Metro and other Budapest, Hungary Transportation Tips

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Subway/Metro
Getting TO/AROUND: Budapest's public transport system consists of one of the oldest undergrounds in the world, a clattering old tram system, and a plethora of rusty old buses. The stations of the underground that I saw were wonderful: sparkling clean, modern and well maintained. The stations of the old M1 line were evocative of a bygone era, and an attraction in themselves. The underground trains, however, were rickety old communist era vehicles, all genuine 80s Soviet models like the ones used in Moscow.

Prices have risen substantially recently, and Budapest's transport system is no longer the bargain it used to be. A single ticket is 270 Forints (about 1.10 euros), although that is worth exactly one single ride on a single section of the metro. If you need to change lines, you need another one of these tickets. A day ticket is 1550 Forints (about 6 euros) and a three day "tourist ticket" is 3400 Forints (about 14 euros). These day tickets will cover you for all forms of public transport within the metropolitan area, which is more than most tourists will ever want to see.

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Website: http://www.bkv.hu/angol/home/index.html

'Mode': TO
Category: Train
Getting TO/AROUND: Hungary has an excellent and wide ranging rail system, that is cheap, efficient, and generally runs on time. Some of the rolling stock has seen better days, but a number of the lines running from Budapest operate with brand new carriages straight from Western Europe. Direct trains run from Budapest stations to all over the country, but also to international destinations, including Frankfurt, Berlin, Munich, Timisoara, Bucharest, Belgrade, Zagreb, Bratislava, Vienna, and Prague.

There are three main stations in Budapest and a few suburban ones. The three main stations are:

Keleti (East)

This is Budapest's main station, and is the final destination of nearly all international trains. Some also carry on, or pass through, the suburban station of Kelenfold. I've read some horror stories about Keleti station in the past, but they must have overhauled the place because it's a fine station now, and I've never had any problems there. You might not want to plan to stay there overnight, though.

Keleti is on the M2 metro line.

Nyugati (West)

The western station (pronounced "noy-gatti") is another busy station, but it deals mostly with domestic trains. Trains tend to head north to the Danube bend and south east to the Great Plains. You can reach Nyugati on the M3 metro line.

Deli (South)

The southern station (prounced the same as "daily") is the least busy station, and is rumoured that it may be soon shut down. Trains from here tend to run south to the Lake Balaton area, and west to Transdanubia. Deli is at the south end of the M2 metro line.
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There's also another useful station, called Kelenfold. This is on the Buda side of the river, and most trains from Vienna, Bratislava and other international cities west of Budapest. If your hotel is in the Buda suburbs, you might find that this station is more convenient.

You can buy tickets for any train, domestic or international, from any of the main stations. Having bought tickets at all of them, I've found Deli station to be the best. It has English speaking ticket desks, friendly staff and short queues. Kelenfold has more English speakers, but the queues can be horrendous. Kelenfold was the most difficult, with not a word of English spoken, but it worked out in the end.

A station is a "palyaudvar" pronounced "pah-ya-udvar", and it literally means something like railtrack court.

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Website: http://www.mav.hu/

'Mode': TO
Category: Airplane
Getting TO/AROUND: .
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Note: There are TWO terminals. They are so far apart they might as well be different airports. You CANNOT walk from Terminal 1 to Terminal 2.

Terminals 2A and 2B are next to each other.

TERMINAL 2

This is the bigger, newer airport for national airlines. It is the furthest from the city, and there is no direct public transport here.

Getting to and from Terminal 2:

Public Transport

The 200E bus runs from the airport to the Kőbánya-Kispest Metro station (M3) every 10-20 minutes. You'll need to buy at least one metro ticket for the bus, and probably at least one more for the metro. Unless you are staying at the last stop on the M3 (misleadingly described as the "city centre" by the airport website) you will need at least one more for the metro, and then another to your final stop.

