During your studies in Budapest, you will likely want to visit the many wonderful places Hungary has to offer. While Budapest is full of sights and has a fantastic atmosphere, the country is much more than just its capital. Hungary is home to numerous beautiful cities, towns, and attractions that you should definitely explore during your university years!
Moreover, if you rent accommodation at Diáklakás, you can easily and quickly reach any major bus or railway station nearby, from where you can embark on your Hungarian adventures with your friends!
In Hungary, there are two main public transport options for long-distance travel:
- Rail transport is operated by MÁV (Hungarian State Railways)
- Long-distance and regional bus transport is provided by Volánbusz
Both systems have extensive networks, but their quality and reliability may vary.
If you are considering renting a car during your stay in Hungary, we will also provide some useful information about the motorways and highways in the country, as well as which routes will take you to different cities and regions.
Railway Transport (MÁV)
Hungary has hundreds of railway lines operated by MÁV (Hungarian State Railways). Due to funding shortages in recent years, the quality of service varies, and longer-distance routes may experience delays and inconveniences. However, suburban routes tend to be more punctual and comfortable, as they receive more attention.
- Comfort Considerations: modern train carriages offer a more pleasant travel experience, but older trains – especially those running on smaller rural lines – are significantly outdated.
- Bicycle Transport: if you want to travel with a bicycle, some routes offer this option. These trains usually have a designated carriage, such as a baggage car or a multipurpose coach, where bicycles can be securely stored.
Budapest Railway Stations and Directions
Budapest has three main railway stations that serve both domestic and international trains. Additionally, Kelenföld railway station plays an important role in the city’s rail network. These are all easily reachable via public transport in Budapest as each of them has a metro station.
- Keleti (Eastern) Railway Station: most international InterCity trains depart from here. Domestically, trains mainly head toward Eastern Hungary (e.g., Miskolc), Southeastern Hungary (e.g., Szolnok), and Southern Hungary (e.g., Pécs). There are also several routes heading west, such as to Győr and Sopron.
- Nyugati (Western) Railway Station: domestic routes primarily connect to Northern Hungary (e.g., the Danube Bend, Vác) and Southeastern Hungary (e.g., Szolnok, Szeged).
- Déli (Southern) Railway Station: mainly serves the Balaton region and its surroundings, with trains heading to places like Székesfehérvár and lakeside towns. If you plan to visit Lake Balaton in the summer, this is the station to use.
- +1 Kelenföld Railway Station: although no trains originate from here, it is a major stop for many routes, particularly for trains departing from Déli Railway Station.
The biggest advantage of rail travel is that it operates on fixed tracks, meaning it is unaffected by road traffic and cannot get stuck in traffic jams, saving you time. However, frequent train delays can significantly extend travel time. In such cases, it might be worth considering bus travel to explore Hungary’s beautiful destinations.
Bus Transport (Volánbusz and FlixBus)
In Hungary, intercity and intermunicipal travel is provided by Volánbusz. Volánbusz has an extensive network across the country and operates several types of routes:
- Intercity routes: buses that operate between Hungarian towns and cities. This term includes suburban, regional, and national routes.
- Suburban routes: buses that connect Budapest and county-level cities with settlements within a maximum 70 km radius.
- Regional routes: buses that travel up to 100 km within or between counties but are not classified as suburban routes.
- National routes: long-distance buses that connect distant locations and do not fall under the suburban or regional categories.
- International routes: buses that connect major Hungarian cities with foreign destinations.
Here you can find Volánbusz Stations in Budapest:
- Újpest-Városkapu
- Göncz Árpád City Center (near the Pest side of Árpád Bridge)
- Stadionok (District XIV, next to Papp László Sport Arena)
- Népliget
- Széll Kálmán Square
- Kelenföld
- Csepel
In addition to Volánbusz, FlixBus operates international routes, which, although primarily designed for foreign travel, can sometimes be a useful alternative for domestic travel, especially between larger Hungarian cities.
FlixBus operates from seven Hungarian cities, with two departure points in Budapest: Liszt Ferenc Airport and Népliget. Additional departure points include: Győr, Siófok, Székesfehérvár, Szeged, and Debrecen.
Road Transport and Highways
Sometimes, students may want to avoid long travel times or find crowded trains too uncomfortable. In such cases, renting a car can be a great alternative. Renting a car is also useful if you plan to visit additional nearby attractions that may not be accessible by train or bus.
For this reason, it’s important to be familiar with Hungary’s highway network.
The country’s main motorways and expressways are connected by the M0 ring road (expressway), which encircles Budapest. The key highways include:
- M1: A motorway heading west, connecting Budapest to Győr and continuing toward Austria.
- M2: An expressway heading north, connecting Budapest to Vác and continuing toward Slovakia.
- M3: A motorway heading east, connecting Budapest to Nyíregyháza and continuing toward Ukraine.
- M4: An expressway heading east, connecting Budapest to Szolnok and continuing toward Romania.
- M5: A motorway heading south, connecting Budapest to Szeged and continuing toward Serbia.
- M6: A motorway heading south, connecting Budapest to Szekszárd and Pécs, and continuing toward Croatia.
- M7: A motorway heading southwest, connecting Budapest to Lake Balaton and Nagykanizsa, and continuing toward Croatia and Slovenia.
In addition to these, Hungary has numerous other expressways and partially completed highways, which are not detailed in this article.
Important: the maximum permitted speed on Hungary’s motorways is 130 km/h (80 mph), on expressways it is 110 km/h (68 mph), and outside built-up areas, the limit is 90 km/h (56 mph).
Hungary’s transport system provides opportunities for convenient travel, whether by train, bus, or car. We hope this guide helps you navigate the available options!
