Getting around · Budapest · Hungary
Getting around Budapest
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Kilyann Le Hen, CC BY 4.0
Quick answer
Budapest is walkable within each bank, and the bridges make crossing the Danube on foot easy. Four metro lines, a dense tram network and buses, coordinated by BKK, cover everything else; trams 2, 4 and 6 are the most useful for visitors. No.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Metro
- Airports
- BUD
- Need a car?
- No
- Travel pass
- 24-hour, 72-hour and weekly travelcards
Ways to get around
Metro
Four lines meet in the centre: M1, the 1896 Millennium Underground beneath Andrássy Avenue; M2 under the Danube to Batthyány tér; M3 north–south through Deák Ferenc tér; and M4 linking Keleti station, Kálvin tér and Kelenföld.
Buy tickets or passes from machines or the BudapestGO app, and validate paper tickets before going down the escalators.
Tram
Tram 2 runs along the Pest embankment past the Parliament with river views most of the way, while trams 4 and 6 circle the Grand Boulevard across Margaret and Petőfi bridges; tram 6 runs through the night.
Walking
Districts V, VI and VII are flat and walkable, and the Chain, Margaret, Elisabeth and Liberty bridges all have pavements across the Danube. Castle Hill is a steep climb from the river.
Bus
Bus 16 links Deák Ferenc tér with the Castle District across the Chain Bridge, buses and trolleybuses fill the gaps elsewhere, and night buses cover the main routes.
Taxi
Licensed taxis are yellow with meters and posted fares, and app-based rides through Bolt and local taxi apps are common and avoid overcharging.
Ignore unmarked cars offering rides at stations and outside bars.
Boat
Public boat lines run along the Danube with more services in summer, and sightseeing cruises leave from the Pest embankment around Vigadó tér.
Tickets and passes
24-hour, 72-hour and weekly travelcards
Unlimited travel on the metro, trams, buses and suburban HÉV lines within the city, sold at machines and in the BudapestGO app; the 100E airport bus needs its own ticket.
Budapest Card
Combines unlimited public transport with free or discounted entry to selected museums, baths and tours; worth it only with a packed itinerary.
From the airport
Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport is about 16 km south-east of the centre. The 100E airport express bus runs to Kálvin tér and Deák Ferenc tér in about 35–45 minutes and needs a dedicated ticket, the 200E bus connects with the M3 metro, and official taxis wait at the rank outside arrivals.
Do you need a car?
No. Public transport is inexpensive and frequent, central parking is limited and paid, and the Castle District is closed to non-resident cars. A car is only useful for wine regions or Lake Balaton.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Szentendre | About 40 minutes by suburban train | HÉV H5 from Batthyány tér |
| Visegrád and the Danube Bend | About 1 hour 15 minutes by bus | Bus from Újpest-Városkapu, or a summer boat from Vigadó tér |
| Esztergom | About 1–1.5 hours by train | Train from Nyugati station |
| Gödöllő Royal Palace | About 50 minutes by suburban train | HÉV H8 from Örs vezér tere |
| Eger | About 2 hours by train | Direct train from Keleti station |
| Lake Balaton | About 2 hours by train | Train from Déli or Kelenföld to Balatonfüred |
Questions travellers ask
+Do you need a car in Budapest?
No. Public transport is inexpensive and frequent, central parking is limited and paid, and the Castle District is closed to non-resident cars. A car is only useful for wine regions or Lake Balaton.
+How do you get from the airport to Budapest?
Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport is about 16 km south-east of the centre. The 100E airport express bus runs to Kálvin tér and Deák Ferenc tér in about 35–45 minutes and needs a dedicated ticket, the 200E bus connects with the M3 metro, and official taxis wait at the rank outside arrivals.
+What is the best way to get around Budapest?
Metro: Four lines meet in the centre: M1, the 1896 Millennium Underground beneath Andrássy Avenue; M2 under the Danube to Batthyány tér; M3 north–south through Deák Ferenc tér; and M4 linking Keleti station, Kálvin tér and Kelenföld.