Last Updated on 5 August 2026 by ZoliBP
How to Travel in the City?
Use public transport services to travel in Budapest, especially if you stay in one of the outer districts.
Although attractions in the central districts (V., VI., parts of I., II., VII. and VIII.) are easy to explore on foot you might want to rest your legs after a while and hop on a metro/tram/bus.
Table of Contents – Budapest Public Transport
Best Public Transport Lines For Tourists
You will easily get to any sight and attraction by travelling on one of the four metro lines or the major tram lines (No. 4, 6 and 2).
💡 Local Tip: In case it’s cold or a summer shower catches you, take one of the four metro lines (M1, M2, M3 and M4), or any of the major tram lines (tram 2, 2B, , 4, 6, 47, 49 or 19)
- Trams No. 2 and 2B run along the Pest Danube embankment (between Jászai Mari tér – Közvágóhíd stops), covering the picturesque promenade called Duna Corso and stopping in front of the Parliament in Kossuth Square.
- Trams 47 and 49 are also useful especially if you want to get from Pest to Buda or vice versa.
- Tram 19 is great for sightseeing in Buda, it connects Kelenföld Train Station with Óbuda (the Northern part of Buda). Similarly to Tram 2 and 2B in Pest it travels along the Danube between Liberty Bridge and Margaret Bridge offering a scenic view of the river and some famous attractions in Pest, in the .
These transport services will take you to most of the places of interest.
The bus and trolley bus service are quite extensive too.
There’s also a scheduled boat service on the Danube from spring till autumn.
Below you find information on Budapest public transport: types of tickets and passes, buying, and validating them.
A Few Things Worth Booking While You’re Here
Since you’re already planning how to get around, here are a few popular extras that pair well with a Budapest trip — all bookable online in advance.
Budapest Discovery Cruise
The cheapest way to see the city’s landmarks from the Danube – a 50-minute sightseeing loop under all six bridges.
Széchenyi Thermal Bath
Europe’s largest spa complex – soak in the famous outdoor pools right in the City Park.
Shared Airport Shuttle
Skip the public bus with your luggage – a shared shuttle takes you door-to-door between the airport and your address.
Tickets, Travel Cards, Prices and Fines
Quick price overview (see full details below)
Budapest has a fairly extensive and efficient public transport system. It is also cheaper than in most Western European cities.
A wide variety of trams, buses, trolleys and metro trains run in the city.
Night service is quite reliable, too.
📋 Note: Be prepared for typical rush hours: vehicles are crowded and traffic can be rather slow. This would be expected in any large city.
Children’s Fares, Student Passes, Family Discounts
Children living in Hungary up to the age of 14 travel free of charge. A valid Hungarian identity card is required for them to verify age if a controller asks for tickets and passes.
Pupils, university students can buy discount monthly/yearly passes with a valid student ID card.
No student discount on single tickets though.
💡 Local Tip: For families visiting Budapest with kids we recommend getting the 24-hour group travel card. 5 people can travel with it for up to 24 hours and it costs 5 000 HUF.
Free Travel on Public Transport with Budapest Card
💡 Local Tip: If you don’t want to bother with buying and validating tickets, purchase a Budapest City Card.
Besides unlimited free travel on public transport, the card offers a range of discounts on tours/services, free entry to the permanent exhibitions of many museums, entry to the Lukács Bath etc.
Buy Budapest Card: Public Transport, 30+ Top Attractions & Tours
There’s also a dedicated Sziget Citypass by Budapest Card for festival-goers: 2-day pass 14 990 HUF, 7-day pass 29 990 HUF.
Read more about the Budapest Card and whether it’s worth getting it!
Public Transport Tickets and Passes
(Current Prices)
📋 Note: A single ticket costs 500 HUF (700 HUF if bought on board), and a pack of 10 single tickets costs 4 500 HUF. Prices are reviewed periodically by BKK, so always check the official BKK price list for the latest figures. Tickets are available online through the BudapestGO App.
💡 Local Tip: If you visit the Hungarian capital for 2-3 days and you stay in a city center hotel, we recommend that you use:
Time-based tickets (30-minute and 90-minute) work well too with unlimted transfers within the timeframe.
