Compare: Berlin→Budapest (688 km) vs Berlin→Vienna (524 km). Berlin → Vienna wins by 164 km (24%). Side-by-side with flight & drive times.
By SnapDistance Team · Updated April 21, 2026
688 km
428 miles · Flight: ~1h 22min · Drive: ~11h 11min
524 km
326 miles · Flight: ~1h 9min · Drive: ~8h 31min
✓ Shorter route
Difference: 164 km (24%) · Flight time difference: ~13 min
Verdict
Berlin → Vienna is the smarter pick if travel time and emissions matter most: it is 164 km (24%) shorter, saves about 13 min of flight time, and cuts roughly 41 kg of CO₂ per passenger. Choose Berlin → Budapest only if the destination itself is the reason for the trip.
Berlin → Vienna is the shorter route at 524 km, which is 164 km (24%) shorter than Berlin → Budapest. You would save approximately 13 min in flight time by choosing the shorter route.
| Metric | Berlin → Budapest | Berlin → Vienna |
|---|---|---|
| Distance (km) | 688 | 524 |
| Distance (miles) | 428 | 326 |
| Flight time | ~1h 22min | ~1h 9min |
| Driving time | ~11h 11min | ~8h 31min |
| Road distance (est.) | ~894 km | ~681 km |
| Drivable? | Yes | Yes |
| Cross-continental | No | No |
| Initial bearing | 142° (SE) | 155° (SSE) |
| Time-zone shift | None | None |
| CO₂ – flight (per pax) | ~175 kg | ~134 kg |
| CO₂ – driving (per car) | ~153 kg | ~116 kg |
| Fuel cost (est.) | ~$89 USD | ~$68 USD |
Flying from Berlin to Budapest produces roughly 175 kg of CO₂ per passenger, based on the ICAO/EEA short-haul emission factor of ~0.255 kg per passenger-km. The Berlin → Vienna flight emits about 134 kg. Choosing the shorter route saves approximately 41 kg of CO₂ per traveler — equivalent to 2 typical tree-years of carbon sequestration. For comparison, driving emits roughly 153 kg and 116 kg per car respectively — meaningful only when the car carries multiple passengers.
The Berlin to Budapest route covers 688 km (428 miles), staying within Europe. Berlin (population: 3,644,826) is located in Brandenburg, Germany, while Budapest (population: 1,752,286) is in Central Hungary, Hungary.
The Berlin to Vienna route covers 524 km (326 miles), remaining within Europe. Berlin (population: 3,644,826) is in Brandenburg, Germany, and Vienna (population: 1,911,191) is in Vienna, Austria.
Flying from Berlin to Budapest takes approximately 1h 22min, while Berlin to Vienna takes 1h 9min. If driving is an option, expect roughly 11h 11min for the first route and 8h 31min for the second.
Since both routes depart from Berlin, this comparison is especially useful for travelers deciding between Budapest and Vienna as a destination.
The 164 km difference between these routes is noticeable in both travel time and fuel or ticket costs.
Both routes are drivable, with road distances of approximately 894 km and 681 km respectively. For road trips, the shorter route saves roughly 213 km of driving.
Budapest (Hungary) has a population of 1,752,286 and is located in the Central Hungary region of Europe. It's a significant city with good transport links and cultural offerings.
Vienna (Austria) has a population of 1,911,191 and is situated in Vienna, Europe. This city serves as an important regional hub with solid connectivity.
Choose this route if your priority is reaching Budapest (Hungary) — a city of 1,752,286 in the Central Hungary region of Europe. Despite being the longer of the two at 688 km, it makes sense when Budapest itself is the destination, the schedule fits better, or ticket prices are noticeably lower. Driving is realistic at this distance, with an estimated 894 km of road and a fuel cost band around $89 USD. The initial bearing is 142° (SE), so a great-circle flight leaves Berlin heading roughly SE.
This route is the right call if you are heading to Vienna (Austria) — a city of 1,911,191 in the Vienna region of Europe. It is also the shorter of the two at 524 km, saving about 13 min of flying and around 41 kg of CO₂ per passenger. Driving is feasible — expect roughly 681 km of road and a fuel cost in the $68 USD range. Departing Berlin, the great-circle bearing toward Vienna is 155° (SSE).
Berlin (52.52°, 13.40°) and Budapest (47.50°, 19.04°) sit in the same approximate time zone. Berlin (52.52°, 13.40°) and Vienna (48.21°, 16.37°) share an approximate time zone. Both routes have manageable time-zone shifts, so jet lag should not be a major factor.
Vienna is closer at 524 km, which is 164 km (24%) shorter.
688 km (428 miles). Flight: ~1h 22min.
524 km (326 miles). Flight: ~1h 9min.
Flying to Vienna is faster at ~1h 9min, saving about 13 min compared to Budapest.
All distances on SnapDistance are calculated using the Haversine formula, which determines the great-circle distance between two points on Earth's surface. This gives the shortest possible distance over the globe, which is the measurement used for aviation and navigation. Actual travel distances by road or rail are typically 20-40% longer due to terrain, borders, and infrastructure routing. Flight times assume 800 km/h cruising speed with 30 minutes for takeoff and landing. Driving estimates use 80 km/h average speed with a 30% road distance factor.
📍 Data: Coordinates from OpenStreetMap contributors. Distances calculated using the Haversine formula. Travel times are estimates only. Last verified: April 21, 2026.