Munich to Budapest train

Try this site
https://int.bahn.de/en

I am seeing tickets available up to September. Otherwise it is too early; it will show up eventually.

Trains do not sell out days in advance. They would be useless if they did. So if you are looking at dates more than a few days in the future and seeing "not available" or "sold out" you are just looking at the combination of trains not available for booking yet, and lazy website programmers.
European typically do not book trains that far in advance. I am going to Florence next Sunday. Booked a bit over a week ago. Return trip we haven't even booked yet...

Munich to Budapest is also a night train route, direct, ie one of the advantages of doing the night train option. In June I'll be doing that using the Eurail Senior Global Pass. I don't book in advance for night train routes, at most 2 weeks.

Thanks Jazz and Travels and WengenK. I figured that this might be the case - too early. Just wanted some confirmation so we are not shut out. I expect there to be heavy competition for the trains that run from Munich to Budapest with no transfers.

Thanks, Fred. I noticed the night schedule as well. We decided not to go this route. I mean the night train route - will still be traveling Munich to Budapest.

The flight would save about 3 hours of travel time, but there are no discount airlines flying the route so it's a $200 ticket.

As of today you can purchase tickets for trains that depart up until 11 June.

Thanks again, Mr. E. Plane would be good except for logistics within Europe (we usually arrive 3 hours before flight, getting to airport and from airport to hotel, etc.). When we add it all up, we create a lot of stress (logistical) and don't save that much time overall. Thank so much for checking the train schedule for me. I tried yesterday to Budapest in late August again and received the same vague non-confirmatory message on the rail website.

Late August is still far away, so there is no reason to stress about it. There will be trains, the schedule will be roughly similar to the spring schedule.

In case you haven't seen it, it can be helpful so read this: https://www.seat61.com/international-trains/trains-from-Munich.htm#Munich-Budapest

@ Harwood.....You're welcome. Good That you have it all planned out logistically.

Transportation options are part of one's travel style. Doing the night train option is part and parcel of my travel options on any trip relative to the itinerary. The Pass gets me on the train, I pay only for the seat reservation. The absolute cheapest (if that's the goal barring any comfort expectations) is the Eurail Senior Global Pass, where for me the Pass travel day expense amounts to 23 Euro. That Budapest to Munich night route in June is far more that that.

Harwood, I went to the Hungarian rail site ... not where I would buy it, but I have a link on my desk top, and the calendar only went to 11 June.

Thank you Badger and Fred. For Fred: If we get the Senior Global Pass, will it be any more difficult to procure reservations? Do I just google Eurail Senior Global Pass and buy from site that sells it? The third member of our group is not a senior. Are there pass options for him as well?

Thanks again, Mr. E. That's good to know. More scheduling peace of mind.

For Fred: If we get the Senior Global Pass, will it be any more
difficult to procure reservations?

Not at all, it easy to buy from DB, www.bahn.de. Just click on "Seat only" and you will get a seat reservation.

Do I just google Eurail Senior Global Pass and buy from site that
sells it?

That would probably lead you to some suspicious third party site. Go to www.eurail.com

(I hope you don't mind my answers, despite the fact that I'm not Fred.)

LOL. Thanks again, Badger. I'm having trouble keeping up with everyone's name. Eurail.com read $1105 for two seniors and one adult - 4 travel days travel in a month, I think. That sounds pretty high. I don't think it was operator error on my part. Maybe a la carte is better. Not sure.

You have not said where else you are going?

Sam - Munich > Budapest > Prague > Munich. Also with day trips (time permitting and destinations TBD) from each base.

The Austrian rail site (OEBB) mentions construction on that line, noting that in August trains will run, but at different times. Guess they don't yet know WHEN.

Noting your comment about day trips... Would one of those out of Munich possibly be NUREMBERG?

In the event your train worries are wearing you out...

A few years ago we flew BUD > Nuremberg using Ryanair. Flight was very cheap and took less than 2 hrs. We took the subway from the airport into town.

