Your trip to Budapest can get even more interesting. Transform your Budapest adventure into an unforgettable experience with my exclusive market and food tours. Join me for a private or small group tour of two of Budapest’s most vibrant markets. Discover hidden gems, savor local flavors, and immerse yourself in the city’s rich culture. Let me be your guide to an authentic Budapest experience! I offer private and small group market and food tours. You can read more about here or you can book the experience here.
There are several ways to get to the city center of Budapest from the airport, depending on your budget and preference. Here are some of the options you can choose from:
FőTaxi: This is the official taxi service of the airport, and you can find them outside the terminals.
They charge by the meter, and the average fare to the city center is around 10500-13000 HUF (about 27-35 EUR). You can pay by cash or card, and you can also book online or by phone. This option is little more on the expensive side, but it can be a better suited option for people with more luggage. For the most up to date prices and information please visit the official site of főtaxi.
Airport Minibus: This is a shared shuttle service that will take you to your destination in the city. You can book online or at the airport, and the price is 7500 HUF (about 25 EUR) per person. As it’s a shared service the time to reach your destination might take longer than a cab and in some instances then public transport. But it’s still a more convenient way to get to downtown for half the cost. For the most up to date prices and information please visit the minibud official website.
Public transportation: This is the cheapest way, and offers multiple ways to get to downtown.
To get to Deák Ferenc or Kálvin Tér, which is one of the main hubs of the city, and it’s closely located to the jewish quarter. You will need to take a bus. The bus number is 100E. It runs every 6-10 minutes on Mondays and Fridays, during the day. Every 7-10 minutes on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, during the day, every 10-15 in the mornings and evenings,every 30-40 minutes on average at night. The trip roughly takes 30-45 minute. the cost is 2200 HUF (about 7 EUR)
For the most up to date schedule please refer to the public transportation’s website.
Alternatively, you can take the bus number 200E, which runs every 10 minutes from both terminals to Kőbánya-Kispest metro station, which is the end of the blue metro line (M3). The ticket costs 400 HUF (about 1 EUR), and you can buy it at the airport from a machine or from the driver. The journey takes about 20 minutes. From there, you can take the metro to the city center, which costs another 400 HUF. The metro runs every 3-5 minutes on the weekdays during the day 5-8 on weekends holidays and őff hours, and 15 minutes at night til 11ish pm. You can also take the bus number 200E to Ferihegy train station, which is 12 minutes away from the airport. The ticket costs 400 HUF as well. From there, you can take a train to Nyugati railway station, which is in the city center. The train ticket costs around 700 HUF (about 2 EUR), and you can buy it at the station or online.
Private transfer: This is the most convenient and hassle-free option, but it is also the most expensive.You can book a private car or van online or by phone, and the driver will wait for you at the airport with a sign with your name. The price varies depending on the company and the vehicle, but it can range from 12000 HUF (about 33 EUR) to 28,000 HUF (about 75 EUR) for a one-way trip. You can pay by cash or card, and you can also request a guided tour or a stop at a sightseeing spot along the way.
Things to avoid: Licensed cab drivers must work with a set fare that is set by the city. Fotaxi, Bolt, City taxi, Budapest taxi, Taxify and all other operators are using the same rate. There are however independent operators also known as freelancers. It’s easy to spot them,
as there is no company logo on their vehicle and on the door it says “Freelancer” or “Independent”. Legally they do work with the same rate everybody does. But unfortunately their meter is rigged so they measure distance very differently, which means you can be paying multiple times more then you should. They also tend take you around town as they know you don’t know the city. This way a two block ride can easily turn into an unwanted sightseeing with a cost to match that. You will also find drivers at the airport exit offering their services. They are highly likely one of those independent ones. Please avoid them at all cost. They can be found everywhere where tourist are railway stations, famous sights (Great Market Hall, Parliament, Castle etc) boat docks, waiting for tourists unbeknownst to their shady tactics.
If you liked the article make sure to check out my market tours.
I hope this information helps you plan your trip to Budapest. Have a wonderful time in this beautiful city! 😊