Budapest to Vienna: Railjet Time, or the Cheaper Bus

Budapest to Vienna takes about 2 hours 40 minutes on the direct railjet, and as quick as 2h20 on the fastest services, running nearly every hour from Budapest-Keleti to Vienna Hauptbahnhof, city centre to city centre. The railjet and EuroCity trains are a joint MAV and OBB service with integrated ticketing. Coaches take around 3 hours for a little less, and the hop is far too short to fly. Here is how the times and fares compare.

Travelling the other way? Read our Vienna to Budapest train guide. Heading on to Prague? Read our Prague to Vienna train guide.

Fastest	Railjet, about 2h40 (as quick as 2h20)
Frequency	Nearly hourly, direct
Cheapest	RegioJet train or a FlixBus coach
Route	Budapest-Keleti to Vienna Hbf, about 270 km via Gyor

Mode	Operator	Duration	Approx fare	Overnight
Train	railjet / EuroCity (MAV / OBB) Direct and nearly hourly, Budapest-Keleti to Vienna Hauptbahnhof, as quick as 2h20 on the fastest RJX. Book Sparschiene fares early.	about 2h40	approx €20 to €40	No	Check on 12Go →
Train	RegioJet (a few daily) A handful of cheaper direct trains each day, often the lowest train fare when the times suit.	about 2h45	approx €10 to €25	No	Check on 12Go →
Bus	FlixBus coach Cheapest overall, with frequent daily departures.	about 3 hours	approx €10 to €20	No	Check on 12Go →

Fares are approximate and shown for comparison. Confirm live prices and times on 12Go before booking.

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How long is the train from Budapest to Vienna?

About 2 hours 40 minutes on the direct railjet, and as quick as 2h20 on the fastest RJX services. Trains run nearly every hour from Budapest-Keleti to Vienna Hauptbahnhof.

How much does the train from Budapest to Vienna cost?

Advance railjet Sparschiene fares start from about EUR 20, with a few cheaper RegioJet trains and FlixBus coaches from about EUR 10. Booking ahead saves the most.

Is there a direct train from Budapest to Vienna?

Yes. Railjet and EuroCity trains run direct several times a day with no change, a joint MAV and OBB service, plus a few cheaper direct RegioJet trains, all Budapest-Keleti to Vienna Hbf.

What is the best way to get from Budapest to Vienna?

The railjet is the best all-round option: direct, nearly hourly, and about 2h40 centre to centre. RegioJet trains and FlixBus coaches are cheaper if you are counting every euro, with the bus taking around 3 hours.

What is the Budapest to Vienna train frequency?

Railjet and EuroCity trains run nearly every hour from Budapest-Keleti to Vienna Hauptbahnhof, from early morning to late evening, so departures are frequent throughout the day.

Hotel options and prices come from Agoda and update at booking time; sample data shown if live pricing is unavailable. Transport fares are estimates, confirmed on 12Go.