How do you get to Budapest?
Getting There9.6/10Among the 5% easiest cities to reach
Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport is 20–24 km southeast of the city center. All ground transport options are functional and regularly used.
- Main airport
- Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport
Updated July 2026 · Sources cited: bkk.hu, welcomepickups.com
Good to know
Good to Know
- Airport Express Bus 100E is the cheapest option (2,500 HUF / ~$18) and widely used by locals and budget travelers; book via BudapestGO app to skip lines.
- Licensed taxis (Főtaxi) are regulated and safe, but speak limited English. Use the taxi booth outside arrivals and ask for a receipt.
- Rideshare apps (Uber, Bolt) operate at the airport with same prices as taxis—no dynamic surge pricing.
- BKK Danube ferries are genuinely affordable (~170 HUF) and included in day/weekly passes; they're public transport, not tourist cruises, but offer real views of Parliament, bridges, and Gellért Hill.
- Day trips to Szentendre, Eger, and Balaton are easily doable by train; Danube Bend destinations (Visegrád, Esztergom) are best accessed by train or organized tour.
- Trains from Budapest connect to major European capitals (Vienna ~2.5 hours, Prague ~7–8 hours, Munich ~8 hours) regularly; Railjet is fast and comfortable.
- HÉV suburban trains are included in Budapest public-transport passes and reach Szentendre, Gödöllő, and other nearby towns.
Day Trips Access
- General Overview
- Within 2 hours by train/bus from Budapest; extensive HÉV suburban rail and bus network.
Popular Destinations
Szentendre
- Distance Km
- 20
- Transport Mode
- HÉV suburban train (H5 line from Batthyány tér) or ferry or bike
- Travel Time Minutes
- 30
- Description
- Historic riverside town. 18th-century Serbian settlement; later art colony. Galleries, cobblestone streets, museums.
Danube Bend (Visegrád, Esztergom, Vác)
- Distance Km
- 40–60
- Transport Mode
- Train (Keleti or Nyugati), bus, or Mahart boat
- Travel Time Minutes
- 45–90
- Description
- Scenic region north of Budapest. Visegrád Castle (panoramic Danube views), Esztergom Basilica (largest cathedral in Hungary), Vác (riverside town).
Eger
- Distance Km
- 135
- Transport Mode
- Train from Keleti (hourly); bus from Népliget Terminal
- Travel Time Minutes
- 110–120
- Description
- Wine region (Bull's Blood). Medieval castle, thermal baths, baroque architecture. ~2 hour journey.
Lake Balaton
- Distance Km
- 120
- Transport Mode
- Train from Déli (2 hours to Balatonfüred); bus; M7 highway by car
- Travel Time Minutes
- 90–120
- Description
- Central Europe's largest lake. Resorts (Balatonfüred, Tihany). Summer destination for locals. Beaches, vineyards, water sports.
Gödöllő
- Distance Km
- 30
- Transport Mode
- HÉV suburban train from city center
- Travel Time Minutes
- 40–50
- Description
- Habsburg Royal Palace with gardens. Popular autumn destination.
Győr
- Distance Km
- 125
- Transport Mode
- Train (1 hour 15 minutes)
- Travel Time Minutes
- 75
- Description
- Sixth-largest Hungarian city in northwestern Hungary near Austria/Slovakia borders. Basilica, baroque architecture, City Hall Square.
Rail Connections
Main Stations
Budapest Keleti
- Metro Access
- M2, M4 lines
- Description
- Largest and main international station. Recently modernized.
International Routes
Railjet, EuroCity
- Frequency
- Up to 15 daily departures
- Destination
- Vienna
- Travel time
- 2.67 hours
- Notes
- Multiple daily options, shortest journey time.
Multiple Operators
- Frequency
- Several per day
- Destination
- Prague
- Travel time
- 7–8
- Notes
- Via connections or direct night train.
Railjet
- Frequency
- Multiple daily
- Destination
- Munich
- Travel time
- 7–9
- Notes
- Connections available through Austria.
Day/night Trains
- Frequency
- 1–2 daily
- Destination
- Bucharest
- Travel time
- 10–14
- Notes
- One of Europe's epic rail routes (875 km).
