Belgrade to Budapest Train for less than £20
Posted: July 24, 2024 | Tagged: Travel Hacks, The Balkans
I have just arrived in Budapest having travelled all the way from Belgrade by train. And here I will give you all the details about how you can do that too, for less than £20.
Is there a Belgrade to Budapest Train?
Well you can get from Belgrade to Budapest by train but it's not as straightforward as it used to be. There are currently, no direct trains from Belgrade to Budapest.
The line north from Novi Sad to Subotica and across the border into Hungary at Kelebia is (still) being upgraded so an alternative route is required.
The line north from Novi Sad to Subotica and across the border into Hungary at Kelebia is (still) being upgraded so an alternative route is required.
So your Belgrade to Budapest train adventure needs to be done in 4 stages:
- Belgrade to Novi Sad
- Novi Sad to Subotica
- Subotica to Szeged
- Szeged to Budapest
1. Belgrade to Novi Sad:
Regular trains run out of the new Belgrade Central Station, known locally as BEOGRAD CENTAR-Prokop to Novi Sad. The bus and tram network in Belgrade network is very cheap so no need to walk to the station and I already wrote about that on how to buy your Belgrade public transport tickets, plus I found that the Halkbank ATM is the only free option left if you need some cash in Serbia.
You can take the slow (cheap) train or the fast (expensive) Belgrade to Novi Sad high-speed train.
I took the 12:15 slow train. The journey was nice enough and took 1 hour exactly. The fast train is scheduled to take 36 minutes. So the 24 minutes saved costs you about 5€. Time is indeed money.
You can take the slow (cheap) train or the fast (expensive) Belgrade to Novi Sad high-speed train.
I took the 12:15 slow train. The journey was nice enough and took 1 hour exactly. The fast train is scheduled to take 36 minutes. So the 24 minutes saved costs you about 5€. Time is indeed money.
Arrival in Novi Sad:
This is the double-decker COKO Belgrade to Novi Sad high-speed train (I did not take this train):
You can check the schedules on the Polazak website.
2. Novi Sad to Subotica:
The direct line from Novi Sad Station to Subotica is just 100k but as of July 2024 is still being upgraded. The new routing takes you on a detour near the Croatian border, via Backa Palanka and Sombor making the trip around 172km.
There are just two trains a day; the 09:15 and the 19:15 (yes, the InterRail listing is incorrect). The journey time is 3 hrs 39 and 3 hrs 46 respectively BUT, the line is in bad shape and you will be running late. It's just a question of how long.
For those who want to take the next train to Szeged directly, be prepared to miss it. The 09:15 was due to arrive at 12:54 but it didn't arrive until 13:50 and the 13:37 to Szeged did NOT wait and thus a fellow traveller was left with a long wait (until 16:37). Just to warn you.
There are just two trains a day; the 09:15 and the 19:15 (yes, the InterRail listing is incorrect). The journey time is 3 hrs 39 and 3 hrs 46 respectively BUT, the line is in bad shape and you will be running late. It's just a question of how long.
For those who want to take the next train to Szeged directly, be prepared to miss it. The 09:15 was due to arrive at 12:54 but it didn't arrive until 13:50 and the 13:37 to Szeged did NOT wait and thus a fellow traveller was left with a long wait (until 16:37). Just to warn you.
3. Subotica to Szeged:
Since the line north into Hungary is currently closed, you first need to travel east to Szeged. There are 5 trains a day between Subotica and Szeged.
I took the 07:37 out of Subotica to Szeged (I covered this section in more detail on a separate post). Journey time is scheduled at 1 hr 23 but is of course very much dependant on how long the border crossing takes.
I arrived at 09:10, so I had time to get some breakfast at a nearby bakery before taking the final train to Budapest at 09:44.
I took the 07:37 out of Subotica to Szeged (I covered this section in more detail on a separate post). Journey time is scheduled at 1 hr 23 but is of course very much dependant on how long the border crossing takes.
I arrived at 09:10, so I had time to get some breakfast at a nearby bakery before taking the final train to Budapest at 09:44.
