Public Service Announcment.🤔

Thanks for the reminder. Are the paper travel cards available at the metro stations?

Yes, in vending machines. I live here and still hate messing with the machines, so buy my pass at one of the offices. There is one at both train stations, the airport and Dedk Ferenc ter.

My experience on the Budapest Metro system is that I have seen and experienced more spot ticket checks than on any other city/regional transport system I have ever used. And like Mr E, I am stunned by the number of people I have seen getting caught.

As for the passport, it is always on my person - can't ever recall having to show it to anyone on the street in country (except at hotel check-in), but whatever, it is too easy to carry it (neck wallet, under my shirt).

Thanks for this excellent reminder, Mr. E.

It’s been that way for a long time. I can remember a winter’s day 30 years ago (I am not joking) when my friend and I were on tram 4 or 6 coming back from Margitsziget where we had been on a jog. We were in running clothes and had nothing extraneous on us, no bags or anything. The only thing besides the clothes on our backs that we had on us were our key to whatever apartment we were staying in and our BKV weekly passes tucked in our waistbands.

At a certain moment we saw the BKV inspectors push their red inspector cuffs up their sleeves to show they were there to check tickets. They came straight to us, with sardonic grins on their faces. They clearly were anticipating an easy arrest - here were two American girls, who didn’t have any purses or anything, who had jumped on on a stop where there was no machine or any way to buy a ticket — these two girls were clearly going to be in violation. They approached us with their “Jo napot kivanok” and “Tessek…”

But before they could even ask us whether we had tickets for the tram, we pulled out our passes and showed them to them. They got a funny look on their face as they realized we were in full compliance, and they wouldn’t be getting any fines out of us. These looks then turned into looks of almost pride - they really appeared to be pleased that they had found two tourists who were doing the right thing.

It’s one of my key memories from that year of living in Hungary.

They do their job (use tourists to subsidize the locals). The only line where they check BEFORE you get on is the M1 and that's nice cause it's got a lot of tourists.

I saw more inspectors during my week in October than I saw all together in 3 weeks of previous stays. However a lot more of them were actually before boarding, as opposed to when I was leaving (it was my first time to encounter them when boarding). Some at the top of the stairs/escalator and some at the bottom. Pretty sure I also got checked several times at Széll Kálmán tér getting on the M2.

As you know, I use the Budapest Go app on my phone (I always have data), but I will also say I had more trouble with it that week than ever before. I personally think it was a problem with the app because I was far from alone on this - but one guy at a ticket office told me it was the cellular network I was using - which makes zero sense. There was a workaround in the app, which I used (and lots of other people I saw as well). As you say, paper is easy - but make sure you find an easily reachable place to put the paper card. It would be a hassle to have to dig it out of the inside of a purse each time. I will probably keep using the app for now. Since I don’t live there.

This on key ring . https://www.amazon.com/ID-Waterproof-Card-Resealable-Vertical/dp/B0BZ46H9QD/ref=mp_s_a_1_11_sspa?crid=1SHZE4XGPXNFO&keywords=name+badge+holder&qid=1706490946&sprefix=nsme+badge+holder%2Caps%2C183&sr=8-11-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9waG9uZV9zZWFyY2hfbXRm&psc=1

If I have my room key, then I locked the door, and I have my metro pass

You have your system figured out. :) I was just tossing in a reminder for people to think about how they can arrange to have their pass accessible. Christy carries hers in the back of her clear phone case. Another good solution.

But tucking it away inside a wallet inside a purse and then having to dig it out for an inspector regularly would get old.

TTM Fortunately, this isn't a city that requires a money belt. In 20 years, I have never heard of a pickpocket incident, and you know I come in contact indirectly with a lot of tourists.

The back of the phone is how the majority of the locals handle it. I would too but can't see paying $20 for a case for a $100 phone 🤣🤣

Still it appears that paper is as popular, if not more popular than the App. At checks it's always the people with the App slowing down the line.

I do know of a pickpocket event - 26 years ago. (Ha!)

My dad's cousin and her husband were visiting me in Budapest that summer, and no matter how much I warned him about money belts / pickpockets etc, he paid no heed. Then he got pickpocketed right on the Number 2 tram - right near the stop for the Kossuth Lajos Tér metro station.

