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Budapest to Sibiu train

Posted by (Canada) on

I am in the process of planning a Hungary and Romania trip for autumn 2027, and my initial plan was to do the Hungary part solo (5 nights in Budapest with a day trip) and get a customized private tour by Covinnus Travel for the Romania part (1 week), and I would prefer not to fly between Hungary and Romania.

Basically my ideal route for the Romania portion is Sibiu to Bucharest, so I had planned on taking the 09:10 train from Budapest Keleti to Sibiu (Man in Seat 61 mentions this one under Budapest to Brașov, running via Simeria and Sibiu).

Is there generally service all year round for this train? I understand this train can only be booked a few months in advance, but I only see it listed up until Dec 12 on both MAV and CFR. Before agreeing to anything with Covinnus, I want to make sure I'll actually be able to get to Romania from Budapest.

If anyone has any insight on Hungarian train schedules, or perhaps an alternative idea that doesn't involve flying, I would appreciate it.

Posted by
27769 posts

I am certain it runs all year, but the new schedules (mostly prices changes) come out in mid-December which is why its not shown.

You did good with Covinnus. I met the owner about 20 years ago. I smuggled his first SLR camera, and he went on to get published in National Geo. Great gentleman and the company has maintained a reputation of first-class tours.

I don’t know your budget, but the last time I used him, he drove me home to Budapest. Also Daytrip.com wants 439€ for the 6.5-hour trip.

I just looked at the train. Direct in 9 hours for 31€ that’s a bargain.

Reserve a seat, pack food and drinks and soap and maybe a little toilet paper and travel light.

Posted by
13432 posts

A lot of trains do not populate or open for booking until a few months in advance (often rolling over closer to seasonal timetable changes in December), which can make tickets look temporarily unavailable past mid-December, though the year-round service itself remains active. This has happened to me in both in Germany and France, and in other countries as well.

It doesn't mean it doesn't run all year. It just means that they have not scheduled the bookings yet. So I would wait. If you can, sign up for notifications on the site you intend to book, and when they do release the seats for booking, you will receive notice. Of course, you can also keep checking back.

Posted by
27769 posts

Here is an idea. Maybe not a good one.

Take the bus. OUCH!!! Take a 4.5 hour bus to Oradea. It leaves the airport at 11:55 and arrives at 16:25. Okay, then what? Well, you are in Oradea for goodness sakes: https://youtube.com/shorts/drUUF4L2XMY?si=NOBTSkoX9pPfaNwB Stay the night. Then next day after touring the city hop on the 16:25 bus that goes to Sibiu and arrives at 22:00. Now you have two managable trips with a nice tourist stop half way. Not sure that I would do it, but ...

Posted by
66 posts

Thanks for the responses!

The direct daytime train is my top choice, unless Covinnus can make me an enticing offer to bake the transfer from Budapest into the tour.

The Flixbus wouldn't be my first choice, but maybe not a bad idea to have in my back pocket just in case anything goes sideways with the train. Thanks for the idea.

As for Oradea, it is on my radar... some lovely Art Nouveau buildings there. But alas, with limited time, I will likely stick mostly to Transylvania.

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