Budapest's public transport is run as one network by BKK (Budapesti Közlekedési Központ): four metro lines (M1 yellow, M2 red, M3 blue, M4 green), a large tram network, buses, trolleybuses and the HÉV suburban railways H5-H9, all on the same tickets inside the city limits. Three metro lines (M1, M2, M3) meet at Deák Ferenc tér, the main hub; M3 and M4 meet at Kálvin tér, and M2 and M4 at Keleti pályaudvar. M1 (1896) is the oldest underground line on the European continent and part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The airport has no rail link: the 100E Airport Express bus runs to Deák Ferenc tér around the clock, and the regular 200E bus runs to metro M3. Separate operators and tickets apply to the Castle Hill Funicular, the Zugliget Chairlift, the Children's Railway and BKV's tourist boats; the only BKK boat line left in 2026 is the D14 ferry in the far south.
Paying: BKK tickets (paper, BudapestGO app or other digital ticket apps) and Budapest Pay&GO (contactless bank card or phone on the metro and the 100E)
How to buy
Buy in the free BudapestGO app (single tickets, 30/90-minute tickets, 24/72-hour travelcards, airport ticket), at BKK ticket machines and customer service centres, or tap a contactless bank card, phone or watch on a Pay&GO validator: since 22 April 2026 this works at every metro station (one single ticket per tap) and on the 100E bus (up to 5 tickets). No app or registration is needed for Pay&GO; show the inspector the same card. Paper single tickets must be validated at the metro entrance before the barrier line, or on board trams, buses and HÉV trains straight away. Digital tickets are validated by scanning the QR code or touching the phone to the NFC sticker at metro entrances and on the outside of vehicles by the doors; 30- and 90-minute tickets must be scanned again at each change (not between metro lines). Many bus and trolleybus lines have front-door-only boarding where the driver checks tickets. A single ticket bought from the driver or on board costs more (HUF 700); since 8 September 2026 drivers on buses 105, 210 and 210B also take cards for it.
Fares
Prices from bkk.hu (checked 29 Sep 2026; current fares since 1 June 2025, airport ticket since 1 Oct 2025): single ticket HUF 500 (one ride on one surface vehicle, or one metro trip with changes between metro lines in one direction; 80 minutes, 120 at night); single ticket bought on the spot HUF 700; block of 10 HUF 4,500; 30-minute ticket HUF 600 and 90-minute ticket HUF 850 (app only, unlimited changes); 24-hour travelcard HUF 2,750; 72-hour travelcard HUF 5,750; monthly Budapest-pass HUF 8,950. Airport shuttle bus single ticket (100E only) HUF 2,500; add-on 100E ticket for Budapest-pass holders HUF 1,000 (BudapestGO only). The 24/72-hour cards also cover MÁV trains (2nd class) inside Budapest, but not the 100E. Digital 24/72-hour cards are personal and must be used with the photo ID given at purchase. Budapest Card (from 1 May 2026): 24 h HUF 17,990, 48 h HUF 23,990, 72 h HUF 29,990, 96 h HUF 38,990. Ferry D14 ticket HUF 200. Penalty fares: HUF 12,000 if paid on the spot or within two workdays, HUF 25,000 within 30 days, HUF 50,000 after 30 days. Travellers over 65 (any nationality) ride the 100E free with proof of age.
Lines and services
- MetroMetro line M1 (yellow, Millennium Underground)
Vörösmarty tér - Deák Ferenc tér - Bajcsy-Zsilinszky út - Opera - Oktogon - Vörösmarty utca (House of Terror) - Kodály körönd - Bajza utca - Hősök tere (Heroes' Square) - Széchenyi fürdő - Mexikói út. Shallow line just below Andrássy út, about 12 minutes end to end; opened 1896 and listed by UNESCO in 2002. BKK's timetable replaces the Oktogon - Mexikói út section with MP51 buses on 3-4 October 2026.
- MetroMetro line M2 (red)
Déli pályaudvar - Széll Kálmán tér - Batthyány tér (HÉV H5) - Kossuth Lajos tér (Parliament) - Deák Ferenc tér - Astoria - Blaha Lujza tér - Keleti pályaudvar (M4) - Puskás Ferenc Stadion - Pillangó utca - Örs vezér tere (HÉV H8/H9). The only line besides M4 that crosses to Buda; about 19 minutes end to end. BKK's timetable runs MP52 replacement buses between Déli pályaudvar and Deák Ferenc tér on 17-18 October 2026.
