berth. Unlike the seats cars which have no lock on the compartment doors, the couchette compartments have both a normal lock and security chain so you'll be both safe and snug.
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You can easily buy tickets online at Hungarian Railways www.mavcsoport.hu with ticket collection in Budapest. Booking opens 60 days ahead. See tips for using mavcsoport.hu & how to collect your tickets from the yellow ticket machines.
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IMPORTANT UPDATE: From 1 February 2019 until December this sleeper train is cancelled, due to the Budapest-Belgrade line being rebuilt for 200km/h operation which will eventually reduce the journey time to 3½ hours. There will be just one train a day on this route during this period, the daytime train Ivo Andric. Important: See further details & read latest updates about this engineering work.
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If you're heading for Montenegro, a daytime and overnight train link Belgrade's Topcider station with Podgorica and Bar over one of the most scenic lines in Europe, fare around 20 paid at the station on the day. For train times, fares & photos see the Belgrade to Montenegro page. Change at Podgorica for a bus to Budva or Kotor.
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The Budapest to Belgrade couchette car, unrefurbished... |
Elderly Serbian 6-berth couchettes... |
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The Serbian couchette car from Budapest to Belgrade. At least one refurbished car like this is now in service. Courtesy of @OO$WAG.. |
Serbian 6-berth couchettes in the refurbished car. Note the laptop power socket! Larger photo... |
Budapest to Sofia...
Option 1, sleeper to Belgrade then day train - the most time-effective option...
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Step 1, an overnight train with couchettes links Budapest and Belgrade, leaving Budapest Keleti at 22:15 and arriving in Belgrade Centar station at 06:43. It has an elderly Serbian couchette car with 4 & 6-berth compartments. It should also convey an elderly Serbian sleeper with 1, 2 & 3 bed sleepers, but Serbia is short of serviceable sleeping-cars so it doesn't.
You can book a Budapest to Belgrade couchette online at www.mavcsoport.hu for 15 fare + 10 couchette supplement. See tips for using mavcsoport.hu & how to collect your tickets. Tip: When booking at www.mavcsoport.hu you must select Beograd Centar as your destination station.
IMPORTANT UPDATE: From 1 February 2019 until December another section of the Budapest to Belgrade route is being rebuilt for 200km/h operation which will eventually reduce journey time to 3½ hours. Just one train per day will link Budapest with Belgrade during this period, the Ivo Andric leaving Budapest Keleti at 11:57 arriving Belgrade Centar at 20:42, 2nd class only. You may be asked to switch trains in Kelebia & Novi Sad. The sleeper train is cancelled. Important: See further details & read latest updates about this engineering work.
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Step 2, from 14 June to 16 September 2019, a direct daytime train called the Balkan then leaves Belgrade Topcider station at 09:12 and arrives at Sofia central station at 20:30. This train has 2nd class seating only, there's no catering so bring your own picnic and beer.
Outside those summer dates, travel between Belgrade & Sofia by connecting services leaving Belgrade Centar station at 06:10, change Nis & Dimitrovgrad, arriving Sofia at 19:00, see the Belgrade to Sofia section for full details & photos.
Buy a ticket for this train at the station in Belgrade for 20.60, it cannot be booked online and there are always places available.
Option 2, day train to Belgrade, overnight stop, onward train to Sofia - the all-daytime option with overnight hotel.
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Step 1, take the EuroCity train Avala leaving Budapest Keleti at 11:57 and arriving Belgrade Centar station at 20:42 - this has air-conditioned Hungarian coaches - there's no catering car so take your own picnic and wine or beer. The fare is 15.
Book this at Hungarian Railways at www.mavcsoport.hu, see tips for using mavcsoport.hu & how to collect your tickets. Tip: When booking at www.mavcsoport.hu you must select Beograd Centar as your destination station.
If you'd like to have a pleasant evening in Belgrade, there's an earlier train from Budapest leaving Budapest Keleti at 07:57 and arriving Belgrade Centar station around 16:42.
