“Low-cost network” might be the phrase that comes to mind when you think about the Busz és Wartburgok here in Budapest. Budapest has an efficient and diverse public transport system. It includes buses, metros, trolley buses, trams, suburban railway lines called HÉV lines and boat services.
The Centre for Budapest Transport BKK is responsible for the main transport services. These integrated services include bus, tram, metro, suburban and trolleybus. You can quickly and conveniently reach your destination anywhere in the city using these transport options.
To travel by public transport you need a valid ticket or season ticket. Tickets are available at metro stations, tram stations, and street kiosks around the city. You can use the same type of ticket for all forms of public transport. However, you need to validate a new ticket for each journey. Single tickets are available from the driver on board the bus. These tickets come with an extra fee.
Ticket types and prices from 2024 include a single ticket for HUF 450. A single ticket bought on the spot costs HUF 600. A block of 10 tickets is HUF 4000. The airport shuttle bus single ticket 100E is HUF 2200. A 30-minute ticket is HUF 530 and a 90-minute ticket costs HUF 750. A 24-hour Budapest travel card is HUF 2500. A suburban railway ticket for 10-30 km costs between HUF 400 and 600. A monthly Budapest pass for students is HUF 3450. A quarterly Budapest pass for students is HUF 10350.
If you regularly use public transport a monthly or yearly pass is recommended. Students with a valid student card are eligible for reduced rates. Ticket inspectors might suddenly appear on board. Fines are HUF 12000 on the spot. Afterwards by postal cheque the fine is HUF 25000. At underground stations you can only enter upon presenting your ticket or pass.
Budapest has more than 200 bus routes. These routes cover most inner city and suburban areas. Some routes offer an express service indicated with an “E” following the bus number. On the main routes services are available even during the night hours.
There are four metro lines in Budapest. M1 or the Yellow Line runs between Vörösmarty tér and Mexikói út. M2 or the Red Line runs between Déli pályaudvar and Örs vezér tere. M3 or the Blue Line runs between Újpest Központ and Kőbánya-Kispest. M4 or the Green Line runs between Kelenföld and Keleti pályaudvar. The Yellow Line is the oldest metro line in Hungary and also in Mainland Europe. It opened in 1896 for the Hungarian Millennium. The newest line is M4 Green Line which opened in 2014. Metro services run from 4:30 until 23:30.
The suburban train service of Budapest called HÉV connects Budapest with its suburban areas. A popular journey for tourists is from Batthyány tér to Szentendre. Keep in mind that if you leave the administration border of Budapest you need to purchase a special ticket to your destination in the suburbs. These suburban single tickets cannot be purchased in the BudapestGO application. However they can be purchased in the MÁV application.
One single ticket for public transport boat is HUF 170. You can travel with your monthly Budapest pass free of charge. From September 2013 every taxi is uniformly yellow in Budapest.
Budapest’s night transport is one of the best in Europe. You can get anywhere in the city by the night buses. Sometimes this is even faster than in the daytime. Night buses usually start at midnight and run until 4:00 am every night. Night buses’ numbers start with number 9. Some night buses on very busy lines run quite often. This is about every 10 or 15 minutes. Lines running to the suburbs only run once or twice an hour.
The MOL Bubi bike-sharing scheme is a bicycle-sharing network in Budapest. The apple-green bikes can be hired from and returned to any docking station. These can be found at major transport hubs in the city centre. So far 1150 bikes can be hired from 98 docking stations in the centre of Budapest. You can plan your trip with the BudapestGO trip planner. You can download the application BudapestGO on your mobile. Public transport data are integrated into Google Maps. You can plan your routes in the city there.
BKV was established in 1968. It unified public transport companies. FAÜ the bus operator FVV tram and trolleybus operator BHÉV the suburban railway and FHV the riverboat operator. In 1973 the metro was added. The transport in Budapest underwent another reorganization in 2010. The BKK was founded for the management of the city transport and infrastructure.
Today BKV operates four metro, 33 tram and 15 trolley bus lines. It also operates 30% of the 231 local bus and 40 night bus lines. The buses are painted sky blue. Trolleybuses are in red livery.
So next time you’re planning to see the city, consider using the Busz és Wartburgok to get around efficiently and affordably. Enjoy the ride.