Flight to Budapest
Most major European and North American airlines (also low-cost airlines) operate flights to Budapest. Here you find the flights from Europe. To have and idea about the fares you can go and check e.g. Kayak or Skyscanner.
By plain you will arrive at Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport (BUD), formerly known as Budapest Ferihegy International Airport, at Terminal 2A or 2B, which are adjacent to each other and connected by a short passage. Terminal 2A serves all the airlines to/from the Schengen countries, while 2B welcomes traveller of all non-Schengen destinations.
From the airport the city can be reached by airport shuttle minibus. The order can be made upon arrival or on-line prior to travel. We recommend online booking. In advance bookers have a separate queue (E-Ticket Lane) at the AirportShuttle-Desks at Ferihegy Airport.
Another possibility is to take a taxi. Főtaxi, the official taxi company transports passengers between the terminals and Budapest 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. A ride to the city center should typically cost around 6500 HUF (22 EUR) depending on traffic conditions (see this website). Reservations can be made in person at the Főtaxi booths located at the exits at Terminals 2A and 2B.
The cheapest – but most time-consuming – way to get into town from the airport is to use public bus 200E, which terminates at the Kőbánya-Kispest metro station. From there take the metro line M3 into the centre. Bus tickets can be purchased from the driver for 450 HUF (= about 1.50 EUR) or can be bought in advance for 350 HUF at the post office, the newsstand called „Relay”, or from a ticket vending machine at the bus stop itself.
International trains
Budapest has direct rail connection with 25 capital cities. International trains arrive at one of the three major train stations in Budapest: the Western (called ‘Nyugati’), the Eastern (‘Keleti’) and the Southern (‘Déli’) Railway Stations. Railway stations serve as underground stations as well: East and South railway station: underground line M2 (red line), Western railway station: underground line M3 (blue line). For timetables and further information about national and international trains see the webpage of the Hungarian Railways (MÁV).
Coaches
The company Volánbusz operates scheduled public bus transportation in Hungary and also offers international coach service to Budapest from 13 different countries (Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Montenegro, Netherlands, Poland, Serbia, Slovenia.) If you plan your trip to Budapest by coach, you can check the Eurolines timetables here. All coaches from abroad arrive at “Népliget” coach station, from where you can take mertro M3.
Arriving by car
Out of Hungary’s five motorways and four main roads (except main road 8) eight leave from Budapest. A motorway sticker (vignette, in Hungarian ,,matrica”) is mandatory on M1, M3, M5, M6 and M7 motorways. It can be obtained at border crossing points, at larger filling stations or online. The price is 2975 HUF (good for 10 days) or 4780 HUF (good for 1 month). If you rent a car, please make sure the rental fee includes the motorway ticket and insurance. Drivers should not drink any alcohol in any quantity.
Transportation in Budapest
For local travel suggestions you can use a trip planner for public transport. Tickets valid for bus, trolley bus, tram and metro can be purchased almost anywhere in the town, in kiosks, in shops and at underground stations. One ticket is valid for one journey only (single way on the same vehicle) except you can change from a metro line to another metro line with a single ticket, otherwise upon changing vehicle, one needs to validate another ticket. Almost all types of tickets and passes are available for purchase at the Airport, too, including the practical 24-, 48- and 72-hour as well as 7-day travelcards designed for tourists / visitors. See ticket prices and timetables.
You can also take a taxi, which are now uniform yellow cabs in Budapest.
Further Information
Bank, Currency, Credit Cards. The Hungarian currency is the Forint (Ft, international currency code: HUF). All major banks have ATMs and most ATMs accept cards issued outside Hungary. ATMs are available at the Airport and at many locations throughout the city. Credit cards, especially Visa, MasterCard and American Express, are accepted at many restaurants, shops and hotels. See the exchange rates at these search results.
Weather. The weather in Budapest in August is hot and humid, with the threat of occasional rain showers. The average maximum temperature may rise up to 27°C (80°F) in August, and it is not uncommon for sunny days to edge over 30°C (86°F). The average minimum temperature can be as low as 16°C (62°F). The average rainfall falls across 11 days during the month and the avarage relative humidity is 62%. For information on specific weather conditions, consult this website.
Voltage. The electricity supply in Hungary is 220 V AC (50 Hz). The most commonly used plug is the so-called “schuko” (abbreviation for Schutzkontakt) (Type F) plug or the Europlug (Type C) (see this website).
Further travel and touristic information about Budapest can be found on the Budapest Portal, Budapest Info and Visit Budapest portals.