Budapest to Zagreb - 12 Best Ways to Travel in 2026

Most travelers exploring Europe choose the train as their go-to mode of transportation. However, this doesn’t work particularly well for the Budapest to Zagreb route.

There’s only one direct connection between the capitals, departing from Budapest at 15:35 and arriving in Zagreb at 22:00. The train has only second-class carriages, which are usually comfortable, and a seat reservation is compulsory.

If you’re traveling during the warmer months when the days are longer, you’re in for a scenic ride. The train passes along the picturesque Lake Balaton, often called the “Hungarian Sea.” For the best views over the lake, try to get a seat on the right side when facing the direction of travel.

Train stations in Budapest and Zagreb

The train departs from Budapest’s Deli station, with a stop at Budapest-Kelenföld. Both stations are easy to reach by public transport—Deli is the final stop on the red metro line 2, and Kelenföld is the last stop on the green metro line 4. Choose the one that’s most convenient for your location in the city.

In Zagreb, the train arrives at the central station—Zagreb Glavni Kolodvor—located just a 15-minute walk from the main square, Trg J. Jelačića. Numerous trams and buses connect the station to other parts of the city.

Budapest to Zagreb train ticket

Tickets for the direct Budapest to Zagreb train start at €17 if purchased in advance and go up to €23 on the day of travel.

The easiest way to buy a ticket is through the Hungarian Railways website, as the Croatian counterpart doesn’t offer international tickets online. You can also buy your ticket at one of the train stations in Budapest, but be prepared for potentially long lines, especially during peak hours.

If you're traveling with a railway pass like Eurail or Interrail, you’ll only need to purchase the mandatory seat reservation, which costs €3.

When searching for Budapest to Zagreb train connections, you might come across routes that include changes in Slovenia. We don’t recommend these options—they’re not only more expensive but also take significantly longer than the direct train.

The route between Budapest and Zagreb passes through some genuinely rewarding corners of Hungary. Yet most travelers using buses or trains arrive in Zagreb without ever knowing what they missed.

The Budapest to Zagreb Private Transfer Tour uses that travel day differently.You'll visit Hungary's ancient royal capital, stop for lunch above Lake Balaton, and explore a grand Baroque palace before arriving in Zagreb. Just you and your group, with a guide who knows western Hungary well and a vehicle booked entirely for your group.

What's Included

The recommended departure from Budapest is around 9:00 AM and the journey takes approximately 9 to 10 hours, arriving in Zagreb in the early evening. You'll travel in a comfortable, air-conditioned car or minivan, privately booked for your group alone.

Your guide is a local who knows western Hungary well and travels with you the full day. You get real context about the history of the places you visit and someone to answer questions throughout the drive. The pace is yours to set, and the itinerary can flex around your interests.

A lunch break is scheduled in Tihany, where local restaurants sit above the lake with views that make it one of the more memorable meals of any Central Europe trip. Lunch is not included in the tour price.

Your group is picked up from your hotel or apartment in Budapest and dropped off at your accommodation in Zagreb. Check the Budapest to Zagreb Private Transfer Tour booking page to see the exact price for your group.

What Travelers are Saying

A better option for the Budapest to Zagreb trip is the bus. There are at least four direct connections each day (with more available over the weekend), and the shortest travel time is just over four hours.

Currently, Budapest to Zagreb buses depart from Nepliget station at 08:00, 12:30, 15:00, 18:00, and 23:59, so it's easy to find a connection that fits your itinerary. The night bus takes a bit longer—almost six hours—but it allows you to rest and save time during your journey.

All connections are operated by Flixbus, a well-known company whose green buses are a familiar sight across Europe. Their vehicles are modern and comfortable, with complimentary wifi and power sockets at each seat to keep you connected and entertained throughout the trip.

Budapest to Zagreb bus ticket

Bus ticket prices from Budapest to Zagreb start at €20 if booked in advance and can go up to €28 for same-day departures. Tickets are available directly on the Flixbus website. The fare includes both hand luggage and one larger suitcase stored in the luggage compartment.

Bus stations in Budapest and Zagreb

All buses depart from Nepliget station in Budapest, which is conveniently located on the blue metro line 3 (station "Nepliget"). Most buses also stop at Kelenföld station, which is on the green metro line 4. When booking your ticket, you can choose the departure station that suits you best.

In Zagreb, the bus arrives at the main station on Avenija Marina Držića, about 2 km from the city center. From there, you can take one of the many trams or use car-sharing services like Uber or Bolt to reach your final destination.

Even though you can fly directly between many cities in Europe, there are currently no direct flights from Budapest to Zagreb. You can find options with a layover in another European airport—Vienna and Belgrade are usually the best choices—but with the time needed to get to and from the airport and go through security checks, flying isn’t the most convenient option.

The quickest Budapest to Zagreb flights take around three hours, but once you add transportation to and from the airports, your total travel time from city center to city center will likely be at least seven hours.

If you still want to fly, we recommend choosing a traditional airline, such as Austrian Airlines or Air Serbia, that allows you to book a single ticket for the entire journey. With advance planning, you can find one-way tickets via Belgrade starting at around €80.

Avoid low-cost airlines like Ryanair for this route, as you’ll need to book each leg of the trip separately. In case of delays or missed connections, the airline isn’t obligated to help you, and you’ll likely have to purchase a new ticket last minute—which can be costly.

Airports in Budapest and Zagreb

You can reach Budapest Airport using the express airport bus 100E, which departs frequently from Deak Ferenc tér in the city center. It also stops at Astoria and Kálvin tér metro stations before continuing to the airport. The journey takes around 40 minutes. A slightly cheaper option is to take the metro (blue line 3) to its final stop, Kőbánya-Kispest, and transfer to bus 200E. Taxis are also available, and you can book a ride via Uber or Bolt.

