Country info: Hungary (Magyarország)

Rail companies: MAV (Magyar Államvasutak)   

How to Buy train Tickets in Hungary? We have a Step by Step Guide

Hungarian Rail Network Map

Currency: 1 euro = app. 300 Hungarian forints (HUF)

Train travel in Hungary: train types, tickets, fares, discounts & other info

National Train Service:

Train types in Hungary: Passenger trains, Express trains, Rapid trains, InterCity and EuroCity/EuroNight/International

• Passenger trains (or 'szemelyvonat', marked in black on MAV website) – no seat reservation required, but be prepared that carriages aren't the best quality and pretty old
• Express trains (or 'gyorsvonat', marked in red on MAV website) - no seat reservation required 
  
• Rapid trains (or 'sebes', marked in green on MAV website) - no seat reservation required
  
• InterCity (marked in blue on MAV website) – seat reservation required (from 300 HUF to 885 HUF depending on distance). On some MAV routes (like Budapest-Szeged) nominally IC trains also can include standard carriages without obligatory reservation, which means that passenger can actually travel on the same train while paying two different fares
• EuroCity/EuroNight (marked in blue on MAV website) – international trains, seat reservation is not required, but in order to use them on domestic routes special supplement needed (from 300 HUF to 885 HUF depending on distance)

Hungarian Railways (MAV) doesn't offer any discount for return tickets within Hungary, but there are some tricks how you can save on domestic journeys:

One of the 'tricks' is to use international tickets for journeys within Hungary. Sounds illogical? Maybe, but not in Hungary. Absurdly enough, but because of special international discounts sometimes buying ticket abroad might be cheaper than paying standard MAV domestic fare. For example we take picturesque and rather popular among tourists city - Pecs. Standard one-way ticket cost 3950 HUF (or 7900 HUF return, which is app. 27 euro), while at the same time return ticket Budapest-Beli Manastir (which is first Croatian station after Pecs) can be bought for 23 euro. As result on trip Budapest-Pecs-Budapest passenger can save 4 euro basically out of nothing, just by smartly bought international ticket till first Croatian station instead of MAV domestic ticket

And there is many other destinations where it is cheaper to buy international ticket instead of more expensive domestic return tickets.

International Train Service:

a) Regular discounts

• 60% off SCIC-NRT/TCV price for any return ticket from Hungary to Croatia & from Hungary to Serbia (30% off for one-way tickets Hungary-Serbia, except Subotica-Szeged route, where 60% discount is valid for one-way tickets as well)
• 60% off Hungarian part and 55% off Slovak part for any return journey between Hungary & Slovakia
• 60% off Hungarian part and 65% off Slovenian part for any return journey between Hungary & Slovenia
  
• 60% off Hungarian part and 30% off Croatian & Slovenian parts for any return journey between Hungary & Slovenia via Croatia
• 60% off Hungarian part, Croatian part and 40% off Bosnian part for any return journey between Hungary & Bosnia and Herzegovina via Croatia.
• 50% off Hungarian part and Romanian part for any return journey between Hungary & Romania connection (35% off for one-way tickets)
• 50% off East-West tariff fare for any one-way or return journeys between Hungary & Ukraine
• 50% off Hungarian part, 50% off Ukrainian part and 30% off Russian part East-West tariff fare for return journeys between Hungary & Russia via Ukraine
• 40% off SCIC-NRT/TCV price for return tickets from Budapest to Warsaw, Krakow, Katowice, Gdynia and 30% off on other Hungary to Poland routes
  
• 40% off SCIC-NRT/TCV price for return tickets from Budapest to Prague

Though at the same time potential passengers need to be careful and also consider possible bilateral agreements between Hungarian Railways (MAV) and rail companies in other countries (those might be cheaper at the end). In case of Hungary it's cheaper to purchase tickets to Czech Republic, Romania, Poland, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Serbia and FYR Macedonia with a help of other discounts (Special offers and bilateral agreement for Serbia, bilateral agreement for Slovakia, SparSchiene and bilateral agreement for Czech Republic (Budapest-Brno/Prague connections), SparSchiene for Poland (Budapest-Krakow/Warsaw), bilateral agreements for Romania and FYR Macedonia and CityStar for Bulgaria)

b) Special offers (SparSchiene)

Ticket offers with unlimited number of tickets per each departure :

