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How to take the rail journey from Hamburg to Budapest
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Hamburg to Budapest by train
Despite the distance there is a direct daytime train from Hamburg, but there is a faster alternative available if you are prepared to transfer between trains.
If you are happy with the idea of making a fairly straightforward connection, travelling by night is also an option.
Routes you can take to go from Hamburg to Budapest
When travelling between most cities by train there is only one logical option, though on other journeys there is a choice between different trains or alternative routes. If different options are available you can use the info to decide which is best for you.
Choose one of the following options:
Looking for connections?
Route Information
Option 1: taking the direct train
Station Guides
Travel Time (approx)
13hr 33min
Frequency
Daily
Travel Info
1 x train per day
1 x train per day
Is the journey from Hamburg to Budapest direct?
Yes, there is no need to make a connection when taking this route.
Though it's possible to depart later and make only one connection in Praha / Prag
Is this journey scenic?
Between Dresden and Prague, the railway is on the west bank of the River Elbe, with lovely views on the left when facing the direction of travel.
See the Journey Guide for images and more information.
What other tourist locations are along this route from Hamburg to Budapest?
This train also calls in Dresden and Bad Schandau and Praha / Prague and Brno.
How easy is it to get to the station in Hamburg?
Hamburg Hbf is linked to other areas of the city by frequent local (S-Bahn) trains and the metro (U-Bahn) - See the Station Guide above for more info, plus easy access to multiple options for booking somewhere to stay in its neighbourhood.
Are tickets cheaper if booked in advance?
Yes, and they can be purchased from a choice of booking agents - see below.
Click on the 'Good to know info' to access guides to how rail tickets are managed in Germany, plus step-by-step guides on how to make a booking.
How soon ahead of travel are tickets typically placed on sale?
It can be up to 3 months ahead of the travel date; though the booking period will be typically be shorter when looking up journeys for travel after the second Sunday in December; and when looking up summer travel in March to May.
Does the ticket include assigned seats?
Only when booking the most expensive types of ticket = Flexpreise tickets for travel in 1st class.
So they are not included when booking tickets for travel in 2nd class, or any other type of ticket valid for travel in 1st class
They are available, so they can be added for an additional cost, when booking those types of ticket.
See the Train Guide in the Journey Information for insights on how to board the train.
Do rail pass users need to book reservations?
No they are available, but are not mandatory - Though they are recommended for this route, particularly at
- business hours,
- Fridays after midday
- Saturdays before midday
- Sundays after midday
See the rail pass guide for details of the booking options.
Is catering available on the train?
Yes, there is a bar/bistro car and a restaurant service
See the Train Guide in the Journey Information.
What else is good to know about German rail travel?
Check out the guide to travelling by train in Germany
Purchase Tickets
Exclusive for New Customers: Receive a 10% discount by using the code 24NOV on any purchase with a maximum total price of £100, until 28 November 2024 (11:59 pm CET). Limit one coupon per qualifying booking. Cannot be combined, transferred or exchanged.
Omio Guide
Omio is an online ticket agency which offers tickets for rail journeys in France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy and Spain.
The three key advantages of using Omio are
- it offers prices in multiple currencies
- it usually offers price comparison with other modes of travel including flights and buses
- when visiting Europe, you can book journeys in multiple countries in one transaction.
The disadvantage of booking with Omio is that it often adds a booking fee to the final price; therefore when it does so without offering a price advantage, SMTJ doesn't tend to offer Omio as a booking option.
Other Ticket Providers
DB Guide
DB is the national railway operator in Germany, so its website can be used for booking journeys by German express trains; the ICE and IC trains and it doesn't charge booking fees.
It also sells tickets for journeys by direct trains on all international routes from Germany regardless of whether DB is operating the train service.
It also sells an extensive range of end-to-end journeys which involve making connections both within Germany and in neighboring countries, but journeys between Germany and Britain cannot be booked on DB.
A key feature of DB website worth keeping mind is that it offers 1st class ticket purchasers complimentary seat reservations on journeys both within and to/from Germany.
Seat reservations for daytime in both 1st and 2nd class can also be booked separately from tickets.
