Getting from our river cruise to the airport in Budapest

1. I would not worry about the taxi. Just make sure the meter is on. Or better yet, download and set up the City Taxi app ahead of time and schedule (call if you have that option - I usually don’t).
2. Yes, public transportation is free if you are 65 or older. If an inspector asks, just show your ID. I usually say “65 and over?” and they wave me on. Truthfully they usually don’t even bother to stop me.
3. The 100E doesn’t leave from a terminal like some other cities have. It’s a bus stop on the street at Deak Ferenc ter. https://maps.app.goo.gl/8njXB728i8q5MvLz6?g_st=ic
4. Everyone is different but I’d want to be at the airport by 10-10:30. It probably won’t take that long but things can get stacked up occasionally and you will be leaving Schengen from Budapest - so an extra line. Time to the airport from Deak is 35-45 minutes. I usually allow an hour - almost never takes that long.
5. I am unfamiliar with the cruise docks so can’t help with practicalities of that part. If you find you won’t have much time (I don’t know when you disembark), then a taxi all the way to the airport might be more practical.

Depends on whether you enjoy public transit. If so, Budapest is great / easy place to use it. Your boat will be docked along the pest side; agree with previous poster; taxi is fine if that's your preference. Otherwise, there are 3 different stops for the airport express bus; you can easily take a tram or metro from near your dock to one of the stops, and then hop on the bus for an easy ride to the airport. Yes, if you are over 65, all public transit is free including airport express bus.

Both post above are correct. So, all I can do is add a little personal slant to it.

So much about enjoying a holiday is keeping things within your comfort zone. By the nature of the question, you might be a bit concerned about how easy this is going to be. Based on that I would rule out the public transportation, and to be honest, I wouldn’t be thrilled about having to use public transportation from one of the piers either. But I still might do it to save $30. I have to be at the airport at 8am tomorrow (its 1:30 am now) and I am not looking forward to walking to the bus stop at 7 in the morning.

You didn’t say which boat company. There are a couple that dock where there is no public transportation (TTM between District XIII and the Island). Even the ones closer to the center of Pest you would end up riding a tram a stop or two and then M1 metro to get to the 100E Bus. Now in the metro station you must figure out which of the maybe 8 exits goes up to the correct location for the bus so when you get to the station walk until you see signage on the floor. Follow it.

If you do the bus, give yourself 1:15 to reach the airport. The bus is only about 40 minutes, but getting to the bus stop might be probelmatic if you dont know the system. Yes all the public transportation is free for over 65. Just show an ID with a photo and a birthdate on it. Show it if asked. You will be asked on the 100E bus but probably not on anything else in town.

If you want to use a taxi,

20+ years ago a fine gentleman I met here in town told me the virtues of City Taxi. I listened to him and over the years they have taken care of me in a lot of situations that could have cost me more or left me stranded. So, they earned my loyalty. Doesn’t mean the others aren’t good.

Honest? The stuff you read describes a system that has been gone for at least 15 years. Its now incredibly well regulated and don’t be surprised if your driver has a sports coat or at least a collared shirt and a tie.

You have a couple of choices.
First Option (my suggestion ... ignore the rest)
1. Download the City Taxi App. https://citytaxi.hu/
2. Walk to the end of the gang plank at 9am and open the app
3. The first thing you will see is “FAST ORDER” Click on it and accept the departure location (the GPS found where you are standing)
4. Where it says Comment to Driver write “airport” and the name of your airline.
5. Wait for the taxi. Might be 30 minutes before it arrives … sorry.

There is a way schedule it in advance but there is so much you have to input in the app for that and you seem a tad concerned so this is pretty much fool proof. You cant really mess up. A taxi is coming to where you are standing. You can even track where the taxi is on the application.

The Second Option is to have someone working on the boat make the call with your phone and to City Taxi so you don’t end up with a high-priced transfer and so if there is an issue they will have your phone number in their system. +36 20 2 111 111 Do it a day before and schedule it for 9am.

The Third Option is have someone on the boat write down the pier address (probably two words and a number) and then you call city taxi the night before and ask for a 9am pickup. You just have to pronounce two Hungarian words. I did this for years before the app was available. They are good and patient people and will work with you until they understand.

The Fourth Option: Do you use Uber or Bolt at home? Cause they work here and you might be more comfortable with the app. Do know that Bolt and Uber are both just taxi companies here. Yellow cars, licensed drivers, meters that you get charged by. All the taxis in the city charge the exact same rate.

I flew from Budapest directly to Philadelphia about 3 weeks ago. My flight was about the same time as yours. I got through passport control in under 30 minutes. No, to be honest, I got through security and passport control combined in under 30 minutes. But that means nothing. I am hopeful that by November the bugs are worked out and its that good or better.

If you have any issues at all, don’t hesitate to call me. (check your PM).

I knew you guys wouldn't let me down! Thanks for your help. We will indeed download the app and order a taxi as Mr E described. When in doubt, keep it simple and throw a little money at it. (My DHs words)

CJean, the forum has a great bunch for helping out in Budapest. I am always learning.

For anyone else thinking about using the 100E, its great. I get on it in about 15 minutes. But the Astoria stop is sort of an iffy thing. Officially: The 100E airport bus stops at Astoria depending on your travel direction: it stops there 24/7 when heading from the airport to the city center, but only between 00:04 and 04:47 in the morning when heading toward the airport.

And here are the possibilities for your river boat dock. All those red dots on the right side of the river: https://www.taxibudapest.eu/static/images/budapestport2019.jpg Which is why I could not begin to tell you how to get to the 100E until you were docked. Minimum of 2 forms of public transportation from any of them to any 100E bus stop.

For about $30 the taxi to the airport is a bargain as airports to taxis from major European cities go.