🚇 Transport

Getting around Budapest

Four metro lines, a tram network that outlives most European cities', and a centre small enough that walking usually wins. How the system works, what to buy, and which rides are worth taking for their own sake.

Walking first

Central Pest is flat and gridded, and the distance from the Parliament to the Great Market Hall is about forty minutes on foot along the river. Most visitor days involve less transport than people expect. The exception is the Buda side, where the hill is real and the funicular or bus 16 exists for a reason.

The metro

M1 — the yellow line under Andrássy Avenue. Opened in 1896, the oldest underground railway in continental Europe, and a UNESCO World Heritage listing in its own right. Shallow, short trains, wooden-panelled stations. It runs from the centre to Heroes' Square and the City Park.

M2 (red), M3 (blue) and M4 (green) are conventional deep metro lines and cross the city fast. M2 and M3 have some of the longest escalators in Europe.

The metro stops around midnight.

Trams

The tram network is where Budapest quietly beats most cities.

4 and 6 run the Grand Boulevard and operate 24 hours. They are the backbone of the night network.
2 runs along the Pest embankment past the Parliament and is, accidentally, one of the great urban sightseeing rides — for the price of a normal ticket.
47 and 49 cross to Buda and stop at Gellért.

Tickets

One system covers metro, tram, bus, trolleybus and some suburban rail. See the BKK tickets and travelcards page for how to choose — the short version is that a 24- or 72-hour travelcard beats singles for almost every visitor, and removes the validation problem.

Boats

BKK runs scheduled Danube boats, which are public transport rather than a cruise and priced accordingly. On a clear day the D11 or D12 is the cheapest river view in the city.

Taxis and ride-hailing

Use a booked car or an official rank. Do not flag down an unmarked car at night, and confirm the meter is running before you set off.

Cycling

There is a public bike share and a growing network of lanes, but Budapest traffic is not gentle and the Buda side is hilly. Margaret Island and the Danube embankments are the pleasant rides.

Frequently asked

Do I need a travelcard in Budapest?

For anything longer than a day, almost certainly. A 24- or 72-hour travelcard costs less than a handful of single tickets and removes the need to validate each journey.

Does the Budapest metro run at night?

No — it stops around midnight. A comprehensive night bus network takes over, and trams 4 and 6 run 24 hours.

What is the oldest metro line in Budapest?

M1, the yellow line under Andrássy Avenue, opened in 1896. It is the oldest underground railway in continental Europe and a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Is Budapest walkable?

Central Pest very much so — it is flat and compact. The Buda side is hilly, and the funicular or bus 16 up to the Castle saves a real climb.