Single tickets or the
Discounted block of 10 tickets to make travelling on public transport lines hassle-free.
Free Travel For Seniors 65 + – EU Citizens Only
TIP: Citizens of the European Union countries and Switzerland aged 65 and up can use all public transport lines for free in Budapest.
They have to show a valid ID to verify age and nationality if asked by a ticket inspector).
The current tickets and passes are of pale purple colour.
Tickets, Transfer Tickets
- Single ticket (vonaljegy or just jegy) 500 HUF, (700 HUF if purchased from the driver on board the vehicle): valid on all public transport vehicles for one uninterrupted trip. If you
- Block of 10 single tickets (tíz darabos gyűjtőjegy: 4 500 HUF). Costs less than 10 single tickets purchased individually.
Time-Based Tickets: Save Money
Use time-based tickets if you need to transfer between metro lines and also other lines (trams, buses, trolley).
You save money with it since you don’t need to use a 500-HUF single ticket every time you need to change public transport lines.
Moreover, you can finish your trip beyond the 30th or 90th minute until you reach your destination within Budapest.
Please remember to validate your time-based ticket before the start of your travel and each time you switch to another travel line.
You can use time-based tickets for an unlimited number of transfers and trip interruptions, by validating it each time you board making sure that your last transfer falls within the 30-minute or 90-minute time limit.
There Are Two Time-Based Tickets:
- 30-minute ticket: 600 HUF
- 90-minute ticket: 850 HUF
📋 Important! Please scan the code each time when you board a vehicle to validate your ticket. When transferring between metrolines, you are not required to revalidate your ticket.
📋 Note: If you carry a bike with you (permitted only on a few vehicle types) you have to validate a single ticket for it.
Travel Cards
24-Hour Travel Card
- Price: 2 750 HUF – Please note that is not the same as the 24-hour Budapest Card
- Valid on all public transport vehicles except for the boat service on the Danube.
- For an unlimited number of trips from 0:00 to 24:00 of the day indicated on the ticket (you decide on the starting time).
72-Hour Travel Card
- Price: 5 750 HUF – not the same as the 72-hour Budapest Card
- Valid on all public transport vehicles – except for the boat service- for an unlimited number of trips for 72 hours starting from the time and date you purchased it.
Public Boat Service Tickets
Unfortunately Public Boat services ceased to run as of 2023 due to high maintenance expenses.
Where To Buy Tickets And Passes?
You have two options, choose the one that you’re more comfortable with:
BudapestGO App or Paper Tickets/Travel Cards
- Go the traditional way and buy and use paper tickets and travel cards (24-hour or 72-hour, or if you are comfortable with using apps
- Download the BudapestGO public transport application to buy single tickets, time based tickets (for 30-minute or 90-minute duration) and 24/72-hour travel cards. The app is also a great help in planning your route providing real-time travel information as well as route and service recommendations including the BuBi public bike rental points.
You can buy paper tickets and travel cards from the ticket vending machines with bankcard (or cash). You The purple colored ticket automats are placed at main public transport stations (metro entrance), as well as at the airport.
The airport also has BKK Customer Sales Points where you can get your ticket/travel card from a real person.
If you don’t have or don’t want to use the BudapestGO App you have to buy your tickets/pass in advance.
You can get them from ticket vending machines (TVM) or at many newspaper kiosks.
Around 300 new ticket vending machines have been placed throughout the city where you can get tickets and passes 24/7 by paying with cash or bank card.
I often use them and found them are quite reliable.
Most ticket offices have closed down though. You will find Ticket Offices (Jegypénztár) in some metro stations near the entrance:
- Corvin negyed M3/blue line,
- Népliget M3/blue line,
- Nyugati tér M3/blue line,
- Blaha Lujza tér M2/red line,
- Széll Kálmán tér M2/red line.
Most cashiers speak only Hungarian so it’s best to go to the cashier with a piece of paper on which you’ve written down in Hungarian what type of ticket you want to buy.
