Budapest to Prague: Train, Bus, Flight and Car Compared
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The direct train from Budapest to Prague leaves Budapest-Nyugati every two hours from 05:30 to 17:30 and reaches Praha hlavní nádraží about 6 hours 53 minutes later, via Bratislava and Brno, from 30 euros (about $33.50) in second class if you book ahead. There is also a night train at 19:30, RegioJet trains from Kelenföld, buses from about 23 euros, a 75-minute Ryanair flight and a 530 km drive.
So the choice is less about whether you can get there and more about which station, which operator and which hour. The detail that trips people up is the Budapest station: the state-railway trains and the night train use Nyugati, RegioJet uses Kelenföld, and the buses mostly leave from Népliget. Still choosing between the two cities? Our Budapest vs Prague comparison weighs them up, and the Budapest and Prague itinerary shows how to split a week.
📋 At a Glance
| Time | From | Budapest departs from | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🚆 EuroCity and railjet | About 6 h 53 min | 30 euros (about $33.50) | Nyugati | Most people |
| 🚆 RegioJet train | About 7 h | 23.90 euros (about $26.70) | Kelenföld | Buda-side stays, cheap seats |
| 🌙 Metropol night train | About 12 h 53 min | 47 euros (about $52.50), couchette | Nyugati | Saving a hotel night and a day |
| 🚌 Bus | From 5 h 10 min | 22.90 euros (about $25.60) | Népliget and other stops | Night buses, odd hours |
| ✈️ Plane (Ryanair) | 1 h 15 min in the air | Varies a lot by day | Budapest Airport | Arriving at the airport anyway |
| 🚗 Car | About 5 h 30 min, about 530 km | Fuel plus three vignettes | Wherever you are | Groups, road trips |
Euro fares are converted at 1 euro = 1.1172 USD, the ECB reference rate on 30 October 2026. Rates move, so treat the dollar figures as indicative; you pay in euros, or in forints online with MÁV.
Which One to Pick
Take the day train from Nyugati unless something below fits you better. It runs every two hours, goes from the middle of Pest to the middle of Prague, and MÁV lists a dining car, wheelchair access and bike spaces on these trains. Seven hours sounds long until you add up airport transfers, and you spend them watching the Danube Bend, then Bratislava and the Moravian fields go by.
Take RegioJet if you are staying in Buda, near the M4, or if its fare is lower on your date. It leaves from Kelenföld and takes the other way round, via Vienna.
Take the night train if your trip is short. You lose an evening and a hotel bill, and you gain a whole day in Prague.
Take the bus when it is clearly cheaper or leaves at an hour no train does, including late-night departures. Fly only if you are already at the airport or connecting onward. Drive if you are a group, or Prague is one stop on a longer road trip.
By Train: the Direct EuroCity and Railjet
The route. These trains are run jointly by Czech Railways (ČD), Slovak Railways (ZSSK) and MÁV. They leave Budapest-Nyugati, call at Vác and Szob, cross into Slovakia at Štúrovo, then stop at Nové Zámky, Bratislava hlavná stanica, Břeclav, Brno hlavní nádraží, Pardubice and Kolín before Praha hlavní nádraží. They do not go through Austria. Most are called Metropolitan; the 07:30, the Hungaria, carries on to Berlin and Hamburg.
Departures from Budapest-Nyugati, from MÁV’s international timetable:
| Leaves Nyugati | Train | Arrives in Prague |
|---|---|---|
| 05:30 | EC 280 Metropolitan | 12:23, Praha hl.n. |
| 07:30 | rj 174 Hungaria | 14:26, Praha-Holešovice |
| 09:30 | EC 278 Metropolitan | 16:23, Praha hl.n. |
| 11:30 | rj 276 Metropolitan | 18:23, Praha hl.n. |
| 13:30 | rj 274 Metropolitan | 20:23, Praha hl.n. |
| 15:30 | rj 272 Metropolitan | 22:23, Praha hl.n. |
| 17:30 | rj 270 Metropolitan | 00:25, Praha hl.n. |
Prague to Budapest, the trains leave Praha hlavní nádraží at 05:37, 07:37, 09:37, 11:37 and 13:37, and the Hungaria leaves Praha-Holešovice at 15:36. They reach Nyugati at 12:28, 14:28, 16:28, 18:28, 20:28 and 22:28.