MAV Guide
MAV is the national railway operator in Hungary and its newly relaunched website is still at the 'beta' stage, but it can be used to make bookings.
The MAV website also sells tickets for the direct international trains from Hungary and it's booking path for overnight trains is particularly easy to follow.
Travel Information
Come on board for one of Europe's most epic daytime train journeys; this train usually departs Hamburg Hbf at around 06:48 at arrives in the Hungarian capital at 20:20.
A fascinating ride which will take you across four countries and through three capital cities.
And between Dresden and Prague there are some beautiful river views.
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
This is a direct journey
You will be travelling on one of these trains...
Journey Features
Good to Know
Take this train and you will be on the EC train that is provided by MAV (Hungarian) Railways.
There isn't a direct overnight train from Hamburg to Budapest.
The majority of the journey by this EC train from Hamburg to Budapest isn't particularly scintillating.
Between Berlin and Dresden you will be travelling across flat farm land, but try to stay awake, as the highlight of the journey comes between Dresden and Prague.
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.
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Tickets
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings usually open: up to 3 months ahead of the travel date
A choice of tickets
Three types of tickets are available:
Two types of discounted tickets, which will be cheaper the further ahead you book - Sparpreis and Super Sparpreis
One type of non-discounted ticket - Flexpreis,
A key difference between these types of tickets is refunds:
- Super Sparpreis tickets are cheapest, but they can't be refunded at all.
- Sparpreis tickets can be refunded for a fee, but the refund will be in the form of travel vouchers to be used for alternative / future journeys.
- Flexpreis tickets can be refunded at no additional charge.
The other key difference is that both types of Sparpreis tickets are only valid on the specific departures selected when booking, but Flexpreis tickets live up to their name, as they can be used on any departure on your travel date.
Note that none of the tickets can be exchanged to a different departure.
There's no need for this to be available for Flexpreis tickets, as they aren't train departure specific.
If you book a Sparpreis ticket and want to travel by a different departure you can refund it and then use the travel voucher towards the cost of the new booking.
Super Sparpreis tickets can't be exchanged or refunded.
The Sparpreis and Flexpreis tickets also include 'City tickets' for Hamburg which can be used on public transport between locations in the city centre and Hamburg hbf.
Seat reservations
Seat reservations are optional on this route - take note if you will be using a rail pass.
They cost €4.90 when travelling in 2nd Class and €5.90 when travelling in 1st class.
Specific seats can be selected from seating plans - you don't have to accept the seat(s) that you will be automatically offered.
They are included within the cost of booking 1st class Flexpreis tickets.
When booking Super Sparpreis, Sparpreis and 2nd class Flexpreis tickets, you have the option of purchasing seat reservations later.
It can be worth re-looking up a journey a week or two ahead of travel, because the DB website will indicate how busy a departure will be.
Booking on the DB website
You can find this direct train more easily by making a proactive selection of 'Direct Trains Only'.
Or to see all the combinations of trains and journey options, some of which may be cheaper, take off the 'fastest connections' default.
Route Information
Via stations: Wien Hbf/Hauptbahnhof
Option 2: taking a combination of ICE and Railjet trains
Station Guides
Travel Time (approx)
12hr 15min (approx)
Frequency
Daily
Travel Info
1 x optimum connection per day
Purchase Tickets
DB Guide
DB is the national railway operator in Germany, so its website can be used for booking journeys by German express trains; the ICE and IC trains and it doesn't charge booking fees.
It also sells tickets for journeys by direct trains on all international routes from Germany regardless of whether DB is operating the train service.
It also sells an extensive range of end-to-end journeys which involve making connections both within Germany and in neighboring countries, but journeys between Germany and Britain cannot be booked on DB.
On journeys within Germany and on most international journeys from and to Germany on trains operated by DB:
- For journeys by the express trains, EC. IC and ICE trains an adult (on German railways an adult is a person aged 15 and over) can take up to four children aged 6 - 14 with them at no additional charge.
- Tickets need to be booked for children aged 0 - 5, but there is no charge for them.
- Those aged 65 and over can take journeys at a discounted rate.
