Vienna to Budapest by Train: The Ultimate Railjet Travel Guide (2026)
Direct trains run about every hour from Wien Hauptbahnhof to Budapest-Keleti in roughly 2 hours 40 minutes, with fares from about 9 EUR. This guide covers ticket types, stations, track works, the Schengen border and the options by bus, flight, river cruise and car.
- Fastest time: About 2 h 40 min (up to about 2 h 55 min during track works until 12 December 2026)
- Trains a day: About every hour from early morning to late evening
- Prices from: About 9 EUR with RegioJet, 13 EUR with MAV, 19.90 EUR with OBB, one way
- Distance: About 256 km (159 miles) by rail
Official sites: OBB Sparschiene Europe: Hungary, OBB Sparschiene Europe: conditions, OBB train connections to Budapest, OBB timetable 2027 news, MAV START Europa tickets, MAV track closures and timetable changes, RegioJet FAQ
Fast facts and route overview
Vienna and Budapest are linked by direct trains from three operators: OBB and MAV run Railjet and EuroCity trains, and RegioJet runs its own trains. The line runs east through the Danube plain via Hegyeshalom and Gyor. Both countries are in the Schengen area, so there is no passport queue at the border.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Distance | About 256 km (159 miles) by rail |
| Departure station | Wien Hauptbahnhof (Vienna Central Station) |
| Arrival station | Budapest-Keleti for OBB and MAV trains. RegioJet trains use Budapest-Deli. |
| Journey time | Normally about 2 h 37 min to 2 h 40 min. While the Deli ring railway works run, until 12 December 2026, some trains take up to about 2 h 55 min. |
| Frequency | OBB lists a train every hour between Vienna and Budapest. RegioJet adds about four trains a day. |
| Operators | OBB (Railjet), MAV (EuroCity and Railjet Xpress), RegioJet |
| Train types | Railjet is the most modern, with a restaurant car, sockets and free Wi-Fi. EuroCity trains use older but modernised Hungarian carriages, mostly with a snack trolley. |
| Seat reservation | Optional on OBB and MAV day trains for most tickets (about 3 EUR). Included on RegioJet. Check the rules for your ticket type. |
| Border | Austria to Hungary is a Schengen internal border. Carry a passport or national ID card. |
Good to know: Fares move with demand. Check oebb.at, the MAV site and regiojet.com for your date. Timetables change on 13 December 2026, so check the new times if you travel after that date.
Ticket types and price breakdown
There are three ways to buy a ticket for the same trains, plus RegioJet. OBB sells Sparschiene Europe and full-price tickets. MAV sells START Europa tickets. RegioJet sells its own tickets for its own trains.
| Ticket | What is included | Who it suits | Sample one-way fare, Vienna to Budapest |
|---|---|---|---|
| OBB Sparschiene Europe | One person, one train, one day, one direction, limited quota per train. No refund or exchange. No seat on day trains unless you add one. | Planners who know their train | From 19.90 EUR in 2nd class and 29.90 EUR in 1st class |
| MAV START Europa | Fixed-price international ticket, sold online and in the MAV app. App tickets include a seat reservation. Not refundable. | Budget travellers who book ahead | From 13 EUR in 2nd class |
| MAV START Europa Plus | Higher-priced version of START Europa. It is the only version that can be refunded, and only before the first day of validity. | Travellers who want some flexibility | From about 41 EUR |
| OBB full-price ticket | Flexible ticket for the day of travel. Seat reservation optional. | Last-minute trips | About 52.70 EUR in 2nd class and about 86.10 EUR in 1st class |
| RegioJet | A reserved seat on every ticket. Four classes: Low cost, Standard, Relax and Business. Standard and higher include free coffee and service at your seat. No restaurant car. | Travellers who want a fixed price and a reserved seat | From about 9 EUR in Low cost |
The fares in the table are sample prices from the operators and booking sites. Real prices depend on the date, the time and how many cheap tickets are left on that train.
How far ahead tickets go on sale: OBB Sparschiene Europe tickets can be booked up to 6 months (180 days) before departure, and they are also sold shortly before boarding if any remain. Limited numbers are sold for each train, so book early for busy days.
- OBB Sparschiene Europe cannot be cancelled, refunded or exchanged. You also cannot pay a difference to use another train or day.
- A seat on OBB day trains with Sparschiene Europe costs 3.00 EUR in the OBB ticket shop or 3.50 EUR at ticket counters and by phone on +43 5 1717.
- MAV START Europa tickets are valid for 2 days, and app tickets are valid on the day of travel. You cannot break the journey. First class travel needs a first class ticket.
