Getting Around By Public Transport in Budapest
Updated: Sep 15
Budapest's extensive public transport system offers an efficient and convenient way to navigate the city. The backbone of Budapest's public transport network consists of trams, buses, and metro lines, all of which are interconnected, providing seamless transfers between different modes of transport.
Modes of Public Transport
The first Budapest underground line (M1) was opened in 1896 to celebrate the Hungarian Millennium. The Hungarian name of this line is "(Kis)Földalatti", which roughly translates to "(Small) underground". Along the route between Vörösmarty tér and Mexikói út terminuses you will find the Opera House, Heroes’ Square (Hősök tere), Széchenyi Thermal Baths and adjacent City Park with the architecturally fascinating House of Music.
The Budapest Metro 1 line is the oldest electrified underground railway system on the European continent, and the second-oldest in the world, predated only by the 1890 City & South London Railway (now part of the London Underground).
Its iconic Line 1, dating from 1896, was declared a World Heritage Site in 2002.
The underground network spans over 38.6 kilometres with the longest line measuring 20.1 kilometres.
The Budapest Metro serves over 800,000 passengers per day.
In modern rail cars, a female pre-recorded voice announces “Kérem vigyázzanak, az ajtók záródnak,” which means “Please be careful, the doors are closing.” In older rail cars, a male pre-recorded voice makes this announcement.
Budapest Metro Line 1 (aka "Földalatti") - the oldest underground line in Continental Europe
The current Budapest metro system has four lines labeled with different colors, each serving various parts of the city and major landmarks. The yellow line is the oldest one, the blue and red lines were developed next, and the green line was opened in 2014.
Budapest Metro Line 4, which opened in 2014, is known for its modern, award-winning station design
Additionally, the public transport tram network crisscrosses the city, offering picturesque views of Budapest's iconic landmarks along the Danube River.
Some of the most scenic tram routes in Budapest:
Tram No. 2 provides you beautiful panoramic views of Buda while you are traveling along the Danube in Pest. At the Fővám tér stop you will find the Great Market Hall, between Széchenyi István tér and Kossuth Lajos tér you can view the “Shoes on the Danube Bank” Holocaust memorial, while at Kossuth Lajos tér you will reach the Hungarian Parliament Building.
Take tram No. 41 for traveling along the Buda side of the city: you will see several famous thermal baths (the Gellért and Rudas baths) of Budapest and the Castle Garden Bazaar (Várkert Bazár).
Budapest Trams offer a great way to do your sightseeing
Public Transport Buses complement these services, reaching areas not covered by the metro or tram lines, ensuring comprehensive coverage throughout the city. For example, from Deák Ferenc tér, you can travel by bus No. 16 that will take you from the city centre across the Chain Bridge (Lánchíd) to Buda Castle. The red coloured buses are electric trolleys.
There are also commercial bus operators, including the 'Hop on Hop off' sightseeing buses, or the Budapest Castle Bus and the Liget City Park Bus company, however these are not part of the regular public bus service and need to be paid separately. There is even an amphibian bus as a tourist attraction (it enters the Danube river for a short period of time).
Different types of bus services operating in Budapest
English signage and announcements are prevalent across the transportation network, facilitating ease of use for international visitors. With its affordability, frequency, and accessibility, Budapest's public transport system remains a preferred choice for tourists looking to immerse themselves in the charm and splendor of Hungary's capital city.
Budapest Daytime transport map, source: BKK
Budapest Night-time transport map, source: BKK
Other Types of Transport in Budapest
Buda Castle Funicular (in Hungarian: Budavári Sikló) has been a link between the Royal Castle and the Danube riverbank since 1870. The two carriages are called Gellért and Margit - when one goes up, the other goes down. Please note that it is not part of the regular Budapest public transport system, therefore separate fees apply. The view however is definitely worth the ride, and it also saves you from climbing an infinite number of stairs to the Castle Hill (alternatively, you can also take bus No. 16A from Széll Kálmán square).
The carriages of the Buda Castle Funicular, taking you to Castle Hill and the Royal Palace
The Budapest Cogwheel Railway (in Hungarian: Fogaskerekű) is among the oldest rack railway systems in Europe, first opened in 1874 between Városmajor and Svábhegy, later in 1890 was expanded to the current upper terminus, Széchenyihegy. The whole network got electrified in 1929. In 1973, which was the 100th anniversary of the fusion of Buda, Pest and Óbuda, the cogwheel railway received a renovation and new trains, which are still in service after 50 years. Since 2008 it's formally part of the Budapest tram network as tram line 60, and as such, part of the public transport system.