I am struggling to see how what is supposed to be a public warning has now caused the title of this thread to sprout a ROFL emoji.

Better?

Today a group of about 12 Spanish spent at least 10 min on a tram trying to validate their tickets with the help of a few Hungarian passengers. G-d bless the transit cop. He didn't identify himself until all but one was validated and he validated the last one himself.

Kim, an average day has me on the M1 and M3 twice each and at least 2 trams every day. Yet to lose anything, and most everything is in my coat pocket.

But, sure, can happen anywhere. Maybe I've been lucky. But for the most part, I just copy the behavior of the locals.

Apparently I started the pickpocket theme, but I was REALLY referencing the tendency to put paper safely away where it won’t get lost. Not get stolen. I am bad about losing paper….. Someone once warned me about an area of town in which I might encounter some who might be light-fingered. (After I went) I DID keep an eye on my surroundings but it was just an area where people were going about their own daily lives - not worried about mine. I was there twice that trip and will likely go again.

Back on topic, last March, an inspector appeared on my tram car and divided all of us getting off the tram (it was the last stop) into those who were about to have a problem and those like me who were dismissed with a nod. It was interesting while I was there, but I didn’t linger once I was sent on my way. 🤣

TTM, Pensioners ride for free is why they didn't check you. 🤣🤣🤣

As I have posted before, the Budapest group paper ticket requires TWO pieces of paper to be valid.* We thought the second piece was just a receipt, but happened to have both pieces with us when checked (brusquely). Only rode the metro lightly but were still checked, as opposed to Berlin where we rode the trains heavily and were never checked, and had bought the wrong ticket coming from the airport by mistake so could have been fined.

Prague has very clear warnings, not just signage but the way there are ticket validation posts in a continuous arc across the entrance, that entering the metro station requires a ticket (whether the intention is to ride or not). But we went down in the M1 Opera metro stop just to look at the architecture, and not to ride, and wonder if just wandering into a Budapest metro station to look around requires a ticket? It wasn't clear.

There are enough extenuating circumstances with these honor types of systems that I am sympathetic to some rider ticket errors, although riding and not trying to pay at all is not excusable. It sure is effortless when there is guarded entry to a metro system, like London, Chicago, New York and it is contactless payment that does all the fare calculation and there is no chance of user error.

*Guessing but I think the group pass consists of
-1 ordinary rider ticket
-a second piece of paper that amends the ordinary ticket to allow 4 additional riders.

The M2, M3 and M4 you can not get to the escalator to the platform without passing a validation machine, so thats pretty self explainatory.

The M1 also has two validation machines between the entry door and the train. Again, sort of self explainatory. Although the guards (if they are there) are pretty decent and I am certain will let you in if you want to take pictures.

The Trams have a few validation machines on board and the busses and trollies generally just have a machine by the front door.

Still sort of confused about your group ticket experinece. The BKK prints pretty decent instructions and nothing about two pieces of paper. Maybe the second piece was a receipt which, yes, would be no good for riding. But I really dont know.

This illustrates the convenienc of the public transportation when getting to the sights: https://1drv.ms/i/s!Ai7Zk-szxfTJi7pAaYk2Q2ORwvYHEQ?e=0j9ZMx

I don't know either, but the second piece had 4 bar codes, and since we were only 4, thought that 4 bar codes would be sufficient to ride, and if we ran across a person checking he would scan the barcodes and be able to determine validity. But the person checking tickets does not have a bar code reader to check validity, and could only read words.

The agents have a little gadget about the size of cell phone. It scans a tiny QR code in the upper right had corner of the passes. You can see it here https://bkk.hu/static/content/2022/08/bkkjegy-berlet-budapestcsoportos24orasjegy_minta.png

About half the time they scan my ticket (happens at least once a day), the scan fails (i know because there is a green light if it passes), but they also saw the date on the ticket so they dont even hesitate and pass me on

We didn't get a large squarish ticket like your picture, but a smaller, long skinny one like this

https://xpatloop.com/channels/2023/07/price-increase-soon-for-budapest-public-transport-tickets.html

Both this ticket and the bigger one with four bar codes did not have a squarish code to read like your example but a long rectangular one, taking up the whole reverse side, I think with bars like grocery store merchandise? Came out of the machine at the Hexagon stop.

