best train to take from Vienna Airport to Budapest

www.oebb.at runs the trains, so I would start there.

@Sam provides the right link to look for this info. You can also get a visual look via Google Maps.

Basically, you have to go to Vienna Central Station to catch the train to Budapest. There are multiple ways to get from Vienna Airport to Vienna Central Station. I have only arrived via train, so have no recommendation.

Thanks for this info but is it assumed that the link you provided for OBB is for the high speed train?

High speed trains, medium speed trains, low speed trains. All the trains. Take your pick.
The trains from Vienna to Budapest are Railjet trains, OEBB's intercity trains that are a fast a possible

You take a RailJet train from the airport to main train station (a ride of 15 minutes) and from there another RailJet train to Budapest (2:40 hours).

https://www.oebb.at/en/

I would spend the night in Vienna or pay to land in Budapest.

Here are the things I would consider.

If you plane is late you will miss your train. I would allow 2 hours from flight arrival to the first train from the airport. Even with the most flexible ticket I don’t think they will let you on another train if you just didn’t show up on time. Don’t know.

Honestly, I would take a taxi from the airport to the Vienna main station for the train to Budapest. Just one less thing for me to worry about.

If your luggage gets lost, I have no idea if the airline will deliver it to Budapest. Maybe, maybe not?

The combination of trains in question is Flughafen Wien › Budapest Keleti; with a change in Vienna Hbf. The cost on the OBB site is 64 euro with a seat reservation on the one day that I checked (10 October).

Booking from Vienna Hbf to Budapest is 55 euro on the same day using the OBB site.

I tried checking mid-October but the OBB site would not let me do that with the start at Flughafen Wien so if you go that way you might have to wait till a few weeks prior to buy your ticket. Maybe something to do with the airport train schedule. No idea.

RailJet keeps getting thrown around. Don’t worry if it’s a RailJet (RJX) or EuroCity (EC) pick on how long the ride is. There is probably a definition for “High Speed” train but there aren’t any high-speed trains in Hungary. 2:32 to 2:42 travel time isn’t bad given the distance.

And so far we have just talked about the OBB site. The MAV site sells the airport to Budapest ticket that I looked up on 10 October for 39 euro with a seat and the Vienna Hbf ticket on the same day for 28 euro with a seat.

I would allow 2 hours from flight arrival to the first train from the airport.

RailJet trains from the airport to main train station run every 30 minutes. The ride is €4, the ticket can be obtained from a vending machine. There is no need to plan ahead for this trip of 15 minutes (no taxi can beat this time).

I would allow 2 hours from flight arrival to the first train from the
airport.

Okay, then I would recommend 2:15 hours from your flight arrival scheduled time to the time you train leaves Vienna Hfb to Budapest. You need time to get off the plane, go through passport control, find your luggage, file a claim for the lost luggage, then 30 minutes if you just missed the train then 15 minutes for the ride.

OR

Buy the airport ticket and the Budapest ticket when you arrive in Vienna. Checking right now to buy a ticket on the next train from Vienna Hbf to Budapest with a seat reservation is 56 euro at OBB or 45 euro at MAV. If you could have bought it a few days in advance the ticket drops to 25 euro at MAV.

OR

Spend a night or two in Vienna and buy your train tickets now.

OR

Fly into Budapest and not spend the money on the train or lose 5 hour of your trip.

Thanks for all this info. Actually we will be staying in Vienna but my husband and one daughter will be leaving before the rest of us. They haven't traveled internationally for a long time so me and my other two kids are planning to go with them to Vienna airport from Vienna city center to drop them off and then take a train or taxi to Vienna central station and catch a train from there to Budapest.

Since we don't know how long the drop off at the airport will take and what time we will actually arrive at Vienna central station, could we just show up at Vienna central station and buy a high speed ticket to Budapest then in person?

Since you asked about the "BEST" train to take from Vienna to Budapest, my answer is the Orient Express.

But I don't think it operates in December.