💡 Local Tip: Here is a map of the Public Transport Company showing all the operating ticket sellers.
How To Use The Ticket Vending Machines (TVMs)?
Using the machines is pretty straightforward, just read the instructions displayed on the monitor.
First choose language by touching the appropriate flag symbol on the bottom of the screen on the right hand side of the TVM.
A list of the most popular ticket types and passes will appear
- Single ticket-500 HUF,
- Block of 10 tickets – 4500 HUF,
- 24-hour travel card,
- 24-hour group travel card,
- Various monthly passes.
I only give you the steps on buying tickets/travel card because these are the ones most suited to tourists visiting Budapest for a couple of days.
Buying Ticket/Travel Card From The TVM:
- Select the ticket/travel card you want to buy.
- Decide whether you want the machine to print an invoice, if not then press payment without VAT invoice.
- Choose payment method: you can pay by cash, bank card (PayPass/contactless cards). I prefer using bank card, and recommend this payment method for tourists as well.
Paying By Bank Card/Contactless Card – Recommended For Tourists
The simplest and fastest way is to pay with a bankcard/contactless card.
Just follow the steps shown on the card terminal screen. After payment collect the purchased ticket or travel card.
Paying By Cash:
The machine accepts all current Hungarian coins from 5 HUF to 200 HUF.
You can use banknotes too: 500 HUF, 1 000 HUF, 2 000 HUF, 5 000 HUF, 10 000 HUF, 20 000 HUF. Based on the total value of the purchase the TVM defines the banknotes to be accepted.
If the purchase is of a small amount (e.g. a 500 HUF single ticket) 2000 HUF or smaller notes are accepted. In case of a bigger purchase larger notes can also be used.
The machine accepts 35 coins and 15 banknotes per transaction. It gives back changes in coins and notes.
Make sure you don’t leave your bank card or other belongings at the machine.
You can also view an instructional video on how to buy monthly passes and use the vending machines on the transport company’s (BKK) website.
How To Validate Tickets?
You must validate your ticket at the start of your journey.
Metro Stations
In case of metro tickets you have to put the ticket in the ticket validation machine (orange coloured box on a metal pole) that’ll stamp a time and date on the ticket.
A short musical tone and the tiny green light confirm that the ticket has been validated.
Once you validated the metro ticket you head for the escalator that’ll take you to the metro platform where you wait for the metro car.
At the top of the escalator ticket inspectors will most likely stop you to check whether you’ve validated your ticket.
Other Vehicles
On other vehicles (trams, buses, trolley) there’ s
- Either the orange or yellow box similar to the ones in metro stations, or
- A smaller red box in which you insert the ticket then pull the black part on the top towards you to punch the ticket (a pattern of holes appear on the validated ticket).
📋 Note: The slot on some ticket validation machines is clogged with chewing gum or paper (deliberately done by prank makers) so you won’t be able to insert the ticket. Try another machine on the vehicle to validate your ticket.
Inspectors check passengers’ tickets throughout the day.
An inspector usually wears dark blue uniform and a blue with a red armband. Nowadays, however they are in plain clothes (but still must put on the armband when checking tickets) in order to disguise themselves.
To avoid problems, buy the type of ticket or pass that are most suitable for your visit and your budget, and remember to validate it. Keep your ticket until the end of your journey.
Fines are high (if caught travelling without a valid ticket or pass you’ll be fined to pay 25 000 HUF, reduced to 12 000 HUF if you pay it on the spot or within 2 days of being fined)
It’s not worth ruining your stay with constant watching out for the inspectors. If you forgot to buy a ticket or validate it, and you’re fined the ticket inspector must give you a receipt about the payment.
Fines For Travelling Without A Valid Ticket/Pass
If you’re caught without a valid ticket by a ticket inspector, you are to pay a fine which is currently 12 000 HUF paid on the spot or in BKK’s Surcharge Office within 2 work days from the date of the fining.
Note: The inspector must give you a receipt of the payment when you pay on the spot.
If you don’ pay the fine on the spot or within 2 work days, but settle the amount within 30 days the penalty fare is 25 000 HUF.
