Public Transportation in Budapest

Budapest has an excellent, thorough and efficient system of public transportation, which includes buses, trams, three subway lines called Metro, and electric trains called HÉV, which travel to suburbs such as Szentendre.

Detailed maps showing lines and schedules are available at most metro stations.

TICKETS

Before embarking on your public transport adventures, be sure to purchase an orange ticket and make sure that you validate it once you get on your mode of transport. Tickets for public transportation are available at all metro stations. You can buy tickets from a teller or an automatic machine. Buying tickets from the teller are the best way, because the automatic ticket machines might be out of order, and you don’t find out until your money is in the machine and you are left without a ticket.

Single tickets must be punched at entrance machines and in the red or yellow validation boxes on buses, trolleys or trams. Yellow boxes automatically stamp the ticket, but for the red ones you must pull the black part towards the ticket to punch it.

Don’t try to get by without a ticket – it can result in a fine (6,000 Ft on the spot or 12,000 Ft paid later on a check). Tickets and passes are checked by ticket inspectors at random, and you will be fined if you are caught without a valid ticket or pass. You might even be confronted by the huge security guys which will cause more trauma than the 270 Ft drain on your pocket book.

Keep your ticket until you are out of the metro station or off the bus, tram, trolley, cog railroad, funicular, or ski lift (really). You use the same type of ticket for all modes of transportation. If you change lines or systems, you must validate a new ticket. Addtional tickets are also required for destinations outside city limits.

One last tidbit: only show your ticket to ticket inspectors who are wearing the red BKV armband. So unless you see the armband, don’t give anything to anyone no matter what they say.

MONTHLY PASS

If you live in Budapest, or are in the city often, you will want a monthly pass (havibérlet) good for all forms of Budapest public transport. If used frequently, the pass is cheaper than individual tickets. Passes can be purchased at any main metro or bus station and require a passport sized photo the first time. The monthly passes can be purchased with any starting day and are valid until 24:00 on the previous day of the starting day in the next month.

OPERATING HOURS

City transportation runs regularly and frequently from 5 a.m. until 11 p.m. Night trams and buses operate on an abbreviated schedule, and are available during later hours. Prices rise by regular increments.

Cost of tickets and passes: www.bkv.hu

MANNERS

It is customary to give up your seat to older people, pregnant women, and people with small children.