The daytime train between Berlin and Budapest has been restored so travellers can now once again choose between travelling overnight or during the day, when making the journey between the capitals of Germany and Hungary
Final Destination: Budapest-Nyugati
This train now arrives at Nyugati station in Budapest and NOT Budapest-Keleti
This train also calls at: Brno, Bratislava and Vac
Come on board for one of Europe's most epic daytime train journeys; this train usually departs Berlin Hbf at around 09:00 and arrives in the Hungarian capital shortly before 20:30.
1 x direct train per day
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings usually open: 3 months ahead of the travel date
This train usually departs Hamburg Hbf at 0(:16, so target that departure time when looking up this journey.
Book 1st class ticket journey tickets on DB Bahn and your seat reservation is included - but they're optional when booking 2nd class tickets, or if you will be travelling with a 1st or 2nd class rail pass.
Reservations are highly recommended for this journey - particularly in 2nd class.
Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
---|---|---|
DB | from €43.90 |
Take this train and you will be on the EC train that is provided by MAV (Hungarian) Railways.
The majority of the journey by this EC train from Berlin to Budapest isn't particularly scintillating.
As far as Dresden you will be travelling across flat farm land, but try to stay awake!
The highlight of the journey comes between Dresden and Prague.
For more than two hours the train travels through the beautiful Elbe River valley, but sit on the left of the train (when facing the direction of travel) for the best views.
The most scenic section of the Czech part of the trip is when the train travels through the valleys to the east of Pardubice.
Then in summer, when the train crosses the Hungarian border in daylight, there are views of The Danube on the left to the east of the station call at Vac.
This journey is so epic that it's also included on Thrillist's guide to Europe's Most Beautiful Train Rides.
This second version of ShowMeTheJourney is exciting and new, so we are genuinely thrilled that you are here and reading this, but we also need your help.
We’re striving not to let anything get in the way of providing the most useful service possible, hence a facility has been set up with DonorBox which can be used to support the running costs and make improvements.
Instead of advertising or paywalls, your financial support will make a positive difference to delivering an enhanced service, as there’s a lot of ideas which we want to make happen.
So if you have found the info provided here to be useful, please go here to say thank you.
Final Destination: Budapest-Nyugati
This train also calls at: Berlin Ostbahnhof and it commences its journey in West Berlin, it is usually scheduled to depart from Berlin Charlottenburg station.
If you will be commencing your journey in Berlin city centre, then it's likely that your best option will be to join this train at Berlin Ostbahnhof station; heading there on one of the frequent S-Bahn trains from Alexanderplatz or Friedrichstrabe stations.
This train is due to arrive in Budapest-Nyugati station shortly before 08:30 and it also calls in Vac - where it is due to arrive at 07:48 .
1 x train per night
Book early and save: Yes
This train is usually scheduled to depart from Berlin at 18:43, so target that time when looking up this journey.
Online bookings open:
6 months ahead of the travel date on OBB
3 months ahead of the travel date on DB Bahn
The choice of accommodation - summary:
- Compartment Seats
- Couchettes; 4 berths AND 6 berths
- Standard (2nd class) sleeping cars with 3 bed, 2 bed and 1 cabins
Click the yellow train button above for more info including the rail pass reservation fees:
Using rail passes:
Rail pass users must reserve before boarding these trains.
However, these rail pass reservations can NO longer be booked online the DB website.
If you want to reserve seats, berths in couchettes or beds in the sleeping cabins before you arrive in Germany, the best option is to pay a booking fee and use the Eurail or InterRail reservation services.
Or you can avoid the booking fees by arranging the reservations when you arrive in Germany, by purchasing them at a Reisezentrum travel desk, which you will find in any hauptbahnhof.
Though it's best to do this at the first hauptbahnhof (city centre station) that you will arrive at, the later you leave booking your accommodation, the more likely it is that your preferences will be sold out.
Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
---|---|---|
OBB | * | |
DB | * |
On departure from Berlin, the train heading to Budapest will be joined to another train heading to Graz or Wien, so if you see either of these destinations on the departure screens at Berlin Hbf, the info will also apply to this train heading to Budapest.
On departure from Berlin, the coaches heading to Budapest will be joined to another part of the train, which will be heading to Wien.
If you see Wien shown as a destination on the departure boards in Berlin, then the information will also apply to this overnight train from Berlin to Budapest.
This second version of ShowMeTheJourney is exciting and new, so we are genuinely thrilled that you are here and reading this, but we also need your help.
We’re striving not to let anything get in the way of providing the most useful service possible, hence a facility has been set up with DonorBox which can be used to support the running costs and make improvements.
Instead of advertising or paywalls, your financial support will make a positive difference to delivering an enhanced service, as there’s a lot of ideas which we want to make happen.
So if you have found the info provided here to be useful, please consider saying thank you.
This is one of more than 100 train travel guides available on ShowMeTheJourney, which will make it easier to take the train journeys you want or need to make. As always, all images were captured on trips taken by ShowMeTheJourney.