If you don’t pay the fine on the spot, the ticket inspector initiates a fining procedure (ensuring the opportunity of deferred payment).
In this case he/she is entitled to ask the required personal data (name, mother’s name, date and place of birth) and also the address of the passenger. On the basis of these data, the ticket inspector fills in a so-called “Surcharging procedure report”.
If the passenger refuses to give his/her personal data, the ticket inspector can ask for police assistance on the spot.
The ticket inspector gives a cheque about the amount of the fine and a leaflet about the opportunities of payment.
The passenger shall sign that he/she accepts the surcharging and confirms that he/she has given the required personal data. The denial of signature doesn’t acquit the passenger of the consequences of the fining.
You’ll find the most up-to-date information about tickets, prices and penalty fines on the Public Transport Company’s website (BKK).
✈ Public Transport Services From Airport To The City Centre
100E Airport Express Shuttle Bus To The City Center/Deák Ferenc Square
You Need To Purchase A Separate Single Ticket (2 500 HUF)
The 100E Airport Express is a direct bus line that connects the Airport and the City Centre. The journey takes 40 minutes only.
Buses – low-floor, air-conditioned vehicles run every 6-8 minutes during the day and every 10 minutes at night in the tourist season
- Ferenc Liszt Airport and
- Deák Ferenc tér metro hub (where 3 metro lines – M1, M2, M3 – meet) in district V, downtown Budapest
The bus also stops at Kálvin tér (M3 metro) and Astoria (M2 metro). See the schedule on BKK’s website.
The first bus departs at 03:40 AM the last one at 01.20 AM (runs every 20 min).
Where To Buy Ticket For The 100E Airport Express Bus?
The new bus service can be used with a special ticket that is valid only for this line. A one-way ride costs 2 500 HUF (cc. 6.2 EUR). (The Budapest Card and other passes aren’t valid for this service).
Note: The Airport Shuttle bus ticket can be bought
- At the BKK Customer Service Points at the Airport or
- From Ticket vending machines located next to the Customer Service (accepts credit card/bank card).
- You can also buy it on board the bus in digital form through the yellow and black Budapest Pay & Go devices, with a bankcard or smart watch or phone.
Your ticket purchase also validates your ticket.
In case a ticket inspector comes and asks for your ticket just touch your bankcard/smartwatch/smartphone you used to pay with to the back of the handheld gadget the controller has with her/him.
See where to buy tickets at the airport!
Other Ways To Get To the City Center/Airport
You can choose from several ways to travel to the centre from Budapest Airport:
- Train service from Ferihegy Train Station (accessible by bus 200E during the day, and by bus 900 at night from Liszt Ferenc Airport Terminal 2, the trip is 5 stops, around 10 minutes) to Western Train Station (Nyugati Pályaudvar): this is the simplest way to get to the city centre.
- You can get to the city center by the M3 (blue) metro line or trams 4 and 6 from the train station. The train journey takes less than half an hour (cc. 22-25 minutes).
- Train tickets (costs cc. 400 HUF) can be purchased at the ticket office at Ferihegy train station (open: 6.00-18.00 every day) or from ticket vending machines.
- Travel cards (24-hour, 72-hour) are also valid for the train trip between Ferihegy and Nyugati Train Stations (and for buses 200 E/900). If you don’t have a travel card or don’t want to buy it then you’ll need a single ticket (costs 500 HUF, 700 HUF if bought on board the bus) for the bus trip from Terminal 2 to Ferihegy Train Station.
- Bus 200E takes you from Terminal 2 to the M3 (blue) metro terminal called Kőbánya-Kispest Metro Station. The bus operates from 4.00 till 23.00 daily. The journey is about 30 minutes. From there you can travel on by metro. See timetable of Bus200E.
A one-way public transport ticket (single ticket) costs 500 HUF (700 HUF when you buy it from the driver onboard the bus).
