Trains in Budapest

Keleti, Nyugati and Deli are the three main stations. MAV runs trains to Vienna, Bratislava and Prague, and the HEV suburban lines.

HEV suburban trains run from early morning until late evening.

Tickets and prices

• Budapest to Vienna: cheap advance fares are limited, so book early
• HEV suburban line: BKK tickets and passes are valid inside the city limits
• MAVPlusz app for train tickets
• Intercity supplement may apply

Where to buy tickets

• MAVPlusz app or jegy.mav.hu: buy before you board, up to 60 days ahead
• MAV ticket counters and ticket machines at the main stations. International tickets are sold at the international ticket offices or online
• On board: in Budapest and the suburban buy-before-you-board zone you can still pay on the train, but you pay the fare plus a 30,000 HUF surcharge (25,000 HUF before 2 November 2026)
• Outside that zone: boarding without a ticket costs 2,600 HUF on top of the fare, unless your stop had no way to buy one. A seat reservation bought on board costs extra
• Pay the surcharge late and it rises to 50,000 HUF after 30 days. Show a valid ticket within 15 days and it drops to 2,600 HUF
• HEV: BKK tickets inside the city, from BKK machines at almost all HEV stations or in BudapestGO

Good to know: Keleti has international departures. Keep an eye on platform announcements.

MAV (official site)

Direct trains from Budapest

• Vac: about 25 min from Budapest-Nyugati, MAV
• Szentendre: about 40 min from Batthyany ter (HEV), HEV
• Nagymaros-Visegrad: about 45 min from Budapest-Nyugati, MAV
• Godollo: about 50 min from Ors vezer tere (HEV), HEV
• Szekesfehervar: about 1 h from Budapest-Deli, MAV
• Esztergom: about 1 h 10 min from Budapest-Nyugati, MAV
• Gyor: about 1 h 10 min from Budapest-Keleti, MAV / Railjet
• Kecskemet: about 1 h 15 min from Budapest-Nyugati, MAV InterCity
• Siofok: about 1 h 30 min from Budapest-Deli, MAV
• Veszprem: about 1 h 45 min from Budapest-Deli, MAV InterCity
• Eger: about 1 h 50 min from Budapest-Keleti, MAV
• Balatonfured: about 2 h from Budapest-Deli, MAV
• Miskolc: about 2 h from Budapest-Keleti, MAV InterCity
• Szeged: about 2 h 20 min from Budapest-Nyugati, MAV InterCity
• Debrecen: about 2 h 30 min from Budapest-Nyugati, MAV InterCity
• Sopron: about 2 h 40 min from Budapest-Keleti, MAV / GYSEV
• Badacsony: about 2 h 40 min from Budapest-Deli, MAV
• Tokaj: about 2 h 45 min from Budapest-Keleti, MAV InterCity
• Keszthely: about 2 h 50 min from Budapest-Deli, MAV
• Pecs: about 3 h from Budapest-Keleti, MAV InterCity
• Nyiregyhaza: about 3 h from Budapest-Nyugati, MAV InterCity
• Bratislava (Slovakia): about 2 h 25 min from Budapest-Nyugati, EuroCity
• Vienna (Austria): about 2 h 40 min from Budapest-Keleti, Railjet
• Kosice (Slovakia): about 3 h 30 min from Budapest-Keleti, MAV InterCity
• Arad (Romania): about 3 h 45 min from Budapest-Keleti, MAV / CFR
• Brno (Czech Republic): about 4 h 10 min from Budapest-Nyugati, EuroCity
• Timisoara (Romania): about 5 h from Budapest-Keleti, MAV / CFR
• Salzburg (Austria): about 5 h 20 min from Budapest-Keleti, Railjet
• Graz (Austria): about 5 h 30 min from Budapest-Keleti, MAV
• Zagreb (Croatia): about 6 h from Budapest-Keleti, MAV / HZ
• Prague (Czech Republic): about 6 h 50 min from Budapest-Nyugati, EuroCity
• Munich (Germany): about 7 h from Budapest-Keleti, Railjet
• Katowice (Poland): about 7 h 45 min from Budapest-Nyugati, PKP Intercity
• Innsbruck (Austria): about 8 h from Budapest-Keleti, Railjet
• Krakow (Poland): about 8 h from Budapest-Nyugati, PKP Intercity
• Ljubljana (Slovenia): about 7 h 45 min from Budapest-Keleti, MAV InterCity
• Dresden (Germany): about 9 h 20 min from Budapest-Nyugati, EuroCity
• Sibiu (Romania): about 10 h from Budapest-Keleti, CFR
• Warsaw (Poland): about 10 h 40 min from Budapest-Nyugati, PKP Intercity
• Zurich (Switzerland): about 10 h 50 min from Budapest-Keleti, Railjet
• Berlin (Germany): about 11 h from Budapest-Nyugati, EuroCity
• Stuttgart (Germany): about 12 h from Budapest-Keleti, EuroNight
• Brasov (Romania): about 13 h from Budapest-Keleti, MAV / CFR
• Hamburg (Germany): about 14 h from Budapest-Nyugati, EuroCity
• Bucharest (Romania): about 16 h from Budapest-Keleti, CFR
• Kyiv (Ukraine): about 20 h from Budapest-Nyugati, UZ

Trams and metro in Budapest

Budapest has 4 metro lines (M1 to M4), a large tram network including tram 2 along the Danube, and trolleybuses.

