How to Book Train Travel From Hungary to Italy

Taking the train from Hungary to Italy will most likely require you to travel from Budapest to Venice through Slovenia. You can access the rest of Italy from there.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Hungarian currency
• Computer with internet access
• Passport

Prepare to Travel From Hungary to Italy

1. Pack your passport somewhere safe and accessible. U.S. citizens with a valid passport may enter and stay in Italy for up to 90 days.

2. Choose a train. The Drava travels from Budapest to Venice via Ljubljana, Slovenia. You will have to book train tickets on a different train to enter any other part of Italy.

3. Have at least 10,000 forints ready per ticket. Hungarian train stations usually will not accept credit cards, euros or traveler's checks.

4. Pick a departure date and time. Most often, 2 trains leave for Venice from Budapest daily. If you plan to continue on to another stop in Italy immediately, keep in mind that the trip from Hungary will already take around 13 hours.

5. Weigh the option of first-class or second-class tickets. First class will offer a more comfortable sleeping setup; with a journey of this length, splurging on first-class seats may be worth it.

Book Your Ticket From Hungary to Italy

6. Consider Rail Europe rail passes if you plan on doing a lot of train travel in Italy. Visit Rail Europe's Web site to learn more about this money-saving alternative (see Resources).

7. Go to a nearby train station in Budapest or the central ticket office. Explain everything in detail to the ticketing agent when ordering your ticket. You may want to opt for the central ticket office if you're concerned about communicating in Hungarian.

8. Keep your ticket or ticket stub handy while traveling. Digging for a misplaced ticket while a train official looms over you can be an unpleasant experience.

Tips & Warnings

• Ask about discounts for students, children and seniors before you book your tickets.
• You do not need a return ticket upon entering Italy. If you do decide to pre-book your return ticket, give yourself plenty of time to enjoy the country. There is much to see, taste and explore in Italy.
• Book train travel from Hungary to Italy through Rail Europe by visiting the Web site (see Resources) or by calling a North American agent at (888) 382-RAIL.
• Most likely you will be departing from the Keleti station in Budapest, but double-check the ticket prior to leaving for your trip.
• Rail Europe rail passes must be purchased before leaving your home country.
• Do not expect departure times in Hungarian train stations to be as accurate as they are in some other countries. Anticipate--but don't count on--late trains.

[goatfarmer]

on 7/27/2008 Warning. My wife was thrown off the train from Budapest to Venice at the Croatian border. She apparently needed a transit visa for the two hour passage through Croatia. I did not. I have documented the incident on the following website: http://www.shameoncroatiangov.org