Budapest airport: express, metro or taxi to the city center
Budapest Airport sits outside the city limits, so you still need to get to the center. The choice is simple: a direct express bus, a regular bus plus the metro, or a taxi. The price difference is several times over.
The direct 100E bus costs 2,500 forints and takes about 40 minutes to Deák Ferenc tér (as of 09/2026, official BKK website). A taxi for the same trip costs several times more. In between, there's the 200E plus metro combination, and it's the cheapest way to the center.
Below you'll find prices, frequencies, and the honest catch of each option.
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Getting from Budapest airport to the center
💡 In short:
- The 100E express runs around the clock with direct service to Deák Ferenc tér.
- The 200E plus metro combination is cheaper: you need two regular tickets at 500 forints each, about 1,000 forints total.
- Taxis and pre-booked transfers take you from the terminal to your address, but cost noticeably more.
- Fares and schedules: 09/2026, verified on the BKK website.
© Dennis G. Jarvis · CC BY-SAPhoto: Dennis G. Jarvis, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0), Wikimedia CommonsBudapest Airport lies beyond the southeastern edge of the city, so the trip to the center takes anywhere from half an hour to an hour. Most flights arrive at Terminal 2, and that's also where transport to the city departs from. Below is a comparison by price and time, followed by a breakdown of each option.
Option | Price | Time | At night |
|---|---|---|---|
Express 100E | 2,500 forints (as of 09/2026, BKK website) | about 40 minutes (as of 09/2026, BKK website) | yes, around the clock |
Bus 200E plus metro | about 1,000 forints, two tickets at 500 each (as of 09/2026, BKK website) | about an hour | yes, with a transfer |
Taxi | base fare 2,100 forints (as of 08/2026, BKK website) | about half an hour | yes |
Pre-booked transfer | fixed price | about half an hour | yes |
The express is the most convenient option for a first visit, while the metro combination saves money. Taxis and transfers come in handy at night and with a lot of luggage.
Bus 100E: direct express to the center
The 100E express connects Terminal 2 with Deák Ferenc tér and stops at Kálvin tér along the way. You don't need to transfer, and that's the main advantage for a first trip. The bus runs around the clock: during the day every 6-10 minutes, less frequently in the morning and evening, and at night on average every 30-40 minutes (as of 09/2026, BKK website).
Tickets for the 100E are sold at a separate airport fare. It's not valid on other lines or for transfers (as of 09/2026, BKK website). You can pay by bank card right on board via the Budapest Pay&Go system, or in advance in the BudapestGO app. Boarding is through the front door only. We checked the frequencies on 09/12/2026 on the official BKK website.
Heading into the center, the bus stops at Kálvin tér and Deák Ferenc tér, and on the way back it picks up passengers at Deák Ferenc tér, Astoria, and Kálvin tér. From the stop, you can walk to the Danube embankment, the bridges, and Váci utca. The catch is that during rush hour the bus sits in regular traffic. The trip takes longer.
© Salsim5774 · CC BY-SAPhoto: Salsim5774, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia CommonsBus 200E and metro: the cheapest route
Bus 200E takes you to Kőbánya-Kispest station, where you transfer to metro line M3 into the center. The airport ticket for 100E is not valid here (as of 09/2026, BKK website). A regular single ticket costs 500 forints (as of 09/2026, BKK website).
This route is cheaper than the express bus, but it takes longer and requires a transfer. You need a ticket for each leg of the journey unless you have a pass. On the plus side, the bus runs around the clock on its regular schedule. There are no long gaps at night.
Who it's for: those who want to save money and are not in a hurry. Not for: traveling with suitcases and children. The extra transfer is a burden.
© Bilykralik16 · CC BY-SAPhoto: Bilykralik16, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia CommonsTaxi and pre-booked transfers from the airport
Taxis at the terminal wait at the official stand, and the fare is metered: base fare, distance, and time. Since August 2026, a higher base rate of 2,100 forints applies from the airport (as of 08/2026, BKK website). The official rate is the same around the clock and across all operators.
