Budapest to Ljubljana and back

Posted by brian.agler on 03/16/14 03:21 PM

Hi all,

My girlfriend and I are headed to Hungary and Slovenia in mid-August. Details are still being worked out at the moment, but we're looking to go from Budapest to Ljubljana on the night of August 11th, and then head back to Budapest on the morning of the 16th.

We've been looking at trains (and to a lesser extent, busses and flights), but the sites are incomprehensible at best, and at worst--the tickets aren't even available.

Any tips? Are trains the right way to go? If so, which ones?

Thanks!

-Brian

Posted by Sam

Green Bay

03/16/14 03:46 PM

20980 posts

Tickets are marked as "unavailable" until they go on sale. In general, European train tickets that are sold over the web do not go on sale until 3 months before departure. Short haul trains often are only a week in advance. The price is often so low there is no point. You wouldn't book a subway ticket in NYC 6 months in advance, you just buy it when you get there.
There is also a European wide schedule update on June 14 or thereabouts. August train schedules are not out yet in a lot of countries.

Posted by Diane

Ottawa

03/17/14 02:22 AM

1446 posts

The likeliest route would probably be Budapest to Vienna to Ljubliana. Check the Austrian Rail (OBB) website to get the schedule.

I always cheat and use the same day of the week, but the next month ahead, just to get a rough idea (like a Monday in mid-April, if my travel date in July falls a Monday)... BUT, the schedule will definitely change a bit for the summer season.

You will not be able to buy your whole ticket through online from the Austrian site, as your journey starts in Hungary. You should at least be able to buy the Vienna-Ljubliana return ticket from the OBB. There are lots of trains linking Budapest with Vienna. If you have to spend a night in Vienna, try Wombats the Lounge just a couple minutes walk from the Westbahnhof train station. I found it more than decent and quite a nice hostel when I needed to transit through.

This website, seat61.com, will have the best and most current info regarding planning such a journey.

Posted by Emma

Oregon

03/20/14 06:30 PM

111 posts

Train tickets are very cheap there, under $50 each way in second class. See prices on Rick's ticket cost maps at http://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/transportation/trains/cost-maps. See train schedules through the link at http://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/transportation/trains/online-schedules. Buy tickets in a train station or perhaps a travel agency in Budapest; there's no need to book before you go.

Posted by Diane

Ottawa

03/20/14 11:58 PM

1446 posts

Begging to differ with Emma... for a day train, I would agree. But for a night train in August, I would book in advance if I could.