Direct Train Connections Make Budapest Easily Accessible from Prague, Ostrava, and Brno
Budapest, the Hungarian capital, is a convenient travel destination from various Czech cities, including Prague, Ostrava, and Brno. However, the journey duration might seem longer than the distance suggests: 7 hours from Prague (610 km), 6 hours from Ostrava (480 km), and 4 hours from Brno (355 km).
Two primary carriers operate these routes: Czech Railways (České dráhy) and Regiojet. Regiojet offers two direct daytime connections between Prague and Budapest daily, while Czech Railways provides six daytime direct connections and one nighttime. Additionally, Czech Railways offers one daytime and nighttime connection from Bohumín/Ostrava.
Both carriers feature comfortable long-distance carriages, equipped with first and second-class compartments, WiFi, power outlets, and in the case of Czech Railways, a dining car.
Daytime Direct Connections to Budapest
The daytime direct connections to Budapest pass through Slovakia (Czech Railways) and Austria (Regiojet). In both cases, the journey duration from Prague is approximately 7 hours.
Czech Railways offers EuroCity connections from both Prague and Ostrava/Bohumín. These are air-conditioned carriages of both first and second class, with a dining car included. One-way ticket prices from Prague start at 484 CZK for second class and from 1089 CZK for first class. Seat reservations are free when booked two weeks (or more) in advance; otherwise, they cost 3 EUR (approximately 73 CZK). Tickets can be purchased at international counters, online at www.cd.cz, and through the ‘Můj Vlak’ app.
Regiojet operates direct connections from Prague twice daily. They offer four carriage categories with prices starting from 469 CZK for low-cost, 549 CZK for standard, 699 CZK for relax, and 769 CZK for business. The comfort and amenities depend on the chosen category. These connections do not have a traditional dining car but offer onboard catering services. Tickets can be purchased at Regiojet counters and on www.regiojet.cz.
| From/ To Prague | |
|---|---|
| EC 273 (Metropolitan) | Praha hl.n. (5:45) - Kolín (6:21 - 6:22) - Pardubice hl.n. (6:45 - 6:46) - Česká Třebová (7:19 - 7:20) - Brno hl.n. (8:20 - 8:22) - Břeclav (8:52 - 8:55) - Kúty (9:11 - 9:12) - Bratislava hl.st. (9:54 - 9:57) - Nové Zámky (10:58 - 10:59) - Štúrovo (11:24 - 11:27) - Szob (11:37 - 11:38) - Nagymaros-Visegrad (11:48) - Vac (12:01 - 12:02) - Budapest-Nyugati pu (12:28) |
| RJ 1351/1031 (Regiojet) | Praha - hl.n. (06:12) - Pardubice - hl.n. (07:11 - 07:12) - Brno - Židenice (08:41 - 08:42) - Brno - hl.n. (08:46 - 08:48) - Břeclav - žst. (09:18 - 09:20) - Vídeň - Hbf (10:21 - 10:27) - Vídeň - Meidling (10:32 - 10:34) - Hegyeshalom - žst. (11:19 - 11:22) - Mosonmagyaróvár - nádraží (11:30 - 11:31) - Györ - žst. (11:48 - 11:49) - Budapešť - Kelenföld (12:58 - 13:07) - Budapešť - Déli pu. (13:14) |
| EC 275 (Metropolitan) | Praha hl.n. (7:45) - Kolín (8:21 - 8:22) - Pardubice hl.n. (8:45 - 8:46) - Brno hl.n. (10:20 - 10:22) - Břeclav (10:52 - 10:55) - Bratislava hl.st. (11:54 - 11:57) - Nové Zámky (12:58 - 12:59) - Štúrovo (13:24 - 13:27) - Szob (13:37 - 13:38) - Nagymaros-Visegrad (13:48) - Vac (14:01 - 14:02) - Budapest-Nyugati pu (14:28) |