Licensed services: Bolt, City Taxi, Elit Taxi, Főtaxi, and Uber Taxi (as of 09/2026, BKK website). The right car is yellow, and the fare table is posted on the dashboard and on the rear doors. Unofficial drivers in the arrivals hall ask for more for the same trip. Get a car at the counter or through an app.
The catch with taxis is the price: the bill comes out several times higher than the express bus. On the plus side, the driver takes you straight to your address, and your suitcases don't have to go through transfers.
If you arrive at night or are traveling with a large family, a pre-booked transfer with a fixed price is more convenient. The driver waits in the arrivals hall and takes you directly to your hotel.
Tours and tickets in Budapest
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Where to buy tickets and how to pay
City transport tickets are sold at BKK service points, post offices, newsstands, and ticket machines (as of 09/2026, BKK sales points). You can also buy a ticket from the driver, but it costs more there. You need to pay in forints, because euros are not accepted for fares. An ATM in the terminal dispenses local currency.
At the post office in the terminal, you can buy a 24-hour, 72-hour, weekly, or monthly pass. The same tickets are more convenient to keep in the BudapestGO app. Then you don't need to look for a machine in the hall. The airport ticket for 100E is also available in the app.
The Budapest Card, which gives you free travel and museum discounts, can be bought in advance on GetYourGuide. It is also sold at information desks in the arrivals halls of terminals 2A and 2B.
What Budapest airport is called
Budapest Airport is named after the composer Franz Liszt. The full name is Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport, and you will see the code BUD on tickets and departure boards. Locals still call it Ferihegy, after the old name of the district.
© DavidivardiIL · CC BYPhoto: DavidivardiIL, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), Wikimedia CommonsThe name Ferihegy still appears in taxi apps. It's the same airport.
How many airports are in Budapest
Budapest has one international airport, and that is Ferenc Liszt International Airport. Low-cost carriers Ryanair and Wizz Air are based here, so there is a wide choice of flights across Europe.
The second international airport in Hungary is in Debrecen. It lies in the east of the country, far from the capital. To get to Budapest you need a separate ticket and a separate journey. If your flight arrives in Debrecen, plan several more hours for the trip.
⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to get from Budapest airport to the city center?
The cheapest option is a combination of bus 200E and the metro: you need two regular tickets at 500 forints each, about 1,000 forints in total (as of 09/2026, BKK website). Express 100E costs 2,500 forints, but it takes you without transfers (as of 09/2026, BKK website). Taxi is the most expensive: the base fare of 2,100 forints is increased by distance and travel time (as of 08/2026, BKK website).
Does transport from the airport run at night?
Yes. Express 100E operates around the clock, at night the interval increases to 30-40 minutes (as of 09/2026, BKK website). Bus 200E also runs all night on its regular schedule. Taxi and pre-booked transfer are available at any time. At night there are fewer cars at the stand.
Is there a train from the airport to Budapest city center?
There is no railway station right at the terminal. The nearest station, Ferihegy, is on the bus 200E line. There is no direct train from the airport to the center. The train is replaced by the combination of 200E and the metro, and then you continue on line M3.
Where can I buy a bus ticket at the airport?
Tickets are sold at BKK service points, at the post office, at kiosks and vending machines in the terminal (as of 09/2026, BKK website). On 100E it is more convenient to pay by card directly on board via the Budapest Pay&Go system.
Do I need forints or can I pay by card?
You need forints for travel, because euros are not accepted on transport. You can pay by card at vending machines and directly on bus 100E via Pay&Go, while cash helps at kiosks and with the driver. An ATM in the terminal dispenses local currency at a fair rate.
In short: what to book
If you're flying during the day and traveling light, take the 100E express: it runs without transfers. If you're counting every forint, choose the 200E plus metro combination. If you're arriving at night or bringing suitcases, a fixed-price transfer will save you. Only rent a car at an official counter.
For an overnight stay in the center, check Budapest hotels on Trip.com in advance. That way you'll arrive at a known address and won't have to look for lodging after a long flight.
A small editorial team writing guides for independent travel. We travel ourselves, but we haven’t been everywhere, so we check prices, opening hours and how to get there against official sources.