How to get from Budapest Airport to the city center?

Several options are possible from the Budapest airport: taxi, public transport and airport shuttle (Uber no longer exists in Hungary) for your airport transfer. Here they are presented with details!

TAXI AT BUDAPEST AIRPORT

TAXI AT BUDAPEST AIRPORT

There is only one taxi company allowed to park for transfer from Budapest Airport, called ‘Főtaxi’The Budapest taxis costs are regulated and identical at the airport or in the city. These costs, still valid in 2023, are:

  • Pick-up cost: 1000 forint (≈ 2,7 €  ≈ 2,2 £ ≈ 2,7$).
  • Then a cost of 400 Ft per km ≈ 1.1 € ≈ 0,9 £ ≈ 1,1$.
    (cost of 100 Ft/mn if vehicle stops ≈0.27 € ≈ 0,2 £ ≈ 0,27$).
  • No extra cost for luggage or the number of passengers.
  • Same cost at any time of the day and evening.

The airport is 24 km from Budapest city center, it will cost you about 26-34 € (≈ 25-28 £ ≈30-35$) to reach it (excluding a traffic jam).
Pay taxis in cash, forints or euros (but we do not recommend euros because taxi companies offer a very unfavorable conversion rate).
The vast majority of Budapest taxis also accept credit cards (Visa, Mastercard) but check with the driver before entering. Pay with your credit card in forints and not euros (due to the unfavorable rate of taxi companies).

taxis at budapest airport
Taxi at Budapest airport.

For your information: the company Uber no longer exists in Hungary and there is no equivalent service here.

TRANSFER WITH DRIVER AND FIXED PRICE
airport driver

Book in advance a driver who for up to 4 passengers offers to take you to your address in Budapest for a fixed rate, including tip and regardless of traffic. The driver will wait for you in the arrivals hall for 1 hour from the actual flight landing time:

Information about airport transfer with driver and booking – click here

PUBLIC TRANSPORT AT BUDAPEST AIRPORT HUNGARY

Two bus lines depart from Budapest Airport, and the station is located just beyond the exits, on the sidewalk between terminals 2A and 2B at the arrivals level.

Public transport is free for citizens of the European Union and Switzerland over the age of 65 (an identity document may nevertheless be requested during a possible check) and for children less than 6 years old. No prior procedure is necessary for this benefit.

1) The 100E Bus : Budapest Airport Express Bus

Budapest bus airport
Bus 100E Transfer airport – city center.

Since 2017 a new direct line, 100E, has been running between Budapest airport and the city centre. This cheapest means of transport has a frequency of 10 minutes during the day and every 30-40 minutes at night. This service is available every day of the week, 24 hours a day.

From April 2023 the ticket price (one way) increases to 2200 Ft ≈ 6€.

The bus 100E towards Budapest city center stops at 3 stations in the city center in Pest:

Kálvin tér station (9th district in Pest). – map link.
– the Astoria station (5th district in Pest). – map link.
– and Deák tér station, terminus (5th district in Pest). – map link.

In the direction of Budapest city centre – airport, the 100E bus departs from Deák tér station and then stops only at Kálvin tér station except at night between 00:12 and 4:32 when the 100E buses also stop at Astoria station.

You can purchase a Bus 100E specific ticket at the BKK (Budapest Public Transport) counter in each airport terminal. This bus ticket 100E is not included in subscriptions (type pass 3 or 7 days) offered by public transport in Budapest or by the Budapest Card.

BKK counter
BKK counter at Budapest airport

It is also possible to buy it outside at the bus station’s distributor located on the sidewalk between terminals 2A and 2B at the arrivals level:

Be careful, however, because of the popularity of the 100E bus during a holiday period, to expect a long line. Plus, the bus is often ‘full’. A good half of the passengers will be standing for the duration of the trip if everyone is able to board the bus.

