Budapest packs one of the densest, cheapest transit networks in Europe into one city, and it’s all run under a single brand — BKK. Four metro lines, a huge tram network, and buses reach almost everywhere, and since 2026 you can tap a bank card straight through the metro gates without touching an app.
The basics
BKK (Centre for Budapest Transport) plans the network and sells the tickets; the trains, trams, and buses themselves are mostly run by BKV, with a separate operator, MÁV-HÉV, running the suburban HÉV trains out to the edges of the region.
- Metro — four lines (M1–M4) converge downtown; M1 is a shallow, historic line (one of the oldest metros in continental Europe), while M2–M4 are deep, modern lines.
- Trams — a large network, including the busy ring line around the Nagykörút (Grand Boulevard).
- Trolleybuses and buses — cover the rest of the city, including express (E-suffix) routes.
- HÉV suburban rail — four lines reaching Szentendre, Gödöllő, Csepel, and Ráckeve; a standard BKK ticket or pass covers you as far as the Budapest city boundary.
- Ferries — river boats supplement the network on the Danube.
How to pay
Budapest’s ticketing has two tracks, depending on what you’re riding:
- Tap a contactless bank card or phone (Pay&GO) — on all four metro lines and on the 100E airport bus, just tap at the reader as you enter. It charges the standard single fare on the spot; no app, account, or advance purchase needed. This is the newest and simplest option, but it isn’t yet available on trams, buses, or trolleybuses.
- Buy a ticket first, then validate it — for everything else (and as an alternative on the metro), get a ticket from the BudapestGO app, a vending machine, or a BKK customer service point, then validate it: on the metro, that means passing it through the gate line at the station entrance; on trams, buses, and trolleybuses, there’s a small validator by the door — punch or tap your ticket the moment you board.
Unlike a fully honor-system city, Budapest’s metro stations have a real gate line — you need a validated ticket, tap, or pass to cross it. Surface transport (trams, buses) runs proof-of-payment style, checked by roaming inspectors.
Fares
| Ticket | Price |
|---|---|
| Single ticket (bought ahead) | 500 Ft |
| Single ticket (bought on board) | 700 Ft |
| Block of 10 single tickets | 4,500 Ft |
| 24-hour travelcard | 2,750 Ft |
| 72-hour travelcard | 5,750 Ft |
| Monthly pass (adult) | 8,950 Ft |
A single ticket covers one uninterrupted journey within 80 minutes (120 minutes on night services) — transfers aren’t included, with one exception: you can change between metro lines going in one direction on the same ticket. If you’re making more than a couple of trips in a day, the 24-hour travelcard pays for itself and covers unlimited rides with no need to validate again after the first tap.
Free travel applies to a few groups, regardless of nationality: anyone 65 or older (any photo ID works), children below school age, and Hungarian pupils under 14 with a student ID.
Fare enforcement is real — plainclothes and uniformed inspectors check tickets on the metro (at the gate line) and on board surface vehicles. Getting caught without a valid ticket costs 12,000 Ft if you pay on the spot, rising to 25,000 Ft after three days and 50,000 Ft after thirty.
Getting from the airport
The 100E Airport Express is the direct option: it runs from Budapest Airport (BUD) to Deák Ferenc tér — the downtown hub where three metro lines meet — via Kálvin tér.
- Time: about 40 minutes to downtown.
- Cost: 2,500 Ft, a premium fare above the standard single ticket — pay by tapping a bank card or phone on the Pay&GO reader as you board, or buy it in the BudapestGO app.
- How often: every 6–10 minutes for most of the day, stretching to every 30–40 minutes overnight.
- Hours: runs 24/7 — there’s no need to time your flight around it.
Regular BKK tickets and passes aren’t valid on the 100E itself, though pass holders can buy a discounted add-on fare in the app instead of the full price.
Apps to download
- BudapestGO — the official app: buy and validate tickets and passes, plan trips with real-time data, and get service alerts pushed to your phone.
- Google Maps — solid for trip planning, with live BKK schedules built in.
When it runs
Most of the network runs from around 4:30am to shortly after midnight, with the exact last departure varying by line. At night, coverage thins but doesn’t disappear: tram line 6 runs all night on the Grand Boulevard, a network of night buses (numbered in the 900s) covers the rest of the city, and both airport buses (100E and 200E) keep running around the clock. Regular daytime fares apply on night services — there’s no surcharge.
Accessibility
Accessibility varies by line. Metro line M4 is fully step-free, with lifts at every station. On M2, only Örs vezér tere, Pillangó utca, and Puskás Ferenc Stadion are step-free; on M3, several rebuilt stations (including Újpest-központ and Újpest-városkapu) have lifts. Trams and buses are increasingly low-floor, with marked wheelchair and stroller spaces on board and boarding markers on platforms showing where the accessible doors line up.
Etiquette & local quirks
- Validate before you ride — the metro’s gate line means you can’t bluff your way past without a ticket, tap, or pass; on surface vehicles, punch or tap the moment you board, since inspectors do check.
- M1, the shallow yellow line under Andrássy Avenue, is a sight in itself — original 1896 stations, no escalators, just a few steps down.
- Trams double as sightseeing — tram 2 runs along the Danube past Parliament, and it’s covered by a standard fare.
- Give up the priority seats near the doors, and let riders off before boarding — normal big-city courtesy applies.
Good to know
- The gate line matters. Because the metro checks tickets right at the entrance (unlike a fully honor-system city), don’t cross it without a valid ticket, tap, or pass — even to see someone off.
- Trams and buses run on proof-of-payment, so keep your validated ticket or tapped card until you’re off, in case an inspector boards.
- Pay&GO is still expanding. As of 2026 it covers all four metro lines and the 100E, with wider rollout across trams and buses planned by 2028 — until then, those still need a ticket bought and validated the traditional way.