I travelled by train from Belgrade to Budapest in the summer of 2024. This post has been updated to include details on how to make this journey in 2025.
Can you still travel from Belgrade to Budapest by train?
Yes, but there is still no direct service, so you must do the journey in sections.
Belgrade to Budapest Railway Project
The Belgrade to Budapest Railway Project is a 350-kilometre-long cross-border high-speed train that will reduce travel time between the two cities to just two hours and 40 minutes.
If you are Interrailing across Europe, this is great news.
The high-speed line between Belgrade and Novi Sad was completed in March 2022.
The Novi Sad to Subotica section was expected to reopen in November 2024 but a concrete canopy at Novi Sad’s main train station collapsed on November 1, killing 15 people.
Update: The Belgrade to Subotica high-speed line is now up and running, but to continue to Budapest, you still need to transfer to the Subotica to Szeged train.
It was reported that Hungary may open its part of the high-speed rail link to Subotica this winter (2025/26).
How to get from Belgrade to Budapest in 2025
Since the High-Speed Belgrade to Budapest Railway Project is still not complete, you need to do the train adventure in 3 stages:
- Belgrade to Subotica
- Subotica to Szeged
- Szeged to Budapest
Belgrade to Subotica
According to Polazak, there are 13 departures for the High Speed Train from Beograd Centar (Prokop) to Subotica and the journey takes just 1 hr 19 minutes to cover the 199 km.
I can’t find any listings for the slow train.
Subotica to Szeged
Some confusion here. The Serbian website lists 5 trains, whereas the Hungarian website lists just 3 trains, with the tickets listed in both cases as €6 – 2400 HUF. Journey time is 1 hour 25 minutes
Szeged to Budapest
The Hungarian State Railways website (I am sure you can find it), lists many departures from Szeged to Budapest, with the first train at 07:44 and the last at 20:44. Fares start from 2,399 HUF. Journey time is 2 hours 25 minutes.
Trip Report 2024
This is my trip report from 2024 when I travelled from Belgrade to Budapest, via Novi Sad, Subotica and Szeged:
Belgrade to Novi Sad
I took the 12:15 slow train out of the new Belgrade Central Station, known locally as Beograd Centar, to Novi Sad.
The journey was pleasant enough and took exactly 1 hour, compared to the fast train, which took 36 minutes.
Arrival in Novi Sad:
This is the double-decker COKO Belgrade to Novi Sad high-speed train from 2024:
Novi Sad to Subotica
The direct line from Novi Sad Station to Subotica (100 km) wasn’t operational in 2024, so I had to travel via Backa Palanka and Sombor, a distance of 172 km.
Details from July 2024: There were just two trains a day: the 09:15 and the 19:15:
After 6 nights in Novi Sad, I took the 09:15 to Subotica:
Subotica to Szeged
After 2 nights in Subotica, I continued my journey to Szeged by train:
Szeged to Budapest
The final stage of the journey from Belgrade to Budapest by train is from Szeged to Budapest:
Arrival at Nyugati pu in Budapest:
Belgrade to Budapest Train Tickets
Belgrade to Novi Sad: 393 Serbian Dinar (RSD). This is the slow train (The fast train costs 962 RSD):
Novi Sad to Subotica: 704 RSD:
Subotica to Szeged: 598 RSD:
Szeged to Budapest: 3410 Hungarian Forint (HUF):
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 risk it, but you may end up standing.
The total cost to get from Belgrade to Budapest was 1695 RSD + 3410 HUF.
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 total of £19.72.
How to buy tickets for the Belgrade to Budapest train
I didn’t pre-book anything. I just turned up at the station and bought the ticket, like a psychopath.
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:
Temporary ticket office in Subotica:
Did anyone make this journey in 2026? Please let me know how it went.
