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Hamburg to Budapest by train
How to take the rail journey from Hamburg to Budapest
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Routes
Option 1: taking the direct train
Journey Summary
13hr 33min
Daily
Travel Information
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 Hamburg Hbf at around 06:48 at arrives in the Hungarian capital at 20:20.
1 x train per day
Tickets
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings usually open: 3 months ahead of the travel date
This train usually departs Hamburg Hbf at 06:48, 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.
Where to book
| Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| DB | from €45.90 | |
| Omio | from €45.90 | |
| MAV | from €49 |
On this journey
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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Option 2: taking a combination of ICE and Railjet trains
Journey Summary
12 hr 17min
Daily
Travel Information
This combination of trains tends to be more expensive than taking the direct trai), but a positive is that it's a faster end-to-end journey; you can leave Hamburg after 08:00.
The transfer time between trains at Wien Hbf, will be around 55min, so making the connection should be comparatively stress-free.
1 x optimum connection per day
Tickets
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings usually open: 6 months ahead of the travel date
If you will be using a rail pass, these trains can be a good alternative to taking the direct train.
You can leave Hamburg more than an hour later and like taking the direct EC train, paying a reservation fee to ensure seats on the train is optional, but also in common with the EC train, making a reservation for the ICE train from Hamburg to Wien is highly recommended if you want to be able to remain in the same seat(s) for the entire journey.
Where to book
| Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| DB | * |
Train 1
Travelling On
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
Travelling On
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.
Option 3: travelling overnight via Berlin
Journey Summary
16hr 30min
Nightly
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; but also requires a mid afternoon departure from Hamburg.
1 x optimum connection per night
Tickets
A tad bizarrely this combination of trains cannot be booked online, so the best option for purchasing tickets is to call the DB (German Railways) booking service on +49 30 2970 (standard fees for calls to the German landline network apply) daily from 00:00 to 24:00.
Train 1
Travelling On
Good to Know
SMTJ's recommendation is to take train number ICE 1009, which is typically due to depart from Hamburg Hbf at 15:50, because when it is operating to its usual schedule, it will allow 50 mins to make the essential connection in Berlin on to the overnight train to Budapest.
Leave Hamburg Hbf by the following train to Berlin at around 16:30 and only 20 mins will be available for the connection, time enough to make the connection from one train to the other, but with little contingency time in the event of the train from Hamburg being delayed.
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
Journey Features
Good to Know
Final Destination: Budapest-Nyugati
Note that Nightjet trains aren't used for this route, so Deluxe (1st) class sleeping cabins with a WC and shower inside the cabins, are not available.
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.
Option 4: travelling overnight via Wien
Journey Summary
15hr 50min
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 several advantages over the alternative option of travelling overnight via Berlin.
- The overnight section of the journey will be on a Nightjet (if you would want to travel in a Deluxe/1st class sleeping cabin with a shower and WC in the cabin, you will need to take this route).
- There will be less pressure on making the connection at the station in Wien/Vienna, as if need be, tickets can be used on the next departure on to Budapest; the departures are hourly
- The tickets for the end-to-end journey can be booked online in one transaction
Tickets
Book early and save: Yes
The train to Wien is typically schedule to depart at 20:42 so target that time when looking up this journey.
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.
Where to book
| Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| OBB | * |
Train 1
Travelling On
Journey Features
Good to Know
Final Destination: Wien Hbf
This train is typically scheduled to depart from Hamburg Hbf at 20:29 and it commences its journey at Hamburg-Altona station at 20:11; and then calls in Hamburg-Dammtor at 20:21.
Train 2
Travelling On
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.
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.
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.
