Traveling from Berlin to Budapest

There are train rides that have spectacular scenery. I've only done Prague to Budapest, Prague to Vienna and Vienna to Budapest and none were worth the views. Mostly high vegetation or walls on both sides to keep the noise of the train out of the landscape. Unless someone has first hand great experience, I would fly. Both Wizz and Ryan make the trip starting at $50.00, flight time is 90 minutes. The train is at least 10 hours. Now, a sleeper train might be an option if there is one.

Hi, mt; you can definitely take a train there, but it will be a lengthy journey. I just checked at https://int.bahn.de/en, which is the German national railway, and you're looking at a minimum of around 11+ hours for a train that goes straight through with no transfers.

You could, of course, get a sleeper train (and there are those available), which would save you the cost of a hotel, but that defeats the purpose of seeing the country, since most of it will be at night.

If you do decide to go this route (sleeper or non-sleeper), I would suggest booking your ticket as far ahead as possible (usually 3 months) and the costs are lower. Right now, a non-sleeper ticket in mid-September is around €55 one way for 2nd class. But if you were leaving this week, it's around €157. I would definitely compare flights costs and see which is more advantageous, especially compared to the time factor.

Thank you both the valuable information!

Okay, on booking the ticket, not sure 3 months is necessary. But at least 6 weeks. Then, check both the DB and the MAV website and buy from whichever is cheaper. Same train, so it doesnt matter. Do get a seat reservation. Do download the DB and/or MAV app for you journey and to store te tickets and seat reservations.

Heck no, its crazy. Fly. Even a night train is .... okay so you arrive in Budapest not having showered in 18 hours and with very little sleep because its a train, not a hotel room. You store your bags someplace from 8am till check in and shower time at 2pm. In the mean time you stink up the Budspest public transportation trying to stay busy enough to justify the night train decision. No. Just fly.

Okay, on booking the ticket, not sure 3 months is necessary. But at least 6 weeks.

I would say 3 months for Deutsche Bahn, if you want the lowest price.; maybe 8-10 weeks at the outside. You can always purchase a Flex ticket that will let you move the date/time around if necessary.

As of today the 8 July 9;15 train to Budapest is 40 euro on MAV. There are no cheaper on later dates. This is a use it or lose it ticket. On DB it's 160 Euro for the same train, but a FLEX ticket.

Well, anyone can cherry-pick a particular train to come up with an example of an expensive train ticket sold by Deutsche Bahn. However, I see all kinds of €39 Deutsche Bahn train tickets for Berlin to Budapest not in July but during September— just 3 months away

And that brings home Mardee’s point that buying your train ticket as far in advance as possible can save you a lot of money.

Deutsche Bahn opens train ticket sales up to 12 months in advance of the train’s departure date.

Kenko, the point was Mardee was correct, DB months in advance and you proved that by having to go to September to get a discount ticket. But usually MAV has them weeks in advance. Generally 3 weeks in advance, and that can be helpful for those that have to buy closer to the travel date. This isn't a competition, Kenko ... It's a discussion of options.

Like Mardee, I'm one of those who would be happier with all my plans made and bought as early as possible. Mardee has done a lot of travel, smart and one of the best sources here. magtay01 do click on Mardee's name and see the resume. I didn't know if she was aware that MAV, generally not always (so be careful), has discount tickets closer to the travel date than does DB.

Also, and Mardee knows this, all those discount tickets are not refundable or changeable, and the more expensive DB tickets are.

One final note, MAV will sometimes not list a train if they can't sell you a discount ticket. So it's better to start at the DB site to ensure you see all the options, then go to MAV to see if there is a better price.

And the statement that DB opens sales 12 months in advance, might not be totally correct. Apparently its a "depender": Here is a more trusted source for such things: https://www.seat61.com/european-train-booking-horizons.htm which is also a good article in general on when to buy train tickets.

Trains which open 6 months ahead

German Railways international routes: Deutsche Bahn (DB, int.bahn.de) open bookings up to 6 months ahead for most international journeys between Germany and Paris, Amsterdam, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Copenhagen, Prague, Bratislava, Budapest.

