MÁV, Hungary’s national railway operator, will once again run the Retro Istria Express night train this summer, connecting Budapest to the Slovenian and Croatian coast. The train will run daily from June 26 to August 30, 2026, offering an alternative to the summer season highway traffic.
The train will depart in the evening from Budapest’s Keleti Station and will stop, among other places, at Székesfehérvár, Veszprém, Ajka, and Zalaegerszeg. In the early morning hours, the train will arrive in Ljubljana, then continue on to Postojna, a town known for its karst cave, and to the Adriatic coast.
From Budapest, passengers will be able to travel directly to Koper, Opatija-Matulji, and Rijeka, and with just one transfer, they can reach Pula and Trieste. The island of Krk will also be accessible via local bus services.
Tickets starting at EUR 20 to the coast
MÁV presents the Retró Istria Expressz as an affordable option for tourists who want to reach the coast without a car. The cheapest START Europa tickets start at EUR 20 for destinations such as Koper and Postojna, with no mandatory seat reservation.
For Rijeka and Pula, tickets are available starting at EUR 25, and for Ljubljana starting at EUR 16. Children can travel for a flat rate of EUR 5 per trip.
Seat reservations are required in all cases. Seats cost EUR 3, or EUR 2 if the ticket is purchased online. Berths in sleeper cars start at EUR 14, and those in sleeping cars at EUR 27. Passengers with an Interrail pass can travel to the coast with a EUR 3 reservation.
Traveling in Cars from the ’70s and ’80s
The train is promoted by MÁV as a “time-travel journey to the sea” experience, thanks to the cars preserved in a form close to their original state from the ’70s and ’80s.
The cheapest option is travel in standard-class cars with seats, in compartments for six or eight people. For families and groups of friends, the train offers sleeper cars with compartments for four or six people.
For passengers seeking more comfort, sleeper cars with compartments for one, two, or three people are available. In these compartments, passengers receive a made-up bed, a hygiene kit, mineral water in the evening, and a hot drink and simple breakfast in the morning.
Direct route through Slovenia to Croatia
The Retro Istria Express runs between Budapest and Koper/Capodistria, as well as Rijeka/Fiume, with connections to other destinations along the Slovenian and Croatian coasts. Destinations accessible via a transfer include Izola/Isola, Portorož/Portorose, Piran/Pirano, Pula/Pola, and Trieste.
MÁV is banking on the service’s affordability and the fact that the night train allows travelers to avoid summer road traffic. The operator notes that, in addition to the popular Adria IC to Split, the Retró Istria Expressz offers a more traditional and affordable option for travelers heading to the Adriatic.
Tickets can be purchased at MÁV’s international ticket offices and online via the operator’s sales platform. Tickets for dogs and bicycles can only be purchased at ticket offices.
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