Driving from Prague to Budapest: ~5.5 Hours, 510 km

Prague → Budapest by Car

• Distance: ~510 km (317 miles)
• Time: ~5 hours 30 minutes (normal traffic)
• Route: D1 (CZ) → M1 (HU) – mostly highway

Route Details

1. Prague → Brno (D1, ~200 km, 2 hr)
2. Brno → Břeclav (D1/D2, ~50 km)
3. Cross border at **Lanžhot / Hegyeshalom** (Schengen – usually no stop)
4. Hegyeshalom → Budapest (M1, ~180 km, 1 hr 45 min)

Tolls & Vignettes

• Czechia: Electronic vignette required (buy online: edalnice.cz) – 10-day, 30-day, annual.
• Hungary: E-vignette required (muszaki.hu or apps) – county or national.
• No booth tolls on this route.

Tips

• Buy vignettes before entering highways.
• Rest stop: **Pohled** (CZ) or **Győr** (HU) – fuel, food, WC.
• Traffic: Friday/Sunday afternoons heavy; Budapest rush hour 7–9 AM, 4–6 PM.
• Scenic alternative: Via Vienna (A23/A2) – longer but pretty.

Alternative: Train

Railjet (ÖBB): ~6h 45m, city center to city center, no driving stress. Often similar price to fuel + vignettes.