Various
- Frequency
- Regular
- Destination
- Romania, Austria, Germany, Slovakia, Croatia, Serbia
- Travel time
- Variable
- Notes
- Comprehensive Eastern/Central European network.
Budapest Nyugati
- Metro Access
- M3 line
- Description
- West Station. Recently expanded international services.
International Routes
Railjet, EuroCity Express
- Frequency
- Multiple daily
- Destination
- Vienna, Bratislava, Prague
- Travel time
- Variable
- Notes
- Now primary hub for Czech/Slovak/Polish services.
Budapest Déli
- Routes
- Primarily southern Hungary and Transdanubia; Balaton region in summer.
- Metro Access
- On metro network
- Description
- South Station. Second busiest after Keleti.
Airport Rail Connection
- Alternative
- Take Bus 200E (4 am–11 pm) or Bus 900 (1 am–4 am) from Terminal 2 to Ferihegy Train Station. Train to Budapest Nyugati station.
- Duration Total Minutes
- Approximately 60–90 minutes door-to-door.
- Note
- No direct rail from airport terminal.
Danube River Ferry
- Features
- Closed heated interior + open deck. Onboard café. No single-ticket validation on ferries during peak demand. Bicycles and dogs allowed with extra ticket.
- Overview
- BKK operates public ferry/water bus service on the Danube. Four main routes (D11, D12, D2, D14).
- Ticket Price
- HUF 170
- Pass Validity
- Weekdays: Budapest 24H, 72H, Weekly tickets; Budapest Cards accepted. Weekend/holiday usage limited or not valid on passes.
Routes
Regular
- Endpoint 1
- Kopaszi-gát
- Endpoint 2
- Rómaifürdő
- Route Code
- D11
- Description
- Runs through historic city center, crosses seven bridges. Passes Parliament, Gellért Hill, Margaret Island.
Kopaszi-gát
- Endpoint 2
- Rómaifürdő
- Route Code
- D12
- Description
- Mirror route to D11; similar sightseeing.
Kossuth Lajos Square
- Endpoint 2
- Batthyány Square
- Route Code
- D2
- Description
- Short crossing at city center. Scenic spectacular point.
Csepel-Királyerdő
- Endpoint 2
- Soroksár, Molnár-sziget
- Route Code
- D14
- Description
- Functional ferry connecting outer districts. Less scenic for tourists.
Discount Tickets
- Student Or Pensioner
- HUF 110
Ground Transport From Airport
Deák Ferenc Tér (City Center Metro Hub)
- How to get there
- Airport Express Bus (Line 100E)
- Price
- HUF 2,500
- Frequency
- Every 6–10 minutes (peak hours)
- Duration Minutes
- 40
- Notes
- Operates 24/7. Purchase via Budapest Pay&GO device on bus, BudapestGO app, or ticket machines. Low-floor, air-conditioned articulated buses with luggage space.
City Center or Hotel
- How to get there
- Taxi (Főtaxi — official licensed service)
- Price
- HUF 11,000
- Frequency
- On demand
- Duration Minutes
- 35
- Notes
- Fixed regulated rates. Estimate €28–€35 (approximately 10,800–13,500 HUF). Metered and reliable. Book at taxi booth outside arrivals.
Any Address
- How to get there
- Rideshare (Uber, Bolt)
- Frequency
- On demand
- Duration Minutes
- Variable
- Notes
- Available at designated pickup zones. Licensed drivers. Pricing varies by demand and distance; use app to estimate before booking.
Hotel or Destination
- How to get there
- Private transfer (pre-booked)
- Price
- HUF 4,500
- Frequency
- Pre-booked only
- Duration Minutes
- 35
- Notes
- Fixed price, no surprises. Starting rates from approximately €35. Professional driver meets you at arrivals with personalized sign. English-speaking drivers available.
Airport
- Name
- Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport
- IATA Code
- BUD
- Distance To City Center Km
- 22
- Approximate Travel Time Minutes
- 35
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this getting there & away research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
More About Budapest
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.