Hello...Would someone know if it is possible to travel by train from Rome to Budapest all in one day? I realize connections are needed. We are travelling to Rome this June and then will proceed to Budapest via train. Should we purchase Eurail tickets at home in Canada? Thanks From.. Ilonka

Fastest train from Rome to Budapest takes 16 hours. It's a Euronight sleeper to Vienna, and then transfer to Budapest with just one connection.

I don't see any schedule to do all during the day.

www.bahn.de

A 90 minute flight is available on www.skyeurope.com for prices starting at 49 euro (or lower?)

Heaven forbid that anyone should think of traveling this route by train.

Best wishes,

Rex

Thanks for the rapid reply on train time to Budapest! I guess we'll stop over in Venice for an evening rather than proceed direct from Rome to Budapest. Are there any recommendations of hotels in either Venice or Budapest in the 100 euro price range? We are not "Ritz" people.
Clean beds and washrooms , we don't want to buy the hotel! Thanks again from Ilonka !

"Heaven forbid that anyone should think of traveling this route by train."

Rex, I wish you'd someday realize that travel for some of us isn't all about how to get there the quickest. I'd much rather take a leisurely train ride passing through beautiful countryside for an entire day, than endure the usual hassles of flying. I can't begin to tell you how much I enjoy sitting in a comfortable first class train car relaxing, following a map and seeing out the window some of what Europe has to offer. It is an especially nice way to spend a full day between a couple destinations where days are spent wearing oneself out visiting places, walking, and jamming as much activity into a day as possible. Of course, if time is limited and I MUST get there in a hurry, then a plane is fine. I'm well aware that you simply don't enjoy train travel. I LOVE it, but only if during the day.

Now on the other hand, this really is a difficult itinerary. I'd look at breaking it up with a night somewhere between the two places assuming that you are looking to see some countryside llonka, and you have the time to spend getting from Rome to Budapest.

llonka-

Even if you stopover in Venice, the train trip from Venice-Budapest is still:
Day train: 15.5hrs
Night train: 12+hrs

You might want to make another stop along the way.

www.bahn.de

I have to agree with Patrick on this one and making someone feel like they were ignorant for suggesting such a travel plan says volumes.
Just listing the alternative travel possibilities would have been enough in this case I think.

Hi llonka,

May I suggest that you break up your trip by taking the train from Rome to Venice to Vienna and then to Budapest?

This should take about a week.

You're right - - the "universal-ness" of my assertion was wrong. I should have said "Heaven forbid that someone would plan for _me_ such a lengthy train trip at five times the price of a flight, when I could get to Budapest (for whatever reason I wanted to skip over all that is between there and Rome).

I will reiterate my slogan of "travel around less, see where you are more". A chief reason that I would consider a ping pong flight like this would be if I had to be in Rome on certain dates, and Budapest soon thereafter - - and then I would probably try to make a meandering trip in some third direction, or back in the direction of Italy.

And maybe I should have said - - again, reflecting my own personal values (I am constrained in traveling by time, more than by expense) - - heaven forbid that someone knew about a faster cheaper method to get from point A to B and didn't share it with me.

I apologize to llonka for any notion of implied "wrongness" of the question.

My sincere thanks to everyone for their replies!!! I really appreciate the idea of flying ( I happen to LOVE
saving money or getting good value)
We will now in all likely incorporate
both train and plane. ( Do I sound like John Candy?). We need to return to Rome from Budapest so we can fly home and I like the idea of flying back there from Budapest. Where would I buy these intercontinental airline tickets? At home in Canada or in Budapest at a Travel Agent??
Again. I VERY MUCH appreciate everyone's help ..What kind & helpful people we have in the world! Merci, Danka, Gracias,Koszonom !!! Ilonka

Hi llonka,

You can book online at www.skyeurope.com