How to get from Vienna to Budapest by train
Vienna and Budapest, two of Europe's most beautiful capitals, are just a short train ride apart. Traveling between these cities is easy, affordable, and fast. Find out everything you need to know to make this journey for yourself.
Video train route Vienna - Budapest
Train options for Vienna to Budapest
Train |
High-speed train | Regional train |
Travel time |
2hrs 50 minutes | 4hrs 15 minutes |
Seat reservations |
Mandatory | Not required |
Stations |
Vienna (Wien) Meidling - Budapest Keleti |
Vienna (Wien) Hbf- Budapest Keleti |
Traveling by high-speed train
The fastest and most comfortable way to travel from Vienna to Budapest is by taking the Railjet high-speed train. This modern and luxurious train will get you to your destination in just under 3 hours. For actual travel times, check out our timetable.
If you're traveling with a Eurail Pass you don't need to buy a ticket and only pay a small reservation fee. We recommend you book your seats as far in advance as possible.
Traveling by regional train
Taking a regional train from Vienna to Budapest means more travel time than by high-speed train. It also means you can stop along the way and discover some less-visited Hungarian towns, like Győr.
If you're looking to get inspired, check out our blog entry on traveling between Vienna and Budapest.
If you have a Eurail Pass, you don't need to buy a ticket. You can travel on this train for free and get on and off whenever you like.
Eurail Passes
The Eurail Pass is a pass that lets you travel on nearly every train in Europe. It comes in all shapes and sizes, so you can pick the one that best fits your holiday plans. Check out our Eurail Passes.
If you're only looking to travel in Austria and Hungary, the Eurail Austria-Hungary Pass might be just the thing for you. Otherwise you can choose another pass and make this journey part of a larger, exciting European adventure!