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• Public transport in Budapest is excellent by international
standards. (Within the entire populated area of Budapest one can find a
stop/station within 400 meters.) A wide variety of buses, trolley buses, trams
and underground trains usually operate from 4.30 am to 11 pm. At night 16 lines
are in service. Bus No. 78É at night runs roughly the same route as underground
train line M2, while No. 14É that of M3.
• You have to purchase a ticket in advance at the terminals, at
underground stations, from ticket machines and in post offices. Single tickets
are the same for each means of transport. If accompanied by an adult, children
under 6 need no tickets. There is no conductor on the vehicles: you must
validate your ticket at the start of the journey. (Fines are high.) Types of
tickets: single ticket, transfer ticket for the underground, day ticket, 3-day
tourist ticket, 7-day travel card. Season tickets with photo for 14 or 30 days
are also available. Remember that the Budapest Card entitles to free travel for
two or three days within city limits.
• On buses and trolley buses you must push a button next to the door to indicate
your intention to get off, while other vehicles alight at all stops.
• Budapest can boast with special vehicles such as the Funicular, the Children's
Railway, the Chairlift and the Cogwheel railway. Standard public transport
tickets are valid on the Cogwheel railway only.
• Suburban trains called HÉV also belong to the public transport system. You can
use them to visit such towns outside Budapest as Szentendre (from Batthyány tér)
or Gödöllö (from Örs vezér tere). The standard tickets can be used within
Budapest, but an extra ticket must be purchased if you want to travel beyond the
borders.
• Scheduled boats on the Danube are a special feature in the capitals transport.
In service: Thu-Sun 0900-1800 1 May-31 August. Route: Boráros tér - Rómaifürdő.
Major Stops: Szent Gellért tér, Petőfi tér, Batthyány tér, Jászai Mari tér,
Margitsziget, Casino, Danubius Thermal Hotel Helia, Danubius Thermal Hotel
Margitsziget, Pünkösdfürdő. You can get on and off at any point, timetables are
displayed.
KELETI (Keleti pályaudvar) VIII., Baross tér.
The station in the heart of the city, housed in an Eclectic and
neo-Renaissance building, was opened in 1884. Spanning the 44 meter wide hall
was a daring enterprise, while the electric lighting and the central
track-switching system made the Central Station, as it was called originally,
one of Europe's most modern railway stations. The facade of the building, which
has been restored several times, is decorated with the statues of George
Stephenson and James Watt. Most tourists who come to Budapest by train arrive at
this station.
Transportation: M2 Keleti pályaudvar BUS red 7-173, 7/A, 78
NYUGATI (Nyugati pályaudvar) VI., Nyugati tér.
Its predecessor the Pest Station was built in 1846, when the
first Hungarian railway line was opened between Pest and Vác. The construction
of the present Nyugati Railway Station began when the Grand Boulevard was built.
It was completed in 1877 with the iron structure to the designs of the Eiffel
Company in Paris. The beautifully restored building houses the world's most
magnificent fast-food restaurant, and the Information Office of the Tourism
Office of Budapest. ("S" p. 3) Nostalgia trains with steam engines depart from
here every Sat to the Danube Bend, information Tel.: 428-0180. Next to the
station is the new entertainment and cultural center of the city, Westend City
Center. An abundance of exhibition halls, restaurants, cinemas, about 400 shops.
The second Hilton hotel of the town opened here in 2000.
Transportation: M3 Nyugati tér BUS 6 Tram 4,6
• You will land at Budapest Ferihegy Airport 2, Terminal A or B, I which is 24 km from the city. Terminal A: flights of Malév Hungarian Airlines, Terminal B: all airlines other than Malév. Entry is smooth, with fast passport control. For customs clearance you can use the usual green and red corridors.
• Order our Airport Transfer! Fixed prices!
• The Budapest Transport Company BKV runs a "Reptér-Busz" service between the Köbánya-Kispest terminus of M3 (blue line) and the airport. Fare to be paid to the driver.
• Air Traffic and Airport Administration (LRI) operates Centrum buses between the city (Erzsébet tér, Hotel Kempinski) and the terminals. They depart every 30 minutes from 0530 to 2200. Journey time: 45 min. Fare to be paid to the driver.
• Airport minibuses, run by LRI as well, are a kind of collective taxi at a reasonable price, which travel between any requested destination in town and the terminals. Ticket on arrival at the Airport Passenger Service desk, where you can buy also your return transfer ticket. Before departure call 296-8555 and the service will pick you up at your hotel or apartment and take to the airport
• Budapest Airport Transfers is another good source to book an easy airport taxi ride.
The subway system is clean and
efficient, with trains running at regular intervals of between 3 and 4 minutes.
Metro stations are easily located on maps and streets by the
M
symbol:
The oldest part of the network is the Line 2
(yellow)
(signed Földalatti) which was built in the 1890s to celebrate the Magyar
millennium. The line runs between downtown Vörösmarty tér and Mexikói út.
Stations are easily accessible, being just below ground level.
Lines 2 and 3 were built during the 70s. Line 2 (red)
runs from the eastern outskirts of the city (Örs vezér
tér), past Keleti (Eastern) railway station and on to the Belváros before
crossing under the Danube to Pest's Déli pu (Southern) station.
Line 3 (blue) runs from the northern
suburbs to the busy Deák tér interchange, before heading
south
towards the airport and Kobánya Kispest
In Hungary taxis have yellow license plates and must have a meter able to give receipts.
Bigger taxi companies are :
Budataxi
Citytaxy
Fötaxi
Rádiotaxi
Tele5 Taxi
6X6 Taxi
Rates per kilometer when booked by phone are cheaper than flagged down on
street. There are also many private taxis. Generally speaking it's advisable to
check the fare before you start.
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