The Retro Istria Express is returning for the summer season, linking Budapest with the Adriatic coast on a night train run by Hungarian State Railways, known as MAV. The service runs daily from 26 June to 30 August 2026 and is pitched as a slower, cheaper alternative to motorway traffic and budget flights.
The overnight route leaves Budapest Keleti station in the evening and reaches Ljubljana in the early hours of the morning, before splitting towards Slovenia and the Croatian coast. The train serves destinations including Postojna, Koper and Rijeka, with onward local connections also available to places such as Pula, Krk, Izola, Portoroz and Piran.
One return option departs Koper in the late afternoon and arrives back in Budapest the next morning. Fares start at 16 euros for seated cars, while sleeper compartments begin at 27 euros, with all tickets available to buy online.
The relaunch comes as interest in rail travel and slower holidays continues to grow across Europe. Operators and tourism boards have increasingly promoted overnight trains as a way to cut journey stress and reduce dependence on short-haul flights.
The Retro Istria Express uses vintage-style coaches from the 1970s and 1980s, which organisers say have been kept in near-original condition. The service is intended to evoke the appeal of classic long-distance rail travel while still offering practical summer connections.
Travellers can choose between several accommodation types. The cheapest option is seated carriage travel, with compartments for six or eight passengers and fares from 16 euros to Ljubljana, 20 euros to Koper and Postojna, and 25 euros to Rijeka and Pula.
Sleeper berths are available in compartments for four or six people, with supplements starting at 14 euros. For a more private journey, sleeping cars with one to three berths include made-up beds, a toiletries kit, bottled water and a light breakfast on arrival.
The route reflects a wider push to strengthen rail links between central Europe and the Adriatic. It also gives holidaymakers another way to reach the Croatian and Slovenian coast without driving long distances or relying on flights.
For passengers heading to the coast, the service offers direct access to a string of popular summer destinations. For those travelling inland, it provides a single overnight link back to Hungary’s capital, turning the journey itself into part of the holiday.
Photo Credit: MAV