This steep-grade railway takes you up Széchenyi-hegy in the Buda Hills, where you can also ride the Children’s Railway (in Hungarian: Gyermekvasút) winding its way through the forest (special fares apply) or take the Chairlift (in Hungarian: Libegő) from János-hegy, the highest point in Buda down to the city.
The cogwheel railway takes you up to the Buda Hills, where you can ride the Children's Railway or the Chairlift
For further information, please visit the official Budapest Public Transport homepage:
Tickets and passes
You have several options to get your ticket, pass or travelcard in Budapest:
At any time of the day, around the clock, from BKK ticket vending machines with cash or a bankcard.
Buy your ticket with the BudapestGO application (download it from Google Play or Apple App Store).
You can find Customer Service Centres and Ticket Offices at several points in the city (for example at the airport as well), where maps and other brochures are also available. Both cash and bankcards are accepted for payment.
You can buy your airport shuttlebus single ticket with your bankcard using the on-board Budapest Pay&GO device or you can get a single ticket with the help of the Budapest Pay&GO device mounted by the entrances to the stations of the M1 metro.
Important Note: You need to validate your single tickets at the start of your journey!
Buying a ticket is not enough, you need to validate it for your journey. Tickets must be validated on the metro network as you enter the station before starting your trip, but on street-level transport vehicles immediately after boarding before the vehicle departs. Paper tickets need to be validated by stamping or punching them with a mechanical or automatic ticket validation device.
Paper tickets: use a validating machine on board the vehicles or by metro station entrances - it will stamp a code on the ticket or punch a hole.
Digital tickets: scan the validation code stickers, which you will find at the entrance of the metro on the side of the paper-ticket validators and outside by the doors on street-level transport.
Time-based tickets (30 or 90 minutes), which are available only digitally, must always be validated when you board a different vehicle.
Daily travelcards and passes: no validation required, valid for an unlimited number of a trips during the validity period, non-transferable.
More About The BudapestGO Public Transport App
Using public transport in Budapest has never been easier:
Ticket and pass purchase, journey planning and traffic information in one easy-to-use application
You can easily buy your ticket for Airport Express bus 100E, which is your best choice for travelling from the airport to the city centre
BudapestGO is free to download. However, some features are only available if you register for the app.
Why register?
To buy your single ticket, daily travelcard or pass from the comfort of your home.
You can also buy tickets and passes from other transport operators in Hungary.
So you can save your frequent destinations when planning your route, and next time it's just a click of a button to plan your trip.
Plan your sightseeing trip in Budapest with real-time data
Plan your trip in the city with real-time information so you always know exactly when you'll arrive
We show you the best route for you in a clear, easy-to-use interface
Plan with MOL Bubi public bike-sharing-system
Buy your Budapest digital ticket
You can buy Budapest digital single tickets, time-based tickets and 24/72-hour travelcards
This type of ticket can be used on all BKK lines*
All you need is your phone and a connected mobile network
Please note, that you cannot put two passes on one app. So if you are travelling together with more people, you would each need a phone with data. And it can’t be used offline, so data is required.
You can buy your Airport shuttle bus single ticket. Please note that bus line 100E is to be used only with the Airport shuttle bus single ticket. Airport shuttle bus 100E is in operation between Budapest airport and the city centre (Deák Ferenc tér).
*The single ticket is not valid for airport shuttle bus 100E, the public transport boat services, the Buda Castle Funicular and the Chairlift.
Your ticket on your mobile home screen
Buy a digital ticket conveniently, without queuing
Use your single, time-based ticket or daily travelcards on more than 300 routes in the capital
Keep your tickets and travelcards on your home screen with the widget function
A Note On Taxi Transport in Budapest
There are several official taxi companies operating in Budapest. The officially licensed taxi cabs can be easily identified by their uniform yellow colour, with the sign ”Minősített budapesti taxi / Licensed Budapest taxi” displayed on the front left door in both Hungarian and English. The registration plate is also yellow.
Instead of hailing taxis in the street, it is recommended to use the official apps of the licensed taxi companies (download it from Google Play or Apple App Store).
You are seated in an officially registered Budapest taxi if the driver’s photo identification card and taxi fare rates fixed by the Municipality of Budapest are posted on the instrument panel as well as on the two rear side windows.
There are officially regulated uniform fares in force in Budapest.
You can pay the taxi fare both in cash and with a bank card but it may happen that some bank cards are not accepted. The fixed taxi fare rates are valid within the municipal boundaries of Budapest. If you wish to travel outside Budapest, please check the terms and conditions in advance.
After the trip, ask for a receipt printed from the taxi meter, by which you can check if the officially fixed rate has been applied, and any complaint that may be related to the trip can be effectively handled.
