Getting around in Budapest is easy and affordable. Budapest’s transport system includes metro lines, buses, trams and trolley buses to get around the city. The city centre of Budapest is not too big and some parts of the city centre you can explore by walking on foot. Check out here all the information you need for public transport in Budapest.

Looking for things to do in Budapest? Check out the best things to do in Budapest.

Purchasing Tickets for Public Transport

There are 3 ways to get tickets for the public transport in Budapest. You can either buy tickets at a ticket office, ticket box machines or online through the BudapestGO app.

Ticket Machines

The ticket machines are available at metro stations, tram stations and main bus stops. The ticket machines have a touch screen and you will have the option to switch the language to English. You can browse through the ticket options and pick one that suits you best. You can pay by both cash and bank card.

If you go further out of the city centre, it will be difficult to find ticket machines in suburban Budapest. In this case, you can buy a bus ticket directly from the bus driver for HUF 450. You will need to have cash to pay for the ticket, it is not possible to pay by card. The best is if you have the exact cash in case the bus driver is unable to give back change.

Ticket Offices

Some of the main metro stations also have ticket offices where you can purchase tickets for public transport. It is a good option if you have any questions regarding the tickets, as the ticket officer will be able to explain any questions you may have about the validity and length of the ticket.

BudapestGO App

The BudapestGO app is becoming more and more popular in Budapest. It is easy to buy tickets and use across the different transport vehicles.

– Register: After downloading the app (available both in Google Play and Apple store), you will have to register and provide your bank details to be able to purchase tickets.

– How to validate the ticket bought on the app: you will have to scan the ticket/barcode before getting on the bus or tram (pics from app). Usually at the metro stations, you only have to show your ticket if there is a ticket controller at the entrance of the metro station.

– Journey planner: the BudapestGO app also includes a journey planner for public transport in Budapest. It is easy to use and will show you different transport options to get around the city.

Types of Tickets

There are many different types of tickets that you can choose from when planning your trip in Budapest. Here you can find some of the most popular ticket options for Budapest:

• Single ticket: HUF 450 (USD 1.20)
• Airport Shuttle Bus single ticket: HUF 2,200 (USD 6)
• 15-day Budapest pass: HUF 6,300 (USD 17)
• Monthly Budapest pass: HUF 9,500 (USD 26)
• Budapest Card (24h – 120h): Prices are between HUF 12,000 – 34,000 (USD 33 – 95) depending on the length of the validity. The costs are higher than a usual ticket but it includes free entries to a number of museums.

Getting from the Budapest Airport to the City Centre

There are different ways to get from the Budapest airport to the city centre. You can take the Airport Shuttle bus or a taxi.

Airport Shuttle Bus: Bus 100E

The Bus 100E operates between the Budapest airport and the city centre (Deak Ferenc ter). It is operating 24 hours a day, although at night time they go less frequently.

• Ticket price: HUF 2,200. 
• Operating times: 24 hours

By Taxi

There is a taxi booth just outside the airport where you can purchase the fare for a taxi at the airport. The price from the Budapest airport to the city centre is around USD 30.

Budapest Public Transport System

Metro/Underground

Budapest has 4 metro lines that connects the city centre and main tourist spots pretty well. The metro system is not as big as of other capital cities’ in Europe, so it is easy to figure out the way.

Operating times of the Budapest metro: 4:30 am – 23:00 pm

Validating tickets:

• Single ticket: If you have a single ticket, you will have to validate it at the entrance of the metro station
• Monthly pass or Budapest Card: there is no need to validate this type of ticket. If there are ticket controllers, just show them the ticket.

Metro Lines

Metro Line 1 (“Yellow Line”): An interesting fact about the Metro Line 1 is that it is the oldest metro in Budapest completed in 1896. It is the oldest underground in mainland Europe, and the third oldest in Europe after the London Underground and Liverpool’s Mersey Railway.