IMPORTANT UPDATE: From 1 February 2019 until December another section of the Budapest to Belgrade route is being rebuilt for 200km/h operation which will eventually reduce journey time to 3½ hours. Just one train per day will link Budapest with Belgrade during this period, the Ivo Andric leaving Budapest Keleti at 11:57 arriving Belgrade Centar at 20:42, 2nd class only. You may be asked to switch trains in Kelebia & Novi Sad. Important: See further details & read latest updates about this engineering work.
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Stay overnight in Belgrade. I recommend the excellent & historic Hotel Moskva which is at the end of Belgrade's main pedestrianised shopping street, see map of Belgrade showing station.
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Step 2, from 14 June to 16 September 2019, a direct daytime train called the Balkan leaves Belgrade Topcider station at 09:12 and arrives at Sofia central station at 20:30. This train has 2nd class seating only, there's no catering so bring your own picnic and beer.
Outside those summer dates, travel between Belgrade & Sofia by connecting services leaving Belgrade Centar station at 06:10, change Nis & Dimitrovgrad arriving Sofia at 19:00, see the Belgrade to Sofia section for full details & photos.
Buy a ticket for this train at the station in Belgrade for 20.60, it cannot be booked online and there are always places available.
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The direct train from Belgrade to Sofia. Just two coaches, but comfy enough, and a scenic run across the Balkans. Bring your own food & drink. |
Comfortable 2nd class seats. Photos courtesy Remco van der Kort. |
Budapest to Ljubljana from 19...
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A comfortable air-conditioned EuroCity train called the Citadella runs direct from Budapest to Ljubljana every morning leaving Budapest Deli (that's Deli station, not Keleti) at 08:30 and arriving Ljubljana at 16:30.
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There's no catering car so take your own picnic & beer or wine. There are other journey options involving a change of train which you can find using the online timetable at www.bahn.de/en.
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In summer late June to mid-August there's also a sleeper train leaving Budapest Deli around 20:30 arriving Ljubljana around 06:00 and continuing to Koper on the Adriatic coast. The train has couchettes (4 & 6 bunk compartments) and a sleeping-car (1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin).
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You can pre-book this route online from just 19 at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu. See tips for using mavcsoport.hu & how to collect your tickets.
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Bought at the station on the day, expect to pay around 39 (plus sleeper or couchette supplement, if using the night train)
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There's also a daily direct InterCity train from Budapest Keleti to Rijeka, at 05:45 arriving 16:41.
Budapest to Zagreb from 15...
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There are usually two daily direct trains from Budapest to Zagreb every day.
In the morning, the InterCity Gradec leaves Budapest Deli at 06:35 arriving Zagreb 12:38. Runs 15 June to 15 September 2019.
In the afternoon the InterCity Agram leaves Budapest Deli at 15:35 arriving Zagreb 21:05. Runs every day all year round.
Both trains travel along the southern shore of Lake Balaton, a scenic section of line. If you get any good photos, let me know!
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Both trains have comfortable air-conditioned Hungarian coaches, the Gradec also has Croatian air-con and non-air-con cars. There's no catering car so take your own picnic & wine. You can check the train formations at www.vagonweb.cz - select English, then composition then Hungary then IC.
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You can buy a cheap ticket for either 15 or 29 online (depending on availability) at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu. See tips for using mavcsoport.hu & how to collect your tickets.
Booking tip: www.mavcsoport.hu only sells special cheap advance-purchase fares, it cannot sell regular full-flex fares if no cheap fares are left or if none exist in the first place for that date, train or class. You may well find cheap fares are available in 2nd class for these trains, but no such cheap fares in 1st class. If so, just stick with 2nd class. It is simply not worth buying a 1st class full-flex ticket at the station for perhaps 70 just to get 2 inches more legroom compared to a 15 advance-purchase fare for an almost-as-comfortable 2nd class carriage. If you insist on 1st class, or see no cheap fares, you'll have to book at the station.
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There are other journey options involving a change of train which you can find using the online timetable at www.bahn.de/en, but you'll need to book these at the station as these cannot be booked online.
