Getting Around Budapest

Arrival:

Newcomers generally arrive in Budapest by air at Ferihegy International Airport’s Terminal 2, 24 km southeast of the city centre. There are limousine and car services that can meet you at the airport and transport you to your destination. Alternatively, you can use the taxi service at the airport (currently Fotaxi has this contract). There’s a stand just outside the terminal , and all drivers speak enough English to communicate with passengers, though it may be helpful to have your address already written out to be on the safe side. Fares are based on the district you’re travelling to, with fares to downtown Pest averaging around HUF5000 and fares to Buda around HUF6000. Depending on traffic, driving time into the centre of the city runs 20-30 minutes, with travel to Buda taking 10-30 minutes longer. Beware of independent cab drivers who try to get your business – they have no fares posted and are a rip-off.

There are also a number of car rental companies in Budapest , and cars can be picked up at the airport. You’ll need a valid drivers licence, a passport and a credit card. If you book online you may receive a discount , and additional insurance is available on all rentals.

Another option is the Airport Minibus, which takes all passengers going to the same area for a flat fee of HUF2100. You can buy your ticket at the Airport Passenger Service desk.

The city can also be accessed by a city bus that will drop you at Kobanya Kispest, the last stop at the southern end of the Blue Metro Line. From Terminal 1, where discount carriers land, there are also regular trains into the West Train Station (Nyugati Palyaudvar), which is in the centre of Pest, on the Blue Metro Line .

Taxis:

Most taxis are clean and reasonably priced , and you should round up to the nearest HUF100 when paying. The addition of an extra 10 percent tip is appreciated. While all operators can take orders in English, not all drivers are bilingual (or understand our attempts at Hungarian!) so it’s advisable to write out your destination on a piece of paper. Avoid hailing a taxi on the street , unless you want to pay almost twice as much as you would by ordering one by phone. The main companies are:

• City Taxi (211 1111)
• Fotaxi     (222 2222)
• Buda     (233 3333)
• Tele5     (355 5555)
• 6×6 Taxi (266 6666)
• Taxi 2000 (200 0000)
• Radio Taxi  (377 7777)

Public transportation:

Budapest has an excellent public transit system consisting of subways, buses, trolleys, trams and electric commuter trains called HEV. Tickets are available at all Metro stations from automated machines , and most stations also have cashiers at ticket windows. As the machines aren’t always reliable, you’re best off buying from the cashier. Tickets can also be bought at some news stands, tram stops and on some buses , but to be safe you’re probably better off purchasing them at the Metro station and keeping a supply with you. Tickets can be bought individually, discounted in books of 10 or in the form of daily, weekly or monthly passes.

If you’ll be using public transit a lot, monthly passes are a great deal. They’re good for all forms of transport and are valid for 30 days from the date of purchase. You’ll need a passport-size photo; there are photo machines in major Metro stations, with four photos costing HUF700.

If you’re using a ticket as opposed to a pass, you need to validate it before starting your trip on the Metro or immediately upon boarding a bus, tram, trolley or commuter train. Insert the ticket into the machines at Metro station entrances and in the red or yellow boxes on trams, buses and trolleys. The yellow boxes automatically stamp the ticket, but you must pull the black lever on the red boxes towards the ticket to punch it. Tickets are valid for 60 minutes after stamping or for 90 minutes on the night service. Passes and tickets are checked by BKV inspectors at random and you’ll be fined HUF6000 on the spot if you can’t produce your pass or validated ticket. If fined, get a receipt, as foreigners can be overcharged by unscrupulous inspectors.

Public transportation runs from 4:30am through 11pm and is both regular and frequent. Night trams and buses run on an abbreviated schedule. Schedules are posted at all stops and detailed system maps are posted in all Metro stations.