| EC 277 (Metropolitan) | Praha hl.n. (9:45) - Kolín (10:21 - 10:22) - Pardubice hl.n. (10:45 - 10:46) - Brno hl.n. (12:20 - 12:22) - Břeclav (12:52 - 12:55) - Kúty (13:11 - 13:12) - Bratislava hl.st. (13:54 - 13:57) - Nové Zámky (14:58 - 14:59) - Štúrovo (15:24 - 15:27) - Szob (15:37 - 15:38) - Nagymaros-Visegrad (15:48) - Vac (16:01 - 16:02) - Budapest-Nyugati pu (16:28) |
| EC 279 (Metropolitan) | Praha hl.n. (11:45) - Kolín (12:21 - 12:22) - Pardubice hl.n. (12:45 - 12:46) - Brno hl.n. (14:20 - 14:22) - Břeclav (14:52 - 14:55) - Kúty (15:11 - 15:12) - Bratislava hl.st. (15:54 - 15:57) - Nové Zámky (16:58 - 16:59) - Štúrovo (17:24 - 17:27) - Szob (17:37 - 17:38) - Nagymaros-Visegrad (17:48) - Vac (18:01 - 18:02) - Budapest-Nyugati pu (18:28) |
| RJ 1355/1035 (Regiojet) | Praha - hl.n. (13:12) - Pardubice - hl.n. (14:11 - 14:12) - Brno - Židenice (15:41 - 15:42) - Brno - hl.n. (15:46 - 15:48) - Břeclav - žst. (16:18 - 16:20) - Vídeň - Hbf (17:21 - 17:27) - Vídeň - Meidling (17:33 - 17:34) - Hegyeshalom - žst. (18:19 - 18:22) - Mosonmagyaróvár - nádraží (18:30 - 18:31) - Györ - žst. (18:48 - 18:49) - Budapešť - Kelenföld (19:58 - 20:07) - Budapešť - Déli pu. (20:14) |
| EC 173 (Hungaria) | ... Praha-Holešovice (13:25 - 13:27) - Praha hl.n. (13:35 - 13:45) - Kolín (14:21 - 14:22) - Pardubice hl.n. (14:45 - 14:46) - Brno hl.n. (16:20 - 16:22) - Břeclav (16:52 - 16:55) - Kúty (17:11 - 17:12) - Bratislava hl.st. (17:54 - 17:57) - Nové Zámky (18:58 - 18:59) - Štúrovo (19:24 - 19:27) - Szob (19:37 - 19:38) - Nagymaros-Visegrad (19:48) - Vac (20:01 - 20:02) - Budapest-Nyugati pu (20:28) |
| EC 281 (Metropolitan) | Praha hl.n. (15:45) - Kolín (16:21 - 16:22) - Pardubice hl.n. (16:45 - 16:46) - Brno hl.n. (18:20 - 18:22) - Břeclav (18:52 - 18:55) - Kúty (19:11 - 19:12) - Bratislava hl.st. (19:54 - 19:57) - Nové Zámky (20:58 - 20:59) - Štúrovo (21:24 - 21:27) - Szob (21:37 - 21:38) - Nagymaros-Visegrad (21:48) - Vac (22:01 - 22:02) - Budapest-Nyugati pu (22:28) |
| EC 280 (Metropolitan) | Budapest-Nyugati pu (5:29) - Vac (5:55 - 5:56) - Nagymaros-Visegrad (6:09) - Szob (6:20 - 6:21) - Štúrovo (6:31 - 6:34) - Nové Zámky (7:00 - 7:02) - Bratislava hl.st. (8:03 - 8:06) - Kúty (8:47 - 8:49) - Břeclav (9:04 - 9:07) - Brno hl.n. (9:36 - 9:38) - Pardubice hl.n. (11:17 - 11:18) - Kolín (11:37 - 11:38) - Praha hl.n. (12:11) |
| EC 172 (Hungaria) | Budapest-Nyugati pu (7:29) - Vac (7:55 - 7:56) - Nagymaros-Visegrad (8:09) - Szob (8:20 - 8:21) - Štúrovo (8:31 - 8:34) - Nové Zámky (8:59 - 9:02) - Bratislava hl.st. (10:03 - 10:06) - Kúty (10:47 - 10:49) - Břeclav (11:04 - 11:07) - Brno hl.n. (11:36 - 11:38) - Pardubice hl.n. (13:17 - 13:18) - Kolín (13:37 - 13:38) - Praha hl.n. (14:13 - 14:25) - Praha-Holešovice (14:33 - 14:34) ... |
| RJ 1032/1352 (Regiojet) | Budapešť - Déli pu. (07:45) - Budapešť - Kelenföld (07:51 - 07:58) - Györ - žst. (09:05 - 09:07) - Mosonmagyaróvár - nádraží (09:24 - 09:25) - Hegyeshalom - žst. (09:34 - 09:37) - Vídeň - Meidling (10:25 - 10:27) - Vídeň - Hbf (10:32 - 10:39) - Břeclav - žst. (11:36 - 11:38) - Brno - hl.n. (12:07 - 12:09) - Brno - Židenice (12:13 - 12:14) - Pardubice - hl.n. (13:49 - 13:50) - Praha - hl.n. (14:51) |
