The short answer
- Day train: about 11 hours at best with one change; a named direct train, the Hungaria, links Budapest, Bratislava, Prague, Dresden and Berlin, advertised for the period 14 December 2025 to 12 December 2026.
- Night train: the Metropol (EuroNight) links Budapest-Keleti and Berlin in about 13 hours; going from Budapest to Berlin, a MÁV timetable shows 20:05 to 09:08.
- Plane: the shortest, but allow for transfers and check-in.
- To check: times and running period on bahn.de, as the line is subject to works.
Comparing the options
| Mode | Duration | Price seen | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day train | about 11 h with one change (best DB journey) | to confirm when booking | direct Hungaria train in the 2025-2026 period, leaving from Budapest-Nyugati |
| Metropol night train | about 13 h | seat, couchette or sleeper, rates to check | leaves Budapest-Keleti, arrives at Berlin Hbf |
| Plane | about 1h30 flying (estimate) | varies by airline | direct flights possible depending on the season, to compare |
| Bus (Flixbus) | the longest, often overnight | often the cheapest | duration and price to confirm on the operator's site |
| Car | about 9 h (estimate, about 880 km) | fuel and vignettes | e-vignettes in Czechia, Slovakia and Hungary |
Sources differ: one aggregator says 12h58 for a direct DB connection, another 10h51 for a railjet between Budapest-Nyugati and Berlin Südkreuz, a third 19 hours with buses. We keep only the order of magnitude of 11 to 13 hours.
Choosing between day and night
The day train crosses Czechia and Slovakia: you see Dresden, the Elbe valley and Prague, but you must last a whole day. The night train avoids losing a day and a hotel, at the price of a less restful night; book a couchette early for a chance of having the compartment to yourself. In both cases see Berlin's main station for connections. For Vienna, a possible stopover, read Berlin to Vienna by train.
Plane, bus and car
The plane keeps the advantage for a short stay, as long as you compare the final price with baggage: BER airport is about 30 minutes from the centre. The bus is the cheapest option but the most tiring. By car the road crosses Czechia and Slovakia: get the vignettes before you leave.
Where to sleep in Budapest
For your arrival, compare hotels in Budapest on your dates, favouring an area near a metro station. To link other cities from Berlin, see also Berlin to Warsaw by train.
