Taxi from Budapest airport - will they accept Euro?

Why don't you take a van to/from your hotel? It's cheaper.

There will be a person selling vouchers in the terminal and you follow marks on the floor out to the front of the airport where they'll tell you which van to get in.

You can schedule a return pickup at a specific time. We left very early, and they were right on time to pick us up.

However, the direct answer to you question is, "Yes" but the exchange rate will not be in your favor. It will not be terrible but you will pay a few extra dollars for the benefit of using euro. Most of the menus in Budapest will be duel currency but you will notice that the euro price is always higher than the Forint price at current exchange rate. You can either charge in local currency or use local currency via a bank ATM.

Also not a direct answer (which I don’t have because I have never tried it): you should be able to pay the taxi driver by credit card. The taxis from the airport are all official and monitored and will have their meter running. Estimate is about 11,000 ft, but that will depend some on time of day.

Yes, they take Euros. The rate probably isn't that great. A 25 euro ride might cost you 28 euro.

The vans are fine if you have the free time. Could take an hour or more.

The express bus is faster, but you have to decide how you will get from Deak Ferenc ter to your accommodations. But its free if you are over 65. It isn't hard to get places from Deak Ferenc ter unless you travel real heavy.

I used a taxi this morning (in Istanbul at the moment) and from the Opera House to the airport was 11,200 ft. ($30 0r 28€). I remember when it was $20 not too many years ago.

Budapest is very card friendly, so your credit card will be accepted by the taxi. That will be the easiest way.

We typically take the 100E bus becasue it is cheap. You can purchase a ticket at the airport or tap to pay as you get on the bus. As mentioned, if youre 65+ it's free as is all of Budapest's public transportation.

Christy, the trip home next week I may take the bus. Different forces at work returning than off to catch a flight. And I have a traveling companion and the taxi was just easier.

But, especially on arrival, if you take the time to plan how to get from the bus stop to your hotel, the bus makes a lot of sense.

Mr É: good for you! When arriving in Budapest, I like to take the bus from the airport because I'm fairly cheap. :)

I like to take a taxi (or Silverwings with a group) when I go to the airport because I like the drop off point and I don't want to have to struggle for a position on the bus if it's busy.

When you come out of baggage claim go to the taxi stand outside and line up. Use your credit card and have them charge you in forints (it should cost around $30 to downtown unless prices have increased since last year). If riding in taxis around town simply use your credit card and charge in forints. As far as your guide goes, I suppose you should pay them in Euros if that's what they prefer. If you get the Rick Steves Budapest book you can easily explore on your own.

I always take the bus unless I have an early flight out. It was great this year just walking up to the bus without buying a pass! Not sure it was so great when the inspectors just waved me on:)

If riding in taxis around town simply use your credit card and charge
in forints. As far as your guide goes, I suppose you should pay them
in Euros

Rarely a reason for a taxi in town. Experience the city using public transportation using a travelcard.

Guides will take Euro but they will have to exchange them for Forints unless they have a Euro bank account and many do. Either is fine, I prefer the local currency.

Agree with others. Pubic transport when arriving in town…taxi when leaving early.

The Public transport decision depends on where you are staying and how much luggage you have and maybe your age.

I was looking more for guidance from airport to hotel, as I believe we will take a taxi to get to our destination faster. Since my Budapest tour guide (next day adventure) wanted Euro instead of Forint (because of the instability), I was wondering if that is what taxi drivers would prefer too (ie for our trip from airport to hotel). Thank you, everyone, for your responses.

The taxi is the easiest way. Pick up your luggage, go thru "nothing to declare", exit the black door to the Arrivals Hall. On your left you will see a BKK booth where you can purchase your TravelCard. Then exit the Arrivals Hall to the sidewalk and on your left is the Taxi Kiosk. Tell them where you want to go and they give you a receipt with a cost estimate and taxi number. Walk to curb and your taxi will arrive. 35 minutes later you are at your hotel.

Hint, write down the hotel name and address and show that at the kiosk. Less chance of a misunderstanding.

And to tag onto Mr. É, just pay with credit card.

Adding follow up question about the 101e bus. We are 2 women in our late 60s and will each have a rolling carry on suitcase and small backpack. Our Airbnb is a 5 min walk from Deak Ferenc Sq so the 101e seems like best transport option from airport

If it is free for over 65 - do you still need some port of ticket or just show your passport? We are not EU citizens.

Also what do we do with our suitcases- they are US size carry on - not the small international ones. Is it going to be too much of a pain to manage suitcases on the bus for an hour ride? Should we just get a taxi.

We are traveling around Europe for 2 months so trying to save money where we can.

Thanks
Mary

mboggs1, you will have to lift your own suitcase into and out of the bus (1 step) and hang onto it while on the bus. But it is made for people going to town from the airport with luggage. But there isn’t storage under the bus.

It was crowded when I rode and if you look in and see all seats taken, you may want to wait on the next bus. They filled mine full. They go frequently so unless you are in a hurry, it might be worth waiting on the next bus and getting a seat.

I don’t have advice on the age thing - but when I rode both to and from the airport, I just showed my Drivers license to the ticket checker. I don’t have any idea if anyone actually looked at a date but they just waved me on. As did a few tram and metro inspectors during my week. Actually the guy at the airport smiled as he looked at my license and said “Ah, Texas! That is far!”

And yes, the bus to and from isn’t hard. At Deak Ferenc ter, it leaves for the airport from in front of the Budapest sign.

TexasTravelMom.... if tgey didn't look at the date on your DL, i would slap him for the insult.

Is the flat really a 5 min walk or is that what the leasing PR said? And it's a 5 min walk (nearly) from one end of Deal F ter to thr other ..... Good news is lots of safe crosswalks, wide sidewalks and no cobblestone.

Well, Mr. É, we know they look at your grey hair and let you pass. The metro police did make me take my driver’s license out, whether they read it or not…..

Google is pretty good with estimating the walking time to where I stay from Deak, so I I would believe it.

Thanks everyone for the input. I think we will take the 100e bus to our Airbnb. We can easily lift our suitcases up on a bus.

Mister E- I checked google maps and it shows 350 m and 5 minutes. Maybe will take us 10 min with our suitcases.

mboggs1, I just wanted you to check the map. I have seen AirBnb marketing that say the unit is 5 minutes from ... then lists everything in Budapest.

Enjoy the stay.

MY CONFESSION.

I am over 65 and I took a taxi to the airport about 2 weeks ago, and took a taxi home about 3 days ago. Departing the taxi is just faster and much more simple. Always a lot on my mind the morning of a flight. Returning, after nearly 35 hours of travel time door to door, I just didnt want to mess with a bus and the 10.000 ft it cost was a bargian.