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The Intercity train at Budapest with comfortable & modern air-conditioned coaches, both Croatian (foreground) and Hungarian (background). A great way to travel. Courtesy of Jonathan Hounsome. |
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The train runs along the southern shore of Lake Balaton, Hungary's largest lake. Courtesy of Louise Donnelly. |
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The train passes fields of sunflowers... Courtesy of Louise Donnelly. |
Budapest to Split & Dubrovnik...
Option 1, all year round via Zagreb - allows you to stop off in Zagreb.
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Step 1, take a train from Budapest to Zagreb as shown in the Budapest to Zagreb section above. You can book this online at Hungarian Railways www.mavcsoport.hu from 29. You collect tickets from the yellow self-service machines.
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Step 2, now take the sleeper train from Zagreb to Split, or stay overnight in Zagreb and take a daytime train next day as it's a lovely scenic ride. A ticket for the daytime trains only costs 20 or so, you can book online at the Croatian Railways website www.hzpp.hr. See the trains from Zagreb page for more details & photos of the trains.
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Step 3, take a bus from Split to Dubrovnik. There are buses every hour or even every half hour, run by several companies. Journey time between 3h45 and 4h35, fare around 13-17. Buy a ticket at the bus station in Split.
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The daytime trains to Split: These fast, tilting, air-conditioned ICN trains link Zagreb & Split once or twice a day through great scenery. Above right, first class seats on the train to Split. You can now buy tickets online at www.hzpp.hr. |
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Scenery between Zagreb and Split seen from the train... Photo courtesy of Pαraic Maguire. |
Option 2, using direct sleeper train Adria from 14 June to 6 September 2019...
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A direct train called the Adria runs from mid-June to early September, leaving Budapest Keleti at 18:55 every evening arriving Split at 08:37 next morning, 2019 times & dates to be confirmed. It has a comfortable Hungarian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments and a couchette car with 4 & 6 bunk compartments.
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The fare is around 79 with couchette or from 92 with a bed in a cosy 2-bed sleeper.
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Check to see if it is bookable online at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu. If not, you will need to book at the station or by phone with a ticketing agency in your home country.
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For Dubrovnik, take a bus from Split. There are buses every hour or even every half hour, run by several companies. Journey time between 3h45 and 4h35, fare around 13-17. Buy a ticket at the bus station in Split.
Budapest to Sarajevo...
The direct Budapest to Sarajevo train was sadly discontinued in 2012, and the Zagreb-Sarajevo direct train is also currently suspended across the Croatian-Bosnian border. But you can still travel from Budapest to Sarajevo by train with a short break in the middle by taxi, like this:
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Step 1, take the comfortable afternoon train from Budapest to Zagreb from just 9 as shown in the Budapest to Zagreb section above.
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Stay overnight in Zagreb - the city is well worth a stop, so taking the morning train from Budapest is a better idea.
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Step 2, travel from Zagreb to Sarajevo by train (mostly), see the Zagreb to Sarajevo by train page for details & current status.
Budapest to Lviv, Kiev & Ukraine...
Option 1, Budapest to Lviv & Kiev by direct sleeping-car. See Ukrainian news report showing the new Vienna-Kiev sleeping-car service...
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A Ukrainian sleeping-car leaves Budapest Keleti at 19:40 every evening and arrives next day at Lviv at 09:10 & Kiev at 16:14. Introduced in December 2017, this Ukrainian sleeping-car has comfortable 1, 2 & 3 berth compartments with washbasin, see the photos below. It comes through from Vienna.
Bought at the station in Budapest the fare is around 54 with a bed in a cosy 3-bed sleeper. However, this direct sleeping-car is proving popular and can leave fully-booked, so it's best pre-booked.
The best way to pre-book tickets for this train is via reliable agency www.polrail.com, with tickets posted or couriered to you for a small fee. Polrail are based in Poland so charge in zlotys, but as they have access to Ukrainian ticketing system they are good for booking this train. You cannot currently book online with ΦBB although you could try emailing or calling their telesales via their website www.oebb.at. Feedback would be appreciated.
