Step 3, Milan to Ventimiglia by Intercity train.  Above, an Intercity at the magnificent Milan Centrale...

2nd class.  Larger photo.		1st class.  Larger photo.

Step 4, take a TER local train from Ventimiglia to Monaco, Nice & Cannes.  Ventimiglia to Nice takes an hour along the coast.  Here, a TER rolls into Juan les Pins station, between Nice & Cannes.

Coastal scenery from the upper deck of the TER from Ventimiglia to Nice & Cannes...

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Budapest to Brussels & Bruges from €56...

Option 1, Budapest to Brussels using the Vienna-Brussels Nightjet sleeper train on Tuesdays, Thursdays & Sundays - the most time-effective option...

• Step 1, travel from Budapest to Vienna by railjet train, leaving Budapest Keleti at 15:40 and arriving Vienna Hbf at 18:21. 

  The modern Austrian railjet train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Have dinner in Vienna, see suggested restaurants.

  Fares start from €19.90 in 2nd class, €29.90 in 1st class or 44.90 in business class (= premium 1st).  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards accepted, small booking fee, Booking opens up to 6 months ahead) or at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu (more fiddly, in Hungarian forints, booking opens 60 days ahead, see my advice for using it).

  Tip:  Don't risk tight connections when you have a sleeper train to catch.  By all means travel earlier and have dinner in Vienna, these trains run every hour.  See suggested restaurants.

  Tip:  If you have a sleeper ticket, you can use the ÖBB lounge at Vienna Hbf between trains, with complimentary refreshments & free WiFi.

• Step 2, travel from Vienna to Brussels by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 20:13 on Tuesdays, Thursdays & Sundays, arriving Brussels Midi at 09:52 next morning.

  This comfortable Austrian Nightjet train has two air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-cars with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There's a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers.  The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu.  The train has a couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and an ordinary seats car.  A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment.  See the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video.

  Fares start at €49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, €59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, €89.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €109.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €159.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards accepted, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (more fiddly, in €, same fares).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket.

Option 2, Budapest to Brussels using the Vienna-Cologne Nightjet sleeper - on days when the Vienna-Brussels Nightjet isn't running...

• Step 1, travel from Budapest to Vienna by railjet train, leaving Budapest Keleti at 15:40 and arriving Vienna Hbf at 18:21.

  The modern Austrian railjet train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Have dinner in Vienna, see suggested restaurants.

  Fares start from €19.90 in 2nd class, €29.90 in 1st class or 44.90 in business class (= premium 1st).  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee, Booking opens up to 6 months ahead) or at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu (more fiddly, in Hungarian forints, see my advice for using it).

• Step 2, travel from Vienna to Cologne by Nightjet sleeper train leaving Vienna Hbf at 20:13 and arriving at Cologne Hbf at 06:51 next morning. 

  This comfortable Austrian Nightjet train has an air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-car with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There's a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers.  The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu.  The train has several couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats.  A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment.  See the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video.

  Tip:  If you have a sleeper ticket, you can use the ÖBB lounge at Vienna Hbf before boarding, with complimentary refreshments & free WiFi.

  Fares start at €49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, €59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, €89.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €109.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €159.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or Austrian Railways www.oebb.at (a little more fiddly, in €, has been known to reject some international cards).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead, less than this when the mid-June or mid-December timetable changes intervene.  You print your own ticket.

• Step 3, travel from Cologne to Brussels by high-speed ICE3 train leaving Cologne Hbf at 07:42 and arriving Brussels Midi at 09:35.

  The ICE3 has a bistro-restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

  Fares start from €18.90 in 2nd class or €27.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

  Book this at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.  You can book through to Bruges or anywhere in Belgium as one transaction for one inclusive price.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone.

Step 1, Budapest to Vienna by railjet, seen on platform 9 at Budapest Keleti.  More information about railjets.

Business class.  About business class.		Restaurant car.  In 1st & business class you're served at your seat.

First class.		Economy class.

Step 2, Vienna to Brussels by Nightjet sleeper train.  Above, the inaugural southbound train is ready to leave Brussels the following night, the first scheduled sleeper train to leave Brussels in 16 years - naturally, the Man in Seat 61 was on board!  More information about Nightjet trains.

Deluxe sleeper.  Each compartment can be used as a 1, 2 or 3-bed room.  Larger photo.  Video of deluxe room		The same deluxe sleeper in evening/morning mode with beds folded away, seats folded out.  Larger photo.		Deluxe rooms have a compact shower & toilet, towels & hair/body wash provided.  Larger photo.		Standard sleeper set up as 2-berth, washstand open.  It can be used as a 1, 2 or 3 berth.  Larger photo.

6-berth couchettes...		4-berth couchettes...		Couchette car on the Brussels-Vienna Nightjet...

Option 3, Budapest to Brussels using the Budapest-Munich sleeper...

• Step 1, travel from Budapest to Munich by EuroNight sleeper train Kalman Imre leaving Budapest Keleti at 20:40 & arriving Munich Hbf at 06:29.

  The Kalman Imre has an air-conditioned Hungarian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, and an air-conditioned Hungarian couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments.  In the sleeping-car, a light breakfast with tea or coffee is included in the fare.  More information about this sleeper train.

  Fares start at €49.90 with a couchette in a 6-berth, €59.90 with a couchette in a 4-berth, €69.90 with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper, €88.90 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or €129.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, more fiddly, same prices).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket.

  If you have any problems (for example, you see no sleepers), also try the Hungarian Railways site at www.mavcsoport.hu - see my advice on using it first.

  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.  Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations, scroll down to Hungary, click EN and look for Kalman Imre.

• Step 2, travel from Munich to Brussels by ICE train, leaving Munich Hbf at 06:48, changing at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf, arriving Brussels Midi 13:35.

  ICEs have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Change in Brussels for half-hourly trains to Bruges.

  Fares start at €37.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

  Book this at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone.

Step 1, Budapest to Munich by sleeper train Kalman Imre, seen here boarding on platform 7 at Budapest Keleti.  More information about this train.

2 bed sleeper, can also be set up as a 1 or 3 bed.		4-berth couchettes.		6-berth couchettes.

Step 2, Munich to Frankfurt & on to Brussels by ICE.  This is an ICE3M at Frankfurt.  More information about ICE.

2nd class seats on an ICE3M.  Larger photo.		1st class seats on an ICE3M.  Larger photo.

Proper china, metal cutlery.  I recommend the Erdinger Weissbier!  See current month's menu.		Restaurant car:  This is the small 12-seat restaurant area on an ICE3M.  Larger photo.

Option 4, Budapest to Brussels with overnight stop in Munich...

• Step 1, travel from Budapest to Munich by smart Austrian railjet train leaving Budapest Keleti at 15:40 and arriving Munich Hbf at 22:33.

  The railjet has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  By all means take an earlier train, they run every couple of hours.

  Fares start at €37.90 in 2nd class, €56.90 in 1st class or €71.90 in business class (= premium 1st).  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this train at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  Tickets are sent to any address worldwide for a small fee.  You can also book at Hungarian Railways www.mavcsoport.hu, see my advice for using it.

• Stay overnight in Munich.  The Sofitel Munich Beyerpost, Eden Hotel Wolff, InterCity Hotel or (budget) the Pension Locarno are next to the station with good or great reviews.

• Step 2, travel from Munich to Brussels by ICE train, for example leaving Munich Hbf 06:48, changing at Frankfurt (Main) Flughafen, arriving Brussels Midi 13:35.  But by all means have a leisurely breakfast and take a later train.  ICE trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

  Fares start at €27.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this train at www.bahn.de.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or you can show it on your laptop or smartphone.

Option 5, Budapest to Brussels using the Budapest-Prague sleeper - sometimes the cheapest option...

• OK, so this isn't the fastest option.  But a potential €29 fare between Prague & Brussels from Czech Railways plus a €35 fare from Budapest to Prague including a bed for the night can make it the cheapest.  The trains are just as good quality as other routes, too, see the photos here.

• Step 1, take the sleeper train from Budapest to Prague, leaving Budapest Nyugati at 19:40 and arriving Prague Hlavni at 08:42.

  This train has a comfortable air-conditioned Czech Railways sleeping-car with ten 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin and a Czech 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.

  Fares start at €35 with couchette, €46 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or €71 with a single-bed sleeper all to yourself.

  Book this train at the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz.  Booking normally opens 90 days ahead and you print your own ticket.

  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...

• Step 2, travel from Prague to Brussels, leaving Prague Hlavni at 10:38, change Cheb, Nuremberg & Frankfurt arriving Brussels Midi 21:35.

  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 restaurant car and beer on tap, see the photos & travel tips here.

  Fares start at €46.90 each way 2nd class or €61.90 in 1st class.  Fare vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Buy tickets at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.