Buying Public Transport Tickets/Passes at Budapest Airport
You can buy
- 100E Airport Express shuttle bus ticket (Bus No. 100E) – 2 500 HUF
- Single tickets (500 HUF),
- Pack of 10 single tickets (4 500 HUF),
- Travel cards (24-hour, 72-hour),
- Monthly, yearly etc. passes
at the BKK Customer Points/BKK Ügyfélpont at Terminal 2A and 2B. (BKK is an abbreviation for the Budapest Publc Transport Company in Hungarian).
You can also use the Ticket Vending Machines palced next to the customer service point.
BKK Customer Service at the Airport – Opening Hours
- Terminal 2A, Arrivals, Opening Hours: every day: 08.00 – 22.00, on December 31: 08.00 – 20.00, on January 01: 08.00 – 22.00
- Terminal 2B, Arrivals, Opening Hours: every day: 09.00 – 21.00, on December 31: 08.00 – 21.00, on January 01: 09.00 – 21.00
Ticket Vending Machines – Next to the Customer Service Point
You can buy
- tickets,
- travel cards and
- the airport bus ticket (Bus No. 100E, 2 500 HUF) from 3 ticket vending machines next to the customer service center (accepts bank card/credit card).
News Agent, Post Office
You can also buy single tickets and pack of 10 single tickets at
- the Relay News Agents
- and at the post office (closed on weekends and holidays) on the mezzanine level at Terminal 2A. Opening Hours of the Post Office: Monday – Friday: 8.00 – 12.00 and 12.30 – 15.30, closed on weekends and public holidays. 24-hour, 72-hour and 7-day travel cards are also sold at the post office at Terminal 2A.
Relay Newsstands (sell only single tickets/pack of 10 single tickets):
- Terminal 2A Arrivals, Relay Newsstand: 08.30 – 00.30 every day
- Terminal 2A Departures, Relay Newsstand: 04.15 – 21.00 every day
- Terminal 2B Arrivals, Relay Newsstand: 08.00 – 21.30 every day
- Terminal 2B Departures, Relay Newsstand: 04.30-21.00 every day
- Skycourt, Relay: Mon-Fri: 04.15 – 21.00 every day, Sat: 04.15 – 20.00
Opening hours of the ticket office at the Kőbánya Kispest Metro Termini: every day: 6.00-21.30.
Ticket Vending Machine (Bus 200E Stop)
There’s also a ticket vending machine at the stop of Bus 200E. You can buy tickets (all types), travel cards and passes here with cash or bank card.
📋 Note: Remember to validate your ticket, travel cards don’t require validation, you just have to show them to the inspector if asked.
Read about other ways of getting to the city centre from Liszt Ferenc Airport.
Budapest Metro Lines
The 4-line metro system is efficient and clean. Trains run from 4.30 am to 11.10 pm.
The newest, 4th line started operation at end of March in 2014 with automated trains running between
- Kelenföld Pályaudvar in Buda and
- Keleti Train Station in Pest with 10 stations along the way.
They run quite often (2-5 minutes) during rush hours.
The older three lines (M1 underground, M2-red line, M3-blue line) meet at Deák Ferenc tér in the city centre.
Read more about Budapest Metro lines!
🚊 Trams In Budapest -The Most Important Tram Lines:
Budapest has more than 30 tram lines, you can recognize them by their bright-yellow colour.
Trams No. 4 and No. 6
- Tram 4 operates between Újbuda Központ and Széll Kálmán tér), while
- Tram 6 connects Móricz Zsigmond körtér and Széll Kálmán tér)
The two are among the busiest tram lines in Europe. Tram 4 and 6 have an almost identical route they just differ in a couple of stops in the Újbuda side near their terminis there.
Both services run along Grand Boulevard/Nagykörút and have stop at the entrance to Margaret Island (Margitsziget).
💡 Local Tip: Trams 4 & 6 un at around 5-6 minute frequency from 07.00 till 20. 00. Tram 6 operates all night: you can expect a tram car every 10 minute between 21.00 and 24.00.
Tram No. 2, 2B & 23 – One Of The Most Scenic Tram Rides In Europe
Tram 2, 2B and 23 run along the Danube, between
- Jászai Mari tér (at Margaret Bridge Pest side) and
- Közvágóhíd in IX. district. Tram 2 runs at every 3 – 5 minutes from 06.00 till 19.00 on weekdays, then every 9-10 minutes till 23.45 – 24.00. It operates silghtly less frequently on Sundays and bank holidays.
