transport in Budapest

getting there

By Air:

Budapest Ferihegy International Airport is located approximately 28 km from the city and provides direct service and connections to domestic and international destinations from airlines including:

City transport

Most of Budapest's backstreets and historic quarters are eminently suited to walking – and this is much the best way to appreciate their character. Traffic is restricted in downtown Pest and around the Várhegy in Buda, and fairly light in the residential backstreets off the main boulevards, which are the nicest areas to wander around.

However, if you do need to make use of public transport, Budapest has an excellent system, which ensures that few parts of the city are more than thirty minutes' journey from the centre; many places can be reached in half that time. It doesn't take long to pick up the basics and it's also much better value than taxis, which sometimes overcharge tourists, and preferable to driving or cycling amidst the traffic jams and exhaust fumes that afflict the main thoroughfares.

A word of warning: there's an active pickpocket battalion on both the metro (especially the yellow line) and the city buses. Gangs distract their victims by pushing them or blocking their way, and empty their pockets or bags at the same time.

Taxis

Budapest's taxis have gained themselves a reputation for ripping off foreigners – the best advice is to use one of the following established companies: Fo taxi (tel 1/222-2222)
City taxi (tel 1/211-1111), the most reliable;
Tele-5-taxi (tel 1/355-5555); Volántaxi (tel 1/466-6666).

Avoid unmarked private cars and those hanging around the stations and airport – the latter often charge a far higher rate than the official taxi from the airport into town.