Taxi

The airport has finally got wise to the damage done to its reputation by disreputable taxi drivers and has now licensed out taxi services from the airport to a single, reliable company with fixed rates. To get a taxi, simply buy a ticket from the booth outside the exit and you will given a ticket with a number and your destination and fee printed on it. This will match you to a single driver who will take you to your destination. You can pay him there in cash or with a credit card.

Coming to the airport, taxis should cost between 4-5000 Forint, but to be safe you'll want to call one of the reputable companies to pick you up (see Taxi tip).

Airport Minibus

Probably the best value and most convenient option is the airport minibus hotel transfer service. This is a minibus that will take you to or from your hotel door for a flat fee of around 2500 forints. You are advised to make your reservation at least 24 hours in advance, but sometimes they can squeeze you in if you forget. If you are coming from your hotel, they can reserve one for you.

At the airport, just join the queue and you will be put on the next available bus. You usually don't have to wait long.

Phone: 296855 Fax: 2968993

TERMINAL 1

This is the older, smaller airport for budget airlines. It is the nearest to the city, and the cheapest and easiest to reach.

Getting to and from Terminal 1:

Public Transport

A train runs from the airport (the station is outside the entrance and across the main busy highway). The train will take you right to the centre, to Nyugati station (the Western station). Buy a train ticket (not metro) at the station.

Taxi

Terminal 1 has a similar taxi arrangement as the bigger Terminal 2. But despite being closer to the centre, the fixed prices are the same: 4-5000 forints (depending on destination). It usually works out cheaper getting to Terminal 1 from the city, depending on who you use.

Airport Minibus

Again, like Terminal 2, you can use the airport minibus service, for exactly the same rates.

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Website: http://www.bud-airport.hu/english

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Other
Getting TO/AROUND: Budapest's taxis have a bad reputation for ripping passengers off, but the one's I used were excellent, cheap and very friendly. The reputation is warranted, though, and even my Hungarian friends are cautious.

The best thing to do is always call for a cab. Even if you are standing outside a train station next to a huge taxi rank, don't worry: call one. Everyone with any sense does and you only have to wait a few minutes, even in the early hours of the morning.

It's probably best not to even get into a cab of a company you recognise if you haven't called for one. My friend got into a Fo taxi, my current favourites, and was substantially overcharged. If they send a cab from dispatch, they know who it was they sent and to whom they sent it, so if you complain they know who the culprit is.

When they send a cab, they'll always send one who knows your name. If they don't know your name, they aren't your cab driver!

Avoid

Any taxi without an official yellow licence plate, the logo of its taxi firm, and a visible list of fares.

Recommended

City Taxi: 211-1111
Fo Taxi: 222-2222
Radio Taxi: 377-7777

My favourite is Fo taxi, who like many Budapest taxi companies, have a number that can be easily dialed with drunken and/or frozen fingers. Their dispatchers always have an English speaker available, and they log your phone number on their system so that the second time you call they know your name.

The drivers are usually friendly and often speak English, and tend to be less cavalier than some taxi drivers in Budapest, meaning less car sickness and less risk of an accident.

For return trips to the airport, Zona Taxi seem to offer the best deals (even cheaper going back to the airport than coming from). You can check their rates online and even book your taxi from their website (minimum 4 hours of notice). Or you can call 365-555.

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Phone: 222-2222
Website: http://www.fotaxi.hu/

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Other
Getting TO/AROUND: If you are concerned about travelling on Budapest's metro with your luggage, or worried that you'll be ripped off in a taxi, then you can book a station transfer with RailBus, a part of the Hungary's national rail company MAV. It costs slightly more than a taxi, but it works out much cheaper if there's a big group of you. The great thing about it is that it gives you peace of mind when arriving, at any time of the day or night.

Their office is right inside the station, and if you turn up late they'll book you a taxi and you can pay for it with the ticket they give you for the railbus.

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Website: http://www.railbus.hu/