| EC 278 (Metropolitan) | Budapest-Nyugati pu (9:29) - Vac (9:55 - 9:56) - Nagymaros-Visegrad (10:09) - Szob (10:20 - 10:21) - Štúrovo (10:31 - 10:34) - Nové Zámky (11:00 - 11:02) - Bratislava hl.st. (12:03 - 12:06) - Kúty (12:47 - 12:49) - Břeclav (13:04 - 13:07) - Brno hl.n. (13:36 - 13:38) - Pardubice hl.n. (15:17 - 15:18) - Kolín (15:37 - 15:38) - Praha hl.n. (16:11) |
| EC 276 (Metropolitan) | Budapest-Nyugati pu (11:29) - Vac (11:55 - 11:56) - Nagymaros-Visegrad (12:09) - Szob (12:20 - 12:21) - Štúrovo (12:31 - 12:34) - Nové Zámky (13:00 - 13:02) - Bratislava hl.st. (14:03 - 14:06) - Kúty (14:47 - 14:49) - Břeclav (15:04 - 15:07 - Brno hl.n. (15:36 - 15:38) - Pardubice hl.n. (17:17 - 17:18) - Kolín (17:37 - 17:38) - Praha hl.n. (18:11) |
| EC 274 (Metropolitan) | Budapest-Nyugati pu (13:29) - Vac (13:55 - 13:56) - Nagymaros-Visegrad (14:09) - Szob (14:20 - 14:21) - Štúrovo (14:31 - 14:34) - Nové Zámky (15:00 - 15:02) - Bratislava hl.st. (16:03 - 16:06) - Kúty (16:47 - 16:49) - Břeclav (17:04 - 17:07) - Brno hl.n. (17:36 - 17:38) - Pardubice hl.n. (19:17 - 19:18) - Kolín (19:37 - 19:38) - Praha hl.n. (20:11) |
| RJ 1036/1356 (Regiojet) | Budapešť - Déli pu. (14:45) - Budapešť - Kelenföld (14:51 - 14:58) - Györ - žst. (16:05 - 16:07) - Mosonmagyaróvár - nádraží (16:24 - 16:25) - Hegyeshalom - žst. (16:34 - 16:37) - Vídeň - Meidling (17:25 - 17:27) - Vídeň - Hbf (17:32 - 17:36) - Břeclav - žst. (18:36 - 18:38) - Brno - hl.n. (19:07 - 19:09) - Brno - Židenice (19:13 - 19:14) - Pardubice - hl.n. (20:49 - 20:50) - Praha - hl.n. (21:48) |
| EC 272 (Metropolitan) | Budapest-Nyugati pu (15:29) - Vac (15:55 - 15:56) - Nagymaros-Visegrad (16:09) - Szob (16:20 - 16:21) - Štúrovo (16:31 - 16:34) - Nové Zámky (17:00 - 17:02) - Bratislava hl.st. (18:03 - 18:06) - Kúty (18:47 - 18:49) - Břeclav (19:04 - 19:07) - Brno hl.n. [vlak nečeká na žádné přípoje] [na vlak EC 572 19:36 - 19:38] - Česká Třebová (20:39 - 20:40) - Pardubice hl.n. (21:17 - 21:18) - Kolín (21:37 - 21:38) - Praha hl.n. (22:11) |
| EC 270 (Metropolitan) | Budapest-Nyugati pu (17:29) - Vac (17:55 - 17:56) - Nagymaros-Visegrad (18:09) - Szob (18:20 - 18:21) - Štúrovo (18:31 - 18:34) - Nové Zámky (18:59 - 19:02) - Bratislava hl.st. (20:03 - 20:06) - Kúty (20:47 - 20:49) - Břeclav (21:04 - 21:07) - Brno hl.n. (21:36 - 21:38) - Blansko (21:57 - 22:02) - Letovice (22:17 - 22:18) - Svitavy (22:34 - 22:35) - Česká Třebová (22:46 - 22:47) - Pardubice hl.n. (23:23 - 23:24) - Kolín (23:43 - 23:44) - Praha-Libeň (0:12) - Praha hl.n. (0:19) |
| From/ To Bohumín | |
|---|---|
| EC 131 (Báthory) | ... Bohumín (13:05 - 13:42) - Ostrava hl.n. (13:49 - 13:51) - Ostrava-Svinov (13:57 - 13:59) - Hranice na Moravě (14:25 - 14:26) - Přerov (14:44 - 14:45) - Otrokovice (15:01 - 15:04) - Staré Město u Uh.Hrad. (15:16 - 15:17) - Hodonín (15:33 - 15:34) - Břeclav (15:45 - 15:55) - Kúty (16:11 - 16:12) - Bratislava hl.st. (17:01 - 17:05) - Nové Zámky (18:09 - 18:10) - Štúrovo (18:36 - 18:40) - Szob (18:50 - 18:51) - Nagymaros-Visegrad (19:01 - 19:02) - Vac (19:15 - 19:23) - Budapest-Nyugati pu (19:49) |
Nighttime Direct Connections to Budapest
The only nighttime train to Budapest from the Czech Republic is operated by Czech Railways, departing from Prague and Ostrava/Bohumín. The train from Prague leaves shortly after 10 pm, arriving in Budapest by 8:30 am the next day. The train from Bohumín departs at 2:45 am, joining with carriages from Prague in Břeclav, and also arrives in Budapest by 8:30 am.
