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Budapest Public Transit

Posted by on

Foreword:
Based on two informed responses to my message may I add:
1. It was never our intensional to cheat the transit system. Ticketed travel is very reasonable and way ahead of USA public transit.

  1. I did read the transit website, but either missed or misread important information for non-EU travelers.

  2. Our hotel concierge mis-informed us.
    When we informed him of our fine, he offered to pay us out of his own pocket because of his error. We, of course, did not accept, as it was ultimately our responsibility.

Just left beautiful Budapest with one unpleasant and costly experience.

Warning: Only European Union (EU) tourists can travel free on Budapest Public Transit (Metro, Trams, Buses). Non-EU travelers are subject to very stiff fines (8000 Forints/person on the spot). You may be "told" that over 65 age ride free, but not non-EU travelers.
Always get a ride ticket or ride pass.

One ticket attendant let us pass a Metro point only to be stopped and fined by transit black arm-banded inspectors when showing our passports fot the next Metro line.

Just be careful about transit "advise" for over 65, be sure to ride with a ticket or multi-day pass, and have a wonderful time in Budapest!

William Neely
Oakland CA USA

Posted by
5697 posts

Sorry this happened to you, BUT we found the information very clear that EU CITIZENS over age 65 ride free so my husband flashed his maroon-backed EU passport and I bought tickets. This was on the transit website.

Posted by
14515 posts

The three times I was in Budapest for a day trip I rode the Metro, M4 in particular, always had a valid ticket on me. Yes, they were checked at the bottom of the escalator. It would never occur to me to ride free, (for what purpose?) especially with my luck. I could understand being trapped, I've seen often enough when controllers board a Metro or a tram at both ends at once, obviously to trap those intending to bail out. I wouldn't feel humiliated at all.

Posted by
2602 posts

I've visited Budapest 3 times now, and every trip I buy a pass for however many days I need, for 7 days it's less than 5000 forints--for the metro there's always someone who checks it prior to heading down to the platforms, I wave it at the tram driver, and on the bus I think maybe twice out of numerous rides has anyone checked my pass. In general, when visiting any city I always read their transit rules online very carefully, never go by a guidebook that may be outdated, or a hotel employee who may not know all the little particulars; i.e. in Paris always keep your ticket, in Amsterdam check in AND out, etc.

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