Find more information about the 100E bus Airport Express and its detailed use (timetables, stations, etc…) in our dedicated article ‘Bus line 100E Budapest airport – city centre’ on this link.

As a reminder, public transport in Budapest is free of charge for EU citizens over 65 years old (including the 100E bus). You just need to have a valid ID with you in case of control. There is no need to take any prior action or to obtain any specific document.

2) The 200E Bus:

Bus 200E connects Budapest Airport with Kőbánya-Kispest Metro Station, the terminus of the M3 underground line. This 200E line runs daily from 04:00 to 23:00.

You can buy a Bus 200E ticket at the BKK (Budapest Public Transport) ticket counter in each terminal or at the bus station vending machine. The use of Bus 200E is included in the transport passes sold by the BKK. It is located outside on the sidewalk between terminals 2A and 2B at the arrivals level.

At the terminus of the Metro line M3 :

From Kőbánya-Kispest Metro Station, passengers can take the M3 subway line Újpest to the city center. It is possible to reach the M1 and M2 metro lines at Deák Ferenc tér station in the city center.

The price of a single bus or metro ticket is 350 Ft ≈ 0,9 € ≈ 1 £ ≈ 1,2 $.
The unit price is 300 Ft each (≈ 0,9 € ≈ 0,7 £ ≈ 1 $) if you buy a book of 10 tickets.
You can buy your tickets at the BKK (Budapest Public Transport) counter located in each terminal of the Budapest airport. It is also possible to buy them at the vending machine located on the sidewalk between terminals 2A and 2B at the arrivals level ( there may be a long line at the distributor).
The Metro Line Plan is available in our ‘Public Transport section of Budapest‘. 

You can also use the Budapest public transport route planning tool available on this link. In English, it will ask for your place of departure and arrival in Budapest, and you will see the different options by metro, bus and tram to reach your destination.

MINIBUS SHUTTLE BUDAPEST AIRPORT – CITY CENTER

Minibud company offers a shuttle service. The principle is to put different passengers / groups together (about ten passengers maximum) at different addresses in Budapest. Passengers whose address is closest to the airport are thus given access first. Also note that the shuttle will wait to reach a certain number of passengers before leaving the Budapest Airport.

Minibud shuttle service

MiniBud counters are present in each terminal (2A and 2B), just after the customs exit.
Choose from either a 1-way or a round-trip ticket, and benefit from 24-hour service, everyday:

MiniBus shuttle information and booking – click here

MINIBUS PRIVATE TRANSFER (4-8 people)
MINIBUS PRIVATE TRANSFER

For groups of 4 to 8 people, the company EURAMA offers you a private transfer from the airport to Budapest in an air-conditioned minibus with an English-speaking driver welcoming you in the arrival hall.

Information and booking private Minibus – click here

Another offer for transfers in Budapest: door to door private service at the best prices. A chauffeur will wait for you at the airport and will take you to your destination with his minivan at very attractive prices. Fare from 44.5 euros (for 4) i.e. less than the cost of 2 taxis for example.

Information airport transfers and reservation – click here

CAR RENTAL

car rental budapest airport

At the arrivals level of Terminal 2B you will find the counters of the following car rental agencies: Avis, Budget, Buchbinder, Megadrive, Enterprise, National, Alamo Rent A Car, Europcar, Hertz, and Sixt.

For other services at Budapest Airport (shops, currency exchange, smoking areas, catering, etc.), do not hesitate to consult our article, ‘Useful information’ about Budapest Airport on this link.

If you want the closest hotel to the Budapest airport, it is the ‘Ibis Styles airport hotel’, opened in the first half of 2018. It is next to the airport parking at a 5-minute walk. (Information on this hotel is available at the end of our article, ‘Useful Information on Budapest Airport’ on this link).

Are you coming to Budapest soon?
Do not hesitate to consult the calendar of events for Budapest (festivals, exhibitions, concerts, etc.) on this link and our recommended itineraries for a visit to Budapest in 2 days, 3 days and 4 days!