Budapest is a sprawling city and the distances between individual sights are quite long when travelling on foot.

However, the city has an excellent and well-organised public transport system, comprising four metro lines, blue buses, red trolleybuses, yellow trams, and the ‘H’ or ‘S’ urban railway, on which standard tickets are valid.

The simplest rule is: buy a 24-hour ticket for one or two days, a 72-hour ticket for three days, and if you’re staying for five days or more, consider a monthly pass. That way, you won’t have to keep track of individual journeys or worry about whether you need a new ticket when changing services.

Beware of the most common mistake: a standard ticket 500 huf is not valid for transfers between trams, buses and the metro. The only exception is when transferring between metro lines, provided you do not leave the fare-paying area.

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Maps, timetables and further information can be found on the official websitebkk.hu.

Which ticket to buy: prices

For a standard visit to the city, the following tickets are particularly important:

Ticket	Price	When it’s worth buying
Single ticket	500 huf	One direct journey without changing trains
Book of 10 single tickets	4 500 huf	Few journeys or more passengers; single tickets can be split
30 minutes*	600 huf	Short journey with a change
90 minutes*	850 huf	Longer journey with multiple changes
24 hours	2 750 huf	Intensive one-day travel
72 hours	5 750 huf	The best straightforward option for a three-day stay
Monthly pass	8 950 huf	Usually the cheapest option for stays of 5 days or more

* Available to purchase only via the BudapestGo mobile app.

Current prices for all types of fares are always available on the official BKK website.

Quick recommendations based on length of stay

• 1 day: a 24-hour ticket, if you’ll be travelling at least six times or changing services frequently.
• 2 days: two 24-hour tickets cost 5 500 huf, which is slightly less than a 72-hour pass. You don’t have to buy them both at the same time.
• 3 days: a 72-hour ticket for 5 750 huf.
• 4 days: a 72-hour + 24-hour ticket for 8 500 huf.
• 5 days or more: a monthly pass for 8 950 huf is usually the best value for money. It is non-transferable and requires a photo ID.

Time-based tickets are not calculated according to calendar days. For example, if you set a 24-hour ticket for Tuesday at 15:30, it is valid until Wednesday at 15:29.

Single ticket or time-based ticket?

A single ticket is valid for one uninterrupted journey on a single surface transport service.

If you’re changing from a tram to a bus, you’ll need a second ticket. On the underground, you can change between lines using a single ticket, provided you don’t leave the paid zone.

30-minute and 90-minute tickets, on the other hand, allow unlimited changes. You must tap them again each time you board, but this does not reset the validity period. If you board the last service before the ticket expires, you can complete your journey on it.

For a direct journey on the Underground, buy a ticket for 500 huf.

For a journey involving a change that takes less than half an hour, a 30-minute ticket is better value than 600 huf than two single tickets for 1 000 huf.

Children and senior citizens

• Children under 14 travel free on standard Budapest public transport. Children aged 6 and over must prove their age by showing an original identity card or passport when asked.
• Passengers aged 65 and over travel free of charge, regardless of nationality. All that is required is an original document bearing a photograph and date of birth.

A standard international student card does not in itself guarantee entitlement to a discounted ticket. Tourists should not automatically assume they are eligible for this discount.

The exact conditions for individual groups are set out in the BKK discount overview.

Where to buy a ticket and how to validate it

You can choose between a paper ticket and the BudapestGo app.

If you’re travelling all day, a paper 24-hour or 72-hour ticket is the least hassle: you buy it from a ticket machine and don’t need to validate it anywhere.

Paper tickets

You’ll find ticket machines at all underground stations and at major stops. They usually accept payment cards and offer an English language option.

• Validate your single-journey ticket before entering the paid section of the underground.
• On trams, buses and trolleybuses, validate it immediately after boarding using the validator inside the vehicle.
• When changing to another surface transport service, use a new single-journey ticket.
• Paper 24-hour and 72-hour tickets do not need to be validated. Simply check the start date and time of validity.

A hefty surcharge applies for an unvalidated or incorrect ticket. If paid on the spot or within a short period, the surcharge is currently 12 000 huf; it increases later.

Details can be found in the official guide to ticket validation.