Travelling by tram is slower but more spectacular than by metro, especially if you take tram No. 2. or 2B
These two lines travels along one of the city’s most scenic routes, the Danube Promenade.
A sightseeing tour by bus doesn’t come up to a ride on tram No. 2. You get a very good view of the Gellert Hill, Castle Hill, the Parliament, not to mention the Danube and the graceful bridges (Liberty, Erzsébet and Cain bridges) over it.
You have to buy your ticket in advance and validate it onboard at the start of your journey.
You either find red punch-machines or orange automated machines.
Trams run between 04.30 am until around 22.45 on weekdays. You’d better check the timetables at the stops. You’ll also see the route of the tram line there.
Trams No. 47 and 49
Two major lines connecting Pest with Buda:
- Tram 47 runs between Deák tér-Budafok Városháza tér,
- Tram 49 travels between Deák tér and Kelenföldi Train Station.
🚌 Bus Services
Budapest has a very extensive bus route system. I personally don’t like to travel by bus, but some parts of the city (e.g. Buda Hills) can only be reached by bus.
During rush hours buses are crowded and they often get stuck in traffic jams.
Night Buses
The night services are marked with a three digit number between 900-999, e.g. 906. You can get on a night bus at stops marked with the black-and-white owl symbol
💡 Local Tip: Tram 6 (between Móricz Zsigmond körtér and Széll Kálmán tér) also operates all night at around 10-minute frequency.
You can buy tickets from the driver but you have to pay a bit more (costs 700 HUF instead of 500 HUF of the single ticket’s price).
You have to press a button above the doors to signal that you want to get off at the next stop.
You’ll find the stops posted inside the buses, but if no one gets off or on, the vehicle won’t stop, so you may lose track of stops.
Your best bet is to ask locals travelling on the bus; they’ll be happy to tell you where to get off.
Unfortunately you don’t have to queue at the stops, so be prepared that particularly locals tend to thrust, in order to get on the vehicle. (Actually it’s true for all kinds of transportation in Hungary.)
See timetable for night services.
🚎 Trolley Lines
There are 14 trolley bus lines in Budapest. Trolleys are red coloured.
It’s interesting that their numbers start from 70, according to the story the first line started operating on Stalin’s 70th birthday.
Trolley buses operate until somewhere between 11-12 pm.
You can check the timetables at the stops, they’ll provide reliable information. Ticket validation is the same as on buses.
🚃 Suburban Railway (HÉV)
You can travel by HÉV (green trains) to the outskirts of Budapest.
The Szentendre line might be interesting for tourists. It runs between Batthyány tér (it’s also on the red metro line) and Szentendre.
Szentendre is a small, charming town right on the Danube bank. Don’t miss visiting it if you come to Budapest for a couple of days!
Tickets within the boundary of the city cost the same as discussed above. Outside Budapest you pay according to the distance you’ll cover during your trip.
Within Budapest (Batthyány tér – Békásmegyer), your normal single ticket or travel pass is valid. Beyond the city boundary, from Békásmegyer to Szentendre, you need a supplementary HÉV ticket, which costs 560 HUF. HÉV trains run every 10 to 30 minutes.
Public Boat Service (Discontinued)
Budapest used to have a scheduled public boat service on the Danube (lines D11-D14, between Boráros tér and Római fürdő), running seasonally from spring to autumn. As noted above, this service ceased entirely in 2023 due to high maintenance costs and has not been reinstated. If you want to see the city from the water, a sightseeing or dinner cruise is the way to go – see our guide to Budapest Danube cruises.
Try The Special Vehicles!
Budapest offers several unique means of transportation some of them dating back to the 19th century.
Try riding at least on one of these unique means of transportation during your stay especially if you’re with kids!
Funicular (Budavári Sikló)
Takes you up to Buda Castle from Clark Adam Square at the Buda end of Chain Bridge.
