It’s very easy to travel from Hungary to Croatia, especially if you’re traveling to or from Budapest. Today, I am here to share the insider scoop on how to get from Budapest to Croatia by train, bus or car.
Since there is still no direct flight from Budapest to any Croatian city, your best choice for getting from Hungary’s capital to Croatia remains the train, while a bus ride comes in second, in my opinion.
Note: Prices are estimates based on 2026 rates and vary by booking date.
Getting from Budapest to Croatia by bus
If you want to save money and get there as fast as possible – and without any headaches – the bus is the winner, in my opinion.
Croatia has invested heavily in its highway infrastructure over the last decade. The A4 highway from the Hungarian border to Zagreb is smooth, modern, and fast. And from there, you can also get to any of the main resorts along the Adriatic coast.
Most buses depart from the Népliget Bus Station Budapest, which is easily accessible by public transport. There are more buses during the warm season than during the winter.
My recommended way of booking a bus from Budapest to any destination in Croatia is via Bookaway – it’s an aggregator of various companies, so you can select the one that best fits your needs.
Below, we’ll talk about some of the options you have, but in reality there might be even more available.
Budapest to Zagreb by bus
The ride takes between 4 and 5 hours. FlixBus is the dominant operator here, offering multiple departures throughout the day from Budapest Népliget.
It’s efficient, usually well maintained, with WiFi on board and generally comfortable, though legroom can be tight if the bus is full.
Check out the Budapest to Zagreb bus offers here.
Direct to the Coast (Summer Only)
Volanbusz is a Hungarian company that runs the Adria Express services from Budapest to the main seaside destinations in Croatia’s Istria peninsula.
It still operates under this name, although it has merged with MÁV Group (the state railways), offering these rides:
- Adria Express: Usually departs Friday nights for Istrian destinations like Rijeka, Opatija, Pula, and Poreč.
- Dalmatian Express: Heads south to Zadar, Šibenik, Split, and Makarska.
These are night buses, leaving Budapest around 10 or 11 PM and dropping you off early the next morning. They are perfect if you can sleep upright and want to maximize your beach time.
For even more options, though (some at better times and some faster), I recommend checking out Budapest – Pula buses and Budapest – Split buses (with various stops in between).
Also read: Best things to do in Trogir.
Make sure to double check all the data above, as it is subject to change on a yearly basis – but it is good to know that you have options.
Traveling from Budapest to Croatia by train
There is at least one direct train connecting Budapest to Croatia’s capital, Zagreb. From there, you can take a connecting train (or bus) to any of the main cities in Croatia, like Split, Pula, Dubrovnik and so on, because they are all connected to the capital.
Traveling by train is my favorite means of transportation in Europe and I took the train from Budapest to Zagreb a few times already over the years with my family, and it was really enjoyable.
I have a complete guide on how to get from Budapest to Zagreb here (by train, bus, car, plane, etc.)
At the moment of writing, there is just one direct train from Budapest to Zagreb, leaving daily from the Budapest-Kelenföld train station at 8:30 in the morning and arriving in Zagreb’s train station (Zagreb Glavni kolodvor) at 17:15.
A one-way ticket for this train, in second class, is between 50-60 Euros per person, depending how far in advance you book (and the day of the week). You can find more and book your ticket from the Hungarian railway website by clicking here.
IMPORTANT: I am updating this article during the off-season, but usually during the main season (starting May or June), there are even more direct trains from Budapest to Zagreb.
Make sure to double check the information above (especially departure times) on the MAV Hungary website I shared above.
You can read my article about train travel in Croatia to know exactly what to expect.
Night train from Budapest to Split, Croatia
One of the most popular train routes, though, is a night train from Budapest to Split via Zagreb.
This train is running only in the summer season, usually between mid-June to mid-September. Usually, it has departures on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays from the Budapest Keleti train station. Double-check the departure station though – it is most likely moved to Budapest-Kelenföld instead, as Keleti is still being renovated.
This line, like the one above, is also handled by the Hungarian Railways (make sure to check out the website here for up to date info).
This night train usually departs at 6:53 PM from the Budapest Keleti train station and arrives at the Split train station at 6:56 AM, the following day.
If you are looking for connections from Croatia’s capital, I recommend reading my previous article sharing how to get from Zagreb to Split.
If you want more options, I recommend checking out my in-depth article about getting from Budapest to Split, Croatia.
Are there trains from Budapest to Dubrovnik?
Unfortunately, there are no direct trains from Budapest to Dubrovnik. But once you get from Budapest to Zagreb, there are plenty of connecting options by bus. Dubrovnik has no railway station, so it’s impossible to get there by train!
If you want to find more options, though, you can check out my previous article sharing how to get from Dubrovnik to Split.
Driving from Budapest to Croatia
We didn’t cover this before, but driving is arguably the most convenient way to travel, especially if you have a family or heavy luggage – but, of course, you must have access to a car – either rental or your own.
The drive from Budapest to Zagreb is a breeze, taking about 3.5 to 4 hours (roughly 345 km) entirely on highways. You will take the M7 motorway out of Budapest past Lake Balaton, then connect to the A4 highway once you cross into Croatia.
What you need to know before driving:
- Vignettes & Tolls: In Hungary, you must buy an e-vignette (Matrica) before you drive onto the highway. You can do this online or at gas stations. In Croatia, they still use a toll booth system based on distance. You take a ticket when you enter the highway and pay when you exit (cash or card).
- Border Crossings: The main crossing is Letenye / Goričan. Even with Schengen, slow down and follow the signs. If there are spot checks, traffic can back up, so check Google Maps or Waze before you leave.
Driving gives you the freedom to stop at Lake Balaton for lunch or detour to Varazdin in Northern Croatia, a gorgeous baroque city that most tourists miss.
Wrapping up
As you can see, a trip from Budapest to Croatia offers a variety of options, each with its own charm and efficiency.
I personally prefer the trains – even though they are usually slower (but not by a lot), but buses are a valid option too, especially if you have a connection from Zagreb afterward.
No matter which one you choose, though, I am sure you will find the number of offers enough and the quality of the rides really good for the low cost.
If you are planning to travel to Croatia from Hungary, which method are you going to choose?