Budapest City Guide

Public transport

Operator. The transport authority BKK (Budapesti Közlekedési Központ) plans the network, schedule, and fares for the entire capital. The actual operation of bus, tram, metro, and trolleybus is handled by BKV Zrt. The network is supplemented by the HÉV suburban trains, the historic cog railway, the Sikló funicular up to the castle, the Libegő chairlift in the Buda hills, and regular passenger boats on the Danube. For tourists, a uniform city fare applies across all of Budapest, only the airport bus 100E has its own special fare.

Network. Four metro lines, including the continent's oldest, plus trams, buses and suburban trains.

Modes of transport. Bus · Tram · Metro (four lines) · Trolleybus · HÉV suburban train · Cog railway (Fogaskerekű) · Funicular (Sikló) · Chairlift (Libegő) · Danube boat

Operating hours. For the daytime network, BKK does not give a uniform time for the first and last service, since these vary by line and can be looked up via the BudapestGO app or the schedule of the relevant line. What is fixed, however, is that tram line 6 around the Ring road and the two airport buses 100E and 200E run 24 hours a day without interruption, seven days a week.

Night service. BKK coordinates the night bus lines so that they meet at six major hubs, namely Astoria, Deák Ferenc tér, Móricz Zsigmond körtér, Blaha Lujza tér, Örs vezér tere, and Széll Kálmán tér, to allow transfers without long waits. As of July 1–2, 2026, BKK reorganized the night network, with more direct routes and better network coverage. Tram line 6 and the two airport buses 100E and 200E run continuously around the clock, even outside this night network.

Buying tickets. The regular pre-sale single ticket costs 500 Ft, bought at a machine, in the BudapestGO app, at customer centers, or at pre-sale points. Anyone buying only on board or from the driver pays 700 Ft within the city or 600 Ft on the blue VOLÁN intercity buses. For the airport bus 100E, a separate ticket applies for 2,500 Ft, bought directly on board by bank card via Budapest Pay&GO or in advance in the BudapestGO app, normal BKK tickets are not valid there.

App and payment. The BudapestGO app combines route planning, ticket purchase, and real-time information on delays and disruptions. In addition, Budapest Pay&GO works, where a contactless bank card or an NFC-enabled smartphone serves directly at the reader as a validated single ticket, with the charge taken immediately at purchase. This system currently only applies on metro lines M1, M2, M3, and M4 and on airport bus 100E, and during an inspection you hold up the same card or device to the checking device. Bus, tram, and trolleybus still require a separately purchased ticket.

Which ticket. Prices as of August 2026, according to BKK. Pre-sale single ticket 500 Ft, bought on board 700 Ft. 90-minute transfer ticket 850 Ft, 30-minute ticket for short trips 600 Ft. Block of ten 4,500 Ft, meaning 450 Ft per trip. 24-hour ticket 2,750 Ft, equivalent to 5.5 pre-sale single trips, from the sixth trip on the same day it works out cheaper. 72-hour ticket 5,750 Ft, equivalent to 11.5 single trips, pays off from the twelfth trip. A monthly ticket for all of Budapest costs 8,950 Ft. The airport bus 100E has its own ticket at 2,500 Ft, outside this comparison.

Fare zones. Within Budapest a uniform city fare applies with no zones, one ticket is enough for bus, tram, metro, and HÉV within the city area. The sole exception is the airport bus 100E with its own special fare of 2,500 Ft.

Tip. The M1 line from 1896 is a sight in itself and runs beneath Andrássy út.

Links

• BKK, official website
• BKK ticket prices
• BKK Airport Express 100E
• BKK Budapest Pay&GO
• BKK daytime network map (PDF)
• Budapest Airport, getting there by bus
• Budapest Airport, official taxi Főtaxi
• Network map

Getting there

Main station

Location. The main long-distance station in the east, complemented by Nyugati and Déli.

Long-distance trains. The state operator MÁV-START sells international tickets as START Europe Tickets, bookable online or via the MÁVPlusz app. Currently advertised are the Adria InterCity night train connection between Budapest and Split as well as the Retro Istria Express to the Croatian Adriatic coast, plus night train connections generally to several major European cities. Timetable information and ticket purchase run through the MÁVDIREKT hotline at +36 1 3 49 49 49.

Opening hours. Keleti pályaudvar is not open around the clock. On weekdays the hall is accessible from 3.45 am to 1.00 am, on weekends until 2.00 am, with a short overnight break in between. The waiting room at platform 9 opens at 4.30 am, the ticket hall also from 4.30 am, closing at 12.30 am.

Airports

Local quirks

• Ruin bars are institutions. They emerged in vacant buildings in the Jewish Quarter. Szimpla Kert was the first and is quieter during the day.
• Two separate fare worlds. Budapest Pay&GO with a bank card only works on metro lines M1 to M4 and on the 100E airport bus. Tram, bus, and trolleybus still require a separately purchased BKK ticket or the BudapestGO app, a bank card is not enough there.
• Regular Danube boat, not just a cruise. BKK operates public passenger boats on the Danube as a fixed part of the public transport network, not just as a tourist sightseeing trip. Current lines and stops are shown in the BudapestGO app.

Good to know

Currency

HUF Ft

Emergency number

112

Plug type

C · F

Time zone

Europe/Budapest

Driving

right

Speed limits. built-up areas 50 km/h, outside towns 90 km/h, motorway 130 km/h (Autópálya), 110 km/h on expressways (Autóút)

Hungary distinguishes between the Autópálya (a true motorway, 130 km/h, vignette required) and the Autóút (expressway, 110 km/h), with signs showing the applicable limit in each case. The blood alcohol limit is 0.0, which applies to all drivers without exception.

Tipping. Ten percent. Some venues already add a service charge, in which case skip it.

Tolls. Motorways and expressways require a vignette. Sie ist rein digital und an das Kennzeichen gebunden, es gibt keinen Aufkleber.