This has been a discussion on the Hungary forum, but it's unique enough i think that others looking for budget holidays might be interested.
If you are 65 or older, you just get on and off the public transportation with no ticket and no pass.
If questioned, you present an ID with your birthdate. It's a bit hard to believe, but it's on the website, and I have been doing this daily since early March. Several RS people have now been turned away at the ticket office because they are over 65. So feel safe. The discount is not just for EU citizens.
Then today there was a post that the trains are free. Well, thats hard to believe so I went to the train website and checked on prices.
For the 3 hour train trip i checked, putting in my birthdate, the fare was 650 forints (about $1.80) and the regular fare wasnt bad either at 3.099 forints.
The person who made the post said they were told to just get on and show an ID if asked for a ticket. So, the 650 forints I presume was for a seat reservation ... at the end of my trial booking I got another discount for booking on line and the total cost was 617 forints ($1.70).
Oh, there also discounts for kids, making this attractive for families too.
You could come to Budapest, spend a week seeing the sights on free public transportation and then do day and overnight trips to places like Pecs, Eger, Gyor for less than $3.50 round trip.
Toss in the cost of tourism in Hungary (accommodations, food, events, etc) is a third to half the cost of most of Western Europe, which might make this an opportunity when funds are tight.
Of course holidays are about a lot more than cost.
It doesn't matter how chesp if it's a dud. So I add I think it's the most beautiful and interesting capital city in Europe, and if 19th and 20th century architecture and history interest you, then Hungary and Budapest are hard to beat.