Air travel
The international airport of Budapest is Ferenc Liszt International (IATA code BUD) with terminal T2 open for the public. Terminal 2 has two sub-terminals, 2A and 2B, not far apart, which is indicated on the plain ticket or boarding pass.
Airport transfer
The Budapest-based taxi company Főtaxi is officially licensed to serve both terminals of Budapest airport. The company operates services to and from the airport with fixed fares. For inbound trips, travellers must check in at the company’s booths located next to the exits outside the terminal buildings. Transfer from Budapest to the airport can be ordered by phone (+36 1 222 2222).
Another alternative is the Airport Shuttle minibus which offers door-to-door service, one minibus serving several destinations or pick-up locations in one trip. Upon arrival, shuttle service can be ordered at one of the company’s counters in the arrival area – travellers must pay the transfer fee at the counter (in EUR, HUF, or by one of the commonly accepted cards), and are given a call number that will be displayed once a minibus for the given inbound trip is ready to depart. Outbound trips from Budapest to the airport can be ordered by phone (+36 1 550 0000) – in this case, orders must be placed 24 hours prior to the planned departure time.
Estimated transfer time by minibus or taxi is, in the average, around 30 minutes – nevertheless, this may double during peak hours.
Both terminals can be accessed by public transport as well: bus lines 200E and 900 serve both terminals (see this). Although tickets are affordable, using public transport with full luggage can be inconvenient, as one has to change lines at least once to reach the city center.
Another alternative is the Airport Shuttle minibus which offers door-to-door service, one minibus serving several destinations or pick-up locations in one trip. Upon arrival, shuttle service can be ordered at one of the company’s counters in the arrival area – travellers must pay the transfer fee at the counter (in EUR, HUF, or by one of the commonly accepted cards), and are given a call number that will be displayed once a minibus for the given inbound trip is ready to depart. Outbound trips from Budapest to the airport can be ordered by phone (+36 1 550 0000) – in this case, orders must be placed 24 hours prior to the planned departure time.
Estimated transfer time by minibus or taxi is, in the average, around 30 minutes – nevertheless, this may double during peak hours.
Both terminals can be accessed by public transport as well: bus lines 200E and 900 serve both terminals (see this). Although tickets are affordable, using public transport with full luggage can be inconvenient, as one has to change lines at least once to reach the city center.
Travel by rail
Guests coming from neighboring countries may prefer to travel by rail. Most international trains arrive at Budapest East station (Budapest Keleti pu.) which is close to the city center and served by numerous public transport lines (Metro lines 2 and 4, bus lines 7 and 8, to name a few). Also, taxis are available next to the station – however, care should be taken to choose a reliable taxi company. Information on national and international train connections is available at the site of the domestic passenger carrier MÁV-Start.
Public transport within Budapest
Budapest maintains a dense network of public transport lines, most of them operated by the public transport company BKK. Visitors planning to frequently use public transport are suggested to consult the ticket fare information page of the company for more information about tickets and passes. Please note that on most lines, tickets have to be purchased prior to boarding (use vending machines), and at some points (typically at entrances of metro stations and on some buses), passengers are required to present their tickets or passes to inspecting personnel.
Visitors planning sightseeing trips may also find the recommendations of the public transport company of interest, as some of BKK’s lines happen to run on a scenic route with many interesting places to see.
Budapest has a public bike-sharing system: MOL Bubi.
Visitors planning sightseeing trips may also find the recommendations of the public transport company of interest, as some of BKK’s lines happen to run on a scenic route with many interesting places to see.
Budapest has a public bike-sharing system: MOL Bubi.
Recommended taxi companies
Among cities of comparable size, Budapest taxi fares are usually affordable, see details here. However, care should be taken when choosing a taxi for a ride – some of the less reliable may overcharge on occasion, and the cabs may even mimic major taxi companies in their appearance. Here are some of the favorable companies that are free of unpleasant surprises:
Főtaxi: +36 1 222 2222
Taxi 4: +36 1 444 4444
City Taxi: +36 1 211 1111
Főtaxi: +36 1 222 2222
Taxi 4: +36 1 444 4444
City Taxi: +36 1 211 1111
General information
Hungary is a member of the European Union and of the Schengen Zone. For further information, please consult the information pages of the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Currency: Hungarian Forint (HUF); for current exchange rates, please consult the web site of the National Bank of Hungary – rates at exchange companies may somewhat deviate from this average.
Most cards (Visa, Mastercard, AmEx) are accepted in larger shops, however, EUR is rarely accepted directly for payment.
Typical opening hours of shops:
Mains voltage: 230V 50Hz AC, plug type CEE7/4 (4.8mm diameter pins 19mm apart, ground contacts on the side)
Climate at the time of the conference: temperature varies between 10°C and 28°C over the day, amount of precipitation can vary from 0 to 5mm per day (about 50–60mm for the entire month).
Touristic information about Budapest can be found on http://visitbudapest.travel/ and http://en.budapestinfo.hu/.
Currency: Hungarian Forint (HUF); for current exchange rates, please consult the web site of the National Bank of Hungary – rates at exchange companies may somewhat deviate from this average.
Most cards (Visa, Mastercard, AmEx) are accepted in larger shops, however, EUR is rarely accepted directly for payment.
Typical opening hours of shops:
- Smaller shops: 7 AM to 9 PM on weekdays, 8 AM to 4 PM on the weekend
- Supermarkets in shopping malls: 7 AM to 10 PM from Monday through Saturday, 10 AM to 7 PM on Sundays
Mains voltage: 230V 50Hz AC, plug type CEE7/4 (4.8mm diameter pins 19mm apart, ground contacts on the side)
Climate at the time of the conference: temperature varies between 10°C and 28°C over the day, amount of precipitation can vary from 0 to 5mm per day (about 50–60mm for the entire month).
Touristic information about Budapest can be found on http://visitbudapest.travel/ and http://en.budapestinfo.hu/.