When it'll sell a ticket but won't add a seat reservation: For some inwards international journeys, for example Prague to Berlin, you'll find that int.bahn.de will sell you a ticket 6 months ahead, but it can't provide an optional seat reservation to go with it as this has to be sourced from the partner railway's reservation system which still only opens bookings 2 or 3 months ahead. In this case, buy the cheap ticket without a reservation, make an optional seat reservation later if you want one.

Although it is not a Nightjet you can also book the sleeper train on OEBB.

There is also a Nightjet from Berlin to Vienna, for a day train connection to Budapest.

As MrE has come up with a new reason not to use the night trains, note that the train cars on that service have showers at the end of the cars, unlike the Hungarian car (singular) used on the direct service

Also you could take a day train to Munich (there are showers at Munich Hbf) then the Munich to Budapest sleeper. That train actually starts back at Stuttgart for a longer sleep.

isn31c, okay I was a bit direct and opinionated on the night train. Actually a failed attempt at humor (not an uncommon failure for me) But the night train is not a terrible option. I would do that before 12 hours on the day train. If someone checks it, post the prices, I am curious. I've only done two night trains in my life. One over 30 years ago and one last January. Neither had showers, good to hear about the upgrades, it does make it a more attractive option. I live and learn.

I have also taken the train much of the way between Berlin and Budapest--in spurts. I agree, they are not the most beautiful train journeys.

Eleven hours is a long time. And that will be tiring. You'll already be tired after the RS tour.

I've also recently experienced a sleeper train. Not in that area but a sleeper train.

Never again. I didn't get much sleep. Plus, you don't see much in the dark.

With one day, I'd look into flying. If you had more days, I'd recommend the train but broken up into segments and overnights.

Spend the extra time exploring Budapest.

I was looking this morning at the direct night train for a random date in September, as June next year is way too far away.

I am getting on DB for 17 September 328 Euro in a 2 berth cabin for two people, less for a couchette.

I've not looked at MAV- given that it is Hungarian cars being used they are very probably cheaper.

Even if I was hypothetically flying you have to add on the cost of a hotel in either Berlin (or better Budapest in case of flight irregularities).

Taking luggage add ons into account, and depending on the hotel quality then in strict cost terms it probably comes out as essentially a wash.

One of the things we have largely lost from European night trains that made them very special is the restaurant car. That is one reason to take a day train to Stuttgart or Munich then the sleeper - the Restaurant car on the ICE's. I have said before that what made the service train the former Orient Express (not the luxury version) Budapest to Paris (and its connection via through cars from Bucharest) a no brainer was the Hungarian restaurant car. Both the ambience and the very good quality food.

isn31c thanks. The advantage of the flight is maybe in timing. But that depends on the flight time. I think there is a discount flight around 9am. That means the night before you have a nice dinner in Berlin, see the sights one last time then the next day you leave for the airport at 7am and you are at your hotel in Budapest at 11am wiht a half day to enjoy. I love the evenings so losing one to a night train isnt a plus for me. Not a deal breaker but still I would rather be walking a neighborhood. Then the tran gets in about 8am and you are dropping bags at the hotel at 9am. So essentially you have 2 more hours in Budapest than if you flew, but at the expense of the last night in Berlin. But this stuff is all subjective. There is no wrong.

My last night train experience was with somewhat older stock. If you could imagine what sleeping on a 1970's vintage waterbed in the middle of an earthquake would be like you pretty much understood the comfort of the beds on the train. Still, I had a blast, glad I did it and might repeat it this year. But no shower, no robe or slippers, no dining car but tea for abut 10 cents a cup and some really great "bunkies". https://1drv.ms/f/c/c9f4c533eb93d92e/Eoy_q3dpG6dKiraj6w31uMMBXcN1c8tsNlOe587OCnhkdw?e=mGrZI4

The night trains I've taken so far have really been night trains. Boarding at 10pm, sleeping (I can sleep very well on the night train), and getting off at 8am for breakfast at my destination. So far it was always departure from Munich to Hamburg, Rome and Venice.

I can't comment much on the night trains. The only one I took was back in 2007 when I booked a sleeper from Istanbul to Ankara. I do remember enjoying the experience, and I got a decent amount of sleep. But of course, YMMV. :-)

Its an experience everyone might want to try at least once. Works well for some.

Thank you all so much for the input, related experiences and suggestions. I think we are going to fly!

mt

A very wise choice. So much easier. Now, the bus or taxi from the airport thread might get 30 or 40 hits.