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Budapest Metro + Public Transportation

Updated: June 14, 2023

The city of Budapest has a rather extensive and useful public transit system known as BKK which includes the metro, tram, trolleys, buses, and even suburban trains (known as HEV lines).

This post will help you navigate each of the public transportation services in Budapest in addition to offering advice for saving money on tickets.


TICKETS AND DISCOUNTS

There are a few different ways to pay for admission to public transit in Budapest, and each option is valid on all vehicles including the metro, trams, trolleys, buses, and HEV trains.

The main method is simply to purchase a single ticket, which is good for one uninterrupted trip. 

Budapest Transport Tickets

There are also transfer tickets you can buy which allow you to move from one mode of transport to another.

There are several additional ticket options to choose from including metro section tickets and blocks of 10 tickets, but these are intended more for locals than travelers.

  • Single Ticket: €1 (€1.25 if purchased onboard)
  • Single Transfer Ticket: €1.50
  • Metro Section Ticket: €0.85
  • Block of 10 Tickets: €8.50

Learn more about these ticket types.

Alternatively, you could save avoid the potential hassle of figuring out the # and type of tickets you need and by purchasing a travel card instead.

There are 3 different versions of travel cards available in Budapest: 24-hour, 72-hour, and 7-day.

Budapest Transportation 24 Hour Ticket

The 24-hour card can be purchased either for individual riders or for groups of up to 5 people.  

The 72-hour and 7-day cards are only available for individual riders.

Each travel card is valid on all public transport network vehicles, so you won’t need any other tickets to climb on board. 

These cards become valid the moment you purchase them, so we recommend that you don’t pick one up until you need it. 

In other words, if you get the pass at 9 pm, it will only be valid until 9 pm the next day. 

  • 24-Hour Travel Card: €4.65
  • 24-Hour Group Travel Card: €9.35
    • Valid for up to 5 people (€1.87 per person)
  • 72-Hour Travel Card: €11.75
    • Price per day: €3.92
  • 7-Day Travel Card: €14
    • Price per day: €2

How do I pay for public transport in Budapest?

Tickets and passes can be purchased either at ticket vending machines or newspaper kiosks. 

Most ticket offices have closed down in favor of the ticket vending machine, but occasionally you’ll find one at metro stations in the city.

Budapest Public Transportation Ticket Machine

You can also purchase tickets onboard buses for an additional fee.

Ticket inspectors randomly come aboard to check and make sure everyone has paid their fare, with fines up to €45, so be sure to validate your tickets. 

Another option is to purchase a tourist pass known as the Budapest Card

Budapest 72 Hour Card

This service provides free public transport for the amount of time it is valid (1-5 days).

  • 1-Day Budapest Card: €21.99
  • 2-Day Pass: €32.99
    • Price per day: €16.49
  • 3-Day Pass: €42.99
    • Price per day: €14.33
  • 4-Day Pass: €52.99
    • Price per day: €13.25
  • 5-Day Pass: €62.99
    • Price per day: €12.60

At first glance, the tourist pass may look a bit more expensive, but when you consider the fact that it also includes admission to dozens of popular attractions for free, the price makes more sense.

Additionally, you can also save up to 50% off many popular tours, landmarks, museums, amusement parks, and more.

Depending on how you use this discount pass, you could potentially save more money on public transport by using a Budapest Card instead of a travel card. 

Another nice thing about this tourist pass is that it only becomes valid when you activate it, so you can purchase it ahead of time. 

For more details on this service, please read our post covering Budapest tourist passes.


BUDAPEST METRO

There are currently 4 metro lines in Budapest that provide service to the city centre and some of the outskirts of the city. 

There are several stops that would be of interest to travelers and tourists.

Line 1 | Yellow Line

  • Runs from Vörösmarty tér to Mexikói út.
  • Includes stops at the Hungarian State Opera House, Heroes Square, City Park, and the Chain Bridge.

Line 2 | Red Line

  • Runs from Buda’s Déli Pályaudvar to Pest’s Örs vezér Square.
  • Includes stops at the Hungarian Parliament, Kossuth Square, Batthyány Square, and the Great Synagogue.

Line 3 | Blue Line

  • Runs from Újpest városközpont to Kőbánya, Kispest.
  • Includes a stop at the Great Market Hall, St. Stephen’s Cathedral, the Hungarian National Museum, and more.
  • Connects with bus 200E (airport transfer).

Line 4 | Green Line

  • Runs from Keleti Train Station to Kelenföld Train Station.
  • Includes stops at Bikás Park, the Gellért Thermal Baths, the Hungarian National Museum, the Great Market Hall, and more.

The metro opens every day at 4:30 am and runs until 23:00 (11 pm) at night. 

You can expect metro trains to make stops every 2-15 minutes on average depending on the time of day.

Budapest Metro Transport

You’ll find ticket machines at most metro stations, and there are also ticket offices at a few locations as well. 

Before boarding, you must validate your ticket at one of the orange machines you’ll find at each station.


