Step 3, Genoa to Ventimiglia by Intercity train.

2nd class.  Larger photo.		1st class.  Larger photo.

Step 4, Ventimiglia to Monaco, Nice & Cannes by TER local train.  Ventimiglia to Nice takes an hour along the coast.  Here, a TER rolls into Juan les Pins, between Nice & Cannes.

Coastal scenery from the upper deck of the TER from Ventimiglia to Nice & Cannes.

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Budapest to Brussels & Bruges from €56

Option 1, Budapest to Brussels in a single day

• You can travel from Budapest to Brussels in a day:

  Leave Budapest Keleti at 07:40, change at Vienna Hbf & Frankfurt (Main) Flughafen, arriving Brussels Midi 21:35.

  Treat this as a chill-out day across Europe.  Budapest to Vienna is by smart Austrian railjet train with a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Vienna to Frankfurt & Frankfurt to Brussels are by superb German ICE trains also with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  In 1st class on railjets and ICEs, a steward will take food & drink orders and serve you at your seat.

  Tip:  If you have a 1st or business class ticket, you can use the business lounge on platform 9 at Budapest Keleti with refreshments & WiFi

• Fares start at €49.99 in 2nd class or €79.99 in 1st class.

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• Book at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

  Before running the enquiry, change Transfer time from normal to 30 minutes to ensure robust connections.

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

Option 2, Budapest to Brussels using the Vienna-Brussels Nightjet sleeper 3 days a week - the time-effective option

• Step 1, travel from Budapest to Vienna by railjet, leaving Budapest Keleti at 13:40, arriving Vienna Hbf 16:20.

  The railjet train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  In 1st & business class, a steward will take your order and serve you at your seat.  More about railjets.  Have dinner in Vienna, see suggested restaurants.

  Fares start from €19.90 in 2nd class, €29.90 in 1st class or 44.90 in business class (premium 1st).  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards accepted, small booking fee.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead), you print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

  You can also book at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, same fares) or with Hungarian Railways at www.mavcsoport.hu (more fiddly, in Hungarian forints, booking on MAV opens 60 days ahead, see my advice on using it).

  Tip:  Don't risk tight connections with a sleeper, I have allowed for delay here!

  Tip:  If you have a 1st or business class ticket, you can use the business lounge on platform 9 at Budapest Keleti with refreshments & WiFi

  Tip:  If you've booked a sleeper, you can use the ÖBB lounge at Vienna Hbf between trains, with complimentary refreshments & WiFi.

• Step 2, travel from Vienna to Brussels by Nightjet, leaving Vienna Hbf at 18:13 on Tuesdays, Thursdays & Sundays, arriving Brussels Midi 09:55.

  This comfortable Austrian Nightjet sleeper train has two air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-cars each with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet.  There's a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers.  The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu.  The train has two couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats.  A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes.  See the guide to Nightjet accommodation.

  Fares start at €49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, €59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, €89.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €109.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €159.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards accepted, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, same fares).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket.  Child under 6?  See here.

Step 1, Budapest to Vienna by railjet, seen on platform 9 at Budapest Keleti.  More about railjets.

Business class.  About business class.		Restaurant.  In 1st & business you're served at your seat.

First class.		Economy class.

Step 2, Vienna to Brussels by Nightjet sleeper train.  Above, the inaugural southbound train is ready to leave Brussels the following night, the first scheduled sleeper train to leave Brussels in 16 years - naturally, the Man in Seat 61 was on board!  More about Nightjets.

Deluxe sleeper.  Each compartment can be used as a 1, 2 or 3-bed room.  Larger photo.  Video of deluxe room		Same deluxe sleeper in evening/morning mode with beds folded away, seats folded out.  Larger photo.		Deluxe rooms have a compact shower & toilet, towels & hair/body wash provided.  Larger photo.		Standard sleeper set up as 2-berth, washstand open.  It can be used as a 1, 2 or 3 berth.  Larger photo.

6-berth couchettes.		4-berth couchettes.		Couchette car on the Brussels-Vienna Nightjet.

Option 4, Budapest to Brussels using the Budapest-Stuttgart sleeper

• Step 1, travel from Budapest to Stuttgart by sleeper train Kalman Imre leaving Budapest Keleti at 20:40, arriving Stuttgart Hbf 08:38.

  The EuroNight sleeper train Kalman Imre has an air-conditioned Hungarian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, and an air-conditioned Hungarian couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments.  In the sleeping-car, a light breakfast with tea or coffee is included in the fare.  More about this sleeper train.

  Fares start at €49.90 with a couchette in a 6-berth, €59.90 with a couchette in a 4-berth, €69.90 with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper, €88.90 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or €129.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, same prices).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket.

  You can also book at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu, see my advice on using it first.

  Tip:  You can check the consist for this train, check car numbers & see in what order cars for different destinations are marshalled using www.vagonweb.cz.  Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations, scroll down to Hungary, click EN and look for Kalman Imre.

  Tip:  If you have a sleeping-car ticket, you can use the business lounge on platform 9 at Budapest Keleti with complimentary refreshments & WiFi.

• Step 2, travel from Stuttgart to Brussels by ICE, leaving Stuttgart Hbf at 10:39, change at Frankfurt (Main) Flughafen, arriving Brussels Midi 15:35.

  ICEs have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Change in Brussels for twice-hourly trains to Bruges.

  Fares start at €37.99 in 2nd class or €69.99 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

  Tip:  Change Transfer time from normal to 30 minutes.  I'd allow at least 60 minutes or more between trains in Stuttgart.

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You can book to any station in Belgium.  I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

Step 1, Budapest to Stuttgart by sleeper train Kalman Imre, seen boarding on platform 7 at Budapest Keleti.  More about this sleeper train.

2 bed sleeper, can also be set up as a 1 or 3 bed.		4-berth couchettes.		6-berth couchettes.

Step 2, Stuttgart to Frankfurt & Brussels by ICE.  More about ICEs.  Above, an ICE3neo at Brussels Midi.  Photo courtesy of Christian Hunt.

Restaurant car.  See current month's menu.		1st class seats on an ICE3neo.  Larger photo.

2nd class seats on an ICE3neo.  Larger photo		Lunch and a beer!

Option 5, Budapest to Brussels with overnight stop in Munich

• Step 1, travel from Budapest to Munich by railjet, leaving Budapest Keleti at 15:40, arriving Munich Hbf 22:32.

  The swish Austrian railjet train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  In 1st & business class, a steward takes food & drink orders and serves you at your seat.  More about railjets.

  Fares start at €37.99 in 2nd class, €56.99 in 1st class or €71.90 in business class (= premium 1st).  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this train at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log in at any time and check or reprint tickets.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

  Tip:  Why not take the earlier 11:40 or 13:40 railjet and spend a pleasant evening in Munich?  For dinner in Munich I recommend the Augustiner Keller (www.augustinerkeller.de) at Arnulfstrasse 52, to the north side of Munich Hbf, see walking map.

  Tip:  If you have a 1st or business class ticket, you can use the business lounge on platform 9 at Budapest Keleti with refreshments & WiFi.

• Stay overnight in Munich.  The affordable Eden Hotel Wolff & NH Collection München are across the road from the station's north side exit with great reviews.  Or consider the more upmarket 25 Hours Hotel The Royal Bavarian, Excelsior by Giesel & Mercure City Center.  For a splurge, the luxurious Sofitel Munich Beyerpost occupies the former Royal Bavarian Post Office building of 1896-1900, at the station's south side exit.

• Step 2, travel from Munich to Brussels by ICE on any departure you like, for example:

  Leave Munich Hbf 06:35, change Frankfurt (Main) Flughafen, arriving Brussels Midi 13:35.

  Leave Munich Hbf 08:27, change Frankfurt (Main) Flughafen, arriving Brussels Midi 15:35.

  Leave Munich Hbf 10:29, change Frankfurt (Main) Flughafen, arriving Brussels Midi 17:35.

  ICE trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

  Fares start at €27.99 in 2nd class or €69.99 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

  Tip:  You can save money by using int.bahn.de to book from Budapest to Brussels in one go.  To get the overnight stop, click Stopovers and enter Munich Hbf with a length of stay of (say) 12 hours.  Adjust departure time and length of stay to get the trains you want either side of Brussels - it may take a little trial & error.

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Budapest to Amsterdam from €49.99

Option 1, Budapest to Amsterdam in a single day

• You can travel from Budapest to Amsterdam in a day:

  Leave Budapest Keleti at 07:40, change at Munich Hbf & Cologne Hbf, arriving Amsterdam Centraal 23:29.

  You travel from Budapest to Munich by smart Austrian railjet train with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Then Munich to Frankfurt & Frankfurt to Amsterdam by superb German ICE trains also with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  A chill-out day across Europe!

  Tip:  If you have a 1st or business class ticket, you can use the business lounge on platform 9 at Budapest Keleti with refreshments & WiFi

• Fares start at €49.99 in 2nd class or €79.99 in 1st class.

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• Book this at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

  Before running the enquiry, change Transfer time from normal to 30 minutes to get robust connections.

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

Option 2, Budapest to Amsterdam using the Vienna-Amsterdam Nightjet sleeper - easy, comfortable & time-effective

• Step 2, travel from Vienna to Amsterdam by Nightjet, leaving Vienna Hbf 20:10, arriving Amsterdam Centraal 09:50.

  This comfortable Austrian Nightjet sleeper train has an air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-car with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There are toilets & a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers.  The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu.  The train has couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats.  A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes.  See the guide to Nightjet accommodation.

  From April 2025 this train is due to become a new generation Nightjet, with new rolling stock including individual mini cabins.

  Fares start at €49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, €59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, €89.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €109.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €159.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or Austrian Railways own site www.oebb.at (in €, same prices) or at the Dutch Railways international site www.nsinternational.nl (in €, no fee).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket.  Child under 6?  See here.

Step 1, Budapest to Vienna by railjet, seen on platform 9 at Budapest Keleti.  More about railjets.

Business class.  About business class.		Restaurant.  In 1st & business you're served at your seat.

First class.		Economy class.

Step 2, Vienna to Amsterdam by Nightjet sleeper train.  More about Nightjets.

Deluxe sleeper.  Each compartment can be used as a 1, 2 or 3-bed room.  Larger photo.  Video of deluxe room		Same deluxe sleeper in evening/morning mode with beds folded away, seats folded out.  Larger photo.		Deluxe rooms have a compact shower & toilet, soap & towels provided.  Larger photo.		Standard sleeper set up as 2-berth, washstand open.  It can be used as a 1, 2 or 3 berth.  Larger photo.

6-berth couchettes.		4-berth couchettes.		Couchette car on the Nightjet train.

Option 2, Budapest to Amsterdam using the Budapest-Stuttgart sleeper train

• Step 1, travel from Budapest to Stuttgart by sleeper train Kalman Imre leaving Budapest Keleti at 20:40, arriving Stuttgart Hbf 08:38.

  The EuroNight sleeper train Kalman Imre has an air-conditioned Hungarian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, and an air-conditioned Hungarian couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats.  In the sleeping-car, a light breakfast with tea or coffee is included in the fare.  More about this sleeper train.

  Fares start at €49.90 with a couchette in a 6-berth, €59.90 with a couchette in a 4-berth, €69.90 with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper, €88.90 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or €129.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (more fiddly, same prices, in €).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket.

  You can also try the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu, see my advice on using it first.

  Tip:  You can check the consist for this train, check car numbers & see in what order cars for different destinations are marshalled using www.vagonweb.cz.  Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations, scroll down to Hungary, click EN and look for Kalman Imre.

  Tip:  If you have a sleeping-car ticket, you can use the business lounge on platform 9 at Budapest Keleti with complimentary tea & coffee & WiFi.

• Step 2, travel from Stuttgart to Amsterdam, leaving Stuttgart Hbf at 09:51, change at Cologne Hbf, arriving Amsterdam Centraal 15:29.

  You travel on comfortable ICE trains with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Exact times may vary.

  Fares start at €37.99 in 2nd class or €69.99 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

  Before running the enquiry, change Transfer time from normal to 30 minutes.

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.  See suggested hotels in Amsterdam.

Step 1, Budapest to Stuttgart by sleeper train Kalman Imre, seen boarding at Budapest Keleti.  More about this sleeper train.

6-berth couchettes.		4-berth couchettes.		1, 2 or 3 bed sleeper, set up as a 2 bed.

Step 2, Stuttgart to Amsterdam by ICE with 1 easy change in Frankfurt.  More about ICEs.  Above, an ICE3neo at Amsterdam Centraal.

Restaurant car.  See current month's menu.		1st class seats on an ICE3neo.  Larger photo.

2nd class seats on an ICE3neo.  Larger photo.		Lunch and a beer!

Option 3, Budapest to Amsterdam with overnight stop in Munich - if you prefer daytime trains and hotel to sleepers

• Day 1, travel from Budapest to Munich by railjet, leaving Budapest Keleti at 15:40, arriving Munich Hbf 22:32.

  The comfortable Austrian railjet train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

  Fares start at €37.99 in 2nd class, €56.99 in 1st class or €71.90 in business class (= premium 1st).

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this at the German Railways website int.bahn.de. 

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

  Tip:  If you have a 1st or business class ticket, you can use the business lounge on platform 9 at Budapest Keleti with refreshments & WiFi

  Tip:  Why not take the earlier 11:40 or 13:40 railjet and spend a pleasant evening in Munich?  For dinner in Munich I recommend the Augustiner Keller (www.augustinerkeller.de) at Arnulfstrasse 52, to the north side of Munich Hbf, see walking map.

• Stay overnight in Munich.  The affordable Eden Hotel Wolff & NH Collection München are across the road from the station's north side exit with great reviews.  Or consider the more upmarket 25 Hours Hotel The Royal Bavarian, Excelsior by Giesel & Mercure City Center.  For a splurge, the luxurious Sofitel Munich Beyerpost occupies the former Royal Bavarian Post Office building of 1896-1900, at the station's south side exit.

• Day 2, travel from Munich to Amsterdam, leaving Munich Hbf at 07:46, change at Duisburg, arriving Amsterdam Centraal 15:29.

  Or book a later train, for example the 09:50 from Munich Hbf, change at Duisburg, arriving Amsterdam Centraal 17:29.

  You travel on superb German ICE trains with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

  Check times for your date at int.bahn.de and look for a 1-change departure.

  If you'd like a day in Munich, a direct ICE3neo leaves Munich Hbf at 16:28 every day, arriving Amsterdam Centraal 23:29.

  Fares start at €37.99 in 2nd class or €69.99 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

  Before running the enquiry, change Transfer time from normal to 30 minutes.

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

  Tip:  You can save money by using int.bahn.de to book from Budapest to Amsterdam in one go.  To get the overnight stop, click Stopovers and enter Munich Hbf with a length of stay of (say) 12 hours.  Adjust departure time and length of stay to get the trains you want either side of Brussels.  It may take a little trial & error!

Day 1, Budapest to Munich by railjet, seen here on platform 9 at Budapest Keleti station.  More about railjets.

Business class.  About business class.		Restaurant.  In 1st & business you're served at your seat.

First class.		Economy class.

Day 2, Munich to Amsterdam by ICE with 1 easy change in Frankfurt.  More about ICEs.  Above, an ICE3neo at Amsterdam Centraal.

Restaurant car.  See current month's menu.		1st class seats on an ICE3neo.  Larger photo.

2nd class seats on an ICE3neo.  Larger photo		An ICE3neo at Cologne Hbf.

