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1. ALWAYS VALIDATE YOUR PAPER TICKET! Budapest has no ticket gates. Insert single tickets into the small orange validators (Jegyellenőrző) at the metro entrance, on the bus, or on the tram BEFORE you start your journey. An unstamped ticket = invalid ticket = 12.000 HUF fine.
2. The 100E Airport Express needs a SPECIAL ticket. A regular 24h travelcard or single ticket is NOT valid on bus 100E. The dedicated 100E ticket costs 2.500 HUF — buy it in BudapestGO or at the airport ticket office. Regular bus 200E uses standard tickets.
3. Single tickets do NOT include transfers. If you change metro lines or transfer from metro to tram, you need a separate ticket — OR buy the 90-minute ticket (850 HUF, app-only) which covers unlimited transfers within 90 minutes. Travelcards (24h, 72h, 7-day) cover all transfers.
4. Pay attention at metro M1 (yellow line) — historic, charming, but with steep stairs and no lifts at any station. Use M3 or M4 if you need step-free access.
5. Plain-clothes ticket inspectors are common, especially on the M3 metro and tram 4/6. They wear a red armband when checking. Always have your ticket ready or BudapestGO QR code accessible.
| Ticket Type | Price (2026) | Validity | When to choose? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 72-hour travelcard Our pick | 5.750 HUF (~€14,75) | 72h unlimited (excl. 100E) | Best for 2–3 day stays |
| 24-hour travelcard | 2.750 HUF (~€7,05) | 24h unlimited (excl. 100E) | Single-day intensive sightseeing |
| 7-day travelcard (Hetijegy) | 6.500 HUF (~€16,65) | 7 days unlimited (excl. 100E) | Stays of 4+ days — barely more than 72h |
| 10-pack singles (Block of 10) | 4.500 HUF (~€11,55) | 10 single rides, no expiry | Group of 5 splitting tickets, OR <10 rides over a long stay |
| Single ticket (Vonaljegy) | 500 HUF (~€1,28) | 1 ride, no transfers, max 80 min | One-off ride only |
| 30-minute ticket | 600 HUF (~€1,55) | 30 min, no transfers | Short hop on a single line |
| 90-minute ticket (app only) | 850 HUF (~€2,18) | 90 min, unlimited transfers | Any trip that requires a change — buy in BudapestGO app, no paper version |
| 100E Airport Express ticket | 2.500 HUF (~€6,40) | Single ride airport ↔ Deák Ferenc tér | Arriving / departing via BUD with luggage |
| Single ticket bought from driver | 700 HUF (~€1,80) | 1 ride | AVOID — 33% surcharge over kiosk price |
Budapest Liszt Ferenc International Airport (BUD) is located approximately 16 km southeast of the city centre. There is no direct rail link — bus 100E (Airport Express) is the fastest option for most travellers, while bus 200E + M3 metro is the cheapest.
| Option | Time | Price | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100E Airport Express | 40 min to Deák Ferenc tér | 2.500 HUF (~€6,40) | Every 5-10 min |
| 200E + M3 metro | 50-60 min | 500 HUF (~€1,28) + transfer | Every 8-15 min |
| Taxi (Főtaxi) | 30-45 min | 9.000-12.000 HUF (~€23-31) | Always available |
| miniBUD shuttle | 30-60 min (door-to-door) | ~6.500 HUF (~€16,70) | Pre-book online |
Only Főtaxi is licensed to pick up passengers from the airport rank. Avoid touts inside the terminal offering "transfer" services — they overcharge. Főtaxi rates are fixed by zone and shown on a board next to the rank.
| Age | Price | Card needed? |
|---|---|---|
| 0-5 years | FREE | No ticket needed |
| 6-14 years | Adult fare | Standard tickets — no general child discount |
| EU citizens 65+ | FREE | Valid passport / ID required |
| Students with valid ID | Discounted monthly pass available | Hungarian / EU student card needed |
Unlike most European cities, Budapest does NOT offer a discounted child or youth fare for visitors. Once your child is 6, they pay the same as an adult. The 24h or 72h travelcard is your best bet for families with kids 6+.
Budapest's accessibility is mixed. The M4 metro is fully step-free, M3 is mostly accessible after recent renovations, and modern trams are low-floor. However, the historic M1 has no lifts at any station and many older buildings have steep entrances. Plan ahead and prefer M3, M4 or trams when using a wheelchair.
M2 to Batthyány tér (lift available), then a short walk along the Danube — or bus 16 to the Castle (low-floor)
M1 is NOT accessible. Take trolleybus 75 or bus 105 instead — both low-floor
M4 to Keleti (fully step-free). Note: M2 at Keleti does not yet have a lift — use M4 or bus 7E (low-floor) instead.
Tram 2 (low-floor) along the Danube — scenic and step-free
All four metro lines stop running around 23:00. Last departures from Deák Ferenc tér are between 23:05 and 23:15. After that, the N-prefix night bus network covers the city, and trams 4 and 6 (the longest tram line in Europe) run 24/7 on Friday and Saturday nights.
| Transport | Last service | First service |
|---|---|---|
| Metro M1, M2, M3, M4 | ~23:05 - 23:15 | ~04:30 |
| Tram 4 / 6 (24h Fri/Sat) | Runs all night Fri/Sat | — |
| Other trams | ~23:00 | ~04:30 |
| Day buses | ~23:00 | ~04:30 |
| Night buses (N-prefix) | 23:30 - 04:30 | — |
| 100E Airport Express | 00:40 (last from airport) | 03:40 (first from airport) |
The N-prefix network (around 30 lines) runs from approximately 23:30 to 04:30. Most night buses pass through Deák Ferenc tér and Astoria — these are your central hubs after dark. Same BKK ticket valid — your travelcard from earlier still counts.
| Line | Route | Useful for |
|---|---|---|
| 914 | Buda → Deák Ferenc tér → Pest north | Cross-river coverage |
| 923 | Astoria → Keleti railway station | Late train arrivals |
| 956 | Kálvin tér → Erzsébet körút → Margit körút | Ruin pubs in District VII |
Budapest has excellent 4G/5G coverage from all three Hungarian carriers (Magyar Telekom, Yettel, Vodafone). Free WiFi is available in most metro stations, all BKK trams and buses, and many cafés. EU travellers use their normal plan thanks to "Roam Like at Home" — no eSIM needed. For non-EU visitors, an eSIM is the easiest option.
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Don't drag your suitcases through the cobbled streets of the Castle District or up to Fisherman's Bastion. Keleti, Nyugati and Déli railway stations all have lockers, and dedicated luggage storage services operate near major tourist areas.
Store your bags in 25+ local shops, hotels and cafés. Best coverage around Deák Ferenc tér, District V and the Jewish Quarter (District VII).
Premium storage network with vetted hotels and businesses. Fully insured and bookable in advance.
Self-service lockers (Csomagmegőrző) are available at Keleti, Nyugati and Déli stations. Look for signs near the main concourse.