Public Transport

But first, you must purchase a ticket from one of the Budapest Transport Company’s (BKV) booths, found in all major metro stations. It is a good idea to buy the tickets you need when you arrive – take a look at the BKV website for more information. Bear in mind that the three-day tourist pass (3,400 Ft) is fairly expensive in comparison to a weekly (4,000 Ft) or fortnight pass (5,300 Ft) pass. These passes are valid for all forms of transport, including the various HÉV (suburban train) lines within the city limits. 

Tickets for single journeys are also available, but cannot be purchased everywhere. In addition, a new one must be validated for each journey – if you forget to do this, you will have an unpleasant inspector to deal with and be liable to pay a fine.

The public transport lines you are most likely to use are the three metro lines, which converge on Deák Ferenc tér, and the 4 or 6 trams (which follow almost identical routes) that take you around the nagykörút (where much of the action is in Budapest). In addition, the number 2 tram runs along the Pest embankment and offers great views of the Danube and the Buda Hills. There are often several ways to get from A to B, looking on a public transport map or asking a local can often get you there quicker. If you are planning on staying out late, remember that the metro runs until just after 11 p.m., but gets going again at from 4.30, and that a regular night bus service operates along the route of the 4-6 tram. Night buses are marked with numbers of three digits always starting with 9.