Budapest Transportation Information

Budapest has an excellent public transportation system. There is a large variety of public vehicles, so most part of the city is easily accessible

If you watch it from the sky, you'll see that most of the city's streets are lined with cables, as Budapest has a vast system of streetcars (or trams) and trolley buses. And don’t forget about the underground, Budapest also has a clean, fast, and efficient subway system (or metro as the locals call it).

Worth to mention that there are 3 big train stations in the city. Déli Pályaudvar (South Railway Station) stands in Buda, and receives trains from the western part of the country. In Pest, there are the Nyugati Pályaudvar (West Railway Station) and the Keleti Pályaudvar (East Railway Station), from where trains go ahead to the southern and the eastern part of the country.

Good to know: Public transportation in Budapest virtually ends after 11pm, when the metro, streetcars and trolley buses stop operating. There are some night buses running (marked with "É"), but not as frequently.

Other tranportation

There are 3 alternative ways of transportation, the HÉV (Suburban Railway- serving the outer districts of Budapest), the Fogaskerekű (Cogwheel Railway- service in the Buda hills) and the Riverboat (serving  on the River Danube), but they aren’t considered as main form of transportation.

Metro lines

Download the Metro map here.

There are 4 metro lines, which operates mainly in the city centre.

Metro line 1 (yellow line): Runs from „Vörösmarty tér” to „Mexikói út”

Metro line 2 (red line): Runs from „Déli pályaudvar” to „Örs vezér tere”

Metro line 3 (blue line): Runs from „Újpest központ” to „Kőbánya-Kispest”

Metro line 4 (green line): Runs from „Keleti pályaudvar” to „Kelenföld vasútállomás”

Trams, Trolley Busses and Busses

  

Taxi

Cabs in Budapest are marked with the word "Taxi", often accompanied by a company name / logo such as "City Taxi". All taxi vehicles must have yellow colour. All companies have a flat rate and the same prices:

From 1 September 2013 a new Taxi Decree was introduced in Hungary regulating the price* of the taxis at a fixed tariff of 280 HUF/Km (0.95 EUR/Km) in addition to the one-off basic fee of 450 HUF (1.50 EUR) and waiting fee.

It is customary to tip the driver about 10% of the full fare, if you were satisfied with the service.

List of telephone numbers (non-stop):

• 6x6 Taxi: +36-1-666-6666
• Budapest Taxi: 4-333-333
• City Taxi: 2-111-111
• Főtaxi: 2- 222-222
• MB Elit Taxi: 232-32-32
• Taxi 2000: 2-000-000
• Taxi4: 4-444-444
• Taxi Plus: 7-888-999
• Tele5 Taxi: 5-555-555

Főtaxi, the taxi company with the longest traditions (founded 1913) in Hungary transports passengers between the terminals and Budapest. Főtaxi’s several hundred cars, trained and experienced colleagues ensure a safe basis to satisfy passengers’ needs at a high standard.

Taxi drivers speaking at least one foreign language are in service with large, category ‘A’ cars younger than five years. All cars are equipped with a POS terminal, therefore credit cards are also accepted.

Reservations can be made in person at the Főtaxi booths located at the exits at Terminals 2A and 2B. At the taxi rank in front of the stands, taxis are parking continuously waiting for passengers.

A ride to the city center should typically cost around 6500 HUF (22 EUR) depending on traffic conditions.