Trains are the most environmentally friendly way of travelling with many advantages over flying. On our night trains most of the journey is spent sleeping, so passengers arrive well rested in the morning in the centre of major cities in Western, Central and Eastern Europe. Our year-round or seasonal trains offer direct connections to Stuttgart, Berlin, Zürich, Prague, Cracow, Warsaw, Brașov, Bucharest, the Adriatic Sea and many other cities around Europe. In addition with only one change you can easily reach destinations such as Paris, Amsterdam, Brussels, the Italian or Romanian coast.
Routes and destinations
There are 14 direct overnight services from Budapest to all destinations on the continent, operated jointly by MÁV-START and other European railways with different operators on several routes. Detailed train routes, operation days and operators are available below:
|
Viszonylat |
Érintett nagyvárosok |
Magyarországi vonatnév és vonatszám |
Szolgáltató |
Szolgáltatás |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Budapest – Zürich |
Győr, Vienna, Innsbruck, Feldkirch |
Kálmán Imre EuroNight (40462/40467) |
Seat car, couchette car, sleeping car |
|
|
Budapest - Stuttgart |
Győr, Vienna, Munich, Augsburg |
Kálmán Imre EuroNight (50462/50237) |
Seat car, couchette car, sleeping car |
|
|
Budapest -Berlin |
Štúrovo, Nové Zámky, Bratislava, Prague, Dresden |
Metropol EuroNight (40476/40457) |
Seat car, couchette car, sleeping car |
|
|
Budapest - Prága |
Štúrovo, Nové Zámky, Bratislava |
Metropol EuroNight (476/577) |
Couchette car, sleeping car |
|
|
Budapest - Varsó |
Štúrovo, Nové Zámky, Bratislava, Cracow |
Metropol EuroNight (476/407) |
Seat car, couchette car (28th March – 29th September), sleeping car |
Along the direct trains listed above, nighjet night services are available from Vienna operated by the Austrian Railways (ÖBB) to various destinations such as Venice, Rome, Milan, Paris, Cologne, Brussels, and Amsterdam. Between Budapest and Vienna hourly train services are available with rjx and EC trains.
More information and booking: https://www.nightjet.com/en/
|
Route |
Served major cities en-route |
Train number and name in Hungary |
Service provider |
Available services |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Budapest – Brașov |
Szolnok, Debrecen, Gheorgheni, Miercurea Ciuc, Sfântu Gheorghe |
Corona InterCity (407/406) |
seat car*, couchette car, sleeping car* (*without AC), restaurant car |
|
|
Budapest – Bucharest |
Szolnok, Békéscsaba, Sibiu, Brașov |
Ister InterCity (473/472) |
Seat car, couchette car, sleeping car |
|
|
Vienna – Kyiv |
Győr, Budapest, Szolnok, Debrecen, Záhony, Chop, Mukacheve, Lviv |
Hortobágy EuroCity (149, 749) |
sleeping car |
|
|
Vienna – Bucharest |
Győr, Budapest, Alba Iulia, Sighișoara, Brașov |
Dacia fast train (346/347) |
Seat car, couchette car, sleeping car |
|
|
Vienna – Cluj-Napoca |
Győr, Budapest, Deva, Aiud |
Dacia-Corvin fast train (404/347) |
couchette car |
|
|
Budapest – Bucharest |
Szolnok, Békéscsaba, Craiova |
Muntenia InterCity (78/79) |
seat car, couchette car |
The night trains run daily throughout the year.
|
Route |
Served major cities en-route |
Train number and name in Hungary |
Running period |
Service provider |
Available services |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Budapest - Split |
Székesfehérvár, Siófok, Nagykanizsa, Knin, Perković, Kaštel Stari |
Adria InterCity (1204/1205) |
18th June – 29th September, three times a week |
Couchette car, sleeping car, restaurant car |
|
|
Budapest - Koper |
Székesfehérvár, Veszprém, Zalaegerszeg, Ljubljana, Postojna |
Retro Istria express train (1246/1604) |
28th June – 31st August, daily |
seat car*, couchette car*, sleeping car* (*without AC) |
|
|
Budapest - Rijeka |
Székesfehérvár, Veszprém, Zalaegerszeg, Ljubljana, Postojna |
Retro Istria express train (1246/480) |
J28th June – 31st August, daily |
seat car*, couchette car*, sleeping car* (*without AC) |
Services on board
Generally three travel categories are available on night trains, passengers can choose between sleeping cars, couchettes and 2nd class seat cars. As presented above not all destinations are served by all three coach types.