• Austria: from Budapest to Vienna (25 euro/4 day validity return 'Excursion Ticket' (Kirándulójegyek) or 33 euro additionally including Vienna city transport for the first two days); from Budapest to Graz (33 euro/4 day validity return 'Excursion Ticket'); from Budapest to Linz (35 euro/4 day validity return 'Excursion Ticket'); from Budapest to Salzburg (39 euro/4 day validity return 'Excursion Ticket'); from Budapest to Bad Ischl, Bad Gastein, Zell am See, Kitzbühel (69 euro/4 day validity return 'Excursion Ticket'); from Budapest to Klagenfurt, Villach, Radstadt (79 euro/4 day validity return 'Excursion Ticket'); from Budapest to Innsbruck, Jenbach, Lienz (89 euro/4 day validity return 'Excursion Ticket')
   
• Croatia: from Budapest to Zagreb 'Zagreb Spezial' (29 euro return ticket); from Budapest-Split-Budapest for 71,4 euro
• Czech Republic: from Budapest to Prague ('Excursion Ticket' or Kirándulójegyek with 4 days validity for 49 euro (or 59 euro including Prague city transport pass)
  
• Montenegro: 'Montenegro Spezial' Budapest-Bar return for 66 euro
• Romania: from Budapest to Arad (21 euro/4 day validity return 'Excursion Ticket'); from Budapest to Oradea (21 euro/4 day validity return 'Excursion Ticket'); from Budapest to Timisoara (27 euro/4 day validity return 'Excursion Ticket'); from Budapest to Cluj-Napoca (31 euro/4 day validity return 'Excursion Ticket')
  
• Slovenia: from Budapest to Ljubljana 'Ljubljana-Spezial' via Croatia (39 euro one-way or 49 euro return)
  
• Serbia: from Budapest to Belgrade 'Beograd-Spezial' (15 euro one-way or 26 euro return)
  
• Switzerland: from Budapest to Zurich (one-way 51,9 euro & Zürich Spezial return ticket 124,8 euro); from Budapest to Basel (Basel Spezial, return 144,2 euro); from Budapest to Bern (Bern Spezial, return 154,4 euro); from Budapest to Lausanne (Lausanne Spezial, return 171,4 euro); from Budapest to Geneva (Genf Spezial, return 183,8 euro); from Budapest to Luzern (Luzern Spezial, return 138,8 euro); from Budapest to Montreux (Montreux Spezial, return 174,6 euro); from Budapest to Chur (Chur Spezial, return 110,8 euro)

EURegio: Austria ( from Tatabánya to Vienna and back: 20 euro; from Győr to Vienna and back: 16 euro (20,3 euro with Vienna city transport pass); from Mosonmagyaróvár to Vienna and back: 14 euro (18,3 euro with transport); from Szombathely to Graz and back: 13 euro; from Szombathely to Vienna and back: 22 euro)

Ticket offers with limited number of tickets per each departure (purchase in advance required):

• Austria: from Budapest to Vienna (one-way 13 euro 2^nd class or 29 euro 1^st class); from Gyor to Vienna (one-way 9 euro 2^nd class or 19 euro 1^st class); from Budapest to Graz (one-way 19 euro 2^nd class or 35 euro 1^st class); from Budapest to Wiener Neustadt (one-way 19 euro ); from Pecs to Vienna (one-way 19 euro)
  
• Germany:  from Budapest to Berlin, Dresden (SparNight: seats from 29 euro; couchette from 39 euro, sleepers from 59 euro); from Budapest to Munich (SparDay/SparNight seats from 29 euro; couchettes from 49 euro, sleepers from 59 euro); from Budapest to Dresden (SparDay: seats from 29 euro in 2^nd class and 45 in 1^st class); from Budapest to Berlin (SparDay: seats from 39 euro in 2^nd class and 65 euro in 1^st class); from Budapest to Frankfurt, Cologne via Vienna (SparNight: seats from 29 euro, couchette from 39 euro, 2 bed sleeper from 69 euro)+10 euro for Budapest-Vienna; from Budapest to Hamburg, Hannover via Vienna (SparNight: seats from 29 euro, couchette from 39 euro, 3 bed sleeper from 59 euro)+10 euro for Budapest-Vienna; from Budapest to Frankfurt, Stuttgart (SparDay: seats from 39 euro in 2^nd class and 60/55 euro in 1^st class)
  
• Czech Republic: from Budapest to Prague (SparDay from 19 euro in 2^nd class or 35 euro in 1^st class & SparNight ('Metropol' train) seats from 19 euro, couchettes from 29 euro and sleepers from 49 euro)   
• Poland: from Budapest to Krakow (SparNight: couchettes from 39 euro, sleepers from 45 euro); from Budapest to Warsaw/Katowice (SparDay & SparNight: seats from 29 euro; couchettes from 39 euro, sleepers from 54 euro)
  