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Budapest to Luxembourg from €46.99

Option 1, Budapest to Luxembourg by daytime trains

• You can travel from Budapest to Luxembourg in a single day:

  Leave Budapest Keleti at 05:40 by EuroCity, change Vienna Hbf & Koblenz, arriving Luxembourg 20:23.

  Leave Budapest Keleti at 07:40 by railjet, change Vienna Hbf & Koblenz, arriving Luxembourg 21:29.

  Budapest to Vienna is by EuroCity or railjet with restaurant car & WiFi.  Vienna to Koblenz is by ICE-T with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Koblenz-Luxembourg is by regional train along the Moselle river valley.  A chill-out day across Europe.

  Tip:  If you have a 1st or business class ticket, you can use the business lounge on platform 9 at Budapest Keleti with refreshments & WiFi.

• Fares start at €46.99 in 2nd class or €59.99 in 1st class.

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• Buy tickets at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

  To avoid journeys with buses, click Stopovers and enter Igel, leaving length of stay zero.  The trains call at Igel, the buses don't!

  In the search results, look for a journey with just 2 changes.

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

Option 2, Budapest to Luxembourg using the Vienna-Koblenz sleeper - the time-effective option

• Step 1, travel from Budapest to Vienna by railjet, leaving Budapest Keleti at 13:40, arriving Vienna Hbf 16:20. 

  The swish Austrian railjet train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

  Fares start from €19.90 in 2nd class, €29.90 in 1st class or 44.90 in business class (= premium 1st).  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards accepted, small booking fee, Booking opens up to 6 months ahead) or at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu (more fiddly, in Hungarian forints, booking opens 60 days ahead, see my advice for using it).

  Tip:  Don't risk tight connections with a sleeper.  Trains run every hour, why not travel earlier?  Suggested restaurants in Vienna.

  Tip:  If you have a 1st or business class ticket, you can use the business lounge on platform 9 at Budapest Keleti with refreshments & WiFi.

  Tip:  If you have a sleeping-car ticket, you can use the ÖBB lounge at Vienna Hbf between trains, with complimentary refreshments & WiFi.

• Step 2, travel from Vienna to Koblenz by Nightjet, leaving Vienna Hbf at 18:13 on Tuesdays, Thursdays & Sundays, arriving Koblenz Hbf 05:45.

  This comfortable Austrian Nightjet sleeper train has two air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-cars each with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet.  There's a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers.  The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu.  The train has two couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats.  A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes.  See the guide to Nightjet accommodation.

  Fares start at €49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, €59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, €89.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €109.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €159.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or Austrian Railways www.oebb.at (a little more fiddly, in €, has been known to reject some international cards).

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead, less than this when the mid-December timetable change intervenes.  You print your own tickets.

• Step 3, travel from Koblenz to Luxembourg by regional train, leaving Koblenz Hbf at 06:03 Mondays-Saturdays, change at Trier, arriving Luxembourg 08:23.

  On Sundays (or if the sleeper is late), leave Koblenz 07:06, change at Trier, arrive Luxembourg 09:23.

  This is a lovely scenic journey along the Moselle river valley.

  The fare is €28 in 2nd class or €47.80 in 1st class, fixed-price.

  Book this at the German Railways website int.bahn.de and print your own ticket or show it on your phone.

Option 4, Budapest to Italy via Ljubljana - the cheapest option at short notice, with a chance to see Ljubljana & Trieste on the way

• Day 1, take the morning Citadella from Budapest to Ljubljana, as shown in the Budapest-Ljubljana section.

  You arrive late afternoon, enjoy a pleasant evening in Ljubljana, a lovely city.

• Stay overnight in Ljubljana.  Consider the Hotel Slon which I've used myself, 15 minutes walk from the station with good reviews, the Hotel Emonec, or the Hotel Slamic 12 minutes walk from the station with great reviews.

• Day 2, travel from Ljubljana to Venice, using the early morning regional train from Ljubljana to Trieste then another regional train from Trieste to Venice, arriving late morning, see the Venice to Ljubljana page for timetable, fares & how to buy tickets.

  By all means take a  later train from Trieste to Venice to see something of Trieste (one of Italy's most under-rated cities).  You buy tickets at the station on the day, they cannot sell out.

Mt Canigou & the Pyrenees.  One of the highest peaks in the mighty Pyrenees, the 2,784m (9,137 feet) high Mt Canigou dominates the skyline on the right of the train all the way from Perpignan to Girona, see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canigou.  More photos of what to see on the Paris-Barcelona train journey.

Option 2, Budapest to Barcelona & Spain using the Budapest-Zurich sleeper + overnight stop in Marseille - a pleasant option

• Day 1, travel from Budapest to Zurich by sleeper train Kalman Imre leaving Budapest Keleti at 20:40, arriving Zurich HB 08:20.

  The EuroNight sleeper Kalman Imre has an air-conditioned Hungarian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, and an air-conditioned Hungarian couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments.  The sleeper fare includes a light breakfast.  More about this sleeper train.  Watch the video.

  Fares start at €49.90 with a couchette in a 6-berth, €59.90 with a couchette in a 4-berth, €69.90 with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper, €88.90 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or €129.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (more fiddly, same prices, in €).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket.

  Tip:  If you have a sleeping-car ticket, you can use the business lounge on platform 9 at Budapest Keleti with refreshments & WiFi.

• Day 2, travel from Zurich to Marseille by high-speed TGV, leaving Zurich HB 13:34, change at Dijon, arriving Marseille St Charles 19:45.

  Times vary so check your date online, but I'd allow at least 2h between trains in Zurich.  Fares start at around €60.

  Book this journey at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee) or the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, no booking fee).  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

• Stay overnight in Marseille.  Inexpensive hotels with good reviews just outside Marseille St Charles station include the Ibis Marseille Centre Gare St Charles, Holiday Inn Express Marseille St Charles.

• Day 3, travel from Marseille to Spain by AVE, leaving Marseille St Charles at 08:04, arriving Barcelona Sants 12:38 & Madrid Atocha 15:45.

  This comfortable AVE S100 high-speed train has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. 

  Look out for Béziers cathedral on the right, colonies of flamingos on the étangs (lakes) in southern France, the Fort de Salses approaching Perpignan and views of the imposing 2,784m Mt Canigou as the train rounds the southern end of the Pyrenees.  More about this journey.

  Fares from Marseille to Barcelona start at €25 in 2nd class or €45 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Fares from Marseille to Madrid start at €44 in 2nd class or €54 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee) or using Renfe's own website www.renfe.com (in €, more fiddly, may reject some overseas credit cards, see advice on using it).

  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

• Day 3, take a high-speed train from Barcelona to Valencia & Alicante or from Madrid to Cordoba, Seville, Granada, Malaga.

  A fast Euromed train leaves Barcelona Sants at 16:10 arriving Valencia Joaquin Sorolla 19:02 & Alicante 21:34.

  An AVE high-speed train leaves Madrid Atocha at 16:35 every day, arriving Cordoba 18:34 & Malaga Maria Zambrano 19:43.

  An AVE high-speed train leaves Madrid Atocha at 16:30 daily except Saturdays arriving Seville Santa Justa at 19:03.  Or on any day of the week you can leave Madrid Atocha at 18:00 arriving Seville Santa Justa at 20:43.

  An AVE high-speed train leaves Madrid Atocha at 20:05 every day, arriving Granada 23:48.

  AVE & Euromed trains have a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

  Check times & buy tickets using either www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee) or Spanish railways own site www.renfe.com (in €, much more fiddly, may reject some overseas credit cards, see advice on using it) or www.petrabax.com (in $, small mark-up).  You print your own ticket.

  Booking for Spanish trains opens anything from 15 days to 9 months ahead.  I'd allow at least 60 minutes between trains in Barcelona or Madrid.

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Budapest to Lisbon & Portugal

• There are many options and permutations, but here is a suggested option.  By all means stop off on the way wherever you like.

• Day 1, travel from Budapest to Zurich by sleeper train Kalman Imre leaving Budapest Keleti at 20:40 & arriving Zurich HB 08:20.

  The EuroNight sleeper Kalman Imre has an air-conditioned Hungarian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, and an air-conditioned Hungarian couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments.  More about this sleeper train.  Watch the video.

  Fares start at €49.90 with a couchette in a 6-berth, €59.90 with a couchette in a 4-berth, €69.90 with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper, €88.90 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or €129.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (more fiddly, same prices, in €).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket.

  Tip:  If you have a sleeping-car ticket, you can use the business lounge on platform 9 at Budapest Keleti with complimentary refreshments & WiFi.

• Day 2, travel from Zurich to Marseille by TGV, leaving Zurich HB at 13:34, change at Dijon, arriving Marseille St Charles 19:45.

  Fares start at around €60.  Times vary, so check times for your date online.

  Book this journey at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, no booking fee).  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

• Stay overnight in Marseille.  Inexpensive hotels with good reviews just outside Marseille St Charles station include the Ibis Marseille Centre Gare St Charles, Holiday Inn Express Marseille St Charles.

• Day 3, travel from Marseille to Madrid by AVE, leaving Marseille St Charles at 08:04, arriving Madrid Atocha 15:45.

  This comfortable AVE S100 high-speed train has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

  Look out for Béziers cathedral on the right, colonies of flamingos on the étangs in southern France, the Fort de Salses approaching Perpignan and views of the imposing 2,784m Mt Canigou as the train rounds the southern end of the Pyrenees.  More about this journey.

  Fares from Marseille to Madrid start at €44 in 2nd class or €54 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this journey at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee) or using Renfe's own website www.renfe.com (in €, more fiddly, may reject some overseas credit cards, see advice on using it).

  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

• Stay overnight in Madrid.  The classic Hotel Mediodia is across the road from Atocha with good reviews, or try the NH Hotel Madrid Atocha or Only YOU Hotel Atocha, also across the road from the station.

• Day 4, travel from Madrid to Lisbon by daytime trains as shown on the Madrid-Lisbon page. 

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Budapest to Munich from €37.99

Option 1, Budapest to Munich by sleeper train - the time-effective option

• The sleeper train Kalman Imre leaves Budapest Keleti at 20:40 every night, arriving Munich Ost 05:50.

  The EuroNight sleeper Kalman Imre has an air-conditioned Hungarian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin and an air-conditioned Hungarian couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments.  In the sleeping-car, a light breakfast with tea or coffee is included in the fare.  More about this sleeper train.

  Tip:  If you have a sleeping-car ticket, you can use the business lounge on platform 9 at Budapest Keleti with complimentary refreshments & WiFi.

• Fares start at €49.90 with a couchette in a 6-berth, €59.90 with a couchette in a 4-berth, €69.90 with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper, €88.90 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or €129.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (more fiddly, same prices, in €).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket.

  You can also try the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu, but see my advice on using it first.

Budapest to Munich by sleeper train:  The EuroNight sleeper Kalman Imre is seen here boarding on platform 7 at Budapest Keleti.  More about this sleeper train.

2 bed sleeper, can also be set up as a 1 or 3 bed.		4-berth couchettes.		6-berth couchettes.

Option 2, Budapest to Munich by daytime trains - the daytime option

• Smart modern railjets link Budapest Keleti with Munich Hbf every 2 hours in around 6h51.

  The railjet trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  In 1st or business class a steward takes food & drink orders and serves you at your seat.  You get a great view of Salzburg fortress on your left as you cross the River Salzach, soon after leaving Salzburg Hbf.

• Fares start at €37.90 in 2nd class, €56.90 in 1st class or €71.90 in business class (premium 1st).

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• Buy tickets at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.  I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log in at any time and check or reprint bookings.

  Tip:  If you have a 1st or business class ticket, you can use the business lounge on platform 9 at Budapest Keleti with refreshments & WiFi.

A railjet on platform 9 at Budapest Keleti.  More about railjets.

Business class.  About business class.		Restaurant.  In 1st & business you're served at your seat.

First class.		Economy class.

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Budapest to Berlin from €39.99

Option 1, Budapest to Berlin by sleeper train - the time-effective option

• A comfortable sleeper train called the Metropol leaves Budapest Nyugati at 19:30, arriving Berlin Hbf 08:14.

  The train has an air-conditioned Hungarian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, an air-conditioned Hungarian couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and 2nd class seats.  In the sleeping-car, a light breakfast with tea or coffee is included.  More about this sleeper train.

• Fares start at €49.90 with a couchette in a 6-berth, €59.90 with a couchette in a 4-berth, €69.90 with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper, €88.90 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or €129.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (same prices, in €).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket.

The Budapest to Berlin sleeper train, boarding at Budapest Nyugati.  More about this train.

1, 2 or 3 bed sleeper, set up as a 2 bed.  Larger photo.		4 or 6-berth couchettes.  Larger photo

Option 2, Budapest to Berlin by EuroCity train Hungaria - the leisurely daytime option

• A comfortable air-conditioned EuroCity train called the Hungaria leaves Budapest Nyugati at 07:30, arriving Berlin Hbf 18:43

  The Hungaria uses Hungarian Railways' latest air-conditioned cars with power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  It has a Hungarian restaurant car serving inexpensive meals and beer or wine.

  Take a good book and enjoy a daytime ride across Europe through 4 countries with beautiful scenery along the Elbe River between Prague & Dresden, see the photos & video here.

  If you prefer there are also later departures at 09:40 and 11:40 with a change of train at Prague Hlavni.

• Fares start at €39.99 in 2nd class or €69.99 in 1st class.

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• Buy tickets at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  A seat reservation is optional but a good idea, it can be added to the booking for a small fee.  I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

The EuroCity train Hungaria from Budapest to Berlin boarding at Budapest Nyugati.  Courtesy of David Frankal.

1st class.  You can choose to sit in a 1st class open plan (saloon) car like this...  Larger photo.		...or in a 1st class car with side corridor & classic 6-seat compartments like this.  Larger photo.

2nd class.  You can choose to sit in a 2nd class open plan (saloon) car like this...  Larger photo.		...or in a 2nd class car with side corridor & classic 6-seat compartments like this.   Larger photo.

Lunch on the Hungaria.  There are no table reservations, just go along & sit down.  Courtesy of @_DiningCar.		Restaurant car on the Hungaria.  Larger photo.  Photo courtesy of Siddhartha Verma.

Between Prague & Dresden the train runs along the pretty river Elbe, or Labe in Czech.  One of Europe's major rivers, the Elbe eventually flows into the North Sea at Cuxhaven near Hamburg.  Watch for river boats, even the occasional paddle steamer.  See the photos & video of this part of the journey here.

Option 3, Budapest to Berlin by day trains - alternative daytime options

• Step 1, travel from Budapest to Vienna by railjet, leaving Budapest Keleti at 06:40, arriving Vienna Hbf 09:18.

  The swish Austrian railjet train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  It also offers business class (= premium first).

  Tip:  If you have a 1st or business class ticket, you can use the business lounge on platform 9 at Budapest Keleti with refreshments & WiFi.

  Tip:  If you have a 1st class ticket you can use the ÖBB Lounge at Vienna Hbf with complimentary tea, coffee & WiFi.

• Step 2, travel from Vienna to Berlin by ICE-T Berolina, leaving Vienna Hbf at 10:13, arriving Berlin Hbf 17:52.

  The superb German ICE-T train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

• There are also two later departures with one change at Munich:

  Leave Budapest Keleti at 09:40, change Munich Hbf, arriving Berlin Hbf 20:56.

  Leave Budapest Keleti at 11:40, change Munich Hbf, arriving Berlin Hbf 22:52.

