Timeless Journey to the Seaside – Retro Istria Express

The journey departs from Budapest-Keleti Station in the evening. The service is convenient not only for residents of the capital, as you can also board at stations in Transdanubia, including Székesfehérvár, Várpalota, Veszprém, Ajka or Zalaegerszeg. The Retro Istria Express arrives in the Slovenian capital, Ljubljana, in the early morning hours, then stops at the town of Postojna, known for its world-famous caves, before reaching the coast. 

The main stop on the train  to Rijeka  is Opatija-Matulji, from where the city centre can be reached by bus or taxi. Several resorts –  Lovran, Krk  – can also be reached from Rijeka by bus or boat.  From Koper, the buses depart from next to the train station, with frequents services to the  Slovenian seaside  resorts (Izola/Isola, Portorož/Portorose and Piran/Pirano) and as well as to nearby Trieste in Italy. Pula can be reached after a daytime stopover in Ljubljana or Postojna by taking the afternoon train and arriving late in the evening. Another option is to travel by train to Rijeka, from where a replacement bus leaves in the afternoon to Lupoglav, from where a train continues to Pula, arriving early in the evening. The bus leaves from the square directly in front of the train station.

The train schedule, according to the most important stops, is as follows:

The schedule is being finalized, minor changes may occur.

_{Please note that departure times after midnight marked with an * are evidently the same date as the day of arrival, not the date of the evening before the journey! When booking the train, please always make sure that you are booking for the right departure. Reservations are only valid for the given departurture and explicitely not for next day’s train!}

 The timetable data provided here is for informational purposes only and may vary due to traffic and operational reasons.

The Retro Istria Express offers an ideal solution for all travel needs and budgets, so that you arrive in Rijeka or Koper in the morning, relaxed and ready for your holiday. Wake up to the proximity of the Adriatic, and we recommend the most suitable forms of travel as follows:

• Seated coaches:  The most budget-friendly option for those who want to get to the Croatian or Slovenian coast at the lowest possible price.
• Couchette coaches:  4 or 6-berth cabins provide affordable yet comfortable sleeping arrangements for families and groups of friends.
• Sleeping cars:  The 1 to 3-bed cabins offer maximum peace and privacy for couples or small families looking for undisturbed rest. Cabins can be booked for sole occupancy.

Our staff will also ensure a carefree journey for you. Would you get hungry or thirsty, you are welcome to choose simple meals and refreshing drinks from the attendants.

Seat and berth reservations are mandatory. Tickets and passes without reservations are deemed insufficient as your seat/berth is not guaranteed. Therefore you will need both a Ticket and a Reservation for your travel. These are always issued in one single transaction when booking with us.

The prices are always the lowest when booked in advance.

Tickets 

The best prices are so-called START Europa tickets, which are available in limited quantity and at several price levels from most train stations in Hungary. The price is determined by the distance traveled, the time of purchase and the flexibility plan (refundable or not).

Please note that fares valid in international traffic are always quoted in euros as the base currency. However, payment in forints is widely possible at a fixed exchange rate, namely as follows:

• On the jegy.mav.hu website with the most common bank card types, charged in HUF only;
• At MÁV international ticket offices, with the most common bank card types, charged in HUF, and with cash payments in HUF and EUR (except for small denomination coins);
• Onboard of the train – depending on the mobile network signal strength – with the most common bank card types, charged in HUF, and always, with cash payments in HUF and EUR (except for small denomination coins).

The fixed exchange rate currently used by MÁV as follows:
EUR 1 = HUF 380

From Budapest: One-way ticket prices between Budapest and the destinations highlighted below are available at several price levels and vary depending on availability. The most favorable ticket prices can be found in the table below.

Reservations 

Reservations are mandatory for all passengers, at the following prices per person and per direction:

• Applicable discounts must be set when adding passengers at the beginning of the purchase process.
• Enter the number of passengers and their dates of birth. Click the ’new discount’ button to set the discounts for the passengers.
• Select the desired date and departure.

Bicycles can be transported to both destinations in limited numbers (3 per train), with mandatory reservations for €5.

Pets (e.g. small cats, dogs, birds) can be transported free of charge in a closed container in seated carriages. Dogs can also be transported without a container (muzzled and on a leashGenerally, a, in which case a dog ticket must be purchased. Animals are not allowed to be transported in couchette and sleeping carriages.