• Romania: from Budapest to Timisoara (seats from 15 euro), from Budapest to Brasov, Sibiu, Cluj-Napoca, Targu Mures, Miercurea Ciuc, Sighisoara, Sighetu Marmatiei etc. (seats from 19 euro), from Budapest to Bucharest (seats from 29 euro). From Budapest to Sighisoara, Brasov etc. (couchettes from 29 euro, sleepers from 49 euro), from Budapest to Bucharest (couchettes from 39 euro, sleepers from 59 euro) 
• Switzerland: from Budapest to Zurich (by 'Wiener Walzer' euroNight 466/467, seats from 39 euro; couchettes from 49 euro and sleepers from 69 euro euro) or 39 euro (2nd class)/59 euro (1st class) SparDay offer for daytime RailJet train

c) CityStars

• Austria - 46,7 euro <100km in Austria, from 100 to 400 km in Austria – 80.6 euro and >400km in Austria – 106.6 euro (all for one passenger)
  
• Germany (via Austria) – 176,6 euro (with EC/IC trains) or 198,6 euro (with EC/IC/ICE trains)
• Germany (via Slovakia and Czech Republic) – 210 euro (with EC/IC trains) or 232 (with EC/IC/ICE trains)
• Greece (via Romania and Bulgaria) – Thessaloniki (150 euro); Athens (187euro)
  
• Greece (via Serbia and FYR Macedonia) – Thessaloniki 109 euro
• Bulgaria (via Romania) – 113 euro (one passenger)
  
• Bulgaria (via Serbia) – from 79 euro (<210km in Hungary and <70km in Bulgaria) to 93 euro (>210km in Hungary and >70km in Bulgaria)
• Czech Republic – 61 euro (<100km in Czech Republic); 83 euro (from 100 to 300km) and 102 euro (>300km)
  

Cross-border fares to neighboring countries: 

• Slovakia: from Budapest to Bratislava return (17,5 euro); from Budapest to Kosice return (20 euro); from Miskolc to Kosice return (6,5 euro); from Budapest to Poprad return (28,5 euro); from Budapest to Nove Zamky return (10,5 euro); from Budapest to Sturovo return (6,5 euro); from Vac to Nove Zamky return (8,5 euro); from Vac to Sturovo return (3,8 euro, 2 day validity ticket); from Szob to Sturovo return (1,8 euro, 2 day validity ticket)
• Austria: see EURegio Austria above
• Serbia: from Budapest to Subotica return (16,4 euro); from Budapest to Novi Sad return (24,6 euro); Szeged to Subotica return (3,3 euro)
• Romania: from Püspökladány to Oradea (Nagyvárad), one-way 6,2 euro or return 9,1 euro; from Berettyóújfalu to Oradea (Nagyvárad), one-way 4,3 euro or return 6,3 euro; from Békéscsaba to Arad (one-way 5,3 euro or return 7,8 euro); from Békéscsaba to Salonta (one-way 5,1 euro or return 7,5 euro); from Gyula to Salonta (one-way 4,3 euro or return 6,3 euro); from Debrecen to Valea lui Mihai (Érmihályfalva), one-way 4,8 euro or return 7,1 euro; from Debrecen to Carei (Nagykároly), one-way 5,8 euro or return 8,6 euro; from Mátészalka to to Carei (Nagykároly), one-way 4,2 euro or return 6,1 euro
• Ukraine: from Budapest to Chop (one-way 18,4 euro); from Zahony to Chop (one-way 3,8 euro or return 5,2 euro, 4 day validity period)

It is also possible to purchase Rail Plus card in Hungary (allows 25% discount on any international ticket between almost all the euroopean countries)

Prices: <26 and >60 – 15 euro and 25 euro for adults.

How to Buy Train Tickets in Hungary:

National (domestic) and many international tickets (including discounted offers) can be purchased online via MAV website - www.elvira.mav-start.hu (other tickets should be purchased at the International/Domestic counters, travels agencies (Wasteels etc.) or MAV ticket machines)

 Step-by-step guide on how to purchase ticket via MAV Online Ticket Shop - europetrainsguide.com/Advice/How-to-Buy-Train-Tickets/Hungary-MAV.html

 

For short trips, for instance from Budapest to Szolnok, Esztergom, Szob etc. it is possible to purchase tickets via MAV ticket machines located at most of the major train stations.

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