Traveling to Budapest

By plane

The airport is 15 km away from the city center, but it is easy of approach. The stands of most big car rental companies can be found in the arrival hall of the airport. The "airport minibus" is a quite popular and cheap mean of transport and will take travelers to any place in the city.
Central airport information: (00 36-1) 296-9696.
Information on flights: (00 36-1) 296-7155.

By train

Budapest is connected with 25 capitals through its railway system. More than 50 big international lines leaving each day. Trains leave every 3 hours between Budapest and Vienna with a travel time of less than 2 hours 30 minutes. The InterCity trains, which connect the capital with provincial cities, are very comfortable.

Railway stations

Budapest has 3 main international railway stations.

• Eastern Station (Keleti Pályaudvar, VIII. Baross tér)
• Western Station (Nyugati Pályaudvar, Nyugati tér)
• Southern Station (Déli Pályaudvar, I. Krisztina krt. 37/a)

There are subway stations close to each of them with different colors for each line (Eastern and Southern Station: line 2, M2; Western Station: line 3, M3). With the M1 subway line you can visit most sights of the city, like Vörösmarty Square, Opera House, Hero Square because the M1 connects them with each other.

By bus

The main bus station of the international lines is located at the Erzsébet Square in the city center (subway station Deák Square M2, M3). The national lines depart from Népliget Station and Etele Square. The Volánbusz Corp. ensures connections to the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, the Netherlands, Italy, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Switzerland, Sweden, Turkey, Yugoslavia.
For information about national and international lines call: (00 36-1) 485-2100.

By car

In Hungary four interstate highways and four main roads leave from Budapest (except the main road 8). It is obligatory to have a toll-road sticker for the M1 and M3 highways (available at the frontier and at gas stations). The same rules of the road apply as in the other European countries.
However, here are some rules tourist must stick to: the speed limit in town is 50km/h, outside of living space 90km/h and on highways 110km/h. In town honking is only permitted in justified cases. Drinking and driving is punished very strictly.

By ship

From April to October it is possible to get to the center of Budapest on the river from Vienna and Bratislava. There is a big international port on the Danube between the Széchenyi and the Liberty Bridge.
Information about the Mahart ships: (00 36-1) 484-4025

Means of transport in Budapest

Budapest has a good-working public transportation system. More than 180 bus lines, 14 trolley-buses and trams run from about 4:30am to 11pm. The city has 3 subway lines, which cross in the city center at Deák Square. The vehicles run every 3-5 minutes. The suburban train, called HÉV, connects the town with Csepel, Szentendre, Gödöllo, and Ráckeve.
Tickets can be purchased at the subway stations, ticket automats, tobacco shops, and news vendor shops.
Nonetheless, we suggest you buy a Seven days ticket, which allows you to use all means of transport in the city.
From spring to fall pleasure boats cruise the Danube between the Margaret and the Petofi Bridge. Really enjoyable trips by ship can be taken to the Northwest, in the Danube bend, from Szentendre to Esztergom.
Delicious dishes and pleasant music are awaiting the guests.