day versus night train from Budapest to Venice

As it is only 3 hours and the terrain is very flat, I think you can spend a little more time in Budapest and move on after dark.

Sam, I think she said Venice, not Vienna. Venice is a long, long way; 14+ hours on the overnight train and the rate will be between $150 and $225 for a one bed compartment. There are flights for under $250 that take 5 to 8 hours; and you may find better on the discount airlines. Book round trip for the best rate. Three full days in Budapest is already sort of marginal so no matter what you decide to do keep that in mind.

Oops. My bad.

Hi, I would suggest both, ie, going day and night. Take the Railjet (RJ)day Budapest-Munich direct. That's why this fast connection was built a several years ago to connect Munich with Budapest direct. In Munich take the night train to Venice with a change in Verona where you arrive 0600 or so. I would do these two legs since I don't particularly care for flying when thr train connections are easy.

Thanks to all three of you. Fred, about how much would each of the two legs by train (Budapest to Munich, Munich to Venice) cost, with and without sleeping accommodations on the second?

On Rick Steve's scenic rail trips one person commented that the 7-hour train trip from Vienna to Venice traversed Austrian farmlands, streams, and lakes, then the breathtakingly beautiful Austrian & Italian Alps. Does this trip describe the route via Munich (southeasterly route) or the route via Villach (southwesterly route) or perhaps both?

Hi, You're welcome. Taking the direct Budapest-Munich Hbf you 'll pay 115 Euro, 2nd class. It's close to 7.5 hrs. You can look up Munich-Venice (or in German München Hbf-Venedig) on bahn.de to see the night train prices, which depend on when you get the ticket. You can complete both legs with a combination of the day leg BP-Munich, which arrives 1600-1700, then take the CNL night train a few hours later. Night trains start at 1900.