- Dogs, which are too large to be placed in pet carriers, require tickets which cost 50% of the adult rate.
When booking both types of the discounted 'Sparpreis' tickets seat reservations are an optional extra, so need to be added when booking if you want an assigned seat(s).
Travel Information
This combination of trains tends to be more expensive than taking the direct train, but a positive is that it's a faster end-to-end journey despite the need to make a connection - and you can also leave Hamburg after 08:00.
Though the journey time of around 12hr 15mins, is dependent on the availability of train from Hamburg ,which takes the faster route via Kassel; and Wurzburg.
So the timings apply when the usual timetable is operating.
The transfer time between trains at Wien Hbf, will be around 55min, so making the connection should be comparatively stress-free.
This journey is made up of 1 change.
Train 1
Between Hamburg Hbf and Wien Hbf/HauptbahnhofYou will be travelling on one of these trains...
Journey Features
Good to Know
Final Destination: Wien Hbf
This train is typically scheduled to depart from Hamburg Hbf at 08:02 and it commences its journey at Hamburg-Altona station at 07:45 and then calls in Hamburg-Dammtor at 07:54.
So it can be a good idea to look up the starting point of your journey and then book tickets from the most convenient station; only Hamburg Hbf has connections with the U-Bahn (subway).
Note that another ICE train to Wien, which takes a route via Berlin, is typically scheduled to depart from Hamburg Hbf only two minutes later at 08:04, so take care to board this train with the train number 'ICE 91' which will be travelling via Hannover.
Journey description:
The train will travel at more than 270 km/h on the high speed line between Hannover and Wurzburg
The most scenic part of the journey is between Regensburg and the Austrian border, on this part of the journey the railway runs beside the River Danube and then the River Inn.
North of Passau the river is on the left (when facing the direction of travel) and then south of Passau it switches over to being on the right.
But you won't miss out on a stunningly beautiful journey if you opt to take the overnight train.
The videos were taken on a train travelling in the opposite direction.
Train 2
Between Wien Hbf/Hauptbahnhof and Budapest KeletiYou will be travelling on one of these trains...
Journey Features
Good to Know
Note that this train, which is typically schedule to depart from Wien Hbf at 17:40, arrives at Keleti station in Budapest and not at Nyugati station, which is where the direct daytime train and the overnight train from Berlin will arrive.
This train will call at Budapest-Kelenfold station around 10 mins before arriving at Budapest-Keleti.
If the end point of your journey in Budapest is on Metro Line 4, or has an easy connection from Line 4, then leave the train at Kelenfold station and transfer to the Metro there.
Not only will your journey be quicker overall, the Metro transfer at Kelenfold is much easier than at Keleti station, particularly if you have luggage.
This is a particularly dull journey across a featureless landscape, so have something to read or watch with you.
The fact that the only thing which gives any interest to the train ride, is looking at the wind turbines which can be seen by the railway line, says it all.
Tickets
The same ticket terms apply as when taking the direct train.
Route Information
Via stations: Berlin Hbf
Option 3: travelling overnight via Berlin
Station Guides
Travel Time (approx)
16hr 30min
Frequency
Nightly
Travel Info
1 x optimum connection per night
Purchase Tickets
ShowMeTheJourney earns a small commission on Rail Europe ticket sales. It can be a particularly good option when booking international journeys with connections and for travellers who don't reside in western Europe. Use the easy options on its home page if you will be booking tickets with a railcard: Or purchasing rail pass reservations.
Exclusive for New Customers: Receive a 10% discount by using the code 24NOV on any purchase with a maximum total price of £100, until 28 November 2024 (11:59 pm CET). Limit one coupon per qualifying booking. Cannot be combined, transferred or exchanged.
Omio Guide
Omio is an online ticket agency which offers tickets for rail journeys in France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy and Spain.
The three key advantages of using Omio are
- it offers prices in multiple currencies
- it usually offers price comparison with other modes of travel including flights and buses
- when visiting Europe, you can book journeys in multiple countries in one transaction.
The disadvantage of booking with Omio is that it often adds a booking fee to the final price; therefore when it does so without offering a price advantage, SMTJ doesn't tend to offer Omio as a booking option.