- MetroMetro line M3 (blue)
Újpest-központ - Gyöngyösi utca - Lehel tér - Nyugati pályaudvar - Arany János utca - Deák Ferenc tér - Ferenciek tere - Kálvin tér (M4) - Corvin-negyed - Semmelweis Klinikák - Nagyvárad tér - Népliget (coach station) - Határ út - Kőbánya-Kispest (bus 200E to the airport). 20 stations, the longest line, about 32 minutes end to end; fully renovated since 2017.
- MetroMetro line M4 (green, driverless)
Keleti pályaudvar - II. János Pál pápa tér - Rákóczi tér - Kálvin tér - Fővám tér (Great Market Hall) - Szent Gellért tér - Műegyetem (Gellért Hill; the Gellért Baths are closed for renovation until a planned 2028 reopening) - Móricz Zsigmond körtér - Újbuda-központ - Bikás park - Kelenföld vasútállomás. Opened 2014, 7.4 km, about 13 minutes end to end.
- TramTram 2 (Pest riverside)
Jászai Mari tér - Országház, látogatóközpont (Parliament visitor centre) - Kossuth Lajos tér - Széchenyi István tér (Chain Bridge) - Vigadó tér - Március 15. tér - Fővám tér - Boráros tér - Müpa / Nemzeti Színház - Közvágóhíd. Runs along the Danube with views of the Castle; about 20 minutes end to end.
- TramTrams 4 and 6 (Grand Boulevard)
Széll Kálmán tér - Margit híd (Margaret Island stop) - Jászai Mari tér - Nyugati pályaudvar - Oktogon - Blaha Lujza tér - Rákóczi tér - Corvin-negyed - Boráros tér - Petőfi híd, then 4 to Újbuda-központ and 6 to Móricz Zsigmond körtér. Line 6 runs 24/7. From 28 September to 20 November 2026 neither line runs between 0:00 and 4:00 because of maintenance; 4-6 replacement buses run between Széll Kálmán tér and Móricz Zsigmond körtér via Újbuda-központ, and they do not stop at Margaret Island towards Széll Kálmán tér.
- TramTrams 19 and 41 (Buda riverside)
Both run Bécsi út / Vörösvári út (Óbuda) - Szent Lukács Gyógyfürdő (Lukács Baths) - Margit híd, budai hídfő - Batthyány tér - Clark Ádám tér (Castle Hill Funicular) - Várkert Bazár - Rudas Gyógyfürdő - Szent Gellért tér - Móricz Zsigmond körtér; 19 continues to Kelenföld vasútállomás, 41 to Budafok and Kamaraerdei Ifjúsági Park. Batthyány tér to Szent Gellért tér takes about 10 minutes.
- TramTrams 47, 48 and 49 (Small Boulevard to Buda)
From Deák Ferenc tér via Astoria, Kálvin tér and Fővám tér (Great Market Hall), across Liberty Bridge to Szent Gellért tér and Móricz Zsigmond körtér; 49 continues to Kelenföld vasútállomás, 47 and 48 to Budafok. Deák Ferenc tér to Szent Gellért tér about 7 minutes.
- TramCogwheel railway (Fogaskerekű, line 60)
Városmajor (near Széll Kálmán tér) - Svábhegy - Széchenyi-hegy, Gyermekvasút (Children's Railway station), about 15 minutes uphill. Part of the tram network: normal BKK tickets and passes are valid.
- BusCity buses and trolleybuses
Useful tourist lines: 16 (Deák Ferenc tér - Chain Bridge - Clark Ádám tér - Dísz tér in the Castle District - Széll Kálmán tér), 16A and 116 (Castle District from Széll Kálmán tér), 105 (Buda - Chain Bridge - Deák Ferenc tér - Andrássy út - Heroes' Square), 5 and 7/8E (Buda - Ferenciek tere - Astoria - Keleti), 291 (Nyugati - Zugliget chairlift), 21 (Széll Kálmán tér - Normafa), trolleybus 72 (Deák - Nyugati - Heroes' Square - Széchenyi Baths) and 70 (Kossuth Lajos tér - Opera - Király utca - City Park). Front-door-only boarding applies on many lines, for example 100E and 200E all day, 16 from 20:00, and 105 and 178 on parts of their routes. The Chain Bridge has been car-free since its renovation ended in August 2023; buses 16, 105 and 178 cross it.
