Getting from Budapest to Croatia is a bit more difficult than you might expect, especially considering how good public transport is in Budapest.
The train network in Croatia and Hungary (outside of Budapest) isn’t incredibly well-developed, leaving many to wonder how to get from Point A to Point B. But don’t less this sway you from a joint-Budapest and Croatia trip. There are alternatives that aren’t all that difficult.
Trains from Budapest to Croatia do exist, but they are very slow and make many stops.
You could rent a car and drive from Budapest to Croatia if it’s within your budget. However, the drop-off fee in another country will likely be hundreds of additional dollars. The vast majority of travelers instead choose to get from Budapest to Croatia by bus. Flixbus is going to be your best bet, though other a couple of other options exist. You can even hitch a ride with someone traveling between the two places via a secure rideshare system such as Blablacar.
It does depend on where you’re going in Croatia. Hungary’s capital is pretty close to Zagreb, making for an easy 4-hour bus or car ride.
But traveling from Budapest to places like Split and Dubrovnik requires more planning and several more hours of travel. Because of this, I highly recommend stopping in Zagreb for a couple of days to experience Croatia’s capital if it’s not already on your itinerary.
Anyway, here’s a look at how to get from Budapest to all the major stops in Croatia.
How to Get From Budapest to Zagreb
The distance from Budapest to Zagreb is about 340km, or 210 miles. This makes for a leisurely 4-hour drive between the two capital cities.
Many travelers choose to exclude Zagreb from their Croatia itinerary, but I’m a firm believer that this overlooked capital city is definitely worth visiting.
By Car
The drive is quite easy if you have your own car or driver. It’s a nice 4-hour drive on a well-paved highway that parallels beautiful Lake Balaton, its surrounding hills, and the Hungarian countryside. The northeastern corner of Croatia is also pretty. I recommend stopping in Varazdin for a bite to eat and walk around the quaint historical center.
But as mentioned, it’s going to cost you a lot of money if you plan on renting a car in Budapest and dropping it off in Croatia. Some rental car companies don’t even allow this, while others charge an absorbent fee.
By Bus
The easiest way to get from Budapest to Zagreb is by bus. The journey takes just about four hours.
I took a Flixbus from Budapest to Zagreb and it was very easy. Make sure to go to the right Flixbus station in Budapest, as buses depart from four different stations: Nemzeti, Nepliget and Mexikoi, and Kelenfold.
It’s a direct bus, so the driving time is about the same as if you were driving your own car. If you’ve never taken a Flixbus, know that these are very clean, comfortable, air-conditioned modern busses. Just don’t count on the WiFi to work!
By Train
There is one daily direct train from Budapest to Zagreb. The problem is that the train is significantly slower than most trains in Europe, also making an unnecessary number of stops. The train from Budapest to Zagreb takes about 6.5 hours. The daily train leaves from Budapest-Déli Station at 3:35 p.m., arriving around 10:00 p.m.
Trains aren’t always on-time, either. However, it can be a nice experience for those who aren’t in a hurry and want to see the Hungarian and Croatian countryside at a leisurely pace.
How to Get From Budapest to Split
The distance from Budapest to Split is about 768km, or 477 miles. Technically, the drive from Budapest to Split is around seven hours, but you should account for at least eight hours given potential traffic, construction, and other rest steps.
By Car
Budapest to Split by car will either require a significant fee for dropping off a rental car in another country. The drive between the cities is more than 7 hours, closer to 8 or 9 hours depending on stops.
Plitvice Lakes National Park is a perfect extended pitstop if you want to break up the drive. This beautiful park with stunning aqua-blue lakes and waterfalls is five hours from Budapest and two to Split. Be careful if you’re traveling during high season though, because Plitvice can get very crowded by late morning and through the afternoon.
By Bus
Flixbus has several daily buses running between Budapest and Split for around $60 USD.
Unfortunately, times range around 11 hours for the bus route given it involves a transfer in Zagreb.
This is why spending a day or two in Zagreb makes perfect sense for anyone traveling from Hungary to the Croatian coast. All routes go through the capital, and there’s definitely enough things to see and do in Zagreb for two days. It too often goes overlooked since it can’t compete with Croatia’s beautiful coastal settings.
By Train
Budapest to Split by train is reserved the most patient adventurers who are fine with a long, overnight journey involving a transfer in Vienna. There are no trains from Zagreb to Split. Therefore, a night train from Budapest to Split would be more about adventure and less about efficiency.
You can expect to pay a little more than $100 for the trip on a third-party train ticket website like RailEurope.
By Plane
To make things even more difficult, there are no direct flights from Split to Budapest.
The Split Airport has a surprising lack of options given its popularity amongst tourists. Unfortunately, that means getting to Split is more difficult than it should be, including from Budapest.
A flight from Budapest to Split will involve a layover in Vienna, typically making for a 3-hour or 4-hour trip. So while the layover is annoying, it’s still the quickest way to get to Split from the Hungarian capital, even taking into account transportation to and from the airports.
Flights typically cost around $150 to $200 USD for the quickest option.
If you don’t care to see any of the Croatian countryside or places like Zagreb, I’d recommend flying from Budapest to Split. It’s significantly cheaper than renting a car, significantly quicker than a train, and much more efficient than a bus.
How to Get From Budapest to Dubrovnik
Here’s how long it takes to get from Budapest to Dubrovnik via different modes of transportation:
- By car: 9 hours 25 minutes (948km)
- By bus: 13 hours (948km)
- By train: Trains do not go to Dubrovnik
- By plane: 3 to 4-hour flight time (layover likely in Vienna)
Flying is far and away the easiest way to get from Budapest to Dubrovnik. Flights are usually $100 to $150 USD for a one-way flight, and the 3 to 4-hour total flight duration pales in comparison to the full day drive it would take. Plus, the cross-border drop-off fee for the rental car would cost hundreds of extra dollars.
In-Summary: Getting From Budapest to Croatia
Unfortunately, the only place in Croatia that’s quick and easy to get to from Budapest is Zagreb, which is definitely worth visiting.
Getting to the coastline is more time-consuming and logistically challenging, but by no means very difficult. I recently spent 10 days visiting some of the best places in Hungary before doing the same in Croatia, and it was a really stress-free trip getting from place-to-place.
Here’s a look at my Croatia and Hungary itinerary (including modes of transportation):
- 6 days in Budapest
- 2-hour train to Eger
- 2 days in Eger, Hungary
- 2.5-hour train to Nagymaros, Hungary
- 3 days in Nagymaros, Hungary, exploring the Danube River Bend
- 4-hour Flixbus from Budapest to Zagreb
- 2 days in Zagreb
- 4-hour drive in rental car to Split, 1.5-hour ferry to Vis
- 5 days on Vis, Croatia – my favorite island in Croatia
- 1.5 hour ferry back to Split
- 1 day in Split
- Fly home from Split
Hungary and Croatia are both wonderful places to visit, so don’t let the lack of train options prevent you from seeing both countries!
