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.
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.
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.
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.
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 or the Hungary planner, or read the driving in Hungary guide.