How to get from Oradea to Debrecen (and Back) by Train – Full Guide Including Airport Transfer

  • Post category:Europe
oradea-to-debrecen-train

Jump to:

Introduction

We recently spent some time in Oradea, Romania exploring the local area and visiting some friends. We flew to and from Debrecen Airport which has affordable flights for the UK. Despite Debrecen being only 55 miles from Oradea the transfer options were difficult to find, and there was both a lack of options and a lack of available information.

This is why we wanted to share how we got from Oradea to Debrecen by train, including all the steps and costs. You can easily do this journey from Debrecen to Oradea too, but we were lucky enough to get picked up when we landed in Debrecen, so we only did it from Oradea to Debrecen. 

If you are looking at Things to Do in Oradea or Debrecen we have posts for them too!

The Train Details

We found it slightly difficult to find a way to directly book the whole journey from Oradea to Debrecen. However, we did find frequent trains from Oradea to Hungary, and then a quick change in Hungary we could reach Debrecen. It took around 3 hours in total and this is the journey we took. Please note Hungary’s time is one hour behind Romania. 

Oradea (Romania) Train Station 10:55am to Puspokladany (Hungary) Train Station 11:27am 

Puspokladany Train Station 12:28 to Debrecen Train Station 12:55

The Train Journey

We arrived at Oradea Train Station at around 10:00am as we had to collect the tickets for this part of the journey. There was an international ticket counter which was quick, and the staff spoke a little bit of English and were very helpful. Oradea Train Station was well maintained and had a small shop, bakery and toilets which had a small charge. 

The train from Oradea to Debrecen took around 1.5 hours. It was an older, fairly slow train, however we enjoyed the adventure. On the weekday we found the train to be very quiet, having a compartment to ourselves for most of the journey. 

oradea-to-debrecen-train-inside

Crossing into Hungary, we didn’t know if there would be any border control, however the train went straight into Hungary and we were never asked to show our passports. Though be sure to have it handy!

We arrived at Puspokladany Train Station and had around 45 minutes to our next train. Puspokladany was a small village which made an interesting stop. At the train station there were a couple of small places where you could get food or a drink if needed. 

The train from Puspokladany to Debrecen was more modern, comfortable and quicker. Within less than 30 minutes we arrived in Debrecen, completing our journey from Oradea to Debrecen. 

oradea-to-debrecen-train-station

Debrecen Train station was a reasonable size, and had some shops, places to eat and luggage storage lockers. It’s about a 10 minute walk into the centre of Debrecen, and the Airport bus departs right outside the Train Station. More on this below.

The overall journey was straightforward and an enjoyable way to travel and experience Romania and Hungary in a new way!

Buying Tickets and Costs

We bought the first train ticket from Oradea to Puspokladany on the CFR Calatori Website. There were frequent trains so you could easily pick a suitable time. The cost per ticket one way was just £5. We had to collect these tickets from the train station at least 30 minutes prior to departure. 

The second train ticket from Puspokladany to Debrecen we bought on the MAV App, which we found easier to use than the MAV Website. Again there were frequent options and the train cost about £3 per person. 

oradea-to-debrecen-train-ticket

Airport Bus

If like us, you are travelling to or from Debrecen Airport, the R1 Bus from the Debrecen Train Station departs around every hour from just outside. It takes only 15 minutes to reach the airport by bus. Tickets cost around £1 per person, you will need to buy them from the machine at the bus stop, or online. See the DKV Website for more.

oradea-to-debrecen-airport-bus

Alternative Options

We did find some alternative options when looking at travelling from Oradea to Debrecen, so we wanted to share these too. Personally we recommend the train for a reliable option, which offers a bit of adventure!

Bus/Coach

There is a FlixBus which travels between Oradea and Debrecen and the other way. This is actually a great option taking around 2.5 hours and priced at around £10 per person, one way. However, as there is only one bus per day, you are really restricted on the times and they didn’t work for us. 

Transfer / Taxi

We originally were looking for a transfer or taxi to take us from Oradea to Debrecen. However, the prices didn’t seem reasonable for the journey and we couldn’t find an option we were happy with on our budget. However, if you are looking for the easiest route, then booking a car transfer is going to win. We would expect prices to start from £100. 

Car Hire

We didn’t require a car for our whole trip, but If you are looking to hire a car while away, then you do have several providers at Debrecen Airport. We would recommend booking in advance, and prices start at around £20 per day. 

Train and Bus Combination

We also saw the option to take the train from Oradea to Berettyóújfalu, Hungary. Then from Berettyóújfalu you could take a bus for around 1 hour to Debrecen. This would work, however the overall time is similar to the train, so we didn’t see a need to add a bus into the journey.

Leave a Reply