Booked through Polrail (in zlotys, converted here into euros):
Budapest to Kiev costs around 103 in a 3-berth sleeper 114 in a 2-berth sleeper, or 184 in a single-berth sleeper.
Budapest to Lviv costs around 87 in a 3-berth sleeper 95 in a 2-berth sleeper, or 152 in a single-berth sleeper.
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The Vienna-Budapest-Kiev sleeping-car at Kiev Pass. Photos courtesy of Helmut Uttenthaler. |
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The sleeper is jacked up to have its bogies changed at Chop on the Ukrainian border. Photo Helmut Uttenthaler. |
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The Vienna-Kiev sleeper at Vienna Hbf... Courtesy of Helmut Uttenthaler. |
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The sleeper corridor. Courtesy Helmut Uttenthaler. |
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1, 2 or 3 bed sleeper compartment. |
Option 2, Budapest to Lviv by daytime train for 26... Also a useful alternative for Budapest-Kiev if the direct train is full...
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This is an inexpensive and comfortable way to travel from Budapest to the beautiful city of Lviv. The Latorca used to have through cars from Budapest to Lviv, but it was always cheaper to switch trains and rebook at the border so the through cars aren't running in 2019. You now need to change trains at the border, but that makes it now online-bookable (well, almost) and cheaper!
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Step 1, travel from Budapest to Chop on the Ukrainian border by air-conditioned Hungarian intercity train Latorca, leaving Budapest Nyugati station at 07:23 every day arriving Chop at 13:40.
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Step 2, travel from Chop to Lviv & Kiev by Ukrainian train called the Desna, leaving Chop at 16:58, arriving Lviv at 22:18 and then travelling overnight to Kiev, arriivng 07:27.
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To buy tickets:
Step 1, pre-book Budapest to Zahony on the 07:23 InterCity Latorca from Budapest Nyugati for around 17.50 at www.mavcsoport.hu. You collect tickets from the blue or yellow machines in Budapest.
Step 2, Zahony to Chop costs 2.50, you buy this at the station at Zahony. The train spends an hour at Zahony station, so plenty of time!
Step 3, pre-book Chop to Lviv for around 6 in a 4-berth sleeper or 12 in a 1st class 2-berth at the Ukrainian Railways website www.uz.gov.ua on train 81 Desna leaving Chop at 16:58. Or book to Kiev if going there, obviously!
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Feedback and any photos of the Hungarian or Ukrainian train inside or out would be most welcome, please email me if you travel this way!
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Alternatively, you can travel via Mukachevo instead of Chop, this may be a better place to spend a few hours than the border station at Chop!
Step 1, travel from Budapest to Mukachevo, leaving Budapest Nyugati at 07:23 every day arriving Mukacheve in Ukraine at 15:20. Just one through carriage runs direct to Mukachevo, with air-conditioned 2nd class open-plan seats, power sockets available for laptops & mobiles. Tickets from Budapest to Mukachevo cannot be booked online, so buy at the station for 23, there are usually be places even on the day. You can check times for this train at www.bahn.de/en or www.mavcsoport.hu.
Step 2, now travel from Mukacheve to Lviv or Kiev on the Desna, leaving Mukachevo at 18:02 and arriving Lviv at 22:18 & Kiev next morning at 07:27. This train can be booked online at www.uz.gov.ua.
Budapest to Moscow & St Petersburg...
Option 1, via Kiev avoiding need for a Belarus visa - recommended route...
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Step 1, travel from Budapest to Kiev by direct sleeper train as shown above. Leave Budapest in the evening of day 1, arrive Kiev late afternoon on day 2.
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Step 2, travel from Kiev to Moscow by sleeper train, there are several trains every night, perfectly safe for westerners in spite of any tensions between Russia & Ukraine. Train 6 leaves Kiev at 19:36 arriving Moscow Kievskaya station around 10:09 next morning, which would be day 3 from Budapest. This route avoids Belarus and the need for an expensive Belarusian visa so it's the route I'd recommend.
The fare is around 92 with a bed in 4-berth kupι or 180 with a bed in a 2-berth spalny vagon.
