Budapest sprawls. Rather than having a compact historic center where most of the tourists spend their time, great sights exist all over the city. While you can walk to many of these sights (I did), it’s a great time saver to take public transportation. Not only will you save time, but your feet will also get a break (even with public transportation, you’ll be walking a lot).
While some cities have public transportation that’s easy and straightforward, Budapest’s transportation feels more confusing than most. So, after a lot of time trying to decipher things for myself, I decided to put together a Budapest transportation guide that covers everything I wish I had known before traveling to Budapest.
Types of Budapest Public Transport
Before we get into tickets, we need to talk about what types of transportation options you have in Budapest. There are several types and this becomes important later.
Buses – This is pretty self explanatory. Just like every city, bus lines criss cross Budapest to get people where they need to go.
Trams – Yellow trams run dedicated lines throughout the city and can be a great way to get around.
Metro – The Budapest Metro has four lines (Yellow M1, Red M2, Blue M3, and Green M4). While the metro can be convenient for some journeys, the metro doesn’t go everywhere. Be prepared to transfer or to do some extra walking.
HEV – This is the suburban rail line that connects Budapest with its suburbs. There are some important caveats with using the HEV line which I’ll cover later.
Types of Public Transport Tickets in Budapest
Now that we have a brief overview of what types of transportation options are available in Budapest, let’s talk about the different ticket types. I believe that this is where things start to get confusing.
As a note, I’m only going to focus on the ticket types that tourists are most likely to purchase. There are other types of passes beyond what I have listed here, but it can be confusing enough without accounting for all of the additional passes that are available.
Single Ticket
A single ticket is valid for one, singular journey that can be completed in 80 minutes. You cannot transfer with this ticket. So if your route involves two buses, you’ll need a single ticket for each bus (or two single tickets). If your route has a bus and a metro, you will need two single tickets. If you need to transfer on your journey and are not using a 24 hour ticket, a timed ticket (covered next) will be a better option for you.
Note you can purchase a block of 10 single tickets. There’s a slight discount purchasing it this way and it will allow you to share your tickets with others or spread those tickets across multiple days. This may be ideal if you know with certainty how many journeys you’ll need.
Exceptions for the Metro
The exception to the single ticket’s ban on transfers is the metro. You are allowed to transfer metro lines with a single ticket. So you could start at Astoria on the Red M2, ride to Deák Ferenc Tér, transfer to the Yellow M1 and ride to the Széchenyi Baths at Széchenyi Fürdő.
This seems pretty straightforward, right? Well, because Budapest’s transportation likes to be confusing, especially for tourists, there’s exceptions to the metro exception. If you read the guide put out by Budapest’s transport service (BKK), you’ll see this line:
“Trip interruptions, transfers and return trips are not permitted. Transferring between the metro lines is possible if going in one direction (return trips in the opposite direction are not allowed).”
Let’s talk about what that means:
Trip Interruptions – A trip interruption means that you have exited the metro area. If you ride, leave the metro area to buy a sandwich and then try to resume your journey, your single ticket cannot be used again.
Transfers – Transfers in this context refer to buses to the metro, metro to the tram, buses to other buses, etc. Transferring from metro to metro is ok.
Return Trips – This means that your ticket must always be going in the same direction. The best way to explain it is by example. Let’s say you’re at the Astoria metro station and you want to go to Deák Ferenc Tér. You need to board your metro train going in the direction of Budapest-Delí. If you accidentally board your train going in the direction of Örs Vezér Tere, you’re stuck. You can’t just get off at the next station and get on the correct train. This would be considered a return journey and would invalidate your ticket.
So, as long as you are always going in one direction, without backtracking, leaving the metro area, or transferring to something other than the metro, you can transfer on the Budapest metro.
Transfers for Replacement Services
On an obscure note, if you need to get on a replacement service, you are allowed to transfer to the replacement service with the same single ticket. For example, when I traveled to Szentendre, there was some maintenance work being done, so for the last two stops, we had to transfer to a complementary replacement bus service. This does not count as a transfer even though I went from HEV train to bus.