- MAV START Europa: up to three children aged 6 to 14 can travel with one adult who holds a START ticket. Children pay 5 EUR in 2nd class or 10 EUR in 1st class for most countries. Check the MAV page for your trip.
- RegioJet tickets can be changed or refunded in the RegioJet app. Check the current rules on regiojet.com when you book.
- Phone bookings with OBB: call +43 5 1717. MAV information line: +36 1 349 49 49.
- Delays: under EU rail passenger rights, a delay of 60 to 119 minutes gives you the right to 25 percent of the ticket price, and a delay of 120 minutes or more gives 50 percent. Claim from the operator that sold the ticket.
Interrail and Eurail pass holders: a seat reservation is optional on OBB and MAV trains on this route and costs about 3 EUR through OBB. It is a good idea in summer and on Fridays and Sundays. RegioJet lists Interrail on its own site, so check its pass rules before you travel.
Timetable and journey times
OBB says trains run every hour between Vienna and Budapest. Use oebb.at, the MAV site or regiojet.com for exact departures on your date. The times below come from third-party travel sites and are a guide only.
| Item | Typical |
|---|---|
| Vienna to Budapest, first and last trains | About 06:40 and about 21:40 (July 2026 listing) |
| Budapest to Vienna, first and last trains | About 05:30 and about 21:40 (autumn 2026 listing) |
| Frequency | About every hour through the day |
| Fastest journey | About 2 h 37 min to 2 h 40 min |
| Journey with Deli ring railway works | Up to about 2 h 55 min on some trains until 12 December 2026 |
| Next timetable change | 13 December 2026 |
Track works to know about: MAV lists work on the Deli ring railway between Budapest-Kelenfold and Budapest-Keleti from 23 September to 12 December 2026, which changes the timetable on the Budapest to Hegyeshalom line. MAV also lists maintenance on the Budapest to Gyor to Hegyeshalom line from 16 to 20 November 2026, with some trains on a modified timetable. Trains still use Keleti. Look up your exact train before you leave.
Peak days to avoid: Friday afternoons, Sunday evenings and holiday weekends are the busiest. Cheap fares sell out first on those days.
Good to know: A day trip works well in either direction. One example from autumn 2026 is a train from Budapest-Keleti at 06:30 arriving in Vienna at 09:18, and a return from Wien Hbf at 19:42 arriving in Keleti at 22:35. That leaves about ten hours in the city. Check the times for your date.
Stations and getting there
Wien Hauptbahnhof is Vienna's main station and is served by underground line U1, trams and S-Bahn trains. Many trains to Budapest also call at Wien Meidling a few minutes later. OBB lockers at Wien Hbf are multifunctional lockers, and the price is shown when you book. Standard 24-hour lockers are at Westbahnhof, Meidling and Praterstern.
Budapest-Keleti is the main arrival station for OBB and MAV trains. It is on metro lines M2 and M4. Trams 24 and 28 and several trolleybuses stop nearby. The Utascentrum ticket and service hall is open from 04:30 to 00:30. Automatic lockers are in the underpass, with small lockers about 35 x 50 x 75 cm and large lockers about 50 x 60 x 75 cm. There is no staffed left luggage office.
RegioJet trains arrive at Budapest-Deli, at the end of metro line M2. When you search on RegioJet, choose Budapest-Deli, not the general Budapest entry. Some EuroCity trains also stop at Kelenfold, which is outside the centre, so check your stop.
| From Budapest-Keleti to | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Budapest-Deli | Metro M2, 7 stops, no change | 7 stops |
| Budapest-Nyugati | Metro M2 to Deak Ferenc ter, then M3 for 2 stops | 3 stops on M2 plus 2 on M3 |
| Kelenfold | Metro M4 | Check BKK for the current time |
| Liszt Ferenc Airport | Check the BKK site for current options | Check BKK for the current time |
A single BKK metro ticket costs 500 HUF and covers one metro trip including a line change. A 24-hour travelcard costs 2,750 HUF. Tickets can be bought at the station or in the BudapestGo app. Take taxis from the official rank or order through an app, and say no to people who offer rides or ticket help.
- Arrive at Wien Hbf There is no check-in. Aim to arrive 20 to 30 minutes before departure so you can find the platform and board without rushing.
- Check the departure board Find your train number and platform. Platforms are usually shown shortly before departure.
- Find your coach If you have a seat reservation, the coach and seat number are on your ticket. Without one, take any free seat that is not marked reserved.
- Travel through the border Both countries are in Schengen. Carry your passport or ID card because police may check documents on board or at the border.