- BusNight network (lines 9xx) and tram 6
The night network was reorganised from the night of 1-2 July 2026, so older route maps are out of date. Night buses are numbered from 900 up; main hubs are Astoria, Deák Ferenc tér, Móricz Zsigmond körtér, Blaha Lujza tér, Örs vezér tere and Széll Kálmán tér, where buses wait for each other. Regular tickets are valid; a single ticket bought from the driver costs HUF 700. Front-door boarding applies on most night routes outside the Grand Boulevard. 100E and 200E also run all night.
- TrainHÉV suburban railways H5-H9
Run by MÁV, integrated with BKK tickets inside Budapest. H5 Batthyány tér (M2) - Margit híd - Szentlélek tér (Óbuda) - Aquincum - Békásmegyer - Szentendre (about 40 minutes); H6 Közvágóhíd - Tököl; H7 Boráros tér - Csepel; H8/H9 Örs vezér tere - Gödöllő / Csömör. Beyond the city boundary (on H5 after Békásmegyer) buy a distance-based suburban extension ticket (HUF 400-600) or the day-long H5 tour ticket (HUF 6,200, up to 10 people travelling together). Budapest-passes and 24/72-hour cards only cover the section inside Budapest.
- FunicularBuda Castle Funicular (Budavári Sikló)
Clark Ádám tér (Buda end of the Chain Bridge) - Szent György tér (between the Royal Palace and Sándor Palace), 95 m, 95 seconds; opened 1870, part of the UNESCO site. Run by BKV with its own tickets: BKK tickets, passes and pensioner discounts are not valid; Budapest Card Plus gives a free return. Since 1 February 2026: one-way HUF 4,500, return HUF 5,500, child (3-14) one-way HUF 2,000 / return HUF 3,000, Funicular + boat combined ticket HUF 7,000 (30 days). E-tickets at siklojegy.hu. Closed for maintenance 5-16 October 2026 and on Mondays of odd weeks.
- FunicularZugliget Chairlift (Libegő)
Zugliget (bus 291 from Nyugati pályaudvar) up to János-hegy, the city's highest point; 1,040 m, about 12 minutes each way. Own tickets only (on-site machines or BudapestGO): one-way HUF 3,000, two rides HUF 4,000, child (3-14) HUF 1,000 / 1,500; Budapest Card gives free rides. Maintenance closures in 2026 include 5-16 and 26 October, 9 and 23 November, 7 and 21 December.
- TrainChildren's Railway (Gyermekvasút)
Narrow-gauge line through the Buda Hills from Széchenyihegy (top of the cogwheel railway) to Hűvösvölgy via Normafa and János-hegy (chairlift), 40-50 minutes end to end. Run by children under adult supervision; own tickets: adult single HUF 1,000, child (6-18) HUF 500, under 6 free, family day ticket HUF 5,000. Cash only, except cards at Széchenyihegy and Hűvösvölgy stations. Trains run daily except Mondays from early September to end of April.
- FerryBoats: D14 ferry and BKV tourist boats
BKK's only public boat line in 2026 is the D14 car and passenger ferry between Csepel-Királyerdő and Soroksár, Molnár-sziget in the far south (ferry ticket HUF 200; 24/72-hour cards and Budapest-passes valid). The former D11, D12 and D13 commuter boats are not in BKK's current timetable; BKV runs tourist boat services separately from BKK with their own fares.
- TaxiLicensed taxis (regulated fares)
All Budapest taxis are yellow with yellow number plates, a 'minősített budapesti taxi' sign on the front left door and the official fare table on the dashboard and rear doors. Official tariff, the same for every company and time of day: base fare HUF 1,300, HUF 520 per km, HUF 130 per minute when slower than 15 km/h. From August 2026 trips to or from the airport use an airport base fare of HUF 2,100 instead. Cash and cards are accepted. Licensed companies: Bolt, City Taxi, Elit Taxi, Főtaxi and Uber Taxi. Complaints: BKK +36 1 3 255 255 (note the car's registration or licence number).