Timed Tickets
As discussed, single tickets cannot be used if you need to make a transfer during your journey. If you need to make a transfer, a timed ticket will be a better option. There are two types of timed tickets: one for 30 minutes and one for 90 minutes.
If you need to switch buses or transfer between metro and the bus (or some other combination of two modes of transport), get a Timed Ticket for your journey. These cost more than a single ticket, but are cheaper than two single tickets.
Airport Tickets
If you’re traveling to the airport on the special 100E Airport Express bus, there is a separate ticket. This ticket costs more than any of the other tickets mentioned and is only valid for the 100E Airport Express.
Like with single tickets, you cannot transfer to other forms of transport with this ticket. If you need to transfer to another bus or metro once you reach the final stop of Deák Ferenc Tér, you’ll need to pick up an additional ticket.
24 & 72 Hour Passes
In my opinion, these are the best values for tourists. You can pick up a 24 hour pass and get access to all of the buses, metros, trams, and HEV stations within Budapest. You pay once and you get access to everything. It doesn’t matter which transfers you make and how often you ride. You just need the one pass.
For a 24 hour pass, it’s about the same as 5 1/2 single tickets. Remember though, that may not be 5 1/2 journeys. If you have to transfer buses during some journeys, it may only be 3 journeys. So, when trying to figure out what ticket you’ll need, I recommend using 3 journeys as a base line. If you’re going to take public transportation at least three times (regardless of which mode of transportation you take), just get the 24 hour pass and save yourself the headaches of single tickets.
Learn from my travels, the single tickets just become a headache. Get the 24 hour pass and start exploring Budapest.
HEV Extension Tickets
This last ticket only applies to certain travelers. If you are heading to Szentendre or Gödöllő via HEV train, you’ll need to pick up a supplemental ticket. All of the tickets that I’ve mentioned previously are only valid for the Budapest city limits and both Szentendre and Gödöllő are outside of the Budapest city limits. There are of course other destinations that may require a supplemental ticket, but these two destinations are the most likely for tourists to need.
So if you’re heading to Szentendre, you’ll need both a valid ticket (single ticket, timed ticket, 24 hour ticket) and this supplemental extension ticket. These must be purchased at the station (either from an attendant or from one of the machines). Thankfully the machines are in English and make it pretty easy to know which extension ticket you need to purchase for either Szentendre or Gödöllő.
For Szentendre, you’ll need a 15 km extension and for Gödöllő, you’ll need a 20 km extension.
It’s also worth remembering that if you need to take a bus or metro to get to the HEV station, you’ll need an additional single ticket (if you’re not using a 24 hour pass). So if you’re starting at Deák Ferenc Tér and traveling to Gödöllő, you’d need a single ticket from Deák Ferenc Tér to Örs Vezér Tere, then another single ticket from Örs Vezér Tere to Gödöllő, plus your HEV Extension ticket. Or you could get an 80 minute Timed Ticket that allows transfer from the metro at Deák Ferenc Tér to the HEV at Örs Vezér Tere.
How to Buy Your Ticket
Hopefully by now, you have decided which ticket you need to purchase. How do you purchase your ticket?
BudapestGo App
One way is the BudapestGo App. You can purchase your tickets before you come and validate them as you need them. Or you can buy tickets on your phone as needed.
Just as a note, your cart does not clear after a certain amount of time. If you put something in your cart and don’t check out for whatever reason, it will stay in your cart and you may end up accidentally purchasing a ticket you didn’t mean to. And yes even after a full 48 hours, your cart does not empty automatically. Ask me how I know.
I don’t have good luck with city public transportation apps. I’m not sure what it is because I do just fine with apps for intercity transport, but intracity transportation apps just hate me. I stuck with paper tickets during my journey.
Note that the HEV Extension tickets cannot be purchased through the app. You’ll need to get a paper ticket.
Paper Tickets
You’ll need to find a ticket machine if you want to use paper tickets, but this was never hard. They are available at all metro stations and near many busy tourist areas with public transportation. Just find a machine and follow the prompts (after changing the language to English) to purchase what you need. Note that in some stations, you may find an attendant that will sell you tickets at a ticket desk. I saw this more for the stations that connected to the HEV lines.
