Traveling by train from Budapest to Vienna is simple, cheap and comfortable. Here are some frequently asked questions with the answers:
How much does it cost to travel from Budapest to Vienna by train?
The train ticket is approx. 3600 HUF/ 13 euros / 20 USD (single ticket) or 8600 HUF/ 31 euros / 47 USD (return ticket). It’s the price of a full adult ticket. The best Budapest – Vienna train ticket is referred to as ‘SparSchiene’ ticket (say shpar-shee-ne). An interesting thing is that the Budapest-Vienna train ticket is slightly cheaper to buy in Budapest than in Vienna (e.g. single is 13 euros in Budapest vs. 19 euros in Vienna).
Railjet - economy class seats of Budapest - Vienna train travels
Kids between 6-14 years of age travel approx. half price.
Special deal about the return train ticket: if you buy the return ticket between Budapest – Vienna, your two-way ticket is valid for 4 days. Plus on the first two (only 2!) days of your trip to Vienna, you can freely use the trams (streetcars), metros, buses free (incl. VOR 100 zone local buses, S-Bahns, ÖBB regional trains and Wiener Lokalbahnen trains too.). Mind you, if the very favorable ‘SparSchiene’ tickets are sold out, a one-way train ticket from Budapest to Vienna is about 6700 HUF/ 24 euros / 36 USD (no public transport pass included). See further deals below!
Is it cheaper if I buy the train ticket online?
Basically, no. And the worst thing is that neither the Hungarian nor the Austrian railway websites are prepared for online rail purchases in English (just in the native tongues of Hungarian and German, respectively). Nevertheless, if you speak German, you can try to go through the buying procedure here (sorry, I do not assume you speak Hungarian…) :) Bear in mind though, if you travel from Budapest to Vienna, you cannot buy your ticket via OeBB as they only deal with train trips originating in Austria and not in Hungary (i.e. from Vienna to Budapest and not from Budapest to Vienna). However, you always have the option to buy a return train ticket (currently about 25 euros), and use it as a one-way ticket, which in some cases may be cheaper than a normal one-way ticket. The bright side is that return SparSchiene tickets are not limited! Now, as one-way Sparschiene tickets are limited, you could ensure your place if you go to Keleti train station a few days before the planned trip (especially in summer time / high season). Don’t forget to take Hungarian forints with you. Younger train ticket agents are more likely to speak English.
Budapest - Vienna railjet trains at Keleti Pu Railway Station in Budapest, Hungary
Are there any further deals or reductions?
Special discount is for kids between the age 6 and 14 (approx. -50%). Additional goodies: the ‘SparSchiene’ ticket includes a two-day free public transportation pass in Vienna: during the first 2 days in Vienna, you can freely travel by trams (streetcars), metros, buses, and the following vehicles in the VOR 100 zone: local buses, S-Bahns, ÖBB regional trains and Wiener Lokalbahnen trains too.
Where do trains from Budapest to Vienna leave?
Budapest-Vienna trains leave from Keleti Palyaudvar (abbreviated as Keleti pu.) railway station (say: keh-let-y pah-ya-ood-vahr). You can easily get there by taking the metro (red metro line) and getting off directly at Keleti pu. station (approx. 10-15 min from the city center, Deák tér station). You can also take the bus number 7, whose route goes from the Buda side to the Pest side and touches upon Gellert Spa Bath, Elisabeth Bridge, Vaci utca shopping street, Astoria square, Blaha square.
Hey, where on earth is Keleti Pu. Railway station?
OK, here’s the Budapest Tourist Map to help you (see the train sign in the middle? You can also click on any of the icons to get more info, or follow the blue link ‘View Larger Map’ under the map to get a larger picture of Budapest).
View Budapest Tourist Map in a larger map
How long does the train trip take from Hungary to Austria?
Traveling time is about 3-4 hours (similarly to the Budapest Vienna bus ride). Check the exact duration here.
Are there any passport checks, delays or other inconveniences when the train crosses the border of Austria and Hungary?
Not any more! Hungary joined the Schengen area December 21, 2007. No more borders to keep buses up for passport check. (likewise, rail passengers enjoy the same smooth crossing between the two countries).
How many trains leave for Vienna a day? What about the train schedule?
Trains leave almost every two hours! So trains are very frequent between these two beautiful cities. For instance, on a weekday you could leave Budapest for Viena at approx. 6am, 7am, 9am, 11am, 1pm, 3pm, 5pm, 6pm, 7pm, 8pm, 9pm. Excellent connections, right? The Budapest-Vienna train schedule may change, so always check the fresh data, please:
Where can I buy train tickets in Budapest?
Train tickets can be bought at any railway stations in Budapest: e.g. Nyugati Pu (on the Pest side – accessible easily by blue metro line), Deli pu (on the Buda side – accessible easily by red metro line) or at Keleti pu (on the Pest side – accessible easily by red metro line). All 3 major railway stations are quite in the city center, and are the names of given metro stops, so you can’t miss them.
Online purchase: unfortunately, on the Hungarian railway ticket system, you need to speak Hungarian to go through the purches process, so let’s skip this option for a while. And you may be surprised, but the Austrian railway ticket system only has a German speaking version… Sad, isn’t it? But at least you can call the Austrian call center if you have any questions: 00-43-05-1717.
Are the trains comfortable?
Sure they are. If you need something more comfy, you need to buy a more expensive train ticket for the first class (the prices above refer to second class regualr seats)
Any quick programs at Keleti railway station?
If you are stuck at Keleti train station (which is a beautiful historical building), and you have a couple of hours to kill, for example you want to eat something in the neighborhood, you can see from the entrance of the station the Golden Park Hotel or diagonally the Best Western Hotel Hungaria, which are two hotels right on the square (5 min walk from the railway station) – you can have an elegant cup of coffee or lunch there. Likewise the really luxurious and lavish secessionist cafe of New York Cafe of the New York Palace five star Boscolo Hotel is only one metro stop away from Keleti, on Blaha square. For further dining options see the knife and fork sign on the map. (If you prefer fast food restaurants, there is a McDonald’s right next to the railway station.)
In general, the city center is only 15-20 min by metro (red metro line) so you can check out some of the attractions of Budapest (also on the map).
Buses or Trains from Budapest to Vienna?
The vast majority of users on forums (me added) will say: TRAINS are better to travel from Hungary to Austria. But if you wish to learn more about bus travel from Budapest to Vienna, follow the link.
updated: August, 2011
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