When taking the train from Berlin to Budapest there is a choice between travelling overnight on a sleeper train, or travelling by day on the long, but fascinating journey through four countries.
This train usually departs Berlin Hbf at 09:16
Final Destination: Budapest-Nyugati
This train now arrives at Nyugati station in Budapest and NOT Budapest-Keleti
Train also calls at: Berlin-Sudkreuz; Prague/Praha, Brno, Bratislava
1 x train per day
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings open: 3 months ahead of the travel date
This train usually departs Berlin Hbf at 09:16; 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 in the summer months, the train will be particularly busy between Berlin and Praha.
Having a guaranteed seat can make such a long journey a lot less stressful.
Rail pass users can arrange reservations at the Reisezentrum travel desk in Berlin Hbf or book them online on DB Bahn - the step by step instructions for doing this are HERE.
Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
---|---|---|
DB | from €35.90 | |
Omio | from €35.90 | |
MAV | from €49.90 | |
Happyrail | from €35.90 |
The journey by overnight train is around two hours longer than this daytime journey, but as only around 20% of this daytime train is particularly scenic, that overnight train can be a good option on this route.
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.
Final Destination: Budapest-Keleti
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-Keleti station at 08:35 and it also calls in Vac - where it is due to arrive at 07:48 .
Berlin and Budapest are connected by what it now one of Europe's longest daytime train journeys.
The daytime journey isn't without scenic highlights, but this is a route on which the balance can tip in favour of taking this night train; particularly as it has a comfortable arrival time in Budapest.
Note that this overnight train arrives at Keleti station in Budapest, but the daytime train arrives at Budapest-Nyugati station.
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 (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 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 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.
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This is one of more than 1000 journey 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.