MÁV to Launch Special Christmas Trains and Dining Car Menu
MÁV, the Hungarian State Railways, is set to launch special Christmas trains to Vienna and Zagreb, along with introducing a festive Christmas menu in its dining cars.
Christmas trains to Vienna
Just like in previous years, MÁV will run a special Advent train from Budapest to Vienna in the lead-up to Christmas, complementing the regular Railjet and EuroCity services on this route.
The special Advent EuroCity train will operate on Saturdays leading up to Christmas, specifically on 30th November and 7th, 14th, and 21st December.
MÁV is launching the extra train to provide additional weekend capacity for those visiting the Christmas markets in Vienna, a popular destination among Hungarians.
Budapest Keleti station. ©AndyBTravels
About the Advent EuroCity
The Advent EuroCity will depart from Budapest Keleti station at 08:01, arriving at Vienna’s main station (Wien Hbf) at 10:53.
On the return journey, the Advent EuroCity train will depart from Vienna at 18:04 and arrive in Budapest at 20:58.
The Advent EuroCity will feature a dining car where passengers can enjoy a delicious meal or a drink.
Tickets for the Advent EuroCity train can be booked on the MÁV website or at the station, just like any regular EuroCity or Railjet train between Budapest and Vienna.
As the train is popular, passengers are advised to book a ticket in advance for the best prices and to reserve a seat ahead of time.
Hungarian dining car with festive Christmas decorations. ©MÁV
Christmas train to Zagreb
For those living in southern Hungary, MÁV will launch a special Christmas train from Pécs to Zagreb, which is also home to a popular Christmas market.
This train will operate only on Saturday 14th December, departing from Pécs at 06:06.
The arrival time in Zagreb, along with the timetable of the return journey, has not yet been announced, and the train is not yet available for online booking.
Christmas food in the Hungarian dining car
Another reason to travel by train to Hungary around Christmas is the special Christmas menu available on board Hungarian dining cars.
Utasellátó, the MÁV subdivision responsible for catering services on Hungarian dining cars, has announced a festive Christmas menu featuring seasonal Hungarian delicacies and other traditional Christmas foods and drinks.
Among the seasonal dishes on the menu are fish soup, plum soup with cloves, fried fish with an onion-mayonnaise potato salad, fried sausage with white wine, apple cabbage with bread and mustard, as well as the special MÁV Christmas burger.
Of course, traditional desserts like a poppy seed cake with vanilla sauce, and Eszterházy cake are also offered.
The special winter drinks in the MÁV dining car include mulled wine and hot rum tea.
Mulled wine, hot rum tea, and puppy seed cake with vanilla sauce will be available in Hungarian dinings cars in the winter season. ©MÁV
Conclusion
MÁV will launch special Christmas trains to and from Hungary, including Advent EuroCity trains every Saturday before Christmas from Vienna to Budapest, as well as a special Christmas train service from Pécs to Zagreb.
The Hungarian dining cars on MÁV trains will also offer a special Christmas menu, featuring traditional winter meals and drinks.