Mobile tickets on BudapestGO

The BudapestGO app allows you to buy tickets, search for connections and receive alerts about current service disruptions. To use a mobile ticket, you need your phone to be switched on and connected to the internet.

For single-journey and minute-based tickets, scan the code each time you board, or before entering the metro.

For season tickets, the code is usually scanned when you enter the metro and when you board through the first set of doors; during a ticket inspection, you must show the animated ticket in the app.

A newly purchased mobile pass may not be valid immediately. Allow approximately two minutes, so do not wait until the service is arriving to buy it.

Can I pay by contactless card on public transport?

Not across the entire network. The Pay&GO system allows you to purchase and validate your ticket at the same time simply by tapping your card or phone only:

• at all underground stations
• on the 100E airport bus

On a standard tram or bus, you cannot tap your card on the validator.

You must have a ticket in advance or purchase one via BudapestGO. When your ticket is checked on the metro or the 100E, tap the same card or device you used to pay.

You can find the current list of locations and instructions on the Budapest Pay&GO page.

Where tickets are valid

All time-limited, 24-hour and 72-hour tickets, as well as monthly passes, are valid on the metro, trams, trolleybuses, city buses and HÉV lines, selected regional buses and trains, but only within the administrative boundaries of Budapest.

They are not valid on the 100E Airport Express, the funicular to Buda Castle or the Zugliget chairlift.

When travelling beyond the city limits, for example on the H5 line to Szentendre, you will need to purchase a connecting ticket.

Searching for connections

Google Maps works well for general planning, but on the day of your journey we recommend also checking BudapestGO. This is the official app and provides a clearer overview of service suspensions, platform changes and delays.

You can view a paper map of the network in the BKK maps section. In the city centre, however, there’s no need to memorise the numbers of the dozens of routes. For visitors, the most important are the four metro lines, tram lines 2, 4, 6, 19 and 41, and bus 16 to Buda Castle.

Metro

Budapest has four underground metro lines. Three of them (M1 – yellow, M2 – red and M3 – blue) only intersect at Deák Ferenc tér. The new M4 line – green – intersects with the M2 at Keleti pályaudvar and with the M3 at Kálvin tér.  

Services run daily from 4 am until around 11.15 pm. Tickets must be validated on entry to the metro.

You can find detailed information on how to use tickets on the metro, where to find route maps or where the most beautiful stations are in the separate chapter ‘The Budapest Metro’.

Trams: transport and a cheap sightseeing option

Trams are often a more pleasant option for visitors than the metro. Not only do they run above ground, but several routes pass right by the sights you’ll want to see:

• Tram 2 follows the Pest embankment. From the windows, you’ll see the Parliament, the Danube and the Buda skyline.
• Trams 19 and 41 run along the Buda riverbank with views of the Parliament.
• Trams 4 and 6 circle the wider city centre along the Grand Boulevard and stop near Margaret Island. Line 6 runs all night.

Tram 2 is therefore not just a journey from point A to point B. For the price of a standard ticket, you get one of the most beautiful rides through the city. The best views are usually on the side facing the Danube.

You can board the trams through any of the doors. Validate your single-use paper ticket after boarding; you’ll need a new ticket if you change to another tram.

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In the timetables section on the websitebkk.hu/en/timetables, tram routes are marked in yellow.

Buses and trolleybuses

Buses complement the metro and trams, particularly in the hilly Buda district and in more outlying neighbourhoods.

The most useful bus for visitors is the number 16, which runs from the city centre across the Chain Bridge to Buda Castle. It is significantly cheaper than the funicular and takes you almost to the same spot.

On some buses and trolleybuses, you can only board via the front door. You can recognise these services by the sign on the door and in the timetable. Make sure you have an active mobile ticket or a valid ticket ready before boarding. A list of all these routes is available on the website:bkk.hu/front-door-boarding.

The letter ‘E’ in a route number indicates an express service with fewer stops; it does not automatically imply a special fare. The exception is the 100E airport route.

In the timetables section on the websitebkk.hu/en/timetables, bus routes are marked in blueand trolleybuses in red.

HÉV urban railway or “S”

The metro, tram and bus network is supplemented by four HÉV suburban train lines and regular Hungarian State Railways (MÁV) lines, which are designated by a route number and the letters S, Z or G.

