To my surprise and delight, we were informed that seniors (I believe 65 and over) ride mass transit for free. Rick Steves needs to add this to the Budapest guide book. My wife (not a senior) used a ticket for every ride, and transit officials checked for the ticket about half the time. I walked with her, and they didn't even give me a second glance, let alone ask to see my ticket. This is a great deal!
Posted by
Washington DC
29798 posts
It's not just in Budapest. Intercity trains are also free, though if you want a seat reservation, there will be a charge for that.
Posted by
Republic of Texas / U.S.A. / Magyarország / Budapest
24585 posts
And the public transportation in every city is free. The seat reservations on the trains are optional and cost 600 ft or about $2.00 (testing my memory).
It's one of the reasons it's so affordable to live here. I haven't driven a car, owned a car, insured a car, repaired a car or put gas in a car in 3 years; and I can get any place in town in about 30 minutes with no more than 10 minutes of walking.
Posted by
Minnesota🌲
10724 posts
It is a great deal. I loved it. I had my passport with me just in case and the first time I was stopped in the train station, I started pulling it out and she just waved me on. Evidently I look like I’m over 65. The nerve! 🤣🤣🤣
Posted by
Republic of Texas / U.S.A. / Magyarország / Budapest
24585 posts
acraven, I know you meant trains between cities, but so people dont get confused "intercity" IC trains are a type; yes free, but the RJ's and RJX's are free too. Well the RJ and RJX will make you buy a seat assignment for some reason and its 650 ft or about 2 dollars.
Posted by
Washington DC
29798 posts
Thanks, Mr. E. It would have been clearer if I had employed an apostrophe ("inter-city").
Posted by
314 posts
Yes I turned 65 in August and visited Budapest in September (good timing) and rode the trams for free. The first time I tried to show my ID the man didn’t even look at it so after that I just hopped on (well didn’t really hop, I’m 65) and figured if they wanted to see it they could ask but no one ever did.
Posted by
OP
6 posts
Can someone comment on whether IC travel to another country is also free for seniors? My wife and I took the train from Budapest to Bratislava. I paid for my ticket. Did I need to? During our trip, the conductor asked to see my wife's ticket but never asked to see my ticket.
Posted by
Republic of Texas / U.S.A. / Magyarország / Budapest
24585 posts
No you can not cross the border for free. The best way to do it correctly is to go to the MAV ticket site, put in your birthday and see what they offer you. For instance i checked the track to Vienna. Budapest to Gyor on a RJX is free but required a seat assignment for $2, but not free from Budapest to the border town stop before Austria, and of course not Austria.
Hungarian conductors are sort of hit and miss. Your ride was free to the border (more or less) so maybe he just didn't care after the border ... its the Slovacs problem.