How to get from Zagreb to Budapest
About traveling from Zagreb to Budapest
Budapest and Zagreb are both beautiful European cities that will amaze you with their diversity, culture, unbelievable architecture, shopping, museums and vibrant live. Between Budapest and Zagreb are some exceptional sights, including historical Szekesfehervar, the award winner village Tihany, unique Tapolca Lake Cave, Hungary’s third largest Helikon castle, relaxing Thermal Lake of Heviz and charming city of Varazdin. However, the only way to experience these is to book a private car transfer with Daytrip.
How to get from Zagreb to Budapest
You can use several options to travel from Zagreb to Budapest. The cheapest option to travel from Zagreb to Budapest is the bus. The fastest way to travel from Zagreb to Budapest is by flight though do not forget about waiting times at the airport. If you are curious to see more of Croatia and Hungary on your way, then of course the best way to travel from Zagreb to Budapest is by car or by train, though the latter one will lead to quite a long journey.
Zagreb to Budapest by train
To travel from Zagreb to Budapest by train, you need to get to the Zagreb Glavni Kol. station and purchase a ticket to Kelenföld [Budapest] station, or you can buy your tickets in advance online. Please note, even though you can purchase an online ticket, you will anyway need to pick up the actual paper ticket at the Ticket Collection Points located at railway station before your journey. The only train is at 4:38 PM (and it is direct train). The train from Zagreb to Budapest is operated by Mav Start, with train tickets from Zagreb to Budapest costing €25 on average for the 5.5 hour trip. The distance from Zagreb to Budapest is about 350 kilometers. Trains have bathrooms on board, and usually offer a dining car.
Zagreb to Budapest by bus
To travel from Zagreb to Budapest by bus, there are several journey options. The first is to go to Budapest, Könyves Kálmán körút and buy a ticket to Zagreb, Autobusni Kolodvor. The second is to go to Zagreb, Autobusni Kolodvor and buy a ticket to Budapest - Kelenföld vasútállomás Etele tér. While you can buy your ticket at the station, it’s best to purchase them in advance. The earliest bus is at 7:30 AM, and the last bus is at 4:00 PM, with 2 busses leaving every 3 hours. The bus from Zagreb to Budapest is run by Flixbus, with bus tickets from Budapest to Zagreb cost around €17 for the 4 hour 40 minute trip. The distance from Zagreb to Budapest is about 350 kilometers.All options offer direct service from Zagreb to Budapest.
Zagreb to Budapest Flight
To travel by plane, you need to get to Zagreb Franjo Tuđman Airport (ZAG). As usual with flights, you’ll want to buy your tickets in advance. There are no direct flights to Zagreb from Budapest, the shortest flight takes 2 hours 15 minutes and includes 1 change. The plane tickets cost around €370 for the approximate 5 hours 30 minutes flight from Zagreb to Budapest. It’s recommended to arrive at the airport 2 hours before the flight, making this the slowest and most expensive option.
Zagreb to Budapest Private Car Transfer
For speed and convenience, a private car transfer with Daytrip is the best way to travel from Zagreb to Budapest. You will be picked up at your accommodation, and the driver will take care of your luggage. You’ll then be able to enjoy door-to-door service to your accommodation in Budapest, and can even add sightseeing stops on the way!
Book a Private Car Transfer from Zagreb to Budapest
Going the other direction? Check our guide on How to get from Budapest to Zagreb