Maybe that's not the usual way.

As a total outsider to Budapest public transport this dialogue is interesting and useful for me and probably others. Tom's ticket is a single journey ticket from what it says on it. Mr E's is a day ticket. Is there a difference in style and thus how the inspectors read them, between single and day or period tickets?

It wasn't a single rider ticket, but the size of one. That's all I know. It did have the symbol with the 5 heads on it. Maybe different machines spit out tickets of different sizes? Or when the larger sized ticket is empty it defaults to printing on the smaller size?

The issue with being in a group is that one person is not in charge of everything and no one has the big picture.

Isn31c there are all sorts of options. If there are 4 to 5 of you the group ticket might be the best option. But it's 24 hours and buying new tickets every day can be a hassle. Although now you can use the App and that would make it easier. I'm still stuck on paper and spend my day walking around people fidgeting with their App.

Other than groups the best solution is a multi day TravelCard (Not Budapest Card). It can work out to as little a $1 a day on longer stays. https://bkk.hu/en/tickets-and-passes/prices/travelcards-valid-for-one-or-more-days/

For more than 4 days, look at a 15 day Pass. They hide these from tourists. It's here https://bkk.hu/en/tickets-and-passes/prices/travelcards-valid-for-one-or-more-days/

Bottom line. Stay away from single use tickets. They are expensive and you need to fool with validating.

You can use the App. I will let TexasTravelMom explain cause I don't understand it. Or you can get a paper ticket and just come and go with no worries .... unless you are in Tom's group.

Personally I'm firmly a paper person anywhere. Apps are way beyond my level of competency.

Apps are part of an international mind control scheme.

Leave me and my apps alone.

This has been very informative, thanks. The only fuzziness that needs clearing from my geezerly brain is the statement on the BKK site re the app, which reads "The mobile ticket purchased in the application is to be used together with a valid photo ID.....Please provide the ID number at the time of purchase. VALID WITH LINKED ORIGINAL PHOTO ID ONLY.....At metro stations and on buses/trolleybuses with front-door boarding policy, PLEASE SHOW THE IMAGE APPEARING AFTER SCANNING" Since I can't "practice" scan here at home, is this telling me that my photo will show on the app, and what does "image appearing after scanning" mean? What image? I am an app kinda guy, have used public transportation app scanners before, etc, but just not getting it. Thanks for any help!

For passes of 15 days or longer the pass is required to have the ID number off a photo ID on it (paper) or linked to it (App).

It can be any ID, even a US driver's license. That is to prevent sharing passes.

In theory, when asked to present your pass the BKK cop can ask to see the linked ID as well. It has never happened to me.

There is nothing scanned into the App, you just need to carry it. The scanning they are talking about is that with the App you have to scan a QR code at the tram or buss door or metro entry, each time you board. (with paper you do nothing, you just keep walking).

Here is a video for using the App for a single use ticket: https://youtu.be/a9IeQbFRpeM?feature=shared

And here is some more information. https://bkk.hu/en/tickets-and-passes/budapestgo/ Note that with the App you have to scan a QR code when getting on, even if you are using a PASS or TRAVEL CARD. With my paper version, no scanning, just ride. In my mind the App makes a beautifully simple process more complicated than it needs to be.

TexasTravelMom loves her App, so i presume as soon as she wakes, she will add some more information. I just dont use the App so I am not too much help.

Lol! I do love my app….. 🤣 I also love my esims. And I woke up a long time ago.

Dick, for the BudapestGo app, you download it and set up an account ahead of time. I cannot find this anywhere on my account, but I feel like I used my passport (I understand you can use your DL but personally not sure). It never shows up again. I also entered all my payment info (your question just reminded me to update my new cc info). I am still a relative newbie, but have spent over 4 weeks in 3 trips in the last 17 months and never been asked for documentation. Doesn’t mean it can’t happen. It’s just my one person data point.

