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Hungary by Train

Trains - Tickets - Tours
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A Travel Guide For Train Travel In Hungary.

Here you will find information for Hungary about trains, routes, tours, connections, where to buy train tickets, and more.

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Useful Information

Population: 9.8 million

Currency: Forint

Language: Hungarian

Capital: Budapest

Country Code: +36

Time Zone: Central European Time

Train Companies

Most of the country’s trains are operated by the Hungarian State Railway company Magyar Államvasutak Zrt (MÁV, MÁV Start) and also Hungary’s private railway, GySEV, which operates in the border region between Hungary and Austria.

Train Tickets

Buy your train tickets for Hungary online at the Hungarian State Railways (MÁV) official homepage.

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Buy your train tickets online at OMIO and compare trains, buses & flights.

Rail Passes

Interrail / Eurail Pass

Do you want to travel throughout Europe flexibly and comfortably? Then the Interrail Pass is perfect for you. With the Interrail Pass, you can visit 40,000 destinations in 33 countries in Europe. You can travel for up to 3 months by train.

European East Pass

With the European East Pass, you can travel by train through 4 countries. This pass allows you to travel by train in Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary. You can choose between 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 travel days in 1 month.

Central Europe Triangle Pas

With the Central Europe Triangle Pass, you can travel by train on the route Vienna-Budapest-Prague-Vienna. The pass is valid for three single journeys.

TrAIN tYPES

Regional Trains

The major rail network in Hungary is composed of the following trains:

InterCity trains connect Budapest to the rest of the country

    • 1st and 2nd Classes offered
    • Reservations required

Györsvonat trains connect Budapest to the rest of the country where InterCity trains don’t stop

    • 1st and 2nd Classes offered
    • No reservations required

EuroCity trains connect Budapest to Slovakia, Czech Republic, Germany, and Poland.

  • 1st Class: Rows of three seats (2+1)
  • 2nd Class: Rows of four seats (2+2)
  • Reservations are not required, but optional
  • Trains are equipped with electrical plug-ins, free WiFi (on most services, for most of the journey), and air-conditioning. Trains are equipped with a restaurant car offering a range of hot foods and drinks, in addition to in-seat refreshment service.

RailJet is operated by Österreichische Bundesbahn (ÖBB) and links Budapest to Vienna, Salzburg, Munich, and Zurich.

  • 1st Class: Rows of three seats (2+1), offering more legroom, Business Class is also offered. Purchase of a 1st Class ticket is required to be able to upgrade to the Business Class.
  • 2nd Class: Rows of four seats (2+2)
  • Reservations are not necessary, but optional
  • Trains are equipped with electrical plug-ins, free WiFi, and air-conditioned. Trains are also equipped with a dining car offering a range of food and drinks.

ÖBB Nightjet

Routes: Budapest – Vienna, Austria – Zurich, Switzerland

  • Reservations are included in the ticket price
  • Sleeping Carriage:
    • Standard cabin includes your own bed, washbasin, and breakfast in the morning
    • Deluxe cabin includes your own bed, shower, toilet, washbasin, and breakfast in the morning
  • Couchette Carriage:
    • 4 berth and 6 berth couchette, as well as private compartments, are offered
    • Bathrooms are located in the coach carriage
    • Breakfast is included in the ticket price
  • Sitting Carriage:
    • 2nd Class offered, no 1st Class
    • Bathrooms are located in the coach carriage
    • Food cart offering a selected variety of drinks and food pass through the carriages.
  • Some trains have the possibility for vehicle transportation

InterCity and Györsvonat operated by MAV START to connect Budapest to surrounding countries.

Routes:

    • Budapest – Brașov, Romania
    • Budapest – Bucharest, Romania
    • Budapest – Split, Croatia (summer only)
    • Budapest – Ljubljana, Slovenia (summer only)
  • Sleeping Carriage:
    • 1-3 berth compartments available
    • Compartments include your own bed, bedding, and a light breakfast in the morning
    • Men and women-only compartments available
  • Couchette Carriage:
    • 4 berth and 6 berth couchette, as well as private compartments, are offered
    • Bathrooms are located in the coach carriage
    • Inclusive of a light breakfast
  • Sitting Carriage:
    • 2nd Class offered, no 1st Class
    • Bathrooms are located in the coach carriage
    • Food cart offering a selected variety of drinks and food pass through the carriages.

Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

Routes

Frequently Travelled Routes In Hungary

National

 
From > To
Duration (h) Changes Transport
Budapest to Szeged 2:32 Direct Train (IC)
Budapest to Győr 1:20 Direct Train (IC)
Budapest to Debrecen 2:53 Direct Train (IC)
Budapest to Pécs 2:33 Direct Train (IC)

International

 
From > To
Duration (h) Changes Transport
Budapest to Bratislava, Slovakia 2:23 Direct Train (EC)
Budapest to Ljubljana, Slovenia 7:37 Direct Train (IC)
Budapest to Prague, Czech Republic 6:58 Direct Train (EC)
Budapest to Bucharest, Romania 15:54 Direct Night Train
Budapest to Munich, Germany 6:52 Direct Train
Budapest to Zagreb, Croatia 5:30 Direct Train (IC)
Budapest to Vienna, Austria 2:26 Direct Train (EC)

Hungary travel routes

The Mystical Orient Express

The Mystical Orient Express

Interrail: Germany to Slovenia

Interrail: Germany to Slovenia

Pretty Hungary

Pretty Hungary

Vienna – Bratislava – Budapest

Vienna – Bratislava – Budapest

Main Train Stations

  • Budapest has three main train stations: Deli, Nyugati and Keleti which has the most international train connections.
  • Szeged
  • Debrecen
  • Györ

Good to know

Best Time To Travel To Hungary

We recommend traveling anytime between April and October. Although Hungary is an attractive destination year-round, it’s not terribly crowded compared to other European countries during their high seasons.

To avoid crowds go during April, May, September, and October. The weather is crisp, but enjoyable during this time and you will be able to enjoy most activities that Hungary has to offer.

 

  • High Season: June – August
  • Low Season: October – March

 

Accommodation In Hungary

Booking

The best place to find cheap hotels for is to book by www.booking.com. There you will find a large selection of cheap hotels, hostels, and apartments. > BOOK HERE

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Hostelworld

If you are looking for a low budget accommodation, then go on www.hostelworld.com. They have the best choice of cheap hostels for backpackers and low budget travelers. > BOOK HERE

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Guidebooks For Hungary

Travel with a guidebook ease your journey to find best sights and things to do. Buy it on Amazon.

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