  Times vary, so check your date at int.bahn.de, first clicking Stopovers and entering Munich with duration left as 00:00.

• Fares from Budapest to Berlin start at €46.99 in 2nd class or €59.99 in 1st class.

  Fares vary like air fares so book ahead.

• Buy tickets at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  I recommend registering so you can log in at any time and check or reprint tickets.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

  Tip:  Sometimes the system suggests you change at Vienna Meidling.  If so, click Stopovers, type Vienna and select Vienna Centrale, re-run the enquiry and it'll switch the change to Vienna Hbf with better facilities.  If you want the later departures via Munich, enter Munich as a stopover.

Step 1, Budapest to Vienna by railjet.  This is a railjet on platform 9 at Budapest Keleti.  More about railjets.

First class.		Economy (2nd) class.

Step 2, Vienna to Berlin on the ICE Berolina.  Above, the ICE Berolina at Vienna Hbf.  More about ICE-T trains.  Courtesy of Helmut Uttenthaler.

Table for two in 1st class, my favourite configuration.  There are also tables for four in both classes.		Lunch in the restaurant car.  I highly recommend the Erdinger Weissbier!

You can see into the cab at each end of the train.		Comfortable 2nd class seats on the ICE-T to Vienna.

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Budapest to Hamburg from €39.99

Option 1, Budapest to Hamburg by EuroCity train Hungaria - the direct daytime option

• A comfortable air-conditioned EuroCity train called the Hungaria leaves Budapest Nyugati at 07:30, arriving Hamburg Hbf 21:17

  The Hungaria uses Hungarian Railways' latest air-conditioned cars with power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  It has a Hungarian waiter-service restaurant car serving inexpensive meals and beer or wine.  Take a good book and enjoy a daytime ride across Europe through 4 countries with beautiful scenery along the Elbe River between Prague & Dresden, see the photos & video here.

• Fares start at €39.99 in 2nd class or €69.99 in 1st class.

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• Buy tickets at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  A seat reservation is usually optional, but recommended.  I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

The EuroCity train Hungaria from Budapest to Berlin boarding at Budapest Nyugati.  Courtesy of David Frankal.

1st class.  You can choose to sit in a 1st class open plan (saloon) car like this...  Larger photo.		...or in a 1st class car with side corridor & classic 6-seat compartments like this.  Larger photo.

2nd class.  You can choose to sit in a 2nd class open plan (saloon) car like this...  Larger photo.		...or in a 2nd class car with side corridor & classic 6-seat compartments like this.   Larger photo.

Lunch on the Hungaria.  There are no table reservations, just go along & sit down.  Courtesy of @_DiningCar.		Restaurant car on the Hungaria.  Larger photo.  Photo courtesy of Siddhartha Verma.

Between Prague & Dresden the train runs along the pretty river Elbe, or Labe in Czech.  One of Europe's major rivers, the Elbe eventually flows into the North Sea at Cuxhaven near Hamburg.  Watch for river boats, even the occasional paddle steamer.  See the photos & video of this part of the journey here.

Option 2, Budapest to Hamburg by day trains - alternative daytime options

• Step 1, travel from Budapest to Vienna by railjet, leaving Budapest Keleti at 06:40, arriving Vienna Hbf 09:18.

  The railjet has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  It also offers business class (= premium first).

  Tip:  If you have a 1st or business class ticket, you can use the business lounge on platform 9 at Budapest Keleti with refreshments & WiFi.

  Tip:  If you have a 1st class ticket you can use the ÖBB Lounge at Vienna Hbf between trains with complimentary tea, coffee & WiFi.

• Step 2, travel from Vienna to Hamburg by ICE, leaving Vienna Hbf at 10:13, arriving Hamburg Hbf 19:51.

  The air-conditioned German ICE-T train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

• Alternatively, there's a later departure:

  Leave Budapest Keleti at 09:40, change at Vienna Hbf, arriving Hamburg Hbf 21:55.

• Fares from Budapest to Hamburg start at €46.99 in 2nd class or €59.99 in 1st class.

  Fares vary like air fares so book ahead.

• Buy tickets at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

  Tip:  Sometimes the system suggests you change at Vienna Meidling.  If so, click Stopovers, type Vienna and select Vienna Centrale, re-run the enquiry and it'll give you a longer interchange at Vienna Hbf with better facilities.

Step 1, Budapest to Vienna by railjet.  This is a railjet on platform 9 at Budapest Keleti station.  More about railjets.

First class.  Larger photo.		Economy (2nd) class.  Larger photo.

Step 2, Vienna to Hamburg by ICE.  Above, an ICE-T at Vienna Hbf.  More about ICE-T trains.  Courtesy of Helmut Uttenthaler.

Table for two in 1st class, my favourite configuration.  There are also tables for four in both classes.		Lunch in the restaurant car.  I highly recommend the Erdinger Weissbier!

You can see into the cab at each end of the train.		Comfortable 2nd class seats on the ICE-T to Vienna.

Option 3, Budapest to Hamburg using the Budapest-Berlin sleeper - the time-effective option

• Step 1, travel from Budapest to Berlin by sleeper train, leaving Budapest Nyugati at 19:30, arriving Berlin Hbf 08:14.

  The EuroNight sleeper train Metropol has an air-conditioned Hungarian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, an air-conditioned Hungarian couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and 2nd class seats.  In the sleeping-car, a light breakfast with tea or coffee is included in the fare.  More about this sleeper train.

  Fares start at €49.90 with a couchette in a 6-berth, €59.90 with a couchette in a 4-berth, €69.90 with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper, €88.90 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or €129.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (more fiddly, same prices, in €).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket.

• Step 2, travel from Berlin to Hamburg by ICE, leaving Berlin Hbf at 10:05, arriving Hamburg Hbf 11:51.

  ICE trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  I'd allow at least an hour between trains in Berlin in case of delay.

  Fares start at €18.99 in 2nd class or €29.99 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this at the German Railways website int.bahn.de. 

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

The Budapest to Berlin sleeper train, boarding at Budapest Nyugati.  More about this sleeper train.

1, 2 or 3 bed sleeper, set up as a 2 bed.  Larger photo.		4 or 6-berth couchettes.  Larger photo.

Option 4, Budapest to Hamburg using the Vienna-Hamburg sleeper

• Step 1, travel from Budapest to Vienna by railjet, leaving Budapest Keleti at 15:40, arriving Vienna Hbf 18:20.

  The swish Austrian railjet train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Don't risk any tight connections with a sleeper to catch.  These trains run hourly, why not travel earlier and have dinner in Vienna?  Suggested restaurants.

  Fares start at €19.90 in 2nd class, €29.90 in 1st class or €44.90 in business class (= premium 1st).  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this at www.thetrainline.com (easiest to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, booking opens up to 6 months ahead, small booking fee) or Hungarian Railways www.mavcsoport.hu (more fiddly, in forints, booking opens 60 days ahead, see advice for using it).

  Tip:  If you have a 1st or business class ticket, you can use the business lounge on platform 9 at Budapest Keleti with refreshments & WiFi.

  Tip:  If you have a sleeping-car ticket you can use the ÖBB Lounge at Vienna Hbf between trains, with complimentary tea, coffee & WiFi.

• Step 2, travel from Vienna to Hamburg by Nightjet, leaving Vienna Hbf at 20:10, arriving Hamburg Hbf 08:47.

  This train is a new generation Nightjet train with 1 & 2 bed sleepers all with shower & toilet, 4-berth comfort couchettes, individual mini cabins and ordinary seats, see the new generation Nightjet page for a guide to accommodation.  The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu.  A light breakfast is included in sleepers, couchettes & mini cabins.

  Fares start at €59.90 in a mini cabin or 4-berth couchettes, €109.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €159.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Buy tickets at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or Austrian Railways www.oebb.at (a little more fiddly, in €, same fares).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket.

Vienna to Hamburg by Nightjet sleeper train.  More about new-generation Nightjets.

Comfort Plus sleeper with shower & toilet.		Comfort sleeper with shower & toilet

4-berth couchettes.		Mini-cabins - enclosed individual capsules.

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Budapest to Frankfurt, Cologne, Düsseldorf & Germany

• Swish modern railjet trains link Budapest Keleti with Munich Hbf every two hours from 07:40 to 15:40, taking around 6h51.

  Railjets have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  In 1st & business class a steward takes food & drink orders and serves you at your seat.  Change in Vienna Hbf or Munich Hbf for connections to Nuremberg, Frankfurt, Cologne, Düsseldorf or anywhere in Germany.

• Fares start at €39.99 in 2nd class or €69.99 in 1st class.

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• Buy tickets at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

  You can book from Budapest to almost anywhere in Germany for an inclusive price.

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

Budapest to Munich by railjet, seen on platform 9 at Budapest Keleti.  More about railjets.

Business class.  About business class.		Restaurant.  In 1st & business you're served at your seat.

First class.		Economy class.

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Budapest to Passau

• Many river cruises start from Passau in Germany, just over the border from Austria and very easy to reach from Budapest.

  Take a comfortable railjet or EuroCity train from Budapest Keleti to Vienna Hbf in around 2h41, then a superb German ICE-T train from Vienna Hbf to Passau Hbf in around 2h16 with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

  Tip:  If you have a 1st or business class ticket, you can use the business lounge on platform 9 at Budapest Keleti with refreshments & WiFi.

  Tip:  If you have a 1st class ticket you can use the ÖBB Lounge at Vienna Hbf between trains, with complimentary tea, coffee, snacks & WiFi.

• Fares start at €39.99 in 2nd class or €59.99 in 1st class.

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• Buy tickets at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket.

  Tip:  If you want to stop off in Vienna between trains, buy separate tickets Budapest-Vienna & Vienna-Passau.

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Budapest to Vienna from €9

Option 1, Budapest to Vienna by train with Austrian & Hungarian national railways

• Modern Austrian railjet trains and older but comfortable air-conditioned Hungarian EuroCity trains link Budapest with Vienna in 2h40, leaving every hour through the day.  Esily the best way to travel between these cities!

  Tip:  If you have a 1st or business class ticket, you can use the business lounge on platform 9 at Budapest Keleti with refreshments & WiFi.

• Fares start at €19.90 in 2nd class, €29.90 in 1st class or €44.90 in business class (premium 1st class, only on railjets).

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• Buy tickets at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee.

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead, although it may not be possible to add an optional seat reservation when booking more than 60 days ahead as this has to be sourced from the Hungarian system.

  For business class on a railjet, select 1st class then the €15 Business class upgrade.  You print your own ticket.

  You can also buy tickets at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (only in €, same fares).

  You can also book at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu (in forints, more fiddly, see my advice for using it)  Booking with MAV only opens 60 days ahead and It can't book business class, but it may have cheaper fares than oebb.at or Trainline for a given date & train.  You print your own ticket or can show it in the MAV app on your phone.

• See the Budapest to Vienna page for train times, fares & how to buy tickets.

Budapest to Vienna by railjet, on platform 9 at Budapest Keleti.  More about Budapest-Vienna trains.

First class.		Economy (2nd) class.

Option 2, Budapest to Vienna by train with private operator Regiojet - 2 trains per day from €9

• Private open-access operator Regiojet now runs 2 trains a day between Budapest & Vienna with 4 classes (lo-cost, standard, relax & business) and fares from just €9, book at www.regiojet.com.

  Although railjets are excellent and EuroCity trains comfortable, I can certainly recommend Regiojet.

• See the Budapest to Vienna page for train times, fares & tickets.

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Budapest to Salzburg

Option 1, Budapest to Salzburg by direct railjet train - fastest & most frequent

• Railjet trains link Budapest Keleti with Salzburg Hbf every 2 hours through the day on their way to Munich, taking 5h13.

  These smart Austrian railjets have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, an excellent option.  More about railjets.

  Tip:  If you have a 1st or business class ticket, you can use the business lounge on platform 9 at Budapest Keleti with refreshments & WiFi.

• Fares start at €39.90 in 2nd class, €59.90 in 1st class or €74.90 in business class (premium 1st).

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• Buy tickets at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee.

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead, although it may not be possible to add an optional seat reservation when booking more than 60 days ahead as this has to be sourced from the Hungarian system.  For railjet business class, select 1st class then the €15 Business class upgrade. 

  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

  For business class on a railjet, select 1st class then the €15 Business class upgrade.  You print your own ticket.

  You can also buy tickets at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (only in €, same fares).

  You can also book at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu (in forints, more fiddly, see my advice for using it)  Booking with MAV only opens 60 days ahead and It can't book business class, but it may have cheaper fares than oebb.at or Trainline for a given date & train.  You print your own ticket or can show it in the MAV app on your phone.

Railjets link Budapest to Salzburg every 2 hours, seen here on platform 9 at Budapest Keleti.  More about railjets.

Business class.  About business class.		Restaurant.  In 1st & business you're served at your seat.

First class.		Economy class.

Option 2, Budapest to Salzburg by competing Regiojet train to Vienna & Westbahn train to Salzburg - low-cost, with easy online booking

• Private open-access operator Regiojet runs several daily trains from Budapest Deli station to Vienna Hbf and private operator Westbahn run half-hourly trains from Vienna Westbahnhof to Salzburg Hbf.

  Regiojet & Westbahn have teamed up to offer cheap through tickets from Budapest to Salzburg with low fares.

  Departures from Budapest Deli station are at 07:58, 11:58 & 14:58.  Total journey time 6h10.

  Budapest-Vienna takes 2h34, you have an hour to transfer by metro between stations, then Vienna-Salzburg takes 2h40.

  See photos & a description of the 4 classes on RegioJet trains here.  I recommend Regiojet's Business class, with complimentary sparkling wine, Illy coffee and bottled water, or Relax class with complimentary Illy coffee and bottled water.  Regiojet offers excellent at-seat service. 

  Westbahn is also a great operator, see photos of Westbahn's excellent double-deck trains here.

• Fares start at €34.90.  These fares remain low even at short notice.

• Buy an e-ticket at www.regiojet.com.

A RegioJet train in its distinctive yellow & grey colours, see interior photos of RegioJet trains here

Business class compartment.  Larger photo.  360° photo.		Relax class seating.  Larger photo.  360° photo..

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Budapest to Innsbruck

• There's one daily direct railjet train from Budapest Keleti to Innsbruck Hbf at 06:40 or there are later departures through the day with one easy change at Vienna Hbf or Salzburg Hbf.  Journey time around 7h04 centre to centre.

  Tip:  If you have a 1st or business class ticket, you can use the business lounge on platform 9 at Budapest Keleti with refreshments & WiFi.

• Fares start at €39.90 in 2nd class, €59.90 in 1st class or €74.90 in business class (premium 1st).

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• Buy tickets at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee.

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead, although it may not be possible to add an optional seat reservation when booking more than 60 days ahead as this has to be sourced from the Hungarian system.  For railjet business class, select 1st class then the €15 Business class upgrade. 

  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

  You can also buy tickets at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, same fares) or the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu (in forints, more fiddly, see my advice for using it).  Booking with MAV only opens 60 days ahead and it can't book business class, but it may have cheaper fares than oebb.at or Trainline for a given date & train.  You print your own ticket or can show it in the MAV app on your phone.

Budapest to Munich by railjet, seen on platform 9 at Budapest's Keleti station.  More about railjets.

Business class.  About business class.		Restaurant.  In 1st & business you're served at your seat.

First class.		Economy class.

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Budapest to Graz, Hallstatt & other destinations in Austria

• Trains link Budapest Keleti with Vienna every hour, many going on to Salzburg with connections for places all over Austria.

