Deli Railway Station (Déli pályaudvar), or the Southern Railway Station, is the third-largest railway terminal in Budapest. Located in the hilly part of the city—Buda—it serves as the main gateway for travel to southwestern Hungary, including the popular Lake Balaton, as well as a departure point for trains to Croatia and Slovenia. The station building is an interesting example of modern architecture from the second half of the 20th century, combining concrete and glass, and is integrated with the metro station of the same name.
City
Budapest
Country
Hungary
Type
Railway station
It is important for passengers to know that the station has a two-level structure. Ticket halls, shops, and the metro entrance are located on the lower level, while train platforms are on the upper level, accessible via stairs or escalators. Navigation here is intuitively clear, as there are fewer tracks than at the Eastern Railway Station (Keleti). The main flow of passengers uses the M2 metro line for transfers, as it connects Deli with the centre of Pest and other railway stations in the city.
Contact Information
Official website: mavcsoport.hu (Hungarian State Railways — MÁV)
Information desk phone (MÁVDIREKT): +36 1 3 49 49 49 (available in English)
Address: 1013 Budapest, Krisztina körút 37/A
Opening hours: the station is open daily from 03:00 to 00:30 (technical break at night)
Ticket offices: open from 03:30 to 23:50 (international ticket counters may have reduced hours)
Luggage storage info: automatic lockers are available on the lower level (coins required, Forints)
Accessibility: lifts and ramps are available for passengers with reduced mobility; pre-booking assistance via the MÁV service is recommended
Getting There
Getting to Deli station is very simple, as it is the terminus of the red metro line M2 (Déli pályaudvar station). This is the fastest way to arrive from the city centre (from Deák Ferenc tér) or from Keleti Railway Station; the journey takes just about 10–15 minutes.
Ground transport is also well-developed. Trams on routes 17, 56, 56A, 59, 59A, 59B, and 61 stop right at the entrance, which is convenient if you are travelling from other districts of Buda. A major bus hub is also located here.
If you are in the Buda Castle area, you can walk to the station in 15–20 minutes by descending through the streets of the Krisztinaváros district. A taxi ride from the centre of Pest will cost approximately 10–15 Euros depending on traffic, with a travel time of about 20 minutes.
Services and Amenities
Deli Railway Station offers a standard set of services for travellers. On the lower level, there is a large ticket hall where both regular counters with operators and ticket machines (accepting cards and cash) are available, with interfaces in multiple languages. Benches are provided in the main hall for waiting, though there is no separate comfortable business lounge here.
Among other amenities, it is worth noting the presence of luggage storage (automatic lockers), paid toilets, and small newsstands. Free Wi-Fi is theoretically available, but the signal may be unstable. It is best to carry a power bank for charging gadgets, as there are few publicly accessible power outlets. The building is equipped for access by passengers using wheelchairs.
Where to Eat
Dining options within Deli Railway Station itself are quite modest and oriented towards quick snacks. Inside and in the underpass, you will find numerous bakeries (pékség) offering fresh pastries, sandwiches, and pizza, as well as fast-food chain outlets. This is an excellent option for grabbing food for the road; the average cost here is very affordable—a snack with coffee will cost between 1,500–2,500 Forints.
If you have time before departure, we recommend stepping out of the building. In the immediate vicinity, along Krisztina körút street, there are more comfortable cafés and restaurants serving Hungarian cuisine. Additionally, a 10-minute walk away is the MOM Park shopping centre, where the selection of dining establishments is much wider and of higher quality.
Station History
The history of railway transport in this location began back in 1861, when the first station was opened, connecting Buda with the port of Rijeka on the Adriatic. The original building was seriously damaged during the Second World War, and in the post-war years, it was only partially restored for temporary use.
Deli Railway Station acquired its modern appearance during a massive reconstruction completed in 1975. Architect György Kővári created a complex in the late modernist style, combining the railway terminal with the metro station. Since then, the station has played a key role in summer tourist transport to Lake Balaton, remaining an important link in Hungary's transport system, despite periodic discussions about its potential demolition or the transfer of its functions to other stations.
Tips for Passengers
It is best to arrive at the station 20–30 minutes before your train departs, as platforms are announced shortly before the train arrives. Please be aware: the station closes for the night (from 00:30 to 03:00), so sleeping in the waiting hall is not possible. During the summer season, especially on Friday evenings and weekends, trains to Balaton can be overcrowded, so it is worth purchasing tickets with reserved seats in advance.
From a security perspective, as with any major transport hub, you should keep a close watch on your luggage and wallet here, being wary of pickpockets. If you have a paper ticket without a specific time and seat assigned, do not forget to validate it in the orange validators before entering the platform to avoid a fine.
