The border between Austria and Hungary stretches over 356.4 kilometers. In addition to numerous road and rail crossings, there is one highway crossing at Nickelsdorf (AT) / Hegyeshalom (HUN), which is the most relevant for travelers. The road crossing at Klingenbach (AT) / Sopron (HUN) is also well-known due to its historical significance during the fall of the Iron Curtain and is often used because of its proximity to Vienna. Both Austria and Hungary require a vignette on highways. To avoid waiting times at border crossings and toll stations, you can arrange for a digital vignette in advance. You simply pay the toll fees online and register your license plate, allowing you to drive through the toll station without stress.
Within the EU Schengen area, border controls have largely been abolished, including at the border between Austria and Hungary. However, exceptions such as international sporting events, major political events, or threats to internal security can still lead to border controls. Therefore, you should always carry the necessary documents with you. For EU citizens, an ID card or a valid passport is sufficient. Carrying goods is also not a problem, but there are quantity limits for alcohol and tobacco. Due to increased smuggling activities related to the refugee crisis, there have been more frequent checks at the Austrian-Hungarian border as of October 2023. Random border checks can result in longer waiting times, especially when crossing from Hungary to Austria. To avoid delays at the checks and toll stations, it is worth purchasing the digital vignettes for Austria and Hungary in advance, allowing you to drive straight through the toll station.
In Hungary and Austria, toll fees must be paid for the use of highways, which go towards the maintenance of roads, tunnels, and bridges. In Hungary, all motor vehicles require a digital vignette (the E-Matrica) as proof of paid toll fees. In addition to highways, Hungarian expressways marked with "M" are also subject to tolls. You can easily purchase the digital vignette online with us, so you won't have to worry about it during your journey. If you drive onto the Hungarian highway without a vignette, you have at most 60 minutes to acquire one before penalties apply. This stress is something you definitely want to avoid on a long journey. Important: When registering your license plate for the Hungarian vignette, you cannot use umlauts. For example, GÖ for Göttingen would simply become GO. You can also purchase the Austrian digital vignette in our shop for your vehicle and travel duration. In Austria, both digital vignettes and traditional sticker vignettes are valid, with the digital vignette being conveniently available from home at any time. Note that special route vignettes are required for some highway tunnels in Austria. However, for the highway crossing Nickelsdorf (AT) / Hegyeshalom (HUN) between Austria and Hungary, the standard Austrian and Hungarian e-vignettes are sufficient.
There are numerous road crossings between Austria and Hungary. The most well-known are Klingenbach (AT) / Sopron (HUN) and the highway crossing Nickelsdorf (AT) / Hegyeshalom (HUN). Both are about 45-50 minutes from the Austrian capital Vienna. Other road crossings include those at Pamhagen, Schachendorf, and Heiligenkreuz in Lafnitztal, as well as many other minor road crossings that play little role in international traffic. Due to border checks, toll checks, and construction work, waiting times at the borders can range from 5 minutes to more than an hour. The likelihood of traffic jams depends on the number of vehicles on the routes. The highway crossing is often very busy, especially during peak travel times. The border crossings and waiting times at the Nickelsdorf (AT) / Hegyeshalom (HUN) border can be monitored via live images.
The Klingenbach (AT) / Sopron (HUN) border crossing is perhaps the most well-known crossing between Austria and Hungary. The Austrian A3 highway becomes the B16 shortly before the border. In Hungary, it connects to the main road 84. This crossing is famous for being one of the first crossings between Austria and Hungary to open in 1989. On July 27, 1989, Austrian Foreign Minister Alois Mock and Hungarian Foreign Minister Gyula Horn symbolically cut a hole in the "Iron Curtain" that divided Eastern and Western Europe.
The only major highway crossing between Austria and Hungary is Nickelsdorf (AT) / Hegyeshalom (HUN). The Austrian A4 highway becomes the Hungarian M1 at the border, leading directly to the Hungarian capital Budapest. Due to toll checks, there may be longer waiting times here compared to Klingenbach. However, with a digital vignette for Austria and Hungary, you can get through as quickly as possible. Registration on our website takes less than 2 minutes, allowing you to cross the highway border stress-free and relaxed.
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