Budapest Transportation Tips by Ewingjr98

Budapest Metro

We rode the metro about 10 times while in Budapest and each time was some sort of adventure or another. The very first trip, the evil ticket lady gave us hell because didn't have any small change. At least 50% of the time, we had our tickets checked by the metro police...apparently we looked suspicious. On the oldest M1 line, some of the stations only have ticket machines on one side of the street so if there wasn't one on your side, you had to cross the street, buy a ticket, then recross to board your train. Other places on the M1, ticket machines were broken and there were no ticket agents so we had to walk to the next station down the line to get tickets. The ticket machines at almost every station required exact change in coins, so we ended up with a pocket full of coins everywhere we went just in case. To make it even more interesting, good luck figuring out if you need a 300 HUF "Metro Transfer Ticket," a 185 HUF "Single Ticket," or a 130 HUF "Metro Section Ticket." Lesson learned: buy a multi-day pass and save a lot of hassle and confusion.

In case you wondered, a 130 HUF Metro Section ticket allows you to travel just 3 stops for a max trip of 30 minutes. A 185 HUF Metro Section Ticket allows you to travel up to 5 stops with a line change for no more then 1 hour. Finally, a Metro Transfer ticket will take you anywhere in the city for a max journey of 60 minutes. All tickets are good for one direction only.

As an alternative, you can purchase 1-day (1,150 HUF), 3-day (2,500 HUF), 7-day (3,400 HUF), 14-day (4,500 HUF), or 30-day tickets (6,900 HUF) all of which are good on the metro as well as buses, trolleys, and regional HEV trains.

The M1 line is the world's 2nd oldest metro, and it follows Andrassy ut from City Park to the center of Pest. After 20 years of construction, M2 was completed in 1970 and its stations are currently being renovated; it is the only metro line to cross the river to Buda. The M3, running northeast-southwest was opened in 1976. Plans are in the works for an M4 and M5.

Mode: AROUND

Type: Subway/Metro

Train to Budapest

We traveled from Prague to Budapest on the overnight train, departing Prague at 2305 and arriving at Budapest Keleti Station at 0753 the next day. The train fare was 1,285 CZK per person for second class plus 1,344 CZK for a double sleeper car, for a total of 3,914 CZK (or 163 USD).

Keleti Station is one of three major rail terminals in Budapest, and it as built in 1884. This station has trains to Eastern Europe and throughout the region. There is also a stop on the metro's red line serving Keleti Station. The station is in a rather seedy area of town, about 1.5 miles from the city center. Though we thought about walking, we ended taking the metro to save time and save our legs for more sightseeing later!

Mode: TO

Type: Train

Train to Bratislava

There are two main choices for taking the train from Budapest to Bratislava. You can choose the international train direct from Budapest's Keleti Station to Bratislava's Main Station for about 5,000 HUF (23 USD).

A second option if you have the time and the sense of adventure is to take the train from Keleti to Komarom at the international border (1004 HUF = 4.60 USD). Walk across the river to the Komarno train station for about 30-40 minutes, then get tickets onward to Bratislava (146 SVK = 4.75 USD). The total round trip cost is just 9.35 USD, well less than half the price of the international ticket...and the trip is a little more exciting.

Mode: TO

Type: Train

Walking

Budapest is smaller than it looks on the maps... The farthest any major point of interest is from the city center is the City Park at 1.5 miles (2.4 km) -- which we did not walk. We did walk from Nyugati Station to Margaret Island, then the entire length of the island and crossed to the other side of the river for a distance of about 2.7 miles (4.3 km).

Of course, the old town area in the castle, the City Park, Gellert Hill, and the shopping strip along Vaci are made for pedestrians and walking is really the only way to get around once you are there.

Mode: AROUND

Type: Other

Nyugati Station

Nyugati Station, built in 1877, replaced the original station on this site which was built in 1846. It is the oldest train station in Budapest and is used primarily for regional trains. The area around Nyugati is known for its huge intersection of two major thoroughfares. The station is also a stop for the city's metro and its trams. Nyugati Station is just a 15-20 minute walk to Margarit Island.

Mode: TO

Type: Train

Taxi

We only took the taxi once in Budapest, and it was because we didn't have exact change for the regional train. Due to the ease of taking public transportation and the frequent, convenient stops in the city, most tourists should never have to take a taxi unless they have money to burn. Walking and the metro were our primary modes of transport.

Mode: AROUND

Type: Car/Motor Home