Direct train access from Budapest to the Adriatic this summer!
This summer, the Adria InterCity will again be heading from Budapest to the Croatian coast of Split. The night service of the Hungarian State Railways (MÁV) was chosen by The Guardian as one of Europe’s best rail journeys in 2022.
Adria InterCity from Budapest
The service will run 3 times a week from 9 June to 30 September, with couchettes, sleeping and dining cars, mavcsoport.hu reports. As a new feature compared to last year, trains will run three times a week, even outside the high season: until 17 June in the pre-season and from 28 August in the post-season. From Budapest, the Adria InterCity will run every Tuesday, Friday and Sunday. From Split, it will run every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Despite the pandemic situation, MÁV welcomed 5,500 passengers on board the Adria InterCity in 2021. Last year, the number of passengers doubled: 11,900 tourists chose the direct rail service between Budapest and Split. A third of them, nearly 4,300 passengers, took the higher class, more comfortable sleeping cars.
No border control
This year, travel will be even more convenient with the abolition of border controls. In Croatia, later arrivals and earlier departures will guarantee more time to relax during your trip. The Adria InterCity arrives in the centre of Split, right next to the Old Town and the port. You can sleep through most of the 789 kilometres, so the journey will not be tiring for any member of the family or the group you’re travelling with. All the cars on the route are air-conditioned and the cabins have power sockets, mavcsoport.hu writes.
The breathtaking route from Budapest to Split
The Intercity train departs Budapest at 6:45 PM. It crosses the border along the southern shore of Lake Balaton, then leaves Zagreb and heads for the Dinarides. There, it descends to the coast after crossing passes almost 900 metres above sea level, arriving in Split at 9:44 AM. On the return journey, the train departs Split at 5:55 PM, arriving in Budapest at 9:35 AM the next day. In addition to Budapest (Keleti Railway Station and Budapest-Kelenföld), the IC can be boarded in Székesfehérvár, Siófok, Fonyód, Balatonszentgyörgy, Nagykanizsa and Gyékényes, and disembarked on the way home.
Dining cars, eating and drinking
You can meet one of the most elegant dining cars of the Hungarian railways on the Adria InterCity. The Passenger Service offers a wide range of food and drinks for a pleasant dinner or breakfast. Sleeper car passengers can have breakfast here or in their cabins. The trolley will be open throughout the 15-hour journey. In addition, all passengers are offered mineral water and sweets in the evening and hot drinks, fruit juice and breakfast in the morning.
MÁV-START offers special discounts for families thanks to children’s tickets for children aged 6-15, available from EUR 31. For larger families, groups and groups of friends, offers start from EUR 209, with a full berth cabin for up to 6 people.
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