From Vienna airport, take the local train to Vienna Central Station and then transfer to a train to Budapest. Previous posters have given you information on your choices.

As for dropping them off at the airport.....what do you plan to do with them? You can't go past security and checking in for a flight out of Vienna is like checking in for a flight almost anywhere. The only real difference might be passport control if they are leaving Schengen. And that is after security. Why are you going all the way to the airport just to turn around and return?

Why not go to the train station (HBF) as a family, get your husband and daughter on a train to the airport, and then you and the rest of your family get on a train to Budapest. I've taken the train between the train station and the airport a few times and it's really not difficult. Plenty of signage and in English.

As for dropping them off at the airport.....what do you plan to do
with them? You can't go past security and checking in for a flight out
of Vienna is like checking in for a flight almost anywhere. The only
real difference might be passport control if they are leaving
Schengen. And that is after security. Why are you going all the way to
the airport just to turn around and return?

FrankII has an excellent point. You take them you get out, you stand a while, you go looking for your train to the train. You got love to do that.

Since we don't know how long the drop off at the airport will take and
what time we will actually arrive at Vienna central station, could we
just show up at Vienna central station and buy a high speed ticket to
Budapest then in person?

Sure. From OBB (online) that ticket will cost you 52.80 euro plus a few bucks for the seat assignment. From MAV (online) the seat will cost you 45 euro plus a few bucks for the seat assignment. (I checked the price if I bought on line, today for a train today). If you were to buy a few days in advance the MAV price is 25 euro plus the seat. We aren’t talking mega-bucks here, but so you know. If you go to a ticket counter or a ticket machine the prices might be higher … I really don’t know. But you can buy with an OBB or MAV phone App in just a few minutes.

Then there is the issue of the "high speed ticket to Budapest". Nope, cant buy one the same day. Cant even buy one a month in advance. Because there are no "high speed" trains to Budapest. Dont worry about if its a EC (Eurocity) or IC (Intercity) or RJX (Railjet Express); just find one that makes the trip in 2:30 to 2:40 and works with your schedule. The only significant difference in travel time is how many stops the train makes on the way. The Hungarian tracks moderate the speed.

Very helpful info. Thank you.

...go with them to Vienna airport from Vienna city center to drop them off...

Depending on where you're staying, it may be easier to get your air travelers to the Wien Mitte station - at that point they have two rail options to get to the airport. One is the CAT airport train, much derided for it's relatively higher expense vs. the S7 train. But the advantage of the CAT for less experienced travelers is that they basically hold your hand through the entire process. Depending on the airline, they may also be able to check the bags through to their ultimate destination, thus no need to deal with bags at the airport.

Then from Wien Mitte the rest of you can take the Underground or a tram to Wien Hbf to catch your train to Budapest.

“Then from Wien Mitte the rest of you can take the Underground or a tram to Wien Hbf to catch your train to Budapest.”

No, you take the s-bahn. It’s an easy three stops. Direction Meidling.

Even with the most flexible ticket I don’t think they will let you on
another train if you just didn’t show up on time. Don’t know.

That is not how it works. With a fully flexible train you can take all OBB/MAV operated trains on that route. Worst thing is you may be standing till the next station. But there are no pre boarding checks, so nobody to let you, or not let you, on.

So get a fully flexible ticket, and get a reservation for the train you think you will be using. If you manage to reach an earlier train, and you see it is not to full just take it.

So get a fully flexible ticket, and get a reservation for the train
you think you will be using. If you manage to reach an earlier train,
and you see it is not to full just take it.

I picked a random train 23 October, 07:40, 267 railjet express, 2:39 travel time to Budapest-Keleti

• The MAV cheap ticket is 17 euro (27 euro for first class)
• The OBB Standard, Fully Flexible ticket, good for 48 hours is 51.90 euro. (84.70 euro for first class)
• Then you have anther few Euro of the seat reservation with either ticket.

Very helpful info. Thank you again. I think we have a plan now