I used paper tickets for my stay in Budapest and honestly this was the easiest for me, because as I mentioned already, I do not have good luck with intracity transportation apps.
If you’re going to Szentendre or Gödöllő, you’ll want to stop by a machine for a paper ticket.
Pay & Go
If you have a contactless card or Apple Pay (or equivalent), you can just tap your credit card to pay for your journey and buy a ticket. This option only exists in certain areas of the Budapest transportation network. You can use this on the 100E Airport Express bus and on single journeys starting on the M1 metro line.
How to Validate Your Ticket
It is crucial to validate your ticket before starting your journey. If you are caught without a valid ticket, you need to be ready to pay a 12,000 HUF fine on the spot. And if you’re traveling with a group, everyone without a valid ticket will get a fine. So traveling as a couple, that’s a 24,000 HUF fine. If you’re traveling in a group of four, that fine jumps to a total of 48,000 HUF. Thankfully it’s a smaller fine compared to other locations in Europe, but it’s still enough to be annoying.
This is especially true because it can feel like ticket inspectors are out to catch tourists. Technically they are, but it’s especially noticeable if you get on or off at a metro stop that’s not at a major tourist spot. I passed ticket inspectors every time I went through Deák Ferenc Tér, for people arriving via metro at Széchenyi Fürdő for the Széchenyi Baths, on the line to Szentendre, and the 100E Airport Express (though they were more helpful at the Airport Express and just made sure everyone purchased a ticket before getting on the bus).
Ticket inspectors will not except excuses. If you are caught, you will be getting a fine. So how do you validate your ticket and make sure you don’t get caught?
Validating Single Tickets
Single tickets must be validated when you use it. This is because you can buy tickets in advance, but not use them until you’re ready. So, how do you validate your ticket?
For paper tickets, you’ll insert it into a machine. If the machine is broken, you need to find another machine immediately. Inspectors do not care if there wasn’t a functional machine. They just see that you’re traveling with an invalid ticket and will fine you.
For buses, look for a yellow-orange machine up front my the driver. For trams, look for a yellow-orange machine in the car when you enter the vehicle. For the metro, look for the yellow-orange machine when you enter the station. At popular tourist stops, there will likely be inspectors standing by the escalators, just after the ticket machines. For all of these, slide your ticket in the front and wait for the beep. You should see some minuscule holes and/or a some numbers stamped on it. This is all you need.
On the HEV trains, I saw a slightly different yellow machine. I stuck my ticket in the top and pulled the machine toward me to punch a hole in it. You may have to pull harder than you think.
For all paper tickets, there will be an arrow on the ticket. That’s the side to stick into the machine.
If you’re using the BudapestGo app, there will be a QR code to scan. For the metro it’s by the same paper ticket validating machines. For buses and trams, it’s likely on the outside of the vehicle but if you don’t see it, it may be up by the driver. You can also tap your phone to the NCF reader to validate your ticket.
Validating Timed Tickets
Timed Tickets are validated very similarly to single tickets. The only difference is that when you transfer, you need to validate your ticket again.
For paper tickets, flip the ticket and validate the other end. For the BudapestGo app, just tap or scan the QR code again.
Validating 24 and 72 Hour Tickets
How you validate this ticket depends where you get your ticket. If you purchase a paper ticket, your ticket is valid as soon as it’s issued by the machine. There will be a timestamp printed on the ticket and your ticket will be good for 24 hours from that date and time. Therefore, don’t purchase a 24 or 72 hour paper ticket until you are ready to use it.
If you are using the BudapestGo app, you can purchase your 24 or 72 hour ticket in advance. When you’re ready to board your first vehicle, you will validate it, just like a single ticket. Either scan the QR code or tap your phone to the NCF reader. You only need to validate your virtual ticket the first time you use it.
Validating Extension Tickets
When you purchase an extension ticket it is automatically valid for that day. There is nothing further you need to do to validate it.
That said, I was paranoid so I stuck both my single ticket and my extension ticket in the machine on the HEV train. I had four separate conductors check my tickets on the extension lines and no one told me off for validating both.
So, I guess it’s your choice. Just make sure that the date on your extension ticket matches today’s date.
