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Private transport Vienna to Budapest (vs. train or bus)

Hi Everybody.
My wife and I will be in Vienna in May (for work). I'm going to spend as much time as we can but probably limited to about 8 to 10 days. We've been all over Europe but never to Vienna and also never to Budapest. I'd love to incorporate a trip to Budapest specifically to see/experience the baths. I don't wanna do a day trip. But I only feel like I need to spend a day or two there to see the baths. Weighing on me that I might be cramming too much in, but this is an area of Europe I'm not likely to get back to anytime soon. If we decide to do it, is private transport with stops along the way (Bratislava?) a good option? As opposed to hopping on a train? Also any other places we should try to see close to Vienna? I've been to Munich and Salzburg and Halstad on previous trips. Thanks in advance for any help, insight, or suggestions.

Posted by
11052 posts

We took a direct train from Budapest to Vienna. Easy. The Austrian guards boarded the train when we arrived at the Austrian border and I think did a passport check.

Posted by
3943 posts

Oh, goodness. There is so much more to Budapest than the baths! And it’s a good city to “experience”.

However, the amount of time you have is the amount of time you have. If you only have one night, leave early morning and return evening the following day. But better - give it 2 or 3 nights. Take the train from Vienna and don’t dilute your time with “stops along the way”. (Unless you can do this and still give Budapest more time).

There is a TON of good info already here on the Hungary forum on how to use your time. Spend some time reading and that will help you get a better feel.

Posted by
5362 posts
  1. Train is faster.
  2. Bratislava is a poor man’s Budapest. Just do Budapest with your limited time.
Posted by
17635 posts

So, take a morning train to Budapest, 2.5 hours and about 20 euro.

I know you want the baths, and that's great, but get a room at the Intercontinental or the Marriott on the river. It will make your one night a beautiful experience.

About a 5 minute walk behind the hotels is Vorosmarty ter where you get on the M1 metro that goes straight to the Szechenyi Baths.

The M1 is the oldest metro on the continent of Europe and it's more like an amusement park ride than what you would expect of a "subway"; but consider walking either up to the bath or home from the bath as the M1 runs directly under Andrassy ut the full length and Andrassy ut is sort of the Avenue des Champs-Élysées.

To walk the full length is about 30 minutes but each portion is different and beautiful and if you get tired you can always hop on the M1 for a few stops

Next afternoon after lunch head back to Vienna ............ or if you are having a good time ........ don't.

Posted by
8091 posts

We just took the train from Budapest to Vienna. And we stopped in Brataslava too for a weekend to recharge ourselves.

Train is the way to go from Wein to Budapest.