During the summer holidays, the Prague connection offers both sleeper and couchette carriages, while outside this period, only a sleeper carriage is available. Prices start from 1200 CZK for a couchette ticket and 1500 CZK for a sleeper.
The Bohumín connection offers both sleeper and couchette carriages throughout the year. Couchette tickets start from 1500 CZK and sleeper tickets from 1700 CZK.
| Night train connections to Budapest | |
|---|---|
| IC 587 / EN 477 | Praha hl.n. (22:03) - Praha-Libeň (22:09 - 22:10) - Kolín (22:40 - 22:42) - Pardubice hl.n. (23:02 - 23:03) - Choceň (23:21 - 23:22) - Ústí n.Orlicí (23:34 - 23:35) - Česká Třebová (23:44 - 23:45) - Brno hl.n. (0:45 - 0:48) - Břeclav (1:18 - 4:55) - Kúty (5:11 - 5:12) - Bratislava hl.st. (5:54 - 5:57) - Nové Zámky (6:57 - 6:59) - Štúrovo (7:24 - 7:27) - Vac (7:59 - 8:00) - Budapest-Nyugati pu (8:29) |
| NJ 457 / EN 477 | ... Bohumín (1:28 - 2:15) - Ostrava hl.n. (2:22 - 2:24) - Břeclav (4:10 - 4:55) - Kúty (5:11 - 5:12) - Bratislava hl.st. (5:54 - 5:57) - Nové Zámky (6:57 - 6:59) - Štúrovo (7:24 - 7:27) - Vac (7:59 - 8:00) - Budapest-Nyugati pu (8:29) |
Train Stations in Budapest
Déli pályaudvar (Southern Station):
Regiojet, arriving from Austria, stops at Kelenföld and Déli stations. Budapest Déli is one of the main stations in Budapest, strategically located in the south of the city. Its name, meaning “southern”, reflects its location. This significant railway station boasts fascinating architecture from the late 19th century. It’s near the Buda Castle, a renowned historical site, giving the station both practical and touristic value. The surrounding area is characterized by wide boulevards lined with historic buildings and public parks.
Nyugati pályaudvar (Western Station):
Czech Railways’ connections end at Nyugati pályaudvar. This station, close to the city center, is serviced by the M3 metro line. A large shopping mall is also nearby. Currently, the station is undergoing extensive renovations. Budapest Nyugati is one of the city’s oldest stations, located in the western part. It’s known for its impressive neoclassical architecture designed by Gustave Eiffel, the creator of Paris’s Eiffel Tower. The station is surrounded by bustling city life, with numerous shops, restaurants, and cafes. It’s close to Margaret Island and the Danube promenade, popular spots for walking and relaxation.
Keleti pályaudvar (Eastern Station):
Budapest Keleti, the largest and busiest station in Budapest, is located in the central part of the city. The name “Keleti” means “eastern” in Hungarian, reflecting its geographical position. Opened in 1884, this station is an architectural masterpiece, with its grand main hall and imposing facade adorned with statues of Hungary’s most famous inventors, János Bolyai and Gábor Áron. Keleti station is also known for its proximity to some of Budapest’s most interesting sites, including the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Andrássy Avenue and the City Park, home to Vajdahunyad Castle and Széchenyi Baths.
