Vienna is one of the easiest international hops from Budapest. The two capitals sit on the same stretch of the Danube, and the motorway and main railway line follow it west past Győr and across the Austrian border at Hegyeshalom. Plenty of travellers fly into Budapest Airport (BUD) and carry straight on to Vienna, either because the flights were cheaper or because they’re doing both cities in one trip.
You have four real choices from the terminal: a direct FlixBus coach, the airport bus plus the Railjet train, a taxi, or a private transfer. Below we compare all of them with the times and fares the operators publish, so you can pick the one that suits your budget, luggage and arrival time.
Budapest Airport → Vienna at a glance
Budapest Airport → Vienna
| Distance by road | approx. 260 km (BUD to Vienna city centre) |
| Drive time | about 3 hours, approx. (route-planner estimate; traffic and the border can add time) |
| Fastest public transport | Railjet from Budapest-Keleti to Wien Hauptbahnhof, 2h 48m–2h 50m direct, after the 100E bus and metro to Keleti |
| Direct from the terminal | FlixBus, 3h 30m–4h 21m, from €15.49 (for travel on 1 Dec 2026) |
| Private transfer | from €267 one way, Standard Car (up to 3 passengers), from Budapest Airport |
| Last checked | 14 Nov 2026 |
Arriving at Budapest Airport
Every option starts at Terminal 2. If you’re going by public transport, the 100E Airport Express bus runs around the clock between the airport and Deák Ferenc tér, via Kálvin tér, every 6 to 15 minutes in the daytime and every 30 to 40 minutes at night. It only takes the special 2,500 HUF airport shuttle single ticket, which you can buy with a bank card on board, in the BudapestGO app or from BKK machines and ticket offices (BKK). From Deák Ferenc tér, where three metro lines meet, you continue by metro on a normal 500 Ft single ticket (BKK fares).
Long-distance FlixBus coaches leave from the bus terminal in front of Terminals 2A and 2B, by the car park, so you don’t need to go into the city at all for the bus.
With a private transfer, your driver meets you in the arrivals hall. Airport pickups include 60 minutes of free waiting time from your booked pickup time, and we track your flight, so allow enough time for passport control and baggage reclaim when you choose the pickup time.
Every way to Vienna, compared
| Private transfer | Train (Railjet) | FlixBus | Taxi | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| From the terminal | Driver meets you in arrivals | 100E bus + metro to Keleti first | Direct, from the T2A/T2B bus terminal | Taxi rank |
| Journey time | about 3 h door to door (approx.) | 2h 48m–2h 50m Keleti → Wien Hbf, plus getting to Keleti | 3h 30m–4h 21m | No published figure |
| Changes | None | Bus → metro → train | None | None |
| Price | from €267 per car (up to 3), €322 per van (up to 8) | from €13 (MÁV START Europa, 2nd class) + 2,500 HUF bus + 500 Ft metro | from €15.49 per person (1 Dec 2026) | No published fixed fare |
| Arrives at | Any address in Vienna | Wien Hauptbahnhof | Erdberg (VIB) or Vienna Central Station | Any address |
| Best for | Families, groups, luggage, late arrivals | Solo travellers on a budget, daytime arrivals | Cheapest door-free option, light luggage | Not recommended without a quote |
Prices and timetables checked on 14 Nov 2026. Bus fares are for travel on Tuesday 1 December 2026 and change with the date and demand.
By train: 100E bus, metro, then the Railjet
There is no train from Budapest Airport to Vienna. You first take the 100E Airport Express to Deák Ferenc tér and the M2 metro to Budapest-Keleti station. From Keleti, direct Railjet trains run to Wien Hauptbahnhof. MÁV says Railjet and EuroCity trains run hourly between Budapest and Vienna, and the ÖBB timetable for 1 December 2026 shows direct trains taking 2 hours 48 to 2 hours 50 minutes (ÖBB).
Fares: MÁV’s START Europa tickets from Budapest to Austria start at €13 one way in second class. Children aged 6–14 travelling with an adult pay €5 (up to three per adult). Seat reservations are free when you buy in the MÁV app, which sells START tickets for direct trains only (MÁV START Europa). The €13 is a starting price: what you pay for your date shows when you book.
Good to know
The airport bus ticket (2,500 HUF) covers only the 100E. Buy a separate 500 Ft single ticket for the metro to Keleti, and leave a buffer before your train: a delayed bag can easily cost you a fixed-time START ticket.
By bus: FlixBus straight from the terminal
FlixBus is the only public transport that goes from the airport to Vienna without a change. Coaches leave from the bus terminal in front of Terminals 2A and 2B, next to the car park (FlixBus). On Tuesday 1 December 2026 there were 10 direct departures, between 01:34 and 22:30, taking 3 hours 30 minutes to 4 hours 21 minutes, with fares from €15.49 when we checked on 14 Nov 2026. Depending on the departure, the coach terminates at Vienna Erdberg (VIB) or Vienna Central Station.
FlixBus includes one checked bag and one carry-on in the fare. If your flight is late, the next departure can be several hours away, so a flexible ticket or a later departure is worth considering.