• Buy tickets at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee.

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead, although it may not be possible to add an optional seat reservation when booking more than 60 days ahead as this has to be sourced from the Hungarian system.  For railjet business class, select 1st class then the €15 Business class upgrade.  You print your own ticket.

• You can also buy tickets at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, same fares).

• You can also buy tickets to many Austrian destinations at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu, in forints, more fiddly, see my advice for using it.  Booking with MAV only opens 60 days ahead and it can't book business class, but it may have cheaper fares than oebb.at or Trainline for a given date & train.  You print your own ticket or can show it in the MAV app on your phone.

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Budapest to Copenhagen from €49.99

Option 1, Budapest to Copenhagen with overnight stop in Hamburg

• Day 1, travel from Budapest to Vienna by railjet, leaving Budapest Keleti at 06:40, arriving  Vienna Hbf 09:20.

  The railjet train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  It also offers business class (= premium first).

  Tip:  If you have a 1st or business class ticket, you can use the business lounge on platform 9 at Budapest Keleti with refreshments & WiFi.

  Tip:  If you have a 1st ticket you can use the ÖBB Lounge at Vienna Hbf between trains with complimentary tea, coffee & WiFi.

• Day 1, travel from Vienna to Hamburg by ICE, leaving Vienna Hbf at 10:13, arriving Hamburg Hbf 19:51.

  This comfortable German ICE-T train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

• Stay overnight in Hamburg.  The Hotel Reichshof Hamburg is the top choice here, just across the road 100m from the station's Kirchenallee exit, with art deco-based design and great reviews.  Other hotels near Hamburg Hbf with good or great reviews include (starting with the cheapest) the Hotel Continental Novum, Hotel Furst Bismarck, Hotel Europaischer Hof, Hotel Atlantic Kempinski.  If you're on a budget, cheap private rooms in the A&O Hotel near Hamburg Hbf can be booked at www.hostelworld.com.

• Day 2, travel from Hamburg to Copenhagen by EuroCity train, leaving Hamburg Hbf at 08:50 arriving Copenhagen 13:38.

  The EuroCity train has power sockets at all seats and a refreshment trolley.  More about this journey.

• How much does it cost?

  Budapest to Copenhagen starts at €49.99 in 2nd class or €79.99 in 1st class.

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• To buy tickets

  Book at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

  To get the overnight stop in Hamburg, click Stopovers and enter Hamburg Hbf with a length of stay of (say) 10 hours.

  In the search results, look for journeys with the fewest changes, for example just 1 change when going from Budapest to Copenhagen.  Adjust departure time & length of stay to get the trains you want either side of Hamburg.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

Step 1, Budapest to Vienna by railjet.  This is a railjet on platform 9 at Budapest Keleti station.  More about railjets.

First class.		Economy (2nd).

Step 2, Vienna to Hamburg by ICE.  Above, an ICE-T at Vienna Hbf.  More about ICE-T trains.  Courtesy of Helmut Uttenthaler.

A 1st class table for 2, my favourite configuration.  There are tables for 4 in both classes.		Lunch in the restaurant car.  I highly recommend the Erdinger Weissbier!

You can see into the cab at each end of the train.		Comfortable 2nd class seats on the ICE-T to Vienna.

Step 3, Hamburg to Copenhagen by EuroCity train.  From June 2023, these trains are temporarily being operated by former German Railways intercity cars and a Danish electric locomotive, until new trains being built by Talgo arrive in 2024.  The current trains have 1st & 2nd class, power sockets at seats, but no catering so bring your own food & drink.  More about the Hamburg-Copenhagen journey.

2nd class seats are almost all open-plan like this.  There are a handful of 6-seat 2nd class compartments in one of the coaches, but only a few.

The 1st class car has 6-seater compartments like this. Larger photo.  Larger photo.

Option 2, Budapest to Copenhagen using the Budapest-Berlin sleeper

• Day 1, travel from Budapest to Berlin by sleeper train, leaving Budapest Nyugati at 19:30, arriving Berlin Hbf 08:14.

  The sleeper train Metropol has a comfortable air-conditioned Hungarian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments, an air-conditioned Hungarian couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments & 2nd class seats.  In the sleepers, a light breakfast is included.  More about this sleeper train.

  Fares start at €49.90 with a couchette in a 6-berth, €59.90 with a couchette in a 4-berth, €69.90 with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper, €88.90 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or €129.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (only in €, same prices).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket.

• Day 2, travel from Berlin to Copenhagen, leaving Berlin Hbf at 10:36, change at Hamburg Hbf, arriving Copenhagen 17:38.

  Or have lunch in Berlin, then leave Berlin Hbf at 14:36, change at Hamburg Hbf, arriving Copenhagen 21:38.

  You travel from Berlin to Hamburg by ICE train with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, then from Hamburg to Copenhagen by EuroCity train with power sockets at all seats & refreshments.  More about the Hamburg to Copenhagen journey.

  Fares from Berlin to Copenhagen start at €37.99 in 2nd class, €69.99 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

Option 3, Budapest to Copenhagen with overnight stop in Berlin

• Day 1, travel from Budapest to Berlin by EuroCity train Hungaria as shown above.

• Stay overnight in Berlin.  Top choice here is the InterCity Hotel Berlin Hbf (my favourite), only 200m from Berlin Hbf's main entrance, relatively inexpensive with great reviews, or if you're in the money, the excellent 5-star Steigenberger Hotel just outside the station.  If you're on a budget, the cheaper 3-star Motel One Berlin-Hbf is behind the station or use www.hostelworld.com.  Of course, if you really want to push the boat out, the famous Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin is next to the Brandenburg Gate just 17 minutes walk away.

• Day 2, travel from Berlin to Copenhagen by train on any departure you like, for example:

  Leave Berlin Hbf 06:36, change at Hamburg Hbf, arriving Copenhagen 13:38.

  Leave Berlin Hbf 08:36, change at Hamburg Hbf, arriving Copenhagen 15:38.

  Leave Berlin Hbf 10:36, change at Hamburg Hbf, arriving Copenhagen 17:38.

  You travel from Berlin to Hamburg by fast ICE train with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, then from Hamburg to Copenhagen by EuroCity train with power sockets at all seats & refreshments.  More about the Hamburg to Copenhagen journey.

• Fares from Budapest to Copenhagen start at €49.99 in 2nd class or €79.99 in 1st class.

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• Buy tickets at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

  Set departure time to 07:00.  To get the overnight stop in Berlin, click Stopovers and enter Berlin Hbf with length of stay 11 or more hours.

  Increase the length of stay to a later train from Berlin on Day 2.  If you have any problems, simply book Budapest to Berlin and Berlin to Copenhagen as two separate tickets, although this usually costs a little more.

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

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Budapest to Stockholm & Sweden

Option 1, Budapest to Stockholm using the Hamburg-Stockholm sleeper train - the time-effective option

• Step 1, travel from Budapest to Hamburg, leaving Budapest Keleti at 06:40, change at Vienna Hbf, arriving Hamburg Hbf 19:51.

  You travel from Budapest to Vienna by railjet, then from Vienna to Hamburg by ICE, both with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Have dinner in Hamburg, see suggested restaurants near the station.

  Fares start at €46.99 in 2nd class or €59.99 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book from Budapest to Hamburg-Altona at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

  Tip:  If you have a 1st or business class ticket, you can use the business lounge on platform 9 at Budapest Keleti with refreshments & WiFi.

• Step 2, travel from Hamburg to Stockholm by sleeper train, leaving Hamburg Hbf at 22:03, arriving Stockholm Central 09:55.

  Run by SJ (Swedish Railways), the train has one or two sleeping-cars with compact 1 & 2 berth compartments with washbasin, several 1, 2 or 3 bed deluxe compartments with en suite toilet & shower, couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats.  A bistro car is attached between Malmö and Stockholm.  More about the Hamburg-Stockholm sleeper train.

  Fares start at €44.90 with a couchette in 6-berth, €69.90 with a couchette in 4-berth, €79.90 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or €164.90 with a single-bed sleeper all to yourself.  All prices per person per bed.  Fares vary like air fares so book ahead.

  Book tickets at SJ's website www.sj.se.

  Booking opens several months ahead, you print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

The inaugural Hamburg to Stockholm SJ EuroNight train in Hamburg on 1 September 2022. The author rode this first departure.  More about this train.		6-berth couchettes. Larger photo.

2-bed sleeper.		The inaugural train from Hamburg to Stockholm calls at Padborg.

Typical Swedish scenery on the morning run into Stockholm.

Option 2, Budapest to Malmö & Gothenburg using the Budapest-Berlin sleeper

• Day 1, travel from Budapest to Berlin by sleeper train, leaving Budapest Nyugati at 19:30, arriving Berlin Hbf 08:14.

  The sleeper train Metropol has a comfortable air-conditioned Hungarian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments, an air-conditioned Hungarian couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments & 2nd class seats.  In the sleepers, a light breakfast is included in the fare.  More about this sleeper train.

  Fares start at €49.90 with a couchette in a 6-berth, €59.90 with a couchette in a 4-berth, €69.90 with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper, €88.90 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or €129.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (only in €, same prices).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket.

• Day 2, travel from Berlin to Copenhagen, leaving Berlin Hbf at 10:36, change at Hamburg Hbf, arriving Copenhagen 17:38.

  Berlin to Hamburg is by ICE with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, then from Hamburg to Copenhagen by EuroCity with power sockets at all seats & refreshments.  More about the Hamburg to Copenhagen journey.

• Day 2, travel from Copenhagen to Sweden:

  For Malmö, hop on the next Öresund train from Copenhagen to Malmö Central, these leave every 15 minutes taking 40 minutes.

  For Gothenburg, hop on the next Öresund train from Copenhagen to Göteborg Central, these leave every hour taking 3h50.

  Fares from Berlin to Malmö or Gothenburg start at €37.99 in 2nd class, €69.99 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book from Berlin to Malmö Central or Göteborg Central at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

Option 3, Budapest to Malmö, Gothenburg & Stockholm with overnight stop in Hamburg

• Day 1, travel from Budapest to Hamburg by EuroCity Hungaria, leaving Budapest Nyugati at 07:30, arriving Hamburg Hbf 21:17.

  The Hungaria uses comfortable air-conditioned Hungarian carriages with restaurant car,  Treat yourself to lunch & dinner and a beer or two.  Put your feet up, chill out and enjoy the scenery along the Elbe river between Prague & Dresden, see the photos & video here.

• Stay overnight in Hamburg.  The Hotel Reichshof Hamburg is the top choice here, just across the road 100m from the station's Kirchenallee exit, with art deco-based design and great reviews.  Other hotels near Hamburg Hbf with good or great reviews include (starting with the cheapest) the Hotel Continental Novum, Hotel Furst Bismarck, Hotel Europaischer Hof, Hotel Atlantic Kempinski.  If you're on a budget, cheap private rooms in the A&O Hotel near Hamburg Hbf can be booked at www.hostelworld.com.

• Day 2, travel from Hamburg to Copenhagen by EuroCity train, leaving Hamburg Hbf at 08:50 arriving Copenhagen 13:38.

  The EuroCity train has power sockets at all seats and a refreshment trolley.  More about this journey.

• Day 2, travel from Copenhagen to Sweden:

  For Malmö, hop on the next Öresund train from Copenhagen to Malmö Central, these leave every 15 minutes taking 40 minutes.

  For Gothenburg, hop on the next Öresund train from Copenhagen to Göteborg Central, these leave every hour taking 3h50.

  For Stockholm, travel from Copenhagen to Stockholm by X2000, leaving Copenhagen at 14:19, arriving Stockholm Central 19:37.

  SJ's X2000 trains have a bistro, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  They use the impressive Öresund fixed link from Sweden to Denmark,

  Update 2025:  Unfortunately, SJ is short of X2000s and until further notice you'll need to change at Malmö:

  On Mondays-Fridays, leave Copenhagen 15:59, change at Malmö Central, arriving Stockholm Central 21:33.

  On Saturdays & Sundays, leave Copenhagen 14:59, change at Malmö Central, arriving Stockholm Central 20:36.

• How much does it cost?

  Budapest to Hamburg starts at €37.99 in 2nd class or €59.99 in 1st class.

  Hamburg to Copenhagen starts at €27.99 in 2nd class or €39.99 in 1st class.

  Copenhagen to Stockholm starts at 280 SEK (€28).

  There are through fares from Hamburg to Malmö from €37.99 in 2nd class, €49.99 in 1st class.

  There are through fares from Hamburg to Gothenburg from €56.99 in 2nd class, €79.99 in 1st class.

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• How to buy tickets

  Step 1, book from Budapest to Hamburg at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

  Step 2 for Malmö or Gothenburg, book from Hamburg to Malmö Central or Göteborg Central at int.bahn.de.

  Step 2 for Stockholm, book Hamburg to Copenhagen using int.bahn.de.

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check or re-print your tickets at any time.  You print your own tickets or can show them on your phone.

  Step 3 for Stockholm, book from Copenhagen to Stockholm at www.sj.se (in SEK) or using Omio.com (in SEK, €, £ or $, small booking fee).

Step 1, Bratislava to Hamburg on the EuroCity train Hungaria.  Photos courtesy of Siddhartha Verma.

2nd class seats on the Hungaria.  Larger photo.		Restaurant car on the Hungaria.  Larger photo.

Between Prague & Dresden the train runs along the pretty river Elbe, or Labe in Czech.  One of Europe's major rivers, the Elbe eventually flows into the North Sea at Cuxhaven near Hamburg.  Watch for river boats, even the occasional paddle steamer.  See the photos & video of this part of the journey here.

Step 2, Hamburg to Copenhagen by EuroCity train.  From June 2023, these trains are temporarily being operated by former German Railways intercity cars and a Danish electric locomotive, until new trains being built by Talgo arrive in 2024.  The current trains have 1st & 2nd class, power sockets at seats, but no catering so bring your own food & drink.  More about the Hamburg-Copenhagen journey.

2nd class seats are almost all open-plan like this.  There are a handful of 6-seat 2nd class compartments in one of the coaches, but only a few.

The 1st class car has 6-seater compartments like this. Larger photo.  Larger photo.

Step 4, Copenhagen to Stockholm by tilting 200km/h X2000, seen at Stockholm Central.  More about X2000 trains.

1st class on an X2000.  Larger photo.		2nd class on an X2000.  Larger photo.

Bistro seating on an X2000 train. Larger photo.		Bistro on an X2000 train. Larger photo.

Crossing the impressive Öresund bridge from Denmark to Sweden.

Option 4, Budapest to Malmö, Gothenburg & Stockholm with overnight stop in Berlin

• Day 1, travel from Budapest to Hamburg by EuroCity Hungaria, leaving Budapest Nyugati at 07:30, arriving Berlin Hbf 18:43.

  The Hungaria uses comfortable air-conditioned Hungarian carriages with restaurant car,  Treat yourself to lunch & dinner and a beer or two.  Put your feet up, chill out and enjoy the scenery along the Elbe river between Prague & Dresden, see the photos & video here.

• Stay overnight in Berlin.  Top choice here is the InterCity Hotel Berlin Hbf (my favourite), only 200m from Berlin Hbf's main entrance, relatively inexpensive with great reviews, or if you're in the money, the excellent 5-star Steigenberger Hotel just outside the station.  If you're on a budget, the cheaper 3-star Motel One Berlin-Hbf is behind the station or use www.hostelworld.com.  Of course, if you really want to push the boat out, the famous Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin is next to the Brandenburg Gate just 17 minutes walk away.

