Travel Information
Flight to Budapest
Most major European and North American airlines (also low-cost airlines) operate flights to Budapest. Here you find the flights from Europe. To have and idea about the fares you can go and check e.g. Kayak or Skyscanner.
By plain you will arrive at Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport (BUD), formerly known as Budapest Ferihegy International Airport, at Terminal 2A or 2B, which are adjacent to each other and connected by a short passage. Terminal 2A serves all the airlines to/from the Schengen countries, while 2B welcomes traveller of all non-Schengen destinations.
A ride to the city center by taxi should typically cost around 7000 HUF (25 EUR) depending on traffic conditions (see this for more information).From the airport the city can be reached by airport shuttle minibus, for one passanger to the city center costs 3200 HUF (10 EUR). The order can be made upon arrival or on-line prior to travel.
The cheapest – but most time-consuming – way to get into town from the airport is to use public bus 200E, which terminates at the Kőbánya-Kispest metro station. From there take the metro line M3 into the centre. Bus tickets can be purchased from the driver for 450 HUF (= about 1.50 EUR) or can be bought in advance for 350 HUF at the post office, the newsstand called „Relay”, or from a ticket vending machine at the bus stop itself.
International trains
Budapest has direct rail connection with 25 capital cities. International trains arrive at one of the three major train stations in Budapest: the Western (called ‘Nyugati’), the Eastern (‘Keleti’) and the Southern (‘Déli’) Railway Stations (names has nothing to do with there actual placement). Railway stations serve as underground stations as well: East and South railway station: underground line M2 (red line), Western railway station: underground line M3 (blue line). For timetables and further information about national and international trains see the webpage of the Hungarian Railways (MÁV).
Coaches
The company Volánbusz operates scheduled public bus transportation in Hungary and also offers international coach service to Budapest from 13 different countries (Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Montenegro, Netherlands, Poland, Serbia, Slovenia.) If you plan your trip to Budapest by coach, you can check the Eurolines timetables here. All coaches from abroad arrive at “Népliget” coach station, from where you can take mertro M3.
Arriving by car
Out of Hungary’s five motorways and four main roads eight leave from Budapest. A motorway sticker (vignette, in Hungarian ,,matrica”) is mandatory on M1, M3, M5, M6 and M7 motorways. It can be obtained at border crossing points, at larger filling stations, online. The price is 2975 HUF (good for 10 days) or 4780 HUF (good for 1 month). The method of checking road use authorization is based on vehicle registration numbers, and as a consequence, there is no need to use "physical" vignettes or windscreen stickers. If you rent a car, please make sure the rental fee includes the motorway ticket and insurance. Drivers should not drink any alcohol in any quantity.
Transportation in Budapest
For local travel suggestions you can use a trip planner for public transport. Tickets valid for bus, trolley bus, tram and metro can be purchased almost anywhere in the town, in kiosks, in shops and at underground stations. One ticket is valid for one journey only (single way on the same vehicle) except you can change from a metro line to another metro line with a single ticket, otherwise upon changing vehicle, one needs to validate another ticket.
You can also take a taxi, which are now uniform yellow cabs in Budapest.
Further Information
Further travel and touristic information about Budapest can be found on the Budapest Portal, Budapest Info and Visit Budapest portals.
