We will be traveling from Budapest to Ljubljana in September to join a Rick Steves Best of the Adriatic program. What options are available for this trip?
One option that we have discovered would be to fly Ryan Air to Treviso/Venice airport (TSF) and then take a TripstAir bus from TSF to Ljubljana. We would leave Budapest at 14:25 and arrive in Ljubljana at 20:00. Spending one night in Trieste would also work for us,
Thanks,
Marty
Or you can take the train. There is a direct train from Budapest to Ljubljana that runs twice daily.
The 9am train is the one that makes sense. Leaves from Deli and arrives at 4:35 (7:35 later). Prices start at 22 euro. The second train leaves from Keleti at 4:15 but takes 8:48 to get there which puts you in Ljubljana after 1am. Prices start at 53 euro. https://jegy.mav.hu/
They are both sort of long for my enjoyment but by the time you check in for your flight, etc...... you will spend as much or more time flying.
But no bad answer.
I just saw your post about DBV to AMS at the end of the tour. I dont know what day your tour ends in Dubrovnik, but you might consider running the connections in reverse.
AMS to LJU to start the tour (there are non-stop flights every day)
then
TGD to BUD to end the tour.
There are two non-stops on Wizz a week. Depending on the month its either Monday and Friday or Tuesday and Saturday. Which might mean you have to spend a few days in Montenegro to time the departure flight. Geee, that would be terrible (one of my favorite places on earth).
Budapest is well connected to go anyplace after a week or so there.
We used MyDayTrip.com and were very pleased with it. We were picked up at our Budapest lodging by a delightful young man in a clean car, made a lunch stop along the way and were dropped as close as he could get us to our Ljubljana lodging (which was in a pedestrian area).
Another vote for "My Day Trip". Our driver was prompt, knowledgeable and had a very comfortable vehicle. The journey was door to door. The earlier you book with them, the less expensive it will be, and you can cancel for no charge if necessary.
Thanks to all of you for your responses. We still have lots of time (mid-September trip) to decide.
You do have another option other than flying (not an option for me) and taking the 9 AM dep but then your arrival is 1 AM. I would rather not do that as I am not familiar with the station and the city at all.
My suggestion is that you take the train from Budapest to Munich Hbf or better still to Munich Ost. Get there by 22:00 or even earlier to have dinner there.
You are doing a day and night train combination, if you're not adverse to taking a night train. I have absolutely no problem with that.
This night dep at 23:53 Munich Ost to Ljubljana arr. ca. 9 AM or so....much more appealing than 1 AM.
Bottom line here: It's up to your travel style, ie taking multi-hour train rides day or night makes no difference for me. If the ride, direct, is of a multi-hour duration, then better at night.
A few years back my wife and I, after a week in Budapest, took a Flix bus from Budapest to Ljubjana which, at that time, was the shortest /easiest route. It was the first time we had taken a longish bus ride in Europe and we a bit apprehensive. We needn't have been: The ride was comfortable with one, possibly two stops. During that trip we also spent one night in Trieste which was lovely. In Trieste we stayed at the Savoia Excelsior Palace and watched the Adriatic from a balcony - well worth the additional few dollars. Ljubljana also is a jewel - walkable, friendly, terrific restaurants. Enjoy!
Thanks, Don. We appreciate your endorsement of the Flixbus. At present, that is our first choice.
Marty
We are actually doing the same thing in September, we are doing back to back tours and will be going from Budapest to Ljubljana. We will most likely take the 0900 train unless anyone has a better recommendation.
Hi Steve,
So far, we're planning on taking the Flixbus, which actually takes less time and gets in earlier than the train,.
Marty
Some Flixbus get in earlier than the train, some later. Some are faster, some take longer. Actually I didnt see a bus that left after sunrise that got in earlier than the train? But may be date dependent. Still, I would rather be on a train and be able to get up and walk a bit. Long, long, trip. But you cant do wrong either way.
Bus
10:00 to 5:05 Kelenfold 7h5m
10:00 to 5:31 Népliget 7h31m
10:00 to 6:05 Mexikói ú 8h5m.
Train
09:30 to 4:59 Deli 7h29m