• Day 2, travel from Berlin to Copenhagen, leaving Berlin Hbf at 08:36, change at Hamburg Hbf, arriving Copenhagen 15:38.

  You travel from Berlin to Hamburg by ICE train with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, then Hamburg to Copenhagen by EuroCity train.  More about the Hamburg-Copenhagen journey.

• Day 2, travel from Copenhagen to Sweden:

  For Malmö, catch an Öresund train to Malmö Central, these run every 15 minutes, taking 40 minutes.

  For Gothenburg:  Travel from Copenhagen to Gothenburg (Göteborg Central) by hourly Öresund train, journey time 3h50.

  For Stockholm:  Travel from Copenhagen to Stockholm by X2000, check times at www.sj.se or Omio.com.  I'd allow at least 1 hour in Copenhagen.

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Budapest to Oslo & Norway

Option 1, Budapest to Oslo via Hamburg & Gothenburg - by train all the way

• Day 1, travel from Budapest to Vienna by railjet, leaving Budapest Keleti at 15:40, arriving Vienna Hbf 18:20.

  The smart Austrian railjet has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Don't risk any tight connections with a sleeper to catch.

  Fares start at €19.90 in 2nd class, €29.90 in 1st class or €44.90 in business class (= premium 1st).  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easiest to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, booking opens up to 6 months ahead, small booking fee) or Hungarian Railways www.mavcsoport.hu (more fiddly, in forints, booking only opens 60 days ahead, see advice for using it).

  Tip:  If you have a 1st or business class ticket, you can use the business lounge on platform 9 at Budapest Keleti with refreshments & WiFi.

  Tip:  If you have an onward sleeping-car ticket you can use the ÖBB Lounge at Vienna Hbf between trains, with tea, coffee & WiFi.

• Day 1, travel from Vienna to Hamburg by Nightjet, leaving Vienna Hbf at 20:10, arriving Hamburg Hbf 08:47.

  This train is a new generation Nightjet sleeper train with 1 & 2 bed sleepers all with shower & toilet, 4-berth comfort couchettes, individual mini cabins and ordinary seats, see the new generation Nightjet page for a guide to accommodation.  The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu.  A light breakfast is included in sleepers, couchettes & mini cabins.

  Fares start at €59.90 in a mini cabin or 4-berth couchettes, €109.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €159.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, a little more fiddly, same prices).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.

• Day 2, travel from Hamburg to Gothenburg, leaving Hamburg Hbf at 10:53, change at Copenhagen, arriving Gothenburg Central 20:20.

  Hamburg to Copenhagen is by EuroCity train with power sockets at all seats, refreshments available.  Copenhagen to Gothenburg is by Öresund train, via the impressive Öresund fixed link.

  Fares start at €56.99 in 2nd class or €79.99 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Buy a ticket from Hamburg to Gothenburg at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

  Gothenburg is listed as Göteborg Central.  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.  I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

• Stay overnight in Gothenburg.

• Day 3, travel from Gothenburg to Oslo, leaving Göteborg Central at 06:10 Mondays-Fridays arriving Oslo Sentral at 09:42, or at 07:55 on Saturdays arriving 11:42, or at 10:15 on Sundays arriving 13:42.  This is a comfortable air-conditioned Norwegian train.

  Book this at the Norwegian website www.vy.no.

Option 2, Budapest to Oslo via the Kiel-Oslo cruise ferry - the most comfortable way to Oslo

• Day 1, travel from Budapest to Vienna by railjet, leaving Budapest Keleti at 15:40, arriving Vienna Hbf 18:20.

  The Austrian railjet has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Don't risk any tight connections with a sleeper train to catch.

  Fares start at €19.90 in 2nd class, €29.90 in 1st class or €44.90 in business class (= premium 1st).  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easiest to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, booking opens up to 6 months ahead, small booking fee) or Hungarian Railways www.mavcsoport.hu (more fiddly, in forints, booking opens 60 days ahead, see advice for using it).

  Tip:  If you have a 1st or business class ticket, you can use the business lounge on platform 9 at Budapest Keleti with refreshments & WiFi.

  Tip:  If you have an onward sleeping-car ticket you can use the ÖBB Lounge at Vienna Hbf between trains, with tea, coffee & WiFi.

• Day 1, travel from Vienna to Hamburg by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 20:10, arriving Hamburg Hbf 08:47.

  This train is a new generation Nightjet sleeper train with 1 & 2 bed sleepers all with shower & toilet, 4-berth comfort couchettes, individual mini cabins and ordinary seats, see the new generation Nightjet page for a guide to accommodation.  The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu.  A light breakfast is included in sleepers, couchettes & mini cabins.

  Fares start at €59.90 in a mini cabin or 4-berth couchettes, €109.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €159.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (only in €, same prices).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.

• Day 2, travel from Hamburg Hbf to Kiel Hbf by regional train, these leave several times each hour taking 1h10, fixed-price fare around €23.

  In Kiel it's a 7 minute 450m walk from Kiel Hbf to the Color Line ferry terminal, see walking map.  But always allow several hours between trains and ferry for the ferry check-in and in case of any delay.

• Day 2, sail from Kiel to Oslo by luxurious overnight Color Line ferry, with a full range of en suite cabins, suites, bars, restaurants and lounges.  The m/v Magic or m/v Fantasy normally sails at 14:00 arriving Oslo at 10:00 next morning (Day 3 from Budapest).

  Check times & buy tickets using the Direct Ferries website or www.colorline.com.

  Money-saving tip:  It appears that it's considerably cheaper to book on Color Line's Norwegian website www.colorline.no in Norwegian Krone, for example a €274 fare becomes the equivalent of €164.  You'll need to use Google to translate the Norwegian.  You are still able to enter a UK or other European address and contact details.  Feedback appreciated.

  Make sure you're on deck next morning as the ship sails through spectacular scenery up Oslo Fjord.  The ship docks at the modern Color Line terminal about 2 km from the city centre.  Color Line provide transfer buses to Oslo Sentral station costing 55 krone, or there are plenty of taxis.  If you have little luggage it's possible to walk.  See map of Oslo showing ferry terminal.

Sail from Kiel to Oslo with Color Line.  It's just a 6 minute walk across from Kiel Hbf to the Color Line terminal.  There's a lift up to a connecting walkway which takes you to the ferry terminal.  If you've booked one of Color Line's 5 star suites, check in at the desk rather than the machines to be directed to a VIP lounge with free tea, coffee, juice, snacks & WiFi.  You'll have priority boarding & free access to the on-board spa.  Photos courtesy of Philip Dyer-Perry except where shown.

Above left, cabin with TV, shower & toilet, luxury suites are also available.  Above right, restaurant with a view.

Restaurant and lounge on the Kiel-Oslo ferry.

Wake up to lovely scenery sailing up Oslo Fjord.

The Color Line ferry, arrived at Oslo.  Above right, there's a transfer bus to Oslo Sentral, photo courtesy of Andrew Leo.

Option 3, Budapest to Oslo by train to Frederikshavn then DFDS ferry to Oslo

• Day 1, travel from Budapest to Hamburg by train as shown above.

• Stay overnight in Hamburg.  The Hotel Reichshof Hamburg is the top choice here, just across the road 100m from the station's Kirchenallee exit, with art deco-based design and great reviews.  Other hotels near Hamburg Hbf with good or great reviews include (starting with the cheapest) the Hotel Continental Novum, Hotel Furst Bismarck, Hotel Europaischer Hof, Hotel Atlantic Kempinski.  If you're on a budget, cheap private rooms in the A&O Hotel near Hamburg Hbf can be booked at www.hostelworld.com.

• Day 2, travel from Hamburg to Copenhagen and take the overnight ferry from Copenhagen to Oslo as explained here.

  A private cabin on the ferry with en suite toilet & shower is remarkably affordable, and saves a hotel bill.

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Budapest to Helsinki & Finland

Option 1, Budapest to Helsinki using a Finnlines ferry from Travemünde in Germany - the easiest option

• Day 1, travel from Budapest to Berlin by sleeper train as shown in the Budapest to Berlin section, book this as shown.

• Day 2, travel from Berlin to Hamburg by ICE train, leaving Berlin Hbf at 10:05, arriving Hamburg Hbf 11:51.

  You can in fact take any train you like as trains run twice per hour, just make sure you allow at least an hour between trains in Berlin in case of delay.  Which departure you choose depends on whether you want more time in Berlin or more time in Hamburg.  The ICE has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

  Book this train at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or show it on your phone.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

• Day 2, travel from Hamburg Hbf to Lübeck by regional train then take a bus to the Skandinavienkai ferry terminal in Travemünde.

  Sail from Travemünde to Helsinki by Finnlines ferry.  Finnlines sail from Travemünde to Helsinki every day, boarding at 23:30, sailing at 02:45 (the exact time varies) and arriving at Helsinki's Hansa Terminal in Vuosaari at 09:15 2 nights later (Day 4 from Budapest).

  For details of the transfer, check-in arrangements & ferry crossing, see here.

  Book the ferry using the Direct Ferries website or at www.finnlines.com.

• Book onward trains within Finland at the Finnish Railways website www.vr.fi.

Finnlines operate the Finnstar, Finnmaid & Finnlady on the Travemünde-Helsinki route.  Photo courtesy of Hubert Bartkowiak.  Photos below courtesy of Chris Russell.

Standard cabin.  Larger photo.		Gym with a view.		Sauna.

Option 2, Budapest to Helsinki by train to Stockholm, then ferry

• Step 1, travel from Budapest to Stockholm as shown above.

• Step 2, travel from Stockholm to Helsinki either by direct overnight cruise ferry, or by daytime or overnight ferry to Turku and connecting train to Helsinki as shown on the Trains & ferries from Stockholm page.

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Budapest to Prague from €16

Option 1, Budapest to Prague by air-conditioned EuroCity train from €19

• Air-conditioned EuroCity trains with restaurant car leave Budapest Nyugati for Prague Hlavni every 2 hours taking around 7h city centre to city centre.  A comfortable and civilised option!  More about these trains.

• Fares start at €19 in 2nd class or €35 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Limited availability, no refunds, no changes.  These cheap fares are often available even just a few days or a week or two ahead.  The full-flex fare is around €67 in 2nd class if you buy on the day at the station.

• Book at the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz or the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu, see my advice for using it.

  Booking normally opens 90 days ahead on cd.cz or 60 days ahead on mavcsoport.hu.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

  Note that since 2017 these trains start from Budapest Nyugati station, not Budapest Keleti.

• For timetable, fares, photos & tips, see the Budapest to Prague page.

A EuroCity train from Prague to Budapest about to leave Prague Hlavni.  More about these trains.

1st class.		2nd class compartment seating.

Option 2, Budapest to Prague by competing Regiojet train

• Since 2020, private open-access operator Regiojet operates 2 trains a day from Budapest to Prague with 4 classes (lo-cost, standard, relax & business) and fares from just €16, book at www.regiojet.com.  More about these Regiojet trains.

A RegioJet train at Vienna Hbf.  More about Regiojet trains.

Option 3, Budapest to Prague by sleeper train - the time-effective option

• A comfortable sleeper train leaves Budapest Nyugati at 19:30, arriving Prague Hlavni 08:13.

  There's an air-conditioned Czech sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin.  Morning tea or coffee is included in the fare.

• Book at Czech Railways www.cd.cz.  Booking normally opens 90 days ahead.  You print your own ticket

• For full details, see the Budapest to Prague sleeper train page.

Washstand, soap & towels provided.  Larger photo.		Czech Railways 2-bed 'double' sleeper on the Prague-Budapest route.  Each room can be used with 1, 2 or 3 beds.  Larger photo.		The corridor.  Each compartment locks securely.  Larger photo.

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Budapest to Český Krumlov

• Step 1, travel from Budapest to Linz by smart Austrian railjet train.

  There are departures at 06:40 then every two hours from 07:40 to 13:40, journey time around 4h04. 

  The railjets have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

• Step 2, travel from Linz to České Budějovice by comfortable air-conditioned Czech train.

  These leave every two hours or so, journey time 2h16.

  Incidentally, České Budějovice might sound more familiar by its former Germanic name, Budweis. That's right, where the name of Budweiser beer comes from! The town is worth a look around in its own right. Why not take an earlier train and have a wander into the old town?

• Step 3, take the little branch line train from České Budějovice to Český Krumlov run by private operator GWTR.

  This runs every hour or two taking 44 minutes.

  You'll find  more about Český Krumlov, the GWTR local train, taxis between Český Krumlov station and old town, and how to travel from Český Krumlov on to Prague, on the Český Krumlov page.

• How to check train times

  Run an enquiry from Budapest Keleti to Český Krumlov using the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

  This is the quickest and easiest website to use, although it won't sell tickets.  Tip:  Click Stopovers and enter Linz as a stopover.  Look for journeys with just 2 changes.

  You'll probably notice there's a tight 10-minute connection at Linz.  Perfectly doable if the first train is only 5 minutes late, not doable if it's 10 minutes late.  If you re-run the enquiry with Transfer time changed from normal to minimum 30 minutes, it'll give you a 2h10 connection in Linz, time for lunch and a wander.  Your call!

• How much does it cost?

  Budapest to Linz starts at €19.90 in 2nd class or €29.90 in 1st class.

  Linz to Český Krumlov starts at €9.90 in 2nd class or €22.90 in 1st class.

  Fares vary like air fares so book ahead.

• How to buy tickets

  When you know the trains you want to book:

  (1)  Book the Budapest to Linz train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket.

  (2)  Book the Linz to Český Krumlov trains at the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz.  Booking opens up to 90 days ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

  Tip:  If you're happy with the 10-minute connection in Linz, I'd either buy the higher-priced International Ticket fare for around €22 as this is good for any train that day, or buy a €7 First Minute advance-purchase fare but accept that if there's a delay and you miss your specified train you may have to pay €22 for a new ticket.  Or simply buy two €7 First Minute fares, the second one for the later train as a back-up!

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Budapest to Brno

1. EuroCity trains link Budapest Nyugati with Brno every 2 hours or so, journey time around 4h06.

2. Advance-purchase First Minute fares start at €12.  The full-flex fare bought on the day is around €37.

3. Book at the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz.

   Booking normally opens 90 days ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

   The cheap fares have limited availability, specified train only, no refunds, no changes to travel plans.

   You can also book at the Hungarian Railways site www.mavcsoport.hu, see my advice for using it.

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Budapest to Ostrava

1. A direct EuroCity train leaves Budapest Nyugati for Ostrava at 08:12 every morning, journey time 5h51.  Later departures are possible every 2 hours or so with one easy change of train at Breclav.

2. Advance-purchase First Minute fares start at €17.  The full-flex fare bought on the day is around €49.

3. Book at the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz.

   Booking normally opens 90 days ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

   The cheap fares have limited availability, specified train only, no refunds, no changes to travel plans.

   You can also book at the Hungarian Railways site www.mavcsoport.hu, see my advice for using it.

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Budapest to Bratislava from €9

• Air-conditioned EuroCity trains with restaurant car leave Budapest Nyugati every hour or two for Bratislava Hlavna taking 2h23.

  For timetable, fares, & travel tips, see the Budapest to Bratislava by train page.

  Note that since 2017 these trains start from Budapest Nyugati station, not Budapest Keleti.

• Fares start at €10 in 2nd class or €16 in 1st class, advance-purchase rates bought online in advance.

