So I have a late May weekday flight. Lufthansa 9:25 AM to Frankfurt.
Questions are
Thanks for your help.
This January, we left 3 hours before flight time and it was very comfortable. We encountered a fender bender accident that reduced traffic to one lane on the road to the airport, which delayed us about 15 minutes. So factor in that type of thing happening.
When we arrived in Budapest, we found a shuttle service booth in the airport concourse. We purchased a round trip shuttle bus ride to our hotel. They know how long the trip back to the airport takes with traffic, and the bus was waiting for us at the appointed time outside our hotel.
Budapest Airport is not so hard to get through.
I have flown out of Budapest on early morning weekday flights 4 times so far, and yes, you will want to be in the taxi by 7 am, maybe even 6:45 just in case. 30 minutes is correct. I just updated my travel notebook for my next trip there in early May and noted the taxi last year to/from my hotel near Oktogon cost approx. 7000 HUF.
I use City Taxi, +36 1 211-1111, call as I am almost ready to leave my room and they arrive within 10 minutes, always good service--James recommended them on my first trip and as always, his advice is spot-on.
Most years I travel to Budapest multiple times.
Is 2 hours sufficient to check a bag, clear security and grab a
coffee?
YES, if you get there too early the counter wont be open anyway.
Google maps indicates that car ride from my hotel near the oktogon
metro station to be about 30 minutes. Is that accurate?
Generally, Yes.
So a 7 AM taxi should work?
I stay in the same general area and its what I would do. Call City Taxi +36 1 211 1111 the night before. Sometimes they get backed up in the morning.
A 5am taxi from my hotel near the Opera House & Basilica got me to the Budapest airport with plenty of time for a coffee before my 725am flight.
Sounds like a plan then. Thank you everyone especially for the taxi recommendation.
If it takes you 30 minutes by taxi to get to metro, how long would it take to go directly to the airport
Kb1942,
I think you may have misread that. The taxi ride takes about 30 minutes to go from the area around the oktogon metro station to the airport.
Hi Everyone,
I just wanted to report back that everything worked fine. As suggested (thanks James and Christaj I called city taxi the night before to request a cab. I spoke to an english speaking dispatcher and he suggested 6:55 pickup time. Car was waiting for me as I exited the hotel a few minutes early. Good thing I had reserved as it was a wet morning and taxis seemed scarce on the street. 30 minute ride to the airport in light traffic.
Airport check in took about 30 minutes as there was a large tour group checking in for the same flight. Security screening was quick at about 10 minutes.
As airports go, it ain't half bad.