Location
- Lower Station: Clark Adam tér- , Budapest 1013 Buda end of the Chain Bridge, next to the tunnel
- Upper Station: Szent György tér, between Buda Castle and Sándor Palace
Getting to the Lower Station of the Funicular:
- use bus 16, 105, trams 19, 41, Upper Sttaion: bus 16, 16A, 116 will take you there.
The funicular – that is a UNESCO Wold Heritage Site along with the whole Castle area – has been operating since 1870.
It connects the riverbank with Buda Castle.
You can enjoy the amazing view during the 95 m long ride, the grade of ascension is 50 m.
Operating Hours
- The funicular rides all year long, every day between 08.00 – 22.00 (with the exception of maintenance on every odd week’s Monday until the works last.
- Frequency: every 5 – 10 minutes
- Last ticket sold: 21.50
Tickets For The Funicular:
- Return ticket (adult): 5 500 HUF, discounted (age 3-14): 3 000 HUF
- One-way ticket (adult): 4 500 HUF, discounted (age 3-14): 2 000 HUF
- Combined Funicular + Boat return ticket (adult): 7 000 HUF, discounted: 3 000 HUF; one-way: 6 000 HUF, discounted: 2 500 HUF
- Free for children under the age of 3 (Only max. two children under 3 per adult are allowed)
- Last ticket sold at 21.50
- Note: You can pay with Hungarian Forints in cash or with bankcard only at the Funicular’s ticket office.
TIP: You can buy tickets online for the funicular here.
Please validate your ticket before boarding and also make sure you keep your receipt of the ticket purchase until the end of the journey and you till you leave the station.
Chairlift (Libegő)
Address (Lower Station): Zugligeti út 97., Budapest 1121, Distr. XII.
- Getting to Zugliget: Take bus 291 from Nyugati Train Station, get off at the termini
- Getting To The Upper Station (János Hill): Take bus 21 or 21A from Széll Kálmán tér (trams 4, 6, M2 metro) then walk on the footpath (20-30 minutes)
Travelling on the chairlift lets you admire the wonderful panorama of the Buda Hills.
It will take you from Zugliget up to János Hill – the highest peak of Budapest – or back down.
The 12-minute journey is slightly longer than 1 km (1040 m) while the elevation difference is 261 m. The 2 600 m long cable has 102 double seat chairs hanging from it.
Not recommended if you’re scared of heights!
💡 Local Tip: Climb up the Erzsébet Lookout Tower to get an even more panoramic view.
Operating Hours (Every Day, Exc. Maintenance On Every Even Week’s Monday)
- January: 10.00 – 15.30
- February: 10.00 – 16.00
- March: 10.00 – 17.00
- April: 10.00 – 18.00
- May: 10.00 – 19.00
- June: 10.00 – 19.00
- July: 10.00 – 19.00
- August: 10.00 – 19.00
- September: 10.00 – 18.00
- October 01 – 30: 10.00 – 17.00 (Oct 31: 10.00 – 17.00
- November: 10.00 – 15.30
- December: 10.00 – 15.30
Tickets For The Chairlift
- Adult one-way: 3 000 HUF, round-trip: 4 000 HUF
- Student (age 15-25, with valid student ID) one-way: 1 500 HUF, round-trip: 2 500 HUF
- Children (ages 3-14) one-way: 1 000 HUF, round-trip: 1 500 HUF
Children’s Railway (Gyermekvasút) – Between Hűvösvölgy – Széchenyi Hegy
Children between 10 – 14 years of age check tickets and give signals to the train on this special train line, hence the name: Children’s railway.
Schedule – Operating Hours
- The Children’s Railway operates all year round. From May till September: every day, September – May: Tuesday – Sunday
- Departure times: Hüvősvölgy station: 1st train departs at 08.45, last train: 17.22, Széchenyi Hill station: first train departs at 09.45, last one at. 18.45
- Frequency: every 40-45 minutes
Great for excursions in the Buda Hills especially if you are visiting Budapest with kids.
The train journey take 40 – 50 minutes between the 2 terminis, but you can get off at any station t go for hiking and exploring the hills.
