Flying to Budapest - taxi from airport to Budapest

The taxis in Budapest are a pleasing experience.

From the airport there is only one practical choice as FoTaxi has the concession. FoTaxi is a good company so that’s not a bad thing. You will pick up your luggage and walk out through the arrivals hall (small), normally this is where I say stop and buy your transportation pass, but it sounds like you are over 65 so you don’t need one. Its free.

Anyway, through the arrivals hall and out the door to the sidewalk. Look left and you will see the FoTaxi kiosk. Go to the window and tell them where you want to go. If its a hotel, the name is fine. If you rented an apartment, it might be good to present a piece of paper with the address written on it (Hungarian is a tricky language to pronounce). https://www.bud.hu/en/passengers/transport/airport_transfer_and_other_services/taxi

They in turn will give you a receipt with the estimated cost of the ride and the taxi number. You walk about 30 feet to the curb and wait for your taxi to pull up. Then off you go and about $35 and 35 minutes later you are at your hotel. Safe, professional and generally very well done. They take Hungarian Forints and Credit Cards. Yes, they will take Euros too, but you wont like the exchange rate.

When in town use public transportation. Its fun. You just gotta try one and then you get hooked. If you do call a taxi, know it will take longer than the public transportation, but you may still find a reason and if you do I like a company called City Taxi. Google them, download their phone app and they are easy to use. https://citytaxi.hu/

Good to know about taxis and that i should carry passport - perhaps a reason to get a passport CARD

We used an outfit at the airport called "Mini Shuttle." It was easy, quick, pretty cheap. In the arrivals hall, they have a large desk. Tell them where you want to go, pay for your ticket. Ours was about €15 per person one-way (slight savings if you buy a round trip, we didn't). Go outside and wait for your van (~10 passengers) to arrive. They load your luggage, you climb in, then they drop off passengers at hotels etc. Easy, clean, reliable, no hassles. I'd do it again.

We had a v-e-r-y early flight departure when we left, so we just took a taxi (was about €35-40 for the two of us, but that was at oh-dark-thirty, so zero traffic).

Just know with the Shuttle you have to wait for enough riders, then your stop might be after 4 other hotel stops. But yest, the price is good. If you stay in District VI the 100E bus is hard to beat for cost and speed. Boards between Terminal 2A and 2B. Easy to find, lots of help with tickets and boarding. 35 min to Deack Ferenc ter.

More information on all of the options: https://www.bud.hu/en/passengers/transport (by the way, the train option, probably the least desirable).

Oh, I think you mentioned Uber from the airport. The official taxi for the airport is FoTaxi. The procedure for them is listed above. Not that you couldnt use Uber, but you will have to go upstairs to the Departure Hall as thats the only drive they are permitted tho use. The price will be the same as a taxi because Uber and Bolt are metered taxi companies in Budapest and the rates for all taxis are the same and set by the government.

To return to the airport you can call Uber or Bolt or my favorite is City Taxi. Download their app to make it easier. Again, all charge the same rate.