📋 Tender Overview
The MAV Group will launch the excursion season from March 14: we aim for Lake Balaton the Borzsony Mountains and Lake Tisza with extra trains while significantly expanding our bicycle transport capacities. We recommend our passengers to use the countrys largest map-based route information and planning service mavplusz.hu to plan their trips. The MAVPlusz application offers a 15% smart discount on a unified price of 500 HUF for bicycle tickets regardless of distance. All information can be found in one place on the MAV Groups bicycle subpage: Bicycle transport on our domestic routes | MAV Group.
By train to Lake Tisza
Lake Tisza is one of Hungarys most attractive cycling destinations where unparalleled natural beauty and outstanding service environments captivate cycling enthusiasts. This year we are offering a special opportunity for those departing from the capital to reach Lake Tisza by express train which provides comfortable travel to the lakes shore from spring to autumn allowing for an unforgettable excursion in a magical environment.
The express train to Lake Tisza operates between March 14 and November 1 connecting Eastern Railway Station and Tiszafured. From March 14 to May 25 it runs on weekends and public holidays daily from May 26 to August 30 and again on weekends and public holidays from September 5 to November 2. The train departs from Budapest at 8:10 AM and arrives in Tiszafured at 10:38 AM with stops for boarding and alighting in Hatvan Fuzesabony and Poroszlo. On the return journey it departs Tiszafured at 6:25 PM and reaches the capital by 9 PM providing ample time for a family-friendly flatland cycling tour around the lake.
The service primarily caters to cycling travelers: between March 14 and mid-May as well as from September 5 to November 1 about 20 bicycle spaces are available while this capacity expands to 40 between mid-May and August 30. Special bicycles - tandem and trailer models - can also be transported. No bicycle space ticket is required; a bicycle ticket or a national bicycle pass is sufficient.
The lake can be accessed not only by the direct express train but also by local trains running between Kisujszallas and Kal-Kapolna from the south or north traveling to Kiskore or Abadszalok stations. At Kisujszallas there is a transfer option towards Debrecen and Szolnok on the Civis InterRegios.
By train to Lake Balaton the Danube Bend and the Bakony
In addition to the Lake Tisza area we are expanding services towards other popular tourist destinations:
- InterRegios running daily twice on weekends between Budapest and Lake Balaton stopping at Lake Velence
- The Lesence express train will also start operating on the Szombathely-Keszthely route
- Several accelerated services will depart on weekends between Budapest and Szob in the morning towards the Borzsony foothills and return in the afternoon to Nyugati Railway Station
- On the recently renovated Vac-Diosjeno section we will provide additional bicycle transport capacity on weekends and the last train to Vac the S750 will run a longer route: departing from Dregelypalank instead of Diosjeno
- Good news for lovers of the Bakony: the tourist train operating between Gyor and Zirc will resume service from April 3
Bicycle tickets can be purchased through the MAVPlusz app where a 15% smart discount is available and a unified price of 500 HUF for bicycle tickets is applicable regardless of distance. For regular cyclists we recommend the national bicycle pass which pays off after 10 trips (5 round trips). This pass is valid on the entire MAV network (including the Szeged-Hodmezovasarhely TramTrain) on GYSEV services and on the entire HEV network costing 4950 HUF and valid for 30 days. Its success is evident with nearly 24000 sold in 2025 41% of which were sold online. On trains requiring bicycle space tickets a seat reservation for the bicycle is also necessary alongside the pass. We aim to encourage the combination of sustainable transport modes with additional discounts: with a membership in the Hungarian Cyclists Club or a START Club card the ticket costs 375 HUF and bicycle transport is free within Budapest.
Bicycles can also be transported on certain VOLAN services
This year similar to last year the MAV Group plans to provide bicycle transport services on VOLAN services during daylight saving time. Accordingly from March 29 to October 24 bicycle transport will be provided on certain buses operating between Budapest and the Matra region as in the previous year.