Two Prague stations. The 07:30 Hungaria stops at Praha-Holešovice, not the main station, because it continues north to Germany. Holešovice is on metro line C (Nádraží Holešovice), the same line as the main station (Hlavní nádraží), so it is a short ride, but it matters if you have a hotel booked next to the main station or someone meeting you there.
A Czech Railways locomotive at the head of the Metropolitan EuroCity, waiting to leave Budapest-Nyugati for Prague. Photo: Gabesz183, CC BY 4.0, resized, via Wikimedia Commons
Fares. The cheap tickets are limited per train and valid only on the train you book, so missing it means buying again.
- MÁV START Europa CZ: from 30 euros (about $33.50) to Prague in second class, non-refundable. START Europa Plus, refundable until the day before travel, starts at 37 euros (about $41). To Brno, they start at 21 and 27 euros. Children aged 6 to 15 pay 5 euros each in second class, up to three per adult on a START Europa ticket. When they sell out, MÁV’s flexible Europa Flex fares take over.
- Paying in forints. MÁV charges international tickets bought online or in its app in forints, at its own rate: 370 HUF to the euro, so 30 euros comes to 11,100 HUF. At MÁV’s international ticket offices and on board, forints and euros are both accepted.
- Czech Railways First Minute Europe: Prague to Budapest from 741 Kč (from 30 euros) in second class, on sale up to 180 days before departure. It ties you to the cross-border train, is valid for two days with the journey starting on the first, and can be returned until midnight before the day of travel for a 3-euro fee. Buying it at a ČD ticket counter adds 50 Kč.
Seat reservation. Not part of the fare on these day trains, and Czech Railways recommends buying one. On weekends, around holidays and through the summer these trains fill up, and on those days a reservation is the difference between a seat and the vestibule.
Track works. The Prague trains use the line north of Budapest along the Danube, away from the Southern Circular Railway works that move the Vienna trains around. Works elsewhere on the route can still change a timetable, so look up your train on jegy.mav.hu or the MÁV app a day or two before you travel.
Sources: MÁV-START international timetable Budapest to Prague (PDF) and Czech Republic page for trains, START Europa fares, children’s fares, the payment rule and the 370 HUF exchange rate; Czech Railways First Minute Europe to Hungary for its fares, booking window and seat reservation advice; DPP metro line C stations; MÁV track works page; all checked 1 November 2026.
The Metropolitan EuroCity from Budapest-Nyugati to Prague at Szob, the last Hungarian stop before the border at Štúrovo. Photo: Globetrotter19, CC BY-SA 3.0, resized, via Wikimedia Commons
By Train: RegioJet from Kelenföld
RegioJet, the Czech private operator, runs its own Prague to Budapest line through Brno and Vienna. Its trains do not use Nyugati, Keleti or Déli: RegioJet sells them from Budapest-Kelenföld, the station at the end of metro M4 in south Buda, to Praha hlavní nádraží.
- From Budapest-Kelenföld: 07:58, 11:58 and 14:58, arriving in Prague at 14:56, 19:00 and 21:58.
- From Praha hlavní nádraží: 06:01, 09:01 and 13:01, arriving at Kelenföld at 12:58, 15:58 and 19:58.
- Fares: from 23.90 euros (about $26.70) in the cheapest class, higher on busy trains. RegioJet lets you cancel free of charge until 15 minutes before departure.
- Passports: this train crosses Austria, which runs temporary checks on its borders with Hungary and the Czech Republic, so keep a passport or EU ID card on you.
RegioJet sells these trains on its own site and app.
Sources: RegioJet timetable and fares for Wednesday 18 November 2026 and its rail pass lines page; European Commission, temporary reintroduction of border control (Austria, to 15 March 2027); all read on 1 November 2026.
The Metropol Night Train
The EuroNight Metropol leaves Budapest-Nyugati at 19:30 every night. It carries cars for several cities and splits at Břeclav on the Czech border. The Prague sleeping and couchette cars, run by Czech Railways, wait there and leave at 05:12, reaching Praha hlavní nádraží at 08:23. The Berlin cars go on through the night and pass Prague at around three in the morning, so make sure your berth is in a Prague car.