Popular metro stops for tourists on Metro Line 1: Vorosmarty ter (close to the River Danube and Vaci shopping street), Opera (Hungarian State Opera), Oktogon (House of Terror), Heroes’ Square, and Szechenyi Furdo (Szechenyi Bath)

Metro Line 2 (“Red Line”): Popular metro stops for tourists on the Metro Line 2: Deak Ferenc ter (Bazilika, Vaci shopping street, close to River Danube, lots of restaurants and bars), Kossuth Lajos ter (Parliament), Batthyanyi ter(best view for Parliament from the Buda side, and close Fisherman’s Bastion on foot), 

Metro Line 3 (“Blue Line”): Popular stops on the Metro Line 3: Nyugati palyaudvar (train station, Westend Shopping Mall), Deak Ferenc ter (Bazilica, restaurants, bars, Vaci shopping street)

Metro Line 4 (“Green Line”): Popular stops on the Metro Line 4: Fővám tér (Central Market Hall, view of Citadella), Szent Gellert tér(Gellert Bath, Gellert hill)

Bus

Apart from taking the metro, there is also an extensive network of bus routes to get around the city.

Operating times of the buses: Most day buses will operate between 4:00 am – 23:00 pm

Validating the ticket:

• Single ticket: validate it on board 
• Ticket through the BudapestGO app: validate it through the barcode on the side of the bus
• Monthly pass: no need to validate it. If a ticket controller comes on board, just show it to them.

Night Buses

Budapest also runs night buses after the metro and day buses stop to operate around 23:00 pm. If you plan to take the night bus, it is best to check in advance the running time as some might go only every 30 minutes or only once an hour. You can use the same tickets you would use on the bus during daytime. 

Tram

The tram is also a popular way to get around the city. Some of the trams go through really beautiful parts of the city and provides a nice sightseeing tour.

Operating time of trams: 4:30 am – 23:00 pm

Validating tickets: if you are using a single ticket, you can validate it in the tram after getting on. 

Tram Lines that Pass Through Famous Buildings in Budapest:

• Tram 2, 2B and 23: run next to the riverbank of the River Danube on the Pest side. If you take this line, you will pass by Fővám tér (where the Main Central Market is located), the Parliament, and the Jaszai Mari tér stop which is near the Margaret Island.
• Tram 4-6: The tram lines 4-6 pass through the city centre of Budapest. It is worth remembering that tram line 6 runs also at night.
• Tram 19 and 41: Similar to Tram 2, 2B and 23, the trams 19 and 41 run next to the riverbank of the River Danube but on the Buda side. On this line you will pass by the Gellert Bath, the Funicular that will take you up to the Buda Castle, and will also drop you near the Margaret Island.
• Tram 47-49: Starting from Deak Ferenc tér in the city centre, the tram lines 47 and 49 pass by the Central Market Hall and Gellert Bath.

Trolley Bus

Budapest also has trolley buses in addition to the metro, bus and tram system. The trolley buses look almost like normal buses, except that they are powered by electricity lines on the top. The trolley buses are painted red and you will easily spot them. 

HÉV Train

Budapest also have the HÉV trains that are more like suburban trains. Their colour is green and run mostly further outside of Budapest.

Tip: Take HÉV Line 5 to Szentendre for a day trip.

Public Boat

Budapest also has a public boat system that connects Margaret Island with tourists spots further down the river. There used to be 3-4 public boats that ran on the river, however, in recent years it was reduced to only 1 boat line. You can get on the boat at Margaret Island and then make your way down the river.

Taxi

Getting around by taxi in Budapest is the most comfortable option. Although there is no Uber in Budapest, there is the Bolt taxi app which works just as well.

Main Taxi Companies in Budapest

• Bolt: taxi app similar to Uber
• FőTaxi: operates Budapest-wide, and it is the only taxi company designated to serve customers at the Budapest Airport
• City Taxi: operates Budapest-wide

Ordering a Taxi

• Bolt: order it through the Bolt app
• City Taxi and FőTaxi: order through their apps or through customer service call centre

City Taxi and FőTaxi fare price: base fare: HUF 1,100 (USD 3) + distance-based fare: HUF 440/km (USD 1/km)

Electric Scooter

Renting electric scooters have become very popular in Budapest. You will spot them all around Budapest, not only in the city centre but even in the suburbs. 

Download the Lime app and pay for the scooter before using it. 

On Foot

Some parts of the city centre of Budapest is also in walking distance to each other. Here are some routes for historical sites that are in easy walking distance to each other.

• Option 1: Deak Ferenc tér – Bazilica – Parliament – Shoes on the River Danube
• Option 2: Deak Ferenc tér – cross the Chain Bridge – take the Funicular to Buda Castle – Buda Castle – Fisherman’s Bastion/Matthias Church
• Option 3: Fisherman’s Bastion/Matthias Church – Buda Castle – Gellért Hill/Citadella – Gellert Bath