Budapest Metro: description, lines, map, opening hours, ticket prices 2024. How to use, whether it is possible to save money, fines for stowaway travel. Do metro trains run to Budapest airport, what stations are located near the main attractions of the Hungarian capital – in practical material of good Time for Trip.
Obviously, many travelers don’t care whether there is a metro in the Hungarian capital, Budapest, or not. Because they come to this city on the banks of Danube, primarily hoping to wander the streets seeing its famous attractions.
However, with proper use, the subway can greatly facilitate the difficult task of exploring one of a major European capitals. Because you will be able to plan long routes that are simply impossible to walk in a short period of time!
Note!
A metro ride from the Fortress Hill of Buda (Batthyány tér) to the Városliget (Széchenyi fürdő), where such wonderful sights of Budapest as the Széchenyi Thermal Baths, the Vajdahunyad Castle, the Museum of Fine Arts, the Zoo and Botanical Gardens are located, takes only 22 minutes. And it will cost 350 forints, that is, of about $ 1.05 (summer 2023).
At the same time, walking along the designated route will take about an hour of time.
For the first time, you may not regret such a waste of time. For along the way you will be able to see the green “lung” of the city, Margaret Island, examine in detail the literally fabulous Hungarian Parliament building, assess the scale of the Danube and even go shopping in one of Budapest’s store’s on Andrassy Avenue.
But on the second and subsequent days of travel, such walks may want to be shortened. To spend more time on the cozy streets of Buda, in the beautiful Catholic churches of Pest, museums, on excursions around the old town.
Moreover, it’s not difficult to use the metro in Budapest. Also it’s quite inexpensive in comparison with some (major) European capitals – bkk.hu/en/tickets-and-passes/prices/.
Budapest Card
With regular trips, you can count on a discount. The language barrier has been largely overcome today with the help of multilingual terminals for the purchase of tickets and travel cards.
If desired, you can also purchase a Budapest Card (from 33 €), which provides free travel on all types of transport for 24, 48 or 72 hours. Along the way, this card entitles you to free access to most attractions, two (English-speaking) walking tours and a visit to the one of the famous baths in Budapest – Lukacs.
Description
The Budapest subway is the second oldest in the world after the London one. Traffic on it was opened in May 1896, and the Emperor of the Austro-Hungarian Empire Franz Joseph himself rode in the first train.
To date, the metro network of Budapest includes 52 stations located on 4 lines. Three of the lines cross in Deák Ferenc tér station.
The absolute majority of stations are located in the plain bank of the Danube, in Pest. Buda today has only 8 stops – you can see that on the Budapest Metro map.
To get to the old town of Buda, see the Matthias Church and admire the views from the terrace of the Fisherman’s Bastion, the easiest way is to get off at the Batthyány tér station (line M2 “Red”). By the way, the railway platform from which you can get to the beautiful town Szentendre is also connected with this station.
The Gellert Hill with the Cave Church, the baths of the same name, as well as the famous Rudash Thermal Baths are served by Szent Gellért tér (M4 “Green). Next to the latter is the recognizable modern Liberty Bridge.
As well as a berth of river boats, on which for just 750 Ft ($2.3) you can take a memorable cruise along the Danube. The river tours with audio guides, drinks and even lunches-dinners on board are also not too expensive!
Stops in the Budapest subway are announced in Hungarian. For clarity, they are duplicated on the electronic displays available in each car.
Opening Hours and Prices
The network is open daily from 4.30 to 23 hours. A metro ticket in Budapest (one trip without intersections) cost in 2023 350 Ft, the validity period is 1 hour. All the prices you can see here – bkk.hu/en/tickets-and-passes/prices/.
You can pay both in cash and by card. Tickets are easiest to purchase at terminals, although there are also regular ticket offices.
A “track” of 10 tickets can be purchased at a discount for 1,650 Ft. Travel cards are also available for sale: for a day or more.
Note that there are no turnstiles installed in the Hungarian metro. So you don’t need to look for gates that unlock when you drop a token or attach a travel card.
Travel in the Budapest subway is paid for by validating a one-time ticket in special yellow vending machines. After that, the ticket will be valid for only 80 minutes.
With travel cards, such an operation does not need to be performed – they are presented to the inspectors on demand. The penalty for stowaway travel ranges from 8,000 HUF in case of payment on the spot to 16,000 Ft ($24-48).
Metro to the Airport of Budapest
Alas, but so far the subway has not reached the Franz Liszt International Airport. And a bus ride for numbers 200E and 100E is still the most budget-friendly way to get from the airport to the center of Budapest.
No. 200 E goes to the terminus of the blue line Kőbánya–Kispest. Or, in the case of road works that have been going on regularly in recent years – to Nagyvárad tér. A ticket applicable to both bus and subway travel will cost 350 Ft.
Route No. 100 E is more expensive – 900 Ft ($2.7). And, alas, it will not be possible to use a ticket for it in urban public transport. The bus stops at the stations Kálvin tér, Astoria M and Deák Ferenc tér.
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