TRAMS

There are more than 40 different tram lines in Budapest, and you can distinguish them from the metro by their yellow color. 

Budapest Tram Transportation

While all the lines on this tram network are helpful for locals, tourists will find the following services most useful.

  • Line 2 | River Danube
    • Includes stops at the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, the House of Parliament, St. Gellert’s Hill, Buda Castle and more.
  • Line 4 & 6 | Grand Boulevard
    • Includes stops near the Buda Castle, Citadel, House of Parliament, Rákóczi Square Market Hall, and more.
    • Tram 6 operates all night long.
  • Line 19 & 41V | Riverside
    • Includes stops near or at St. Anne’s Church, Gellért Hill, Gellért Spa, Citadella, Batthyány Square, and more.
  • Line 47 & 49 |  Best of Pest & Buda
    • Includes stops at the Hungarian National Museum, the Great Market Hall, the Liberty Bridge, Lake Feneketlen, and more.
  • Line 61 | Forests of Buda
    • Includes stops at Bauhaus Street, Körszálló (the Round Hotel), an enchanting forest, Hűvösvölgy and more.

Much like the metro, Budapest’s trams provide a lot of great stops that travelers and tourists might want to see. 

What sets this service apart from others is the greater accessibility and number of lines.

Budapest Public Transportation Tram Map

The Budapest trams run from 4:30 am to 11 pm each day, and the most popular lines run every 5-10 minutes on average. 

Typically, this service is a bit slower than the metro – especially when it comes to the most popular line, Tram 2 – but you probably won’t have to wait an excessively long time.

Every major tram stop will have a ticket machine nearby which you can use to purchase admission. 

Once you step on the tram, you’ll need to validate your ticket using the red, yellow or orange ticket validators on board.


BUSES

There are over 250 bus lines in Budapest, which makes them one of the most difficult aspects of the public transit system to navigate.

That said, there are some reasons you may want to consider using the bus in this city, and a few great lines that are useful for travelers and tourists alike.

  • Bus 200E
    • Connects the airport with the Kőbánya-Kispest metro station.
  • Bus 7
    • Connects Keleti Pályaudvar with Móricz Zsigmond Körtér.
    • Includes stops at Blaha Lujza tér, Astoria, Ferenciek tere, Rudas Bath, Hotel Gellért and more.
    • Connections with trams 4, 6, and the red, blue, and green metro lines.
  • Bus 16/16A
    • Connects Deák tér with Széll Kálmán tér.
    • Includes stops at or near the Buda Castle Funicular, Buda Castle, Parade Square, Matthias Church and more.
    • Connections with all metro lines at Deák tér.
  • Bus 105
    • Connects Gyöngyösi utca with Apor Vilmos tér.
    • Includes stops at Heroes Square, the Chain Bridge, as well as additional locations along Andrássy Avenue.
    • Connections with all metro lines at Deák tér.
  • Bus 900-999
    • Offers service all night long at stops marked with owl symbols.

Although there are a lot of blue buses that service popular stops in Budapest, there are just as many trams and metro trains that visit the same locations, so you may find that you won’t need to use the bus in this city.

That said, the airport transfer via bus 200E is definitely useful, and it’s unquestionably one of the most affordable ways to reach the city center – especially if you use a travel card or tourist pass.

There is also a 100E bus which is more of a shuttle bus, offering a direct transfer to the city center from Terminal 2.

This line also has more space for luggage, making it ideal for travelers.

This line costs around €2.70 for a ticket as opposed to the €1 fare on the 200E line, but there are fewer stops on the way to the city, and the bus is literally designed for airport transfers, so it’s definitely worth consideration.

It’s also nice that buses 900-999 provide service during the hours that other public transit options are usually not running (from 11 pm - 4:30 am).

In addition to that, the buses are one of the best ways to reach areas like the Buda Hills. If you need to reach the suburbs, consider this Budapest transport option.

Tickets can be purchased on board, but you’ll pay €0.25 more for the convenience. 

If you’d rather save some money, you can use a ticket machine, visit a post office, a travel card, or a discount pass.


TROLLEYS

In addition to all the traditional buses in Budapest, there are also 15 red-colored trolley bus lines in the city numbered 70-83. 

Each trolley connects with either the metro or trams at several locations throughout the city, making this an excellent alternative for transfers to other services in Budapest’s public transit system.

Here are a few details to keep in mind about each trolley:

  • Line 70
    • Includes stops at Transport Museum, Andrássy Avenue, Kossuth Square, and more.
    • Connects with trams 2, 4, and 6, as well as lines 1 and 2 of the metro.
  • Line 78
    • Includes stops at Andrássy Avenue, Kossuth Square, Bethlen Gábor Square, and more.
    • Connects with trams 2, 4, and 6, as well as lines 1 and 2 of the metro.
  • Line 83
    • Includes stops at Kálvária Square, Gypsy Musician Park, Kalvin Square, and more. 
    • Connects with trams 2, 4, 6, 47, 49, and metro line 4.

As with all other forms of public transportation in Budapest, you’ll need to purchase tickets either from a ticket machine or in the form of a travel card or tourist pass.