Going south, the Prague cars leave Praha hlavní nádraží at 21:58 and arrive at Budapest-Nyugati at 08:29.
| MÁV fare, per person | START Night (non-refundable) | Night Flex | Child 6 to 15 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Couchette, 6 berths | 47 euros | 77 euros | 27 euros |
| Couchette, 4 berths | 55 euros | 85 euros | 35 euros |
| Sleeper, 3 beds | 65 euros | 95 euros | 45 euros |
| Sleeper, 2 beds | 80 euros | 110 euros | 60 euros |
| Sleeper, single | 135 euros | 165 euros | 115 euros |
START Night fares are limited per train. Night Flex can be refunded on conditions. The reservation is compulsory on the night train, and Czech Railways adds it to the ticket automatically.
Sources: MÁV-START Czech Republic page for night fares, night travel page for the cars, and the international timetable (PDF); Czech Railways First Minute Europe to Hungary for the reservation rule; all checked 1 November 2026.
Interrail and Eurail
A Global pass covers the whole trip on the state-railway trains and on RegioJet. What it does not cover is the extras: MÁV points out that reservations and supplements, including couchette and sleeper berths on night trains, are bought separately. On RegioJet’s RJ trains a reservation is compulsory for pass holders and costs 1.30 euros in Low cost, 2 euros in Standard and 2.80 euros in Relax.
Sources: MÁV-START Interrail page; RegioJet rail pass page; both read on 1 November 2026.
By Bus
FlixBus sells Budapest to Prague from 22.98 euros (about $25.70), with 18 trips a day listed, the first at 01:45 and the last at 23:55, and the fastest at 5 hours 10 minutes. One piece of hold luggage and one piece of hand luggage are included.
- Budapest stops: Népliget (Üllői út 131, on metro M3), Kelenföld bus station (Etele tér), Mexikói út, Déli station (Krisztina körút), Keleti station (on Thököly út, north of the station building) and the MOL station at Törökbálint.
- Prague stops: Florenc central bus station (Křižíkova 2110/2b, metro B and C), the main railway station stop, which FlixBus has moved to Opletalova Street because of construction, and several outer stops such as Černý Most, Holešovice, Roztyly, Zličín and Na Knížecí.
Not every trip calls at every stop, and FlixBus says the current address is the one on your ticket.
RegioJet buses run from Népliget to Florenc at 10:50 (arriving 18:30) and 22:50 (arriving 06:00), and back from Florenc at 09:30 and 23:00, from 22.90 euros (about $25.60).
Sources: FlixBus Budapest to Prague route page; RegioJet timetable and fares for 18 November 2026; both read on 1 November 2026.
By Plane
Ryanair flies Budapest to Prague, with a scheduled flight time of 1 hour 15 minutes, on most days but not every day. Fares swing hard: the cheapest one-way fares run from about 23 euros on quiet days to more than 100 euros on others, before any bag or seat extras. Add the trip out to Budapest Airport, security, and the bus or taxi from Václav Havel Airport into Prague, and the flight only beats the train on the clock if you were going to the airport anyway. Our airport to city center guide covers the Budapest end.
Source: Ryanair timetable and fare finder for Budapest to Prague, November 2026, read on 1 November 2026.
By Car
It is about 530 km from central Budapest to central Prague, almost all on motorway: the M1 west, the M15 to the Slovak border at Rajka, the Slovak D2 past Bratislava, the Czech D2 to Brno and the D1 to Prague. Allow about 5 hours 30 minutes without traffic.
- Three vignettes. Hungary needs an e-matrica for the M1 and M15, bought at nemzetiutdij.hu. Slovakia needs its electronic vignette from eznamka.sk. The Czech Republic sells 1-day, 10-day, 30-day and annual electronic vignettes at edalnice.cz. Buy each one on the official site before you reach that country’s motorway, and check the start date as you buy.
- Rental cars. Make sure your rental agreement allows the car into Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Our car rental guide covers the rest.
