HOW ARE THE PUBLIC TRANSPORT SERVICES IN BUDAPEST?

Public transport in Budapest is quite well developed. Even if you come by car, it is advisable to leave the car in the hotel’s car park and take the bus and train. Taking advantage of the different time cards (like 24- or 72-hours tickets), the price is not expensive compared to other big cities. It is important that a single ticket is only valid for one journey without changing lines or interruptions. You have to validate a new single ticket every time you change lines!

Exception: the single tickets are valid for 60 minutes on the subway, regardless of the change (interruptions or return journeys are not allowed). It is therefore advisable to either buy the single tickets in blocks of 10 or to use the inexpensive season tickets (24-, 72-hours, or weekly ticket). Single tickets and other tickets are available from the counters at the junctions or from the machines.

Since 2012 there has been something new that can be useful for groups: the group day ticket. It is valid for 24 hours for 2 to a maximum of 5 people. (You cannot use the ticket alone, so at least two people must travel together.)

Finally, in 2022 in Budapest you are able to access all the necessary information about public transport with a practical mobile app and also buy the most important tickets on your mobile phone and have them with you. It is important that an active mobile data connection must be available in order to use a mobile phone ticket. You can find detailed information on downloading and using the app HERE.

An interesting new feature of the app is that you can also purchase single tickets, which, unlike normal single tickets, are also valid for changing the lines. These cards are time-limited, so you can use public transport for 30 or 90 minutes. This time limit applies to the last boarding of a vehicle. So if you get on at minute 29 or 89, you can still travel as far as you like on the respective line. So the actual validity of 30 or 90 minutes can be significantly longer in reality. These tickets can only be purchased electronically, they cannot be purchased from machines or at the counter.

Some prices (as of September 2022)

  • Single ticket 350 HUF
  • Block of 10 tickets 3.000 HUF
  • 24-hour ticket 2.500 HUF
  • 72-hour ticket 5.500 HUF
  • 7-days travel card 6.500 HUF
  • Group 24-hours ticket 5.000 HUF

    24-hour ticket for up to 5 people

Only electronically – in the mobile app – available tickets

  • Single ticket for 30 minutes 530 HUF
  • Single ticket for 90 minutes 750 HUF

You will have to deal with such machines when you visit Budapest. Diese Automaten “sprechen” zum Glück Fremdsprachen und auch Kartenzahlung ist möglich. Fortunately, these new machines “speak” foreign languages ​​and card payment is also possible.

Note that EU citizens (and Swiss) over the age of 65 can use public transport in Hungary for free! If you are checked, you will need to show your ID card or passport.

​More information you can find HERE.

Budapest Card

The Budapest Card is a clever invention. It is valid for an adult and a child for 24, 48, 72, 96 or 120 hours respectively. With the card you can use public transport for free, you get discounts in museums, restaurants, on guaranteed sightseeing tours, boat trips on the Danube.

For 24 hours: HUF 6,490

For 48 hours: 9.990 HUF

For 72 hours: 12.990 HUF

For 96 hours: 15.990 HUF

For 120 hours: 18.990 HUF

Budapest Card 72 Plus: 19,990 HUF (With even more free/discounted options)

So the Budapest Card is only worthwhile if you diligently take advantage of the various discounts. If you use the card almost exclusively for public transport, a normal 3-day ticket is a much cheaper alternative. But if you want to go to the Lukács Bath anyway, a visit is free during the validity of the card.

You can find more information about the discounts HERE

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