Once you have the app set up, you can buy your card or pass (or the 100E bus from the airport) as early as 30 days ahead - and tell the app the day you want it to start. You can buy single tickets as well, but can’t see the point of that.

Using the app requires you have data available.

For the metro, there are 2 ways to use it:
1. At the entrance to each station, there are small machines with a QR code. You open the app, choose Scan, and scan the QR code. This gives you a funny little dancing figure on your screen. This is what you would show an inspector. It stays there even if you close the app and reopen it when you leave your destination station.
2. There’s a feature that uses your location to find the closest metro stations, gives them to you, and before you board you choose which one you are taking. If you do this, you don’t have to scan. But you still get the little dancing picture.

For trams, no need to scan.
For most busses, no need to scan. There ARE some busses where everyone enters through the front door and exits through the back door. Apparently these are the ones you need to scan. I have only found one of these (on Margrit Island), but I am sure there are others.

Ok, and since you asked…. 🤣 Third way: My last weeklong trip in October, my app would not scan the QR code. It told me I didn’t have data, which I did. I even went to an office to ask and the guy told me I was on 3G and the app only works on 5G. (My data did everything else except the app so I am reluctant to believe this was the problem.) However. I wish I could remember where, but in the app there was a place to touch that brought up a QR code (no scanning involved), but no dancing figure, and this worked just fine. Numerous inspectors saw it and shooed me on through and I saw quite a few other people doing the same thing (young and old alike). This workaround isn’t mentioned anywhere and hopefully this is a temporary bug of some kind. But it seemed to be recognized. I was nervous at first, but I suspect it told them I had a valid pass, even if not info for a particular station.

But to Mr. É’s point about waiting. You have to walk into a metro station prepared. You can’t get to the escalator or little machine and THEN pull out your phone to start. Then there’s a line of impatient people behind you.

Another aside. The app will journey plan for you. Google Maps also does a good job. However one fluke for me is that Google Maps never includes the M1 Opera to Deak Ferenc. And I tend to use the M1 quite a bit but I guess it thinks I should walk…..

I like having my app set up and ready when I arrive. I know logically stopping for a paper pass doesn’t really take a lot of time but I like being ready to go. I also don’t like little pieces of paper. I worry about losing them. That’s also why I love esims instead of a physical sim.

I also travel with my phone handy, not hidden away in an inner pocket or purse. I also do not consider pickpockets in Budapest. I pay attention, and if I left my phone somewhere it might disappear, but pickpocketing not a thing there like some cities. And this makes using my phone for apps easier as well.

There ARE some busses where everyone enters through the front door and
exits through the back door. Apparently these are the ones you need to
scan.

It is most busses and trollies on weekends and random in the evening. With paper you just flash it briefly to the driver when you get on.

Thanks, TexasTravelmom and Mr É. Well done, and much appreciated!

Good to know the ease which the BP Metro System can be used as I'll be there in May. Those tourists getting caught daily deserve it, trying to pull a fast one is just not wise.

I always use paper travel cards or tickets, never on a phone, be it in Vienna, Berlin, Munich, Paris, or Oyster card in London, etc. When out and about now even within a city, the passport is on me, regardless. Of course, I see that within a city is a nuisance but that is also irrelevant .

Fred, I was afraid all the talk above would scare people. I didnt grow up on any public transportation and I adapted to this quickly. Its no more firghtening than the trains between airport terminals. Just be sure you have a ticket. I've seen the metro cops being very helpful to tourists on the way in to the metro so you can always ask.

EDIT: About 20 years ago they made a movie about the workings of the Budapest underground, enjoy: https://youtu.be/LMkkJbRJdiA?feature=shared

Or as it really is .......... today ............ https://youtu.be/AM1bg_tiYXE?feature=shared

@ Mr E.....I did grow up taking public transportation in SF, taking my first buses at 10 years old. I will confess that in Europe a few times (not more than 4 to be sure) I rode the subway without a ticket, basically. violating the honour system.

That was in Hamburg in 1973, my second trip over, and I was broke. After 4 times I quit, figured with my luck I would get caught, was never caught but ended taking the chances anyway.