Night train journeys between major European cities

Valid from December 14, 2025

Rail transport is the most environmentally friendly form of transport over the typical long distances between major European cities and it has many advantages over other modes of transport. This is especially true for night trains: the journey – in proportion to the long distance – undoubtedly takes a long time, typically 8-14 hours, but this time falls right at night, during sleep time. The trains to the key destinations of MÁV – Hungarian State Railways international night train network typically depart from Budapest in the evening and arrive the next morning, without any transfers. All this ensures that passengers can save the cost of a night's accommodation with a relaxing journey.

On most trains, there is a choice of three levels of comfort (classes): a well-equipped sleeper compartment that can also be reserved for exclusive use, a reasonably priced couchette compartment with 4 to 6 beds, or a seat, which is the cheapest. We always provide a compartment reserved for female passengers in the sleeper class and on some of our trains in the couchette class too.

The only size and weight restrictions in place for hand luggage are that the passenger must be able to get on and off the train with their hand luggage without assistance, taking into account the up to four steps between the station platform and the train floor. Within these reasonable limits, hand luggage is transported free of charge.

MÁV – Hungarian State Railways, in cooperation with numerous partner railway companies in Western, Central and Eastern Europe, offers comfortable overnight travels to major cities and regions in Switzerland, Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, Poland, Ukraine, Romania, as well as to the Adriatic Sea in the summer. With just one additional transfer, destinations such as Paris, Venice, Milan, Rome, Vilnius or the Benelux countries can be easily reached too.

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Routes and destinations

Click for downloadable map

There are 8 night train departures every evening, departing from or via Budapest and up to 10 departures in the summer, to all directions of the continent. These are operated by MÁV together with other European railway companies, so the service providers of the services differ in certain directions. The detailed routes, frequencies and service providers of the trains can be found in the tables below.

Services

On night trains, usually there is a choice of three comfort categories  – sleeping car, couchette car and 2nd class seating car.

Sleeping car

Couchette car

Seating car

Ticket purchase information

Tickets for night trains are available at varying prices, depending on the time of purchase, the train route, the distance traveled and the comfort category (class). The fare (incl. ticket and reservations) for one person, one way, in a seating car is typically 20 to 100 euros, in a couchette car 40 to 150 euros, while in sleeping cars it is on average 50 to 400 euros. Ticket prices usually increase as the travel date approaches. The best prices can usually be found one month before travel, and for certain seasons (around Christmas and New Year holidays, long weekends, or summer destinations) 2-3 months before travel. Although international fares are uniformly determined in euros, ticket prices can be paid in forints on the jegy.mav.hu website, at our international ticket offices by card in forints, and in cash in forints and euros.

Discounted tickets are typically non-refundable and non-refundable; check the ticket conditions during the ticket purchase process. Some ticket types are refundable with favourable conditions.

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Discounts

• Children under 6 years of age can travel free of charge on MÁV night trains, provided they do not occupy a separate seat or bed.
• Children between the ages of 6 and 15 are eligible for a discounted child ticket.
• If at least six passengers are traveling together, in many cases they can purchase tickets with a group discount, and on some routes, primary and secondary school classes – including adult companions – are eligible for a special discount.
• Discounts for domestic travel (e.g. student ID, national pass, free travel based on age) cannot be used on our international night trains, not even partially.
• Travelers with an Interrail/Eurail passes need to buy a reservation for night trains, which is also possible on jegy.mav.hu by selecting the "Pass (Interrail)" discount.

Useful tips for using night travel

• Train schedules may change without prior notice due to track engineering works and extraordinary circumstances. A few days before your trip, check online timetable search engines, the websites of the railway companies, or at train stations and customer services to see if the departure or arrival of your train has changed..
• Most trains have power outlets, but it's worth bringing a portable charger for your trip.
• For those who sleep poorly, it is worth bringing earplugs and an eye mask.
• The bathrooms on couchette and sleeping cars offer privacy for minor grooming and dressing.
• Luggage storage space in the compartments are limited, so it is important to respect the above mentioned, rather practical size and weight restrictions (how much each passenger can handle and lift alone, without help). The primary task of the train crew is to ensure safe transport conditions, and handling voluminous or heavy luggages usually cannot be guaranteed.
• Bicycles are typically not allowed on night trains (except on Retro Istria express).
• Small sized domestic animals (e.g. cats, dogs, birds) can only be transported in seating carriages, and only in closed containers (free of charge). Middles sized dogs can be transported in seating carriages on a leash and muzzle, upon a corresponding dog ticket. In some cases, additional fare conditions may apply. For everyone’s safety and hygiene, animals cannot be transported in couchette or sleeping cars.