Metro runs from early morning until about midnight. M2, M3 and M4 run until about 01:00 on Friday and Saturday nights. Night trams and buses run after that.

Tickets and prices

• Single ticket: 500 HUF (700 HUF if bought on board)
• 24-hour ticket: 2,750 HUF
• 72-hour ticket: 5,750 HUF
• Budapest Card: transport and sights

Where to buy tickets

• BKK ticket machines at every metro station and at busy stops. They take cash and bank cards, and 99 take cards only
• BudapestGO app: tickets and passes on your phone
• Pay&GO: tap a bank card or phone on the validator to buy and validate a single ticket. Works on all metro lines and bus 100E
• BKK customer centres, for example at Deak Ferenc ter, Keleti and Deli
• On board trams: a 700 HUF single on lines with a sign, such as 2, 3, 19, 41 and 62. Not possible on the metro

Good to know: Tram 2 along the river is one of the most scenic tram rides in Europe.

BKK (official site)

Budapest network

Four metro lines: M1 (yellow), M2 (red), M3 (blue) and M4 (green).

• Line M1: Vörösmarty tér to Mexikói út. Stops: Vörösmarty tér (Centre), Opera (Opera House), Hősök tere (Heroes' Square), Széchenyi fürdő (Thermal baths).
• Line M2: Déli pályaudvar to Örs vezér tere. Stops: Batthyány tér (Parliament), Deák Ferenc tér (Centre), Keleti pályaudvar (Trains).
• Line M3: Kőbánya-Kispest to Újpest-Központ. Stops: Nyugati pályaudvar (Trains), Deák Ferenc tér (Centre), Kálvin tér (Great Market Hall).
• Line M4: Kelenföld vasútállomás to Keleti pályaudvar. Stops: Szent Gellért tér (Baths, hill), Fővám tér (Market Hall), Kálvin tér (Centre), Keleti pályaudvar (Trains).

Where lines meet: Deák Ferenc tér (M1 + M2 + M3); Kálvin tér (M3 + M4); Keleti pályaudvar (M2 + M4).

Buses in Budapest

BKK buses are numbered and include fast and night lines. Long-distance coaches go from Nepliget.

Day buses run from early morning until late evening. Night buses have 900 numbers.

Tickets and prices

• Same tickets as metro and trams
• Airport bus 100E: 2,500 HUF airport ticket
• FlixBus from Nepliget
• Validate tickets on board

Where to buy tickets

• BKK ticket machines at metro stations and busy stops, cash or bank card
• BudapestGO app: tickets and passes on your phone
• On board: a 700 HUF single on buses with a sign. Bank card is accepted on 200E, 105, 210 and 210B
• Airport bus 100E: tap a bank card or phone on the Pay&GO reader on board
• Regional buses around Budapest: the driver sells VOLAN paper tickets

Good to know: Ticket inspectors are strict. Always validate your ticket.

BKK (official site)

Airport links in Budapest

Budapest Ferenc Liszt (BUD) is about 16 km southeast of the centre.

Bus 100E runs around the clock and takes up to about 40 minutes to the centre (Kalvin ter and Deak Ferenc ter).

Tickets and prices

• Bus 100E: 2,500 HUF airport ticket (regular tickets and passes are not valid)
• Bus 200E to metro M3 (Kobanya-Kispest): regular ticket
• Taxi: metered at the official city rate, with a 2,100 HUF airport base fare
• Train from Ferihegy station, linked to the airport by bus 200E

Where to buy tickets

• Bus 100E: 2,500 HUF. Tap a bank card or phone on the Pay&GO reader on board, or buy in BudapestGO or at a BKK machine
• Bus 100E with a monthly pass: a 1,000 HUF supplement, sold only in BudapestGO
• Bus 200E: regular BKK single. Buy in BudapestGO or at a BKK machine, or on board for 700 HUF (bank card accepted)
• Train from Ferihegy station to Nyugati, about 30 minutes: buy a MAV ticket in the MAVPlusz app or at jegy.mav.hu. Some trains need a supplement
• Private transfers and shuttles are also available. Book ahead

Good to know: Take a taxi from the official rank outside the terminal. All Budapest taxis charge the same regulated fare.

Budapest Airport (official site)

Airport to city centre: full guide

Tips for Budapest

• Always validate your ticket. Inspectors are strict and fines are high.
• The M1 line is historic and opened in 1896.
• Use an app or an official taxi company. All Budapest taxis charge the same regulated fare.
• The penalty fare without a valid ticket is 15,000 HUF if you pay the inspector by card or within two working days. After that it is 30,000 HUF, and 50,000 HUF after 30 days.

Apps to download

• BudapestGO: Official transport and tickets app
• MÁVPlusz: Official MAV train tickets app
• Bolt: Ride-hailing
• Uber: Taxis (licensed Fotaxi cars)

Route guides

• Vienna to Budapest by Train: The Ultimate Railjet Travel Guide (2026)