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Platforms and glass roof of Wien Hauptbahnhof

Wien Hauptbahnhof, opened in stages 2012-2015 on the site of the old Sudbahnhof, where trains from Budapest arrive.

Photo: C.Stadler/Bwag / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Budapest to Vienna by Train

An international route between Hungary and Austria.

Reviewed by Eurotraintrip on 2026-07-30

Duration
2h 20m – 2h 50m
Price from
9 EUR
Distance
214 km
Operators
MAV-START EuroCityOBB RailjetRegioJet
Frequency
Around 20-24 daytime trains a day combined across MAV-START, OBB Railjet and RegioJet - close to hourly - plus one nightly OBB/MAV Nightjet sleeper

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What makes Budapest to Vienna different

  • Budapest Keleti, this route's starting point for MAV-START and OBB Railjet trains, opened on 16 August 1884, designed by architects Gyula Rochlitz and Janos Feketehazy - its 43-metre facade carries statues of railway pioneers James Watt and George Stephenson, and the interior has frescoes by Karoly Lotz.
  • The Orient Express made its first-ever stop in Budapest on 7 October 1883, arriving at the newly built Nyugati station - a full year before Keleti, today's departure point for most Vienna-bound trains, had even opened.
  • Wien Hauptbahnhof, where OBB Railjet and MAV-START trains from Budapest arrive, is a single-structure through-station opened in stages between 2012 and 2015 on the site of the old Sudbahnhof, handling roughly 268,000 passengers a day under its 25,000-square-metre glass roof.

Budapest station

Departs from Budapest Keleti (for MAV-START and OBB Railjet) - opened 1884, designed by Gyula Rochlitz and Janos Feketehazy in an eclectic style; RegioJet instead departs from Budapest-Deli on the Buda side.

Vienna station

Arrives at Wien Hauptbahnhof, opened in stages between 2012 and 2015 on the site of the old Sudbahnhof - a single-structure through-station under a 25,000-square-metre diamond-shaped glass roof, sitting directly on the U1 subway line a few stops from Stephansplatz.

Train vs. other options

Given the short 214km hop, there's next to no scheduled flight market between Budapest and Vienna, and driving covers the distance in similar time to the train once inner-city traffic on both ends is factored in - the difference is that every one of the roughly 20 daily trains drops you at a station near the middle of the other city, not an outskirts park-and-ride.

Booking tips

  • RegioJet's low-cost fares (from about 9 EUR) undercut MAV-START and OBB on this route and rise only modestly as the departure date approaches - worth checking even close to departure.
  • Trains start from two different Budapest stations depending on operator - MAV-START and OBB Railjet depart from Keleti, but RegioJet departs from Budapest-Deli on the Buda side - check which station is on your ticket before heading out.
  • OBB Nightjet Sparschiene tickets (from about 30 EUR) can be booked up to six months ahead and cover this short 2-3 hour hop overnight.

Good to know: A RegioJet ticket ex-Budapest is sold specifically from Deli station, not Keleti where MAV-START and OBB Railjet depart - the two stations sit on opposite sides of central Budapest, so check which one is on your ticket before you plan how to get there.

While you're in Vienna

Facade and gardens of Schonbrunn Palace in Vienna

Schonbrunn Palace, the Habsburgs' baroque summer residence.

Photo: Diego Delso / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Vienna's grand Ringstrasse boulevard, Habsburg palaces and centuries-old coffeehouses (where nobody rushes you out after one cup, by design) make it one of Europe's most purpose-built capitals for slow travel.

Full Vienna travel guide →

Frequently asked questions

How long is the train from Budapest to Vienna?

OBB Railjet, the fastest option, takes around 2 hours 20 minutes. MAV-START EuroCity and RegioJet services with additional stops take closer to 2 hours 50 minutes.

Which Budapest station does the Vienna train leave from?

MAV-START and OBB Railjet trains depart from Budapest Keleti; RegioJet instead departs from Budapest-Deli, on the Buda side.

Which train operators run Budapest to Vienna?

MAV-START (EuroCity), OBB (Railjet) and the private operator RegioJet all run daytime services, plus one nightly OBB/MAV Nightjet sleeper.

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