  You'll see journeys via various routes, to specify this route click Stopover and enter Cheb as a via station, leaving duration zero.

  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone.  I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets.

  You can also book at the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz, in this case booking only opens up to 90 days ahead.  If you are booking well in advance, I find www.bahn.de is often cheaper.  Booked close to departure date, www.cd.cz is often cheaper.

The Czech sleeping-car from Budapest to Prague, boarding at Budapest Nyugati on a summer evening.

Washstand, soap & towels provided.  Larger photo.		Czech Railways 2-bed 'double' sleeper on the Prague-Budapest route.  Each room can be used with 1, 2 or 3 beds.  Larger photo.		The corridor.  Each compartment locks securely.  Larger photo.

Scenery between Nuremberg & Cheb.  Courtesy of Arnaud Loneux.		Hills & forest between Cheb & Prague.  Courtesy of Arnaud Loneux.

Easy & relaxed interchange at Cheb...  The blue train on the left is the Czech train to & from Prague, the red train on the right is the German regional train to & from Nuremberg.

ICE3 from Frankfurt to Brussels, at Brussels Midi.		ICE3 2nd class seats.  Larger photo.

ICE3 1st class, with leather seats.  Larger photo.		ICE3 bistro.  See this month's menu.

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Budapest to Amsterdam from €69.80...

Option 1, Budapest to Amsterdam using the Vienna-Amsterdam Nightjet sleeper train - easy, comfortable & time-effective...

• Step 2, travel from Vienna to Amsterdam by Nightjet sleeper train leaving Vienna Hbf 20:13 & arriving Amsterdam Centraal 09:59 next morning.

  This comfortable Austrian Nightjet train has an air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-car with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There are toilets & a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers.  The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu.  The train has couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats.  A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment.  See the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video.

  Fares start at €49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, €59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, €89.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €109.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €159.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or Austrian Railways own site www.oebb.at (in €, same prices, bit more fiddly) or at the Dutch Railways international site www.nsinternational.nl (in €, no fee).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket.

Step 1, Budapest to Vienna by railjet, seen on platform 9 at Budapest Keleti.  More information about railjets.

Business class.  About business class.		Restaurant car.  In 1st & business class you're served at your seat.

First class.		Economy class.

Step 2, Vienna to Amsterdam by Nightjet sleeper train.  More information about Nightjet trains.

Deluxe sleeper.  Each compartment can be used as a 1, 2 or 3-bed room.  Larger photo.  Video of deluxe room		The same deluxe sleeper in evening/morning mode with beds folded away, seats folded out.  Larger photo.		Deluxe rooms have a compact shower & toilet, towels & hair/body wash provided.  Larger photo.		Standard sleeper set up as 2-berth, washstand open.  It can be used as a 1, 2 or 3 berth.  Larger photo.

6-berth couchettes...		4-berth couchettes...		Couchette car on the Nightjet train...

Option 2, Budapest to Amsterdam using the Budapest-Munich sleeper train...

• Step 1, travel from Budapest to Munich by EuroNight sleeper train Kalman Imre leaving Budapest Keleti at 20:40 & arriving Munich Hbf 06:29.

  The Kalman Imre has an air-conditioned Hungarian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, and an air-conditioned Hungarian couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats.  In the sleeping-car, a light breakfast with tea or coffee is included in the fare.  More information about this sleeper train.

  Fares start at €49.90 with a couchette in a 6-berth, €59.90 with a couchette in a 4-berth, €69.90 with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper, €88.90 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or €129.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (more fiddly, same prices, in €).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket.

  If you have any problems (for example, you see no sleepers), also try the Hungarian Railways site at www.mavcsoport.hu - see my advice on using it first.

  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.  Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations, scroll down to Hungary, click EN and look for Kalman Imre.

• Step 2, travel from Munich to Amsterdam, leaving Munich Hbf at 07:47, changing at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf, arriving Amsterdam Centraal 15:28.

  You travel on comfortable ICE trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

  Fares start at €37.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

  Book this at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone.  See suggested hotels in Amsterdam.

Step 1, travel from Budapest to Munich by sleeper train Kalman Imre, seen here boarding on platform 7 at Budapest Keleti.  More information about this train.

6-berth couchettes.		4-berth couchettes.		1, 2 or 3 bed sleeper, set up as a 2 bed.

Step 2, Munich to Amsterdam by ICE with 1 easy change in Frankfurt.  ICEs have a restaurant, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Above, an ICE3M at Amsterdam Centraal.  More information about ICE

2nd class seats on an ICE3M.  Larger photo.		1st class seats on an ICE3M.  Larger photo.

Proper china, metal cutlery.  I recommend the Erdinger Weissbier!  See current month's menu.		Restaurant car:  This is the small 12-seat restaurant area on an ICE3M.  Larger photo.

Option 3, Budapest to Amsterdam with overnight stop in Munich - if you prefer daytime trains and hotel to sleepers...

• Day 1, travel from Budapest to Munich by railjet train, leaving Budapest Keleti at 15:40 and arriving Munich Hbf at 22:31.

  The comfortable Austrian railjet train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  By all means take an earlier train, they run every 2 hours.

  Fares start at €37.90 in 2nd class, €56.90 in 1st class or €71.90 in business class (= premium 1st).  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this train at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  For this route, tickets are sent to any address worldwide for a small fee.

• Stay overnight in Munich.  Hotels 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.

• Day 2, travel from Munich to Amsterdam, leaving Munich Hbf at 07:47, change at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf, arriving Amsterdam Centraal 15:28.

  By all means book a later train, for example the 09:28 from Munich Hbf, change at Cologne Hbf, arriving Amsterdam Centraal at 17:28.

  All ICE trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

  Fares start at €37.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this journey at www.bahn.de.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone.

Day 1, Budapest to Munich by railjet, seen here on platform 9 at Budapest Keleti station.  More information about railjets.

Business class.  About business class.		Restaurant.  In 1st & business class you're served at your seat.

First class.		Economy class.

Day 2, Munich to Amsterdam by ICE with 1 easy change in Frankfurt.  ICEs have a restaurant, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Above, an ICE3M at Amsterdam Centraal.  More information about ICE

2nd class seats on an ICE3M.  Larger photo.		1st class seats on an ICE3M.  Larger photo.

Proper china, metal cutlery.  I recommend the Erdinger Weissbier!  See current month's menu.		Restaurant car:  This is the small 12-seat restaurant area on an ICE3M.  Larger photo.

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Budapest to Luxembourg from €46.90...

Option 1, Budapest to Luxembourg in a single day...

• You can travel from Budapest to Luxembourg in a single day:

  Leave Budapest Keleti at 05:40 by EuroCity train, change at Vienna Hbf & Koblenz, arriving Luxembourg at 20:24.

  Leave Budapest Keleti at 07:40 by railjet train, change at Vienna Hbf & Koblenz, arriving Luxembourg at 21:31.

  Budapest to Vienna is by EuroCity or railjet with restaurant car.  Vienna to Koblenz is by ICE-T train with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Koblenz-Luxembourg is by regional train.  A chill-out day across Europe...

• Fares start at €46.90 in 2nd class or €59.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• Buy tickets at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone.

  Tip:  To stop journeys involving rail replacement buses cluttering up the search results, click Stopover and enter Igel as a via station, leaving stopover duration zero.

  Tip:  In the search results, look for a journey with just 2 changes.

Option 2, Budapest to Luxembourg overnight using the Vienna-Koblenz Nightjet sleeper train - the time-effective option...

• Step 1, travel from Budapest to Vienna by railjet train, leaving Budapest Keleti at 15:40 and arriving Vienna Hbf at 18:21. 

  The modern Austrian railjet train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Have dinner in Vienna, see suggested restaurants.

  Fares start from €19.90 in 2nd class, €29.90 in 1st class or 44.90 in business class (= premium 1st).  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards accepted, small booking fee, Booking opens up to 6 months ahead) or at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu (more fiddly, in Hungarian forints, booking opens 60 days ahead, see my advice for using it).

  Tip:  Don't risk tight connections when you have a sleeper train to catch.  By all means travel earlier and have dinner in Vienna, these trains run every hour.  See suggested restaurants.

  Tip:  If you have a sleeper ticket, you can use the ÖBB lounge at Vienna Hbf between trains, with complimentary refreshments & free WiFi.

• Step 2, travel from Vienna to Koblenz by Nightjet sleeper train leaving Vienna Hbf at 20:13 and arriving at Koblenz Hbf at 05:11 next morning. 

  This comfortable Austrian Nightjet train has an air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-car with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There's a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers.  The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu.  The train has several couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats.  A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment.  See the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video.

