Trains from Vienna to Budapest: How To Travel Cheap by Train?
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
What is the name of the railroad depot on the Austria/Hungary border on the line from Vienna to Budapest?
Thanks,
Ken
Hi, I will arrive in Budapest Saturday May 22nd noon, and i would like to travel by train from Budapest to Vienna on Monday morning may 24th. If I buy the ticket shortly after my arrival in budapest, would I be able to buy the SparSchiene ticket? I’m on a budget and I don’t want to pay full price. Would you be able to book it for me? (I’ll pay you in advance). Please contact me through my email
Dear Megan, I am sorry but we cannot make a reservation for you. I hope you will be able to to buy the SparSchiene from Budapest to Vienna. I cannot forecast the train traffic for May, but I think you stand a good chance if you try the train ticket booking on the day of your arrival. Have a nice time in Budapest and Vienna.
[...] out about the trains and transport in [...]
I will be doing a similar trip in Sept. Will be going from Keleti to Bratislava, then to Vienna then back on my trip. My question is I’ll be getting to my hotel (near Keleti) around 10pm and was wondering if you can still purchase tickets for the next morning (5:30) at that time? Also where exactly do I buy tickets in the station? I have heard the international tickets are to the left as you enter the main area. Also how common is it for ticket agents to speak english? Thanks…
Thanks for your help, it s been a long time that I m looking for this information.
Hi
My family and I plan to cycle from Vienna to Budapest this summer. Can we take our bikes on the train back to Vienna? Many thanks, Pippa
Hi Pippa, most of the trains from Budapest to Vienna have specific bicycle coaches, but not all. You need to check the train schedule for the bicycle symbol to make sure you can take your bike on the train (there is some extra bike transportation fee). Here are some of the Budapest – Vienna trains with the bicycle symbols on top (and wheelchairs for accessibility) (but always check the actual website for updates please): http://www.mav-start.hu/res/a1oda_11.pdf
Can you take luggage (normal traveling suitcase, Not carry on size) on the trains with you? Is there an extra fee? Where would the luggage be stored during the train ride?
It’s not so expensive
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Hallo,
thank you for the information. I’ll travel with my wife from Vienna to Budapest. But still searching the cheap transport to there. Any suggestion? Or can I use the Sparschiene ticket too for Vienna-Budapest?
regards,
azhan
Hi I travel from Vienna to Budapest. Please advise where I could get sparschiene ticket in Vienna? Is there any website for this train ticket? Thanks
Hello, there are Sparschiene rail tickets issued in Vienna, if you want to travel from Vienna to Budapest. ÖBB sells tickets there, and you can order your train ticket online on the official OeBB site with a form:
https://ticket.oebb.at/bin/frame_ticket.pl?ticket=jticket.pl
(you will see that the default language is set for German, so click on the English language option in the upper left hand corner – English language option is with tiny red letters)
Have a nice trip and let us know how your ticket purchase worked.
Anna
I will be travelling from Budapest to Vienna by coach. my final destination is Vienna airport. does the coach leaving Budapest pass by / stop at Vienna airport?
george
Hello George, having checked the Hungarian bus company website (Volanbusz.hu / Eurolines ), there are 2 options when you buy your bus ticket from Budapest to Vienna:
Vienna Airport Ankunft Vorplatz (Arrival side)
Vienna VIB U3 Station Erdberg
So based on the website info I would say yes, but if you want to be absolutely sure, please contact the official site at info@volanbusz.hu or you can try their facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/eurolineshungary
Hi, i was just wondering if you can buy a return ticket by train from Budapest to Vienna on the day at the train station or do you have to book before hand?
Hello Domenic, it is safer to book beforehand, but, especially in low season, I think you stand a good chance to get a return ticket (Budapest-Vienna) on the day of the trip too.
Kind regards,
Anna
Hi Anna,
Thank you for your response
How much is a train ticket in January from Budapest to Vienna return?
Do you know of any day tours from Budapest to Vienna?
Thank you so much for this website; it helped a lot!
I am going to Vienna on Thursday (three days from now). I’ll be arriving at Budapest airport at 11.40am, no luggage except carry-on. Will I have any trouble catching the 1.10pm departure for Vienna?
I used the Hungarian website (MAV-Start) for as long as it was in English, and got listed a price of 13 euros (SparSchiene, one-way). Is it possible to get some simple translation of how to continue the online-booking, or will I be able to buy a ticket at the train station for a somewhat similar price?
All help is deeply appreciated!
Hello Espen,
to be honest, it sounds a tight timing from the airport to the train station but you may be OK – I myself would not have timed it so sparingly.
I am sure you can buy a ticket at the train station if they are not fully booked yet (as it is December it is not likely), but you may not get it at the same favourable price.
Anna
Hi Domenic, you may wish to buy the Sparschiene return train ticket from Budapest to Vienna – http://www.mav-start.hu/utazas/sparschiene.php
You can get it from 25 euros depending on availability, seasons, etc. but I have no idea how MÁV, the Hungarian train company updates its prices from January (the website fees are valid until mid Dec).
One day tours? There must be several. I googled Vienna-Budapest 1 day tour and found this for instance http://www.gohungarytours.com/itin/regular-tours-budapest/vienna-tour.html
(I looked at the programme and there is no guided tour on the way from Budapest to Vienna)
But, if I were you, I would simply buy the Sparschiene and have a tour arranged in Vienna separately. Vienna Explorer is a tour agency that got great reviews on tripadvisor: Haidmannsgasse 8, Vienna 1150, Austria (they seem to have all sorts of tours: wine tasting, cycling, city tours, etc.) http://www.viennaexplorer.com/
Hope this helps
Thank you Anna
Hi Anna! Thank you for the information, it helps a lot! A quick question: the one way SparSchiene Bud-Vienna (13eur), also includes free transport en Vienna? Or is it just for the return ticket?
Thanks a lot!! : )
Hi Mariel, I am not sure, and the (Hungarian MAV) website is not helpful in this respect unfortunately. The free local transport within Vienna is only mentioned on the page specifying the details for the Budapest – Vienna return train ticket which I think suggests that the single Sparschiene ticket does not include further discounts and free rides.
The cashier will let you know what options you have if you ask about the details.
Have a good trip!
londonarabicschool…
[...]Trains from Vienna to Budapest: How To Travel Cheap by Train?[...]…
As soon as a get to Budapest I will go to the station and ask about the details. Thank you Anna!
Pubs…
[...]Trains from Vienna to Budapest: How To Travel Cheap by Train?[...]…