ShowMeTheJourney earns a small commission on Trainline ticket sales. It can be a particularly good option for: Comparing different train services; Booking international journeys with connections; Travelling between the UK to destinations beyond Amsterdam, Brussels and Paris - and for international travellers who don't reside in western Europe.
Trainline Guide
Other Ticket Providers
DB Guide
DB is the national railway operator in Germany, so its website can be used for booking journeys by German express trains; the ICE and IC trains and it doesn't charge booking fees.
It also sells tickets for journeys by direct trains on all international routes from Germany regardless of whether DB is operating the train service.
It also sells an extensive range of end-to-end journeys which involve making connections both within Germany and in neighboring countries, but journeys between Germany and Britain cannot be booked on DB.
On journeys within Germany and on most international journeys from and to Germany on trains operated by DB:
- For journeys by the express trains, EC. IC and ICE trains an adult (on German railways an adult is a person aged 15 and over) can take up to four children aged 6 - 14 with them at no additional charge.
- Tickets need to be booked for children aged 0 - 5, but there is no charge for them.
- Those aged 65 and over can take journeys at a discounted rate.
- Dogs, which are too large to be placed in pet carriers, require tickets which cost 50% of the adult rate.
When booking both types of the discounted 'Sparpreis' tickets seat reservations are an optional extra, so need to be added when booking if you want an assigned seat(s).
Travel Information
There are no direct overnight trains from Hamburg to Budapest, but this option, which involves making a connection between trains at Berlin Hbf, offers a morning arrival into the Hungarian capital; and a late afternoon departure from Hamburg.
This journey is made up of 1 change.
Train 1
Between Hamburg Hbf and Berlin HbfYou will be travelling on one of these trains...
Good to Know
When the usual timetable is available:
Final Destination München Hbf
SMTJ's recommendation is to take the train which usually departs at around 16:35 as it will arrive into Berlin Hbf more than an hour prior to the departure of the one train of the night on to Budapest.
So it allows for more than 55 mins of contingency time in the event of the train from Hamburg being delayed
The train from Hamburg and the train on to Budapest will both typically use the same part of Berlin Hbf - the lower level.
On the level above numerous food and drink outlets will be available.
Though when looking up the journey on the ticket agents the default journey options will involve taking a later train from Hamburg.
Final Destination: Hamburg-Altona or Kiel
All trains also call at: Berlin-Spandau; Hamburg-Harburg
Some trains also call at: Berlin-Sudkreuz; Hamburg-Damtor
At Berlin Hbf the train should depart from the lower level (tief) platforms/gleis.
Check the location of your final destination in Hamburg before booking.
The trains from Berlin also serve three other stations in Hamburg other than Hamburg Hbf, so one of these other stations may suit you better.
Train 2
Between Berlin Hbf and Budapest KeletiYou will be travelling on one of these trains...
Journey Features
Good to Know
Final Destination: Budapest-Nyugati
On departure from Berlin, the train heading to Budapest will be joined to another train, a Nightjet 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.
Tickets
Online bookings open:
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
Booking on the DB website:
When the usual timetable is available, the default journey option offered by DB, the German national operator, will involve departing Hamburg Hbf at 19:50 and making a connection at Dresden-Neustadt station.
Using rail passes:
Click the Train Guide for more info including the rail pass reservation fees:
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.
Route Information
Via stations: Wien Hbf/Hauptbahnhof
Option 4: travelling overnight via Wien
Station Guides
Travel Time (approx)
16hr 10min (approx)
Frequency
Daily
Travel Info
1 x optimum connection per day
Purchase Tickets
OBB Guide
OBB is the national rail operator and its booking service offers journeys by express trains within Austria, as well as international journeys which don't involve making a connection outside of Austria.
It pays off to book online, as the discounted 'Sparscheine' tickets are only ever made available on the website, and when making international journeys to and from Austria, these Sparscheine tickets tend to be cheaper.
OBB can offer particularly good value for money when travelling with children on international rail journeys, but something to watch out for when travelling between Austria and Germany on daytime trains, is that reservations are an optional extra; but if you book 1st class tickets with the Germany railways website DB, the reservations are complimentary.
