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As a good guy with absolutely no foresight, it wasn’t until I arrived at Budapest airport a few days ago (well, probably longer, by the time you came across this article) that I asked myself “bah heck, how do I get to the city center”. The good thing is that it’s actually quite clear and easy and you have several options.
I’m going to tell you all about it, with prices and timetables: how to get by train, what shuttles there are, the different buses and also the cab options. Let’s have a look!
From Budapest airport to the city center with BUS 100E
This is the cheapest option, and frankly, it’s not the worst. The 100E bus makes it super-easy to get from the airport to the city center (you can, of course, go the other way), with 3 convenient stops:
- Astoria station, south of the Jewish Quarter
- Kalvin Ter, right next to Budapest’s market halls
- Deak Ter, the city’s most central point, where all metro lines run
The price of a 100E bus ticket is HUF 2500 (approx. €6.5) The journey takes about 30min to Deak Ter. To buy tickets :
- the information desk in the arrivals hall, just after passing through the gates
- the kiosks (purple) with the big “airport shuttle” button
- the Budapest GO application, superbly practical for all forms of transport.
Note that this bus is not included in the Budapest Card (which includes all other transport). In terms of timetables, it’s very good:
- it runs every day
- it runs 24 hours a day!
- every 7/10 minutes from 3:30 a.m. to midnight
- about every 40 minutes from midnight to 3:30 a.m.
Take the TRAIN to downtown Budapest
This is a bit more complicated. There’s a train station not far away, but you have to take the bus to get there, so take the 200E bus from the airport to Ferihegy station. From there, take the train to Nyugati station, one of the city’s two central stations on the Buda side.
- the 200E bus ride to Ferihegy station takes 7 minutes (5 stops)
- the bus ride costs HUF 350 (included in the Budapest Card)
- the train journey from Ferihegy to Central Station takes 30min and costs 350 HUF, tickets are bought directly from the kiosks at the station, not from the airport and not from the Budapest GO app (also included in the Budapest Card).
A train project from the airport to Central Budapest is now planned and supposed to open in 2031
4 recommended accommodations in Budapest
📍 Terézváros · Dessewffy utca, central
Modern hotel in the heart of Terézváros, steps from the Opera and the Basilica. Budapest's best value-for-money pick.
- Air-con, minibar and soundproofed rooms
- Indoor parking, pets welcome free of charge
- 24/7 reception, English-speaking staff
Free cancellation
From €70 / night
📍 Budavár · Buda side, at the foot of the castle
Boutique hotel in a former mansion of old Buda, at the foot of the castle hill. Quiet, elegant and refined.
- 350 m from the Fishermen's Bastion, 650 m from the Chain Bridge
- Airport shuttle and 2 restaurants on site
- Air-conditioned rooms with coffee machine
Free cancellation
From €120 / night
📍 Erzsébetváros · 300 m from Deák Ferenc square
Ultra-central hotel in the lively Jewish quarter of Erzsébetváros, right by Gosdu Court and its bars. The perfect base to explore Budapest on foot.
- Location rated 9.7/10 on Booking
- 3 metro lines 230 m away and airport shuttle
- Staff rated 9.4/10 and excellent breakfast
Free cancellation
From €90 / night
📍 Erzsébetváros · 250 m from Blaha Lujza metro
19th-century palace in the heart of Budapest, home to the New York Café — one of the world's most beautiful. The full palace experience.
- Silk-clad rooms and Murano glass chandeliers
- Spa with indoor pool, sauna and steam bath
- Salon Fine Dining restaurant (Gault & Millau)
Free cancellation
From €240 / night
Take a MINIBUS from the airport to the center of Budapest
If you want to be dropped off at your hotel (or nearby) in the city center, without having to wait too long, being squeezed into the bus, or paying too much for a cab, there’s an alternative that’s not bad at all: the shuttle bus.
It costs 17 euros, and you’re picked up in the arrivals hall, there’s the stand right next to the luggage before you get out. Once at the stand, you’re given your ticket for the shuttle. My big tip would be to book in advance so you don’t have to wait.
When we arrived, my wife and I wanted to take it, but as we hadn’t made a reservation, we were told we’d have to wait an hour. There are several stops in the city center, serving the main hotels and tourist attractions. We also save money by booking the return trip.
Taking the TAXI, Bolt, Uber from the airport to the city center
I should preface this by saying that I have a problem with cabs abroad. Why? Because of their recurrent lack of honesty. Fixing a price in advance and not respecting it, adding charges on top of what’s displayed on the meter…
I ONLY use official cabs and I still have problems from time to time, most recently a few days ago in Vienna. So I prefer to use the services of online drivers/Taxis.
Also, in Budapest, there are Bold and Uber. Bolt is like Uber, but it’s a real cab company that you order and pay for online. And I think it works really well. There’s no hassle, no ambiguity, and the drivers I’ve had have been really nice! The only problem with the app is that you can’t tip, which is very silly.
Taxi/Bolt/Uber fares in Budapest aren’t super-high, but they’re not cheap either. They all have the same prices, follow the same rules. Fares for a cab (Bolt or other) from the airport to the city center are around 10/12,000 HUF (or 27/30€), for a 30-minute ride if all goes well.
📍 Budapest · 1 to 3 days · Hungaria Koncert Ltd.
The all-in-one option: the official Budapest city pass — your key to the Hungarian capital. Unlimited public transport, free entry to 30+ museums, a free Danube cruise and a thermal bath at Lukács — the complete city-break formula.
- Unlimited public transport across Budapest
- Free entry to 30+ museums & top attractions
- Free Danube cruise + Lukács thermal bath included
Free cancellation
From €53 / person
📍 Budapest · 1 to 3 days · Big Bus Budapest
The budget option: a 1, 2 or 3-day ticket on the open-top hop-on hop-off bus. Chain Bridge, Parliament, St Stephen's Basilica and Gellért Baths — with audio commentary in 16 languages to explore the city at your own pace.
- Hop-on hop-off stops at Buda & Pest top sights
- Audio commentary in English + 15 other languages
- Free guided walking tour + 30% off Danube cruise
Free cancellation
From €39 / person
Now you know everything! There really are plenty of options that are convenient and not especially expensive.
I just don’t see the point of taking the train, except maybe for the price because it’s the cheapest. But otherwise, both the shuttle and the direct bus to the city center are excellent options. It runs all day, all night too, and in both directions.
5 activities you must do in Budapest
Such an incredible city. There is so much to see in Budapest! So here are my top 5 activities you have to do there :
- Visit the Parliament. One of the most beautiful buildings in Europe. Not only from the outside, go inside!
- Relax yourself in a thermal bath like in Széchenyi and its beautiful old buildings !
- Discover the ruin bars, like the Szimpla Kert. Crazy bars set up in abandoned buildings
- See Budapest from the Danube with a small cruise, to have another view over the city
- Enjoy the sunset over Budapest from the Castle Hill, the most beautiful view in the city !
