How to get from Budapest Airport to the city center
- travel tips
- January 1, 2024
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As the plane touches down at Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport, the next thought revolves around getting to the city center – a journey that shouldn’t take more than 40 to 60 minutes.
Dive in this article to explore the transport possibilities from Budapest airport to city center, and make sure you do it without a hitch.
QUICK LINKS
• Best options to go from Budapest airport to city center:
1. 100E bus
2. MiniBUD
3. Private shuttle
4. Bolt
5. Főtaxi
6. ShareNow
7. 200E bus
• Budapest airport transport: a comparison
• FAQ
1. Bus 100E from Budapest airport to city center
AIRPORT SHUTTLE BUS 100E
• Duration: 37-45 minutes
• Price: HUF 2,500¹
• Working hours: 24/7
• Frequency: every 7-10 min. during the day, every 30-40 min. from midnight to 3 am (find the 100E live arrival times here).
The most popular way to get from the Budapest Airport to the city is by taking the Budapest Airport bus. This bus line, known as the Airport Express or the 100E bus, offers, in 2024, offers the optimal balance of price, speed, and convenience.
It connects the airport to three crucial locations within Budapest’s city center. Here’s 100E route¹:
- Liszt Ferenc Airport 2
- Kálvin Tér (served by metro)
- Déak Ferenc Tér (served by metro)
- Astoria (served by metro)
Buying the 100E bus ticket – three options:
- On board, using Budapest Pay&GO system with a bank card.
- Or through the BudapestGO app (download here)
- In any BKK ticket machine, which you can find in at the airport bus stop, or throughout the city center (usually metro, tram and bus stops)
2. MiniBUD Shared Airport Shuttle Bus Transfer
MINIBUD SHARED AIRPORT SHUTTLE BUS TRANSFER
• Duration: 30-45 minutes
• Price: ~HUF 7,600 (1 person)⁵
• Working hours: 24/7
Another great option is to take a MiniBUD, which you should book in advance (you can pay later)
It’s way more comfortable than the bus (also a bit more expensive), and still much cheaper than a taxi. It takes you from the Budapest airport to your chosen destination in Budapest city center, it accepts reserve now/pay later option, and it’s free to cancel up to 24 hours before the ride.
Benefits:
• From 12 euros per person
• Free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance
• Reserve now and pay later
• From the airport to your desired destination in the city center
3. Private shuttle transfer
If you’re all for convenience, a private transfer might suit you. You’ll get picked up right at the arrivals zone, hop on a comfortable car or van with an English-speaking driver, skip the hassle of public transport, and – for a fair price, especially if you’re in a group – you can get to your destination in about half an hour.
→ There’s a great lot of providers, prices, and car options, so make you sure you check your options before booking.
PRIVATE SHUTTLE TRANSFER
• Duration: 30 min.
• Price: from ~HUF 10,000⁶, depending on the provider and number of people
4. Bolt (there's no taxi)
BOLT
• Duration: approx. 35-45 min
• Price: HUF 9,000-13,000²
There’s no Uber in Hungary, but there’s Bolt, a similar service – the app gives you a price range and offers different options, from standard cars to spacious vans. It’s not the cheapest way to go from Budapest airport to the city center, but it’s very convenient. And if you’re not alone, splitting the costs might make it worth it.
How Bolt works:
1. Download the Bolt app and register or request your ride online.
2. Choose your destination.
3. Choose your pick-up point, selecting the “Arrivals” area and the zone (zones 1-10 are right outside the airport exit in yellow signage, just pick one and inform the driver).
4. Add your payment method, knowing that Google Pay or Apple Pay are accepted.
5. Request your ride and wait. Drivers typically arrive at the airport within a 2-10 minute window. If you made any mistake, you can text the driver through the app.
5. Főtaxi from the airport
FőTAXI
• Duration: 35-45 min
• Price: from HUF 9,800⁴
There’s always the good old taxi option. If you’re in for that, bear in mind that only one company operated the airport taxis: it’s called Főtaxi, the cars are yellow, it has the “TAXI” sign on its roof, and it’s always available outside T2 of BUD Airport. Avoid other taxi-like cars that don’t have such features.
* The cost to go from Budapest airport to the city should start around 10,000 HUF. But take in mind that Főtaxi does’t offer set prices, although they have reasonable estimations on their website. For example, if there’s heavy traffic…well, then you’ll pay the 110HUF/minute³ waiting fee.