In Zagreb, a dedicated airport bus connects the airport to the central bus station. It departs every 30 minutes throughout the day and takes about 35–40 minutes to reach the city. The bus stop is located right in front of the airport exit, and tickets cost €8, available online or directly from the driver. You can also take a taxi to the center, with fares starting at around €30.

If you prefer to drive yourself, a road trip from Budapest to Zagreb is a great idea. If you're not traveling with your own vehicle, you can easily rent a car in Hungary and make your way to the Croatian capital at your own pace.

Keep in mind that returning a rental car in another country comes with an additional fee. For a one-way rental from Budapest to Zagreb, expect to pay at least €700, not including the cost of petrol or motorway vignettes.

The shortest route between the cities is about 350 km, and you can drive it in around three and a half hours. But why rush? There are so many fascinating places between Budapest and Zagreb that are worth a stop. You can even take a slight detour and include Austria or Slovenia in your journey if you want to see even more.

Some of our favorite places to stop include Székesfehérvár (the first capital of Hungary), the scenic Lake Balaton, or the charming Croatian town of Varaždin.

A good alternative to driving yourself is taking a private transfer from Budapest to Zagreb. You don’t have to worry about navigating public transport or handling your luggage—this door-to-door service means you just need to be ready at the designated time and enjoy the journey in comfort.

Of course, this convenience comes at a price. Expect to pay around €320 for a car with an English-speaking driver.

If you’d like to make more of your trip, you can customize the route with sightseeing stops for an additional fee. Some of the most popular places to visit along the way include Székesfehérvár, the picturesque Tihany Abbey at Lake Balaton, the unique Tapolca Lake Cave, the elegant Keszthely Castle, and the charming town of Varaždin.

If you’re looking for last-minute alternatives to get from Budapest to Zagreb, car-sharing might be worth considering. It’s a popular way to travel around Europe—especially if you want to save a bit of money and have some company along the way.

The most reliable platform to connect with drivers is BlaBlaCar. You can browse available rides without registering; you only need to create an account when you’re ready to contact a driver and arrange the trip details.

That said, the Budapest to Zagreb carpooling route isn’t one of the busiest. Some days, you might find a few offers, but it’s not something to rely on as your main travel option. It’s better to keep it in mind as a backup plan in case other modes of transport fall through.

The price for the ride is set by the driver, but you can usually expect to pay around €20 for the trip.

Fans of thrill and adventure can opt for the Budapest to Zagreb hitchhiking trip. We must warn you, though, that since it's not a very popular route and the distance is fairly large, you most likely won't be able to find a driver who would take you all the way from Budapest to Zagreb. It's better to aim for a closer place first, however there is always a chance you will end up being stuck somewhere along the way.

Another issue with hitchhiking from Budapest to Zagreb is the starting point. The best place to look for rides towards Lake Balaton and Croatia is along the M1 motorway, especially the OMV petrol station in Kelenföld, at the very beginning of the highway. Since most cars using this road head towards Austria or Slovakia, it may take you some time to find someone who is ready to take you south. The competition of other hitchhikers might be big, too.

Don't let these disadvantages discourage you, though! To get to the starting point, you need to take the metro green line 4 to the final stop - Kelenföld vasútállomás and then walk to the motorway, around 1 km away. There is another petrol station some 200 meters further, but it's not as popular as the OMV one so you should try your luck here.

Fans of traveling on two wheels can go from Budapest to Zagreb by bike. This way, you will see some of the underrated places in Central Europe and learn in-depth about the region, its culture, customs, and history.

Since this area isn't very mountainous, the Budapest to Zagreb cycling trip shouldn't be very demanding. You only need good endurance as the distance between the cities is almost four hundred kilometers, and you will need at least a week to complete this trip.

Fortunately, there are numerous thermal baths along the way where you can stop to regenerate your strength and relax before continuing your bike trip towards the capital of Croatia.

A somehow crazy way of getting from Budapest to Zagreb is walking. If you don't mind going for a four hundred kilometers stroll through the overlooked yet fascinating part of Europe, this is something worth considering for your trip between the capitals.

It should take you around three weeks to complete the trip, but since the terrain is mostly flat here, all you need is comfortable shoes, good spirit, and motivation to walk from Budapest to Zagreb.

There are many great stops along the way, but we especially recommend thermal baths, where you can recover and relax during this demanding journey.

The fastest yet most expensive way of getting from Budapest to Zagreb is by private jet. The whole trip should take you around three hours, including getting to and from the airport. You can also customize the trip according to your needs and schedule.

The prices for such a luxurious and comfortable journey start at around €5.500 for chartering a private jet from Budapest to Zagreb.

If you travel around with a motorhome, it's a great idea to take your vehicle for a Budapest to Zagreb road trip. You can enjoy the beauty of slow travel, take back roads to better explore the region, and stop in all the great places along the way.

The only limitation is where you stay overnight, as wild camping is not allowed in Hungary and Croatia (as well as in Austria and Slovenia if you decide to drive through these countries). Fortunately, you will find many campsites along the way where you can park your motorhome and relax before another day of your trip from Budapest to Zagreb.

Getting from Budapest to Zagreb by motorcycle can be a great experience and an excellent way to enjoy the freedom of travel. While you can take express roads to travel fast between the cities, we recommend going a bit off the path and going through charming towns, villages, and picturesque landscapes. This way, you can get to know the region better and visit some beautiful places along the way, like those we've already mentioned in this article. Central Europe is a fascinating place to discover, and one of the best ways to do it is by riding a motorcycle.