Hello,

I will be travelling flying in to Vienna at around 11:30 am on a Saturday. I'll be travelling to Vienna internationally, and hence will be fairly tired from my journey. The plan is to leave from the airport directly to Budapest. I haven't been able to find a proper way to do so, in a convenient way. I'm also a girl, travelling alone for the first time, so I'd like to err on the side of caution.
Please help me out?
Thanks!

<i>Please help me out? </i>

I can only give you information. What you do with that information is up to you.

You could fly. I see a 45 min direct flight round trip for $275.

Or you could take a 3.25 hour train from the airport to Budapest. No idea how much that would be.

I suppose you could rent a car. I'm not looking up the price for you on that one because of the different country drop off, it would be expensive.

A taxi would probably be cost prohibitive.


Why didn't you fly direct to Budapest in the first place if that is where you are immediately headed?

Here's the Austrian railway site. If you departed Flughafen Wien at 13:03, connected at Wien Hbf, you'd arrive at Budapest at 16:19. Lowest fare is 50,40 Euros.

http://www.oebb.at/en/

That seems convenient to me, but if there was a flight at the right time you might be able to reach Budapest earlier by flying.

Buy the train ticket in advance from the website above and it's 39 Euros (plus 3 Euros for a reservation if you want one). One change required. Should be fairly easy and comfortable. Print the ticket out and show your ID with it when you board the train(s).

If you fly it will save the trip from airport to train station at the beginning. But then you have to get into the city at the other end. I prefer the train between the 2 cities and you'll arrive in Budapest city center, always nice. So a toss-up really, get to the station in Vienna or in from the airport in Budapest. You might let price be your guide. I'd choose the train, but then I love trains. The views from the train between the 2 cities isn't fantastic but pleasant enough countryside.

I vote for the train as well but like MmePerdu, I love riding on European trains. It should not be hard to navigate pre-purchasing the ticket - but do give yourself adequate time to deplane and start the train journey.

@Sparkchaser - What I meant by asking for help, was a request for information.

The "trip from the airport at the beginning" is just another train, right? You can book the entire ticket including the train from the airport on the www.oebb.at site I believe. Total travel time was just over three hours I think when I checked.

I doubt flying would be faster unless you timed the flights perfectly, something really hard to do.

Yes, from the airport to Vienna Hauptbahnhof station is another train, but I was referring to the movement from one to the other and figuring it out as you go, that sort of effort when "tired", not the means.

Thanks guys. I've decided to take the train, as opposed to a cab or the bus. All of you were very helpful.
I have another small question. Will it be reasonably easy to take a cab from the airport to Wien Hbf? The train from the airport looks like a good option, but I would rather not pre-book the ticket for that journey as I don't know how long I might be held up at the airport. I've booked a train to Budapest from Wien Hbf at 2, and the suggested connecting train from the airport to the Wien Hbf leaves me with only 20 minutes connection time. I doubt this will be sufficient time. Hence, I've decided that perhaps taking a cab there is best. Thoughts?

You'd be unlikely to save anything buying a local ticket (airport to train station) even if you can, so do take the train, buy a ticket on arrival and hop on, no advance planning necessary. A taxi will be a waste of money to my way of thinking and possibly slower.

There is no need to pre-book a train from the airport to Vienna. There are trains every 30min or so and the ticket costs 10 euros or less.

Why are you not spending a night in Vienna? It is such a beautiful city. We stayed at a hotel over the road from the station. Then you could leave the next morning and not be stressed about missing your train.

20 minutes connection time is plenty in Austria - probably enough time to grab a quick fast food lunch at the train station to take on the longer train ride with you. (Find the platform first where your train to Budapest boards. If you made a reservation with your train ticket, you just need to find the car and seat you have reserved). I'd be much more nervous about a cab getting stuck in traffic myself than taking the local train.

Take the Bregenz bound railjet up to Wien Hbf and change there to the Budpest boound railjet
Vienna airport dp 13.03 - Budapest ar 16.19

Alternatively, you may take a taxi from Vienna airport to Bruck and der Mur (10 miles), board there the regional train dp 12.48 to Gyor and change there to the Intercity train to Budapest ar 15.49