6. ShareNow
SHARENOW
• Price: from HUF 4000-6000 – rates begin at HUF 99/min for an occasional use⁷
• Time: approx. 40-50 minutes
Do you like to drive? Do you prefer to do things on your own? Then this might be for you. When looking for a fuss-free way to go from the Budapest airport to the city center, ShareNow – a very convenient and cheap car-rental app – is a standout choice. You don’t deal with fuel, maintenance, delivery, or parking costs.
How to use it:
1. Get the app here and register. It’s simple and quick.
2. Choose and reserve a car near you. It’ll be in the Holiday Parking, a few minutes’ walk away from the airport terminal.
3. Open the car with the app and start driving.
4. Park the car and lock it with the app. When you arrive from the airport to the Budapest city center, leave it in a city parking spot, or at a ShareNow parking area – either option is free.
7. 200E (and metro or train)
200E BUS + BUDAPEST METRO OR TRAIN
• Price: from 900 HUF
• Time: depends on bus and metro/train schedules, but usually more than 1 hour
If you’re travelling on a budget, you might like the 200E bus option, combined with metro or train: even it’s a cheaper alternative (in total they cost slightly less then HUF 1000), it’s less convenient and takes longer, as you’ll need to switch from the bus midway.
How to go from the airport to Budapest with the 200E bus:
1. First, pick up the 200E bus from Budapest Airport (HUF 450)⁸.
2. Then, you have two options: a) Leave at Kobanya-Kispest Metro Station, where you take the M3 towards Déak Ferenc Tér (HUF 450⁸) ; or b) leave in Ferihegy and hop on a train (you can buy it in advance – there should be tickets to Nyugati station from HUF 500)⁹.
Budapest airport transport: a comparison
If you’re still not sure of how to go from Budapest Airport to the city center, that’s normal. There are plenty of options, after all. But here’s a breakdown to help you decide:
Budapest airport to downtown - prices and duration
Here’s a list of the transportation options available for traveling from Budapest airport to the city center, along with their respective costs and durations:
- 100 E Shuttle Bus: costs HUF 2,500, takes 37-45 min.
- Bolt (similar to Uber): HUF 9,000-13000, takes 35-45 min.
- Főtaxi: from HUF 9,800, takes 35-45 min.
- MiniBUD Shared Transfer: from HUF 4,613, takes 30-45 min.
- Private Shuttle Transfer: From HUF 10,000, takes around 30 min.
- ShareNow: HUF 4000-6000, takes 40-50 min.
- 200E Bus + Train or Metro: From HUF 900, takes more than 1h.
To sum up
Best value: 100E Budapest airport bus. These buses are continuously departing from the airport, and you can buy the tickets there for a fairly small price.
Fastest: Private transfer and MiniBud Shared shuttle are the quickest ways, taking around 30 min to your destination. But Bolt is also pretty quick.
Cheapest: 200E Bus combined with metro or train may be less money (starts at ~HUF 900), but it’s not convenient at all, and it can take a long time to get you to your destination.
FAQ: How to go from Budapest Airport to city center
Does Budapest airport have a train station?
No, there’s no strain station in the airport. The closest you’ll find is the Ferihegy train station, about 6.5km away, and the train tickets aren’t available for purchase at Terminal 2.
How much is the train from Budapest Airport?
For a one-way journey from BUD Airport to Ferihegy Train Station, bus 200E tickets are priced at 350HUF. A train ticket from Ferihegy to the city costs 370HUF, making the combined fare to the city center 720HUF.
Is there metro from the airport to Budapest?
No, there’s no direct metro from Budapest airport to the cit center. However, you can take the 200E bus from Budapest Airport to the Kobanya-Kispest Metro Station, where M3 Metro will take you to Déak Ferenc Square, right in the city center.
How much does it cost to get from Budapest airport to city Centre?
The shuttle bus that goes from Budapest Airport to Budapest city center (bus 100E) costs HUF 2,200 per person – and that’s the cheapest you can get with a single means of transportation. You have faster options, like taxis or private shuttles, but those are significantly more expensive – around 10,000 HUF or more.
How much is the shuttle bus from Budapest Airport?
How much is a taxi from Budapest airport to city centre?
ABOUT PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
Here you can find the official PDF with all public transportations options from the Budapest Airport to the city center, and vice versa.
Recommended readings:
• Best things to do in Budapest
• Where to exchange money in Budapest
• Currency in Budapest
• Budapest Travel Card Guide
Sources:
- Budapest Public Transport (BKK) page about the airport shuttle bus (100E)
- Estimation consulted on BOLT app
- Főtaxi homepage and rates
- Budapest International Airport page on the airport taxis
- Price confirmed with the MiniBUD customer support
- Prices consulted on Viator
- ShareNow website – prices in Hungary
- BKK prices (single tickets include 200E bus)
- MÁV website – train tickets