- Stop at Gyor Most trains stop at Gyor before Budapest. Stay on the train unless Budapest is not your destination.
- Arrive in Budapest OBB and MAV trains arrive at Keleti. RegioJet trains arrive at Deli. Follow the M signs for the metro.
On the train
- Seating: Railjet has 2nd class, 1st class and Business. EuroCity trains have 1st and 2nd class. RegioJet seats are always reserved.
- Power and Wi-Fi: Railjet has sockets at every seat and free Wi-Fi. EuroCity trains have free Wi-Fi.
- Food and drink: Railjet has a restaurant car. Most EuroCity trains have a trolley and a few have a restaurant car. RegioJet has no restaurant car, and Standard and higher classes include free coffee and service at your seat.
- Hand luggage on OBB international trains: you must be able to board and leave the train with all your hand luggage in one go, without help. Put it above or beside your seat or in the racks. Do not block corridors or doors. The rules give no fixed size or weight.
- Luggage on RegioJet and FlixBus: check the operator's site for current limits.
- Bikes on OBB and MAV trains: you need an international bike ticket for the same route and date, and usually a bike space reservation. Book ahead. One bike per passenger.
- Pets on OBB international trains: small pets travel free in a suitable container. Other dogs need a lead and a muzzle and pay a fare. Assistance dogs travel free. Check the operator's site for your train.
- Accessibility: contact OBB on +43 5 1717 or MAV before you travel to arrange help. Keleti has an accessible toilet.
Passports, border checks and entry rules
Status as of 11 November 2026. This is practical information only and not legal advice. Check the official pages of the Austrian and Hungarian governments before you travel.
Austria and Hungary are both in the Schengen area, so there is no routine passport control when you board or arrive. Trains do not stop at the border for checks as a rule.
| Rule | Status and date |
|---|---|
| Austrian border controls with Hungary | Austria has extended its temporary checks on the borders with Hungary, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Slovenia for another six months, as reported on 17 September 2026. Some checks have moved from the border into nearby areas. Allow extra time and carry ID. |
| What to carry | A valid passport or, for EU, EEA and Swiss citizens, a national ID card. Non-EU visitors should carry their passport. |
| Stay limit | Visa-free stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period in the Schengen area for eligible nationalities |
| ETIAS | The EU travel authorisation has not started. Use only the official EU website when it opens. |
| Currency | Austria uses the euro. Hungary uses the forint (HUF). |
Other ways to get from Vienna to Budapest
| Option | Door to door | From and to | Typical price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Train (Railjet, EuroCity, RegioJet) | About 2 h 40 min station to station | Wien Hauptbahnhof to Budapest-Keleti (RegioJet to Budapest-Deli) | From about 9 EUR with RegioJet, 13 EUR with MAV and 19.90 EUR with OBB. Full-price 2nd class about 52.70 EUR. | The fastest and simplest city-centre option. |
| Coach | About 3 to 3.5 hours | Vienna Hauptbahnhof or Erdberg to Budapest Nepliget, Kelenfold or Keleti | From about 9 to 13 EUR, mostly 15 to 25 EUR | When the bus fare and stops suit you better than the train. |
| Flight | Longer than the train in most cases | Vienna Airport to Budapest Ferenc Liszt Airport | Fare sites list fares from about 76 EUR. Check airline sites. | Only as part of a longer connecting trip. |
| River cruise | Several days | Vienna to Budapest on the Danube | Check cruise operators. This is a holiday, not a transfer. | For a slow trip on the Danube with nights on board. |
| Drive | About 2 h 40 min without traffic | Vienna to Budapest via the A4 and M1, about 245 km | Fuel and tolls plus an Austrian vignette and a Hungarian e-matrica | A good choice for groups, heavy luggage or onward touring by car. |
Coach: FlixBus runs many services a day. Journeys take about 2 hours 50 minutes to 3 hours 25 minutes. Fares start at about 9 to 13 EUR and are mostly about 15 to 25 EUR on busy dates. Vienna stops include Hauptbahnhof (Sudtiroler Platz), the Vienna International Busterminal at Erdberg, Westbahnhof and Meidling. Budapest stops include Nepliget, Kelenfold, Keleti and Mexikoi ut, and some services serve the airport. Not every trip uses every stop, so check your ticket.
Flights: flying is rarely worth it. The airports are far from both centres, and with transfers and security the trip takes longer than the train. Fare sites list fares from about 76 EUR, and prices are often higher. Check airline sites for current flights.
