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Travel leg · Prague, Vienna & Budapest

Vienna to Budapest

Vienna and Budapest sit about 214 km (133 mi) apart in a straight line, with Budapest to the east. It is leg 2 of 2 on our Prague, Vienna & Budapest itinerary, a 9-day trip. It crosses from Austria into Hungary. Here is how long it takes by train, what to see on the way and where it fits in a real itinerary.

Directions in Google Maps See the full Prague, Vienna & Budapest route
Vienna, where this leg starts
From · Vienna
Budapest, where this leg ends
To · Budapest
Straight-line distance
214 km · 133 mi
Est. road distance
257–300 km
Est. drive time
2 h 45 min – 4 h 30 min
Direction
Heading east
Curated routes
1 itinerary

Road distance is estimated as 1.2–1.4× the straight line; drive time assumes average speeds of 65–95 km/h with no stops or traffic. These are rough estimates — check a maps app for the actual route.

Ways to get there

We don't have live routing data, so the figures below are labelled estimates built from the straight-line distance. Use them to plan the day, then confirm in a maps app.

By train

Our Prague, Vienna & Budapest itinerary is planned around rail, so a train is the likely way to cover this leg. Timetables and direct connections vary — check the operator before you book.

By car

Driving is an estimated 257–300 km (160–186 mi) and 2 h 45 min – 4 h 30 min at typical average speeds, not a routed time.

Direct trains run Prague–Vienna (about 4 hours) and Vienna–Budapest (about 2.5 hours); book ahead on ČD, ÖBB or MÁV for lower fares. Within each city, trams and metros cover everything, and the old centers are walkable.

Open Vienna → Budapest directions in Google Maps ↗

Worth stopping for

Picks from our curated guides at both ends.

When you arrive in Budapest

Thermal baths, ruin bars and grand Danube views. Stay 3 days.

Before you leave Vienna

Palaces, world-class art and coffeehouse culture. Stay 3 days.

On this curated route

Where Vienna → Budapest sits in the full itinerary. Highlighted stops are this leg.

Going the other way? Budapest to Vienna is the same 214 km in a straight line, heading north-west. Reverse directions in Google Maps ↗

Weather at each end

The biggest gap comes in August, when Budapest averages highs 2°C warmer than Vienna.

Average monthly high temperature and rainfall in Vienna and Budapest
MeasureJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Vienna high3°5°10°17°21°25°28°27°22°16°9°4°
Budapest high2°5°11°18°22°27°29°29°23°17°9°3°
Vienna rain423846418591888679544542
Budapest rain394041356570666357514443

Temperatures in °C, rain in mm per month. Long-term monthly averages from NASA POWER satellite climatology — a guide to typical conditions, not a forecast. Month headings link to Budapest month guides.

Vienna to Budapest: questions travelers ask

How far is Vienna from Budapest?

Vienna is about 214 km (133 mi) from Budapest in a straight line, with Budapest to the east. By road, we estimate 257–300 km (160–186 mi), or 1.2–1.4 times the straight line. Check a maps app for the exact route.

How long does it take to drive from Vienna to Budapest?

An estimated 2 h 45 min – 4 h 30 min, assuming 257–300 km of road at average speeds of 65–95 km/h with no stops or traffic. It is not a routed time, so check a maps app on the day. Our itinerary leans on rail, so check train times too.

Which itineraries include the trip from Vienna to Budapest?

Our Prague, Vienna & Budapest itinerary includes this leg. Prague, Vienna & Budapest runs about 9 days across 3 stops, best in Apr – Jun, Sep – Oct.

Getting to Vienna

Guides for both ends

Budapest by month

More to explore

Plan Vienna → Budapest with your crew

Add this leg to a shared itinerary, poll the group on where to stop, split fuel and tickets, and keep everyone's packing list in one place in TripsCircle.

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