Validating When There’s a Replacement Service
Note: this only applies if you’re using single tickets or timed tickets. If you have a 24 or 72 hour pass, you’re in the clear and can skip this section.
I didn’t think I’d even have to put a section here. I had read online that a local had never seen ticket inspectors on a replacement service. Well, I guess I was just lucky because I definitely got my ticket checked on a replacement bus.
When I visited Szentendre, the HEV train stopped at Pomáz and we had to use a replacement bus to go the last two stops. So what do you do in that situation? Thankfully I had read and reread the instructions on the BKK website and knew what I had to do and followed them exactly. This is very important because an inspector was ready to fine me until I explained the situation.
Validate your single use ticket as soon as you get on your first mode of transport. Then when you transfer to the next service, validate the other end of the ticket, similar to what you would do for a Timed Ticket.
So, for my journey from Batthyány Tér to Szentendre, I validated my single ticket when I got on the HEV train. Then when I reached Pomáz, I stuck my single ticket in the bus validator of the replacement service. No one checked my ticket on this journey at all which I found surprising because it’s a big tourist route. Though they definitely made up for it on my journey back to Budapest.
On my return journey from Szentendre to Batthyány Tér, I validated my ticket when I got on the bus in Szentendre. My tickets (both the single ticket and the extension ticket) were checked on the bus. In Pomáz, I validated the other end of the ticket on the HEV train, just as the website described by flipping it over and validating the other end. A ticket inspector then came on the train and checked my tickets.
The train punches big holes while the bus is minuscule, so it’s easy to tell where something was validated. The inspector saw my validation from the bus and pointed to it. While I don’t speak Hungarian, I knew he was asking “why do you have this ticket validated from a bus?”. I just said “replacement bus” and he nodded, gave me back my tickets, and moved on. But I could tell he was ready to tell me off and fine me.
So, after all this rambling remember this. Transfers are not allowed on single tickets, with the exception of replacement services. In the event of a replacement service, validate it on each method of transportation.
An Important Note on Validation
I think it’s important to note that as soon as you validate your single ticket, it is validated. You can’t un-validate it. That means if you validate your ticket and realize that you got on a bus going in the wrong direction, you can’t just get off and go in the other direction. You need to get a new single ticket and validate it before getting on the bus going in the right direction.
Tips for Navigation on Budapest Public Transport
I stuck to the metro and HEV when I was in Budapest, but I sometimes wondered if I was on the right platform. Since it’s important that you validate your ticket before getting on the train/bus/metro, it’s important to understand which direction you are traveling. In lines like the yellow M1 metro line, you validate your ticket and then can’t change platforms. For some other lines (like the red M2), you validate and then choose a platform.
So, for the metro and HEV (if getting off in the middle), it’s always good to know which direction you’re heading in. Then on the platform, look at the sign. The stop you’re on is circled and the direction the arrows are pointing is the direction the train is heading.
My Recommendations for Budapest Public Transport
I used single paper tickets to get around, but if I’m honest, it was more of a headache than anything. I picked single tickets because I thought I knew what I needed for transportation, not realizing all of the intricacies of paper tickets and the Budapest transportation system. So while you could go with paper tickets, I don’t recommend it. Unless you know exactly what you need and know there will be no deviations, don’t get the single tickets (or timed tickets for that matter).
Instead, I recommend just picking up 24 hour passes as you need them. You’ll be able to use whatever method of transportation you need and won’t even need to think about it. Whether you get a paper ticket or use the BudapestGo app, is up to you, but stick to 24 hour (or 72 hour) tickets. It’s just easier.
Final Thoughts
Budapest’s transportation is more complicated than many other cities, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t use it. Budapest’s transportation network is extensive and will get you where you want to go, but before you use it, make sure you know exactly what you need and how to use it. Ticket inspectors are prevalent and you don’t want to get hit with the 12,000 HUF fine.
Continue Your Adventure
Budapest: With your mastery of the public transport system, go out and explore Budapest in two days.
More in Europe: If you’re already visiting Budapest, consider adding Vienna. Beyond that, Paris is one of my favorites, but Amsterdam can also be fun. For an easy first trip, try visiting London.