EES at Budapest airport

If there are no crowds, the biometric data-gathering can be done in just a few minutes.

I suspect the transfer service will have some insight into the length of the process at
that time of the evening, as well as if the data-gathering has even started at Budapest.

You could also check the airport website for overall arrival schedule to see if a lot of
flights are arriving from outside Schengen at that time of night.

Thank you for that helpful information and suggestions shoeflyer!

There is no way of telling how long the aiport will take. Its pretty efficient usually, but ... Most of the drivers will ask for your flight number and will track the flight and come when needed. The only issue with a transfer company is that they are not allowed to que up at arrivals. Most often they will meet you in the arrivals hall, they will walk you upstairs to the departure hall then outside where you will wait on the curb until they go to the parking lot and get their car, then they will come pick you up. Or you can take a taxi which is directly outside the arivals hall or you can take the Express Bus, also outside the arrivals hall.

Thank you for that information Mr E!

Pleasure

A taxi to most of Budapest will cost you less than 55AUD. They run all night and they are well regulated, safe, clean. Really a good system at the airport too. You go to the Kiosk who makes sure the taxi knows where to go. And they give yoiu the approximate price. Keeps everyone honest. Getting into town takes about 35 minutes once you are in a cab and that generall takes under 5 minutes. You should be at your accommodation about About half past midnight more or less. https://www.cestee.com/images/75/97/177597-2560.jpeg

The Express bus costs less than 10AUD. You can pay at the door to the bus which is parked outside of the arrivals hall. Staff there to help you too. To use it or not depends on where your hotel is located. Getting into town takes about 40minutes on the bus once they leave and that generally takes less than 10 minutes. If you are staying around Deak Ferenc ter or on Andrassy ut then its a good solution. Walking the last few blocks at midnight is perfectly safe here. https://bkk.hu/en/travel-information/airport-express/

A private transfer cost can vary a lot, but certainly doable under 75AUD. Figure an hour once you meet the guy. http://silverwings.hu/

Great information thank you Mr E! We are staying near Deak ferenc Ter so we might just take the bus.

If you are 65 or over the bus is free. I have come to appreciate that.

Here is the exact spot where the 100E Bus will stop at Deak Ferenc ter. For some reason none of the maps show it. If you use that as a start point and use google maps you can plan the walk to your acommodation. https://maps.app.goo.gl/5KLhocbxjgPBVrno7 If you are leaving by plane you would walk across the street. There is pretty good signage to the 100E stop along the sidewalk and it does show up on the maps https://maps.app.goo.gl/tjzCcDU3xVcMQ3sK6

You pay for the bus at the door with a credit card. The attendent will show you how. Easy. Or you can buy it on the BudapestGo app.

I dont know how long you are staying but even if its short, you will need a pass for the public transportation. It makes life so much easier and the trams and the M1 are part of the charm of the city. Pick the one that covers all of your stay. Dont mess with individual tickets it will cost you more in the longrun and you have to mess with validating each ticket. The fines are high if you travel and forget to validate or dont have a ticket.

• 24 hour TravelCard 2.750 forints (12AUD) https://bkk.hu/en/tickets-and-passes/prices/24-hour-budapest-travelcard/
• 72 hour TravelCard 5.750 forints (26AUD) https://bkk.hu/en/tickets-and-passes/prices/72-hour-budapest-travelcard/
• Monthly Pass 8.950 forints (40AUD) https://bkk.hu/en/tickets-and-passes/prices/monthly-budapest-pass/ For five days the 24 + the 72 is marginally cheaper than a monthly pass, but 6 days or more the monthly pass is the best deal. There use to be a 15 day pass but that ened a few weeks ago.
  

Then you have to decide on paper or electronic. If you want electronic download the BudapestGo app. For paper go to a vending machine at one of the stops or at the BKK office in the Deak Ferenc ter metro station or at the BKK office in the airport arrivals hall or the train stations. With these passes there is no validating, you just show them when asked. I prefer paper, but everyone is different. The trick the locals use is that they have a clear cell phone case and they put the ticket in the back so it can be scanned. Paper is still a little more popular here but the app is catching on. For that you will need to pull it out, turn it on, open the app, find the right screen and show it when asked.

