Best Way to Travel from Ljubljana to Budapest

I believe there is a sleeper train. Check the MAV rail site.

I went back and looked again I found it on 29 August but not in October. So this is a seasonal thing and it depends on when you travel. Otherwise the only direct train might be at 5am, but check your date. https://jegy.mav.hu/

I would do the night train if the date works. Affordable and a good experience. Otherwise most that I have known have used the bus.

Doesn't look like there are any direct flights but there are a number of flights with one connection that can get you there in approx. 5 hours, with some under $300. I have found both the Ljubljana and Budapest airports to be manageable.

There is also a day train at 0930 to Budapest Deli, arriving at 1659.

Not a lot longer than the connecting flight, city centre to city centre, tickets start at around 16 Euro when bookings open 60 days out, or are 40 Euro on the day.

isn31c, did you find that on MAV? I couldnt find it on MAV or TheTrainline, just on Seat61 which is sort of an "iffy" source at times.

I'm working on that, as I later noticed your earlier comment about the 5am train.

This seems to be another lack of updating by the Man in Seat 61.

Due to long term engineering work the train has been suspended since 1 May between Ajka and Veszprem (both in Hungary I think) with a replacement bus in operation over that route section (source - vagonweb), followed by a domestic MAV Intercity into Budapest.
The bus is a 40 minute ride.

The alternative seems to be a 1015 train, with a 75 minute change in Graz (Austria).

I so appreciate your assistance! This is a fairly recent diagnosis for an individual who was extremely active (I just turned 60 for gosh sakes!). I'm finding it somewhat challenging to navigate my new normal. I've gone on the train sites and it's difficult to get a clear understanding. If we were to look at flying, are there any intercontinental airlines that you prefer over others? I have taken EasyJet (I'm not certain they are around any longer). As always, appreciate your feedback.

The best connections seem to be Lufthansa. But all this is date dependent. What date will you travel.

We're traveling September 18. (Incidentally, Mr. E, our parents were '56 ers) . Appreciate your assistance, all.

Welcome home.

I will let you research the bus.

Unless you want to do a 5am train, not much to choose from.

For flights, there is a 9:40am Air Serbia flight that takes 5 hours, the price is reasonable, and you salvage part of the day in Budapest. Air Serbia, and changing in Belgrade is not an issue. I've done it a few times and do it again in 2 days on the way to Sarajevo.

But if flying interests you more than a bus, consider the 8pm Lufhansa flight the night before. You have the evening in Slovenia, take the flight and you check in to your Budapest hotel about midnight-thirty, sleep good and wake up in Budapest the next day.

Flixbus run multiple times a day taking 6 to 8 hours , including two red eye overnight ones.
Fares start at just over $24. Some services drop you at seemingly random street side stops in Budapest, but two go to Kelenfold station.
Cheap, fairly fast, but no ability to move during the journey.
An idea, possibly not the best, in your case.

We traveled the other way, from Budapest to Ljubljana, with Daytrip.com and were very happy with the service. Yes, it can be expensive, but we were glad to have such an easy door-to-door trip - no comparison to public transportation options.

Ha Ha, they sound like side street bus stops but they are not.

Actually, if you chose a good hotel location (District VI along the Andrassy ut corridor) then the stop at Budapest Mexikói út is where you want to go if the schedule works for you. The M1 has a station there and the M1 goes right down the center of Andrassy ut and then on to the river.

Népliget (Népligeti távolsági buszpályaudvar) has a M3 Metro stop and its just a few minutes to the city center.

Kelenföld (Kelenföld autóbusz-állomás) has a M4 Metro Stop and is maybe a tad longer to the center of town because you will probalby need to change metro lines to get to where you are going.

If you need to get up and walk a lot, the maybe the plane as it only requires about 90 minutes sitting in one place.

My daughter and I took the bus last summer to Népliget. It was completely uneventful. One longish stop, maybe 20 minutes. I think I was expecting more stops based on long ago Greyhound experiences. I would do it again.

Thank you all! I think we will need to fly. I cannot sit for any length of time and would need to get up and move every hour or so. I did in fact look into Flexbus and also noted the funny names (Mexico street), Mr. E (we're in an AirBnB) and I believe Mexico Street is fairly close to where we are staying in Budapest. At any rate, I so appreciate the input from all of you.
I'm excited to visit Ljubljana and take in all that it has to offer. Happy travels to all of you.

I doubt you are too close to Mexikói út as its a bit of cultural wasteland, but its the end stop of the M1 Metro line, the bus stop and the end stop for the 3 tram that goes to a really interesting market hall .... and Ikea!.

So, now you have to choose between taxi or bus from the Budapest airport, LOL. The deciders on the bus are how much luggage and where your Airbnb is located. If you thought near Mexikói út then maybe really near the M1 metro line and Andrassy ut in which case the airport bus is convenient for location. Now for luggage. More than a small carry-on and maybe a rather typcical size checked bag, you might want to take a taxi. Or if lifting bags is an issue a taxi. Taxis are reasonably priced, safe, efficient, fair, etc.

Thank you. Yes, perhaps I'm mistaken! Fortunately, this will not be my first trip to Budapest or the first stay at our AirBnB. I'm quite familiar with the city and like to call it my second home. I'm not familiar with Ljubljana, however, and am looking forward to exploring! Appreciate the time you took and the information you provided. Happy travels!