Travel to Budapest
All the Basics You Need to Know

Travel to Budapest by air

Many airlines operate flights to Budapest, so you shouldn't have a problem to choose one.

You will land at Budapest Ferihegy, Hungary's largest airport. It has two terminals, roughly 25 kilometres from the city. Terminal 1 is used only for freight transport. Termial 2 is divided into A and B sections. 2A is exclusively for the Hungarian Airlines (Malev) flights, while all other airlines use terminal 2B. From the airport you have several options to get to the city centre.

The Airport Minibus takes all passangers going in the same direction in Budapest, for a flat fee of 2100 forints (about 10 USD) per person. You can buy your ticket at the Airport Passanger Service desk.

TIP: For a 2-3 day visit it's worth buying a Budapest card which entitles you to discount admission to many sights and attractions in Budapest (museums, baths, monuments etc.). Free travel on the city's public transport services is also included. You can buy the card online here (you have a choice to purchase a 48-hour card which costs 6300 HUF or 0 72-hour card, whihc is 7500 HUF)

Your second and cheapest option is to take the No 200E public transport bus. It takes you to Kőbánya-Kispest metro terminus. From here you can easily travel to the city center with metro line number 3 (blue line). Read more about Budapest Metro.

Definitely the quickiest way to get to the city from the airport is by taxi.

In 2006 Zona taxi company won a tender for operating a relaible and cheaper taxi service at Budapest airport. Read more about their taxi service here.

There are taxis operated by other companies waiting in front of the airport. Most of them are small companies that charge a lot more than the larger taxi companies. So you'd better call one from the following list of reliable taxi companies:

• Tele 5 taxis: 3555555
• Budapest taxi: 433-3333
• Citytaxxi: 211-1111

Be sure to agree on a price first! You can share the taxi (and the fare) with other passangers to cut down on your expenses. If you prefer to travel alone the minibus is cheaper.

TIP: Budapest Airport Transfer is the most comfortable and quickest way to get to your hotel in the city.

Budapest Airport Hotels are convenient, good-value accommodations near ferihegy airport and with good transportation connections to the city center.

Travel to Budapest by train

If you come to Budapest by train you'll arrive at one of its three international train stations:

• 
  Nyugati (Western) Train Station,

• Keleti (Eastern) Train Station and

• Déli (Southern) Train Station.
  
  

Nyugati and Keleti Stations are on the Pest side, Déli Train Station is on the Buda side.
From the stations you can continue your travel in Budapest by metro. Keleti and Déli Stations are on the red metro line, while Nyugati Station is on the blue line.

TIP: Find more details about Public Transport Tickets and How to Travel in Budapest.

Travel to Budapest by coach

Probably the cheapest way to come to Budapest is with an international coach service. Coaches arrive at the central bus station at Népliget. It's on the blue metro line (See our Budapest Metro page), you can also take tram number 1 to get to your destination within Budapest.

Travel to Budapest by ship

Certainly the most romantic way to come here is by ship on the Danube.

Hydrofoils run between Vienna and Budapest from April to early November. It takes you to downtown Budapest in 5 hours. You can admire the breathtaking Danube bend during your journey. Return tickets are around 100 €/adult, while a one-way ticket is 89 €/adult, but make sure to check it on the operator's website because prices might change. Soft drinks and some snacks are included in this price.

Travel to Budapest by car

Motorways are in good conditions so you can reach the capital city quite quickly from all directions.

Most lower-level roads in Hungary however are in bad condition and especially during summer, road construction works slow down the traffic. Not to mention bad driving manners, particularly in Budapest. You 'll also have problems finding parking space in the Hungarian capital.

If you must come by car I suggest you leave your car in one of the P+R parking places (if you aren't staying in a hotel where you can leave your car in the hotel's garage) and use public transportation for travelling within Budapest.

If you however need to park somewhere in the city centre check parking prices here.

P+R Parking Places in Budapest

The guarded P+R car parks are offering a very good connection to the main public transport lines, especially to one of the 3 metro lines and the tram lines.

Highway Toll in Hungary (E-Vignette)

Since the beginning of 2008, the purchase of a motorway sticker is managed electronically (known as an "e-vignette" or e-matrica), thus cannot be put physically on the windshield anymore, it is only registered in a computer system with its validity period. The highway cameras are checking the registered plate number and not the sticker itself.

Types of E-Stickers and prices in the summer period (2010) for the D2 category of vehicles (motor vehicles and motor vehicles with trailers (long vehicles) with a maximum total permissible weight of over 3.5 tons, but not more than 7.5 tons):

The stickers can be used for unlimited trips on every highway, within its validity period.

For up-to-date prices please check website of the Hungarian State Motorway Management Company Ltd.

Authorisation for road use can be purchased/registered at petrol stations (gas stations) all around the country. The purchase receipts should be kept for at least half a year after the trip.

Foreigh travellers can also by the e-vignette through the follwing on-line retailers:

Buying Motorway E-ticket in Hungary

Where to Sleep in Budapest?

Browse our lists of accommodations in Budapest containing only the most reliable and best-value lodgings.

Hotels in Budapest
	Hotels in Budapest City Center
	Airport Hotels in Budapest
	4-star Budapest Hotels
	Luxury Budapest Hotels
	Luxury Apartments in Budapest
	Spa Hotels in Budapest
	Budget Hotels in Budapest
	Apartment Hotels in Budapest
	Budapest Apartment Rental
	Cheap Apartments in Budapest
	Cheap Budapest Hotels
	Best Budapest Hostels

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