- Ride-hailingBolt and Uber Taxi
Bolt and Uber Taxi are listed by BKK as licensed taxi companies in Budapest, so app rides are licensed taxis on the official tariff. BKK recommends ordering taxis by app or phone rather than hailing.
- BikeMOL Bubi bike sharing
BKK's public bike scheme was relaunched on 3 August 2026 with a new fleet of green bikes including e-bikes (planned 3,300 bikes, 800 of them electric) and the MOL Bubi app. From 15 September 2026 more than 400 'Mobi-point' parking spots were added as drop-off points; end rides only at points shown in the app and lock the bike, or a surcharge may apply. Fares not verified.
Common trips
Airport (Terminal 2)Deák Ferenc tér40 min
100E Airport Express, non-stop to Kálvin tér, Astoria and Deák Ferenc tér (HUF 2,500, tap a card on board)
- Bus 200E to Kőbánya-Kispest, then metro M3 to Deák Ferenc tér (regular tickets, e.g. 90-minute ticket)
- Licensed taxi (Főtaxi at the terminal, or Bolt/Uber Taxi)
Keleti pályaudvarParliament (Kossuth Lajos tér)7 min
Metro M2 towards Déli pályaudvar, 5 stops to Kossuth Lajos tér
- M4 to Kálvin tér, then M3 to Deák Ferenc tér and M2
Deák Ferenc térBuda Castle (Dísz tér)10 min
Bus 16 across the Chain Bridge to Dísz tér (about 10 minutes)
- Bus 105 or 16 to Clark Ádám tér, then the Castle Hill Funicular (own ticket, HUF 4,500 one way)
- Walk across the Chain Bridge and up the steps
Deák Ferenc térSzéchenyi Baths (City Park)10 min
Metro M1 to Széchenyi fürdő (8 stops)
- Trolleybus 72 from Deák Ferenc tér (about 16 minutes)
Parliament (Kossuth Lajos tér)Szent Gellért tér (Gellért Hill; Gellért Baths closed until 2028)
Tram 2 south along the river to Fővám tér, then metro M4 one stop to Szent Gellért tér - Műegyetem (or walk across Liberty Bridge)
- Metro M2 to Deák Ferenc tér, then tram 47, 48 or 49 to Szent Gellért tér (7 minutes)
- Tram 19 or 41 along the Buda bank from Batthyány tér (M2)
City centre (Deák Ferenc tér)Szentendre50 min
Metro M2 to Batthyány tér, then HÉV H5 to the terminus Szentendre (about 40 minutes)
Keleti pályaudvarMemento Park30 min
Metro M4 to the terminus Kelenföld vasútállomás (13 minutes), then bus 101E or 101B to the Memento Park stop (about 10 minutes)
- Bus 150 from Újbuda-központ (M4)
Deák Ferenc térHeroes' Square and City Park8 min
Metro M1 to Hősök tere
- Bus 105 along Andrássy út
Nyugati pályaudvarMargaret Island4 min
Tram 4 or 6 towards Széll Kálmán tér, one stop past Jászai Mari tér to Margitsziget / Margit híd (4 minutes)
- Walk from Jászai Mari tér across Margaret Bridge
Deák Ferenc térGreat Market Hall (Fővám tér)4 min
Tram 47 or 49, three stops to Fővám tér (4 minutes)
- Metro M3 to Kálvin tér, then M4 one stop
- Walk down Váci utca
Batthyány térLukács Baths / Óbuda (Szentlélek tér)
Tram 19 or 41 north to Szent Lukács Gyógyfürdő; HÉV H5 to Szentlélek tér for Óbuda
Széll Kálmán térBuda Hills (Normafa, Children's Railway, chairlift)
Tram to Városmajor, then the cogwheel railway (line 60) to Széchenyi-hegy and the Children's Railway to János-hegy; ride the chairlift down to Zugliget and take bus 291 to Nyugati
- Bus 21 from Széll Kálmán tér to Normafa (about 18 minutes)
Anywhere in the centre after midnightAcross the city
Tram 6 on the Grand Boulevard (24/7) or night buses (9xx) via Astoria, Deák Ferenc tér or Blaha Lujza tér
- Licensed taxi or Bolt/Uber Taxi
To and from the airport
BUD (Budapest Liszt Ferenc International Airport)
- Bus · 40 minAirport shuttle bus single ticket HUF 2,500 (since 1 Oct 2025): tap a bank card on the Pay&GO device on board (up to 5 tickets), or buy in BudapestGO, at BKK machines and offices. Normal single tickets and 24/72-hour cards are NOT valid; Budapest-pass holders pay HUF 1,000 (BudapestGO add-on). Over-65s ride free with proof of age.
