Szeged lies in the south-eastern part of Hungary, near the Serbian border.
By train
The easiest trainride is from Budapest. During daytime, InterCity trains leave from Nyugati pályaudvar (West Station) in every hour :53, the travel time to Szeged is 2h 22′, so arrival is at every hour :15. In the opposite direction, there are trains from Szeged at every hour :45, travel time to Budapest is 2h 22′, arrival at Nyugati Station is hour :07. Click here for railway timetable. Each train is divided into two sections: wagons with reservation or without. The quality of the former (so-called ‘InterCity’ wagons) is better, advisable. Return tickets cost cc. 7000HUF (cc. 25 euros).
By plane (and train)
Each train coming from Nyugati Station stops at Budapest Airport (Ferihegy), which is the nearest international airport to Szeged, so if you arrive there by plane, you can easily catch a train to Szeged. Trains depart from Ferihegy railway station, which is right across Terminal 1. Passangers arriving at Terminal 2 (2A or 2B) can either hire a taxi or they can take bus 200E to Terminal 1 (tickets can be purchased from the driver). Train tickets can be bought in the lobby of Terminal 1, on the right side as you enter from the street. Please, don’t forget to buy your train ticket at the airport, since there is no ticket office (just a ticket wending machine) at the railway station.
At Ferihegy railway station, trains to Szeged go on the far side, so you have to use the elevators and cross the tracks on the flyover bridge. The journey to Szeged takes 2 hours and a return ticket costs cc. 7000HUF (cc. 25 euros). Click here for railway timetable.
By plane (and shuttle bus)
Passengers flying with MALÉV Hungarian Airlines can use a shuttle bus service between Budapest Airport (Ferihegy) and Szeged downtown (Novotel Hotel). You need to book this service online, when you book your flight. For timetable information and booking, see MALÉV English language site here.
By car
If you arrive by car, the European Highway E5/E75, connecting Ostende and Istambul, goes through Szeged. It is a comfortable motorway, the Hungarian section from Budapest to Szeged is called M5. To use the Hungarian motorway system, you have to purchase a vignette at the border crossing points or petrol stations. A 4-day vignette costs 1650HUF (cc. 6 euros), weekly vignette: 2750HUF (cc. 11 euros). E-vignettes can be purchased through the internet, see English language portal here.
If you come from the South, it is easy to reach Szeged from Belgrade (Serbia) or Arad (Romania), however from Croatia, Slovenia and Italy, it is best to drive to Budapest on the M7 motorway and proceed via the M0 ringroad on the M5 to Szeged.
Local transport
For network map, fares, and timetables, see Szeged Public Transport site here.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: Due to track reconstruction work on Tramway Line 1, bus service is provided between Szeged Railway Station (Szeged Pályaudvar) and downtown (see blue line on this map). So take Bus 1v as you leave the station, and that will bring you right to the venue of the conference on Dugonics Square. (The same bus will probably be useful for those who wish to get to their accommodation first.)
Maps
See road map of Hungary here.
See map of Szeged here.
For the venue of the conference (Vajda House, Dugonics Square 2), see Google map here.