One day travels by train
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This page should help you seeing more then Budapest. Ok, most of the CS activities are taking place in our capital, but there is so much more to explore. I start this page to show you some day-trips with the Hungarian Railways (MAV) from Budapest. If you do have questions, suggestions or experience with these trips and you would like to share them with me I would be really glad, as I hope to improve them all the time.
Contents |
Basics:
We have 3 main railway-stations in Budapest (see Google Maps). Make sure which is the train-station your trip starts from. It might be little bit confusing that the trains, which are going west depart from the "east" train station and those going east from the "west" trains station. Well, consider book this too - Hungary is different - and we have to live with it.
The main train stations are:
- Keleti Pályaudvar (East train station)
- Nyugati Pályaudvar (West train station)
- Déli Pályaudvar (South train station)
The secondary train stations are:
- Kelenföld Pályaudvar
- Köbánya Kispest Pályaudvar
Fares:
Above the age of 65 the citizens of the EU are traveling for free. The fares mentioned are full fares, there might be some possibilities to get them cheaper (Hungary card, Budapest card, InterRail ect.). If you get the ticket in the train it is 20% more expensive. Traveling some trains (IC, EC) need a extra ticket for seat reservation. It indicates your reserved seat in the carriage (3 digits number) and a seat number (2 digits). These trains are not faster but they only stop in major cities and that is why they get you to your destination in a shorter time.
Delays:
Hungarian trains do have delays sometimes. Most of the international trains coming from the East and from the South are often late. Ask the conductor. Most of them do speak at least German or English. Fortunately all conductors on international trains do have to speak at least 1 foreign language fluently. Sadly the personnel at the train stations and behind the cash desks do not have to have this skill.
Suggested trips:
Budapest - Badacsony - Keszthely (Héviz)- Balatonszentgyörgy - Székesfehérvár - Budapest
| km | Train no | Station | arrival | departure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | Express train no 1972 | Budapest Déli Pályaudvar | 08:18 | |
| 170 | Express train no 1972 | Badacsony | 11:45 | |
| 170 | Express train no 1974 | Badacsony | 13:47 | |
| 184 | Express train no 1974 | Tapolca | 14:01 | |
| 184 | Train no 9635 | Tapolca | 14:44 | |
| 210 | Train no 9635 | Keszthely | 15:17 | |
| 210 | Train no 9623 | Keszthely | 19:05 | |
| 220 | Train no 9623 | Balatonszentgyörgy | 19:18 | |
| 220 | Train no 8511 | Balatonszentgyörgy | 19:22 | |
| 333 | Train no 8511 | Székesfehérvár | 21:50 | |
| 333 | Train no 4651 | Székesfehérvár | 21:53 | |
| 400 | Train no 4651 | Budapest-Déli pu. | 23:24 |
What to explore during your trip
Badacsony
Stop 1:58 hour
Have a walk at the winyards, maybe take a taxi (Jeeps with cracy drivers who will thrill you) and have some of the good sweet wines - the gray moch is a typical wine of the area - in the bufes next to the station. You should try the sousagges (pork) or the fish. Open restaurants could be found from May till October. CS Balaton map You may cross the lake with the ferry to Balatonmáriafürdő or Fonyód. You can then get there on the train in the evening and go ahad with your trip, just incase you got lost in a vinyard...
Tapolca
Stop: 43 minutes
Just have a walk arround the most beautiful "Mallom" (mill) - Lake. (CS Balaton map) If you do not hurry, there is a very nice cave with a lake where you can do some boating, you will not get the train, but no worry they go nearly every hour to Keszthely, so you will make your next connection for sure.
Keszthely
Stop: 3:48 hour
You got time enough. Get the Bus to Héviz for a spa if you wish, or maybe visit the castel of Lord Fesztetics. Have a walk in the Balaton Museum or go to a Restaurant. The best, but not the most bautiful is the Margarita (CS Balaton map). Or you just hang out at the beach and get some good hungarian fast food at the "Feed Avenue"
Héviz
You might go to the Lake Héviz and rest your bowns in the very famous spa. Because it is a very srong spa water you should not stay more then 25 - 30 minutes in the water. Hypertonic pacients should avoid that anyway. The bus that brings you to Héviz starts infront of the Keszthely train station and brings you to Héviz Bus station which is about 500m from the enterance to the spa. CS Balaton map
| km | Station | departure |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | Keszthely, autóbusz állomás | 15:45 |
| 8.2 | Héviz, autóbusz állomás | 15:55 |
| km | Station | departure |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | Héviz, autóbusz állomás | 18:40 |
| 8.2 | Keszthely, autóbusz állomás | 18:50 |
Balatonszentgyörgy
Stop: 4 minutes
Just change lines, you are in the middle of the National Park "Kisbalaton" but have no time to look at it. Maybe next time... then we make a bike tour through the birds paradise.
Székesfehérvár
Stop: 3 minutes
Not enough for the bufe, so just change the line