  Fares start at €49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, €59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, €89.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €109.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €159.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or Austrian Railways www.oebb.at (a little more fiddly, in €, has been known to reject some international cards).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead, but less than this when the mid-June or mid-December timetable changes intervene.  You print your own tickets.

• Step 3, travel from Koblenz to Luxembourg by regional train leaving Koblenz Hbf at 06:03 Mondays-Saturdays arriving Luxembourg at 08:24. 

  On Sundays, leave Koblenz 07:06, change at Trier, arrive Luxembourg 09:24.

  The fare is €28 in 2nd class or €47.80 in 1st class, fixed-price.

  Book this at the German Railways website www.bahn.de and print your own ticket or show it on your laptop or smartphone.

Option 4, Budapest to Italy via Ljubljana - the cheapest option at short notice, with a chance to see Ljubljana & Trieste on the way...

• Day 1, take the morning train Citadella from Budapest to Ljubljana, as shown in the Budapest-Ljubljana section above.  You arrive late afternoon, enjoy a pleasant evening in Ljubljana.

• Stay overnight in Ljubljana.  Consider the Hotel Slon which I have used myself, 13 minutes walk from the station with good reviews, or the Petkovšek River View Hotel, 800m (10 minutes walk) from the station with great reviews.

• Day 2, travel from Ljubljana to Venice, taking the early morning regional train to Trieste then the another regional train to Venice, arriving late morning, see the Venice to Ljubljana page for timetable, fares & how to buy tickets.  By all means take a  later train from Trieste to Venice to see something of Trieste (one of Italy's most under-rated cities).  You buy tickets at the station on the day, they cannot sell out.

• If you're going further into Spain, stay overnight in Barcelona...  Suggested hotels close to Barcelona Sants with good or great reviews include the Hotel Barcelo Sants (4-star, great reviews, directly above Barcelona Sants station itself, recommended), 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), Meeting Point Hostel (inexpensive private rooms & dorm beds).

• How much does it cost?

  Budapest to Copenhagen starts at €49.90 in 2nd class or €79.90 in 1st class.

  Budapest to Stockholm starts at €59.90 in 2nd class or €99.90 in 1st class.

  These are German Railways Sparpreis through fares.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

• To buy tickets...

  You can buy a through ticket from Budapest to Copenhagen, Stockholm, Malmo or Gothenburg from the German Railways website www.bahn.de.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.

  To get the overnight stop in Hamburg, click Stopover and enter Hamburg Hbf in the via box and 10:00 in the 'hh:mm' box.  Click here to open bahn.de all set up with the necessary parameters, just enter your date of travel and passenger details and if necessary change Copenhagen to Malmo, Göteborg Central or Stockholm.

  In the search results, look for journeys with the fewest changes, for example just 1 change when going from Budapest to Copenhagen.  Adjust departure time & stopover time if necessary to get the trains you want either side of Hamburg.

  Tickets are posted to any address worldwide, in this case they can't be printed out.  You have to allow 1-2 weeks for tickets to arrive.

  Tip:  If you'd prefer a digital ticket than can be printed out or shown on your smartphone, here's how:  Instead of booking from Budapest to Copenhagen, book from Breclav to Copenhagen, Stockholm, etc.  Breclav is the Hungaria's first stop in the Czech Republic.  Add the overnight stop in Hamburg using the Stopover feature as normal, but this time set departure time to 11:00.  In the search results, look for the 11:07 departure from Breclav direct to Hamburg, train EC172.  You'll now get a digital ticket, as German Railways have the necessary agreement with the Czech Railways.  Now go to the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz and buy a ticket from Budapest to Breclav from €20 on the same train, the 07:40 departure, train EC172.  You can print this ticket out.

  Tip:  If you have any problems you can split the booking into stages:  Book from Budapest to Hamburg & Hamburg to Copenhagen using www.bahn.de.  Then book Copenhagen to Gothenburg or Stockholm at either www.sj.se (in Krona, can struggle with some overseas credit cards, no booking fee) or Omio.com (in Krona, €, £ or $, small booking fee, quick & easy to use and readily accepts overseas credit cards).

Step 1, Budapest to Vienna by railjet.  This is a railjet on platform 9 at Budapest's historic Keleti station.  More information about railjets.

First class.		Economy (2nd).

Step 2, Vienna to Hamburg by ICE.  Above, an ICE-T at Vienna Hbf.  More information about ICE-T trains.  Courtesy of Helmut Uttenthaler.

Table for two in 1st class, my favourite configuration.  There are also tables for four in both classes.		Lunch in the restaurant car.  I highly recommend the Erdinger Weissbier!

You can see into the cab at each end of the train.		Comfortable 2nd class seats on the ICE-T to Vienna...

Step 3, Hamburg to Copenhagen by Intercity train seen here at Copenhagen.  More about Hamburg to Copenhagen trains.

2nd class seats on an IC3 train.  Larger photo.		1st class seats on an IC3 train.  Larger photo.

Step 4, Copenhagen to Stockholm by tilting 200km/h X2000, seen at Stockholm Central.  More about X2000 trains.

1st class on an X2000.  Larger photo.		2nd class on an X2000.  Larger photo.

Bistro seating on an X2000 train. Larger photo.		Bistro on an X2000 train. Larger photo.

Crossing the impressive Öresund bridge from Denmark to Sweden...

Budapest to Oslo & Norway...

Option 1, Budapest to Oslo via Hamburg & Gothenburg - by train all the way...

• Day 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 Austrian railjet has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Don't risk any tight connections when catching a sleeper train.

  Fares start at €19.90 in 2nd class, €29.90 in 1st class or €44.90 in business class (= premium 1st).  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easiest to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, Booking opens up to 6 months ahead, small booking fee) or Hungarian Railways www.mavcsoport.hu (more fiddly, in forints, booking opens 60 days ahead, see advice for using it).

  Tip:  If you have an onward sleeping-car ticket you can use the ÖBB Lounge at Vienna Hbf between trains, with tea, coffee & free WiFi.

• Day 1, travel from Vienna to Hamburg by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 20:13 and arriving Hamburg Hbf at 08:47.

  This comfortable Austrian Nightjet train has an air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-car with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There are toilets & a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers.  The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu.  The train has couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats.  A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment.  See the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video.

  Fares start at €49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, €59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, €89.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €109.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €159.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, a little more fiddly, same prices). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.

• Day 2, travel from Hamburg to Gothenburg, leaving Hamburg Hbf at 12:53, changing at Copenhagen and arriving Gothenburg Central at 22:20.

  Hamburg to Copenhagen is by Danish IC3 Intercity train with free WiFi when in Denmark.  There's no catering, so bring your own food & drink.  Copenhagen to Gothenburg is by Öresund train, via the impressive Öresund fixed link.

  From 18 June to 21 August 2022 you'll find an earlier 10:53 departure available from Hamburg Hbf.

  Fares start at €56.90 in 2nd class or €79.90 in 1st class.  Fare vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Buy a ticket for this journey at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.  Gothenburg is listed as Göteborg Central.  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone.  I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets.

• Stay overnight in Gothenburg.

• Day 3, travel from Gothenburg to Oslo, leaving Goteborg Central at 06:10 Mondays-Fridays arriving Oslo Central at 09:51, or at 07:55 on Saturdays arriving 11:52, or at 10:15 on Sundays arriving 13:51.  This is a comfortable air-conditioned Norwegian train.

  Book this at the Norwegian website www.vy.no.

Option 2, Budapest to Oslo via the Kiel-Oslo cruise ferry - the most comfortable way to Oslo...

• Day 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 Austrian railjet has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Don't risk any tight connections when catching a sleeper train.

  Fares start at €19.90 in 2nd class, €29.90 in 1st class or €44.90 in business class (= premium 1st).  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easiest to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, booking opens up to 6 months ahead, small booking fee) or Hungarian Railways www.mavcsoport.hu (more fiddly, in forints, booking opens 60 days ahead, see advice for using it).

  Tip:  If you have an onward sleeping-car ticket you can use the ÖBB Lounge at Vienna Hbf between trains, with tea, coffee & free WiFi.

• Day 1, travel from Vienna to Hamburg by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 20:13 and arriving Hamburg Hbf at 08:47.

  This comfortable Austrian Nightjet train has an air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-car with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There are toilets & a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers.  The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu.  The train has couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats.  A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment.  See the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video.

  Fares start at €49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, €59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, €89.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €109.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €159.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, a little more fiddly, same prices). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.

• Day 2, travel from Hamburg Hbf to Kiel Hbf by regional train, these leave several times each hour taking 1h10, fixed-price fare around €23.

  In Kiel, the Color Line ferry terminal is only 5-6 minutes walk from Kiel Hbf, but allow several hours between train & ferry for the ferry check-in and in case of delay.