  If you want to stay flexible and buy tickets at the station on the day of travel, there's a permanent unlimited-availability round-trip special offer for around €17.50 in 2nd class which is the cheapest on-the-day ticket even for a one-way trip.  There's no 1st class equivalent, so if you insist on 1st class and buy on the day, a full-flex full-price 1st class fare costs €65+.

• Buy advance-purchase tickets at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu, see my advice for using it.  Limited availability, no refunds, no changes.  Booking normally opens 60 days ahead.

A EuroCity train from Prague to Budapest about to leave Prague Hlavni.  More about these trains.

1st class.		2nd class compartment seating.

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Budapest to Kosice & Poprad Tatry

• Intercity trains link Budapest Keleti with Kosice in Slovakia every 2 hours from 06:25 until 18:25, journey time 3h49.

  These Intercity trains - classified EuroCity in Slovakia - use comfortable air-conditioned Slovakian carriages, with 1st & 2nd class compartments, power sockets and free WiFi.  Seat reservation is required.  There's no catering, so bring some food & drink.

  Change in Kosice for a train to Poprad-Tatry, another 1h15.

• You can buy tickets from Budapest to Kosice at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu (see my advice for using it). 

  Online advance-purchase fares start at €13.20 in 2nd class or 19.80 in 1st class.  Booking opens 60 days ahead.

  Buy a Kosice-Poprad ticket at the station when you get to Kosice, or try the Slovakian Railways website www.zssk.sk.

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Budapest to Bucharest from €29

Option 1, Budapest to Bucharest by sleeper train

• The safe & comfortable sleeper train Ister leaves Budapest Keleti at 19:10, arriving Bucharest Gara de Nord 11:35 next day.

  The Ister has a comfortable, safe & civilised air-conditioned sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, and a couchette car with 6-berth compartments.  There's no restaurant car, so take a picnic and bottle of wine.  It's a really scenic journey in the morning, as the train passes through the Carpathian mountains between Brasov & Ploesti, have your camera to hand!

  Tip:  If you have a sleeping-car ticket, you can use the business lounge on platform 9 at Budapest Keleti with complimentary tea, coffee & WiFi.

• There's also an earlier train, the Muntenia leaving Budapest Keleti at 15:10, arriving Bucharest Gara de Nord 09:36.

  You'll miss the scenery between Brasov & Ploesti through the Carpathians, but may prefer the earlier arrival.  The Muntenia has seats cars and a couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments, but no sleeping-car.  However, a Romanian sleeping-car is attached between Arad (depart 20:57) and Bucharest, with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin.

• There's also a later train, the Dacia Express, leaving Budapest Keleti at 23:05, arriving Bucharest Gara de Nord 15:26.

  This train starts its journey in Vienna, and has seats, couchettes & a modern Romanian air-conditioned sleeping-car of the latest type.

• Fares for any of these trains start at €39 with a couchette in 6-berth, €46 with a couchette in 4-berth, €69 with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper, €84 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or €162 with a single-bed sleeper all to yourself.  All prices per person per berth.

  Fares vary like air fares and the cheap fares have limited availability, so book ahead.

• Book at the Romanian Railways website bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro.

  Booking opens up to 90 days ahead.  Click EN top right for English.  For Bucharest type Bucuresti.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

  Tip:  If you want to take the Muntenia and use the sleeping-car from Arad to Bucharest, first book a sleeper from Arad to Bucharest on train D 79 using the Romanian Railways domestic trains booking site www.cfrcalatori.ro, then book a seat from Budapest to Arad on train IC 79 using bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro.

• You can also try booking at the Hungarian Railways website www.mav-start.hu, see my advice on using it.

  For Bucharest type Bucuresti.  You show your ticket in the MAV app on your phone.  However, although it now appears to book couchettes or sleepers, it may or may not manage to do so.

  Tip   If the system won't offer tickets for a 2-bed or 1-bed sleeper, simply book three tickets in a 3-bed sleeper to get sole occupancy of a whole sleeper compartment.  Simples!

A 1, 2 or 3-bed sleeper with washbasin.  Larger photo.		The sleeping-car (vagon de dormit) on the westbound Ister at Bucharest.  Sleepers convert from beds to private sitting rooms for day use.  Courtesy of DiscoverByRail.

The couchette car on the westbound Ister, boarding at Bucharest.  Couchettes convert from bunks at night to seats by day.  Courtesy of @AndyBTravels, DiscoverByRail.com.		4 or 6-berth couchettes.  Larger photo.

Option 2, Budapest to Bucharest by daytime train

• The InterCity Traianus leaves Budapest Keleti at 07:10 daily arriving Arad 12:32, Timişoara Nord 13:54, Craiova 21:01 & Bucharest Nord 01:09.

  The Traianus has comfortable Romanian air-conditioned 2nd class seats, there's no 1st class.  A Romanian cafe-bar car is available for snacks & drinks, but always take your own supplies.  It's an epic journey across Transylvania, sit back and enjoy.

  Tip:  You can check the train formation with photos & seat maps at www.vagonweb.cz, change cs to English top left, click Train formations, then search for Traianus.

• Advance-purchase online fares start at just €26.30.

• Buy tickets at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu, see my advice for using it.

  Booking opens 60 days ahead.  For Bucharest, type Bucuresti.  You show the ticket on the MAV app on your phone.

• Or book at the Romanian Railways website bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro.

  Booking opens up to 90 days ahead.  Click EN top right for English.  For Bucharest type Bucuresti.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

The Intercity train Traianus from Budapest to Bucharest has modern air-conditioned Romanian carriages.  Three cars travel all the way, additional cars are attached whilst in Hungary, and additional cars and a bar car are attached between Drobeta Turnu Severin & Bucharest.

On the left, the daytime train to Bucharest is about to leave Budapest Keleti.		Comfortable 2nd class seats on the Budapest to Bucharest train.  There are power outlets under the tables.  Larger photo.

A bar car is attached between Drobeta Turnu Severin & Bucharest.  Photos courtesy of @AndyBTravels, DiscoverByRail.com.

Option 3, Budapest to Bucharest using the Astra Trans Carpatic

• A privately-run deluxe sleeper train called the Astra Trans Carpatic operates from Arad to Bucharest.  You can take an afternoon train from Budapest to the pleasant city of Arad, have dinner, then sleep your way to Bucharest in a private sleeper, some with en suite shower & toilet.  Slower than the direct trains, but higher-quality, remarkably cheap, and well worth considering.

• Step 1, travel from Budapest to Arad in western Romania, leaving Budapest Keleti at 11:10, arriving Arad 16:27.

  This air-conditioned Intercity train has 2nd class seats.  There's no 1st class and no catering car, so bring your own food & drink.  A later 13:10 departure is possible, but trains can run late in Romania so it's better to play safe.

  Have dinner in Arad, there are food outlets in the shopping mall next to the station and a Lidl across the road, or it's a 10-15 minute walk into the pleasant town centre.

  Fares start at €10.80 if you book in advance, even a few days.

  Buy a ticket at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu, see my advice for using it.

  Booking opens 60 days ahead.  You show the ticket on the MAV app on your phone.

• Step 2, travel from Arad to Bucharest overnight on the Astra Trans Carpatic, leaving Arad at 19:48, arriving Bucharest Nord 08:18.

  The Astra Trans Carpatic has a modern air-conditioned sleeping-car with 1 & 2 bed deluxe sleepers with en suite toilet & shower, 1 & 2 bed standard sleepers with washbasin, shower at the end of the corridor.  It has a swish air-conditioned couchette car with 4-berth compartments, and ordinary seats.  See virtual tour of the Astra Trans Carpatic (please let me know if that link stops working).

  Fares:  Deluxe single-bed sleeper 380 Lei (€77), deluxe 2-bed sleeper 280 Lei per person (€57), single-bed sleeper 310 Lei (€62), 2-bed sleeper 250 Lei per person (€50), bed in 4-berth couchette compartment 166 Lei (€34).

  Book at www.astratranscarpatic.ro.  You print your own ticket.

The sleeping-car at the rear of the Astra Trans Carpatic, at Arad.  Virtual tour of the Astra Trans Carpatic.  Courtesy of @AndyBTravels, DiscoverByRail.com.  Click the images below for larger photos.

4-berth couchette compartment. Courtesy of Simply Railway.		En suite shower, deluxe sleeper.  Courtesy of Simply Railway.		Deluxe sleeper, set up as a double. Courtesy of Simply Railway.

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Budapest to Brasov from €29

Option 1, Budapest to Brasov by sleeper train Corona - dinner in the diner, then retire to your bedroom

• A sleeper train called the Corona leaves Budapest Keleti at 17:40 and arrives in Brasov at 09:43 next morning.

  The Corona has a Hungarian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin.  The sleeping-car used is usually a beautifully-maintained 1960s car with wood-panelled compartments as shown in the photos below, although sometimes a more modern air-conditioned car instead, similar to the one shown here.  The Corona also has an air-conditioned Hungarian couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments.

  There is a Hungarian restaurant car for dinner and breakfast.  Linger over dinner and a beer or two before retiring to your sleeper.  For sleeper passengers a cooked breakfast in the restaurant is included.

  This is a Hungarian alternative to the Romanian Ister shown as option 2, the Corona takes an extra 90 minutes but with a proper Hungarian restaurant car and an elderly but cosy wood-panelled Communist-era sleeping-car kept in remarkable condition, it's a lovely train.  Some prefer it to the Ister.

  Tip:  You can check the train formation at www.vagonweb.cz, change cs to English top left, click Train formations, then search for Corona.

• Fares start at €39 with a couchette in 6-berth, €46 with a couchette in 4-berth, €69 with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper, €84 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or €162 with a single-bed sleeper all to yourself.  All prices per person per berth.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• Book at the Romanian Railways website bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro.

  Booking opens up to 90 days ahead.  Click EN top right for English.  For Bucharest type Bucuresti.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

  You can also try booking at the Hungarian Railways website www.mav-start.hu, see my advice on using it.

  You show your ticket in the MAV app on your phone.  However, although it now appears to book couchettes or sleepers, it may or may not manage to do so.

  Tip   If the system won't offer tickets for a 2-bed or 1-bed sleeper, simply book three tickets in a 3-bed sleeper to get sole occupancy of a whole sleeper compartment.  Simples!

The Corona from Budapest to Brasov waits to leave platform 3 at Budapest Keleti.  That's the elderly Hungarian sleeping-car at the rear, a more modern air-con sleeping-car is sometimes used.  That's the couchette car is ahead of it with the restaurant car ahead of that.  A pleasant train to travel on!

Elderly but comfortable 2-bed sleeper on the Corona.		4 or 6 berth couchette compartment.

Option 2, Budapest to Brasov by sleeper train Ister

• The safe & comfortable sleeper train Ister leaves Budapest Keleti at 19:10 arriving Brasov 08:48 next day. 

  The Ister has a comfortable, safe & civilised air-conditioned sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, and a couchette car with 6-berth compartments.  There's no restaurant car so take a picnic and bottle of wine.  The train continues to Bucharest.

  Tip:  You can check the train formation with photos & seat maps at www.vagonweb.cz, change cs to English top left, click Train formations, then search for Ister.

• Fares start at €39 with a couchette in 6-berth, €46 with a couchette in 4-berth, €69 with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper, €84 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or €162 with a single-bed sleeper all to yourself.  All prices per person per berth.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• Book at the Romanian Railways website bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro. 

  Booking opens up to 90 days ahead.  Click EN top right for English.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

  You can also try booking at the Hungarian Railways website www.mav-start.hu, see my advice on using it.

  You show your ticket in the MAV app on your phone.  However, although it now appears to book couchettes or sleepers, it may or may not manage to do so.

  Tip   If the system won't offer tickets for a 2-bed or 1-bed sleeper, simply book three tickets in a 3-bed sleeper to get sole occupancy of a whole sleeper compartment.  Simples!

  Tip:  If it shows no cheap fares to Brasov, they may have forgotten to program in an allocation for Brasov.  Book from Budapest to Bucuresti instead, you may then find places available, and you simply get off in Brasov.

A 1, 2 or 3-bed sleeper with washbasin.  Larger photo.		The sleeping-car (vagon de dormit) on the westbound Ister at Bucharest.  Sleepers convert from beds to private sitting rooms for day use.  Courtesy of DiscoverByRail.

The couchette car on the westbound Ister, boarding at Bucharest.  Couchettes convert from bunks at night to seats by day.  Courtesy of @AndyBTravels, DiscoverByRail.com.		4 or 6-berth couchettes.  Larger photo.

Option 3, Budapest to Brasov by daytime train.

• The air-conditioned Intercity Claudiopolis leaves Budapest Keleti at 09:10, running via Simeria & Sibiu, arriving Brasov 22:42.

  2nd class seats only, in comfortable air-conditioned and modernised Hungarian carriages with classic 6-seat compartments, an epic journey across Transylvania.  Bring your own food & drink.

  Tip:  You can check the train formation with photos & seat maps at www.vagonweb.cz, change cs to English top left, click Train formations, then search for Claudiopolis.  Only two cars run to Brasov, other cars are for Cluj-Napoca, and some older cars at the rear are detached at the border.

• Advance-purchase online fares start at €26.30.

• Buy tickets at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu, see my advice for using it.

  Booking opens 60 days ahead.  You can print the ticket or show it in the MAV app on your phone.

  You can also book at the Romanian Railways website bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro. 

  Booking opens up to 90 days ahead.  Click EN top right for English.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

The Intercity Claudiopolis uses air-conditioned Hungarian cars like these.

2nd class compartments.  Larger photo.		2nd class 6-seat compartment.  Larger photo.

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Budapest to Cluj, Timisoara, Sibiu, Sighişoara

• For Sighisoara, the sleeper train Dacia Express leaves Budapest Keleti at 23:05 every day, arriving Sighisoara 09:17 next morning.

  The Dacia Express has a sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments, and a couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and seats.

• For Cluj, a daily air-conditioned train links leaves Budapest Keleti at 09:10, arriving Cluj-Napoca at 20:45.  2nd class only, bring your own food & drink for an epic journey across Transylvania.

  The sleeper train Dacia Express leaves Budapest Keleti at 23:05 every day with a direct sleeping-car to Cluj-Napoca, arriving 10:44.  The sleeping-car has 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments.

• For Timisoara, the comfortable air-conditioned InterCity Traianus leaves Budapest Keleti daily at 07:10, arriving Timişoara Nord 14:24.

• Buy tickets at the Romanian Railways international website bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro/en. 

  Booking opens up to 90 days ahead.  Click EN top right for English.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

  You can also try using the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu to check train times & buy tickets.  Booking opens 60 days ahead.  See my advice for using mavcsoport.hu.

• Tip:  Sometimes mavcsoport.hu won't book to some smaller destinations, and it will say no offers available.  But if you can identify that the train you want continues to Brasov or Bucharest using the online timetable at int.bahn.de, you can use www.mavcsoport.hu to book from Budapest to (say) Brasov and simply get off when the train stops at your chosen station.  This is perfectly legitimate.  Better to buy a €29 ticket from Budapest to Brasov and get off at Sibiu than to buy an expensive full-price ticket from Budapest to Sibiu.

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Budapest to Ljubljana from €16

Option 1, Budapest to Ljubljana by morning train Citadella daily all year

• A comfortable air-conditioned InterCity train called the Citadella leaves Budapest Déli at 09:00, arriving Ljubljana 16:42.

  The Citadella has one swish modern air-conditioned Hungarian 2nd class car with open-plan seats and several old-school Slovenian 2nd class cars with 6-seat compartments, no air-con, but large opening windows.  Reservation is compulsory and all tickets include a reserved seat.