Services in sleeping cars:
- sleeping car offers the highest comfort level - recommended for business travellers, couples and small families
- one (single), two (double) or three (triple) bed-compartments are available for booking
- unless purchased together passengers are accommodated in single-sex compartments
- beds are available as per occupancy (lower/middle/upper), middle and upper beds are accessible by ladder
- full size bed, prepared by departure (sheets, pillows and blankets)
- lockable compartment fitted with curtains and/or blinds
- built-in washbasin and toiletry cabinet, basic hygiene kit offered at departure *
- individually adjustable lighting, temperature, reading lamp
- toilets and hand-washing facilities are shared by fellow travellers
- free mineral water, welcome drink, welcome pack and breakfast *
- hot and cold meals, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages available for purchase from the carriage attendant staff *
- some cars offer shared or en-suite shower facilities as well *
*may be available only by some specific operators
Services in couchette cars:
- the couchette car has the best value-for-money rate: recommended for groups of friends, large families, groups
- four or six berth compartments available can be booked
- couchettes offer mixed-sex accommodation, while ladies-only compartments are also available on selected routes
- beds are available as per occupancy (lower/middle/upper), middle and upper beds are accessible by ladder
- all compartments can be securely locked and are fitted with curtains and/or blinds
- individually adjustable lighting, temperature, reading lamp
- passengers are provided with bedsheets, pillows and blankets with the flexibility of making their beds at each one’s convenience
- welcome drink in the evening and in the morning, breakfast (depending on service provider)
- hot and cold food, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks available for purchase from the carriage attendant staff*
- Shared toilets in coaches, some coaches have washbasins also*.
*service may vary by operator
Services:
- seat cars are available at the lowest price, but they also offer the least comfort throughout the journey
- travelling is ensured in 6-person compartments or open-saloon cars, depending on the route
- two shared toilets are available per carriage
Booking tickets
For overnight trains tickets are available at varying prices depending on the time of purchase, train route, distance travelled and comfort category chosen. A seat carb is typically ranging between €20-100, a couchette can be booked around €40-150, while places in sleeping cars can be expected around €50-200.
Discounted tickets are typically non-refundable and non-refundable; check the ticket conditions during the ticket purchase process. Some ticket types are refundable with favourable conditions.
Tickets for trains to Poland (Budapest-Warsaw) and Ukraine (Vienna-Budapest-Kiev) can only be purchased in person, at our international ticket offices.
Discounts
- Children under 6 years of age travel free of charge on overnight trains provided they do not occupy a separate seat or bed.
- Children between 6 and 15 years of age can buy a discounted children's ticket.
- If six or more passengers travel together, tickets can be purchased at the group discount and on some services primary and secondary school classes including guides can travel at a special discount in a seat and couchette car. For group travel, please contact our sales team.
- Discounts entitling you to domestic travel (e.g. student card, country pass, >65) cannot be used on our international overnight trains, not even partially.
- Interrail season ticket holders only need to buy a reservation on the overnight trains which can also be done on Elvira (jegy.mav.hu) by selecting the "Bérlet (pl. Interrail)" discount.
Useful tips for using night services
- Train timetables are subject to change due to track maintainance and exceptional reasons. A few days before your journey please check the online timetable, railway company websites or at railway stations and customer services to see if your departure or arrival times have changed.
- Most trains have a power socket but it's also a good idea to bring a powerbank for your journey.
- For those who sleep poorly it is also a good idea to bring earplugs and eye covers.
- There is limited space for luggage (suitcases) in the compartments, so it is advisable to travel with as small a bag (rucksack) as possible.
- Bicycles are generally not allowed on overnight trains (except Retro Istria express).
- On overnight trains animals (e.g. cats, dogs, birds) can be transported free of charge in a locked carrier in the seat car. Dogs may be carried in a seat car without a carrier with a leash and muzzle with booking a dog ticket. Animals as a general rule may not be carried in the couchette and sleeping cars, but it’s advisable to check the relevant carrier’s regulations