Boat: there is no scheduled passenger boat between Vienna and Budapest in 2026. Multi-day river cruises sail between the two cities with nights on board. They are holidays, not transfers. The Twin City Liner sails between Vienna and Bratislava, not Budapest.
Driving: the road distance is about 245 km, mostly motorway. Take the A4 from Vienna to the border at Nickelsdorf and Hegyeshalom, then the M1 to Budapest. Allow about 2 hours 40 minutes without traffic. You need an Austrian digital vignette and a Hungarian e-matrica for the M1. Check that your rental contract allows travel to Hungary, and expect parking costs in the centres.
Money-saving and first-timer tips
- Book early. OBB Sparschiene Europe goes on sale up to 6 months ahead and the cheapest tickets sell out first.
- Compare all three sellers. OBB, MAV and RegioJet sell different fares for the same trip. MAV START Europa starts at 13 EUR and RegioJet at about 9 EUR.
- Know the trade-off. Cheap OBB and MAV fares are tied to one train and cannot be refunded. RegioJet tickets can be changed in its app. Check the rules at booking.
- Add a seat in summer and on Fridays and Sundays. A reservation costs about 3 EUR with OBB. MAV app tickets include one.
- Check which Budapest station you need. Railjet and EuroCity use Keleti. RegioJet uses Deli. Metro M2 joins them.
- Buy a BKK single (500 HUF) or a 24-hour travelcard (2,750 HUF) on arrival.
- Check works before you go. MAV lists track works until 12 December 2026, and a new timetable starts on 13 December 2026.
- Carry ID. Austria has extended its border controls with Hungary.
- If you are on a first class ticket, MAV lets you use the Premium lounge at Keleti on platform 9. Others can pay 2,990 HUF for up to two hours.
Frequently asked questions
How long does the Vienna to Budapest train take?
Normally about 2 hours 37 to 40 minutes. While track works run until 12 December 2026, some trains take up to about 2 hours 55 minutes.
How often do trains run?
OBB lists a train every hour between Vienna and Budapest. RegioJet adds about four trains a day.
How much does the train cost?
RegioJet starts from about 9 EUR, MAV START Europa from 13 EUR and OBB Sparschiene Europe from 19.90 EUR in 2nd class. A full-price 2nd class ticket is about 52.70 EUR.
Do I need a seat reservation?
It is optional on OBB and MAV day trains with most tickets and costs about 3 EUR with OBB. MAV app tickets include one. RegioJet tickets always include a reserved seat. Book one in summer and on Fridays and Sundays.
Which Budapest station do I arrive at?
OBB and MAV trains arrive at Budapest-Keleti. RegioJet trains arrive at Budapest-Deli. Metro M2 connects them.
Do I need a passport?
Both countries are in Schengen, but Austria has extended its border controls with Hungary. Carry a passport or national ID card.
Can I change or cancel a Sparschiene ticket?
No. OBB Sparschiene Europe cannot be cancelled, refunded or exchanged, and it is valid only for the booked train.
Can I do Vienna to Budapest as a day trip?
Yes. Trains start in the early morning and run until about 21:40, so a day trip in either direction works. Check times for your date.
Are there track works in 2026?
Yes. MAV lists works on the Deli ring railway from 23 September to 12 December 2026 and maintenance on the Budapest to Hegyeshalom line from 16 to 20 November 2026. Check your train before you travel.
Is there a boat from Vienna to Budapest?
There is no scheduled passenger boat in 2026. Multi-day river cruises sail between the two cities, but they are holidays and not transfers.
What if the train is delayed?
For a delay of 60 to 119 minutes you can claim 25 percent of the ticket price. For 120 minutes or more you can claim 50 percent. Claim from the operator that sold the ticket.
Checked against official sources on 2026-11-11. Fares, times and rules change, so confirm them with the operator before you book.
Sources
- OBB: Sparschiene Europe, Hungary
- OBB: Sparschiene Europe
- OBB: Train connections to Budapest
- OBB: Timetable 2027
- OBB: Guide for travelling abroad
- OBB: Luggage storage at stations
- MAV: START Europa tickets
- MAV: Track closures
- MAV: Budapest-Vienna international train changes
- RegioJet: FAQ
- RegioJet: Services on the train
- Seat61: Vienna to Budapest by train
- Seat61: Budapest Keleti station
- Hungary Unlocked: Budapest to Vienna by train, bus, boat or car
- Hungary Unlocked: Budapest Keleti, Nyugati and Deli
- City Voyager Hub: Vienna to Budapest train guide
- Omio: Vienna to Budapest coach
- Trainline: Vienna to Budapest Deli
- Daily News Hungary: Austria extends border checks with Hungary
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