Budapest has three subway lines , with a fourth under construction. The three existing lines all converge at Deak Ferenc ter in the heart of downtown Pest, where you can transfer at no additional charge to another line. The number 1 Yellow Line was constructed for the Millennium Celebrations in 1896 and has been restored to its original style. It runs east – west through Pest. The number 3 Blue Line basically runs north and south through Pest , with the number 2 Red Line currently the only one linking Buda to Pest.

The main tram line is the 4/6, which runs from Moszkva ter in Buda, across the Margit hid (bridge), around the large ring road through Pest and back over the Petofi hid to Buda. Numerous older tram lines run throughout various parts of the city, and the bus and trolley system is extensive. Tickets are only valid for one trip, so if you need to transfer to another tram, bus or trolley or onto the Metro, you’ll have to validate another ticket. The number 2 tram runs along the Danube and is a fabulous way to see the city.

The HEV runs to and from Csepel Island and Rackeve in the south, Szentendre in the north and Godollo in the east.

Fare information:

• Tickets and passes: www.bkv.hu/english/jegyek/index.html
• Metro schedule: www.bkv.hu/english/metro/index.html
• Bus schedule: www.bkv.hu/english/busz/index.html
• Tram schedule: www.bkv.hu/english/villamos/index.html
• Trolley bus schedule: www.bkv.hu/english/troli/index.html
• Suburban schedule: www.bkv.hu/english/hev/index.html
• Night services: www.bkv.hu/english/ejszakai/index.html
• Other schedules (cogwheel, railway, chair lift, funicular, boat service): www.bkv.hu/english/egyeb/index.html

Walking:

Pest is a fabulous city for walking, with a number of cobblestone walking streets in the central core where vehicles are prohibited. The main one, Vaci utca, runs from Vorosmarty ter (the main square in the heart of downtown) to the Vasarcsarnok (large indoor market hall) , and is full of tourists for much of the year. Pavements on the main avenues are quite wide and cleaned regularly , but beware when strolling on smaller streets, where dog owners do not always pick up after their pets. There are no pedestrian crossings at most major intersections; instead you cross by using a tunnel under the street.

Buda, on the other hand, presents a bit more of a challenge with its rolling hills , but major arteries tend to follow the valleys in between and smaller streets often zigzag, with staircases for pedestrians from one level to the next in the central core.

Driving:

Non – EU citizens may drive with their existing driving licence for one year , after which they are required to apply for a Hungarian licence. (EU citizens are no longer required to do so.) It’s a complicated process that must be done in Hungarian , and requirements may vary from district to district. You need an application form from your district document office, along with a valid residence permit, a valid foreign driving licence along with a Hungarian translation, a passport and a medical examination. Your best bet is to hire a driving instructor or relocation expert to guide you through the process and acquaint you with the rules of the road in Hungary beforehand.

Driving in Budapest can initially be a challenge , with lots of one-way streets and few permitted left turns , though a GPS will certainly alleviate most of the difficulties. Traffic can be a nightmare in peak periods , and long traffic jams are not uncommon. You need to always keep your driving licence, a copy of your passport, your residence permit, third-party liability insurance documents and car registration documents in the car with you , but it’s illegal to leave them in the car; remember that police do spot checks. There are parking metres on every street downtown , and tickets should be visible inside the car. If you get a parking ticket, it’s cheaper to pay it the same day , which can be done at the metre itself or at the post office. Parking is free after 6pm and on weekends and national holidays downtown, and generally free in most suburban areas.

Seatbelts must be worn , and car seats or boosters must be used for children up to 150 cm or 12 years old, and they must be in the rear seat. It’s illegal to use hand – held mobile phones while driving , and Hungary has zero tolerance for drinking and driving. Right turns on red lights are not permitted , and right of way is always to the right, unless otherwise specified. Headlights must be turned on when driving outside the city limits , and stickers must be purchased for use of the highways. These should be purchased at service stations before entering the highway and can be bought for 4 – day, weekly or monthly time periods. It’s recommended that you keep your receipt as proof of purchase , as fines have been received when retailers have failed to properly enter the data into the system.