• Day 2, sail from Kiel to Oslo by luxurious overnight Color Line ferry, with a full range of en suite cabins, suites, bars, restaurants and lounges.  The m/v Magic or m/v Fantasy normally sails at 14:00 arriving Oslo at 10:00 next morning (Day 3 from Budapest).

  Check times & buy tickets using the Direct Ferries website or www.colorline.com.

  Make sure you're on deck next morning as the ship sails through spectacular scenery up Oslo Fjord.  The ship docks at the modern Color Line terminal about 2 km from the city centre.  Color Line provide transfer buses to Oslo Sentral station costing 55 krone, or there are plenty of taxis.  If you have little luggage it's possible to walk.  See map of Oslo showing ferry terminal.

This photo is taken from the exit of Kiel station, so you can see how close the ferry is.  It's a 5-6 minute walk across the harbour, with a street lift up to a connecting walkway which takes you to the ferry terminal. If you have reserved one of what Color Line call their "5 star suites", check in at the desk rather than the machines and you'll be directed to a special lounge to wait with free tea, coffee, juice, snacks & WiFi.  You'll also have priority boarding of the ship.  Photos courtesy of Andrew Leo.

Boarding the Color Line ferry to Oslo in Kiel...

A 5 Star Suite on the ferry...		More cruise liner than ferry!  The restaurant.

Wake up to this....

Option 3, Budapest to Oslo by train to Frederikshavn then DFDS ferry to Oslo...

• Day 1, travel from Budapest to Hamburg by railjet & ICE as shown above.

• Stay overnight in Hamburg.  The Hotel Reichshof Hamburg is just 200m from the station, features art deco-based design and gets great reviews.  Other hotels next to Hamburg Hbf with good or great reviews include (starting with the cheapest) the Hotel Continental Novum, Hotel Furst Bismarck, Hotel Europaischer Hof, Hotel Atlantic Kempinski.  If you're on a budget, private rooms in the A&O Hotel near Hamburg Hbf start at around £33 for one person or £49 for two people booked at www.hostelworld.com.

• Day 2, travel from Hamburg to Frederikshavn then take the overnight DFDS ferry from Frederikshavn to Oslo as explained here.  A private cabin on the ferry with en suite toilet & shower is remarkably affordable, and saves a hotel bill.

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A EuroCity train from Prague to Budapest about to leave Prague Hlavni.  More photos & information.

1st class...		2nd class compartment seating...

Option 2, Budapest to Prague by competing Regiojet train...

• In addition, since July 2020, private open-access operator Regiojet operates 2 trains a day from Budapest to Prague with 4 classes (lo-cost, standard, relax & business) and fares from just €16, book at www.regiojet.com.  More details...

A RegioJet train at Vienna Hbf.  More photos & information about Regiojet trains...

Option 3, Budapest to Prague by sleeper train - safe, comfortable, time-effective

• A comfortable sleeper train leaves Budapest Nyugati at 19:40 arriving Prague Hlavni at 08:42, with sleeping-car and couchettes.

  There's an air-conditioned Czech sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin.  Morning tea or coffee is included in the fare.  There is also a couchette car with 4 & 6 bunk compartments.

• Book at Czech Railways www.cd.cz.  Booking normally opens 90 days ahead.  You print your own ticket

• For train times, fares, photos, tips & full details of how to buy tickets, see the Budapest to Prague sleeper train section.

Washstand, soap & towels provided.  Larger photo.		Czech Railways 2-bed 'double' sleeper on the Prague-Budapest route.  Each room can be used with 1, 2 or 3 beds.  Larger photo.		The corridor.  Each compartment locks securely.  Larger photo.

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Budapest to Český Krumlov...

• Step 1, travel from Budapest to Linz by smart Austrian railjet train...

  There are departures at 06:40 then every two hours from 07:40 to 13:40, journey time around 4h04. 

  The railjets have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

• Step 2, travel from Linz to Ceske Budejovice by comfortable air-conditioned Czech train...

  These leave every two hours or so, journey time 2h16.

  Incidentally, Ceske Budejovice might sound more familiar by its former Germanic name, Budweis. That's right, where the name of Budweiser beer comes from! The town is worth a look around in its own right. Why not take an earlier train and have a wander into the old town?

• Step 3, take the little branch line train from Ceske Budejovice to Český Krumlov run by private operator GWTR...

  This runs every hour or two taking 44 minutes.

  You'll find  more information about Český Krumlov, the GWTR local train, taxis between Český Krumlov station and old town, and how to travel from Český Krumlov on to Prague, on the Cesky Krumlov page.

• How to check train times...

  Run an enquiry from Budapest Keleti to Cesky Krumlov using the German Railways website www.bahn.de.  This is the quickest and easiest site to use, though it won't sell tickets.  Tip:  Click Stopover and enter Linz as a via station.  Look for journeys with just 2 changes.

  You'll probably notice there's a tight 10-minute connection at Linz.  Perfectly doable if the first train is only 5 minutes late, not doable if it's 10 minutes late.  If you re-run the enquiry with Duration of transfer changed from standard to at least 30 minutes, it'll give you a 2h10 connection in Linz, time for lunch and a wander.  Your call!

• How much does it cost?

  Budapest to Linz starts at €19.90 in 2nd class or €29.90 in 1st class.  Fares work like air fares so book ahead.

  Linz to Cesky Krumlov starts at €9.90 in 2nd class or €22.90 in 1st class.  Fares work like air fares so book ahead.

• How to buy tickets...

  When you have identified the trains you want to book:

  (1)  Book the Budapest to Linz train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket.

  (2)  Book the Linz to Cesky Krumlov trains at the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz.  Booking opens up to 92 days ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

  Tip:  If you're happy with the 10-minute connection in Linz, I'd either buy the higher-priced International Ticket fare for around €22 as this is good for any train that day, or buy a €7 First Minute advance-purchase fare but accept that if there's a delay and you miss your specified train you may have to pay €22 for a new ticket.  Or simply buy two €7 First Minute fares, the second one for the later train as a back-up!

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Budapest to Brno...

1. Budapest to Prague EuroCity trains link Budapest Nyugati with Brno every 2 hours or so, journey time 3h57.

2. Advance-purchase First Minute fares start at €21.  The full-flex fare bought on the day is around €51.

3. Book at the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz.  Booking normally opens 90 days ahead and you print your own ticket.

   The cheap fares have limited availability, specified train only, no refunds, no changes to travel plans.

   You can also book at the Hungarian Railways site www.mavcsoport.hu, see my advice for using it.

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Budapest to Ostrava...

1. A direct EuroCity train leaves Budapest Nyugati for Ostrava at 08:28 every morning, journey time 5h20.  Later departures are possible every 2 hours or so with one easy change of train at Breclav.

2. Advance-purchase First Minute fares start at €17.  The full-flex fare bought on the day is around €62.

3. Book at the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz.  Booking normally opens 90 days ahead and you print your own ticket.

   The cheap fares have limited availability, specified train only, no refunds, no changes to travel plans.

   You can also book at the Hungarian Railways site www.mavcsoport.hu, see my advice for using it.

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Budapest to Bratislava from €9...

• Air-conditioned EuroCity trains with restaurant car leave Budapest Nyugati every hour or two for Bratislava Hlavna taking just 2h23.  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.

• Fares start at €10 in 2nd class or €16 in 1st class, advance-purchase rates bought online in advance...

  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 around €17.50 in 2nd class which is the cheapest on-the-day ticket even for a one-way trip.  There's no 1st class equivalent, so if you insist on 1st class and buy on the day, a full-flex full-price 1st class fare costs €65+.

• Buy advance-purchase tickets from at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu, see my advice for using it.  Limited availability, no refunds, no changes.  Booking normally opens 60 days ahead.

A EuroCity train from Prague to Budapest about to leave Prague Hlavni.  More photos & information.

1st class...		2nd class compartment seating...

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Budapest to Kosice & Poprad Tatry...

• Intercity trains link Budapest Keleti with Kosice in Slovakia every 2 hours from 06:30 until 18:30, journey time 3h29.

  These Intercity trains - classified EuroCity in Slovakia - use comfortable air-conditioned Slovakian carriages, with 1st & 2nd class compartments, power sockets and free WiFi.  Seat reservation is required.  There's no catering, so bring some food & drink.

  Change in Kosice for a train to Poprad-Tatry, another 1h15.  Service was increased from just 2 per day in December 2021.

• You can buy tickets from Budapest to Kosice at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu (see my advice for using it). 

  Online advance-purchase fares start at €13.20 in 2nd class or 19.80 in 1st class.  Booking opens 60 days ahead.

  Buy a Kosice-Poprad ticket at the station when you get to Kosice, or try the Slovakian Railways website www.zssk.sk.

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Budapest to Bucharest from €29...

Option 1, Budapest to Bucharest by sleeper train...

