City guide article

From the Airport

Ferihegy International Airport is located 24km southeast of Budapest and has two terminals side by side and an older terminal 5km to the west. To get into the city there are a few ways but the most popular is the Budapest Airport Minibusz (+361 296 8555, or through your travel agency). The minibusz is a nine seat van that ferries passengers from the airport directly to their hotel/hostel. Prices vary according to what area you are residing in; but in general the city centre is priced at 2990Ft one-way, 4990Ft return. Be aware that you need to book your return journey at least 12 hours in advance; try not to leave it too late to catch your plane as they’ll probably be up to eight pick-ups en route.

City guideTransportation

Overview

In terms of taxis, Zona Taxi (+36 1 365 55 55) has the control over this situation. Chosen by the airport for its low fares and ‘highest levels of service’ Zona taxi fares start at 1700Ft and climb to 5800Ft depending on the city zone you will be accommodated in. Of course you can take any taxi to the airport; and some even have a discounted rate.

Since July of 2007, you can travel easily between Ferihegy Terminal 1 and the Western Railway Station in Budapest. Fifty one trains operate on the weekdays and at weekends 38 trains are in operation. The travel time is less than half an hour at a cost of 300 HUF. Thus, making it the cheapest alternative. You can buy your tickets at Tourinform at Terminal 1 from 9:00am-10pm or at platform B at the railway station from the ticket vending machine.

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Transportation

Buses

Transportation

Metro

Budapest has three metro lines that only converge at Deak Ferenc ter. There is the Millennium line (M1) which runs from Voroamarty ter to Mexikoi ut in Pest. The M1 (yellow on the rail map) stops at Heroes Square (Hosok ter) and the Opera and is rich in history as the first underground rail line in Continental Europe. Keep in mind though that there is a stop on the M1 called ‘Vorosmarty ter’ with another, five stops after, called ‘Vorosmarty utca’. The M2, marked by a red line, runs from Deli ter in Buda to Ors vezer tere in Pest. The M3, marked in blue, runs from Ujpest-Kozpont to Kobanya-Kispest in Pest.

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Transportation

Taxi

If you can help it, don’t bother getting taxis in Budapest – the public transport system is fine. There have been one too many incidents of gross rip-offs of tourists by taxi drivers. The taxi firms listed at Budapest are some of the more reputable ones in the city. Avoid taxis with no name on their doors and ones that have a removable light on the cab – they’re just ordinary guys with a car and the most likely to rip you off. Always look for a yellow license plate and an identification badge on the dashboard (as required by law). Not all taxi meters have the same rates and some can be more expensive than others, however there are price ceilings that some firms can manoeuvre within. Be aware that residents rarely flag down a taxi on the street; it is a general practice to call for them and it actually works out to be cheaper if you do. Make sure you know the landline number you are calling from so the dispatcher can determine your whereabouts; a mobile phone will be harder for them to trace.

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Transportation

Car for Hire

You must be 21 years of age and have had your license for at least a year to rent a car in Budapest; drivers under 25 might have to pay a surcharge. All international car rental firms have offices in Budapest. If you intend to do a lot of driving in the city, plan your journey carefully as some streets are one-way or tough to drive through. One example is that you are not allowed to left in most of the crossings of the Nagykörút inner ring road or on the main avenues like Andrássy út, Váci út, Üllői út or Rákóczi út.

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