- Parking in central Prague costs money and time, so if Prague is your only stop, the train is less work.
The distance and driving time are our own, calculated from OpenStreetMap data between Deák Ferenc tér and Prague’s Old Town on 1 November 2026. Vignette types from the official Czech e-vignette shop, checked 1 November 2026.
Getting to the Station in Budapest
| Station | Who uses it | Metro | Trams |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nyugati | EuroCity, railjet, Metropol night train | M3 | 4, 6 |
| Kelenföld | RegioJet trains | M4 | 1, 19, 49 |
| Népliget bus station | FlixBus, RegioJet buses | M3 | |
| Keleti | Some FlixBus trips | M2, M4 | 24, 28 |
Nyugati is two stops from Deák Ferenc tér on the M3, and it has lockers at the end of track 6 and ticket desks open 06:00 to 19:35. If you are not sure which of the four names is on your ticket, read our guide to Budapest’s railway stations, which also covers the metro links, taxis and lockers at each one.
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A 2019 route card on the Metropolitan EuroCity at Praha hlavní nádraží, Praha to Budapest-Nyugati. Photo: Bahnfrend, CC BY-SA 4.0, resized, via Wikimedia Commons
Arriving in Prague. Praha hlavní nádraží has its own metro station, Hlavní nádraží, on line C, one stop from Muzeum at the top of Wenceslas Square and one from Florenc.
Sources: MÁV’s Budapest-Nyugati and Budapest-Kelenföld station pages; DPP metro line C; checked 1 November 2026.
The Verdict
Book the day train from Nyugati a couple of weeks ahead and it is 30 euros, seven hours and no airport. Take RegioJet if you are staying in Buda or its fare is lower, the Metropol if you want the day back, and the bus if the price gap is big. Heading west instead? See our Budapest to Vienna guide, and for a stop halfway, the Bratislava day trip.
Fares change with demand and dates, so check the final price when you book.
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Good to know
How long is the train from Budapest to Prague?
About 6 hours 53 minutes on the direct EuroCity and railjet trains from Budapest-Nyugati to Praha hlavní nádraží, according to MÁV's international timetable. RegioJet's trains via Vienna take about 7 hours from Budapest-Kelenföld. The night train takes almost 13 hours, because it is timed to arrive at 08:23.
Which station in Budapest does the Prague train leave from?
The Czech, Slovak and Hungarian Railways day trains and the Metropol night train leave from Budapest-Nyugati, on the Grand Boulevard and metro M3. RegioJet's trains to Prague start at Budapest-Kelenföld, on metro M4 in south Buda. Check which name is on your ticket.
How much is the train ticket from Budapest to Prague?
From 30 euros in second class with MÁV's START Europa ticket or Czech Railways' First Minute Europe ticket (from 741 Kč), both limited and tied to one train. MÁV's refundable START Europa Plus starts at 37 euros. RegioJet fares on its own trains start at 23.90 euros. Children aged 6 to 15 pay 5 euros on a START Europa ticket, up to three per adult.
Is there a night train from Budapest to Prague?
Yes, the EuroNight Metropol, every night. It leaves Budapest-Nyugati at 19:30, and its Czech Railways sleeping and couchette cars reach Praha hlavní nádraží at 08:23. MÁV's START Night fares start at 47 euros in a six-berth couchette, 65 euros in a three-bed sleeper and 135 euros in a single. Going south, it leaves Praha hlavní nádraží at 21:58 and arrives at Nyugati at 08:29.
Do I need a seat reservation on the Budapest to Prague train?
Not on the day trains of Czech, Slovak and Hungarian Railways: Czech Railways leaves it out of the fare and recommends one. On RegioJet's RJ trains, Interrail and Eurail pass holders must buy one, from 1.30 euros. On the night train, a reservation is compulsory and is added to the ticket.
Is it better to take the train, the bus or a plane from Budapest to Prague?
The train for most people: it goes center to center in about 7 hours, with space to walk around and a dining car. The bus wins when it is cheaper on your date or leaves at an hour the train does not. Flying is 1 hour 15 minutes in the air, but airport transfers and security bring the door-to-door time much closer to the train.
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