Much like the trams and metro, these red trolleybuses run from about 4:30 am - 11 pm, give or take a half-hour depending on which line you choose.


HEV TRAINS

Otherwise known as suburban trains, this railway system is designed more for locals than for travelers and tourists, but there are some lines you might want to consider.

The Szentendre train (Line 5) runs from Batthyány tér to Szentendre, a small town on the bank of the Danube River that gives you a taste of Hungarian living.

This line also includes a stop at Aquincum, an ancient Roman city in Budapest that you might want to visit in order to see some of the ruins and historic architecture in the area.

Another great option is the line that runs from Örs Vezér tere to Gödöllo (Line 8), as Gödöllo is a popular little baroque village that houses the royal Gödöllo Palace and was one of Queen Elizabeth’s favorite residences.

Although these services can be helpful for anyone planning to take short day trips outside of Budapest, it’s important to note that anyone leaving the city center on an HÉV train will need an extension ticket.

These ticket prices depend on how far out you’ll be going. Here are the fares you can expect to pay:

  • 10 Km Extension Ticket: €0.70
  • 15 Km Extension Ticket: €0.85
  • 20 Km Extension Ticket: €1.05
  • 25 Km Extension Ticket: €1.30
  • 30 Km Extension Ticket: €1.60

As you can see, even though you might have to pay a bit extra to use the HEV trains outside of the city, the prices are quite reasonable and definitely worth consideration. 

HÉV suburban railway trains run once every 10-30 minutes depending on the line and the time of day, and they provide service from 4:30 am - 12 am each day.


BOATS AND FUNICULARS

In addition to the metro, trams, buses, trolleys, and HEV trains, there are also a few public boats you can use in Budapest, as well as one funicular you might want to consider.

The public boat lines are provided along the Danube River between Boráros tér and Római fürdő from March to October. Here are the lines currently available:

  • D11 | Haller utca - Újpest Árpád út
  • D12 | Haller utca - Római Fürdő/Lido
  • D13 | Haller utca - Római Fürdő
  • D14 | Csepel-Királyerdő - Soroksár Molnár-sziget

Tickets for the public boat service are €2.10 for adults and €1.55 for children, and you can purchase them on board.

Alternatively, you can also use either travel cards or tourist passes for unlimited access to these boats.

When it comes to funiculars, there’s really only one of note that most travelers will want to consider: the Buda Castle funicular from Clark Adam Square.

This service is not included with any public transport ticket, travel card, or tourist pass, so you’ll have to purchase admission separately.

Here are the ticket prices:

  • One Way: €2.85/Adults | €1.70/Children
  • Return: €4.85/Adults | €3.15/Children

The Buda Castle funicular runs from 7:30 am - 10 pm each day, and it can be found at the Buda end of the Chain Bridge.


MOL BUBI PUBLIC BIKES

In addition to all the other options on Budapest public transport (BKK), they also offer bike rentals for those who want a little more control over their transportation.

All you have to do is download the free MOL Bubi app and use it to unlock a bike at one of the 190 stations throughout Budapest.

The app also includes a map, making it easy to find the closest station.

One of the best things about the Bubi bikes is that they are available 24/7, so even when the buses and trains aren't running, you can always grab a bike and use it to get around.


Pricing Options

There are three different ways to pay for this service: pay-as-you-go, a monthly pass, and an annual pass.

Most tourists will probably stick to the pay-as-you-go option, as even the monthly pass is going to make more sense for locals.

Pay-As-You-Go

  • 40 HUF (€0.10) per minute
  • 2400 HUF (€6) per hour
  • 4800 HUF (€12) for 2 hours
  • 9600 HUF (€24) for 4 hours

Monthly Pass

  • 1000 HUF (€2.70)
  • The first 30 minutes are free
  • 40 HUF (€0.10) per minute after

Annual Pass

  • 8500 HUF (€23)
  • The first 30 minutes are free
  • 40 HUF (€0.10) per minute after

Due to the way the pricing is structured, it actually makes more sense to get a monthly pass if you plan to use Bubi bikes multiple times over several days, even if you're just visiting on vacation.

The monthly and annual pass options allow you to use a bike for 30 minutes for free, and all you have to do is return it to one of the many stations in time to avoid additional fees.

Once you've returned a bike, you can take out another one and restart the 30 minute timer.

If you're planning to do some sightseeing, this might be a good way to get from one attraction to the next, as most landmarks have a station nearby.


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About The Author

Boglarka Bordas

Boglarka is a tour guide and content writer. While obtaining her degree in Professional Writing from The University of Texas at San Antonio, she visited DC and went on her very first Free Tours by Foot. She loved it so much that she has been part of FTBF since 2015. Working as a guide has given her the freedom to travel, including trips to the Bunny Island off Japan, snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef, eating her way around Italy, hunting for the Loch Ness monster in Scotland, and finally seeing her first Broadway show in New York. Her family is from Hungary - Boglarka means Buttercup in Hungarian!
Updated: June 14th, 2023
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