Budapest Card 2026: Is It Worth It?

The Budapest Card includes the use of public transport in Budapest, plus free or discounted tickets to over 100 attractions in Budapest, such as museums, walking tours, thermal baths and river cruises.

If you plan to use the public transport a lot, and if you are interested in the activities and attractions that are included in the Budapest Card, then yes, it can worth getting!

The Budapest Card comes in various durations (24 hours, 48 hours, 72, hours, 96 hours, 120 hours), and the best is to buy it online before arrival, and then just pick it up at the Budapest Airport after landing.

Is the Budapest Card Worth It?

The Budapest Card is worth it if you are getting the card for at least 3 days, and plan to use the public transport, and visit the attractions that are included in the Card.

It is best if you check the full list of attractions that are included in the Card, and if you want to visit many of the places included, then it is worth getting.

If you plan to use the public transport in Budapest a lot, then having the Budapest Card can save you time and energy. With the Card, you can just use the public transport in Budapest and not have to validate a ticket each time.

In addition, you get free entry to some of the best museums in Budapest, such as the Museum of Fine Arts, Kunsthalle, and Hungarian National Museum, as well as discounted tickets to many other museums.

The Budapest Card also includes a couple of free river cruises, walking tours in Buda and Pest, and a free entry to the Lukács Thermal Bath!

What is the Difference between a Budapest Travel Card/Pass and Budapest Card?

The Budapest Travel Card (also called as the Budapest Pass) is a type of pass that is only valid for the public transport in Budapest. You can get this pass for a specific duration (24 hour, 72 hour, 15 days or 1 month) and it is valid for all transport on Budapest.

If you buy a single ticket for public transport in budapest, then you’d have to validate each ticket for each transport. The advantage of the Travel Card/Pass is that you don’t have to validate it every time. If a ticket controller comes, you can just show the pass.

The Budapest Card is includes both the use of public transport, and free or discounted entry to attractions in the city! The attractions include many museums, thermal baths, river cruises, walking tours and discounts at museums.

Thus, the Budapest Card is best if you want easy use of the public transport and free or cheaper entry to many attractions.

Budapest Card Information

Budapest Card Prices

You can get a Budapest Card for various durations between 24 and 120 hours.

The Budapest Card is priced as follows:

• 24 hours Budapest Card: EUR 39
• 48 hours Budapest Card: EUR 53 (EUR 26.50 per day)
• 72 hours Budapest Card: EUR 69 (EUR 23.00 per day)
• 96 hours Budapest Card: EUR 87 (EUR 21.75 per day)
• 120 hours Budapest Card: EUR 96 (EUR 19.20 per day)

✅ Get Your Budapest Card Here!

Budapest Card Validity

The card is activated upon its first use, and it is valid from then on for the duration of the card.

What’s Included in the Budapest Card?

The Budapest Card includes the use of all public transport in Budapest (metro, bus, trams, etc), and free or discounted tickets to over 100 attractions, such as museums, thermal baths, river cruises, and walking tours.

Check here the full list of activities and attractions included in the Budapest Card:

Can the Budapest Card Be Used on the 100E Bus (Airport Bus)?

No, you cannot use the Budapest Card on the Airport Bus (100E). It is not valid for that service, and you have to get a separate bus ticket for it, which is HUF 2,200 (USD 6).

There is an option to take another bus, 200E from the Airport to Kőbánya Kispest Metro Station, and then get on the metro that goes to the city center. However, I don’t really recommend it as it would take much longer than taking and paying for the 100E express bus.

How to Buy the Budapest Card

The best is to buy the Budapest Card online before arriving in Budapest and then picking it up at the Budapest Airport.

The Budapest Card can be collected at the airport from the reception of the Hotel Ibis Styles Budapest Airport reception. The reception is open 24 hours a day and you can pick up the card at anytime.

Another option is to collect the card at their office at the Hotel Gozsdu Court in the city center of Budapest. The office is open 8 am – 4 pm every day.