Getting Around Budapest
Getting To/From the Airport
By Public Transport
Take metro line M3 to Kőbánya-Kispest, then the 200E bus to the airport. Alternatively, the 100E bus runs directly from the city center and is a quicker but slightly pricier option. Both are reliable and well-used.
The M3 + 200E combo takes longer but is much cheaper. The 100E is much quicker (approx. 40–45 min).
By Taxi
Expect to pay around 13,000 to 18,000 HUF depending on where you are travelling from in the city. I recommend calling a CityTaxi, but Főtaxi has a stand at the airport and uses the same prices. Uber and Bolt are available too. Taxi fares are fixed, so all licensed providers charge the same.
By Transfer
Several providers operate airport transfers. While the price is usually higher than a taxi, you get a fixed rate and a guaranteed pickup. Worth considering if you are travelling in a group or with a lot of luggage.
Public Transport
Budapest has a pretty solid public transport network. There are four metro lines covering the main parts of the city, plus a large number of bus and trolleybus routes running across the whole network. For getting around quickly, I would recommend trams over buses where possible. They tend to be faster and more predictable, especially along the main routes by the river.
For planning your trips and buying tickets or passes, download the BudapestGO app. It handles everything in one place and makes navigating the system a lot easier, especially if it is your first time in the city.
A single ticket costs 500 HUF, but I generally recommend time-based tickets. You can get a 30-minute ticket for 600 HUF, a 90-minute ticket for 850 HUF, a 24-hour travel card for 2,750 HUF, or a 72-hour travel card for 5,750 HUF.
The Airport Express bus (100E) operates with a different fare system, costing 2,500 HUF per ride.
Taxi
Budapest has plenty of taxis, but stick to licensed ones. The easiest way is to book through an app or by phone rather than flagging one down on the street. Licensed Budapest taxis are easy to spot: yellow cars, yellow number plates, and the words "minősített budapesti taxi" on the front left door. The official fare table is displayed on the dashboard and rear doors.
My recommendation is CityTaxi, but Uber and Bolt both work in the city too.
Never get into a taxi with a black "Freelancer" sign on the car. These do not belong to any official company and are not regulated. They can charge you two to five times the normal rate.
Fares are the same across all licensed companies and are always calculated by the taxameter in the car. Current rates are below.