4. Szeged to Budapest:
The final stage of the journey from Belgrade to Budapest by train is from Szeged to Budapest
Arrival at Nyugati pu Station in Budapest:
You can check the schedules and buy tickets (if you must) on the Hungarian State Railways website.
How much does it cost to travel from Budapest by train?
Belgrade to Budapest by train cost me £19.72. Here, I break down the individual stages:
Belgrade to Novi Sad: 393 Serbian Dinar (RSD). This is the slow train (The COKO (SOKO) costs 962 RSD):
Belgrade to Novi Sad: 393 Serbian Dinar (RSD). This is the slow train (The COKO (SOKO) costs 962 RSD):
Novi Sad to Subotica: 704 RSD
Subotica to Szeged: 598 RSD:
Szeged to Budapest: 3410 Hungarian Forint (it might be cheaper if booked in advance):
Some trains in Hungary require you to make a seat reservation, some don't. The ticket lady in Szeged asked me if I wanted a reserved seat. Just say no and just risk it, cos you may end up standing.
So the total cost to get from Belgrade to Budapest cost me 1695 RSD + 3410 Forint.
The rate on my UK-issued bank card was £1= 137.70 RSD which makes the 3 trains in Serbia, £12.31 and the last stage from Szeged to Budapest was shown as £7.41, making a grand total of £19.72, which as of today according to Google is 23.45€.
So the total cost to get from Belgrade to Budapest cost me 1695 RSD + 3410 Forint.
The rate on my UK-issued bank card was £1= 137.70 RSD which makes the 3 trains in Serbia, £12.31 and the last stage from Szeged to Budapest was shown as £7.41, making a grand total of £19.72, which as of today according to Google is 23.45€.
How to buy tickets for the Belgrade to Budapest trains
I didn't pre-book anything. Old-school style just turned up at the station and bought the ticket. In Belgrade, Novi Sad and Szeged you have the option to buy your tickets from the ticket machine or from the ticket office and in Subotica, tickets are sold at the temporary ticket office. You can pay with card or cash, as you wish. You can also buy online but I didn't.
Ticket machines in Belgrade:
Ticket machines in Belgrade:
Temporary ticket office in Subotica:
Can you get from Belgrade to Budapest in one day?
I stayed 6 nights in Novi Sad and 2 in Subotica. Both are worth a look!
But can you travel from Belgrade to Budapest by train in one day? Yes.
Belgrade to Novi Sad: 07:15 dept / 08:09 arr (this is the best cheap option to connect with the train to Subotica)
Novi Sad to Subotica: 09:25 dept / 12:54 arr
Subotica to Szeged: 13:37 dept / 15:02 arr (or in case your train is delayed: 16:37 dept / 18:02 arr)
Szeged to Budapest: 15.44 dept / 18:14 arr (or in case your train is delayed: 18:44 dept / 21:14 arr)
And further trains? Yes, there are trains from Budapest to Berlin, Bucharest, Bratislava and many other destinations.
And south from Belgrade?
You can take the train to Niš but you will need to switch to a bus to continue to Sofia in Bulgaria.
You can still get to Bar in Montenegro but you need to change trains in Bijelo Polje.
There are no trains to Zagreb, Sarajevo, Romania or Kosovo.
Happy Travels!
But can you travel from Belgrade to Budapest by train in one day? Yes.
Belgrade to Novi Sad: 07:15 dept / 08:09 arr (this is the best cheap option to connect with the train to Subotica)
Novi Sad to Subotica: 09:25 dept / 12:54 arr
Subotica to Szeged: 13:37 dept / 15:02 arr (or in case your train is delayed: 16:37 dept / 18:02 arr)
Szeged to Budapest: 15.44 dept / 18:14 arr (or in case your train is delayed: 18:44 dept / 21:14 arr)
And further trains? Yes, there are trains from Budapest to Berlin, Bucharest, Bratislava and many other destinations.
And south from Belgrade?
You can take the train to Niš but you will need to switch to a bus to continue to Sofia in Bulgaria.
You can still get to Bar in Montenegro but you need to change trains in Bijelo Polje.
There are no trains to Zagreb, Sarajevo, Romania or Kosovo.
Happy Travels!
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