There are few better day trips from Budapest than Eger, a cultural and inviting city in Hungary’s wine region.
I planned to spend one night in Eger during my recent 10-day trip to Hungary. I quickly realized I needed to extend my stay after a fantastic wine tasting experience that went longer than expected, thanks to an incredibly friendly guide. I needed another day to fully soak in the city’s warmth and charm.
Plus, there’s quite a lot to see and do in Eger for a city of its size (population 50,000).
But before visiting, you’ll need to work out the logistics of getting there.
The vast majority of visitors arrive in Eger from Budapest. So whether you’re staying overnight or just making it a day trip, here’s how to get from Budapest to Eger.
How to Get From Budapest to Eger
There are three viable ways to get from Budapest to Eger: by car, train, or bus. Here’s a breakdown of all three.
Getting from Budapest to Eger by Train
Trains run from Budapest to Eger almost every hour throughout the day. Given the quantity of trains, there’s no need to book train tickets in advance.
The Budapest to Eger train is operated by Hungarian Railway company MAV. You can purchase tickets on their website, or just get them at the station in Budapest. Tickets are reasonably priced, generally around 2800 HUF or $8 USD.
Direct trains leave from Budapest-Keleti station, the main international and intercity railway station in the city. You can get there in 10 minutes from the city center by taking a BOLT or Uber.
The journey is entirely through rural Hungarian countryside. You’ll get a glimpse of the mountains in the distance toward the end of the ride as well.
Once you reach Eger, you’ll have about a 20-minute walk to the city center. You can also call a ride by downloading the Eger City Taxi app. I used this service a couple of times and it proved reliable. However, the walk to the city is quite nice, so I’d encourage you to walk unless you’re lugging a bunch of personal belongings.
Getting from Budapest to Eger by Bus
Taking a bus will get you to Eger from Budapest even quicker. The ride will take just over 90 minutes, with buses departing from several locations throughout the city. Deak Ferenc Square is a notable pick-up point, located near the end of the M1 line. There is also a bus that leaves for Eger near Puskas Stadium.
For a full bus schedule and pickup and dropoff points, you can view the Budapesti Kozlekedesi Kozpont (BKK) timetable. Tickets are cheap, ranging around 1500 HUF or $5 USD.
That said, I wouldn’t recommend the bus over the train. While actual time spent on the bus will be less than the train, logistics are more difficult. It’s far easier to simply go to Budapest-Keleti Station, get your train ticket, and board.
Getting from Budapest to Eger by Car
If you have a car, the drive from Budapest to Eger is quite easy. The 130-km journey takes around an hour and a half with no traffic but expect there to be some traffic getting out of Budapest. You’ll be driving on the M3 and M25 motorways, which are well-paved and easy to navigate.
Unless you’re road-tripping Hungary so you can visit the most rural of destinations, I don’t think it’s necessary to have a car in Hungary. Public transport is decent enough to get you from the largest cities to the smallest towns. There’s no need to get a car for most of the best day trips from Budapest, including Eger.
In-Summary: Getting From Budapest to Eger
Hungary has many places worth visiting, but Eger is the clear winner as the best “second city.” It’s the perfect size to explore for 1-2 days, very walkable, and locals are so welcoming. Just a heads up – many of them do not speak English, so work on those key Hungarian words and phrases!
Getting to Eger from Budapest is pretty simple, but it takes just long enough (2+ hours) to warrant staying overnight. You can do a day trip, but five hours of travel in one day is quite a lot. Plus, staying overnight allows you to visit the bustling city market in the morning and chill out in Dobo Istvan Square in the evening. There’s also a Michelin-star restaurant in town (Macok Bistro) with magnificent traditional Hungarian food.