• The safe & comfortable sleeper train Ister leaves Budapest Keleti at 19:10 and arrives Bucharest Gara de Nord at 11:59 next day.

  The Ister has a comfortable, safe & civilised air-conditioned 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!

• There's also an earlier train, the Muntenia leaving Budapest Keleti at 15:05 arriving Bucharest Gara de Nord 08:30.

  You'll miss the scenery between Brasov & Ploesti through the Carpathians, but may prefer the earlier arrival.  The Muntenia has seats cars and a couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments, but no sleeping-car.  However, a sleeping-car of an elderly but classy ex-German Railways type is attached between Timisoara Nord (depart 22:00) and Bucharest, with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin.

• There's also a later train, the Dacia Express, leaving Budapest Keleti at 23:10 arriving Bucharest Gara de Nord at 16:04.

  This train starts its journey in Vienna, and has seats, couchettes & a modern Romanian air-conditioned sleeping-car of the latest type.

• Fares start at €39 with a couchette in 6-berth, €46 with a couchette in 4-berth, €69 with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper, €84 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or €162 with a single-bed sleeper all to yourself.  All prices per person per berth.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• Book at the Romanian Railways website bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro.  Click EN top right for English.  Booking opens up to 90 days ahead.  For Bucharest type Bucuresti.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.

  You can also try booking at the Hungarian Railways website www.mav-start.hu, see my advice on using it.  For Bucharest type Bucuresti.  You show your ticket in the MAV app on your smartphone.  However, although it now appears to book couchettes or sleepers, it may or may not manage to do so.

  Tip   If the system 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:  If you want to take the Muntenia and use the Timisoara-Bucharest sleeping-car, (1) book a seat Budapest-Timisoara on train IC 79 at bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro then (2) book the sleeper Timisoara-Bucharest on train D 79 at www.cfrcalatori.ro.

A 1, 2 or 3-bed sleeper with washbasin.  Larger photo.		The sleeping-car (vagon de dormit) on the westbound Ister at Bucharest.  Sleepers convert from beds to private sitting rooms for day use.  Courtesy of DiscoverByRail.

The couchette car on the westbound Ister, boarding at Bucharest.  Couchettes convert from bunks at night to seats by day.  Courtesy of @AndyBTravels, DiscoverByRail.com.		4 or 6-berth couchettes.  Larger photo.

Option 2, Budapest to Bucharest by daytime train...

• The InterCity train Traianus leaves Budapest Keleti daily at 07:10 and arrives Arad 12:37, Timişoara Nord 13:27 & Bucharest Nord at 23:30.

  The Traianus has comfortable Romanian air-conditioned 2nd class seats, there's no 1st class.  A Romanian cafe-bar car is available for snacks & drinks.  An epic journey across Transylvania...

• Advance-purchase online fares start at just €26.30.

• Buy tickets at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu, see my advice for using it.  Booking opens 60 days ahead.  For Bucharest, type Bucuresti.  You show the ticket on the MAV app on your smartphone.

  You can also book at the Romanian Railways website bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro.  Click EN top right for English.  Booking opens up to 90 days ahead.  For Bucharest type Bucuresti.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.

The Intercity train Traianus from Budapest to Bucharest has modern air-conditioned Romanian carriages.  Three cars travel all the way, additional cars are attached whilst in Hungary, and additional cars and a bar car are attached between Drobeta Turnu Severin & Bucharest.

On the left, the daytime train to Bucharest is about to leave Budapest Keleti...		Comfortable 2nd class seats on the Budapest to Bucharest train.  There are power outlets under the tables.  Larger photo.

A bar car is attached between Drobeta Turnu Severin & Bucharest.  Photos courtesy of @AndyBTravels, DiscoverByRail.com.

Option 3, Budapest to Bucharest using the Astra Trans Carpatic...

• A privately-run deluxe sleeper train called the Astra Trans Carpatic operates from Arad to Bucharest.  You can take an afternoon train from Budapest to the pleasant city of Arad, have dinner, then sleep your way to Bucharest in a private sleeper, some with en suite shower & toilet.  Slower than the direct trains, but higher-quality, remarkably cheap, and well worth considering.

• Step 1, travel from Budapest to Arad in western Romania, leaving Budapest Keleti at 13:10 and arriving Arad at 18:35.

  This air-conditioned Intercity train has 2nd class seats.  There's no catering car, so bring your own food & drink.  Have dinner in Arad, there are food outlets in the shopping mall next to the station and a Lidl across the road, or it's a 10-15 minute walk into the pleasant town centre.

  Fares start at €10.80 if you book in advance, even a few days.

  Buy a ticket at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu, see my advice for using it.  Booking opens 60 days ahead.  You must show the ticket on the MAV app on your smartphone.

• Step 2, travel from Arad to Bucharest overnight on the Astra Trans Carpatic, leaving Arad at 20:36 and arriving Bucharest Nord at 07:20.

  The Astra Trans Carpatic has an air-conditioned sleeping-car with 1 & 2 bed deluxe sleepers with en suite toilet & shower, 1 & 2 bed standard sleepers with washbasin, shower at the end of the corridor.  It also has a swish air-conditioned couchette car with 4-berth compartments, and ordinary seats.  See virtual tour of the Astra Trans Carpatic (please let me know if that link stops working).

  Fares:  Deluxe single-bed sleeper 330 Lei (€67), deluxe 2-bed sleeper 240 Lei per person (€49), single-bed sleeper 270 Lei (€55), 2-bed sleeper 210 Lei per person (€43), bed in 4-berth couchette compartment 147 Lei (€30).

  Book online at www.astratranscarpatic.ro.  You print your own ticket.

The sleeping-car at the rear of the Astra Trans Carpatic, at Arad.  See virtual tour of the Astra Trans Carpatic.  Courtesy of @AndyBTravels, DiscoverByRail.com.

4-berth couchette compartment on the Astra Trans Carpatic...		Deluxe sleeper, set up as a single. Courtesy of @AndyBTravels, DiscoverByRail.com.

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Budapest to Brasov from €29...

Option 1, Budapest to Brasov by sleeper train Ister...

• The safe & comfortable sleeper train Ister leaves Budapest Keleti at 19:10 arriving Brasov 09:23 next day.  The train continues to Bucharest.

  The Ister has a comfortable, safe & civilised air-conditioned 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!

• Fares start at €39 with a couchette in 6-berth, €46 with a couchette in 4-berth, €69 with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper, €84 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or €162 with a single-bed sleeper all to yourself.  All prices per person per berth.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• Book at the Romanian Railways website bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro.  Click EN top right for English.  Booking opens up to 90 days ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.

  You can also try booking at the Hungarian Railways website www.mav-start.hu, see my advice on using it.  You show your ticket in the MAV app on your smartphone.  However, although it now appears to book couchettes or sleepers, it may or may not manage to do so.

  Tip   If the system 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:  If it shows no cheap fares to Brasov, they may have forgotten to program in an allocation for Brasov.  Book from Budapest to Bucuresti instead, you may then find places available, and you simply get off in Brasov.

A 1, 2 or 3-bed sleeper with washbasin.  Larger photo.		The sleeping-car (vagon de dormit) on the westbound Ister at Bucharest.  Sleepers convert from beds to private sitting rooms for day use.  Courtesy of DiscoverByRail.

The couchette car on the westbound Ister, boarding at Bucharest.  Couchettes convert from bunks at night to seats by day.  Courtesy of @AndyBTravels, DiscoverByRail.com.		4 or 6-berth couchettes.  Larger photo.

Option 2, Budapest to Brasov by sleeper train Corona...

• An alternative sleeper train called the Corona leaves Budapest Keleti at 17:40 and arrives Brasov at 09:42.

  The Corona has a comfortable but older non-air-con Hungarian sleeping-car with wood-panelled 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, 4 & 6 berth couchettes.  There is a Hungarian restaurant car for dinner and breakfast.

  This is a Hungarian alternative to the Romanian Ister, it takes an extra 90 minutes but with a proper Hungarian restaurant car for dinner & breakfast and an elderly but cosy wood-panelled Communist-era sleeping-car kept in remarkably good condition, it's a nice train.  Some prefer it to the Ister.  This train terminates at Brasov, so only carries passengers bound for that city, not for Bucharest.  It runs via Cluj.

• Fares start at €39 with a couchette in 6-berth, €46 with a couchette in 4-berth, €69 with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper, €84 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or €162 with a single-bed sleeper all to yourself.  All prices per person per berth.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• Book at the Romanian Railways website bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro.  Click EN top right for English.  Booking opens up to 90 days ahead.  For Bucharest type Bucuresti.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.

  You can also try booking at the Hungarian Railways website www.mav-start.hu, see my advice on using it.  You show your ticket in the MAV app on your smartphone.  However, although it now appears to book couchettes or sleepers, it may or may not manage to do so.

  Tip   If the system 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!

