The guide states that international train tickets need to be paper tickets purchased at a station. It looks like e-tickets can be purchased online via RailNinja. Is that a viable option?
Posted by
white plains, ny, usa
4161 posts
" The guide states that international train tickets need to be paper tickets purchased at a station ". Not so! " What " guide " ? " Rail Ninja " is either a scam or a third party re-seller . The best and safest way to purchase rail tickets is from the companies that operate the trains . Either OEBB ( Austrian State Railways ) or MAV ( Hungarian State Railways .) The route between Budapest and Vienna is routinely run by OEBB Railjet service . go to this site to start to learn how to use European Rail sysytems -https://www.seat61.com/
Posted by
Magyarország / Rep of Texas
20159 posts
nhamlin11; you can buy them online from the MAV office. Then if memory serves me correctly you have to print them out from one of the machines at the train station when you get there. https://jegy.mav.hu/
But I looked at Seat61, interesting as he sends people to 3rd party ticket providers????? Oh well. I've only purchased them out of the vending machines at the station; but it does cost more. But read this: https://www.seat61.com/international-trains/trains-from-Budapest.htm#Budapest-Austria Then see about buying them at the MAV site.
Posted by
white plains, ny, usa
4161 posts
James , Absolutely , I think the OP has got incorrect information .
Posted by
Magyarország / Rep of Texas
20159 posts
Better yet, Budapest is so amazing, just skip Vienna and you dont have to mess with it.
Posted by
Philly
247 posts
Hehe I am with James on Vienna. Just kidding. Rail ninja shows cheap fares and I was tempted to go there before reading the seat 61 website. but as above posts, better if we go thru the railway site unless if seat61 site approves of rail ninja (don’t remember x looks like he is sending folks there)
Posted by
alameda, ca, usa
2688 posts
The last time I took the train from Budapest to Vienna was 2019--I bought my tickets online through MAV, then collected them at Nyugati, though the train actually departs from Keleti--I like to be prepared and Nyugati was a short walk from my hotel.
Posted by
TX, USA
4803 posts
Same for me, christa - except I went in 2018, bought online from MAV, and printed mine from the machine at Keleti (closer for me). And on that day (my huge experience), there were people working there to make sure I had no problems, which was nice.