How to get around Budapest: transport & tickets
- Mar 25
- 3 min read
One of the best things about traveling in Europe is how easy it is to move between cities. In just a few hours, you can be somewhere completely different.
That’s exactly what we did: we took a bus from Berlin and ended up in Budapest for a long weekend.
In this guide, we’ll show you how to get around Budapest, what transport options to use, and which ones are actually worth it based on our experience.
What You’ll Find in This Guide
📍 Public transport in Budapest – metro, tram and buses
🎫 Tickets & Budapest Card – prices and options
📱 Where to buy tickets – app and machines
🚶♂️ Getting around – our experience: walking vs transport
🛴 Other options – scooters, bikes and taxis
Public transport in Budapest is run by BKK and includes metro, trams, buses, suburban trains (HEV), and even boat lines along the Danube.
Overall, it’s a very efficient and punctual system, and getting around the city is pretty easy once you understand how tickets work.
Important!
Don’t forget to validate your ticket when you get on. Inspectors are common, and fines are not cheap.
How to get around Budapest
Public transport & tickets in Budapest
There are different types of tickets and the Budapest Card:
Public transport tickets
🔶 Single ticket (30 min): €1.35 (530 HUF)
Great for a one-time ride
🔶 90-minute ticket (with transfers): €1.90 (750 HUF)
Perfect if you need to combine metro + tram
🔶 24-hour pass: €6.35 (2,500 HUF)
🔶 72-hour pass: €13.95 (5,500 HUF)
Highly recommended for a 3-day trip
🔶 Airport bus (100E): €5.60 (2,200 HUF)
Direct to the city center (Deák Ferenc tér)
Budapest Card
This is a tourist card that includes public transportation plus extra perks and discounts around the city.
🔶 24h: €48
🔶 48h: €64
🔶 72h: €80
What’s included:
✔ Unlimited access to public transportation (includes bus 200E from the airport, but not 100E)
✔ Free entry to the Lukács Thermal Bath
✔ Free access to 20+ museums and walking tours
❗ The main advantage is that you don’t need to validate tickets or buy them every time you use public transport ❗
Is it worth it?
That said, unless you plan to visit several museums and attractions, it’s usually not the best value compared to simply buying a transport pass.
Where to buy tickets
You can easily buy tickets at:
BudapestGO app → the easiest option to keep everything on your phone
BKK ticket offices & vending machines → available at the airport and all metro stations
Tobacco shops and kiosks → look for the BKK logo
Our experience getting around Budapest
We stayed near the city center and ended up walking most of the time.
The few times we used public transport, we bought tickets on the spot and it worked perfectly.
For a short trip (3–4 days), we don’t think you really need a pass unless you’re staying far from the center.
Other ways to get around Budapest
Scooter
You’ll find them all over the city. Several companies operate them, but the most common one is Lime.
They’re very easy to use: download the app, scan the QR code, pay with your phone (Apple Pay / Google Pay), and you’re good to go. You’ll be charged based on usage time.
Bike
Works pretty much the same as scooters.
The main company is MOL Bubi, but you can also rent bikes from local shops.
Budapest has a solid network of bike lanes, which makes getting around by bike pretty easy.
Uber & taxi
If you prefer something more comfortable or you’re carrying luggage, taxis are always an option: though not the cheapest compared to the city’s excellent metro and tram system.
Good to know:
Uber recently came back to Budapest after being banned for several years. However, it now operates under the same regulations as official taxis, meaning prices are fixed by law: so don’t expect super cheap rides like in other countries.
Keep planning your trip to Budapest
Once you figure out how to get around Budapest, everything else becomes much easier: choosing where to stay, planning your days, and making the most of your time in the city.
👉 Things to do in Budapest — landmarks, neighborhoods, thermal baths, and more
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