Hungarian Forint Exchange RateA new bus and tram numbering system has recently been introduced in Budapest. Various tram and bus lines have now new numbers and many routes have been reestablished or modified. Don’t believe your guide book and map edited before September 2008 or you will inevitably get lost.
You’ll find several points of interest within walking distance, but Budapest is a sizable city, so unless you drive your own car, you will inevitably use some form of public transportation. The good news is that the urban area is well covered by three metro lines, blue urban buses, yellow trams and red trolley-buses, and the whole system is easy to understand. The bad news is that the schedules are less than reliable, vehicles are not always clean, and tickets have become increasingly expensive.
Public transportation in Budapest is run by Budapest Transport Limited Company (BKV) , which has a useful English-language site including current schedules and fares. Vehicles run from around 5AM to 11.30PM. After that an extensive night bus network is available.
If you only visit Budapest for a few days as a tourist, you may find the following lines particularly useful:
- Metro 1, 2, 3 connect the suburbs with the biggest transport hubs, numerous touristic highlights and central hotels.
- Tram 2 runs along the river Danube on Pest side.
- Tram 4, 6 follow Nagykörút, Pest’s inner ring road.
- Bus 7, 7E, 173 and 173E connect Keleti railway station with the city center and many points of interest in Buda and Pest.
- Bus 16, 16A and 116 go to Buda castle.
- Bus 105 connect Hősök tere (Hero’s Square), goes up and down Andrássy boulevard to Deák square/Erzsébet square before it goes across the Chain Bridge to Buda and passes by Déli pályaudvar (Southern railway station).
- Bus 200E serves the airport.
If you stay longer, it’s worth to buy a public transportation map at any BKV ticket office. You can also find detailed public transport maps in some tram stops, especially along the 4-6 tram lines.
Tickets and passes
If you intend to travel a lot (and you probably will), travel cards are far less expensive than single tickets. As of 2009 most useful tickets and travel cards for tourists include the following:
- Single ticket (vonaljegy): Valid for one journey, transfer not allowed on buses and trams, but one transfer is allowed between metro lines (a new rule introduced in January 2009). HUF 300. HUF 400 if purchased from the driver (available on designated lines).
- Transfer ticket (átszállójegy): Valid for one journey, one transfer allowed. HUF 470.
- 10-trips travel card: 2700 HUF
- One-day travel card (napijegy): Valid for 24 hours after purchase (not only on the day of purchase – a new rule introduced in January 2009). HUF 1550.
- Three-day travel card (háromnapos turistajegy): Valid for 72 hours after purchase (not only on the day of purchase and the two following days – a new rule introduced in January 2009). HUF 3850.
- Seven-day travel card : Valid on the day when purchased and on the following six days. HUF 4600.
- Fourteen-day pass (kétheti Budapest-bérlet): Valid for 14 consecutive days with a photo pass (take a passport size photo to the ticket office). Valid also on MÁV trains and suburban yellow Volán buses (a new rule introduced in January 2009). HUF 6200.
- One-month pass (havi Budapest-bérlet): Valid for 30 or 31 consecutive days with a photo pass (take a passport size photo to the ticket office). Valid also on MÁV trains and suburban yellow Volán buses (a new rule introduced in January 2009). HUF 9400.
- Monthly pass for students : Valid for 30 consecutive days, with a student ID, e.g. ISIC. HUF 3700.
- Budapest card (Budapest kártya) allows you unlimited free travel in the city, and also gives you discounts at museums and restaurants. Two-day card HUF 6300, three-day card HUF 7500.
You will run into ticket inspectors. They are posted at almost every single entrance and exit. They have a notoriously bad reputation with locals, often being rude. Rarely speaking English, they sometimes pick tourist from the mass. If you get caught, you may choose to pay the fine on the spot (HUF 6000) or later by mail (HUF 12,000 if paid within 30 days). If paying on the spot, ask for a certificate to prevent the fine to go to the private purses and wallets of the inspectors. Can’t stress this enough: have a pass/ticket on you at all times and do try not to let the inspectors take it out of your hands. Don’t be afraid if they are threatening you with the police – they usually never arrive. Inspectors have no right to hold your passport, credit cards or any ID, don’t even give to them. If you feel trouble, call the police or even some locals will help you to escape, but the best way is to have a Budapest Card, or any unlimited travel pass.
Several times there is ticket control entering the subway lines, especially at major stations.
(source: http://wikitravel.org/en/Budapest )
