Budapest is one of the biggest travel hubs in Central Europe. It’s also a common stop for those wanting to travel to Eastern Europe. Likewise, Romania is a lovely base to explore Central-Eastern Europe but…outside of the Schengen zone (for now), while being in the European Union.

It’s not uncommon for travelers to travel between the two countries whether they need to stay outside of the Schengen area or just want to travel by land before they fly out of Budapest.

That’s why, in this article, I’m sharing information on how to get from Arad (Romania) to Budapest (Hungary). Why Arad? Because it’s a county capital closest to the border and trains from both Timisoara and Bucharest stop here on their way to Budapest.

By train

If you don’t own a car / refuse to rent one and you also have motion sickness, this remains the only way to get to Budapest.

Bahn.de is the site I use to choose trains but it doesn’t allow you to purchase tickets on this route. That can be done either at the railway station in Arad (or Budapest), at the railway agency (in Arad), or online.

If you choose the online version, you can book via CFR Calatori International or sites such as Kiwi (click here for Arad-Budapest pricing).

A round-trip ticket Arad-Budapest starts at 140 lei / 30 usd for an adult and includes the seats. You have to buy in advance but this fare is similar to the low-cost airfare. Non-refundable and cannot be changed. Also, you need choose the trains you want to take. Other tires exist, but the fully flexible ticket is almost double the base ticket.

Trains depart from Arad’s main train station and arrive at Keleti in Budapest. Prepare for some waiting at the border crossing. You are exiting non-Schengen and enter Schengen area. The trip duration is about 4 1/2 h – 5h, including the stop at the border. There are quite a lot of options to choose from, including if you prefer an overnight train.

By Bus

There are options to travel by bus from Arad to Budapest. The trip takes 5h and the price starts at 404.02 lei / 86 USD one way for an adult.

By Car

While I don’t drive (although I do have a driver’s license), I’ve been to Budapest by car three times; two times via Szeged and also several times via the new highway border crossing.

The shortest route is on the highway; get on it in Arad (one of the exits is near the Airport) and only get off it in Budapest. It took us less than 3 hours (more like 2 1/2 h but it does depend on the traffic and how long you stay at the customs).

The trip takes about 3 hours but you’d want to make a stop, if you take the option via Szeged. Szeged is a charming city and you can spend several hours here checking out the sights.

Other options include going via Bekescsaba , which means you can stop both in Gyula and Bekescsaba along the way.

You could rent a car but make sure to ask whether you can take it across the border.

Note: the article was published in June 2014; edited and updated in May 2022. This article includes links that may qualify as affiliate links. If you book through them, I may earn a small commission.