The BKK tickets mentioned above are valid on all these services, provided you use them only within the city limits of Budapest. For journeys beyond Budapest, you must purchase a separate ticket from a ticket machine or at the ticket office at the station.

The ‘H’ HÉV lines are very busy and run every 10–15 minutes throughout the day.

The line most useful for tourists is the H5, which runs along the Danube to the ancient town of Aquincum. We have included the busiest HÉV lines on the metro map, which you’ll find in the‘Budapest Metro’ section.

The S, G and Z train lines are mainly used for commuting out of the city, and they run at intervals of between 30 and 60 minutes. You won’t find them very useful for getting around the city.

In the timetables section of the websitebkk.hu/en/timetables, HÉV lines are marked with the letter ‘H’ followed by a number. Timetables for lines S, G and Z can only be found on the Hungarian Railways website:jegy.mav.hu.

Taxis, Bolt and Uber

Official Budapest taxis are yellow and all use the same city-regulated fare. The current rate is:

• basic fare 1 300 huf
• 520 huf per kilometre
• 130 huf per minute of waiting or slow driving

For journeys to and from the airport, the flag-fall charge is 2 100 huf. You can pay by card.

Taxis must always use a taximeter.

Both Bolt and Uber operate in Budapest, but they are not cheaper, unregulated rides.

Both apps book licensed taxis at the same fare; their main advantage is that they show the car, the route and an estimated price. On the street, only get into an officially marked yellow taxi.

Funicular

A short funicular railway offering beautiful views of the Danube and the city centre will take you from the riverbank up to Szent György tér, near Budapest Castle. You must always buy a ticket here; day tickets are not valid on this route.

Only return tickets are available for 5 000 huf. Single-journey tickets are not available.

The funicular runs every 5 minutes from 8.00 am to 10.00 pm.

Official information is available on the website bkk.hu/funicular.

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Boats

The once very popular sightseeing boat routes D11, D12 and D13, which used to travel along the Danube from north to south through Budapest, are no longer in operation.

Currently, the BKK transport company operates only the D14 route in the southern part of the city, connecting two residential areas well outside the tourist zone.

A special fare of 200 huf applies on the D14 route for a single trip, and season tickets or day passes cannot be used on this route. The boat runs every 30 minutes from 7.30 am to 8.00 pm, and the timetable can be found on the website:bkk.hu/en/timetables.

At present, only tourist sightseeing boats ply the waters of the Danube in the city centre; these are described in more detail in the ‘Activities’ section.

Chairlift

If you have time for a short trip to the outskirts of Budapest in the Buda Hills, head to the summit of János-hegy with its observation tower, which you can reach via an old two-seater chairlift. 

Only return tickets are available for 3 500 huf. Single-journey tickets are not available.

The cable car runs every day; full details can be found on the websitebkk.hu/chairlift.

Transport to the airport

Budapest Airport is one of the few major European airports not served directly by a train. You can only get there by bus routes 100E and 200E. As always, you can find detailed information in the article on Budapest Airport.

Night transport

The metro, trams and most bus routes run from around 4.30 am to 11.30 pm.

Between 11.30 pm and 4.30 am, special bus services marked with the 9XX number series run throughout the city. Special night bus route 6 follows the route of tram 6, which does not run at night.

These services are highlighted in blackin the timetables section on the websitebkk.hu/en/timetables.

Night bus services run every 30–60 minutes, with the exception of night bus 6, which runs every 7–15 minutes.

You can find a map of all night buses on this page:bkk.hu/night-time-public-transport.

Fares are the same as for daytime services.

Where to stay for transport convenience

We consider the wider area around Deák Ferenc tér to be the most practical base. Three metro lines intersect here, the 100E airport bus stops here, and many sights are within walking distance.

A good alternative is Kálvin tér, where the M3 and M4 lines meet and the 100E also stops. The area around Oktogon and Nyugati tends to be livelier and is well served by the 4 and 6 trams, which run around the clock.

Before booking, open a map and check the walking route to the metro or tram. A hotel 700 metres uphill in Buda may, in practice, be less convenient than accommodation a few stops further along a direct line. We compare specific neighbourhoods and their advantages in the article ‘Where to stay in Budapest’.

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