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If you want to travel from Zürich to Budapest by train, you've come to the right place.
You can expect the journey from Zürich to Budapest by train to take around 12 hours 48 minutes. If you want to get there as quickly as possible, it can take as little as 11 hours 18 minutes on the fastest services. You'll usually find around 13 trains per day running on this route, which spans 790 km. You'll have to make 1 change along the way on your journey to Budapest. Both ÖBB and SBB trains operate on this route, offering modern comfortable services with plenty of room for luggage as standard.
Use our Journey Planner at the top of the page to search for cheap ticket prices and we'll show you how much you can save. Tickets from Zürich to Budapest start from $52.95 when you book in advance.
If you want to know more about the journey, keep reading for train schedules, tips on finding cheap tickets and FAQs, including first and last train times. Want to go straight to booking? Start a search with us today!
First train | 12:24 am | |
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Last train | 10:38 pm | |
Departure station | Zürich | |
Arrival station | Budapest | |
Journey time | From 11h 18m | |
Distance | 491 miles (790 km) | |
Frequency | 13 trains per day | |
Changes | 1 change | |
Price | From $52.95 | |
Train and bus operators |
ÖBB is the major railway company for Austria, subdivided into several subsidiaries, responsible for certain areas of transport, such as long distance and local transport, the operation of postal buses and the transport of goods. Railjet is ÖBB's high-speed train, which travels at speeds of up to 143 mph (230 km/h) and connects the main Austrian cities with Germany, Hungary, Switzerland, the Czech Republic and Italy.
The Swiss rail network is operated by SBB. SBB train ticket prices are based on travel and not on the type of trains. You will find available return tickets (standard price, one way or round trip), Multiple journey tickets (for six individual trips on a pre-determined itinerary) and the City-Ticket (including a one-day transportation pass from the city of departure or arrival).
Most of the train companies across Europe release their tickets around three to six months in advance, many of which can be cheaper the earlier you book. If you know the dates you want to travel, you may be able to find some cheaper train tickets from Zürich to Budapest by booking early.§
Many of the train services in Europe are also popular commuter services, lots of train companies increase ticket prices during “peak hours” (generally between 06:00 – 10:00 and 15:00 – 19:00 on weekdays). If you can, consider travelling outside of peak hours to find lower priced tickets.
On some of the busier routes, you might also have the option to take a slower or connecting train. It may take a little longer than some high-speed or direct services, but if you have a little extra time on your hands, you might find a cheaper fare. Plus, you'll have more time to enjoy the view of the countryside!
Take a look at our handy guides to find out when train operators release their special deals and offers to see if you can find cheap European train tickets for your journey.
For specific information about how to get your hands on cheap tickets, check out our European train tickets hub.