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 particularly 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, it is advisable to 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 hassle.
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, it is essential to carry the necessary documents with you. For EU citizens, an ID card or a valid passport is sufficient. Carrying goods is permitted, but there are quantity limits for alcohol and tobacco.
Due to increased smuggling activities related to the refugee crisis, more frequent checks at the Austrian-Hungarian border have been observed 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 beneficial to purchase the digital vignettes for Austria and Hungary in advance, allowing for seamless passage through the toll station.
In Hungary and Austria, toll fees must be paid for the use of highways, which contribute to 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. The digital vignette can be easily purchased online, ensuring you won't have to worry about it during your journey. If you drive onto the Hungarian highway without a vignette, you have a maximum of 60 minutes to acquire one before penalties apply. This is an important consideration for long journeys. Important: When registering your license plate for the Hungarian vignette, umlauts cannot be used. For example, GÖ for Göttingen would simply be recorded as 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 conveniently available from home at any time. Note that special route vignettes are required for certain 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 notable are Klingenbach (AT) / Sopron (HUN) and the highway crossing Nickelsdorf (AT) / Hegyeshalom (HUN). Both are approximately 45-50 minutes from the Austrian capital, Vienna. Other road crossings include those at Pamhagen, Schachendorf, and Heiligenkreuz in Lafnitztal, among others, which play a minor role in international traffic. Due to border checks, toll checks, and construction work, waiting times at the borders can range from 5 minutes to over an hour. The likelihood of traffic jams depends on the number of vehicles on the routes. The highway crossing is often very busy, particularly during peak travel times.
The Klingenbach (AT) / Sopron (HUN) border crossing is perhaps the most recognized crossing between Austria and Hungary. The Austrian A3 highway becomes the B16 shortly before the border, connecting in Hungary to the main road 84. This crossing is historically significant, as it was one of the first to open between Austria and Hungary 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 transitions to 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 navigate through as quickly as possible. Registration on our website takes less than 2 minutes, allowing for a stress-free crossing at the highway border.