And here is what is going on in April: https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/hungary/updated-budapest-events-for-january-june-2026

Thanks for all that great information Mr E! My husband and I are over 65 so that’s great to know about the free transport. Knowing the exact place where the bus stops is very helpful. We are there for 5 full days not counting arrival or departure days so our son will need to get a transport card. I will enjoy having a look at what’s on in April.

The over 65 exemption is sort of fun. When there are random ticket/pass checks the metro cops don’t want to be rude so if you appear to be close to 65 years of age, they just say jó napot (good day) as you walk past the line of younger folks messing with their tickets. If you do get asked, then any photo ID like a US driver’s license is sufficient.

For your son, get a 72-hour travelcard and see how you use it. My guess is always that the passes are easier than individual tickets and are either cheaper in the long run or close to cheaper. So, you follow the 72-hour with a 24-hour travelcard.

The Airport Express Bus is free for you and your husband. But your son will need to pay.

If you go out to Szentendre for the afternoon, the commuter train is free for you and your husband, but your son will need an extension ticket for the portion of the train outside the city limits.

Interesting is that ALL trains that start and stop in Hungary are free if you are over 65.

That's great news on the free bus for over 65. We are going to be in Budapest for 4 nights in Sept! It's our first time there and hubby doesn't know we're going. LOL. Taking the Queen Mary 2 from Brooklyn to Southampton, then flying to Budapest for 4 nights. (I'll tell him on the cruise) From there we go to Vienna for 4 nights and then train to Verona, Italy to meet up with friends for 4 nights before taking a Italy-Croatia cruise.

Question for you Mr. E - I booked the Hotel Medos based on your recommendations of hotels. Will the bus be the easiest transfer to hotel? I'm going to reach out to you to get restaurant recommendations too, as well as some walking tours! Thank you! Terri

Question for you Mr. E - I booked the Hotel Medos based on your
recommendations of hotels. Will the bus be the easiest transfer to
hotel? I'm going to reach out to you to get restaurant recommendations
too, as well as some walking tours! Thank you! Terri

Terri, happy to help. I live here and dont stay in hotels that often so I only discuss locations, and dont recommend hotels. The Medos is a very well located hotel for your stay. It does have good reviews and appears to be a solid 3 star hotel at a good price. Several RS folks have stayed in it and they all reported well on it.

Yes, easy using the bus from the airport if your flight is during the day. The bus will drop you at a metro stop and you will have to ride the metro 3 stops to your hotel. But its an old sort of fun metro. Or you could do the 10 minute walk up Andrassy ut which is the grandest and most attractive street in town. I will forward you a link with some information on it.

Always happy to help.

James

Hello all, this is a very timely discussion. There are four of us traveling to Budapest in March. I am currently finalizing our plans. I have looked at various options for getting us from the airport to our rental apartment, in district V. A private car service like we have done in other countries, is a bit pricey. And I am concerned that a taxi or Bolt car may not be large enough for our group and luggage. All four of us are over 65, so free public transportation is terrific. Certainly better than $80 - $100 USD. My husband and I are over 70, so we are hoping that someone will help us (especially the ladies) to get our luggage up on the bus. Our accomodation is only a 5 minute walk from Deak Ferenc ter. The 100 E bus will take us right to it.
Thank you for all the information that you have provided Mr. E in this post and others. I read the post you put in about upcoming events in Budapest. Very helpful! We may have to make plans to return in the near future.

The step into the bus is minor. There is a lot of room on the bus for your luggage. Its not a perfect solution but 90% of the time its the best solution.

Bolt, no, you need to use the offical airport taxi company and that is FoTaxi. They have a kiosk right outside of the arrivals hall and will help you get in the right taxi, etc. But you will need two taxis so figure $70 into town. But it will be to your front door and the driver will handle the luggage.