The Corona from Budapest to Brasov waits to leave platform 3 at Budapest Keleti.  That's the elderly Hungarian sleeping-car at the rear, the more modern couchette car is ahead of it with the restaurant car ahead of that.  A pleasant train to travel on!

Elderly but comfortable 2-bed sleeper on the Corona.		4 or 6 berth couchette compartment...

Option 3, Budapest to Brasov by daytime train...

• An air-conditioned IC train leaves Budapest Keleti at 09:10, running via Simeria & Sibiu and arriving Brasov 23:23. 

  2nd class seats only, in comfortable air-conditioned Romanian carriages, an epic journey across Transylvania...

• Advance-purchase online fares start at €26.30.

• Buy tickets at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu, see my advice for using it.  Booking opens 60 days ahead.  You can print the ticket or show it in the MAV app on your smartphone.

  You can also book at the Romanian Railways website bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro.  Click EN top right for English.  Booking opens up to 90 days ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.

An Intercity train from Budapest to Romania, with modern air-conditioned Romanian carriages.

On the left, the daytime train to Bucharest is about to leave Budapest Keleti...		Comfortable 2nd class seats on a Budapest to Romania train.  There are power outlets under the tables.  Larger photo.

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Budapest to Cluj, Timisoara, Sibiu, Sighişoara....

• The Dacia Express sleeper train leaves Budapest Keleti at 22:45 and arrives at Sighisoara 10:09.

• Two daily air-conditioned trains link Budapest with Cluj, leaving Budapest Keleti at 07:40 & 13:40, journey time around 7h30, and there's a sleeper to Cluj leaving Budapest Keleti at 23:10 with a modern sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments.

• The comfortable air-conditioned InterCity train Traianus leaves Budapest Keleti daily at 07:10 and arrives Timişoara Nord at 13:27.

• Book at the Romanian Railways international website bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro/en.  This can book seats, couchettes or sleepers.  You print your own ticket.

  You can also try using the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu to check train times & buy tickets.  Booking opens 60 days ahead.  See my advice for using mavcsoport.hu.  However, the Hungarian site may or may not be able to do couchettes & sleepers.

• Tip:  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.

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Budapest to Ljubljana from €16...

Option 1, Budapest to Ljubljana by morning train Citadella daily all year...

• A comfortable air-conditioned InterCity train called the Citadella leaves Budapest Déli at 09:00 & arrives Ljubljana at 16:35.

  The Citadella is composed of one modern Hungarian air-conditioned car with open-plan seats and several old-school Slovenian cars with 6-seat compartments, no air-con, but large opening windows.

  Seat reservation is optional for international journeys, so you can sit in whichever car you like.  The Citadella is 2nd class only, there's no catering so take your own picnic & beer or wine.  It's routed directly from Hungary into Slovenia.  Enjoy the scenic run along the Sava river into Ljubljana!

• Advance-purchase fares start at €16 in 2nd class.  Bought at the station on the day, expect to pay around €40.

• Book online at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu, see my advice for using it. 

  The air-con open-plan Hungarian car is car 424.  The Slovenian cars are 421, 422, 423.  In theory, jegy.mav.hu allows you to add a reserved seat, de-select automatic reservation, then choose Termeskocsi (open-plan car), but the reservation usually fails.  Leaving automatic reservation selected works, but always seems to get you a seat in one of the Slovenian cars.  But you can always move to the Hungarian air-con open-plan car if you like.

  Booking opens 60 days ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it in the MAV app on your smartphone.  Suggested hotel in Ljubljana.

The Citadella from Ljubljana to Budapest, arrived at Budapest Deli.  These are the Slovenian cars.

2nd class in the one Hungarian air-con car.		2nd class compartments in the Slovenian cars.

Option 2, Budapest to Ljubljana by afternoon train daily all year - new from 12 December 2021...

• An excellent air-conditioned InterCity train called the Drava leaves Budapest Keleti at 16:15 and arrives Ljubljana at 00:56.

  This train is composed of excellent modernised air-conditioned Hungarian carriages with open-plan seating in both 1st & 2nd class.  There's no catering car so bring a picnic & some beer or wine.  It's routed across Austria via Graz.

• Advance-purchase fares start at €39.40 in 2nd class or €51.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• Book online at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu, see my advice for using it.

  Booking opens 60 days ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it in the MAV app on your smartphone.

  Alternatively, because it crosses Austria you can also  book at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket.

The Drava from Budapest to Ljubljana about to leave at Budapest Keleti platform 10.

1st class seats on the Drava.		2nd class seats on the Drava.

Option 3, Budapest to Ljubljana by sleeper train, summer only...

• In summer late June to mid-August there's also a sleeper train leaving Budapest Déli 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).  Book online at www.mavcsoport.hu.

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Budapest to Zagreb from €15...

• There are one or two direct trains from Budapest to Zagreb every day.

  In the morning, the InterCity Gradec leaves Budapest Déli at 06:35 arriving Zagreb 12:55. Runs 6 June - 11 September 2022.

  In the afternoon the InterCity Agram leaves Budapest Déli at 15:35 arriving Zagreb 21:05.  Runs every day all year.

  Both trains travel along the southern shore of Lake Balaton, a scenic section of line.  If you get any good photos, let me know!

  The Agram has one comfortable air-conditioned Hungarian car with open-plan 2nd class seats and one air-conditioned Croatian car with 6-seat 2nd class compartments, plus various older Hungarian cars only going as as far as the border.  There's no 1st class and no catering car so take your own picnic & wine.  The Gradec has one air-conditioned Croatian car going Budapest-Zagreb with 6-seat compartments.

• Fares start at €15 in 2nd class if you book in advance.  This is a limited-availability fare, the price varies so book ahead.

• Book online at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu, see my advice for using it.

  Booking opens 60 days ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it in the MAV app on your phone.  Suggested hotels in Zagreb.

The Intercity train Agram at Budapest Deli, the Croatian car in the foreground, the Hungarian car  next to it, then in the distance at the front of the train the older Hungarian cars going as far as the border.

2nd class compartment in the Croatian car.		2nd class open-plan seats in the Hungarian car.

The train runs along the southern shore of Lake Balaton, Hungary's largest lake.  Courtesy of Della Mcvay.

The train passes fields of sunflowers...  Courtesy of Louise Donnelly.

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Budapest to Split & Dubrovnik...

Option 1, Budapest to Split & Dubrovnik via Zagreb - all year round, allows you to stop off in Zagreb.

• 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.  see my advice for using mavcsoport.hu.

• 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.  Suggested hotels in Zagreb & Split.

• 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.

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.

Scenery between Zagreb and Split seen from the train...  Photo courtesy of Páraic Maguire.

Option 2, Budapest to Split & Dubrovnik by sleeper train Adria, 10 June to 2 September 2022...

• A direct train called the Adria runs from 10 June to 2 September 2022, leaving Budapest Keleti at 18:55 every evening arriving Split at 08:37 next morning.  It has a comfortable Hungarian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments and a couchette car with 4 & 6 bunk compartments.

• The fare is around €79 with couchette or from €92 with a bed in a cosy 2-bed sleeper.

• Check to see if it is bookable online at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu, see my advice for using it.  If not, you will need to book at the station or by phone with a ticketing agency in your home country.

• 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.

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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:

• Step 1, take the comfortable afternoon train from Budapest to Zagreb from just €9 as shown in the Budapest to Zagreb section above.

• Stay overnight in Zagreb, I suggest the historic Esplanade Hotel, Palace Hotel or Central Hotel, all near the station with good reviews.  The city is well worth a stop, so in summer, taking the early morning train from Budapest is a better idea.

• Step 2, travel from Zagreb to Sarajevo by train (mostly), see the Zagreb to Sarajevo by train page for details & current status.

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Budapest to Belgrade for €15...  Or to Montenegro for €35...

• The Budapest-Belgrade line is out of action since February 2019 for several years.  It's being rebuilt for 200 km/h operation which will eventually reduce Budapest-Belgrade journey time to 3½ hours.  See further details & read latest updates about this engineering work.

• A train leaves Budapest Keleti at 11:57 every day arriving Novi Sad at 18:44.

  Novi Sad is about 90km from Belgrade, you make your own way from there to Belgrade, there are many local buses available.

• You might consider going Budapest to Zagreb as shown here, staying overnight and/or visiting that city, then taking the daily Zagreb-Belgrade train as shown here.

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Budapest to Sofia...

The Budapest-Belgrade line is currently blocked by upgrading work, so the best route is now via Bucharest...

Option 1, Budapest to Sofia using a Budapest-Bucharest sleeper...

• Day 1, travel from Budapest to Bucharest on the sleeper train Muntenia, leaving Budapest Keleti at 15:10 and arriving Bucharest Nord at 08:06.