100E Airport Express: Liszt Ferenc Airport 2 - Kálvin tér - Astoria - Deák Ferenc tér (M1/M2/M3), non-stop to the city. BKK quotes 40 minutes; the timetable shows about 26-46 minutes to Deák. Runs 24/7: every 6-10 minutes by day (7-10 on Tue-Thu and weekends), 10-15 early and late, about every 30-40 minutes at night. Front-door boarding; mobile tickets are scanned outside the bus before boarding.
- Bus · 45 minNormal BKK tickets: single HUF 500 per ride (so two singles for bus + metro), or a 90-minute ticket HUF 850, or a 24/72-hour card. Airport shuttle tickets are NOT valid on 200E. Card payment for the on-the-spot ticket on 200E is planned from mid-October 2026.
Bus 200E from Terminal 2 to Kőbánya-Kispest (about 20-25 minutes), then metro M3 to Deák Ferenc tér (17 minutes). Runs day and night; at night it continues to Határ út for night buses. Also stops at Ferihegy vasútállomás for MÁV trains (the 200E airport bus extension ticket, HUF 300, is sold with MÁV tickets for that stretch).
- TaxiRegulated fare: airport base fare HUF 2,100 + HUF 520/km + HUF 130/min; Főtaxi's airport service gives a fare calculation for the exact address before the trip. Total to the centre not verified.
Főtaxi is the airport's taxi partner; stands at the entrances of Terminal 2A and 2B. Bolt and Uber Taxi are also licensed taxi operators in Budapest.
Good to know
- Tap a contactless bank card on the Pay&GO validator at any metro entrance: it buys and validates a HUF 500 single ticket in one step. On the 100E airport bus the same device sells the HUF 2,500 airport ticket.
- A single ticket covers one ride only (except changes between metro lines in one direction). If you will change between tram, bus and metro, the 30-minute (HUF 600) or 90-minute (HUF 850) ticket in BudapestGO is better value.
- Validate before you travel: paper tickets in the machines at the metro entrance or on board; digital tickets by scanning the QR/NFC code at every boarding. Penalty fare is HUF 12,000 on the spot, rising to HUF 25,000 and HUF 50,000 if paid late.
- The 100E needs its own airport ticket; 24/72-hour cards are not valid on it but are valid on bus 200E to metro M3.
- The Castle Hill Funicular (HUF 4,500 one way from Feb 2026) and the Zugliget Chairlift do not take BKK tickets. Bus 16 from Deák Ferenc tér to the Castle District does.
- On many buses you must board at the front door and show your ticket to the driver.
- Only take yellow licensed taxis with the fare table displayed, or order by app or phone: base fare HUF 1,300, HUF 520/km, HUF 130/min (airport base fare HUF 2,100 from August 2026).
- Planned works in autumn 2026: trams 4/6 replaced by buses nightly 0:00-4:00 until 20 Nov; funicular closed 5-16 Oct; chairlift closed 5-16 Oct; BKK's timetable shows replacement buses on part of M1 on 3-4 Oct and on M2 between Déli and Deák on 17-18 Oct. Check BudapestGO before travelling.
Useful apps
- BudapestGO (BKK: journey planner with real-time data, digital tickets and passes, 100E ticket, chairlift tickets)
- MÁV app (HÉV suburban and extension tickets, trains)
- MOL Bubi (bike sharing)
- Bolt
- Uber (Uber Taxi)