So I am looking now at the reverse in your case... NUE > BUD, on Google Flights. One-way flights are less than €50 on these dates:
AUG 24, 27, 30

The flight on the 27th is at 11:15 - a good bet if you visit Nuremberg on the 26th, and spend one night in Nuremberg. Catch the subway to the airport after breakfast.

The flight on the 24th is at 8:45 pm... so you could visit N'berg on that same day, then fly to and stay at BUD airport that same night. But I wouldn't choose to make the transfer into Budapest that late at night.

Thank you very much, Russ - for the info and also for all the hard work on our behalf. Very thoughtful of you. Our hotels are all set - Check out of Munich on August 26 and check into Budapest on August 26. Nuremberg strategy is very intriguing and creative, but in our case not feasible. Thanks again.

Anytime a train trip exceeds 4.5 hours it makes sense to compare flights. And nothing wrong with late night arrivals into Budapest. It's a good, modern, well run airport that continually gets awards.

Our hotels are all set...in our case not feasible.

I am beginning to think I might be the only trip planner here who refuses to book without the free-cancellation option. For our May trip I have already racked up as many cancellations as I have "finalized" bookings. We leave in 3 weeks, but even now I'm looking at moving one of my nights to shorten the train journey on that day.

@ Harwood.... You have received some good answers to your queries.

Re: seat reservations (Sitzreservierung / Platzkarte) and the Eurail Senior Pass, I get that at the station. If you are somewhere else in Germany prior to Munich, I would suggest buying the seat reservation at that train station, ie just tell them you have Eurail Pass and that you need a seat reservation for that specific departure and destination. You may not even have to show the Pass. Most of the time when taking the night train route and getting the seat reservation, the clerk was not interested in seeing my Pass when I offered to show it.

Bottom line here for future reference on doing the night train or day train option, it is up to your level of comfort and what you are willing to cope with. For me that includes logistics. I have no problems at all taking the night train option of 8.5 to 10 hours, provided two factors are met....a) a straight shot, ie no changing at 3 AM even though I've seen numerous locals do it, families too, and b). the train arrives ideally after 6 AM....wonderful

@ Harwood....part 2 here.

Your projected trip is still far away but you can expect the Munich to Budapest corridor in the summer to be packed. I saw that instance twice last summer where the train's final destination was BP. How are you going to deal with that unpleasant situation.....not likely to happen but if it were to materialize, then what?

I suggest you tailor your route (one of the big advantages of having a Pass ) by crossing at Passau. The route is more time consuming...true. Take Munich to Passau , then Passau to Budapest, transferring in Linz. Linz Hbf is super easy to navigate, pleasant, etc. and above all, not inundated with crowds.

Thank you again, Fred. Wonderful information. I'm doing a cost comparison now between a la carte train purchases (including day trips from base(s)) + isolated mydaytrip.com purchases - in some cases mydaytrip is close to the a la carte price train price (surprising)) vs. all travel via senior eurail pass with no mydaytrip. Your alternative plan - changing trains at Passau and transferring at Linz sounds very good in light of expected heavy competition for the Munich to Budapest direct train. Can't thank you, and others, enough for the information I am receiving. That's really thinking outside the box. I'm thinking I should book the Munich to Budapest direct as soon as feasible to avoid the more time-consuming route via Passau and Linz.

I would just book the direct train. It may indeed be packed on some days, but if you have a reservation that is not your problem. And you probably will be able to book it from late May onwards.
(And for this route tickets are normally available up to the moment of travel...)

in light of expected heavy competition for the Munich to Budapest
direct train

I haven't heard it was that busy a route. I am always looking for new sources of information, where did you hear this. The more tools the better.

I haven't heard it was that busy a route. I am always looking for new sources of information, where did you hear this. The more tools the better.<<

Thanks WengenK. That’s reassuring and useful info. @Mr. E - Fred on the this thread (above) and on the Tripadvisor forum. My personal opinion - Rick Steves forum is better than Tripadvisor.

This forum is 100x better than TA