  The Muntenia has 4 & 6-berth couchettes and ordinary seats.  A Romanian sleeping-car is attached from Timişoara Nord (depart 22:00) to Bucharest.  There's no catering car, so bring your own food & drink.

  Fares start at €40 with a couchette in 6-berth or €47 with a couchette in 4-berth.  These are limited-availability advance-purchase fares.

  Book this at the Romanian Railways international website bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro/en.  You print your own ticket.

  If you want the comfort & privacy of a proper sleeper from Timisoara to Bucharest, (1) book a 2nd class seat from Budapest to Timisoara from €17 using bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro/en.  You print your own ticket.  (2) Now book berths in a 1, 2 or 3-bed sleeper from Timisoara Nord to Bucharest Nord at the Romanian domestic website bilete.cfrcalatori.ro and print your own ticket.

• Day 2, travel from Bucharest to Sofia by daytime train as shown on the train from Bucharest page.  You leave Bucharest Nord at 10:55 and arrive Sofia Central at 20:10 after a pleasant day meandering across the Danube and through the river valleys of Bulgaria.  In summer it's direct, in winter you have to switch trains at Ruse.  There's no catering car, so bring your own food & drink.

  The fare is around €34.

  Book this at the Romanian Railways website bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro/en.  You print your own ticket.

Option 2, Budapest to Sofia by daytime trains with overnight stop in Bucharest

• Step 1, travel from Budapest to Bucharest by daytime train across Transylvania as shown above.

• Stay overnight in Bucharest.  The Hotel Ibis Gara de Nord is a few minutes walk from the station, inexpensive and gets reasonable reports.  Search for other hotels in Bucharest.

• Step 2, travel from Bucharest to Sofia by daytime train as shown on the train from Bucharest page.  You leave Bucharest Nord at 10:55 and arrive Sofia at 20:10 after a pleasant day meandering across the Danube and through the river valleys of Bulgaria.  In summer it's direct, in winter you have to switch trains at Ruse.

  The fare is around €34.

  Book this at the Romanian Railways website bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro/en.  You print your own ticket.

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Budapest to Warsaw from €27...

Option 1, Budapest to Warsaw by sleeper train - the safe, comfortable, time-effective option...

• A safe & comfortable EuroNight sleeper train leaves Budapest Nyugati at 19:40 every night, and arrives Warsaw Gdanska at 08:52.

  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.

• Fares start at €49.90 with a couchette in a 6-berth, €59.90 with a couchette in a 4-berth, €69.90 with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper, €88.90 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or €129.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• You can book this train at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu, see my advice for using it.  Booking opens 60 days ahead.  For single occupancy, book 2 tickets in a 2-bed sleeper.

• 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 00 49 (0)30 311 68 29 04.  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 www.thetrainline.com or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at with tickets that can be printed out.  Then buy a ticket from Budapest to Vienna at www.thetrainline.com or the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu, also with tickets that can be printed out.  Simples!

The modern Polish sleeping-car from Budapest to Warsaw, boarding at Budapest Nyugati...

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.  Click the photos for larger images.

Polish couchette car on the Budapest to Warsaw night train with 4 & 6 berth compartments.		6-berth couchettes. Larger photo

Option 2, Budapest to Warsaw by daytime train - the leisurely daytime option...

• A smart air-conditioned EuroCity train called the Báthory leaves Budapest Nyugati at 08:28 and arrives Warsaw Centralna at 19:15.

  The train has Hungarian seating cars (a 1st class car, 2nd class compartment cars & a 2nd class open-plan car) and a Hungarian restaurant car.  Take a good book, enjoy an inexpensive meal in the restaurant car with a beer or two, and chill out.

• Fares start at €27 in 2nd class or €41 in 1st class if booked in advance online, these cheap fares have limited availability.

• Book online at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu.  Booking opens 60 days ahead.  See tips for using mavcsoport.hu.  Booking opens 60 days ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it in the MAV app on your smartphone.

EuroCity train Bathory from Budapest to Warsaw at Budapest Nyugati...  Click the photos below for larger images.

1st class seats on the EuroCity Bathory.		Restaurant car on the EuroCity Bathory.

2nd class compartment on the EuroCity Bathory.		2nd class open plan car as used on the Bathory.

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Budapest to Krakow from €19...

Option 1, Budapest to Krakow by sleeper train - the safe, comfortable, time-effective option...

• A direct EuroNight sleeper train leaves Budapest Nyugati at 19:40 every night, arriving Krakow Glowny at 05:46.

  The train has a comfortable, carpeted sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin or 1 & 2 bed deluxe compartments with en suite toilet & shower, it also has a couchette car with 4 & 6 bunk compartments.  A sleeper is the recommended option, you'll be safe & snug.  The sleeper is of Polish Railways latest air-conditioned type, see the photos below.

• Fares start at €49.90 with a couchette in a 6-berth, €59.90 with a couchette in a 4-berth, €69.90 with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper, €88.90 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or €129.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• 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 my advice for using mavcsoport.hu.

• 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 00 49 (0)30 311 68 29 04.  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 www.thetrainline.com or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at with tickets that can be printed out.  Then buy a ticket from Budapest to Vienna at www.thetrainline.com or the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu, also with tickets that can be printed out.  Simples!

The modern Polish sleeping-car from Budapest to Krakow & Warsaw, boarding at Budapest Nyugati...

Standard sleeper in evening/morning mode with seats folded out.		Standard sleeper set up as 3-berth, can also be set up as a single or double.		Deluxe sleeper, set up as a 2-berth, showing TV & wardrobe.		Deluxe sleeper:  En suite shower & toilet.  Click the photos for larger images.

Polish couchette car on the Budapest to Warsaw night train with 4 & 6 berth compartments.		6-berth couchettes. Larger photo

Option 2, Budapest to Krakow by EuroCity train - the leisurely daytime option...

• Two modern air-conditioned through cars leave Budapest Nyugati every day at 08:28, arriving Krakow Glowny at 17:07.

  They run from Budapest to Bohumin attached to the Budapest-Warsaw EuroCity train Báthory, they then run from Bohumin to Krakow attached to the Prague-Krakow Cracovia.

  The 2nd class through cars are comfortable, modern & air-conditioned with power sockets at all seats.  One car has classic 6-seat compartments, the other has open-plan seating.  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.  I recommend sticking with 2nd class which is absolutely fine in these modern cars.

  A Hungarian restaurant car is available from Budapest to Bohumin, reached around 14:00, and a Czech bistro car runs from Bohumin to Krakow, see the photos of the bistro on the Prague-Krakow page.

• Fares start at €19 if you book online in advance.

• Book online at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu.  Booking opens 60 days ahead.  See my advice for using mavcsoport.hu.  You print your own ticket or can show it in the MAV app on your smartphone.

The Budapest-Krakow through cars at Katowice, attached to the rear of the Prague-Krakow Cracovia. Courtesy of Discoverbyrail.com.

One Budapest-Krakow car has 6-seat compartments like this.  Click the images for larger photos.		...the other Budapest-Krakow car has open-plan seats, wheelchair space, bike compartment.

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Budapest to Vilnius, Riga, Tallinn...

• Day 1, travel from Budapest to Warsaw overnight by EuroNight sleeper train, as shown in the Budapest to Warsaw section above.

  Fares start at €29 including a couchette.

  Buy a ticket at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu, see my advice for using it.  Booking opens 60 days ahead.  You've now a morning free in Warsaw.

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Budapest to Lviv, Kiev & Ukraine...

Option 1, Budapest to Lviv & Kiev by direct sleeping-car.  See Ukrainian news report on the introduction of the Vienna-Kiev sleeping-car service...

• A Ukrainian sleeping-car leaves Budapest Keleti at 19:40 every evening and arrives next day at Lviv at 10:26 & Kiev at 16:21.

  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 ÖBB 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.

The Vienna-Budapest-Kiev sleeping-car at Kiev Pass.  Photos courtesy of Helmut Uttenthaler.

The sleeper is jacked up to have its bogies changed at Chop on the Ukrainian border.  Photo Helmut Uttenthaler.

The Vienna-Kiev sleeper at Vienna Hbf... Courtesy of Helmut Uttenthaler.		The sleeper corridor.  Courtesy Helmut Uttenthaler.		1, 2 or 3 bed sleeper compartment.

Option 2, Budapest to Lviv by daytime trains for €26...  Also a useful alternative for Budapest-Kiev if the direct train is full...

• Step 1, travel from Budapest to Mukachevo, leaving Budapest Nyugati at 07:23 every day arriving Mukacheve in Ukraine at 15:30.

  Just one or two through cars run direct to Mukachevo, with comfortable air-conditioned 2nd class open-plan seats.

  The fare is around €23 bought on the day.