  The Citadella is 2nd class only, there's no catering so take your own picnic & beer or wine.  It's routed directly from Hungary into Slovenia.  Enjoy the scenic run along the Sava river into Ljubljana!

  Tip:  You can check the train formation, car numbers & car types using www.vagonweb.cz.  Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations, and use the search box to search for Citadella.

• Advance-purchase fares start at €16.

  Bought at the station on the day, expect to pay around €40.

• Buy tickets at the Hungarian Railways website jegy.mav.hu, see my advice for using it. 

  The air-conditioned open-plan Hungarian car is car 424.  The Slovenian cars are 421, 422, 423.  In theory, jegy.mav.hu allows you to de-select automatic reservation, then choose open saloon, if available, but the reservation usually fails.  Leaving automatic reservation selected works, but always seems to get you a seat in one of the Slovenian cars.

  Booking opens 60 days ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it in the MAV app on your phone.  Suggested hotel in Ljubljana.

The Citadella from Ljubljana to Budapest, arrived at Budapest Deli.  These are the Slovenian cars.

2nd class in the swish Hungarian air-con car.		2nd class compartments in the Slovenian cars.

Option 2, Budapest to Ljubljana by afternoon train daily all year

• An excellent air-conditioned InterCity train called the Drava leaves Budapest Keleti at 16:13, arriving Ljubljana 01:00.

  This train is composed of excellent modernised air-conditioned Hungarian carriages with open-plan seating in both 1st & 2nd class.  There's no catering car so bring a picnic & some beer or wine.  It's routed across Austria via Graz.

• Advance-purchase fares start at €39.40 in 2nd class or €51.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• Book online at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu, see my advice for using it.

  Booking opens 60 days ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it in the MAV app on your phone.

  Alternatively, because it crosses Austria you can also book at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket.

The Drava from Budapest to Ljubljana about to leave at Budapest Keleti platform 10.

1st class seats on the Drava.		2nd class seats on the Drava.

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Budapest to Zagreb from €17

• The InterCity train Agram leaves Budapest Déli at 15:35, arriving Zagreb 22:00.

  The train travels along the southern shore of Lake Balaton, a scenic section of line.

  The Agram has one comfortable air-conditioned Hungarian car with open-plan 2nd class seats and one air-conditioned Croatian car with 6-seat 2nd class compartments, plus various older Hungarian cars only going as far as the border.  There's no 1st class and no catering car so take your own picnic & beer.

  Tip:  You can check the train formation, car numbers & car types using www.vagonweb.cz.  Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations, and use the search box to search for Agram.

• Fares start at €17 in 2nd class if you book in advance.

  This is a limited-availability fare, the price varies so book ahead.

• Buy tickets at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu, see tips for using it.

  Booking opens 60 days ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it in the MAV app on your phone.  Suggested hotels in Zagreb.

  If you don't succeed in buying online, simply buy at the station either on the day or ideally a day or two beforehand.  It's cheaper to buy in advance, even close to departure date.  The fare might be €39 bought 15 minutes before departure, but €29 if you buy at least 2h before departure or the day before.

The Intercity train Agram at Budapest Deli, the Croatian car in the foreground, the Hungarian car  next to it, then in the distance at the front of the train the older Hungarian cars going as far as the border.

2nd class compartment in the Croatian car.		2nd class open-plan seats in the Hungarian car.

The train runs along the southern shore of Lake Balaton, Hungary's largest lake.  Courtesy of Della Mcvay.

The train passes fields of sunflowers.  Courtesy of Louise Donnelly.

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Budapest to Split & Dubrovnik

Option 1, Budapest to Split & Dubrovnik via Zagreb - every day, all year round

• Step 1, take a train from Budapest to Zagreb as shown in the Budapest to Zagreb section.

  You can book this online at Hungarian Railways www.mavcsoport.hu from €29.  see advice for using mavcsoport.hu.

• Step 2, take the sleeper train from Zagreb to Split, or stay overnight in Zagreb and take a daytime train next day, a lovely scenic ride.

  A ticket for the daytime trains only costs €20 or so, you can book online at the Croatian Railways website www.hzpp.hr.  See the Zagreb page for details.  Suggested hotels in Zagreb & Split.

• Step 3, take a bus from Split to Dubrovnik.  There are buses every hour or even every half hour, run by several companies.  Journey time between 3h45 and 4h35, fare around €13-€17.  Buy a ticket at the bus station in Split.

The daytime trains to Split:  These fast, tilting, air-conditioned ICN trains link Zagreb & Split once or twice a day through great scenery.  Above right, first class seats on the train to Split.  You can now buy tickets online at www.hzpp.hr.

Scenery between Zagreb and Split seen from the train.  Photo courtesy of Páraic Maguire.

Option 2, Budapest to Split & Dubrovnik by direct sleeper train Adria, 3 times a week, summer-only, recommended.

• The sleeper train Adria runs on Tuesdays, Fridays, Sundays from 18 June to 30 September 2024, 2025 dates not yet known.

  It leaves Budapest Keleti at 18:45 and arrives in Split at 09:49 next morning.

  The Adria is a pleasure to travel on, it has two comfortable air-conditioned Hungarian sleeping-cars (with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin) and three or four couchette cars with 4 & 6 bunk compartments.  There are no seats cars.

  It has a Hungarian restaurant car serving dinner and breakfast - start your day in Croatia with a cooked breakfast of ham & eggs!  The restaurant car usually used on this train is an older wood-panelled type which used to be part of the Hungarian governmental train, see the photo below.

• Fares start from €49 with couchette in 6-berth, €59 with couchette in 4-berth, €64 with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper, €79 with a bed in a cosy 2-bed sleeper or €119 in a single-bed sleeper.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• You can book it at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu, see my advice for using it.  Booking opens 60 days ahead.

• For Dubrovnik, take a bus from Split.  There are buses every hour or even every half hour, run by several companies.  Journey time between 3h45 and 4h35, fare around €13-€17.  Buy a ticket at the bus station in Split.

The Adria from Budapest to Split approaches Split.  Photo courtesy of Rebecca Lacey.

2-bed sleeper of type used on the Adria.		Classic restaurant car. Courtesy Rebecca Lacey

The Adria from Budapest arrived at Split station.  So much nicer than a flight!  Courtesy of Rebecca Lacey.

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Budapest to Sarajevo

The direct Budapest to Sarajevo train was sadly discontinued in 2012, and the Zagreb-Sarajevo direct train is also currently suspended across the Croatian-Bosnian border.  But you can still travel from Budapest to Sarajevo by train with a short break in the middle by taxi, like this:

• Step 1, take the comfortable afternoon train from Budapest to Zagreb from €9 as shown in the Budapest to Zagreb section.

• Stay overnight in Zagreb, I suggest the historic Esplanade Hotel, Palace Hotel or Central Hotel, all near the station with good reviews.  The city is well worth a stop, so in summer, taking the early morning train from Budapest is a better idea.

• Step 2, travel from Zagreb to Sarajevo by train (mostly), see the Zagreb to Sarajevo by train page for details & current status.

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Budapest to Belgrade & Montenegro

• See the Budapest to Belgrade train service here.

• A major route upgrade from 2019-2026 means that direct Budapest-Belgrade fast trains are cancelled until 2026.  The line is being rebuilt for speeds of up to 200 km/h which will cut journey time cut to 2h40.

• However, in 2024 a new cross-border local service means that the determined traveller can get from Budapest to Belgrade by slow train with 3 changes, in an interesting day with lunch in Subotica.  One departure per day.

• This dramatically improves from a date to be announced, when the main line reopens between Subotica & Belgrade.  There will then be 3 comfortable train services a day taking around 6h50 with changes at Szeged & Subotica, see the Budapest to Belgrade timetable here.

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Budapest to Sofia

Option 1, Budapest to Sofia using a Budapest-Bucharest sleeper

• Day 1, travel from Budapest to Bucharest on the sleeper train Muntenia, leaving Budapest Keleti at 15:10, arriving Bucharest Nord 09:36.

  The Muntenia has 4 & 6-berth couchettes and ordinary seats.  A Romanian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments is attached from Arad (depart 20:57) to Bucharest.  There's no catering car, so bring your own food & drink.

  Fares start at €40 with a couchette in 6-berth or €47 with a couchette in 4-berth.  These are limited-availability advance-purchase fares

  Book this at the Romanian Railways international website bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro/en.

  Booking opens up to 90 days ahead.  Click EN top right for English.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

  If you want the comfort & privacy of a proper sleeper from Arad to Bucharest, (1) book a 2nd class seat from Budapest to Arad from €17 at bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro/en.  You print your own ticket.  (2) Now book berths in a 1, 2 or 3-bed sleeper from Arad to Bucharest Nord at the Romanian domestic website bilete.cfrcalatori.ro and print your own ticket.

• Day 2, travel from Bucharest to Sofia, leaving Bucharest Gara de Nord at 10:47 every day, arriving Sofia central 20:21.

  In summer from mid- June to early October this is a direct train, or rather, a 2nd class through car.

  At other times of year it's an air-conditioned Romanian diesel unit from Bucharest to Ruse arriving 13:45, then a Bulgarian train leaves Ruse at 14:20 for Sofia.

  Update:  Due to track upgrading, from 7 May 2024 for maybe a year, the train will terminate at Sofia Sever (Sofia North, 2.7 km from Sofia Central, see map).  You can take a taxi from Sofia Sever to your hotel, or take a suburban train the last few km into Sofia Central.

  There's no catering so bring a picnic and some wine or beer.  It's a lovely scenic ride, crossing from Romania into Bulgaria over the Danube between Giurgiu & Ruse on Europe's longest steel bridge, 2.5 Km long, then meandering at slow speed through the valleys of Bulgaria.

  You can confirm this schedule at the Bulgarian Railways website www.bdz.bg.  Click English top right.  Click Menu then look for International rail-routes, go to the Bucuresti-Sofia page and open the pdf timetable.

  The fare is €34 standard tariff, bought at the station or online.

  You can book this journey at the Romanian Railways website bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro.

  Click EN top right for English.  For Bucharest, enter Bucuresti.  Tickets must be collected from the ticket office at Bucharest Nord (or another Romanian station), so only use this site for one-way or round trip journeys starting in Romania.  Feedback would be appreciated.

  If you have any problems booking to Sofia, use bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro to book from Bucuresti to Ruse, this ticket can be printed out or shown on your phone.  Then rebook at Ruse, or pay the Bulgarian conductor on the train in cash or with card.

Option 2, Budapest to Sofia by day trains with overnight stop in Bucharest

• Day 1, travel from Budapest to Bucharest by daytime train across Transylvania as shown above.

• Stay overnight in Bucharest.  The Hotel Ibis Gara de Nord is a few minutes walk from the station, inexpensive and gets reasonable reports.  Search for other hotels in Bucharest.

• Day 2, travel from Bucharest to Sofia, leaving Bucharest Gara de Nord at 10:47 every day, arriving Sofia central 20:35.

  In summer from mid- June to early October this is a direct train, or rather, a 2nd class through car.

  At other times of year it's an air-conditioned Romanian diesel unit from Bucharest to Ruse arriving 13:45, then a Bulgarian train leaves Ruse at 14:20 for Sofia.

  Update:  Due to track upgrading, from 7 May 2024 for maybe a year, the train will terminate at Sofia Sever (Sofia North, 2.7 km from Sofia Central, see map).  You can take a taxi from Sofia Sever to your hotel, or take a suburban train the last few km into Sofia Central.

  The fare is €34 standard tariff, bought at the station or online.

  Book this at the Romanian Railways website bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro/en.

  Booking opens up to 90 days ahead.  Click EN top right for English.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

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Budapest to Warsaw from €27

Option 1, Budapest to Warsaw by sleeper train - the safe, comfortable, time-effective option

• A comfortable EuroNight sleeper train leaves Budapest Nyugati at 19:30 every night, arriving Warsaw Centralna 09:08.

  It has a safe & civilised sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin and 1 & 2 bed deluxe compartments with toilet & shower.  It has a couchette car with 4 & 6 bunk compartments.  The sleeper is Polish Railways' latest air-conditioned type, see the photos below.

• Fares start at €49.90 with a couchette in a 6-berth, €59.90 with a couchette in a 4-berth, €69.90 with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper, €88.90 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or €129.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• Book at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu, see my advice for using it.

  Booking opens 60 days ahead. If it doesn't offer deluxe sleepers, stick with regular ones. If it doesn't offer single-bed sleepers, simply book 2 tickets for a 2-bed sleeper.

• If booking online at mavcsoport doesn't work - if it says No offer available, either because the cheap fares are sold out or because MAV has forgotten to load the necessary data, or because they've decided to sell at full-price which their website doesn't sell - do one of the following:

  Option 1, pick up the phone and book that way, although you'll only get full-flex tickets this way, not cheap advance-purchase fares as those are only sold direct by MAV.  In the UK you can DB (German Railways) UK phone line on 00 49 (0)30 311 68 29 04.  Alternatively, anyone from any country can order tickets from reliable Polish agency www.polrail.com and pay extra for tickets to be sent to you, although again, this will cost a lot more than buying a cheap advance-purchase ticket from Hungarian Railways direct.  For cheapness, consider option 2 below.

  Option 2, consider catching the 18:40 EuroCity train from Budapest Keleti to Vienna Hbf, then using using the 23:10 Vienna-Warsaw sleeper instead, see times & fares here.  Or by all means book an earlier train from Budapest and have dinner in Vienna.  You can easily buy a cheap Sparschiene fare in a couchette or sleeper from Vienna to Warsaw at www.thetrainline.com or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at with tickets that can be printed out.  Then buy a ticket from Budapest to Vienna at www.thetrainline.com or the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu, also with tickets that can be printed out.  Simples!

The modern Polish sleeping-car from Budapest to Warsaw, boarding at Budapest Nyugati.

Standard sleeper in evening/morning mode with seats folded out.		Standard sleeper set up as a 3-berth.  It can also be sold as a single or double.		Deluxe sleeper, set up as a 2-berth, showing TV & wardrobe.		Deluxe sleeper:  En suite shower & toilet.  Click the photos for larger images.

Polish couchette car on the Budapest to Warsaw night train with 4 & 6 berth compartments.		6-berth couchettes. Larger photo

Option 2, Budapest to Warsaw by daytime train - the leisurely daytime option

• A smart air-conditioned EuroCity train called the Báthory leaves Budapest Nyugati at 08:12, arriving Warsaw Centralna 19:16.

  The train has Hungarian seating cars (a 1st class car, 2nd class compartment cars & a 2nd class open-plan car) and a Hungarian restaurant car.  Take a good book, enjoy an inexpensive meal in the restaurant car with a beer or two, and chill out.

• Fares start at €27 in 2nd class or €41 in 1st class if booked in advance, with limited availability.

• Book at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu, see my advice for using it.

  Booking opens 60 days ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it in the MAV app on your phone.

EuroCity train Bathory from Budapest to Warsaw at Budapest Nyugati.  Click the photos below for larger images.

1st class seats on the EuroCity Bathory.		Restaurant car on the EuroCity Bathory.

2nd class compartment on the EuroCity Bathory.		2nd class open plan car as used on the Bathory.

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Budapest to Krakow from €19

Option 1, Budapest to Krakow by sleeper train - the safe, comfortable, time-effective option

• A safe & comfortable EuroNight sleeper train leaves Budapest Nyugati at 19:30 every evening, arriving Krakow Glowny 06:20.