By taxi
Budapest taxis all charge the same regulated meter tariff (Főtaxi), which is set for trips in the city. We couldn’t find any published fixed fare from Budapest Airport to Vienna from a taxi operator or the airport, so we haven’t quoted one. If you do take a taxi across the border, agree the price in writing before you get in.
Private transfer: door to door
A private transfer picks you up in the arrivals hall and drives you to any address in Vienna, with no station, change or timetable. On 14 Nov 2026 our booking engine quoted these one-way prices from Budapest Airport to central Vienna, per vehicle, not per person:
| Vehicle | Passengers | One way from BUD |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Car (e.g. Skoda Octavia) | up to 3 | €267 |
| Standard Minivan (VW Touran) | up to 4 | €304 |
| Standard Van (e.g. Opel Vivaro) | up to 8 | €322 |
| Business Car (Mercedes E-Class) | up to 3 | €595 |
| Business Van (Mercedes V-Class) | up to 6 | €786 |
Your exact price for your date and group shows when you book on the Budapest to Vienna private transfer page. For three people the Standard Car works out at €89 each, and for a group of eight the van is about €40 each.
How it works
- Book online on the Budapest → Vienna page: enter your flight, pickup time and group size, and you see the fixed price per vehicle before you pay.
- Land and walk out to arrivals. We track your flight and your driver waits for you; airport pickups include 60 minutes of free waiting time.
- Load the luggage and go. Your driver helps with your bags and drives you straight from the terminal, no station or change on the way.
- Get dropped at the door of your hotel or any address in Vienna. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before travel.
Related Vienna experiences
Want to see more than the motorway? These private trips and tours are bookable from Budapest:
Going to Vienna Airport (VIE) instead
Catching a flight from Vienna? FlixBus also runs directly from Budapest Airport to Vienna Airport: on 1 December 2026 there were 6 departures, taking 3 hours 20 minutes to 3 hours 56 minutes, from €13.99 (FlixBus). A private transfer from BUD to Vienna Airport was from €262 one way in a Standard Car when we checked.
By train, the ÖBB timetable shows trains from Wien Hauptbahnhof to the airport taking 14–22 minutes. Vienna Airport currently reports that the City Airport Train (CAT) is temporarily running as premium coaches because of works on the rail line, while long-distance trains from the Hauptbahnhof run normally (Vienna Airport). Check before you travel.
Border and documents
Hungary and Austria are both in the Schengen area, but Austria has notified temporary border controls on its land border with Hungary from 16 September 2026 to 15 March 2027 (European Commission list). Carry your passport or national ID card on the train, bus or car, and expect possible spot checks at Hegyeshalom.
In Vienna and on the way
The route passes Győr, and with a private driver you can stop at Pannonhalma Archabbey or the Parndorf Designer Outlet on the way, as our Vienna transfer page suggests. Visiting in Advent? Our Vienna Christmas markets guide covers the markets, and the Vienna Highlights tour is a ready-made day out from Budapest with a guide.
FAQ
How long does it take to get from Budapest Airport to Vienna?
About 3 hours by car (approx. 260 km). The FlixBus coach takes 3h 30m to 4h 21m. The Railjet takes 2h 48m to 2h 50m from Budapest-Keleti, but you first need the 100E bus and the metro to reach Keleti.
Is there a direct bus from Budapest Airport to Vienna?
Yes. FlixBus runs direct from the bus terminal in front of Terminals 2A and 2B to Vienna Erdberg (VIB) or Vienna Central Station. On 1 December 2026 there were 10 departures, from €15.49.
Is there a direct train from Budapest Airport to Vienna?
No. Take the 100E Airport Express to Deák Ferenc tér and the M2 metro to Budapest-Keleti, then a direct Railjet to Wien Hauptbahnhof. MÁV START Europa fares to Austria start at €13 in second class.
What is the cheapest way from Budapest Airport to Vienna?
Public transport: FlixBus from €15.49 (1 Dec 2026), or a START Europa train ticket from €13 plus the 2,500 HUF airport bus and a 500 Ft metro ticket. For three or more people, a private transfer from €267 per car can come close per person.
Do I need my passport to travel from Budapest to Vienna?
Carry it. Both countries are in Schengen, but Austria has temporary controls on its land border with Hungary until 15 March 2027.
How much is a private transfer from Budapest Airport to Vienna?
From €267 one way in a Standard Car (up to 3 passengers) and €322 in a Standard Van (up to 8), checked 14 Nov 2026. To Vienna Airport it’s from €262.
Whichever way you go, the trip is short enough to land in Budapest after lunch and be in Vienna for dinner. Travelling light and alone? The bus or train are great value. With family, a lot of luggage or a late flight, a fixed-price car from the terminal is the stress-free option.
Skip the bus-metro-train shuffle
Fixed-price private transfer from Budapest Airport to any address in Vienna, from €267 per car.
See prices & bookPhoto credits: cover, Schönbrunn Palace by Thomas Wolf, www.foto-tw.de, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 DE. Route map: © OpenStreetMap contributors, route by OSRM.
