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Travel Within Budapest |
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Travel Within Budapest
Overview
Although Budapest is a large city, it is very easy to get around. Not only are the majority of sights that tend to be of interest to visitors located fairly close together, but an outstanding transport system serves all of Budapest's 23 districts.
To and from the Airport
If you are flying into or out of Budapest, you will be using Budapest's Ferihegy Airport. Terminal1 for Budget Airlines and terminal 2 A, 2B are for all international flights.
It is, in fact, a distance of about 18 km from the city centre, so it may be worth avoiding public transport, especially if you have sizeable bags.
(It is possible, but not very easy, to do this trip by metro and bus - on the blue line to the end at Kőbánya Kispest, where you can catch a number 95 bus, which creeps on to the airport. Allow at least an hour for this metro/bus route from the town centre.) A cheaper option worth considering is the airport minibus, which will pick you up from any address in the city centre (Tel: +36-1 343 0748 ) or alternatively, order your pickup now
Taxi
Taxi fares are of course much higher than the BKV public transport system. It is worth bearing in mind that rush hour traffic can make the latter a much smoother and faster alternative. If you want to take a taxi, ordering it by phone will make the ride cheaper (up to 25%), and will avoid disreputable taxis who will take you all round the town and charge you an arm and a leg for the privilege.
By Public Transport
Budapest has one of the best Public transport systems in Europe, covering travel on buses, trolley-buses, trams, the underground (Metro), and surface urban railway (HEV) One ticket is good for a one-way journey on any of these. If you change to a different form of transport, or change metro lines, then you must use a new ticket. (This is often checked and fines can be imposed, see below.) You can buy tickets single from machines at metro stations and tram-stops, or at kiosks and magazine stands in the metro stations during business hours. To use a single ticket, you must validate it by putting it into the special "puncher" machine at the metro entrance, or on the bus/tram/trolley-bus. (you need a bit of muscle to operate the older non-electronic punchers.) The service is fast, convenient, punctual and cheap.
Tickets and Passes
These are correct for 2006, but a price list is also posted on the kiosk window at each metro station.
| Description |
Price |
| Single Ticket |
185 HUF |
| Book of 10 tickets |
1.665 HUF |
| Book of 20 tickets |
3.145 HUF |
| 1-day pass |
1.150 HUF |
| 3-day tourist pass |
2.500 HUF |
| 1-week pass |
3.400 HUF |
Budapest Card
(48 hours travel + many discounts)
|
5.200 HUF |
Budapest Card
(72 hours travel + many discounts)
|
6.500 HUF |
Transport is great value in Budapest. The transport systems can take you everywhere fast, so you may use it more than you might expect. Thus tickets, or books of tickets will be used up apace. We often find that a pass is a better deal for short visits. (Then you don't need to worry about validating new tickets all the time.) This is great value, especially the Budapest card, if you are planning to hit the museums (100% discount on the majority of them) Prices are in Hungarian Forints (Huf) but comparisons can be made via one-click conversions at
http://www.xe.com/ucc/
Ticket Inspectors
It's worth mentioning that the public transport system works on an honour system, so though you won't have to show your ticket on every journey, you are expected to have one. To help the public remember, the Public transport company, BKV, employs a small army of ticket inspectors to randomly check for valid tickets and passes. Not always wearing a uniform, but sporting a red armband (which is sometimes hidden until mid-journey) they have the power to demand to see your ticket and to impose a fine if you don't have one.
Metro
Budapest's 3 metro lines cross at Deák Ferenc Tér in the town centre. Taking the metro is fast as they come every 3-6 minutes during working hours. They operate from 4:30 am to 11pm and outside of these times their routes are roughly matched by surface night buses (see below) If you have single tickets, be sure to punch your it, up by the escalators before going down to the platform. It is easy to navigate the metro, as there are only three lines and the one you are on is illustrated on the wall of the platform with your present station highlighted.
HEV
The 4 HEV surface urban railway lines bring commuters into the city from the North, South and East. As a commuter service, the HEV is not normally of interest to visitors, with the exception of the train to nearby Szentendre, a pleasant half-day trip.
Don't forget to buy a separate ticket at Batthány tér, because you will be leaving the city.
Buses and Trolley-buses
These are effectively the same thing. Trolley-buses run on overhead electric cables and are more environmentally friendly, a lot slower and tend to service commuter routes. Routes and schedules for both are posted at bus stops. Routes marked with an "E" (Éjzsaka) are only Night transport services. These follow similar routes to the metro lines, so you can always get home.
Buses can be quite crowded at rush hour and you may have to stand for the entire journey. The driver calls out the stops and on some services these are electronically displayed. Two words of warning:
Be aware that doors only open if you push the button either (inside or outside)
Watch out for pickpockets, especially when getting on and off!
Trams
Trams are a lovely way to travel if you are not in a hurry. The routes are simple to learn and services very regular through the day. Again, watch for pickpockets and if travelling on business, be aware that a tram's magnetic field can sometimes de-magnetise computer disks.
Transport
- If using single metro tickets, don't forget to punch each one you use in the special machine provided on every bus, tram, trolley-bus and at each Metro station entrance. If you don't have a pass or a freshly-punched ticket, you are fair game for the dreaded "elenörök" or ticket inspectors. They bear red armbands (which they often hide in their bags until they swoop between stops or at the top of escalators), they can demand to see your ticket and impose an instant fine, which is presently ()Forints.
- Do validate (punch) another ticket buy when you switch bus/tram or tram/trolley etc. or when you switch metro lines at Deák Ferenc Tér. If you forget, it's the same story as above.
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