Are you planning a trip to Hungary? One of the first things to discern when designing your Europe travel plan is, in this case, the most suitable way to commute from the airport to Budapest city centre, in such a way that it becomes easier to estimate arrival times, routes and expenses as far as transportation is concerned.
The great majority of international travellers who fly to Hungary with Wizz Air, Ryanair, LOT Polish Airlines, Norwegian Air Shuttle, Easyjet, Eurowings or Smartwings land in Budapest airport, located 16 kilometres from the centre. The relatively short distance between its two operational passenger terminals (T2A and T2B) and the city as well as the varied transportation options available make commutes easier for arriving travellers, even when it is their first time in Budapest.
How to go from Budapest airport to the city
Airport taxis to Budapest. Taking a taxi to get to the city is one of the fastest and most convenient ways to travel in Hungary, although not the cheapest. You can safely book or find your taxi outside the arrivals area of either terminal building, always paying attention to their distinctive badge as an official Fotaxi vehicle. The journey from Budapest airport to the downtown takes about 25 minutes, the fare to be paid revolves around 26 euros and both cash and credit cards are accepted.
Buses in Budapest airport. There are two main bus lines transporting passengers from Budapest airport to the city centre: 200E and 100E (a special airport shuttle service). Bus route 200E is considered a particularly convenient option since it runs night and day and most bus ticket modalities and travel cards are accepted. On the other hand, bus route 100E is a direct and therefore faster service running between 3:40 and 00:40 every day, which requires a specific ticket that costs roughly 3 euros (one-way) to be accessed. Bus tickets and multi-day passes can be purchased at the different Budapestinfo Points, newsagents outlets, the post office on the mezzanine of terminal 2A and from ticket machines in Budapest airport. If your final destination will be other European city such as Prague or Vienna, you might want to ask for further information at the Flixbus booth.
Trains from Budapest airport to the city. Travellers who wish to travel by train to Budapest from the airport must take bus 200E first and transfer to the nearby Ferihegy railway station in order to catch a train to the city. The journey from the airport to Budapest by train costs approximately the same as the same commute by bus, and those who purchase train tickets in advance may even take advantage of a discount on the shuttle bus price. It takes less than 30 minutes to reach the downtown.
Shuttle buses in Budapest airport. The private company Minibud operates door-to-door services for arriving passengers who want to enjoy the utmost comfort and privacy when commuting from Budapest airport to their hotel or accommodation in the city. Prices vary depending on how many people will travel together.
Renting a car at the airport to drive to Budapest. If you look for a reliable car rental company in Budapest offering a wide range of vehicles and promotions, try Avis, Megadrive, Budget, Enterprise, Europcar, Hertz or Sixt upon landing or else make your booking online in advance through the airport’s website.
At present, there are no Uber services in Budapest airport; however, Bolt –its equivalent in Hungary- does provide services in the area.
Have you got everything sorted out for your trip yet? If you are travelling on a budget, we advise you to check out our recommended hostels in Budapest centre.
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