Budapest Airport to City Center

My vote is for the 100E airport express bus. It's so easy to use; it's practically right outside the airport doors, easy to board, it's free (if you're 65+ years old), it was a smooth ride, and it dropped me off at a very convenient spot to my hotel.

I would not hesitate to take this again either to or from the airport.

Travel time to Deák Ferenc tér averages 40-minutes + a 5-minute walk up Andrassy ut to the hotel ... = 50-minutes to your hotel.

Mr. E., you need a slight math adjustment. And here I thought I was the only one that did that. 😉

This bus runs often and the wait is rarely more than 5 minutes. Travel
time to Deák Ferenc tér averages 40-minutes + a 5-minute walk up
Andrassy ut to the hotel will take (the M1 requires comparable time) =
50-minutes to your hotel.

Whole quote has 5 minute wait time. But it was just as likely my math.

I'm an "only-public-transportation-from-the-airport" person, but there are good reasons for some other travelers to make different choices. It's very helpful to have all that information in one clearly identified thread.

I also like the 100E bus, which is inexpensive and easy - but sometimes opt for the very easy taxi - depending on time of day I arrive and how tired I am.

However next time I am staying closer to Nyugati, so I think I might try the 200 and M3 combination (won’t be arriving with jet lag). No, probably the 100E to Astoria and a bus. Less walking with a suitcase. And the 9 goes everywhere.

When I leave home at 4:30am to catch the 6:30 flight, I call a taxi. I just dont want to think that early in the morning. Otherwise the 100E works cause its free anf a 5 minute walk or M1 ride. .

TTM, the 100E stop is at the stairs to the metro station and 2 stops gets you to Nyugati. Changing between 200E and the M3 isn't as fast, more walking, and more up and down but you could spend time at the mall. And i do believe the 100E might be free for you.

Whole quote has 5 minute wait time. But it was just as likely my math.

I'm sure your math is better than mine, lol! And that makes sense about the five-minute wait.

This is great to have easy at the top of the forum. I'm already decided on 100E bus from Airport to city center.

On my return, I may take a taxi to airport. I have 11am flight to Amsterdam (I'm non-EU) on a Saturday in early September and would love to enjoy a relaxing last morning in Budapest and the breakfast at my hotel (near Opera House).
What time should I take the taxi, and do I ask the hotel to call one for me or can I just walk to Opera House and grab one from taxi kiosk/stand (I assume there will be one).

Joynyc, set up the City Taxi app before you leave home and schedule your taxi the night before you depart Budapest. It works basically like Uber and will be there waiting for you at the designated time, most likely 5 minutes early. I would probably want to leave around 8:30 for an 11am flight.

Edit: if the weather is nice, at that time of morning I usually enjoy that final 10 minute walk to the 100E bus stop, telling Budapest goodbye. If doing that, I would probably leave the hotel at 8:15.

You call a taxi yourself. Not many taxi stands left in town, just not a thing these days. By calling one yourself, you know you are getting. With hotels that could be iffy ... but usually not.

You can literally call the night before and give them where and when or you can download their app and do it yourself. https://citytaxi.hu/en/home/ is my favorite company. You want to be picked up 2:30 to before flight time. Maybe 2:45 if you are checking bags. When I travel carryon only I leave 2 hours prior ... but I know the airport and am a bit relaxed.

Okay, you got two pretty similar answers.

🤣🤣🤣🤣 I learned from the best - and it works.

Thank you both! Will download the City app taxi and keep an eye on weather :-)

@Mr E - What is the difference in the 100E Airport Express bus and the 200E? We'll be staying at the Hotel Medos and I'm wondering which would be easier to take? And is our hotel easy walking distance from the M3 metro? As you can tell...first time visitor to Budapest. Thanks!!

You will want the 100E bus to the end stop at Deák Ferenc tér. From there it is a 15 minute walk up Andrassy ut to your hotel. Or, the stairs at the bus stop will take you to the M1 Metro. You take the M1 two stops to the Opera and its a 5 minute walk to your hotel. Either way you walk a little on Andrassy ut which is a beautiful way to meet Budapest.

Terri, it's a great location. That's where I stayed, and I loved it. Mr. E's math this time is spot on. 15 minutes' walk from the bus stop to the hotel or if you take the metro, it's just about a block or so from the Opera station. I'd even say it's a little less than five minutes, but I always tend to be optimistic about these things. 😊

Thanks Mr E for the explanation! You mentioned the stairs at the Metro and since we'll have suitcases, is there a lift or escalator?

@Mardee- yes, I'm looking forward to staying there. It was on Mr E's list of hotels, so I'm sure it's great.

Yikes!!! I only listed hotels that were in my opinion well located. I have stayed in 4 hotels in Budapest in 22 years. Everyone's taste on this stuff is different. But my impression is that its a very okay 3 star in a very prime location. Nothing at that price is in anywhere as good a location. You woukd have to spend $160 on a 4 star to do as good a location.

The metro .... alas no elevators or lifts or escalators on the M1 metro line. The M1 was inaugurated by Emperor Franz Joseph during Hungary's 1000 year birthday party in 1898 and is the oldest underground on the continent. Elevators weren't in the designs. But the M1 isn't terribly deep. They cut a trench, put a roof on it and covered that with a road. Maybe 20 feet vertical.

Not much here or in most of Europe comes close to American accessibility standards.

Here: https://youtube.com/shorts/FMxB1l74RgM?si=U5kSJfjhC6WbCBrl.

No elevator or escalator on the M1 line. This is the historic “underground” (locals clarify that it is barely underground vs. the newer Metro lines that are actual subways). Small cute stations with restored wooden ticket booths.

Although we bought a month transit pass and could have added on the 100E for 1000HUF, we took a Bolt from the airport. This was due to waiting in the immigration line for almost 2 hours and having two suitcases. Door to door for about $38 and 30 minutes with immediate pickup at the airport.

toma nova is correct, there is a 1.000 Ft add on for the 100E if you have a travelcard. You have to do that online with the BudapestGo App. I never used it for tickets but its pretty good for finding bus stop and planning trips.

Since the subject came up

The M4 has elevators or funiculars or incline lifts at ever station. That means that in theory you can get from a RegioJet train or a MAV train to a hotel on Andrassy ut without climbing stairs. The route would be to take the M4 from either train staion to the Rákóczi tér metro station then the elevator to the street level and the 4/6 tram to the Oktogon followed by a 5 mintue walk.

The M3 also has elevators or funiculars or incline lifts at every station but I challenge you to find them all. The one at Deak Ferenc ter is especially interesting in its location. But this means you could take the 200E bus from the airport to a hotel on Andrassy ut without climbing stairs (and its free cause you bought a travel card). The route would be BUD to Kőbánya-Kispest on the 200E bus. Change to the M3 (I believe its an incline lift / funicular sort of contraption) and get off at Corvin-negyed Metro Station. Take the elevator up to the street level and get on the 4/6 Tram a few stops to the Oktogon and walk about 5 minutes to your hotel. Yea, I wouldnt do it, but it does work. The 4/6 is a new tram and the floor is pretty much level with the platform, but do mind the gap.

The M2 has 3 stops at grade above ground. That means you could .... ahhh .... go to a football game or a horse race or a shopping mall without having to use stairs.