  Tickets from Budapest to Mukachevo cannot be booked online, so buy at the station, there are always places even on the day.  You can check times for this train at www.bahn.de or www.mavcsoport.hu.

  At Mukachevo there's a supermarket across the road from the station and a pizza restaurant nearby.

• Step 2, travel from Mukachevo to Lviv or Kiev on train 81, leaving Mukachevo at 18:02, arriving Lviv at 22:15 & Kiev at 07:25 next morning.

  Train 81 has 1st class 2-berth sleepers (spalny vagon), 2nd class 4-berth sleepers (kupé) & open-plan sleepers (platskartny).

  The fare from Mukachevo to Lviv is around €11 in kupé.

  The fare from Mukachevo to Kiev is around €49 in spalny vagon, or €21 in kupé.

  This train can be booked online at the Ukrainian Railways website www.uz.gov.ua.  Booking opens 30-60 days ahead.

• Feedback and any photos of the Hungarian or Ukrainian trains inside or out would be most welcome, please email me if you travel this way!

The two Hungarian through cars from Budapest arrived at Mukachevo. Courtesy of www.discoverbyrail.com.

Ukrainian train 81 from Mukachevo to Lviv & Kiev, boarding at Mukachevo.  Courtesy of www.discoverbyrail.com.

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Budapest to Moscow & St Petersburg...

Option 1, Budapest to Moscow via Kiev - avoiding need for a Belarus visa...

• Step 1, travel from Budapest to Kiev by direct sleeper train as shown above.  Leave Budapest evening day 1, arrive Kiev late afternoon day 2.

• 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.

  Kiev-Moscow trains were suspended due to Covid-19 and remain suspended due to the war in Ukraine...

  The fare is around €92 with a bed in 4-berth kupé 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 booking.uz.gov.ua/en/ booking from Kyiv to Moskva Kievskaya.  You collect tickets at the station in Kiev.  Feedback appreciated!

Option 2, Budapest to Moscow using the daily Prague-Moscow sleeper train...

• Step 1, travel from Budapest to Bohumin on the EuroCity train Bathory, leaving Budapest Nyugati at 08:28 arriving Bohumin at 14:09.

  Book from Budapest to Bohumin at the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz with fares from €19. Booking normally opens 90 days ahead, you print your own ticket.

• Step 2, travel from Bohumin to Moscow by Russian sleeper train, leaving Bohumin at 14:40 every day arriving Moscow Belorussky at 16:58 next day (the day after you leave Budapest).  You can check times at the Russian Railways website www.rzd.ru.

  This train was suspended due to Covid-19 and remains suspended due to sanctions.

  If this seems like a tight connection, don't worry.  The Prague-Moscow sleeping-cars get coupled up to the Budapest-Poland Bathory and run combined as one train between Bohumin, Warsaw & Terespol on the Poland/Belarus border.

  This train uses impressive Austrian-built sleeping-cars with 4-berth compartments built in 2014, see photos of this type of sleeper here & see panorama photo inside one of these modern sleepers.  Each compartment can be sold as 1st class 1-berth, 1st class 2-berth or 2nd class 4-berth.  The train consist of two or three sleeping-cars which start their journey in Prague.  There's a bistro car in Poland and a Russian restaurant car is attached between Brest (on the Polish/Belarus border) & Moscow.

  The fare is approximately €120 with a bed in a 4-berth sleeper. €180 in a 2-bed sleeper or €215 in a single-bed sleeper.

  You can book this train online at Czech Railways www.cd.cz and print your own ticket.  This is the recommended method.

  Alternatively, you can book with Russian Railways at www.rzd.ru although it's a little quirky and may not accept some overseas credit cards.

  Don't forget to arrange both your Russian visa and Belarus transit visa as the train runs via Belarus.  See my important update about travel to Russia through 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.

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Budapest to Athens, Thessaloniki & Greece...

Option 1, Budapest to Athens overland by train via Belgrade - direct route...

• Step 1, travel from Budapest to Belgrade using the once-a-day train from Budapest to Novi Sad & onward bus as shown above.

• Step 2, travel from Belgrade to Thessaloniki overnight on the Hellas Express leaving Belgrade Topcider station at 18:21 June-September and arriving in Thessaloniki in Greece at 10:08 next morning, with both a seats car and a North Macedonian couchette car with 6-berth compartments. 

  Following the migrant crisis, this train is temporarily (but indefinitely) replaced by a bus between Gevgelija on the North Macedonian/Greek border and Thessaloniki.  Feedback appreciated.

  This train now only runs in summer, June-September.  See here for dates.  It will not run at all at other times of year.

  This train did not run in 2021 and may not run in 2022.

  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).  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 English-speaking line on 00 49 (0)30 311 68 29 04, but they can only access full-price international tariffs, so the cost will be around €75 including couchette.

• Step 3, travel from Thessaloniki to Athens by comfortable air-conditioned InterCity train.  Trains link Thessaloniki with Larissa and Athens every couple of hours, journey time now only 4h09 after a significant speed-up in 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.hellenictrain.gr, with print-at-home tickets see the step-by-step advice on using it here.

Option 2, Budapest to Athens overland by train via Sofia... 

• This route 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.  However, it may also be affected by Covid-19.

• Step 1, travel from Budapest to Sofia as shown above. 

• Stay overnight in Sofia.  The Hotel Favoritan is inexpensive with great reviews just 10 minutes walk from Sofia station.

• Step 2, take the Sofia to Thessaloniki train then a connecting train to Athens as shown here.

Option 3, Budapest to Athens by ferry from Italy.  This is a somewhat round-about route but a viable option whilst trains from Belgrade to Greece remain cancelled.

• Step 1, travel from Budapest via Vienna to Venice as shown above.

• 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.

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Budapest to Istanbul & Turkey for €65...

Option 1, via Bucharest....

• Step 1, take overnight train Muntenia leaving Budapest Keleti at 15:10 and arriving Bucharest Gara de Nord at 08:30 next day.

  The train has a comfortable Romanian couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats (but no sleeping-car).  There's no dining-car so take a picnic and bottle of wine. The Muntenia is named after the region of Romania in which Bucharest is situated.

  Fares start at €39 with couchette in 6-berth, €49 with couchette in 4-berth.

  Book at the Romanian Railways website bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro.  Click EN top right for English.  Bucharest is listed as Bucuresti (Romania).  For Hungary to Romania journeys you print your own ticket.

  Tip:  A sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments is attached at Timisoara Nord, reached around 21:40.  If you want the extra comfort and privacy of a sleeper, simply use bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro to book a seat from Budapest to Timisoara then a sleeper from Timisoara Nord to Bucuresti Nord.  The sleeper is of the classic wood-panelled ex-German Railways type.

• Step 2, travel from Bucharest to Istanbul by train as follows:

  In summer from early June to early October there's a direct couchette car from Bucharest to Istanbul leaving Bucharest Gara de Nord at 10:55 and arriving Istanbul Halkali station at 05:20 next morning.  It's modern Turkish air-conditioned couchette car with 4-berth compartments.  See the Bucharest to Istanbul page for full details.

  Until early June & from early October you leave Bucharest Gara de Nord at 11:00 on a series of connecting trains for Dimitrovgrad, picking up a sleeper leaving Dimitrovgrad at 23:40 and arriving Istanbul Halkali station at 06:20.  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.  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, you can take a frequent Marmaray suburban train from Halkali to Istanbul Sirkeci in the city centre, see the Bucharest to Istanbul page for details of how to make this transfer.

  When the through couchette car runs you should be able to buy tickets online at the Romanian Railways website bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro.  Click EN top right for English.  For Bucharest enter/select Bucuresti (Romania) and for Istanbul enter/select Halkali (Turkey).  Tickets must be collected from a CFR station ticket office in Romania such as Bucharest Nord, so only use this site for one-way or round trip journeys starting in Romania.  Feedback would be appreciated.

  Alternatively, tickets can be arranged by agency Paralela 45 Turism, www.paralela45.com.  They can source train tickets starting in Bucharest, so far recommended by several seat61 correspondents.  Feedback would be appreciated.

  In the off-season when there's no direct train, buy your tickets at the international ticket window at Bucharest Gara de Nord.  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, it's easy enough to pay as you go.  Tip:  Instead of booking Budapest to Bucharest at bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro, try booking Budapest to Giurgiu, as this gets you to the last stop in Romania before Ruse, with reservation on the Bucharest-Ruse train.  You can buy the one-stop ticket from Giurgiu to Ruse in Bucharest, or on the train.

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Budapest to other destinations...

• For journeys to neighbouring countries, try www.mavcsoport.hu, see my advice for using it.

• Some journeys cannot be booked online, buy at the station.

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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 0207 864 4600, 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 hotel sites worth trying...

www.tripadvisor.com is the place to find independent travellers' reviews of all the main hotels.

Backpacker hostels...

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.

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