Night train to Budapest: two MÁV routes, prices per place and arrival stations

The night train to Budapest solves the main problem of a trip to Hungary: the journey doesn't eat up a day of your vacation. You board the train in the evening, sleep on the way, and step out in the center of the Hungarian capital in the morning. Two MÁV night routes connect Germany with Budapest, and both run daily. The Metropol train (EN 40457) departs from Berlin Hbf at 20:11 and arrives at Budapest-Nyugati at 08:29, which is about 12 hours of travel time (according to MÁV, 09/2026). The Kálmán Imre train runs from southern Germany via Munich and Vienna to Budapest-Keleti. Below you'll find the schedule for both lines, prices by carriage class, and practical details you won't find in brochures: which station you'll arrive at and what to do with your luggage early in the morning.

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Trains to Budapest: available routes

💡 In short:

• Both night trains to Budapest run daily year-round: Metropol from Berlin and Dresden, Kálmán Imre from Stuttgart via Munich and Vienna.
• Book a sleeper or couchette rather than a seat: it costs more, but you'll arrive rested in the morning.
• Book in advance: the best prices appear about a month before departure, and two to three months ahead for holidays and summer.
• Prices and schedule: 09/2026, verified on the official MÁV website.

© Thomas Depenbusch (Depi) from Cologne, Germany · CC BYPhoto: Thomas Depenbusch (Depi) from Cologne, Germany, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), Wikimedia Commons

Both routes are operated by the Hungarian MÁV together with partner railways. The EuroNight-class trains run every day, have air conditioning, and offer passengers seated, couchette, and sleeper carriages (according to the MÁV timetable, 09/2026).

Travel time is about 12 and 13 hours respectively, both lines run without changes (as of 06/2026, nachtzug.net on the route).

Important: the northern route arrives at Budapest-Nyugati, the southern one at Budapest-Keleti. Both stations are in the city center, and each has luggage storage with lockers (according to the official MÁV website, 09/2026).

Metropol: Berlin, Dresden, and Bratislava

The Metropol train departs Berlin Hbf at 20:11, runs via Dresden Hbf, the Czech Republic, and Bratislava Hlavná stanica, and arrives at Budapest-Nyugati at 08:29. The journey takes just over 12 hours, while the same distance takes about 11 hours during the day (as of 09/2026, seat61 review).

You can board the train not only in Berlin. Stops in Dresden and Bratislava open up the route for those living in Saxony or Slovakia. In the opposite direction, the train departs Budapest-Nyugati at 19:30 and arrives at Berlin Hbf at 07:41 (as of 09/2026, seat61 page about this train).

© Kazuyanagae · CC BY-SAPhoto: Kazuyanagae, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0), Wikimedia Commons

For readers from eastern Germany, this is the most convenient option: you board in Dresden in the evening and wake up already in Hungary.

Kálmán Imre: Stuttgart, Munich, and Vienna

The southern route is convenient for Bavaria and Austria. Stuttgart Hbf at 20:29, Göppingen at 20:59, Ulm at 21:51, Augsburg at 22:50, München Ost at 23:51, with arrival at Budapest-Keleti at 09:29. That's exactly 13 hours of travel (as of 06/2026, nachtzug.net timetable).

From Munich, the train departs almost at midnight, and you fall asleep as the train is already running through Austria. In the morning you get off in the city center, with no transfer and no airport formalities.

© User:Beroesz · CC BY-SAPhoto: User:Beroesz, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5/hu/deed.en), Wikimedia Commons

How to buy tickets for the night train

A seat in a night train usually costs from 20 to 100 € per person one way (as of 09/2026, MÁV fares). A couchette berth costs 40-150 €, a sleeper car on average 50-400 € (as of 09/2026, MÁV fares). The range is wide: the price is determined by the date, route, and car class.

© Xosema · CC BY-SAPhoto: Xosema, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commons

The rule is simple: the earlier you book, the less you pay.

Tickets for these trains are sold on the official ÖBB night train website and on the Hungarian Railways website. Schedules for both lines and tickets for trains across Europe are easy to check on the Trip.com train service.

What carriages are available on MÁV night trains

Both trains offer three classes: seated, couchette, and sleeper. For a 12- or 13-hour journey, a seat is a bad idea: you will arrive exhausted in the morning (as of 09/2026, seat61 on carriages).

In a couchette carriage, the berths initially look like regular seats, and you make up your own bed. Compartments come with four or six berths. In a sleeper carriage, everything is already made up, the compartment has a washbasin, a towel, and a bottle of water, and there are fewer berths, so it is quieter.

