Landmarks
Bratislava Old Town
A charming compact old town with pastel-colored buildings, quirky bronze statues, and a hilltop castle overlooking the Danube.
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Road trip route · Austria · Hungary
Vienna to Budapest drive time, distance, costs & the best stops
- Drive time
- 2 hr 39 min
- Distance
- 244 km
- Fuel (est.)
- €28
- Tolls (est.)
- None
The Vienna to Budapest drive
The drive from Vienna to Budapest covers 152 miles (244 km) and takes about 2 hr 39 min without stops. That makes it a comfortable one-day drive. Leave in the morning and you'll arrive with the day ahead of you.
Most of it is one road: the M1 carries 69% of the distance. You pass Mosonmagyaróvár, Győr and Tatabánya on the way. The border from Austria into Hungary comes between Vienna and Mosonmagyaróvár, about 42 km in.
Expect gentle hills rather than climbs. The high point is around 229 m near Tatabánya.
Expect fuel for a typical petrol car (~40 mpg) to cost around €28 one-way with no significant motorway tolls on the way. Austria requires a motorway vignette (~€12.4 sticker (10-day/weekly)). Hungary requires a motorway vignette (~€16 sticker (10-day/weekly)). Prices shift monthly, so treat these as ballpark figures.
At 152 miles this is longer than 34% of the 144 routes covered here. Even in a single day it crosses 2 countries, so keep documents where you can reach them.
The road, kilometre by kilometre
Towns within a few kilometres of the fastest route, with the time it takes to reach them without stopping, plus where you cross the border.
- StartVienna
- 42 kmInto Hungary
- 84 kmMosonmagyaróvár55 min in
- 120 kmGyőr1 h 18 min in
- 184 kmTatabánya2 h ingood place to stop
- 244 kmBudapest
How high it goes
Roads you'll be on
- M1170 km · 69%
- A466 km · 27%
Best stops between Vienna and Budapest
Within ~30 km of the driving route, worth the detour.
Castles & Palaces
Devín Castle
A dramatic castle ruin at the confluence of the Danube and Morava rivers, a powerful symbol of Slovak national identity on the Austrian border.
Castles & Palaces
Bratislava Castle
A four-towered white castle on a hill above the Danube, surveying the Slovak capital and into Austria.
Landmarks
Pannonhalma Archabbey
A 1,000-year-old Benedictine monastery on a hill with a Gothic basilica and ancient library, near Gyor.
Famous Bridges
Most SNP (UFO Bridge)
Bratislava's asymmetrical cable-stayed bridge over the Danube, crowned by a flying-saucer observation deck and restaurant 85 m above the river with views across the Old Town to Austria.
What you need for this drive
Rules for each country on the route, in the order you meet them.
Austria
- Motorway
- 130 km/h · 50 in town
- Tolls
- Vignette (ASFINAG)
- Must carry
- warning triangle, hi-vis vest, first-aid kit
- Winter tyres
- 1 November - 15 April
Hungary
- Motorway
- 130 km/h · 50 in town
- Tolls
- E-matrica (e-vignette)
- Must carry
- warning triangle, hi-vis vest, first-aid kit
Checked against national road authorities and the ECB reference rates. Rules change — confirm before you travel.
Famous drives in Austria and Hungary
Legendary routes you could bolt onto this trip, with real distances and stop counts.
Vienna to Budapest FAQs
How long is the drive from Vienna to Budapest?
Driving from Vienna to Budapest takes about 2 hr 39 min nonstop, covering 152 miles (244 km). Add time for breaks: most drivers stop every 2 hours.
How much does it cost to drive from Vienna to Budapest?
Fuel for a typical petrol car (~40 mpg) costs roughly €28 one-way. There are no significant motorway tolls on this route. Austria requires a motorway vignette (~€12.4 sticker (10-day/weekly)). Hungary requires a motorway vignette (~€16 sticker (10-day/weekly)). Estimates are indicative: prices change monthly.
Can I drive from Vienna to Budapest in one day?
Yes, at about 2 hr 39 min of driving, Vienna to Budapest is a comfortable one-day drive with a couple of breaks.
Which roads do you take from Vienna to Budapest?
The fastest route uses the M1 (about 170 km), the A4 (about 66 km). It passes Mosonmagyaróvár, Győr, Tatabánya.
Where should I stop on the way from Vienna to Budapest?
If you stop every couple of hours, Tatabánya comes up about 2 h in. All are just off the main road.
What other drives can I plan on Plan Your Road Trips?
We publish drive times, distances and fuel estimates for 144 routes across Europe and beyond, including 5 other drives in the same country. Browse them all on the routes index.
What are the best stops between Vienna and Budapest?
Top-rated stops in the drive corridor include Bratislava Old Town, Devín Castle, Bratislava Castle: see the full list of 5 stops on this page.
More drives from Vienna & Budapest
Planning a bigger trip? Try the free Austria road trip planner, browse every destination we cover or the Hungary planner, take it with you on the road, or read the driving in Hungary guide.