You can ask www.polrail.com to book this for you too, or you can book tickets from Kiev to Moscow at the Ukrainian Railways site https://booking.uz.gov.ua/en/ booking from Kyiv to Moskva Kievskaya. You collect tickets at the station in Kiev. Feedback appreciated!
Option 2, via the Warsaw-Moscow Polonez - 3 times a week, reduced from daily in 2017...
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Day 1, take the daily sleeper train from Budapest to Warsaw Centralna as shown above. Book this online as shown.
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Day 2, spend most of the next day in Warsaw, see Warsaw Centralna station & city information. Warsaw's historic old town is a 20 minute walk from Centralna station - if you fancy a modest splurge, the celebrated Ufukiera restaurant (www.ufukiera.pl) is excellent and right on the square in the heart of Warsaw's old town. The Palace of Culture (a wedding cake style Soviet skyscraper and distinctive Warsaw landmark, www.pkin.pl) is right next to the station and has a viewing terrace on the 30th floor.
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Day 2 evening, take the daily sleeper train Polonez leaving Warsaw Centralna at 16:05 on Tuesdays, Thursdays & Saturdays and arriving Moscow Belorussky station next day at 12:11 (late March to late October) or 13:11 (late October to late March) (day 3 from Budapest).
The Polonez is now operated with Russian carriages, using brand-new Austrian-built sleeping-cars with 4-berth compartments introduced in 2014, see panorama photo inside one of these modern sleepers. Eastbound, these 4-bed sleepers only exist on the Polish reservations system as 2nd class 4-berth, so if you want dual or single occupancy you have to buy up multiple berths in one compartment. Westbound there's no problem, as the Russian reservations system is configured book these compartments as 1st class single, 1st class double or 2nd class 4-berth. A Russian restaurant car is attached between Brest (on the Polish/Belarus border) & Moscow. Map of Moscow showing Belorussky station.
To book the Warsaw to Moscow sleeper, most nationalities except the USA can try en.oui.sncf, which might work - tickets are sent by regular post to most countries except the USA, but you MUST make sure Europe (other countries) remains selected top right with the EU flag showing.
Alternatively, you can easily book the Polonez by contacting highly-recommended Polish train ticketing agency www.polrail.com - their booking system is at http://booking.polrail.com. They can arrange train tickets for international trains starting in Poland with tickets collected in Warsaw or (at extra charge) shipped to any address worldwide.
Don't forget to arrange both your Russian visa and Belarus transit visa as the train runs via Belarus.
For St Petersburg it's best to travel via Moscow. Moscow to St Petersburg takes as little as 3h50 by daytime Sapsan trains, or can be done an a number of traditional overnight sleepers. See the train travel in Russia page to buy tickets within Russia.
Budapest to Athens, Thessaloniki & Greece...
Option 1, overland by train via Belgrade - direct route, but cancelled until further notice...
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Step 1, Budapest to Belgrade: Travel from Budapest to Belgrade on the EuroCity train Ivo Andric leaving Budapest Keleti at 07:57 and arriving Belgrade Centar station at 16:42. The fare is just 15 as explained above. Or take the overnight train also explained in detail above which gives you a whole day to explore wonderful Belgrade, left luggage available. Take your own picnic and a beer or two, as there's no catering car on these trains. Transfer to Belgrade Topcider station by taxi. IMPORTANT: This route is affected by major engineering work, see here.
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Step 2, Belgrade to Thessaloniki: Take the Belgrade to Thessaloniki overnight train Hellas Express which leaves Belgrade Topcider station at 18:21 and arrives in Thessaloniki in Greece at 10:08 next morning, with both a seats car and a Macedonian couchette car with 6-berth compartments. Update: Following the migrant crisis, this train is temporarily (but indefinitely) replaced by a bus between Gevgelija on the Greek/Bulgarian border and Thessaloniki. Feedback appreciated.
Further update: This train will now only run in summer, June-September. See here for exact dates. It will not run at all at other times of year.