In both classes you can book a berth in a women-only compartment. MÁV always keeps such a compartment in the sleeper carriage.

© User:Beroesz This photo was taken with Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ30‎ · CC BY-SAPhoto: User:Beroesz This photo was taken with Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ30‎, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5/hu/deed.en), Wikimedia Commons

Remember the main rule: the more privacy, the higher the price. You will find your compartment number on your ticket, and the attendant will point you to your berth if it is hard to figure out in the dark.

Comfort and amenities: what is included in the price

The sleeper carriage is the most comfortable option, but the couchette has its own advantages. In both categories, a light breakfast is included in the price: in the evening you choose up to seven items per person from the menu (as of 09/2026, seat61 report on breakfast).

© Nan Palmero from San Antonio, TX, USA · CC BYPhoto: Nan Palmero from San Antonio, TX, USA, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), Wikimedia Commons

In a sleeper car you get a free bottle of water and a small juice box, and the compartment has a sink. Toilets are at the end of the car, two per car (as of 09/2026, seat61 on toilets).

There is little space for luggage. Fitting several large suitcases in a compartment is not easy, so take one bag per person. On the plus side, you do not need to stand in line for check-in or check your bags.

The cars on these routes are older than the new ÖBB Nightjet cars, so do not expect much comfort from them. But you sleep through most of the night anyway, so the old interior hardly bothers you.

Arriving in Budapest in the morning: what to do with your luggage

Both trains arrive in Budapest in the morning, before hotel check-in has started. There are two options. First: leave your things in a luggage locker at the station; there are lockers at both Budapest-Nyugati and Budapest-Keleti. Second: choose a hotel with luggage storage in advance.

The T62 Hotel is right next to Budapest-Nyugati. It has a separate storage area with lockers that you lock with a personal code, so you can come back to your bags at any time. It is worth comparing T62 Hotel prices on Trip.com in advance: rooms near the station sell out quickly in season.

After an early arrival, you have a whole day ahead of you. Leave your luggage and start exploring the center, then come back for your things in the evening before check-in.

Important: the train to Berlin leaves Budapest-Nyugati at 19:30, so it is best to plan dinner about two hours before departure (as of 09/2026, seat61 on the train from Budapest).

⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions

How well do you sleep on a night train?

Sleep quality is individual, and that is normal. On the Kálmán Imre, the route through Austria runs on good tracks, with little shaking or knocking. Bring earplugs, they solve almost everything. In a sleeping car you sleep on a ready-made bed, while in a couchette car you make up the bedding yourself (as of 09/2026, seat61 on sleep quality).

Are documents checked at night?

Sometimes border police come into the carriage at the border. On the Kálmán Imre this happens after Austria, on the Metropol after Czechia and Slovakia. In our rail travel experience, such a check takes a couple of minutes, but you will definitely hear the knock on the door. Keep your passport close at hand from the evening, so that searching for it in the dark does not wake the whole carriage.

Is it safe to travel alone?

Yes, if you lock yourself in from the inside. Compartments and couchette cars have a lock and a bolt that open only from the inside. Book a women-only compartment and keep valuables with you, and the night will pass calmly.

Do I need to print the ticket?

Yes, print it. The conductor collects tickets at the start of the trip and returns them before you get off. If your phone dies or you lose signal, a paper copy solves the problem in a minute. If you are not traveling alone, print a ticket for each person.

Can I travel with a dog?

Dogs are not allowed in the couchette and sleeping cars of Hungarian MÁV night trains. If you are traveling with an animal, plan a different route or a different way to transport it. Also ask about large sports luggage when buying your ticket.

When is the best time to book tickets?

The best prices usually appear about a month before the trip. For Christmas holidays, long weekends, and summer destinations, book two to three months ahead, when the choice of sleeping compartments is still wide (as of 09/2026, MÁV sales statistics).

In short: what is worth booking

The result depends on where you are traveling from. If you live in eastern Germany, take the Metropol to Budapest-Nyugati: boarding in Berlin and Dresden, arrival before nine in the morning. From Bavaria, Stuttgart, or Vienna, the Kálmán Imre to Budapest-Keleti is more convenient.

• If you need a budget option: a couchette place in a four- or six-person compartment.
• If you want to get a good night's sleep: a sleeping car for one, two, or three people.
• If the train arrives in the morning: a hotel with luggage storage near the station.

A four-person compartment suits families, while couples and solo travelers do well with a sleeping car. Look for tickets for both trains on Trip.com, and book accommodation near the stations in advance: night train tickets and hotels in Budapest.