Train travel Berlin to Budapest

The Deutsche Bahn gives a direct connection, both daytime and overnight. (Amazingly cheap when bought in advance: EUR 39 for 11 hours of train pleasure!)
You can of course do it in stages, with Dresden, Prague, Brno, Bratislava/Vienna as possible stops.

The EC 173 at 9:04 is direct - no changes - if purchased early enough can be as cheap as 39 euro

We have seen Vienna and Prague in the past, so a 1-1/2 hour flight Budapest-Berlin looked good (versus 11 hours on the train)

a 1-1/2 hour flight
Plus getting to and from airport. Plus check-in time. Plus luggage belt time.

I appreciate everyone's help.
Jan

It's a pretty long ride. I would either fly or stop on the way to see other cities. On your way there are several worth seeing: Dresden, Prague, Brno, Bratislava. Vienna of course too, but it is not on the rail line to Budapest.

EC 173
Dep 09:04 BERLIN HBF (TIEF) (Germany)
Arr 20:35 BUDAPEST-KELETI (Hungary)

Hi,

You could do this Berlin-Budapest route by night train. As pointed out it's direct. That is the quickest way. With a Pass this can be done by traveling two night routes.

For me, it's a flight or the itinerary Ilja suggested. If I'm training between the two, it's because I plan to make multiple stops along the route - IMO that's the best way to approach it.

Planes are faster and generally cheaper than long train rides.

There was once a time when the train was a cheap option and maybe worth losing time for, that's no longer true. You can save a lot by booking your ticket well in advance. But there's a risk; if you fail to meet that train, your ticket is worth nothing. You have to buy a new ticket - at full price.

If you really want to save money these days, and don't care about time, take a bus. I don't mind buses, but not for that long of ride.

Hi,

As pointed out re taking the bus from Berlin to Budapest, that can be done too as an option. Berlin is a major bus hub. Go to Berlin Ostbahnhof where "berlinlinienbus" has its office (ground floor, I've checked it out). They run a bus to Budapest.