Public Transport

Budapest has an efficient network of public transport, including bus, trolley
bus, tram, metro services plus suburban railway lines called HÉV lines and
boat services.
Passes are available for various lengths of time (eg. monthly) and are valid
for each form of transport – metro, bus, tram, trolleybus, boat – within the
boundaries of Budapest. Single tickets that can be used on any form of transport are also available at metro stations or street kiosks. They are valid for a single journey without transfer on the whole length of a line (within the boundaries of Budapest), which means multiple tickets are needed when your journey involves changes. Bus drivers on specific routes do sell tickets but passengers need to prepare exact amounts as no change will be given back.
If one regularly uses public transport, it is economically more viable to buy a monthly or yearly pass. Students are entitled to reduced rates.
For current ticket types and prices, visit: www.bkk.hu
Holders of a valid student card are entitled to fare reductions.

Metro
Budapest metro has four lines:

  • M1: the Yellow Line between Vörösmarty tér and Mexikói út. In fact, this was the first subway line in Mainland Europe, and was opened in 1896 for the Hungarian Millennium.
  • M2: the Red Line between Déli pályaudvar and Örs vezér tere.
  • M3: the Blue Line between Újpest Központ and Kőbánya-Kispest.
  • M4: the Green Line between Kelenföld vasútállomás and Keleti pályaudvar.

    Metro services run from 4:30 until 23:30.

Further information on the public transport facilities can be found here.


Trains
Most train lines in Hungary use Budapest as a central point, which is the most common place for transfers. Although the train network has lines connecting cities and towns, to reach your final destination quickly, it is sometimes faster to travel through Budapest.
Budapest has three major train stations: the Eastern Railway Station (Keleti pályaudvar) and the Southern Railway Station (Déli pályaudvar), both of which are situated at stops along metro line M2 (Red Line), and the Western Railway Station (Nyugati pályaudvar), which is situated on metro line M3 (Blue Line).
Related website: MÁV-Group

Coaches
If you travel outside Budapest, you can also take a coach. Coach drivers sell tickets on the coach, but to secure seat reservations, the tickets should be purchased in advance.
Related website: Volan Bus

Coach stations in Budapest:

  • Stadionok | Budapest District 14, Hungária körút 48-52. (on metro line M2) | Coach departures to eastern Hungary.
  • Árpád-híd | Budapest District 13, Árbóc u. 1-3. (on metro line M3) | Coach departures to Pilisvörösvár and Szentendre.
  • Népliget | Budapest District 9, Üllői út 131. (on metro line M3) | Coach services to Transdanubia and international coach services.
  • Etele tér | Budapest District 11, (take Bus 7E to get here) | Departures to Biatorbágy, Érd, and Százhalombatta.
  • Széna tér | Budapest District 1, (take Tram 4 or 6 to get here) | Departures to Zsámbék and the Zsámbék area.
     

    Boat services
    Budapest has 3 public boat lines:

  • D-11: Kopaszi-gát (Rákóczi híd)–Újpest, Árpád út
  • D-12 and D-13: Kopaszi-gát (Rákóczi híd)–Rómaifürdő

  • The services operate form 6.30 till 20.30, but lines D-11 and D-12 are in operation only on weekdays.

By car
Visitors don’t need a Hungarian driving license to drive in Hungary but they need to keep all car documents, their driving license and passport with them. If they are stopped by a traffic warden or a police officer, some form of identification including these documents will have to be presented and driving without any documents is an offence. Speed limits in Hungary vary according to road types. In urban areas the speed limit is 50 km per hour, on highways it is 90 km per hour. If you drive on a motorway, the speed limit is 130 km per hour and you have to buy a motorway vignette. You can get it mainly at petrol stations. It costs HUF 2,975 per week for passenger cars. Renting a car is also possible if you are 21 years old or older and have had your driving license for at least a year. Most car suppliers require an international driving license as well.
Hungary has a zero tolerance policy towards a drink-driving offence.

Taxi
When taking a taxi, tourists should avoid hailing unmarked taxi cabs. Even if they have a taxi sign on the roof and are seen standing at taxi ranks, do not get in the car unless they have a company name on the outside of the car. You can always hail a taxi in the streets but it is cheaper to book one over the phone.
From September 2013 every taxi is uniformly yellow in Budapest.

Public transportation of Hungarian big cities: