A single night’s journey from Budapest to the Adriatic, in comfort and in good company: service starts in weeks

After weeks of uncertainty, it has been confirmed that Hungarian lovers of the Adriatic’s Croatian coast will once again enjoy a direct rail connection this year. One of recent years’ most successful international summer services, the Adria InterCity, will run again in 2026 between Budapest and Split, allowing passengers to reach the Adriatic by overnight train in comfort.

The service had been under threat following the bankruptcy of the Dunakeszi Rail Vehicle Repair Works, which left a shortage of air-conditioned sleeping carriages. However, thanks to cooperation between MÁV and transport specialists, the service has been secured through the leasing of additional rolling stock. As Transport Minister Dávid Vitézy confirmed this morning, the popular holiday train will indeed depart once more this summer.

When does the Adria InterCity run?

The Adria InterCity will operate between 3 July and 2 October 2026. During the peak summer season, trains will run two to four times a week. The first departure from Budapest is scheduled for 3 July, with the first return service leaving Split on 4 July.

According to MÁV, in July and August trains will depart Budapest on every odd-numbered day (1st, 3rd, 5th, and so on), with the exception of 31 July. From Split, return services will operate on even-numbered days. In September and early October, departures from Budapest will take place on Tuesdays and Fridays, while trains from Split will run on Wednesdays and Sundays.

En route, the train calls at Kelenföld, Székesfehérvár, Siófok, Fonyód, Balatonszentgyörgy, Nagykanizsa and Gyékényes before crossing the border, or upon its return to Budapest.

Services depart Budapest Keleti station at 18:45 and arrive in Split at 09:39 the following morning. On the return journey, trains leave Split at 17:43, arriving in Budapest at 09:35 the next day. The route skirts the southern shores of Lake Balaton before descending through Croatia’s mountainous interior towards the Adriatic coast.

Ticket prices

Tickets for couchette accommodation start from €46. A full six-berth compartment can be reserved for as little as €240, equating to just €40 per person.

Passengers may choose between couchette and sleeping car accommodation. Sleeping cars offer greater comfort and privacy, while couchettes provide a more economical option for families, groups of friends and solo travellers alike.

More than just a journey

The popularity of the Adria InterCity continues to grow year by year. Its particular appeal lies in the experience itself: passengers board in Budapest in the evening and, after an overnight journey, awaken on the Dalmatian coast.

An on-board dining car serves hot evening meals, breakfast and a wide selection of drinks. Breakfast, along with bottled mineral water and hot beverages, is included in the ticket price. Notably, the entire train is fully air-conditioned.

Women-only couchette compartments are also available.

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Couples are advised to book private compartments of up to three berths for maximum comfort, while groups and families can opt for private compartments accommodating four to six passengers.

Here is a short video of an idealistic journey:

Other summer destinations by rail

From Hungary, international rail services predominantly operate westwards, offering connections to Austria, Italy, Switzerland, Germany and the Czech Republic.

Destinations include Vienna and Graz, as well as Rome via Klagenfurt, Zurich via Munich and Innsbruck, Bratislava, and even Berlin via Prague and Dresden. Northbound services run to Košice, Kraków and Warsaw, while southbound routes reach Osijek, Ljubljana and Subotica.

In Transylvania, rail connections are available to Arad, Timișoara, Cluj-Napoca, Brașov and Bucharest, as well as Salonta, Carei, Baia Mare, Târgu Mureș and Miercurea Ciuc. To the east, passengers can once again travel through Ukraine to Kyiv, with stops at Chop and Mukachevo.

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