Getting to Budapest

Budapest is connected by motorway with all major cities in continental Europe. In addition, there are ample train and motor coach services from all parts of Europe, and there is transport by river boat from Austria and Slovakia. Ferihegy International Airport is served by many international carriers and budget carriers as well.

By car

You can reach Budapest by car on one of Hungary’s motorways and most of the country’s major roads connect to the capital as well. If you're driving across the continent through Belgium, Germany and Austria (on the E40 and the related motorways and spur roads), the best point to enter Hungary is at Hegyeshalom. From this point, the M1 and then the E60/75 will take you to Budapest. Note that the M1, M3, M5 and M7 are all toll motorways.

All road signs conform to EU standards. Wearing seatbelts is required in both the front and back; only hands-free mobile phones may be used when vehicles are in motion; and there is a zero alcohol limit in force. Speed limits are as follows: motorways, 130km/hour; dual carriageways, 110km/hour; other highways, 90km/hour; and 50km/hour in built-up areas. There is 24-hour roadside assistance provided by the Magyar Autóklub (tel: +36 1 345 1755), and you can also reach emergency roadside help by dialling: 188.

By rail

More than 50 trains each day provide direct links between Budapest and more than 25 other European capital cities. Train links with Vienna run every 3 hours and there is also a network of InterCity trains connecting Budapest with the main Hungarian centres.

International trains operate from the city’s three main stations: Keleti Pályaudvar, at VIII, Baross tér; Nyugati Pályaudvar, located at VI, Nyugati tér; and Déli Pályaudvar, at I, Krisztina krt. These railway stations also have Metro stations. The Déli and Keleti stations are on the red (number 2) line and the Nyugati is on the blue (number 3) line. For detailed information on rail service, you can visit the website at: www.elvira.hu.

By bus

International bus services arrive at and depart from Népliget Coach Station, which is also the domestic terminus for a number of routes. There are also domestic terminus’ located at Árpád híd, Stadionok in Pest and at Etele tér, in Buda. The website for information and timetables on bus service is: www.volanbusz.hu.

By river

From April until October, there is a convenient hydrofoil service linking Vienna and Bratislava with the centre of Budapest. International boat landings are situated on the Danube River between the Chain Bridge (Lánchíd) and the Freedom Bridge (Szabadság híd). Information about hydrofoil services (Mahart PassNave Ltd.) is available on their website: www.mahartpassnave.hu.

By air

Budapest’s Ferihegy International Airport is situated 10 miles southeast of the city centre. It has two terminals: Terminal 1 handles budget carriers and Terminal 2 is divided into two sections, with 2A handling departures and arrivals for Malév (the national carrier) and 2B hosting the flights of all other international carriers. The airport’s contact number for general information is: +36 1 296 9696; and for flight information: +36 1 296 7000.

Budapest Ferihegy International Airport

Budapest’s Ferihegy International Airport is the largest of Hungary's five international airports, and is located 10 miles southeast of the city. It is accessible by Ülli út, which is the main transportation artery from the city, and by a new expressway (M0), that connects with all major highways around the city. 

More than eight million passengers are handled annually at the airport’s two terminals. The main international arrivals are from points originating within Europe, but Asia, the Middle East and North America also have flights into Ferihegy. If you happen to be flying in from the north – and this will depend on wind conditions – you’ll come in over the largest cemetery in Europe. Weather is seldom a problem here for incoming aircraft; however, if weather conditions prohibit planes from landing, Bratislava or Vienna airports are used as alternatives.

Budapest Ferihegy International Airport transportation

There is a frequent minibus service from Budapest Airport to the city centre, which will take you directly to your destination. Services are reliable and reasonably priced, and each minibus seats around 8 to 10 passengers. Tickets can be purchased from the company's service desks, located in both airport terminals.

If you choose to use the minibus service to return to the airport, you can call from your hotel (at least 12 hours in advance) to make arrangements. The shuttle service operates from 06:00 to 22:00 daily. The only real disadvantages to the service is that there are likely to be at least a few stops before you reach your destination, and that if you’re not heading to a popular hotel you may have a longer wait before a shuttle departs. 

The cheapest of all transport into the centre is the public bus service. Bus numbers 200 and 93 provide services to and from the Kóbánya Kispest Station. The number 200 operates from both airport terminals, with the trip taking 23 minutes, and buses run every 10 to 20 minutes. Daily service begins at 04:30, with the last departure leaving for the airport at 23:46. Bus number 93 operates only between Terminal 1 and Kóbánya Kispest, and has a more restricted schedule. The service is available Monday through Friday between 04:55 and 20:50, with limited service on Saturday.