Tickets For The Children’s Railway
- Adult single trip ticket (no stopover): 1 000 HUF, transfer ticket (rebound trip with no stopover or one-way trip with one stopover: 1 800 HUF
- Children ages 6 – 18: single trip ticket: 500 HUF, transfer ticket: 900 HUF
- Family day ticket (unlimited travel for the day; max. 2 adults + 3 children, or 1 adult + 4 children): 5 000 HUF
- Nostalgia surcharge ticket (for the steam-train service, in addition to your regular ticket): adult 400 HUF, child 200 HUF
- Bicycle ticket: 500 HUF
- Dog ticket: 500 HUF
- Day tickets are also available in the MÁV+ app: adult 2 500 HUF, child (age 6-18) 1 250 HUF
- Families with kids (2 adults max. 3 children): 5 000 HUF – unlimited number of trips
- Free for children under age of 6
📋 Note: You can buy your ticket at the station’s ticket office or on board the train. Only cash payment is available and only Hungarian Forints are accepted.
Cogwheel Railway (Fogaskerekű)
The Cogwheel Railway (also known as Tram 60) isn’t a special-fare attraction – regular BKK tickets and passes are valid on it, same as on any tram. A single ticket bought in advance costs 500 HUF (700 HUF if bought on board), a pack of 10 costs 4 500 HUF, and any daily/monthly pass also works.
🚲 Transporting A Bike
MOL Bubi – Budapest’s Public Bike-Share
Don’t want to carry your own bike? Budapest has a public bike-share system called MOL Bubi, with docking stations all over the city centre. The service recently upgraded to Bubi 3.0, bringing a refreshed fleet of bikes and an updated docking network.
You rent and pay for a Bubi bike directly through the BudapestGO app (the same app used for public transport tickets) – unlock a bike at any station, ride where you need to go, and dock it at any other station when you’re done. It’s a convenient way to combine short bike rides with the metro, tram or bus for longer trips across the city.
If you’d rather rent a bike for a full day or longer (with no docking-station restrictions), private rental companies around the city offer bikes from around 500 HUF per hour, or a flat daily rate – a good option if you want to explore further afield, like along the Danube embankments.
Bringing Your Own Bike on Public Transport
If you’re adventurous enough you can also go biking in Budapest. You can carry your bike with you on the on several public transport services:
- Suburban trains – in the back of a carriage (HÉV)
- Tram 60 (cogwheel railway),
- Buses 65, 65A and 165,
- trams 59 and 59A
- public boat
You need to buy and validate a single ticket (500 HUF) for the bicycle if you don’t have a bike pass which is 540 HUF (you can buy it as a supplement for most seasonal passes).
Travelling Information For People With Physical Disability
There are low floor buses and trolleybuses on several routes in Budapest, low floor trams on the Nagykörút and the Public Transport Company (BKK) offers a special door-to-door bus service, which they operate in a taxi-like system.
They launched this service on 12th April 2010 with 5 minibuses, type Renault Master 2,5 dCl, which were specially designed to help passengers with reduced mobility to reach one part of the city from the other part.
To make transport for physically challenged passengers as simple and easy as possible, one of the minibuses is equipped with a ramp, and four with hydraulic lifts and there are also special hand-holds in the passenger compartment.
All five vehicles are air-conditioned. The seats are moveable on a so-called rail system, so the passenger compartment can be re-arranged to meet every requirement. There is convenient room for 14 people or for 4 wheelchairs, and 4 or 5 attendants besides them.
People who want to use this service has to call the National Federation of Disabled Persons’ Associations (MEOSZ), phone numbers: +36 1 388-55-29, +36 1 388-23-87 or +36 1 388-23-88.
Planning More of Your Budapest Trip?
Budapest Danube Cruises
See the city from the water – sightseeing, dinner, prosecco and party boats compared.
Budapest Thermal Baths
Many of the city’s baths (like the Cogwheel Railway and Funicular routes) are just a ride away.
Is the Budapest Card Worth It?
Free public transport plus discounts on attractions – our full breakdown of whether it pays off.
