Tickets for most international daytime trains departing from Hungary are now available for the winter timetable, which begins on 13 December 2026. The announcement brings good news for travellers planning Christmas market visits, festive trips abroad or journeys home for the holidays.
Budapest-Vienna trains to run hourly
Dávid Vitézy, Hungary’s Minister for Transport and Investment, announced the launch of ticket sales in a Facebook post on Wednesday, highlighting the growing popularity of international rail travel. The winter timetable will maintain hourly international train departures between Budapest and Vienna, providing regular connections between the Hungarian and Austrian capitals throughout the season.
Tickets are also available for several other popular destinations, including Košice in Slovakia, Ljubljana in Slovenia and Zagreb in Croatia. Travellers can additionally book journeys to numerous destinations in Transylvania and Western Europe. For those seeking a winter getaway, the High Tatras in Slovakia will also remain accessible by rail. Vitézy recommended the EUR 60 Tatra Excursion Ticket, which can be purchased at railway ticket offices.
The minister noted that the Budapest-Belgrade railway line is already included in the new timetable. However, the precise launch date for passenger services has not yet been confirmed, as the final quality assurance and certification reports are still being prepared. Consequently, tickets for the route are not currently available through Hungarian, Serbian or Austrian sales systems. Ticket availability will be updated once the opening date is officially confirmed.
International rail travel continues to grow
Recent figures indicate that international railway travel is becoming increasingly popular among passengers departing from Hungary. According to sales data from MÁV and its foreign railway partners, international passenger traffic approached 2.68 million travellers during the first eight months of 2026.
MÁV’s own sales figures show that nearly 985,000 passengers purchased international train tickets between January and September, representing a 9 per cent increase compared with the same period last year. More than 65 per cent of international tickets are now purchased online or through mobile applications, reflecting the growing importance of digital booking services.
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MÁVPlusz app makes booking train tickets easier
The recently introduced MÁVPlusz application has also contributed to the shift towards digital ticket purchasing. Since its summer launch, almost as many international tickets have been purchased through MÁVPlusz as through the previous MÁV app during the entire year.
The application also allows passengers to select their preferred seats using a graphical seating plan, making the booking process more convenient. With ticket sales now open, travellers are encouraged to plan their winter journeys in advance, particularly for popular festive destinations.