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The fare from Belgrade to Thessaloniki is 34 + around 8 couchette supplement if you buy at Belgrade station (there will always be places available on the day) or you can pre-arrange through the excellent Mr Popovic at the Wasteels office in Belgrade, see this advice on the Serbia page. You can also book the Belgrade-Thessaloniki train (but not onward trains to Athens) using a western European ticketing agency such as Trainseurope or DB's UK office on 08718 80 80 66, but they can only access full-price international tariffs, so the cost will be around 75 including couchette.
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Step 3, Thessaloniki to Athens: Now take a comfortable air-conditioned InterCity train to Athens. Trains link Thessaloniki with Larissa and Athens every couple of hours, journey time now only 4h09 after a significant speed-up in May 2019. You should make the 12:15 arriving Athens at 16:24. It's a wonderfully scenic ride, past Mount Olympus and the Aegean, then through the mountains south of Larissa, see the photos & information here. You can buy train tickets from Thessaloniki to Athens online in advance at www.trainose.gr, with print-at-home tickets see the step-by-step advice on using trainose.gr here.
Option 2, overland by train via Belgrade & Sofia...
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This route is still running, so even though it means going east from Belgrade to Sofia then south from Sofia to Thessaloniki and on to Athens, it's the only choice until or unless the direct Belgrade-Thessaloniki route is restored.
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Stay overnight in Sofia.
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Step 2, take the Sofia to Thessaloniki train then a connecting train to Athens as shown here.
Option 3, by ferry from Italy. This is a somewhat round-about route but a viable option whilst trains from Belgrade to Greece remain cancelled.
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Step 1, travel from Budapest via Vienna to Venice as shown above.
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Step 2, take a ferry from Venice to Igoumenitsa or Patras in Greece, try www.minoan.gr or www.anek.gr. You could also use a ferry from Ancona or Bari, try www.superfast.com.
Budapest to Istanbul & Turkey for 65...
Option 1, via Bucharest. This route used to take two nights, but now requires an extra night in a hotel in Bucharest as the connection between trains in Bucharest is now too tight for a reliable same-day connection. But it's a scenic route, with comfortable sleeping-cars as well as couchettes on both overnight trains.
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Step 1, take the comfortable sleeper train Ister leaving Budapest Keleti around 19:10 and arriving Bucharest Gara de Nord around 12:30 next day. Fares from 39 with couchette or from 59 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper if you pre-book at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu. See tips for using mavcsoport.hu & how to collect your tickets. There's no dining-car so take a picnic and bottle of wine. Enjoy the superb scenery as the train climbs through the Carpathian mountains between Brasov and Bucharest.
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Spend a day and night in Bucharest. It's theoretically possible to make a same-day connection in Bucharest, but over the last few years the connection between these two trains has got shorter and shorter, it's no longer robust enough so ideally plan a day and night in Bucharest, although this means a 3-night trip not 2.
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Step 2, travel by train from Bucharest to Istanbul as follows:
In summer from 9 June to 7 October 2019 there's a direct couchette car from Bucharest to Istanbul leaving Bucharest Gara de Nord at 12:40 and arriving Istanbul Halkali station at 07:40 next morning. It's modern Turkish air-conditioned couchette car with 4-berth compartments. There's a free transfer bus from Halkali to Istanbul Sirkeci station arriving 09:00. See the Bucharest to Istanbul page for full details.
Until 8 June & from 8 October 2019 you leave Bucharest Gara de Nord at 12:40 on a series of connecting trains for Dimitrovgrad, picking up a sleeper leaving Dimitrovgrad at 00:44 and arriving Istanbul Halkali station at 06:49. The Dimitrovgrad-Istanbul sleeper train has two air-conditioned Turkish sleeping-cars (1 & 2 bed compartments) and a Turkish couchette car with 4-berth compartments. There's a free transfer bus from Halkali to Istanbul Sirkeci station arriving 08:00. See the Bucharest to Istanbul page for full details.
It's a leisurely journey across Romania, over the Danube on the world's longest steel girder bridge (2.5km), and through rural Bulgaria including a descent through the lovely Shipka Pass. There's no catering, so bring a picnic and some wine or beer and enjoy the ride. Halkali is a suburban station 25km west of Istanbul, there is a free Turkish Railways transfer bus from there to Istanbul Sirkeci in the city centre.
