Modes of transportation from Zagreb to Budapest

After days exploring beautiful roads and towns around Croatia in a motorbike, Igal and I headed to Budapest, Hungary. The following are the various options that I’ve found during my research on ways to transfer from Zagreb to Budapest.

Train

There are two train trips in a day from Zagreb to Budapest. I found the details on these trips from Mark Smith’s seat61 page.

The morning train departs Zagreb at 10:03 and arrives in Budapest Keleti at 16:14. Afternoon train departs Zagreb at 15:36 and arrives in Budapest Keleti at 22:14. The afternoon train has a restaurant car while the morning train doesn’t. Tickets cannot be booked online and must be purchased at the station on the day or couple of days before the trip. According to Mark, the fare is around 29 euro.

Flixbus

The bus departs from Zagreb’s main bus station (Autobusni Kolodvor) and arrives in Budapest’s main bus station (Budapest Nepliget). The trip takes five hours with three direct trips departing Zagreb at 8:00, 12:00, and 16:00. The fare varies when I checked it – from 17 euro to 35.90 euro per person. I suppose the rate it gives depends on seat availability. The bus has wifi, plug sockets, and toilet. A passenger is entitled to two items of baggage (max. 67 x 50 x 27 cm, max. combined weight of 30kg) and one hand baggage (max. 42 x 30 x 18 cm, max. 7kg). Tickets can be booked online. You can check-in using a printed ticket or by being eco friendly and showing the ticket using Flixbus’ app.

Daytrip

This is a door-to-door private car shuttle which can be booked on their website.

When I checked on it, a trip from Zagreb to Budapest will take 3.5 hours and will cost 220 euro for 2 pax. You also have the option to add sightseeing along the way for a fee.

Eurobusways

This is also a door-to-door transfer which can either be private or shared. Bookings can be made through their website.

Shared transfer from Zagreb to Budapest costs 70 euro per person and will take 3.5 to 4 hours with 1 stop. A quotation for private transfer can be obtained by contacting eurobusways. Their fleet contains buses and minibuses. There’s wifi onboard and you can bring up to 2 big suitcases and a hand luggage. Anything beyond that will be charged accordingly.

Airplane

I used skyscanner to check on this option. I didn’t see any direct flight from Zagreb to Budapest. With two months lead time, the cheapest flight I saw will cost at least 100 euro per person and will take at least 6 hours with 1 stop. Add to that the fact that we also need to be at the airport hours before the flight.

Will all of the options provided above, Igal and I ended up choosing between the train and Flixbus. We eventually chose Flixbus because it can be booked online. We bought the tickets 2 months ahead and got them for 17 euro each.