Taxi from Keleti to hotel

City Taxi is good. You might want to set up the app before you leave home so you can easily enter your destination. It works just like Uber, although with Uber I have to have a credit card saved and with City Taxi I don’t (I can pay by card at the end of my ride).

Rather than trying to exchange currency, I would use an ATM and withdraw forints. You don’t say where you are staying - it’s entirely possible you would have a more convenient atm near there, as opposed to finding one at the train station (although there there are some there and nearby). It might be less overwhelming if you are tired. You probably won’t need a lot - although you also haven’t said how long you are staying. Hopefully you have an account that allows for using a debit card to withdraw without charging fees.

Thank you again, TravelTexasMom. Invaluable info you have provided. I should have been more specific about currency - yes, currency from ATM (for tip and incidentals), not exchange per se. Hopefully there is a bank ATM somewhere in the station. Not sure if I have fees with using my ATM card. We’re staying at the Ritz Carlton - 3 days in Budapest. Thanks again. Always a pleasure hearing from you.

Keleti had (during my 2019 visit) 2 or 3 ATMs inside the station, along the front wall, to the left of the exit. One of the ATMs was OTP Bank, which (at the time) did not charge a fee.

And I recently saw an article that Uber has (this year) returned to Budapest:
https://hungarytoday.hu/after-eight-years-the-well-known-u-s-company-uber-returns-to-budapest/

Uber works differently in Budapest than in other places as it's not a fixed price ride, but rather metered like a taxi, and in partnership with Főtaxi in Budapest.

Thanks, CWsocial. Fantastic advice. Location of ATMs (if we can even find the front wall in our expected frenzied state, LOL)- very relevant info - that and Uber comments. Thanks again for the help.

Well, the bad news is that my Google Maps search is only showing a Euronet ATM inside the station. I am not seeing the OTP Bank ATM. I will go a long way out of my way before using a Euronet ATM (and hence, I did not even mention it in my prior post) but they are popping up everywhere.

When your train arrives at Keleti, you will walk in the direction of your train travel into the station. If you keep walking in that direction, avoiding the massive staircase in the center that leads down to the handy metro station, you will be headed towards the front wall of the station.

If you veer to the left, and if Google Maps is correct, you should still find the Euronet ATM there.

It's not that big of a station....relatively speaking.

Aha! There is an OTP Bank ATM 230m from your Ritz Carlton:
OTP Bank, Budapest, Károly krt. 25, 1075 Hungary

See how far I will go to avoid Euronet?!? .... ;-)

And one in the other direction, also 230m from your hotel:
OTP ATM, Budapest, Deák Ferenc u. 7, 1052 Hungary

Thanks again, CWsocial. That is welcome news indeed!

By the way, your hotel is insanely close to the Underground Railway Museum, which is an adorable little museum in an old underground station area. I wouldn't put it on a 3 day itinerary unless you happen to like transport museums and find yourself with an extra hour.

Thank you again, CWsocial. Museum noted and I will check it out, for sure. Follow up - checked out website and (surprise, surprise) it is in Hungarian with apparently no option for English.

Ah, Chrome must be translating it for me.

On that point, some of the museum signs were in English, but not all. However, the staff (grudgingly, it seemed) gave me a plastic sheet with additional English commentary.

Found it!
https://www.bkv.hu/en/content/millennium_underground_museum

The tiny little icon of a globe in the upper right of the museum's web page.

Go down the steps to the Metro underground at Deák Ferenc tér 6. At the bottom on the right is the BKK Service office. Go in and through the office and the museum is at the back. Simple, but interesting. Get your TravelCard while there.

Well, it looks like there is a K&H ATM in the Ritz Carlton itself (don’t know if that is old Google maps info or not). There’s an old 2019 thread here on the forum that indicated that at that time it did not charge fees - only what your U.S. bank might charge (if you don’t have a fee free account). That would definitely be my first choice for getting some cash. You probably wont need much.

I also love the little Underground Museum (I love trains) - and if you ask (use some sign language), there is an English audio guide they can get out of a closet and give you (might cost a little extra). It will take @ an hour max (it’s just one long room) and closes at 5. Actually, I think the extra I paid was to be legal for taking pictures, not for the audio guide….. I didn’t get there till my 4th week in Budapest, though.

Have a great trip!

Thanks again, CWsocial, Mr. E., and TexasTravelMom. As usual, everyone’s has gone above and beyond. Such useful info. Much appreciated.

We have fun. If you get here and have any problems, give me a ring

Will do, Mr. E. Thanks. It's so true that very little ever goes according to script - especially foreign travel.

I use K&H ATM a few times a week. No fees.

The only issue with a taxi at Keleti is taxis pick up at both sides of the station. If you use the City Taxi App is will show you where your car is. I might be inclined to go to the Taxi Lane, then order the Taxi, because the app also shows city Taxi where you are.

That sounds like a good plan, Mr. E. I will do that. Thank you.