Just as significant is the way passengers are buying those tickets. 64.8% of international passengers purchased their tickets through digital channels between January and July, up from 60.7% during the same period last year. The share of ticket-office purchases has consequently fallen to around 35%.

The figures were highlighted by MÁV Group CEO Zsolt Hegyi, who said the trend shows that passengers increasingly want to arrange their journeys quickly and conveniently, without having to queue at a ticket office.

A major step in this direction came in June 2026, when MÁV added international ticket purchasing to its MÁVPlusz mobile application.

Since 15 June, tickets for daytime international trains have been available through the app. This is particularly useful for passengers travelling from smaller Hungarian stations where there is no international ticket office.

International tickets can also be purchased through the MÁV online ticketing platform, while tickets for sleeper services continue to be available through the online system rather than the app.

The figures suggest that passengers are rapidly embracing these digital options, with almost two-thirds of international ticket purchases now taking place through the website or MÁV and MÁVPlusz applications.

One of the strongest performers has been MÁV's START Europa offer.

The discounted international ticket scheme was chosen by 550,000 passengers in the first seven months of 2026, an increase of 28,000 compared with the same period in 2025. In other words, the number of passengers choosing START Europa has risen by around 5.4% year-on-year.

The scheme, launched in 2020, currently provides access to 16 countries, making it possible to travel between almost any Hungarian and foreign station covered by the offer.

Among the current starting fares from Budapest in second class are €8 to Slovakia, €12 to Slovenia, €21 to the Czech Republic, €30 to Poland and €30 to Germany via the Czech Republic. Germany via Austria starts from €37, while Romania is available from €14-36 depending on the destination. 

These are starting fares and availability depends on the journey and booking conditions of course, with payment in forints.

START Europa can also be particularly attractive for families travelling abroad, say for a weekend break from Budapest.

For most destinations covered by the offer, children aged 6-15 travelling with an adult holding a START Europa ticket can travel in second class for €5, while a first-class child ticket costs €10. Up to three children can travel at these discounted fares with one accompanying adult.

Children under six travel free, subject to the applicable conditions.

There are some country-specific exceptions, with child fares to Bulgaria, Poland, Romania, Serbia and Ukraine depending on the distance travelled.

Adult START Europa fares vary according to the destination, travel date and availability, so the advertised starting prices are not guaranteed for every journey.

For passengers who cannot find a suitable START Europa ticket, or who want fewer restrictions, MÁV also offers Europa Flex tickets for a number of Central European destinations.

Unlike START Europa tickets, which are generally tied to specific trains, Europa Flex tickets are not train-specific and offer greater flexibility, although the fares and conditions differ.

MÁV says international tickets can be purchased online around the clock, while the MÁVPlusz app currently supports international tickets for direct daytime trains.

The latest figures point to two trends happening at the same time: international train travel from Hungary is attracting increasing demand, while arranging that travel is becoming increasingly convenient.

For expats living in Hungary, international rail travel is becoming more attractive for quick trips to neighbouring countries, as well as longer European journeys.

More:
mavcsoport.hu/en

Photo: MAV
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