  The train has a sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin or 1 & 2 bed deluxe compartments with en suite toilet & shower, it also has a couchette car with 4 & 6 bunk compartments.  A sleeper is the recommended option, you'll be safe & snug.  The sleeper is of Polish Railways latest air-conditioned type, see the photos below.

• Fares start at €49.90 with a couchette in a 6-berth, €59.90 with a couchette in a 4-berth, €69.90 with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper, €88.90 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or €129.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• Book at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu, see my advice for using it.

  Booking opens 60 days ahead. If it doesn't offer deluxe sleepers, stick with regular ones. If it doesn't offer single-bed sleepers, simply book 2 tickets for a 2-bed sleeper.

• If booking online at mavcsoport doesn't work - if it says No offer available (and it's definitely less than 60 days ahead), either because the cheap fares are sold out or because MAV has forgotten to load the necessary data, or because they've decided to sell at full-price which their website doesn't sell - do one of the following:

  Option 1, pick up the phone and book that way, although you'll only get full-flex tickets this way, not cheap advance-purchase fares as those are only sold direct by MAV.  In the UK you can DB (German Railways) UK phone line on 00 49 (0)30 311 68 29 04.  Alternatively, anyone from any country can order tickets from reliable Polish agency www.polrail.com and pay extra for tickets to be sent to you, although again, this will cost a lot more than buying a cheap advance-purchase ticket from Hungarian Railways direct.  For cheapness, consider option 3 below.

  Option 2, consider catching the 18:40 EuroCity train from Budapest Keleti to Vienna Hbf, then using using the 23:10 Vienna-Krakow sleeper train instead, see times & fares here - the Vienna-Krakow(-Warsaw) sleeper arrives at Krakow coupled to the Budapest-Krakow(-Warsaw), they are two portions of the same train.  By all means book an earlier train from Budapest and have dinner in Vienna!  You can easily buy a cheap Sparschiene fare in a couchette or sleeper from Vienna to Krakow at the www.thetrainline.com or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at with tickets that can be printed out.  Then buy a ticket from Budapest to Vienna at www.thetrainline.com or the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu, also with tickets that can be printed out.  Simples!

• Tip:  The sleeper arrives in Krakow at an early hour.  Exit the station through the shopping centre and you'll find the Hotel Puro Stare Miasto on the other side of the road and to the right.  They'll let you join their excellent breakfast buffet from 7am for around €16.  Of course, your own hotel may let you join their breakfast buffet on the morning of arrival.  Suggested hotels in Krakow.

The modern Polish sleeping-car from Budapest to Krakow & Warsaw, boarding at Budapest Nyugati.

Standard sleeper in evening/morning mode with seats folded out.		Standard sleeper set up as 3-berth, can also be set up as a single or double.		Deluxe sleeper, set up as a 2-berth, showing TV & wardrobe.		Deluxe sleeper:  En suite shower & toilet.  Click the photos for larger images.

Polish couchette car on the Budapest to Warsaw night train with 4 & 6 berth compartments.		6-berth couchettes. Larger photo

Option 2, Budapest to Krakow by EuroCity train - the leisurely daytime option

• Two modern air-conditioned through cars leave Budapest Nyugati every day at 08:12, arriving Krakow Glowny 16:56.

  They run from Budapest to Bohumin attached to the Budapest-Warsaw EuroCity train Báthory, then from Bohumin to Krakow attached to the Prague-Krakow Cracovia.

  These 2nd class through cars are comfortable & air-conditioned with power sockets at all seats.  One car has classic 6-seat compartments, the other has open-plan seating.  I recommend sticking with 2nd class which is absolutely fine in these modern cars, but if you insist on 1st class you will have to switch trains at Bohumin just after 14:00, where the through cars are switched between trains.

  A Hungarian restaurant car is available from Budapest to Bohumin, reached around 14:00, and a Czech bistro car runs from Bohumin to Krakow, see the photos of the bistro on the Prague-Krakow page.

• Fares start at €19 if you book in advance.

• Book online at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu, see my advice for using it.

  Booking opens 60 days ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it in the MAV app on your phone.

The Budapest-Krakow through cars at Katowice, attached to the rear of the Prague-Krakow Cracovia. Courtesy of Discoverbyrail.com.

One Budapest-Krakow car has 6-seat compartments like this.  Click the images for larger photos.		...the other Budapest-Krakow car has open-plan seats, wheelchair space, bike compartment.

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Budapest to Vilnius, Riga, Tallinn

• Day 1, travel from Budapest to Warsaw by EuroCity train, as shown in the Budapest to Warsaw section.

  Fares start at €27, book as shown above.

  Or use the overnight sleeper train and spend the following day exploring Warsaw, also shown in the Budapest to Warsaw section.

• Stay overnight in Warsaw.  The Polonia Palace Hotel is excellent, historic, relatively inexpensive for such a good hotel, and it's just across the road from the station.  For something much cheaper, but still with great reviews and near the station, try the Hotel Metropol next door to the Polonia Palace or the nearby Novotel Warsaw Centrum.  Also see the Warsaw Centralna station & city information.

• Day 2, travel from Warsaw to Kaunas & Vilnius on the daily train, as shown on the Warsaw to Vilnius page.

• Day 3, for onward travel from Vilnius to Riga in Latvia, see here.

• Day 4, for onward travel from Riga to Tallinn in Estonia, see here.

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Budapest to Lviv, Kyiv & Ukraine

Option 1, Budapest to Lviv & Kyiv on the Transcarpathia - new!

• Starting 15 December 2024, a direct Ukrainian sleeper train links Budapest with Lviv & Kyiv every day.

  The Transcarpathia leaves Budapest Keleti at 22:40, arriving Lviv 13:38 & Kyiv Pass 19:11 next day.

  The train consists of up to 8 Ukrainian sleeping-cars, with one car of 1st class 2-berth compartments (spalny vagon), and up to 7 cars of 2nd class 4-berth compartments (kupé). 

  Bedding is provided, there are toilets & washrooms at the end of the corridor.  The sleeper attendants can provide snacks and delicious Ukrainian tea, but bring your own food as there's no catering car.  The train is jacked up at Chop on the Ukrainian border to have its bogies changed from standard gauge (4' 8½") to Ukrainian gauge (5').

  You can check the consist and car numbers for this train using www.vagonweb.cz.  Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations, and search for Transcarpathia.

• Fares start at:

  €63.10 with a bed in a 2nd class 4-berth sleeper.

  €76.10 with a bed in a 2-berth 1st class sleeper.

  These are limited-availability fares book online in advance.

• Buy tickets at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu, see my tips for using it.

  Booking opens 3 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone in the MAV app.

  Tip:  You should select 2-bed compartment (double) or sleeping-car, 4-bed compartment.  Single and triple options are shown, but result in a ticket without reservation.  If it says x Reservation not included, do not proceed.  Like I said, select double or 4-berth!

Above left, the Transcarpathia on its first day of operation.  Above right, a 1st class 2-bed sleeper.  Courtesy of Ukrainian Railways Укрзалізниця

Option 2, Budapest to Lviv & Kyiv by direct sleeping-car.

• One, two or occasionally three Ukrainian sleeping-cars leave Budapest Keleti at 19:40 every evening, arriving next day at Lviv 10:08 & Kyiv 16:50.

  Introduced in December 2017, these Ukrainian sleeping-cars have comfortable 1, 2 & 3 berth compartments with washbasin, see the photos below.  They start their journey in Vienna.

  These direct sleeping-cars are faster than the Transcarpathia (option 1), but they're popular and usually leave fully-booked.  You'll usually find better availability on the Transcarpathia.

• Fares start at around €66 with a bed in a cosy 2 or 3-bed sleeper.

• You can now book this train at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu, see my tips for using it.

  Booking opens around 90 days ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it in the MAV app.  Feedback appreciated.

  If you have any problems, you can also buy tickets from reliable agency www.polrail.com, with tickets posted or couriered to you for a fee.  Polrail are based in Poland so charge in zlotys, but as they have access to Ukrainian ticketing system they are good for booking this train.

The Vienna-Budapest-Kyiv sleeping-car at Kyiv Pass.  Photos courtesy of Helmut Uttenthaler.

The sleeper is jacked up to have its bogies changed at Chop on the Ukrainian border.  Photo Helmut Uttenthaler.

The Vienna-Kyiv sleeper at Vienna Hbf. Courtesy of Helmut Uttenthaler.		The sleeper corridor.  Courtesy Helmut Uttenthaler.		1, 2 or 3 bed sleeper compartment.

Option 3, Budapest to Lviv by daytime trains for €26  Also a useful alternative for Budapest-Kyiv if the direct train is full

• Step 1, travel from Budapest to Mukachevo, leaving Budapest Nyugati at 07:20 every day, arriving Mukachevo in Ukraine at 15:40.

  Just one or two through cars run direct to Mukachevo, with comfortable air-conditioned 2nd class open-plan seats.  Reservation is compulsory and it often sells out a few days ahead, so book in advance.

  Fares start at €19.80 if booked in advance or around €25 full-price bought on the day.

  Buy a ticket at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu, see my tips for using it.  Booking usually opens 60 days ahead.

  At Mukachevo there's a supermarket across the road from the station and a pizza restaurant nearby.

• Step 2, travel from Mukachevo to Lviv or Kyiv on train 81, leaving Mukachevo at 18:04, arriving Lviv at 22:24 & Kyiv at 08:36 next morning.

  Train 81 has 1st class 2-berth sleepers (spalny vagon), 2nd class 4-berth sleepers (kupé) & open-plan sleepers (platskartny).

  The fare from Mukachevo to Lviv is around €11 in kupé.

  The fare from Mukachevo to Kyiv is around €49 in spalny vagon, or €21 in kupé.

  Buy a ticket for this train online at the Ukrainian Railways website www.uz.gov.ua (you may need a VPN set to a Ukrainian IP address).  Booking opens 30-60 days ahead.

• Feedback and any photos of the Hungarian or Ukrainian trains inside or out would be most welcome, please let me know if you travel this way!

The two Hungarian through cars from Budapest arrived at Mukachevo. Courtesy of www.discoverbyrail.com.

Ukrainian train 81 from Mukachevo to Lviv & Kyiv, boarding at Mukachevo.  Courtesy of www.discoverbyrail.com.

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Budapest to Moscow & St Petersburg

Option 1, Budapest to Moscow via Kyiv - avoiding need for a Belarus visa

• Step 1, travel from Budapest to Kyiv by direct sleeper train as shown above.  Leave Budapest evening day 1, arrive Kyiv late afternoon day 2.

• Step 2, travel from Kyiv to Moscow by sleeper train.

  There are several trains every night, perfectly safe for westerners in spite of any tensions between Russia & Ukraine.  Train 6 leaves Kyiv at 19:36 arriving Moscow Kievskaya station around 10:09 next morning, which would be day 3 from Budapest.  This route avoids Belarus and the need for an expensive Belarusian visa so it's the route I'd recommend.

  Kyiv-Moscow trains were suspended due to Covid-19 and remain suspended due to the war in Ukraine.

  The fare is around €92 with a bed in 4-berth kupé or €180 with a bed in a 2-berth spalny vagon.

  You can ask www.polrail.com to book this for you too, or you can book tickets from Kyiv to Moscow at the Ukrainian Railways site booking.uz.gov.ua/en/ booking from Kyiv to Moskva Kievskaya.  You collect tickets at the station in Kyiv.  Feedback appreciated!

Option 2, Budapest to Moscow using the daily Prague-Moscow sleeper train

• Step 1, travel from Budapest to Bohumin on the EuroCity train Bathory, leaving Budapest Nyugati at 08:28 arriving Bohumin at 14:09.

  Book from Budapest to Bohumin at the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz with fares from €19. Booking normally opens 90 days ahead, you print your own ticket.

• Step 2, travel from Bohumin to Moscow by Russian sleeper train, leaving Bohumin at 14:40 every day arriving Moscow Belorussky at 16:58 next day (the day after you leave Budapest).  You can check times at the Russian Railways website www.rzd.ru.

  This train was suspended due to Covid-19 and remains suspended due to sanctions.

  If this seems like a tight connection, don't worry.  The Prague-Moscow sleeping-cars get coupled up to the Budapest-Poland Bathory and run combined as one train between Bohumin, Warsaw & Terespol on the Poland/Belarus border.

  This train uses impressive Austrian-built sleeping-cars with 4-berth compartments built in 2014, see photos of this type of sleeper here & see panorama photo inside one of these modern sleepers.  Each compartment can be sold as 1st class 1-berth, 1st class 2-berth or 2nd class 4-berth.  The train consist of two or three sleeping-cars which start their journey in Prague.  There's a bistro car in Poland and a Russian restaurant car is attached between Brest (on the Polish/Belarus border) & Moscow.

  The fare is approximately €120 with a bed in a 4-berth sleeper. €180 in a 2-bed sleeper or €215 in a single-bed sleeper.

  You can book this train online at Czech Railways www.cd.cz and print your own ticket.  This is the recommended method.

  Alternatively, you can book with Russian Railways at www.rzd.ru although it's a little quirky and may not accept some overseas credit cards.

  Don't forget to arrange both your Russian visa and Belarus transit visa as the train runs via Belarus.  See my important update about travel to Russia through Belarus.

• For St Petersburg it's best to travel via Moscow.  Moscow to St Petersburg takes as little as 3h50 by daytime Sapsan trains, or can be done an a number of traditional overnight sleepers.  See the train travel in Russia page to buy tickets within Russia.

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Budapest to Athens, Thessaloniki & Greece

Option 1, Budapest to Athens by ferry from Italy. 

This is the most viable option whilst trains in the Balkans remain cancelled.

• Day 1, travel from Budapest to Vienna by railjet, leaving Budapest Keleti at 17:40, arriving Vienna Hbf 18:20.

  The swish modern railjet has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Why not book an earlier train and have dinner in Vienna?  See suggested restaurants.

  Fares start at €19.90 in 2nd class, €29.90 in 1st class or €44.90 in business class (= premium 1st).  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee.

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You can also book at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu (more fiddly, in Hungarian forints, see my advice for using it, booking with MAV only opens 60 days ahead).

  Tip:  If you've a sleeping-car ticket, you can use the ÖBB Lounge at Vienna Hbf between trains, with complimentary tea, coffee & WiFi.

• Day 1, travel from Vienna to Bologna by Nightjet sleeper train leaving Vienna Hbf at 19:18, arriving Bologna Centrale 05:36.

  This train is a new generation Nightjet sleeper train with 1 & 2 bed sleepers all with shower & toilet, 4-berth comfort couchettes, individual mini cabins and ordinary seats, see the new generation Nightjet page for a guide to accommodation.  The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu.  A light breakfast is included in sleepers, couchettes & mini cabins.

  Fares start at €49 with couchette or €109.90 with a bed in a cosy 2-bed sleeper.

  Buy tickets at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee, can also book onward tickets within Italy) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, a bit more fiddly, same fares).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket.

• Day 2, travel from Bologna to Bari by Frecciarossa, leaving Bologna Centrale at 09:45 arriving Bari Centrale 15:27.

  The train has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  It's a pleasant run along the scenic Adriatic coast.

  Fares start at €29.90 in 2nd class or €39.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or www.italiarail.com (easy to use, in €, $ or £, they'll refund the €3.50 booking fee to seat61 users if you email them after booking at seat61@italiarail.com) or www.trenitalia.com (in €, more fiddly, requires Italian-language place names, see advice on using it).

  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.  It's ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.