OBB often takes a unique approach to its booking path, but a key thing to keep in mind is that the first price you will see for any journey is that of a Second Class seat.
The costs of upgrading to first class, a reservation, or a sleeping cabin etc, is then added to this price.
DB Guide
DB is the national railway operator in Germany, so its website can be used for booking journeys by German express trains; the ICE and IC trains and it doesn't charge booking fees.
It also sells tickets for journeys by direct trains on all international routes from Germany regardless of whether DB is operating the train service.
It also sells an extensive range of end-to-end journeys which involve making connections both within Germany and in neighboring countries, but journeys between Germany and Britain cannot be booked on DB.
On journeys within Germany and on most international journeys from and to Germany on trains operated by DB:
- For journeys by the express trains, EC. IC and ICE trains an adult (on German railways an adult is a person aged 15 and over) can take up to four children aged 6 - 14 with them at no additional charge.
- Tickets need to be booked for children aged 0 - 5, but there is no charge for them.
- Those aged 65 and over can take journeys at a discounted rate.
- Dogs, which are too large to be placed in pet carriers, require tickets which cost 50% of the adult rate.
When booking both types of the discounted 'Sparpreis' tickets seat reservations are an optional extra, so need to be added when booking if you want an assigned seat(s).
Travel Information
This combination of trains involves arriving in the Hungarian capital shortly after midday, because it involves departing from Hamburg in the late evening, but if the timings suit, it has an advantage over the alternative option of travelling overnight via Berlin.
Because there will be less pressure on making the connection at the station in Wien/Vienna - as if need be, tickets / reservations can be used on the next departure on to Budapest; the departures are hourly.
When the usual timetable is available, if the train from Hamburg arrives on time, the next train on to Budapest will be departing within 25 mins.
This journey is made up of 1 change.
Train 1
Between Hamburg Hbf and Wien Hbf/HauptbahnhofYou will be travelling on one of these trains...
Journey Features
Good to Know
Final Destination: Wien Hbf
This train is typically scheduled to depart from Hamburg Hbf at 20:10 and it commences its journey at Hamburg-Altona station at around 19:55 ; and then calls in Hamburg-Dammtor
Train 2
Between Wien Hbf/Hauptbahnhof and Budapest KeletiYou will be travelling on one of these trains...
Journey Features
Good to Know
Note that this train, which is typically schedule to depart from Wien Hbf at 09:42 and in Budapest at 12:19, arrives at Keleti station in the Hungarian capital at and not at Nyugati station, which is where the direct daytime train and the overnight train from Berlin will arrive.
This train will call at Budapest-Kelenfold station around 10 mins before arriving at Budapest-Keleti.
If the end point of your journey in Budapest is on Metro Line 4, or has an easy connection from Line 4, then leave the train at Kelenfold station and transfer to the Metro there.
Not only will your journey be quicker overall, the Metro transfer at Kelenfold is much easier than at Keleti station, particularly if you have luggage.
This is a particularly dull journey across a featureless landscape, so have something to read or watch with you.
The fact that the only thing which gives any interest to the train ride, is looking at the wind turbines which can be seen by the railway line, says it all.
Tickets
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings open:
3 months ahead of the travel date
The choice of accommodation - summary:
- Compartment Seats (Sitzwagen)
- Couchettes (Liegewagen); 4 berths AND 6 berths
- Standard sleeping cars (Schlafwagen) with 3 bed, 2 bed and 1 cabins
- Deluxe sleeping cars with showers (Schlafwagen) with 3 bed, 2 bed and 1 cabins
Click the train details button above for more info including the rail pass reservation fees:
The first price you will see on the OBB ticketing site will be for the compartment seats.
Travelling with a rail pass:
Rail pass users must reserve before boarding these trains
However, these rail pass reservations can NO longer be booked online the DB website, but you can now book rail pass reservations without paying booking fees on the OBB website (OBB operates these trains
Though the process for doing so isn't particularly obvious, hence this step-by-step guide.
Or another method of avoiding 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.
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.
See if there’s a unique journey guide for your trip, featuring info on the trains, tickets & stations.
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