You cannot book the Bucharest to Istanbul train online, so either buy a ticket when you reach Bucharest (cheapest option, places always available) or book by phone. If buying in Bucharest in the off-season when there's no direct train, it's reported that instead of simply issuing an open ticket from Bucharest to Istanbul (or even to Dimitrovgrad) and letting you use all the trains, you need to buy a ticket to Ruse, then rebook (or pay on the train), but don't let that put you off.
Option 2, via Belgrade & Sofia. This route takes 2 nights, includes a day to explore Sofia and is very cheap.
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Step 1, travel from Budapest to Belgrade as shown above using either the overnight train for 15 + 9 couchette, or one of the two comfortable daytime trains for just 15 and staying the night in Belgrade, perhaps at the excellent & historic Hotel Moskva at the end of Belgrade's main pedestrianised shopping street.
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Step 2, take the daytime train from Belgrade to Sofia, see the Belgrade to Sofia page for full details, travel tips & photos. From 14 June to 16 September 2019 there's a direct train called the Balkan which leaves Belgrade Topcider station at 09:12 arriving Sofia Central Station at 20:30. 2nd class only, bring your own picnic and bottle of wine as there's no catering. At other times of year you leave Belgrade Centar station at 06:10, change at Nis & Dimitrovgrad arriving Sofia at 19:00 (and clearly a connection off the overnight train from Budapest is too tight a connection to work). Buy this ticket at the station for around 21, there are always places available, even on the day. It cannot be booked online, and there's no need.
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Step 3, take the overnight train from Sofia to Istanbul. In summer from 1 June to 7 October 2019 it leaves Sofia Central Station at 21:30 and arrives Istanbul Halkali at 07:40 next morning with free transfer bus to Istanbul Sirkeci station arriving 09:00. Until 31 May & from 8 October it leaves Sofia Central Station at 21:10 and arrives Istanbul Halkali at 06:49 next morning with free transfer bus to Istanbul Sirkeci station arriving 08:00 The fare is 20 plus either 10 couchette supplement or 26 supplement for a bed in a 2-bed sleeper, bought at the international ticket windows at Sofia station. There are always places available. See the Sofia to Istanbul section for more details.
You'll notice that it's a tight connection in Sofia which may be broken if there's a delay, so factoring in a 24-hour stopover in Sofia might be a good idea.
Budapest to other destinations...
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For journeys to neighbouring countries, try www.mavcsoport.hu.
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Some journeys cannot be booked online, buy at the station.
Railbookers
custom-made tours
Custom-made tours using trains...
If you just want to buy train tickets at the cheapest price, book online as shown on this page. However, if you want someone to sort out your whole trip for you, arranging all your trains, hotels and transfers, and to look after you if anything affects your arrangements, talk to Railbookers. Railbookers can tailor-make a train trip around Europe to your own specification. Just tell them what you want and they'll advise you on the best trains, routes & hotels. They get good reports and a lot of repeat business! They now have offices in the UK, North America and Australia.
UK call 020 3327 0761,
www.railbookers.co.uk.
US call free 1-888-829-4775,
see
website.
Canada call free 1-855-882-2910,
see website.
Australia call toll-free 1300 971 526,
see website.
New Zealand call toll-free 0800 000 554 or
see
website.
Hotels in Budapest & other cities
Other hotel sites worth trying...
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www.tripadvisor.com is the place to find independent travellers' reviews of all the main hotels.
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www.booking.com is my own preferred hotel booking system (Hotels Combined being a search/comparison system). It has a simple interface, a good selection in most countries worldwide, useful online customer reviews of each hotel, and decent prices, usually shown inclusive of unavoidable extras such as taxes (a pet hate of mine is systems that show one price, then charge you another!).
Backpacker hostels...
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www.hostelworld.com: If you're on a tight budget, don't forget about backpacker hostels. Hostelworld offers online booking of cheap private rooms or dorm beds in backpacker hostels in most cities at rock-bottom prices.